Archive for the ‘Book Reviews’ Category

Posted on August 27, 2009 - by Stephen Murray

Michael Jensen’s ‘you’: a review

‘Who are you?’ – it’s almost become a little bit of conversational humour to talk about people ‘finding themselves’ or getting to grips with who ‘you’ really are – as if most of us are fairly secure people comfortable with our identity and purpose in this giant universe. The short amount of time I’ve spent as a pastor suggests to me that it’s not really the case for so many people. For so many the answer to the question ‘who are you?’ is a fairly difficult and perturbing question to answer. Anxiety seems to be the lot of many as they try to figure out what it means to be a functional and purposeful human being in this world.

Into this rather large and daunting question comes Michael Jensen’s book ‘You: an introduction’. Musing over an upcoming season of Big Brother Michael writes,

‘It got me thinking about human beings. Who are we really? What are we supposed to be like? What – or whose – purpose do we serve?’ (p.7)

He takes this question and he runs with it investigating all that anxiety and baggage along the way. Michael writes very simply and shows a good understanding of the thought life of many younger folk in the west as he tackles often unspoken questions about our bodies (ch.5), our freedom (ch.6), sexuality and gender (ch.10) and a whole lot of other appendages that make up the current human disposition and dilemma.

As he approaches each subject he has a very helpful way of opening the subject, identifying its connection to the human condition and then, more often than not, tracing out the story of Jesus as he purposefully entered history to tell us just exactly who ‘you’ are. His simple thesis seems to me to be that God is God and you are not, but…you can figure out something of who you are by looking at Jesus. A book that is engaging sending out that message must surely be helpful and useful – Michael’s book is.

I particularly enjoyed the way he would navigate an issue, deal with objections and point to Christ. Consider this section from his chapter entitled ‘Body’

‘To you, Paul’s teaching that “You are not your own” (1 Cor 6:19) might be repulsive, sounding very much like a justification for the use of one body by another. Victims of child sexual abuse may feel as if their bodies have been stolen from them by another. (That the abusers of the bodies of children and young people have been allowed to carry on in churches with the merest slap on the wrist is appalling – not just because of the evil itself, but because we church people have failed in our responsibility to keep the body of Christ pure.) To the feminist movement, the use and abuse of the individual female body by society is blamed, at least in part, on church attitudes. The argument in favour of abortion rights is, in fact, an argument about rights over bodies. And Christian opposition to abortion is seen as an attempt to subdue and control the bodies of women further.

But there is a difference: Jesus Christ has not stolen our bodies, or bullied his way into power over them. He has bought them – bought them at the cost of his own body. He does not make us his victims in order to subdue and control our bodies. Instead, he becomes the victim: he voluntarily submits his body to be victimized – to be pierced, nails driven through his hands and feet, and a spear into his side – in order to purchase freedom for our bodies, releasing us from the control of evil.’ (p.48)

The book has an openness and simplicity that endears me towards it in a way that other Christian books on similar subjects just don’t. It tackles a hard question without making you feel like an idiot just because you haven’t figured out who ‘you’ are yet like the clever author has. I think it could be an exceptionally helpful tool particularly in student and young adult ministry although I’m sure there are a number of older adults who are just as unclear about that big question as young people are.

I know I’m supposed to say something negative at some point about the book, but I actually really enjoyed it. So for the sake of posterity I thought the cover was a bit of an eyesore – but that’s probably not Michael’s fault. Great book, I recommend you read it and use it.

Posted on August 19, 2009 - by Stephen Murray

Revive 09

No it’s not a major worship conference happening in Cape Town anytime soon – it’s an attempt to re-launch my sorry efforts at blogging this year. I know you’re tired of reading sob stories on blogs with pseudo-bloggers crying over their failed attempts to write consistently or find the time in their busy schedules to actually blog. Well I hope 3 years of consistent blogging is enough of a track record so that you take my “I’m gonna make a go of it” seriously. Yes this year has been a blip, but things happen (i.e. marriage, new job, church plant etc.)

Here’s my plan for the next few weeks:

I hope to post a bit about the build up to Robin and I heading to Redeemer Church Planting Center for most of September and October (I’ll be covering the trip with some detail on this blog when I’m over there).

I hope to finally post my review of Michael Jensen’s great little book ‘You‘. (Michael – Yes I feel like a Dog!)

I hope to give you a bit of run down in terms of what I’ve been preaching on lately and links to some of the audio.

And I hope to fill your time with a bunch of other interesting (although sometimes random) things I’m learning about church planting this year.

Here’s to this blog being revived while it’s still 2009.

Posted on December 24, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

Top 8 for 2008: Everything

Who was I kidding? There’s no way I’m going to find the time to write a series of ‘top 8 for 2008′ posts between now and the end of the year so instead I’ll simply cram them all into one post. So here you have it, my top 8 for 2008 of everything!

Top 8 things I did or experienced in 2008:

1. Got married! (October)
2. Got engaged! (March)
3. Started planning and implementing a church plant (All year – but especially last three months)
4. Heard Piper, Driscoll, Chandler and Mahaney at the Resurgence Conference at Mars Hill in Seattle, spent time at the Journey Church in St Louis and met a whole lot of great peeps from Acts 29, and others, in the States (February)
5. Was taught Deuteronomy by Gary Millar – the best Old Testament teacher I’ve been taught by to date (September)
6. Road up Sani Pass – my first real 4×4 experience behind the wheel (October)
7. Decided to stay in Cape Town long term – gotta love this city (March)
8. Had my thinking about the gospel deepened and enriched ten times over by Tim Keller through numerous mp3s, articles and the odd blog comment (throughout the year)

Top 8 Blogs I followed in 2008 (See my 2007 list here):

1. Church Planting Novice – Jonathan Dodson. A newcomer to the list, this blog has been perfect for where I’m at in my thinking at the moment. So much wisdom and insight from a guy on the ground.
2. Between Two Worlds – Justin Taylor. Last year’s number 1 drops down one place – but still a great blog.
3. Tim Chester. Up from last year’s number 7 spot. Tim’s writing never stops enlightening, challenging and encouraging all at the same time.
4. John Scheepers. Give it up for the Saffa bloggers! John is a friend of mine who writes a great blog and brings a welcome voice to the South African Christian blogsphere.
5. Drew Goodmanson. Down from #2 – sorry Drew. Drew doesn’t post very often, but when he does its almost always worthwhile.
6. Justin Moffat. Another newcomer to the list. Justin writes an informative and challenging blog with an Anglican slant – I’ve enjoyed it a lot this year.
7. Michael Jensen. Michael drops down from last years 3rd but still turns out great post after great post. Plus he sent me a copy of his new book which I’ll be reviewing here shortly.
8. Jason Allen. Jason was one of the first people I became ‘blog friends’ with when I started blogging. I’ve always enjoyed his blog and the sanity he brings to some current trends that rage through the church blogging world.

Top 8 Books for 2008 (books I read this year – most of them are older than 2008 – please note that the books are a little one-sided topically because most of my reading this year revolved around my dissertation):

1. Total Church – Steve Timmis and Tim Chester. Ok so I first read it in 2007 but I’ve read it several times this year because of my dissertation and I still think its the most important book I’ve ever read on ecclesiology.
2. The Reason for God – Tim Keller. The first apologetics book that I feel comfortable giving to my friends.
3. Planting Missional Churches – Ed Stetzer. Great book with practical insight. Really helpful for where I’m at.
4. The Forgotten Ways – Alan Hirsch. Really good yet at times frustrating. I’m on the same page as Hirsch with a number of things – I guess I’m just a bit more conservative on one or two others.
5. Breaking the Missional Code – Ed Stetzer and David Putman. Another great help on all things missional.
6. On the Incarnation – Athanasius. I delved into a bit of church history this year and thoroughly enjoyed this one.
7. The King of God’s Kingdom – David Seccombe. Dr Seccombe (Doc) was my New Testament lecturer this year and so I got a chance to have a crack at his book. It’s a great overview of Christ in the gospels.
8. Jesus and the Victory of God – NT Wright. Vintage Wright – I don’t agree with him at every point but this is an important book.

Top 8 places I visited in 2008

1. Seattle, Washington, USA
2. St Louis, Missouri, USA
3. Castleburn, Drakensburg, KZN
4. Sani Pass, Lesotho
5. Lost City, Sun City, North West Province
6. Franschoek, Western Cape
7. Betty’s Bay, Western Cape
8. Durban, KZN (my old stomping ground)

That’s my year in a nutshell. It’s been the year with the biggest changes in my life to date. Not only did I get married but we decided to stay in Cape Town and plant churches here rather than in Durban. Things have come a long way in the last 12 months – here’s to an equally exciting 2009.

Merry Christmas all – have a great one!

Posted on June 23, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

Re:Lit on the Web

The literature arm of the Resurgence, in partnership with Crossway Books, have their own website now where you can see published and up and coming titles.

Posted on April 9, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

If I Were to Write A Book…

If I were to write a book what would it be about? I’ve often thought about this so I’m going to give you my answer and then tag some other people with the same question.

If I were to write a book I’d like to write something on the subject of ‘authenticity’ in the Christian life. I know this is one of the major concerns of the Emerging Church and its one of the reasons that the EC resonates with me. I don’t think I’d be good and showing the church exactly how to be authentic – that would just be arrogant. But I would like to poke some fun at some of the bogus expressions and ideas that are afloat in the broader Christian community and then maybe tentatively suggest some ways forward. These are the areas I’d like to tackle:

Bogus ideas about the Bible.

Bogus ideas about guidance.

Fake expressions of community.

Fake expressions of spiritual experience.

All that is bogus in the contemporary Christian ‘worship’ (music) scene.

Preaching that leaves the listener unconvinced because of lack of conviction.

And there are others I could think of…

I’d like to take some pot shots at a number of different expressions and traditions of the Christian church (The emergents, the calvinists, the arminians, the charismatics, the roman catholics, the seeker-sensitive crowd, and many others). My aim wouldn’t be to run down the church but rather just to give us a reality check of what we really look like and to begin a conversation about how we might restore authenticity before a watching world that craves it.

So that’s what I’d write – I wonder what the following people would write:

Ant, Chris, Jeremy, Jeff and Jason – consider yourselves TAGGED.

Posted on April 4, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

CT Reviews Keller

Christianity Today has a review up of Tim Keller’s book ‘The Reason for God’

Posted on February 1, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

Looking for Justice?

Jeremy Carr points out what looks to be a valuable resource for Christians wanting to know how to apply the biblical call for justice in a practical manner. Maybe you’ve heard sermons or talks about ‘doing justice’ but not sure what that looks like in everyday life then perhaps this is a resource you should check out. As Jeremy says,

“Above all, may we be sure that we truly seek justice and do not stand to the side with our hands in our pockets as we ramble off multi-syllable theological words.  After all, “No statement, theological or otherwise, should be made that would not be credible in the presence of burning children” (Irving Greenberg, writer on the Holocaust, quoted in David P. Gushee, The Righteous Gentile of the Holocaust).”

For more on justice and fighting injustice check out the International Justice Mission.

Posted on January 10, 2008 - by Stephen Murray

I’ve been tagged by Sets ‘n’ Service

Tony has tagged me about my reading habits – so here goes:

ONE BOOK THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE:

I Believe in Preaching – John Stott This book changed my life when I discovered that as I preacher I was not free to say what I wanted to say but was instead completely captive to and under the control of the text.

ONE BOOK THAT YOU’VE READ MORE THAN ONCE:

Guidance and the Voice of God – Phillip Jensen and Tony Payne This book liberated me from an over-spiritualized and unbiblical view of how God tells me what he he wants. It saved me much heartache. I just wish more people would read it, get rid of all the silly-ness and save themselves that heartache.

ONE BOOK YOU’D WANT ON A DESERT ISLAND:

Great Joy – JI Packer  This little 31 day devotional helped me at a really tough time. I still pick it up every so often to be reminded of why I have joy in Christ.

TWO BOOKS THAT MADE YOU LAUGH:

Confessions of a Reformission Rev. – Mark Driscoll Its no secret that I’m a bit of Driscoll fan and the one thing you can’t deny about him is that whether speaking or in writing the man has a great sense of humour.

Blue Like Jazz – Donald Miller Don Miller’s book is a classic as far as I’m concerned – he weaves together humour with a brutally honest look at his own spirituality.

ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY:

The Kingdom of God in Africa – Mark Shaw Reading the accounts of some of the pioneer missionaries to my beautiful continent of Africa always makes the tears well up.

ONE BOOK YOU WISH HAD BEEN WRITTEN:

A New Testament theology of the Church – Peter O’Brien. As far as I’m concerned there aren’t many better New Testament exegetes out there today. I know O’Brien has written a few essays here and there on church but I’d like him to write a fairly comprehensive treatment of the subject that goes beyond just the meaning of the term ‘ekklesia’ and looks at the many rich metaphors that the NT uses for the church.

ONE BOOK YOU ARE CURRENTLY READING:

A Clear and Present Word – Mark D. Thompson This is both a fascinating read and I think an absolutely crucial read for our contemporary context. Its also highly readable which helps.

ONE BOOK YOU’VE BEEN MEANING TO READ:

Neither Poverty nor Riches – Craig L. Blomberg Its sitting there on my shelf along with a dozen other books waiting to be read.

Right, my turn to tag some peeps – I tag:

Dion, Kyle, Jeff, Ant, Chris, Jeremy and Michael – You guys are it!

Posted on October 27, 2007 - by Stephen Murray

Getting Books Quicker

Justin Taylor has just pointed out that Pierced for Our Transgressions (a UK publication) has finally arrived in the States. Now get this – I visited a book store here in Cape Town over a month ago and the book was already on the shelf there. So for all of you out there who always complain that us South Africans get everything after everyone else – cheer up, things get here quicker than you think.

Posted on October 6, 2007 - by Anthony

It’s a Changing World…

Its funny, you go away for a couple weeks and everything seems to have changed. Looking into the blogosphere today is like driving through a new city; everything is different. Such is the nature of our world, ever changing which I suppose is why Brian McLaren has written a new book on why “Everything must Change”. Stephen posted something on this a while ago, he linked a review over at Tim Challies blog. But here is something from Scot McKnight, a friend of the Emergent. Should be interesting to see how he tackles this book. I have not read the book myself, but from first glance it seems interesting, especially since McLaren’s 4 systems seem to propose a certain metanarrative.