The sequel to Crispin: The Cross of Lead is as much a page-turner as its predecessor. If you haven’t read the first one yet, what are you waiting for?

I am assuming (and hoping) that a third installment is forthcoming.

I began playing fantasy football in 1992, at the urging of Kevin Wieser. I remember in those days how I used to run out on Monday morning and buy a copy of the Dallas Morning News and with pencil and paper in hand, manually figure out my team’s score from Sunday. I’d do the same thing on Tuesday to add in the Monday night football game.

We didn’t get our “official” league scoresheet in the mail until Thursday, and it came from California. There were many times that I had added wrong and despaired over a loss that I had thought was a win.

Reading America’s Game gave me incredible background to the history and personalities that have made the NFL the No. 1 sports pursuit in America, surpassing baseball in the 50s.

I had no idea the Cleveland Browns were named after their first coach, Paul Brown. I didn’t recall how close the cowboys came to drafting Joe Montana. Instead, they opted for tieght end Doug Cosbie in the 1979 draft.

I was intrigued by the tightly-guarded circle of original owners and coaches. Their insistence on making the NFL be a league of parity through profit-sharing and joint television revenue-sharing contracts was ingenious.

If you’re an NFL fan, even casually, you’ll devour the book. It’s well worth a few hours of light reading.

I don’t think I’ve devoured and enjoyed a book as much as this one since I read John Piper’s Desiring God. That’s saying a lot!

Part of it has to do with, I’m sure, my current personal longing for a more passionate and intimate prayer life. Carson’s material really hit me where I’m at right now.

On the other hand, Spiritual Reformation is simply a dynamic and compelling book. It will leave you pondering after every “put down.” (A put down is that moment when you finish your coffee, your current chapter and put the book down…)

I’ve posted several quotes from my reading on my Tumblog, and constantly found myself wishing that “so and so” were reading the book at the same time I was. I desperately wanted some interaction and conversation about the principles and reflections Carson shared.

One of the things that so deeply impressed me was that the author did not just share his thoughts, stories and insights about prayer. You may recall that I reviewed Yancey’s book, Prayer, a while back. That’s what he leaned toward. In reflection, there was a real paucity of biblical observation in Yancey’s book.

Carson’s book, on the other hand, takes a deep, expository survey of some of Paul’s prayers and is able to communicate through writing the plain implications and principles behind the scripture in an insightful way that always led me to personal application.

Many Christians learn to pray by listening to those around them. Nothing is intrinsically bad about this. If we lived in a time and place where Christians were characterized by knowledgeable, anointed praying, it would be a wonderful privilege to learn from them. Sadly, although there are a few signs of resurgence, prayer in the West has fallen on hard times, and there are few models to hold up to a new generation of believers.
Then how shall we reform our praying?
Surely the best answer is to turn again to the prayers of the Bible.

Carson proceeds to examine different Pauline prayers and pull from them the intent, the context, and the principles behind why and how Paul prayed as he did.

I can’t encourage you strongly enough to get you a copy of A Call to Spiritual Reformation, digest it slowly and even as you do so, to begin to passionately embrace a joyful and devoted life of prayer to the One who loves you.

Because my mom was a librarian (I know, Mom… media specialist for many moons, I know that any book with a Newberry Medal is worth reading. That’s why this particular book caught my eye at the town library last week.

I picked it up, glanced over it, and while Adelyn was picking out her books, I put it under my arm as a keeper.

That evening, I found that I had devoured half the book over multiple cups of hot green tea. I couldn’t put it down.

Set it in England in the late 1300s, it spins a marvelous tale of historical accuracy that traces the life of a young boy who is in search of his identity.

The characters are colorful and well-developed, and the chapters are so well spaced and tightly written that you keep thinking, “Just one more chapter,” and then find yourself four deep and unable to stop.

It’s for a younger audience, but I highly recommend the book for everyone. Weighing in at 262 pages, I finished it the second night. I will definitely be checking out more by the author Avi.

I’ve heard about Watchman Nee off and on over the years but have never taken the time to read something of his. He was a Chinese pastor, for almost 30 years. Imprisoned in 1952 for his faith, he died there in 1972.

I have immense respect for anyone who has laid it all on the line for the Lord in such a way; however, this book – which was the product of some of his early sermons – just couldn’t hold my attention, unfortunately.

...even if we have saved all the souls in the whole world, we have not yet accomplished God’s work or satisfied God’s requirement.

For starters, we don’t save anyone; God does. Second, this line of thinking is elaborated on later in the first chapter, and I just don’t think Nee reaches the right conclusions.

He tries to argue that since at creation, God gave man authority of the earth to rule and subdue it, that man’s chief goal is to do just that. However, now man must contend for the authority of the earth against Satan. That much, I can see where he is going.

However, when he says…

If all our work is just preaching the gospel and saving souls, we are not causing Satan to suffer fatal loss. If man has not restored the earth from the hand of Satan, he has not achieved God’s purpose in creating him. Saving souls is only for the welfare of man, but dealing with Satan is for the benefit of God.

...I think he obscures the broader point that God has already defeated Satan at the cross. He is not in heaven, wringing His holy hands, hoping that man gets his act together so that Satan will be cast out.

Furthermore, God is not “benefitted” by any action of ours. He is completely sufficient and joyful – without need – in and of Himself. With Him, there is no lack.

Nee says, “God needs an authority in His creation, and He has chosen man to be that authority.”

Again, God doesn’t “need” us. He did create Adam with the intention of mankind ruling, but when he chose to sin, he abdicated that rule. God finally restored the dominion of man in Jesus Christ. In Matthew 28.18, Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (italics mine)

Christ has chosen to give His Spirit to the church so that it can announce His kingdom on earth through His provided power. But at no time does man have any authority except what he has been given by grace through Christ.

Granted, I stopped reading after the first chapter, so I would welcome some interaction with those who might better explain what Nee is saying. However, I for one, will simply continue to respect His witness while shying away from His teachings.

For such a short little book, I was struck by Pierson’s writing eloquence and ability to say in such a brief span volumes more than many contemporary authors do in longer books.

A.T. Pierson was a Presbyterian minister who lived from 1937-1911. He edited The Missionary Review of the World for many years and apparently was a prolific writer. I most assuredly will be reading more by Pierson because of this book.

There may not be a more contentious subject in the contemporary American church today than the role of the Holy Spirit. Entire denominations have been created due to the negligence or over-emphasis on Him.

Pierson takes the book of Acts, and in short, succinct chapters, describes the role and ministry of the Holy Spirit for the corporate church and individual believers in Jesus Christ. He does so in a way that is enlightening and challenging.

As a pedigreed Southern Baptist, I have to admit that for years, my tribe has simply tried to work around the Spirit. Most Baptist preachers, teachers, evangelists and professors that I’ve known are big on the Father and Son but a little intimidated by the Spirit.

In fact, in my own life, it’s rather disconcerting to realize that I have not taught and equipped those under my care to recognize and know how to “walk in the Spirit.” It will be a renewed commitment, I can assure you.

Pierson states at one point, “Satan’s activity is always increased when disciples bestir themselves anew.” I can heartily agree to the accuracy of that statement after some personal experiences of the last few months. It crystallized in my mind, once again, the unseen reality of spiritual warfare.

No one attribute is more needful today for Christ’s witnesses than Holy Spirit boldness due to Holy Spirit fullness.

Pierson shares at length about the dangers of a church or Christian organization being led and guided by logic, by secular principles or organizational procedures without first being led by the Holy Spirit.

All in all, it’s a fantastic little book that would be a great foundation to start learning more about the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians.

I know the movie came out a long time ago, but I just had the opportunity to watch it on my iPhone this past Saturday on the way to Little Rock.

The kids were frustrated in the back seat – or at least Sam was – because Adelyn had her Nintendo DS while Sam had nothing. He hadn’t been able to find his PSP charger, so he suffered while I cackled.

The movie is extremely funny, with plenty of slapstick and one-liners that should make even Jerry Seinfeld jealous. I hgihly recommend it!

Sam and Adelyn watched it together on the way home, and it was almost as funny listening to them repeat the lines.

Erwin McManus short book called The Barbarian Way is a fantastic book challenging believers to quit playing it safe and to embrace a life of adventure, faith, and risk in Christ.

There are so many quotable paragraphs and thoughts in the book that I’m just going to have to encourage you to read it for yourself.

However, try this on for size:
Somewhere along the way the movement of Jesus Christ became civilized as Christianity. We created a religion using the name of Jesus Christ and convinced ourselves that God’s optimal desire for our lives was to insulate us in a spiritual bubble where we risk nothing, sacrifice nothing, lose nothing, worry about nothing. Yet Jesus’ death wasn’t to free us from dying, but to free us from the fear of death. Jesus came to liberate us so that we could die up front and then live. Jesus Christ wants to take us places where only dead men and women can go.

Throughout the book, McManus compares “civilized” Christianity to the “barbarian” way of Christ. He speaks of the Messiah in a way that compels you to discover more. This is no smiling, VBS-poster-boy Jesus. The Jesus he reminds us of is the Jesus of the New Testament, the Jesus prophesied of old. It is the Jesus that carries His own cross and that bears all our sins. It is the Jesus that urges us to trust what we cannot see and to abandon ourselves to a love we cannot fathom.

All in all, if you’ve got a couple of evenings, this book is well worth the investment.

A favorite line of mine to conclude with…
I was surprised to learn that a group of buzzards waiting around together to feast on leftover carnage is called a committee... This explains so much of what’s going on in churches – a lot of committees waiting around to live off human carnage.

It’s really good, but slow and also ponderous. The characters just weren’t compelling, and the same characters aren’t continued throughout the book, as it’s divided into historical segments. I just couldn’t justify plowing through it (I got about 250 pages into it).

I began this book just two short nights ago but was unable to put it down. Thank goodness it’s a short book – only 105 pages. However, its thin-ness betrays its weightiness. One review on the back cover pegs it well: “This book is a powerful antidote to the unbalanced, self-centered preaching of today.”

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4.3-5)

Piper’s short book holds out the glory of God as the goal of all preaching and urges preaches to cast aside pop psychology, entertainment-laden presentations for the deep truths about God and passionate desires for God.

“The reality behind our message is breathtaking,” Piper says, so how can any preacher possibly put his congregation to sleep? Rather, he asks, “If we do not spread a banquet of God’s beauty on Sunday morning, will not our people seek in vain to satisfy their inconsolable longing with the cotton candy pleasures of pastimes and religious hype?”

Piper urges us who have been called to preach to walk close with God so that those we minister with and to can smell the aroma of God on us. Only as we diligently seek to portray the glory and indescribable worth of God in Christ Jesus will people have the true longings of their heart met in Him.

I highly recommend this book to any and all who regularly teach or preach God’s Word. It’s a prophetic reminder to extol Him who has given us the commission to preach.

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4.2)