YouthWorker Journal - March/April 2009 - (Page 58)

TOOLS Resource Reviews Flesh and Blood Jesus: Learning To Be Fully Human from the Son of Man Dan Russ Baker Books, July 2008, 188 pp., $14.99, www.bakerbooks.com So You’re Thinking about Going to Seminary: An Insider’s Guide Derek Cooper Brazos Press, November 2008, 240 pp., $14.99, www.brazospress.com Strange Fire Holy Fire: Exploring the Highs and Lows of Your Charismatic Experience Mike Klassen Bethany House, December 2008, 192 pp., $13.99, www.bethanyhouse.com “An essential resource for wounded and disillusioned charismatics.” For the charismata-challenged believer, this book seems to be a “kiss and tell” of the most outrageous moments in modern charismatic life. Klassen speaks from authority: a graduate of Oral Roberts University, he has ghost written numerous books for several well-known charismatic evangelists and leaders. He takes the reader through a strange primer, explaining the place of tongues, prophecy, and some of the more surreal “manifestations” of the Spirit. Strange Fire Holy Fire is a compendium of the weirdest and the best from the fastest growing segment of the church today. For the outsider, the book will help humanize charismatics as deeply committed evangelicals and not the “younger brother who never was taken out in public because he would do something embarrassing. This is a beneficial read for leaders impacted by this segment of the body of Christ! — Steven Todd Dan Russ’ new book, Flesh and Blood Jesus, asks questions we are too lazy to ask. Dan provides images and scenarios of Christ’s humanity that are worth pondering. Each chapter is an invitation to model Christ’s misunderstood but righteous anger, His desire for companionship, and His attitude toward death and dying. Although Dan Russ’ exploration of Jesus’ humanity reads more like The Hall of Presidents at Disney World than The Hulk roller coaster at Islands of Adventure, it is no less appealing. The insights, combined with the questions at the end of each chapter, provide a great study into Christ’s humanity, as well as our own. This is a deep read that gives us a break from programming books and reminds us of a divine Jesus who shows us how to be human. —Paul Turner Jesus Brand Spirituality: He Wants His Religion Back Ken Wilson Thomas Nelson, 2008, 216 pp., $19.99, www.thomasnelson.com This book should be required reading for those considering seminary, as well as for profs and recruiters. Although he “namesnames,” Cooper doesn’t rate seminaries; he references them by category (degrees offered, cost, denominational affiliation, etc.) and offers an unbiased, objective overview of the issues surrounding the decision to attend seminary, the challenges during seminary and life after seminary. If you struggle to define ordination or distinguish between seminary and divinity school, this is a great resource. Cooper identifies and dispels 10 myths about seminary and speaks honestly about the stresses and blessings of a seminary education. The guidelines can seem too generalized but, the book has the feel of a handbook that helps one make informed decisions regarding finances, accreditation, admissions and degree/vocational choice. The second appendix offers a great checklist to help readers personally assess their decision process. — Larry Lindquist ReJesus Michael Frost, Alan Hirsch Hendrickson Publishers, January 2009, 216 pp., $19.95, www.hendrickson.com My First 90 Days in Ministry: How to Make a Splash Without Getting Wet Group, October 2008, 60 pp., $14.99, www.group.com The first plunge into ministry can be overwhelming to say the least. Group does a great job of providing ministry “freshies” of all types a grounded start. It is full of hints, tips, tools and resource lists for different areas of ministry. The best thing about this resource is how the authors pinpointed the right questions to ask in the first 90 days. With our minds and hearts racing in ministry about people to meet, events to plan, volunteers to recruit and money to raise, we need to be brought back to what is important. I believe My First 90 Days in Ministry is a great tool to help center us and bring us back to the basics. I wish I would have had this resource in my first 90 days! —Alan Briggs Ken Wilson believes, or at the very least hopes, that we are on the verge of some major shifts in Christian spirituality and that these shifts will bring us closer to a faith that more nearly resembles Jesus Brand Spirituality. Wilson maps the Christian landscape into four quadrants: liturgical, social justice, evangelical and renewalist. He suggests we are witnessing a blurring of the lines. While some adherents polarize from the center, Wilson believes the future holds a great emerging faith where these four separate traditions begin to form a convergent church. If you are interested in exploring what is sometimes referred to as “new rose” theology by Phyllis Tickle, who (incidentally) wrote the forward, and how your own pilgrimage may lead you toward the center of Christian emergence, then this is right up your alley. You’ll discover where you’ve been, your initial perspectives on faith, and maybe get some insight into where you are going. —Adam Griffin I love Jesus. From my dashboard Buddy Christ (from Dogma) to my Wal-Mart talking action figure, from “Superstar” Ted Neely to Jack Black’s Viral Video, I’m a big Jesus fan. Now along comes this book and makes me re-think everything I know about Jesus. (Perhaps “Re-introduce” is a better term.) Frost and Hirsch have written a challenging book with seminary-level teaching while throwing in references to Will Ferrell movies. What if we looked at Jesus, the Man and His teachings, outside of the package in which we as a church have so carefully boxed Him? (I know. What a concept for a church, right?) Think you know Jesus? Think again. Are you willing to commit yourself to being changed and knowing a Jesus beyond the comfy flannel-graph Savior? Get a cup of coffee; go to a quiet place; and get ready to have your thinking re-thunk. —Steve Case 58 March/April 2009 | YouthWorkerJournal.com http://www.brazospress.com http://www.bakerbooks.com http://www.bethanyhouse.com http://www.thomasnelson.com http://www.hendrickson.com http://www.group.com http://www.YouthWorkerJournal.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of YouthWorker Journal - March/April 2009

YouthWorker Journal - March/April 2009 Contents Feedback Youth Culture Update Culture Watch Encountering God Campus Ministry The Urban Take Sight Unseen Worldview Soul Care Managing Your Ministry 10 Minutes in God's Word From IQ to CQ Caring Amidst Crisis Risky Business When Tragedy Gets Personal Deaths in the Family Stopping Suicide Blessed Are They Who Mourn Healing the Healer Resources for Working with Crisis Tools Stirring it Up

YouthWorker Journal - March/April 2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.