Book Review – Pujols: More Than The Game

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Albert Pujols, baseball, biography, Book Review, Tim Ellsworth

For much of his career Albert Pujols has struggled against the perception that he’s only a great baseball player. While many people only dream of such an image, Pujols and his wife are often “frustrated with the media’s apparent lack of desire to write about Albert’s faith.”

In Pujols: More Than The Game authors Scott Lamb and Tim Ellsworth have provided a more complete portrait of arguably the greatest active MLB player. Pujols’ faith, charity, family, and baseball career are woven in a story that can be appreciated and enjoyed by fan and non-fan alike.

Even as a life-long Atlanta Braves fan, it was difficult not to cheer the rise of a young Dominican immigrant from high school ball to the pinnacle of his sport. Pujols’ athletic success results from a combination of God-given talent and singularly intense dedication to improvement.

This same dedication is evidenced in his spiritual life. Interspersed through stories of Pujols’ baseball accomplishments are testimonies of his progress as a Christian. He and wife Dee Dee are committed to growing in and living out their faith in Christ. This is not a hagiography – his failures are shown alongside his good deeds – but it does allow us to see the “fleshing-out” of a dedicated Christian athlete.

Whether you are a baseball fan or not you will enjoy this book. It is more than just a baseball book. There are sufficient stats and stories to satisfy the most ardent baseball enthusiast, but this does not make it any less enjoyable for the “normal” reader.

This is more than another Christian celebrity bio. I usually end such books with incredulity or concern. Albert Pujols is about more than the game. And this book is about more than the man. Ellsworth and Lamb present, not a saint, but an image of a flawed-yet-progressing Christian man – exactly what you would expect of a believer in the process of sanctification.

You may finish this book as an admirer of Pujols, the extraordinary baseball player. More importantly, you should end it with an increased appreciation for the work of God in the life of an ordinary believer.

*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through BookSneeze

Book Review: Chasm

The Chasm is the most recent book by noted author, Randy Alcorn. It is adapted from Alcorn’s novel Edge of Eternity, though it is not necessary to have read that work in order to appreciate this one.

In this brief allegory, the author takes us into the mind and experience of Nick Seagrave as he attempts to find the path to the city of Charis. Through the spiritual and the physical, from the glaringly real to the disjointedly dreamlike experiences, we follow Nick on his quest for fulfillment through pleasure and philosophy. It’s a surreal world where all is not as it seems, and seemingly no one can be trusted.

There is much to like in The Chasm. The story flows well and can be read easily in one (longer) sitting. With shades of the allegorical reminiscent of Bunyan and Lewis, this book will especially appeal to those who enjoy this literary style. Alcorn is able to find the delicate balance between allegory that is annoyingly overt and incomprehensibly ambiguous. With skilled writing and sound theology, the story addresses issues such as lust, post-modernism, and pluralism.

This book is an enjoyable read and will provide an excellent conversation-starter for believers and unbelievers alike.

*I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Great Man, Amazing Story, Good Book

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biography, Book Reviews, Eric Metaxas, William Wilberforce

**If you’re still looking for a Christmas gift for the bibliophile in your life, here’s a brief review of a biography I read some time back. Great pick for wide range of interests and ages.

An engaging story about a remarkable man, Amazing Grace: The Life of William Wilberforce by Eric Metaxas serves as a great introduction to his life and work.

Wilberforce radically transformed, not only the issue of slavery, but also the entire perspective of the English (and English-influenced) world. The author additionally introduces the reader to the diverse cast of characters who were a part of this social transformation. Many of these men and women are virtually unknown in our time, but had tremendous influence on their’s and subsequent generations. This is an engaging account of a life that every (and I do mean EVERY) modern person needs to be familiar with.

Written in a very readable manner, this book will grab the attention of teens and adults alike. This is not the in-depth, detailed account that the serious inquirer will be satisfied with, but it certainly succeeds in introducing the reader to the man and whetting the appetite for more.

The Old Country Church: A Review of “Transforming Church in Rural America”

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Book Reviews, rural church, Shannon O'Dell

Misconceptions about rural churches and pastoral ministry abound.  Young pastors rarely seek out ministry opportunities in the country unless they are looking for a stepping stone to something bigger and better.

Shannon O’Dell breaks this mold and writes about it in Transforming Church in Rural America: Breaking All the Rurals. Though doubtful at first, he left the staff of a large, established suburban church following the call of God to a small congregation in South Lead Hill Arkansas, population 88 (the city, not the church!).

Through the early chapters, O’Dell recounts, often humorously, the early challenges of ministering in a country church.  Easily recognizable to any rural pastor, these people and experiences helped to fashion and establish his leadership and pastoral direction.

The central portion of the book is dedicated to the core V.A.L.U.E. that developed in Pastor O’Dell’s philosophy of ministry.  Vision – Attitude – Leadership – Understanding – Enduring Excellence.  He closes the book with a challenge to other rural congregations to see beyond the limits that have been self-imposed over the years – to change their concept of success and the boundaries of it.

My first impression of this book was less than enthusiastic.   As I began reading the story of his church’s transformation, my cynicism began to grow.  My thought was, “Great.  Another book on how ‘bigger is better,’ and how if you do it like we do it, you’ll be a ‘success’ as a church.” As a rural pastor, I’ve heard enough such typical church growth tripe from conferences, lectures, books, etc.  This mentality does not suit well with my personal philosophy of ministry.

Before I finished, my perception had changed completely. Let me say it clearly:  This book is not that AT ALL.  The author is emphatic that God’s work and vision for one church is NOT the same for another.  By the time I reached the final section of the book, he was speaking my language.

Though at times the author seems tainted by residual big church mentality, and while obviously not adverse to a growing church (his congregation is in the thousands), he clearly states:

We have got to break the “bigger is better” rule.  I had gotten sucked into that mentality before God started breaking the rules I had about the rural church.  Here is what I believe now:  the smaller they are, the healthier they are, because that’s where God likes to work.  God works in obscurity. If you are sitting back and saying to yourself, “I want to have great numbers and great facilities,” you are missing it.
p. 168-69

The ultimate message of this book is not “I’ve got all the answers,” and “if you’re doing it right you’ll have a mega-church in the wilderness.” It is a much-needed challenge to ignore man’s expectations of what a “successful” church is (even if that includes numbers), as well as man’s restrictions on what a country church can be.  The nuanced balance of this thinking is refreshing. I also loved the fact that he is apparently content to remain where he is as long as the Lord allows.

Those involved in rural ministry will relate well to the engaging account of O’Dell’s early ministry.  The VALUE portion presents nothing new, but is solid and valuable leadership material. The section where O’Dell is at his best is the final challenge to other rural churches to quit focusing on numbers AND the limits that that have traditionally been imposed.

I hope those involved in rural ministry will be encouraged by this book.  It would also be helpful for those involved in the training of pastors to consider the message of it. Cities must be reached but not to the neglect of an important mission field. The author is correct when he states that rural ministry should be approached with a missionary mindset.

Many rural churches may be dying, but that does not mean the Rural Church is dead.  Don’t be bound by man-written “rules!” Allow God to write the story of the old country church.

*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through BookSneeze.

Book Review: Salvation and Sovereignty

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Arminianism, Calvinism, Kenneth Keathley, Molinism, ROSES, Salvation and Sovereignty

In recent years  Reformed theology has experienced a significant resurgence.  Books, blogs, seminaries . . . the evidence is hard to miss.  Several of the emphases of the Reformed resurgence have helped restore much-needed balance to evangelical Christianity.  It is unfortunate that the Reformed have often been branded with stereotypes that are ill-founded, unfair, and at times blatantly ignorant.

Many believers, however, are not comfortable with a fully Reformed soteriology. Neither are they willing to accept the alternative Arminian position.  Variously called “four-pointers,” “moderate Calvinists,” “Calminians,” and other less-repeatable epithets, they seek to reconcile two equally Scriptural truths: the free-will of man and the sovereignty of God.

In Salvation and Sovereignty, Dr. Kenneth Keathley advances the cause for just such a median position.  He argues for a soteriology that finds this balance, while avoiding the respective blind-spots of both alternative systems and remaining faithfully based in Scriptural truth.

Based on a Molinist understanding of God’s middle knowledge, the author replaces the familiar TULIP with a soteriology of ROSES:

R – Radical depravity,

O – Overcoming grace,

S – Sovereign election,

E – Eternal life,

S – Singular redemption.

Each point reconciles its respective aspect of the Biblical truths of the sovereignty and free will.

Whether the author is successful in this “balancing act” will largely depend on the presuppositions of the reader.  This book will not satisfy critics from either side.  In fact, this “middle ground” could become a theological “no-man’s-land.”  I suspect Keathley will be critiqued by both sides, with each labeling him as the other.  What the author does accomplish is to provide a valid alternative to the debate.  It is a well-written book that adds much to the discussion.

He argues his position well, while presenting opposing views in a civil and even-handed manner (Something theologians of all stripes could take note of). The presentation is scholarly, logical and most importantly, Scriptural.  One might disagree with his conclusions, but it would be difficult to deny the legitimacy of this position.

Regardless your theological persuasion, I recommend this book. For those who seek a scholarly, yet accessible presentation of a more balanced position, this book will provide it. It is the clearest, most understandable explanation of Molinism I have yet encountered, and I found the author’s balanced discussion both refreshing and enlightening.

Though it will not end this centuries-old debate, this approach certainly provides satisfactory answers to many of the pertinent questions of this debate.  Anyone seeking to understand Molinism can do no better than Salvation and Sovereignty.

Do You Believe In Miracles?

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Book Reviews, God in the Whirlwind, miracles, Reviews, Tim Ellsworth, Union University

Miracle is one of those words that have been weakened through overuse.  From unexpected sports victories to the return of long-lost pets, we apply it to common everyday events.  Along the way, it has lost the “divine” element.

On February 5 Union University in Jackson, Tennessee was hit by an EF-4 tornado. Millions across the country watched frantic rescue efforts on the morning news.  We were astounded at the reports that though 18 dormitories were demolished and over $40 million damage was sustained, not one life was lost. In the words of the survivors, “it was a miracle.”

In God in the Whirlwind: Stories of Grace from the Tornado at Union University you will read the stories of the faculty, students, and staff that were caught in the fury of a storm boasting winds over 200 miles per hour.  Tim Ellsworth has compiled and recounted these personal testimonies of God’s grace. Students caught in the destruction, trapped beneath piles of rubble, or working desperately to rescue their friends all give credit to the providential care of God.  Beyond the accounts of physical protection are the stories of spiritual transformation. Strengthened faith, conversions, and answered questions demonstrate that God’s hand was in the storm.

In each story, the author draws a compelling, yet complete portrait of faith in spite of fear. He avoids airbrushing the survivors or their faith. He refrains from sensationalism and presents faith in all its wonderful complexity. Experiencing the same questions, doubts, and emotions expected of anyone in their circumstances, does not diminish their faith, it highlights it.  Rather than focusing on the tenacity of the individual, it attracts the reader to the sovereign power of God.

From the events on the night of the storm to the rebuilding and recovery efforts in the weeks following, the hand of God is clearly “traced upon the dial” of Union University.  Reading these stories will strengthen your faith in the God who still performs miracles.

Book Review: Washington’s General

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American history, Nathanael Greene, Terry Golway, Washington's General

Washington’s General: Nathanael Greene and

the Triumph of the American Revolution

He has been called, “the most underappreciated great man in the War for Independence.” George Washington’s hand-picked successor, Nathanael Greene was born into a prominent Rhode Island Quaker family. Plagued by insecurities due to his lack of education and military experience, he nonetheless provided an invaluable contribution to the cause of Liberty.

Shortly after enlisting in his state’s militia, some of his unit suggested that he resign. They felt that his marked “limp” detracted from their “manly, martial appearance.” Against their wishes he remained and within six months was commissioned as a general. By the end of the Revolution, he would be second only to Washington himself.

Greene’s meteoric rise to glory is highlighted by his passionate patriotism and intense sense of loyalty. As Washington’s reluctant yet efficient Quartermaster, he sustained the Continental Army through some of the leanest years of the war, battling Congress for much-needed funds. As commander of the Southern front, he would outfox Cornwallis in the swamps of the Low-Country and hills of the Carolinas.

This book turns a long-overdue spotlight on one of our forgotten heroes. Based on scholarly research from both primary and secondary sources, it retains a readability that historical laymen such as myself find appealing. For anyone interested in our nation’s history or in a genuine American hero, I recommend Washington’s General.