RefreshingEDEN making all things new

Reviewing:  THE NEXT CHRISTIANS  (The Good News About The End of Christian America)    by Gabe Lyons

Finally a succinct addressing of the issues the Western Evangelical Church must consider if they want to reflect the Good News of the Scriptures. This book challenges without offending our loss of the full story of God’s amazing plan. Somewhere, somehow we have lost pieces of the story that make it good news, and have instead concentrated on just the middle part – namely sin and the need to do something about it. Without losing that piece, Lyons has discovered that there are groups of Christians around the country, tagging them “next Christians”, that are intent on bringing back the beginning and end of the story. These “next” Christians have “re-discovered” that Genesis 1 starts out with the good God has created and intended, and that Revelation is the full-out restoration of that good. And in that context the good news is that God’s central goal is restoration, rather than sin-management. With that in mind Lyons finds these next Christians calling for and working toward a re-deployment of the church to come alongside God in His restoration work. Included are several vignettes of just how some are accomplishing this. Encouraging and easy read.

(Note: I received this book gratis from “Blogging for Books”)

Reviewing: SOULPRINT  discovering your divine destiny  by Mark Batterson

Using David’s circuitous path to kingship as an example, Mark Batterson lays out the truth of trusting in God’s radically different ways of bringing each of us to the unique destiny He has planned for each of us. This is one of those books that connects the many little things you already know about God’s purposes and puts them into a package that challenges you to evaluate how you can live out your own God-directed destiny. By helping us to see our past as well as our present in the positive light of God’s terms and workings, rather than our own limited view which so often frustrates our way to a holy and satisfying life path, Batterson does a good job of walking us through a much-needed exercise in living out the persons God has created to be. We are reminded that God’s primary concern is who we are becoming and His desire is that we realize all He has allowed in our lives is part of the key to setting us free to be the reflected image of Him He has always intended. A great book to highlight as there are many short passages you’ll find returning to for encouragement and direction.

(Note: book received gratis from “Blogging for Books”)