I recently finished Fall to Grace: A Revolution of God, Self, and Society by Jay Bakker. I have to admit that it was exactly what I needed to read at this time of transition in my life. It was a reminder to me that it was by grace that I was forgiven and it is through that same grace that I must learn to forgive. At a time when I am so focused on me (a little self-centeredness feels justified in the circumstances), it reminded me that instead I should be even more aware of God's "revolutionary" grace. A time when everything else in uncertain, the one thing I can hold onto is God and the relationship he created with me.

The book itself gave me many things to think about. It gave me new ways to view things that I had never really considered. On page 113, he writes, "Sin is still bad, mind you. But it is bad for us. Abba isn't mad at us for our sin. If anything, He probably feels sorry for us because He knows it prevents us from fulfilling our potential. Sin carries its own punishments: It prevents us from completing the radical transformation that God intends. It prevents us from realizing God's grace." It is a profound statement that I am still weighing in my mind. Not necessarily because I disagree with it, but because I have such a strong desire to not disappoint God. This idea challenges my automatic thoughts; ideas I have had for as long as I can remember.

There were a few thing I didn't like about the books. First, there were a few times when he mentioned specific people he disagreed with and it felt like he was taking shots at them. Perhaps, this is unfair and that wasn't his intention. And if I'm being honest, it's just one of my pet peeves. I feel like if your argument is strong, then pointing out other people is unneccessary.

The other thing I struggled a little with was the last chapters. In the last couple chapters, Jay challenges the church to offer love and grace to others, including homosexuals, bisexuals,and anyone else we mistreat or show lack of understanding to. While I don't disagree with what Jay is saying, the chapters felt out of place. The topic felt like it wasn't given enough. It felt like it was two books pieced together when each book could have stood on its own.

All those things aside, I was challenged, encouraged, and feel like I am beginning to understand what God's grace really looks like.

***viralbloggers provided me with a copy of this book to read and review. I have complete freedom on what I post.

Reflection 1: The first of many! So, my mind is still reeling, my body is still exhausted, and I am completely overwhelmed by GOD. I went with some expectation. I knew there would be exciting worship and speakers, but I couldn't have expected to be lifted to the heights and then within hours to be utterly crushed and then lifted to the heights and then crushed...over and over and over again. So, where to start...from the beginning. You walk into Phillips Arena and it is filled to capacity with loud, screaming young adults. Chris Tomlin begins worship and Lecrae jumps in. Louie Giglio then delivers his amazing hyped up message and we are released to community groups (which I have every intention of skipping for the rest of the week, because afterall, there is a very big part of me that came for vacation). Ok this is where the good stuff starts so stay with me... Tim Smith, a pastor from Mississippi, begins our study. We start by reading Isaiah 14:13, 14 You said in your heart, "I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend about the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." Satan is constantly trying to ascend, to make himself powerful! Phillippians 2:6-8 Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Jesus was willing to descend. He came in humility. Then Tim closed by saying you are never more like the enemy than when you try to ascend up, when pride exalts you and you are never more like Jesus than when we humble ourselves. This one is going to take a long time for me to digest. Lord, help me to descend, descend, descend.

Make a Difference

Recently, Booksneeze.com provided me the opportunity to read Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado in advance if I would offer my opinion on it. So, here it goes.

It seems like lately the trend in Christian writing has been on the theme about making a difference, not settling for good enough, etc. This book is no exception. It calls us to be authentic; to live what we believe. Although, the concept may be similiar to other books I have read, its delivery is not. What I loved about Lucado's recent book is I could hand it to anyone, regardless of age or spiritual maturity, and they could walk away with something. Lucado gives a profound thought delivered in a simple way.

He uses the book of Acts as his launching point and central theme. He uses it to challenge us with chapters, such as, Let God Unshell You and Open Your Door; Open Your Heart. He begins by reminding us that the early church was started by people who were little more than average. Before Jesus, they were ordinary people doing ordinary things. He reminds us, "truth be told, they had nothing more than this: a fire in the belly to change the world."

That is what his book is about. It is a call to get past ourselves, our fears, inadequacies, selfishness and begin to change the world.

Everyone Matters

I have just finished reading The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters by Andy Andrews which I was provided by Book Sneeze to review. It is a short inspirational book that deals with the question we all ask at some point in our life, " do I really matter." Normally, I wouldn't have picked up a gift book, but this one effected me in ways I didn't expect.

Honestly, I'm not sure I would have appreciated this book had I not read it at this specific time in my life. Lately, I have been contemplating how much impact one person can make and if my choices are really important. This book hits that topic head on, starting out with explaining the butterfly effect. Basically, the idea is the flap of a butterfly's wings on one side of the world can start a chain reaction leading to a hurricane on the other side of the world. One small action can lead to a world changing reaction.

He then goes on the tell the story of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. A former professor, now turned Colonel in the Union Army did something made a choice that established a course of history that may have been very different had he chosen differently. In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Chamberlain had to choose between retreat or facing the enemy head on. His man had held on through many attacks. The logical reaction would have been to retreat, instead Chamberlain chose what to some may have looked like a suicidal charge. Without that choice, our nation may have looked very differently today.

When I received this book in the mail, I never would have expected the outcome. The ideas in this small gift book have kept me up at night. I think about the choices I'm making and what the outcome of those choices might be. I am beginning to see that every life matters.

The Sweet By and By

The Sweet By and By was like looking in a mirror and seeing the lives of my friends and families. Its a story about needing forgiveness and giving it. The characters are real and relatable. They are people we see everyday in our lives, hiding pain and secrets, while on the surface they seem sucessful and happy.

Jade is just like us all, hanging on to the past while at the same time trying to let it go. She's rebelling against her family, but still longing for their acceptance. Her story is filled with emotion and intensity, yet practicality and strength.

The story, although anti-climatic at times, ends with redemption and reconciliation and leaves a desire for the reader to find the same kind of grace in their own lives.

Fearless - Imagine Your Life Without Fear

Being able to take risks. Facing the challenge with a smirk. Walking with complete confidence. All of those things can be accomplished when we can live without fear. It seems impossible, a goal that can never be reached.

Max Lucado's new book stretches our belief that we can actually live fearlessly. Each chapter stands by itself, addressing a particular fear. Some were directed toward someone else, parents, worriers, etc., but some were speaking directly to my fears. Fears that an independent, stubborn woman like myself didn't want to own up to. Fears like the fear of not mattering or the fear of what's next.

Lucado delivers his message in a simple, yet profound way. He reminded me that, "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours (1 Chronicles 29:11)," which includes me. Realizing he strength and power allows me to walk without fear, acknowledging his control in all things.

So...it's been a long while. Summer craziness hit, which meant a lack of reading and a lack of writing. No justification to it, just a simple truth. My latest review is over Faith and Pop Culture, a study series by Christianity Today.

This is unlike any study I have done recently. It is for the movie buffs, the art lovers, and anyone that loves to be entertained. There are 8 lessons, each covering a different topic over a separate art form, each lesson asking if "we can find Jesus in popular entertainment." It challenges its participants to examine what they are watching, reading, and playing and to truly seek Jesus in it.

Being a literature buff, the article "The Good News According to Twain, Steinbeck, and Dicken," caught my attention. In the discussion section of the lesson, they share a quote from this article:

Tolkien, Lewis, Frost, and even more contemporary authors like David Guterson, Charles
Frasier, Annie Dillard, and Anne Lamont are what led me back to the Bible and to Christ.
In their writings is the constant search, and an acceptance of sorts that, while we all sin and
fall short of the glory of God, we must strive toward that glory while giving love and
compassion to those around us. This is not an epiphany or a moment of clarity. This is a
lifetime of struggling with answers that belie their questions. It is a terrible honesty and,
finally, a hope that God will indeed dwell within us. What a dreadful and wonderful lesson to
learn.

This not only challenged me to start looking at literature in a different way, but to also share these insights with friends, colleagues, etc.

Every book I pick up, I look at in a new light. Every movie I watch, I find a lesson to share. I recommended this to anyone who feels like they are caught in the middle between their Christian faith and appreciating art. It puts ideas into perspective and shows that you don't have to sacrifice one for the other.