Book Review: Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey

Thought provoking and challenging!

“Why does the church stir up such negative feelings?” Philip Yancey has been asking this all his life as a journalist. His perennial question is more relevant now than ever: in a twenty-year span starting in the mid-nineties, research shows that favorable opinions of Christianity have plummeted drastically—and opinions of Evangelicals have taken even deeper dives.

The end of the politics-oriented Evangelicalism that was so dominant in the second half of the 20th century is a strong example that we are living in a post-Christian culture.

Yet while the opinions about Christianity are dropping, interest in spirituality is rising. Why the disconnect? Why are so many asking, “What’s so good about the “Good News?”

Yancey’s writing has focused on the search for honest faith that makes a difference for a world in pain. In his landmark book What’s So Amazing about Grace he issued a call for Christians to be as grace-filled in their behavior as they are in declaring their beliefs.

But people inside and outside the church are still thirsty for grace. What the church lacked in its heyday is now exactly what it needs to recover to thrive. Grace can bring together Christianity and our post-Christian culture, inviting outsiders as well as insiders to take a deep second look at why our faith matters and about what could reignite its appeal to future generations.

How can Christians offer grace in a way that is compelling to a jaded society? And how can they make a difference in a world that cries out in need?

Yancey aims this book at Christian readers, showing  them how Christians have lost respect, influence, and reputation in a newly post-Christian culture. “Why do they hate us so much?” mystified Americans ask about the rest of the world.  A similar question applies to evangelicals in America.

Yancey explores what may have contributed to hostility toward Evangelicals, especially in their mixing of faith and politics instead of embracing more grace-filled ways of presenting the gospel.  He offers illuminating stories of how faith can be expressed in ways that disarm even the most cynical critics.  Then he explores what is Good News and what is worth preserving in a culture that thinks it has rejected Christian faith.

My Review

Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey is a thought provoking work that dives deep into the heart of grace and questions whether Christians are accurately communicating the message of the cross to a hungry and hurting world.  As with his previous work:  What’s So Amazing About Grace  published in 1997, the reader should be prepared to have their toes stepped on…ouch!! 

Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey takes a purposeful look at the way the gospel is being presented in churches today.  After reading this book, I have a greater awareness and appreciation for how I communicate the message of Christ.  Philip Yancey presents the idea that a large percentage of churches in America have steered away from grace and veered toward a harsh and often judgmental presentation of the gospel.  The question submitted is one for careful consideration.  Has the church, as a whole, whether purposefully or inadvertently, turned our pews into more of an arena of arrogance and condemnation rather than a place of acceptance and healing?  This question forms the foundation for the entire book.  Yancey does a magnificent job of exploring the possibility that far too many churches are missing the one thing that matters most to effectively share the love of Christ.  That “one thing” is simple the word- grace.  

Vanishing Grace challenges the reader (especially the Christian reader) to consider the possibility that we have in many cases handled the message of Christ with an extreme amount of forceful theology and too little mercy and grace.  Yancey identifies that there are a large number of people he labels “post Christians” (those who have at one time chosen Christianity and then chosen to leave it) in the population that have had a negative experience with the church setting due to an environment of critical perfectionism and useless pious attitudes. 

Philip Yancey does not leave the reader with hopelessness, however.  He does a phenomenal job of drafting ideas for how to live out grace in a more effective manner.  He throws down the challenge that we MUST press on in the fight against injustice.  He references early Christian movements that were paramount in ending human atrocities, such as the Roman time period when gladiatorial games and infanticide were rampant and including recent campaigns against abuses of slavery and sexual trafficking. 

Vanishing Grace cautions that the Christian should choose battles wisely.  He writes, “The more Christians focus on tangential issues, the less we will be heard on matters of true moral significance.”  He asserts that we should keep priorities of the Bible as our focus.  He encourages that a Christian should fight our battles carefully and with an abundance of grace.  Yancey reminds us that the terms “illegal and immoral” are not the same and that our morality cannot be forced on a society.  He warns Christians to keep church and state separate.

This is a very deeply moving book and requires time to fully absorb each of the ideas and challenges that Yancey proposes.  It is not a quick read, as it engages a level of pondering that will bathe you in reflection.  Vanishing Grace will encourage you to be a “grace dispenser” through that of a “pilgrim, activist, or artist” as identified by your calling to Christ.

Thank you to Zondervan Publishing for this Review Copy of Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey through the BookLook Bloggers program.  I was not required to write a favorable review of this work.  The opinions within the review are strictly my own.

Book Review: Spiritually Strong~The Ultimate 6-Week Guide to Building Your Body and Soul by Kristen Feola

This book is loaded with tangible nuggets of applicable counsel.

Spiritually Strong is a six-week program designed to help you get in better shape spiritually and physically. As Timothy says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (4:8). This book teaches you how to train yourself in godliness through the implementation of six disciplines—Bible study, prayer, fasting, healthy living, financial stewardship, and serving others.

By exercising your spiritual core on a daily basis, you will learn to:

• Study the Bible and understand what God is saying to you.
• Pray with power.
• Incorporate periodic fasting into your life.
• Honor God with your body through nutritious eating and exercise.
• Practice good stewardship of the resources God has given you.
• Serve others in humility as an outward demonstration of God’s love.

As you learn to submit to God in each of these areas of your life, you’ll discover the joy that accompanies self-discipline. Your daily steps of obedience will translate into giant strides in your walk with the Lord.

My Review:

Spiritually Strong: The Ultimate 6-Week Guide to Building  Your Body and Soul by Kristen Feola is loaded with tangible nuggets of applicable counsel to enhance your walk with the Lord.  This book is definitely worth your attention as the author pairs her passion for the Lord together with her Personal Training expertise in a winning combination to bring about positive transformation in the life of the reader!   

Spiritually Strong:  The Ultimate 6-Week Guide to Building Your Body and Soul by Kristen Feola is a straightforward no nonsense look at how to directly apply the truths of God’s word to nearly every area of the reader’s life.  The book’s main theme is the fundamental principle that to gain an increased spiritual awareness in one’s life, it is essential that we develop our heart, soul, and body through structured daily disciplines.  The ideology that “you cannot be a disciple without discipline” is a repetitive message consistently conveyed throughout the reading of this work. 

Utilizing an abundant amount of scripture references coupled with many quotes from renowned theologians for confirmation, Feola’s stand on an active pursuance of Christ through aggressive self management is clear.  She is candid and authentic throughout the book, as she shares struggles and challenges that she has encountered at various junctures in her life.  She is very encouraging and assures the reader that persistence and submission will translate into a more meaningful and joyous relationship with the Lord. 

Feola provides a beautiful picture of what a strong relationship with the Lord should look like as she reflects upon her own walk with God.  She asserts that the key to obtaining such closeness to Christ is through a consistent disciplined plan.  She breaks down the significant areas of focus into six divisions: bible study, prayer, fasting, healthy living, financial stewardship, and serving. 

The final portion of the book lays out a six week program designed to help the reader become a more spiritually and physically strong person.  Each day of the week is methodically organized into six a fore mentioned categories with a specific action plan provided under each heading.  Feola provides a detailed blueprint of the day beginning with the study of God’s word conjoined with a responsive prayer and progressing with ideas for meals, exercise, money, and service projects.

This is book is a great resource.

I was very excited to read Spiritually Strong: The Ultimate 6-Week Guide to Building Your Body and Soul, because of my previous and continued experience with the book: The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast Diet by Kristen Feola.  I found this maiden voyage book to be filled with a plethora of wonderful devotions and delicious healthful recipes to feed my heart and tummy.  I have utilized (and continue to use) her first book throughout the years, as you can see from the dog eared pages and highlighted recipes.  After reading this latest book, I am certain that within a year or two, it too will have a worn look from much page turning and referencing.

Kristen’s desire to see people grow closer to the Lord through daily discipline is clearly perceptible in this soon to be released book: Spiritually Strong~The Ultimate 6-Week Guide to Building Your Body and Soul.  Her enthusiasm is contagious.  You will be enriched and enlightened after reading this book!  Pre-order here.  This book will be released January 6, 2015.

Thank you to Zondervan Publishing for this Review Copy of Spiritually Strong by Kristen Feola.  I was not required to write a favorable review, only to read this work in its entirety.  The opinions within the review are strictly my own.

Keep Your Armor On~God Can Handle This

Ephesians 6:13(MSG)
Be prepared.  You're up against far more than you can handle on your own.  Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet.

Last night's prayer service at our church was beautiful.  There is certainly something to be said about the children of God gathering together in one accord.  Making the conscious decision to brave the cold weather and worship the King of Kings must earn a person some sort of extra jewel in their crown...right?  Not really...I'm just joshing you :).  

Keep Your Armor On~God Can Handle This

But seriously, it is such a privilege to be able to come before the Lord without fear and in the spiritual freedom of worship.  Our pastor, David Lindell reminded us of that. I'm never sorry that I've gone to the House of God. Generally, when I leave, I'm walking away with a stronger resolve to fight the good fight;  a deeper commitment to put Christ and the cross before me and the world behind me....no turning back. (Okay...those aren't my words...that's from a song we sang during worship...but it's so true!  If you want to hear the whole song entitled: Christ Is Enough-Hillsong click here.)  

Before the concentrated prayer time last evening, we studied Ephesians 6:10-13.  These verses are a strong reminder that as we take up our shield and put on our armor to fight the enemy, we should leave it on. There isn't a time when we take it off and then put it back on.  It needs to be on all the time, because we never know when the darts of Satan might be trying to strike us.  What a great picture of the need to stay in His Word and live out the acknowledgement that He is ever near to us!  He is our rock....our fortress....our shelter.  I've already prayed for you as you're reading this....that God will make Himself undeniably real to you today! 

Almighty Father,
You are so good to have provided us with protection from Satan and his demonic parade. Help me to leave the armor in place, so that I am safeguarded and shielded from the fiery darts that are flung my way.  Thank you for supplying Your strength and covering for the battles we each face on a daily basis. 
In Christ's name,
Amen

My Dog Lucy

Psalm 119:85(MSG)
The arrogant godless try to throw me off track, ignorant as they are of God and His ways.

It doesn't take much to throw me off track these days.  I don't know if it's my age or what.  I mean let's be candid, I am pushing 50 years on this planet....that's 350 years for a dog!  Holy smokes!  That's half a century!! Perhaps another contributing factor could be the extraordinarily large amount of information that is available to me at the swipe of a screen. I suppose it could be a combination of both, but it's definitely a constant battle for me to stay on task and I don't think it's got anything to do with the "arrogant godless" this time.  


Here's the real deal. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that we are living in a world that is too busy.  Good grief, the things I can do now that weren't provided even a mere ten years ago is mind boggling!  I can check e-mails while I'm brushing my teeth.  It's not uncommon for me to look at the weather radar while I'm cooking dinner.  I frequently find myself reviewing all of the latest news events as I'm sitting in the car line waiting to pick my daughter up from school.  Oh yes, and there's Twitter, Facebook, Google+, blogs, etc....etc. Great. Or is it? 

I'm not sure what the answer is there, but I am sure of one thing.  When I do derail and inadvertently switch tracks, I usually end up falling behind on what I had intended to accomplish.  When that happens, my stress level goes way up. When my stress and anxiety go up....my "God ways" and certainly my God awareness go down.  Uh-oh... 

Did you know looking into a loving dog's eyes will increase
 endorphin (neurotransmitters that decrease stress)
 release in your body?  This is Lucy...in case
you don't have one of these at home and need
a little stress reduction today.
  

This is a picture of my dog, Lucy.  She is a beautiful cockapoo who brings so much joy into our home.  I am a firm believer in the stress relieving capabilities of a friendly pet. No surprise there, as they are one of God's biggest blessings to us humans!  You may not agree with that, but this is my blog, so I get to freely voice my opinions :).  Anyway, as awesome as she is, if I multiply that times infinity, my answer will still not compare to the stress relief that I find at the foot of the cross as I look into the eyes of my Savior.  He is certainly the biggest stress reducer of them all.  I hope you'll agree with that one!



Lord,
Thank you that I am created to be known by You.  I am so grateful that I don't have to hide from You.  You know when I sit and when I rise.  You discern my thoughts from afar.  You know, Oh God, a word before it is even on my tongue.  What freedom to know Your loving eyes are upon me.  What comfort to acknowledge that we don't have to live under the burden of stress or fear because of Your sacrifice.  (Psalm 139)
  
Oh...and thank You for these beautiful creatures that you have given us to enjoy.

In Christ's Name,
Amen 

Book Review: Motherless by Erin Healy

2 Corinthians 12:9(MSG)  

My grace is enough;  it's all you need.  My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

                          Motherless by Erin Healy

A whispering voice at the back of my mind reminds me that I’ve been this way for some time. Dead, that is.

Motherless by Erin Healy
A five star graceful mystery!

The dead have a very broad view of the living, of actions performed out of sight, of thoughts believed to be private. I would know. Losing both parents is a trial no child should endure, and Marina and Dylan have endured enough. They deserve the one thing I could never give them: a mother’s love.

A mother’s love, and the truth.

My children have believed a lie about me for years and years. After all this time I can still feel their hurt in my heart. But the tether holding me to them is frayed from years of neglect . . . and I have to find a way to make my confession before it snaps.

But when the truth comes out, what other beasts will I unleash?

“Why do we lie to the children?” someone asked me once.

“To protect them,” I answered.

How terrible it is that they need protection from me.

My Personal Review

Motherless by Erin Healy is the suspense filled mystery of the year!  This book will engage the reader from start to finish as the interlocking characters twist their way through the pages.

Motherless by Erin Healy has earned the title "top favorite fiction read of the year" award on my list! This novel to be released  November 11, 2014 will have the reader shaking their head with intrigue as they forge ahead in rapid page turning succession (or swiping for those E-readers out there:).  As with her previous books, it is difficult to put Motherless down once you get started.

Now, before I continue, I must confess that I am admittedly an Erin Healy enthusiast.  I jumped aboard the "fan" wagon with her publication of the books:  Afloat and Stranger Things and I somewhat obsessively watch for her new releases to snatch them up. Why? Because Erin not only entertains the reader with her creative mind, but she also manages to simultaneously bring awareness to a culturally relevant subject matter.  The themes within her books are usually hot topic buttons that our society has tried to gently brush under the rug or items that we feel somewhat uncomfortable talking about.  

Motherless by Erin Healy manages to present the subject of mental illness through the life of one of the main characters with a respectful authenticity that is very believable.  The obstacles that an individual suffering with a mental health illness have placed before them are infinite and immense.  The responsibility that a family dealing with an afflicted loved one must bear is communicated throughout the book with inventiveness and truth.  The layers of guilt, shame and regret for past mistakes in the handling of the afflicted individuals behavior are also scrolled throughout the character's hearts and minds.   

As I began reading the first few chapters of the book, I quickly found myself (for my older readers out there) thinking of the movie, Ghost with Patrick Swayze.  The way in which the main character, Garrett is able to see the earthly happenings of his family and minimally convey his presence, despite their inability to make the connection is quite similar to the 1990 film.  As the book proceeds, there is a similarity to Charles Dickens' novella A Christmas Story released in 1893, wherein Ebenezer Scrooge finds himself reviewing his life with ghosts from the past.  In this classic, of course, Scrooge takes a tally of all of the negative choices he has made while he inhabited the earth and applies them upon his awakening.

Do not be confused by my comparisons, however, this is not a rewrite of a tried and true Christmas time classic.  This book is written for today's readers swirling through a wild current of mental health issues as lived out in the lives of several of the family members. Motherless by Erin Healy will take the reader on a compelling, rousing, and soul stirring journey.  The message of hope and the constant undercurrent that God's grace and mercy really are enough to cover our inequities is an undeniable communication throughout the book.  This work is a mysterious and complicated thriller that you won't want to miss!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc for this review copy of Motherless by Erin Healy.  The thoughts expressed within this review are strictly my own. I was not required to give a favorable review of this work;  I was only required to read the book in it's entirety and render a transparent opinion.