YouthWorker Journal - March/April 2009 - (Page 62) TOOLS Resource Reviews especially those who can identify with living a not-so-simple life in a complicated family. The group reading guide and online reading resources make this a good selection for reading groups. Maya dreams of someday writing a “green” column, so she includes earth-friendly information at the close of each journal entry, giving the reader a minieducation about environmental issues. As Maya closes her journal, she writes, “Maybe we all need to consider who created the earth. And if that’s God, which I have finally come to believe, then maybe we need to ask Him what He’d like us to do to take better care of it.” —Karen E. Jones future. The story will entertain the most faithful of Christian Booksellers Association, young adult, science fiction/fantasy fans with a quick, easy read in which most of the loose ends are tied up by the story’s end. Formerly known in 1996 as Sudden Shift, Ripple Effect is part of Zondervan’s newly expanded YA fiction line. Rather than recycling old titles, they could have capitalized on this latest direction by publishing outstanding CBA authors on par with mainstream, best-selling YA-fiction writers. Unfortunately, that opportunity was missed with Ripple Effect. —Cheri Gillard TOOLS REVIEWERS: FLETCHER ANDREWS, freelance writer, Colorado Springs, Colorado. PAUL BALDWIN, Pastor of Spiritual Formation, River Valley Church, Mishawaka, Indiana. ALAN BRIGGS, highschool pastor, Vanguard Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado. STEVE CASE, author of the Caffeine And… series (Pilgrim Press) and Rejected Sunday School Lessons (Youth Specialties), Director of Youth Ministries, Windermere Union United Church of Christ, Windermere, Florida. JENN CAVANAUGH, writer and graduate student, Seattle, Washington. JOE CILEK, Academic Advisor, The University of Iowa. JOHN DUNHAM, WordWright, Colorado Springs, Colorado. GRANT F.C. GILLARD, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Missouri. ADAM GRIFFIN, Young Life partner and Director of Youth Ministry, Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Flower Mound, Texas. KAREN E. JONES, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, and Associate Professor of Ministry and Missions, Huntington University, Huntington, Indiana. DAN KREISS, Assistant Professor of Youth Ministry, King College, Bristol, Tennessee. LARRY LINDQUIST, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Evangelism, Denver Seminary, Denver, Colorado. ANNIE A. LOCKHART, freelance writer and Ph.D. candidate, GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois. MATTHEW MCNUTT, Youth Pastor, Boothbay Baptist Church, Boothbay, Maine. MATTHEW MONBERG, Chief Operating Officer, Children's HopeChest, Colorado Springs, Colorado. TONY MYLES, author, ministry coach, smoothie drinker, and lead pastor of Connection Church, Medina, Ohio. PAUL RANDALL, Houston City Director for the Center for Student Missions, elder at Ecclesia, and M.Div. candidate at Fuller Theological Seminary. JEFF TILLSON, Director of Junior High Discipleship, Grace Fellowship United Methodist Church, and theology student at Fuller Theological Seminary, Katy, Texas. STEVEN TODD, missiologist and freelance writer, Colorado Springs, Colorado. PAUL TURNER, Director of Disciple Project Ministries, Birmingham, Alabama. SONIA URBAN, LCSW, Master of Divinity, high school social worker, Colorado Springs, Colorado. LARA M. VAN HULZEN, freelance writer, Rancho Murieta, California. Child of Divorce, Child of God: A Journey of Hope and Healing Kristine Steakley IVP Books, July 2008, 181 pp., $15.00, www.ivpress.com BACKGROUND READING CHURCH: THEN AND NOW Kristine Steakley’s book specifically addresses adult children of divorce, but offers loads of comfort suitable for anyone grieving. She takes seriously the emotional and spiritual implications of divorce, maintaining that broken hearts do not belie a lack of faith and reassuring those whose parents have not kept their commitments of God’s absolute faithfulness. She deals with the pain of parental estrangement, the effects of having to bury hurt and grow up too quickly, and the fear of being doomed to failed relationships. How unique this kind of suffering is to children of divorce is debatable, but Steakley’s reminders of God’s character proffer healing for those feeling like damaged products of the last couple generations of broken homes. The book also includes a note for parents and a list of biblical references regarding divorce. —Jenn Cavanaugh The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Early Christianity J. Michael Matkin Alpha Books, 2008, 261 pp., $18.95, www.idiotsguide.com After McDonaldization John Drane Baker Academic, 192 pp., $19.99, www.bakeracademic.com Ripple Effect Paul McCusker Zondervan, October 2008, 204 pp., $9.99, www.zondervan.com McCusker—best known for his work with Focus on the Family’s Adventures in Odyssey—writes a story of alternate universes in which protagonist Elizabeth switches places with her time twin to find herself in abusive relationships and an uncertain How did we (the church) get here? Here are two wonderfully written books that shed light on the evolving and transforming influences that shape where we (believers) are today, and more importantly, where we (the church) might end up in the future. Early Christianity is delightfully written in a light, humorous style. Matkin weaves the sociological situations of the early biblical era and how the culture attempted (sometimes poorly) to understand the obligations of following the new and radical teachings of Jesus, the disciples and this new community we call “church.” McDonaldization is a more serious approach to understanding the impact of our fast-food culture and the trends in mission and ministry. Both of these books are excellent in grasping the reality that All music reviews are published in cooperation with our sister publications, www.CCMmagazine.com, www.ChristianMusicPlanet.com and www.CMCentral.com, your leading authorities on Christian music for over 25 years. TO SUBMIT BOOKS, CURRICULA AND MUSIC FOR REVIEW If you would like to have your resources considered for review in YWJ’s TOOLS section: 1) Please send two advance copies of each item, along with relevant press materials, to: YWJ/Fuller, 540 N. Cascade Ave., Ste. 202, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3328 2) Please send electronic press materials to: tools@youthworker.com Reviews do not necessarily constitute endorsements by YOUTHWORKER JOURNAL or Salem Publishing/CCM Communications. 62 March/April 2009 | YouthWorkerJournal.com http://www.ivpress.com http://www.idiotsguide.com http://www.bakeracademic.com http://www.CCMmagazine.com http://www.CCMmagazine.com http://www.ChristianMusicPlanet.com http://www.CMCentral.com http://www.zondervan.com http://www.YouthWorkerJournal.com
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