Review: Messy Church Enhanced eBook: A Multigenerational Mission for God's Family

Messy Church Enhanced eBook: A Multigenerational Mission for God's Family by Ross Parsley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I always wondered why the church that I had been attending for years started doing the things they did the way they did. Thanks to this book I know why. They had read this book or one like it.
I do not disagree with the author on the premise of a church as a family, nor do I disagree with his thoughts that all generations should be at the table together. What I do disagree with is the concept that this can be done in a church that has been around for a while. When it did happen, people started to vote with their feet how they felt about the church. I weathered it out for a while but as I saw needed ministries be gutted because they could no longer be supported, and the one that I was involved with was one of them, I left as well. This book is better to be read by a person who is involved with a new church rather than trying to change an existing one. There was a lot of good material in it. I just feel that trying to steer a big ship is not as easy as steering a row boat. Most people will not last long enough in bigger churches to get the ship on the course that it needs to be.

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Review: Security and Privacy for Microsoft Office 2010 Users

Security and Privacy for Microsoft Office 2010 Users by Mitch Tulloch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While not a current book (2013 is what I teach, 2016 is most current) it offers a good overview of security features that do not change a whole bunch in each version of Office. If you can pick it up relatively low cost it would be a good investment.

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Review: This Risen Existence: The Spirit of Easter

This Risen Existence: The Spirit of Easter by Paula Gooder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent book for the season of Lent. Ms. Gooder focuses on the three things that are important that come from Easter.
1) The resurrection being the most important to a Christian. Without it there is not salvation. The next is the ascension, without this Jesus would still be here and we would expect Him to be doing all the work.
2) The ascension, since it falls on a Thursday, is usually not remembered on most church calendars. However, it is important.
3) Pentecost. Without this event, we would not have the power to go forth and tell others.
Without each of these events, the story of Easter is incomplete.
I was able to read this as part of Faithlife web site and their free book. As part of the site, people could sign up to read the book together and talk about it. That made the book a little more interesting to me as I read what other people thought and could reflect on things that I missed.
It is a seasonable book. For that reason, though it could be read any time of the year, it is best read as a reflection time leading up to Easter, or as part of the time from Easter to Pentecost.
Enjoyed the book.

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Review: The Good Book: 40 Chapters That Reveal the Bible's Biggest Ideas

The Good Book: 40 Chapters That Reveal the Bible's Biggest Ideas by Deron Spoo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Standard disclaimer. I got an advanced copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Deron Spoo has written an excellent book that can be used in so many different ways. It can be used as a personal devotional, a Christian Education class, a Bible study, etc.
My only disappointment, minor because I may have read something into his introduction. I was under the impression that he had created this book of stories to help an unchurched (ignostic he calls them) to understand the Christian faith better. In reality the title says it all, 'the Bible's biggest ideas.
The book is written to all levels. A person who has read the Bible and studied it can gain some new insight. I know that I looked at some scriptures in a way that I would not have before. On the other hand, a person who is unchurched can pick up the book can gain an understanding of what it truly means to be a Christian and what we believe.
Forty ideas are presented. 20 from the Older Testament (Old means we do not use it any more, older means it still has value), and 20 from the New Testament. One might have their own scriptures that they might include, but I feel that Mr. Spoo has chosen with care what he thought were the best ones. I am sure it was hard to narrow it down to 40 ideas.
If you are looking for a book that argues theology, this is not it. Nor does it deal with the issues that as Christians separate us into denominations. It does, however, introduce the key concepts of Christianity in nice bite sized pieces.
High recommendations from me on this book.

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