Book Review: The Naked Gospel

I wanted to like The Naked Gospel by Andrew Farley. Really, I did. The book makes a great first impression. From its very clever clear plastic cover to its intriguing subject matter to the exemplary referrals from respected writers.  

The Naked Gospel centers on the premise that Christianity is anchored by grace—not laws, rules, morals, deeds or ethics. It puts forth the concept that Jesus plus nothing is the totality of the New Covenant. The back cover promises to tell truth—stripped of compromises and clichés—“that we might never hear in church.” It’s geared toward those who are “burned out on experience-chasing, ceremonialism, or legalism.”

While I don't fit into that category, I started the book expecting I’d be shaken up. With each turned page, I hoped for the “aha” moment. And I kept waiting to challenge myself—as the back cover promised—to re-examine everything I thought I already knew about the Christian faith. But that moment never came. The book didn’t present much that rattled my beliefs.

Perhaps instead of offering that thought as a critique I should offer thanks that I’ve been churched in the message of grace and "Jesus plus nothing." Apparently many haven’t.

In its defense, The Naked Gospel has challenged me to look at the Old Testament with fresh eyes and presented concepts I want to explore further. Although I did find some of Farley's propositions confusing, like the idea of forgiveness as a once and done action.

Grace is the one thing that sets Christianity apart from all other religions. On the one hand it is an incredibly simple concept. On the other it defies logic and human thinking, making it very hard to comprehend. If The Naked Gospel helps a believer break the shackles of legalism, good deeds, morals, etc. and brings them one step closer to understanding God’s amazing grace it’s a good thing.

Check out the author's website or go to Amazon to purchase the book and read more reviews.

I received a review copy of this book free from Zondervan.

Book Review: Thin Places by Mary DeMuth

Being a fan of Mary DeMuth's writing, I eagerly awaited the release of her latest book, Thin Places. Mary has a history of sexual abuse and brokenness that's been an underlying theme in her works of fiction. One can sense she writes from an intensely personal place but that she's only revealing part of the story.

In her memoir, Thin Places, she fills in the blanks. The result is an incredibly painful story of a little girl and young woman abused, neglected, confused, searching, forgotten and oh so broken redeemed by a God who loves and sees and restores. If nothing else, the book is an achingly honest prayer to our perfect and loving heavenly Father. It offers assurance that while we may not receive the answer we seek, we will receive the answer we need.

Mary starts Thin Places at the "beginning," but doesn't follow a strict time line as the book unfolds. Instead each chapter centers on a theme and could almost be a standalone story. At first I found this approach confusing because I wasn't sure when each chapter took place, but midway through the book I had enough of the story I could follow along and focus less on "when" and more on the message.

Mary DeMuth is a talented, passionate writer who loves Jesus with all her heart. This comes through loud and clear in Thin Places. I recommend this book especially for anyone who has a history of brokenness, abuse, neglect and wonders, "Where was God...where IS God?" While it was hard to read at times, Thin Places filled with me hope, a deeper understanding of prayer and awe at how marvelously God reveals Himself.

To learn more about Thin Place, click here.

I received a free copy of this book from Zondervan to read and review.

Book Review: Jesus Lives by Sarah Young

This is the first gift book I’ve reviewed and it was a lovely change of pace from some of the denser non-fiction entries of late. Jesus Lives by Sarah Young is a follow up to her popular Jesus Calling devotional.

In Jesus Lives author Sarah Young provides 180 topical devotionals exemplifying Jesus' presence in your life, giving insight and wisdom, and bringing to light the truth of Romans 8:11: The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you!

Sarah writes Jesus Lives through the voice of God. Each entry features an aspect of faith or truth as spoken through Jesus’ perspective. She writes to bring the reader into a closer relationship with our Savior. As a result, each devotional feels like a heavenly embrace. It is a lovely read, filled with encouragement, insight and wisdom.

Devotionals speak to our spirit in very personal ways. I enjoyed reading Jesus Lives, but I very much wanted it to resonate deep within my soul and it did not. I found Sarah Young’s God-centered point of view difficult to embrace. I recognize that others may love this about her book. Like I said it’s personal.

Sarah Young vividly demonstrates her passion for Jesus in this lovely gift book. It is extremely well done and at some time in the future I plan to revisit it. As an interesting coincidence, I received Sarah Young’s first devotional, Jesus Calling as a Christmas present. I’m finding that this volume is just what my spirit it looking for!

To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must mention that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.

A Look at "A Slow Burn"

I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of A Slow Burn, Mary DeMuth's sequel to Daisy Chain and the second installment of her Defiance Texas Trilogy. Here's a sneak peek:

"She touched Daisy’s shoulder. So cold. So hard. So unlike Daisy.

Yet so much like herself it made Emory shudder.

Burying her grief, Emory Chance is determined to find her daughter Daisy’s murderer-a man she saw in a flicker of a vision. But when the investigation hits every dead end, her despair escalates. As questions surrounding Daisy’s death continue to mount, Emory’s safety is shattered by the pursuit of a stranger, and she can’t shake the sickening fear that her own choices contributed to Daisy’s disappearance. Will she ever experience the peace her heart longs for?

This suspenseful novel is about courageous love, the burden of regret, and bonds that never break. It is about the beauty and the pain of telling the truth. Most of all, it is about the power of forgiveness and what remains when shame no longer holds us captive."

_________________________________________________

Mary, how do you find time to write?
I make time to write. I give myself word count goals every day. While my children are at school, I work full time. Lately I’ve been writing and promoting like a crazy woman, pulling 10-12 hour shifts. Even so, it’s a priority for me to have a sit-down dinner with my family every night. It helps that I love to cook.

What do you enjoy most about the writing process?
I love the initial flurry of words on the page where I’m uninhibited. I love fleshing out a story as it comes to me. I see my novels on the movie screen of my mind, which may account for the visual nature of my narratives.

Where did you get the idea for the book?
I wrote the series of stories based on hearing friends of mine talk about their Christian homes that appeared great on the outside, only to hide abuse on the inside. This really bothered me. Daisy became the inciting incident to explore three people’s stories relating to authenticity and hiding. In book one, Daisy Chain, I explore a teenage boy’s perspective to a family in crisis. In book two, A Slow Burn, I examine what would it be like to have deep, deep mommy regrets enough to want to be free from them. In book three, Life in Defiance, I tell the conclusion of the story through a battered wife’s perspective.

I am not a teenage boy. Nor am I a neglectful mother. And I’m not a battered wife. But I’ve interacted with folks who are. It’s for them that I wrote these stories.

What kind of research did you have to do for the book?
I had to figure out how a drug addict acted and thought. I had to research what drugs do to a person, particularly the lure and the trips they take folks on. I had to get into the mind of a drug addict, which wasn’t easy for me, someone who is terrified of drugs. I created Defiance from my head and my two-year stint in East Texas.

What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
That God is bigger than our sin, our regret, our hopelessness. He takes delight in intersecting the darkest of circumstances. He is there, available.


To learn more about Mary DeMuth, you can visit her website at www.marydemuth.com.

Book Review: "Billy, The Untold Story"

Many say Billy Graham is a modern day apostle. I'm too young to have experienced him in his prime, but he certainly seems like the real deal. However, my cynical side wonders if it’s just a matter of time before his past sins come to light and he’s undone by his own doings.

The latter is the launching point for the book Billy, The Untold Story of a Young Billy Graham and the Test of Faith that Almost Changed Everything by William Paul McKay and Ken Abraham. Set in 2001, an opportunistic reporter seeks to uncover the hidden “truth” about the 20th century’s most famous evangelist. She figures what better place to start than at the bedside of an aging Charles Templeton, Billy Graham’s once best friend and uber-evangelist-turned-atheist.

Told primarily through the eyes of Templeton, Billy is a look back on events that took place in the late 30’s to 1949. While the prose is more workmanlike than snappy, the story carries the reader enjoyably through an interesting behind-the-scenes look at Billy Graham’s early days, the business of evangelism in the 40s and eventually to a crisis of faith that nearly ended Graham’s career. Alongside that, Billy tells the tale of two friends, called by God. When they encounted a fork in the road, one chose one path and the other chose differently. Where the book lacked drama in the first 200 pages, it more than made up for it in the last 50.

Overall Billy provided an informative read. It whet my appetite to learn more about the characters involved. And it showed God working powerfully through the life of a young man who kept saying, "Yes."

This review was motivated by Thomas Nelson publishing’s offer for a free book. Free book? Yes! In exchange for posting a review on your blog or a consumer website (like amazon.com), Thomas Nelson will send you a free book. Sign up (click here). Select a book. Read it. Write a review. Choose another book. Simple…and fun! Try it for yourself.