Book Review: Max Lucado's Fearless

In my continuing fun of reviewing books for Thomas Nelson Publishers, from whom I get free books in exchange for doing honest reviews (more info here), my next book is Max Lucado's Fearless.

Most people in American Christianity are familiar with Max Lucado. You may not like him, but you've probably heard of him. He's written or co-written several dozen books that are considered "inspirational" as well as participating in many children's books and projects. After so many books, one might think it's hard for Lucado to find something new to write about. Well, that assumption is both wrong and right.

That assumption is wrong because each of his books I have read tackle different problems. Fearless is no different. In this book, Lucado is talking about all of the things in life that can make people afraid. Whether it's the little issues in life or the big ones, this story brings out example after example of things that can be, well, scary. Lucado uses examples from historical figures, from his own life, and yes, from assumptions about you, his reader. Given his many years as a pastor, I don't doubt that each of his "anonymous hypothetical" situations have a solid basis in reality.

The assumption that he doesn't have anything new to say is also right. Lucado is, after all, a Bible-believing preacher. Whether he's writing about love, self-worth, or even fear, he's going to refer his readers to the Bible. He's going to take the examples of Christian Scripture and give guidance and instruction based on those. Which is, in fact, the great strength of Lucado's writing. His attitude is not that "Max has all the answers" but rather that "Max knows Who has all the answers."

Lucado's writing is straightforward. There's no need to search for hidden meanings in his words, no moments where you wonder where he's headed. There are some great insights and examples, and there will be moments where you think of things differently, perhaps, than you have before.

For those of you who live a life completely without fear, this book isn't for you. Buy a copy for a friend and help them get to where you are. For those of us that sometimes wake up in the night and start that litany of terrors, from burglars to terrorists to falling space debris, take a look here. You'll find the straightforward reminder that, even if the terrorists that scared away the burglars from your living room have just been hit by space debris, fear is unnecessary because we can trust God to deal with those things.

Fearless by Max Lucado is from Thomas Nelson Publishers. I should mention there's a discussion guide in the back to use the book from a group study. Which is interesting, since research claims that people fear public speaking more than anything else, including death. Also, there's a website with some excellent dynamic content at www.thefearlesstimes.com.

Also, many of you know that my lovely wife, Ann, also has a blog. Well, both of us got copies of Fearless from the Book Review Blogger program. So, why did we get two? Because we are going to give away a copy! How do you get one? Leave a comment on either blog by Wednesday, September 16th, midnight CDT, and you'll get one entry. Leave a comment on both blogs, and you'll get two entries. Leave comments on every blog that we participate in, and you'll be wasting a lot of time. Make sure we can identify you from your comment so we can contact you for an address to send the book to!

September 7 Daily Journal

September 7 2009—Daily Journal

Proverbs 9:2(NIV) →Wisdom is prepared for your coming. Growing in wisdom is not facing something that is unprepared!

Proverbs 7:1(NIV) →This is good advice. While there are some parts of knowledge that can be kept under file or on the shelf, there is wisdom that needs to be retained in our hearts and minds. It's not necessary to memorize the whole Bible, but some of it needs to be burned in our minds.

Proverbs 7:3(NIV) →Bind them on your fingers---let it be apparent not only to yourself, but obvious to the world that you are pursuing wisdom.

Proverbs 7:10(NIV) →“Dressed like a prostitute” men, does your wife own clothes that allow her to dress like a prostitute? Why? To please you? This woman is a wife, yet her husband has enabled her towards unfaithfulness. Don't setup a life that encourages your wife to be unfaithful.

Proverbs 7:26(NIV) →How many have been brought low by adultery? How many men falter over sexuality? Just yesterday Fox News was discussing a study, an actual funded scientific study, that showed that men have trouble focusing around beautiful women. Shocking, right? It's right here!!! Proverbs warns us of the same trouble.

Devotional Reading: Exodus 12:1-14 →Do we base our whole calendar around what God has done for us? I understand using standardized calendars to interact with the world, but why do we Christians operate as the only religion not to base our internal dating on our beliefs? And don't give me the AD/BC nonsense. Reasonable scholarship points to the Lord Jesus Christ being born between 6-4 BC, so that dog don't hunt. Anyway, not that we should really start a new system of dates, but that our own hearts should focus on that point.

Tomorrow's reading: Psalm 119:33-40

Hebrews 1:1 →God spoke, but only in portions through prophets. I think it's important to realize that men alone can only proclaim fractional parts of God's Word and His message. Even when inspired by the Spirit, it's incomplete. Only God can provide the complete Word.

Lifeway Sunday School: Psalm 9:1-8 →God is our righteous judge. I see more and more how un-Christian our Americanized culture of self-reliance is. We as God's people have got to learn better to rely solely on Him for what we need. This doesn't mean not going to work, but it does mean trusting in Him!!

Make-up posts for last Thursday's Sports and today's politics are coming. As are two book reviews this week, including Max Lucado's Fearless, which is coming tomorrow!

May God grant us peace with Him, and the trust in Him that keeps us when we have no peace anywhere else.

Doug

September 7 by Doug

It's 9-7, so I started off in chapter 9. Oops. Fox News reported on a study that showed men can't focus when they're around beautiful women, and I'm at home instead of the office, so I'm around my beautiful wife. So, can't focus.

Proverbs 9:2(NIV) →Wisdom is prepared for your coming. Growing in wisdom is not facing something that is unprepared!

Proverbs 7:1(NIV) →This is good advice. While there are some parts of knowledge that can be kept under file or on the shelf, there is wisdom that needs to be retained in our hearts and minds. It's not necessary to memorize the whole Bible, but some of it needs to be burned in our minds.

Proverbs 7:3(NIV) →Bind them on your fingers---let it be apparent not only to yourself, but obvious to the world that you are pursuing wisdom.

Proverbs 7:10(NIV) →“Dressed like a prostitute” men, does your wife own clothes that allow her to dress like a prostitute? Why? To please you? This woman is a wife, yet her husband has enabled her towards unfaithfulness. Don't setup a life that encourages your wife to be unfaithful.

Proverbs 7:26(NIV) →How many have been brought low by adultery? How many men falter over sexuality? Just yesterday Fox News was discussing a study, an actual funded scientific study, that showed that men have trouble focusing around beautiful women. Shocking, right? It's right here!!! Proverbs warns us of the same trouble.

Daily Journal--September 2 2009

September 2 2009—Daily Journal

Just for a quick laugh, click over to Dilbert.com and look at today's comic. Realize, folks, that it's not always a choice between 2 options.

Devotional reading: Romans 12:9-21 →v. 9 is enough to keep me busy today. Reading through this, I see very direct statements about how we ought to live. It's fascinating how many times I read a list like this and I start working in my mind to create loopholes in it. All the classic excuses: Times were different then; the early Christians didn't have a choice but be devoted; they weren't facing what I'm facing. The truth is, yes, times were different. People were basically the same though. Those who followed Christ struggled sometimes to do so. Those who opposed Him sometimes simply ignored Him and His followers. What difference does it really make whether we have cars or chariots?

Proverbs 2:4(NIV) →Wisdom can be hard to find. Just as silver takes effort to mine, and then effort to refine, so learning and acquiring wisdom is difficult. Interestingly, 1 Kings 10:21 tells us that silver wasn't considered valuable in Solomon's day, as it was too plentiful. This makes me wonder if the desire was to make wisdom as plentiful as silver in those days. Perhaps so.

Proverbs 2:6(NIV) →Wisdom isn't something that is man-designed, but is instead directly from the Lord God. As such, it's available to all who will seek Him for it, not just for those with means and access.

Proverbs 2:16-17(NIV) →I'm wondering here if wisdom protects not only from going to the wayward wife, but from creating the wayward wife. If a man acts with wisdom in marrying and in his marriage, this would give his wife many reasons to remain faithful. And he would choose one less likely to depart him.

Proverbs 2:21-22(NIV) →Realize that for the original audience of Proverbs, the land was a part of their identity. It wasn't about real estate ownership, it was about who they were and seeing God's faithfulness. In our day, this isn't a promise of staying on the family farm or in the family town. It's a promise that we will not lose our identity in Christ or fail to see the faithfulness of God.

Daniel 3: what is it with rulers and putting their image up? This just seems like an historical obsession for anyone in power. Guess what? We know what you look like, and even if we don't, you're still in charge. So drop it, alright. Repetition does not create admiration.

1 Timothy 2:12 →We're going to tackle this Sunday night. Hope you're ready for it.

Psalm 19:12-14 →There are intentional and unintentional ways in which we sin. God's word can keep us from both. The closing prayer here is one worth praying every day. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. What better things to ask for? If our hearts and words are right, our deeds will follow. God is personal, as revealed by the use of His covenant name here, and He is our stability, refuge, and the One who has bought us.

Doug

Proverbs 2---Sept. 2, 2009 by Doug

Proverbs 2:4(NIV) →Wisdom can be hard to find. Just as silver takes effort to mine, and then effort to refine, so learning and acquiring wisdom is difficult. Interestingly, 1 Kings 10:21 tells us that silver wasn't considered valuable in Solomon's day, as it was too plentiful. This makes me wonder if the desire was to make wisdom as plentiful as silver in those days. Perhaps so.

Proverbs 2:6(NIV) →Wisdom isn't something that is man-designed, but is instead directly from the Lord God. As such, it's available to all who will seek Him for it, not just for those with means and access.

Proverbs 2:16-17(NIV) →I'm wondering here if wisdom protects not only from going to the wayward wife, but from creating the wayward wife. If a man acts with wisdom in marrying and in his marriage, this would give his wife many reasons to remain faithful. And he would choose one less likely to depart him.

Proverbs 2:21-22(NIV) →Realize that for the original audience of Proverbs, the land was a part of their identity. It wasn't about real estate ownership, it was about who they were and seeing God's faithfulness. In our day, this isn't a promise of staying on the family farm or in the family town. It's a promise that we will not lose our identity in Christ or fail to see the faithfulness of God.

Doug

Prophetic Evidence of Scripture Part 3

Tuesday Theology—September 1 2009

Prophetic Evidence of Scripture Part 3

This is a little different than last week. Last week, there were some passages to look at that are debatable whether you accept the New Testament as accurate or not. Basically, these were Old Testament prophetic passages that we can look at today to see if they were fulfilled objectively.

There's another set of Old Testament prophecies that are a little harder to verify. What makes them hard to verify? They are prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah. And it's hard to verify because, as a Christian, I see them as fulfilled and explained in the New Testament. But, if you're not a Christian, you might not find the New Testament trustworthy. You might recognize that Isaiah 7:14 is a prophecy that the Messiah will be born of a virgin. I then look at Matthew 1 and say, “See? Fulfilled in Jesus!” You then respond “I don't think Matthew is being honest.” At this point, we've got an impasse.

So, I want to submit a thought to you about this. Based on several different sources, you can peg the number of Old Testament prophecies about the coming of the Messiah somewhere between 100 and over 400! Apparently, there are some areas that are in dispute. There are, though, about 60 that are very definite, and are demonstrably fulfilled in the New Testament life of the Lord Jesus Christ. Statistically speaking, you're dealing with a nearly impossible task of someone meeting these prophetic expectations unless the prophecies are accurate . Now, it's true that some prophecies could be deliberately fulfilled by a human actor, but who chooses the place of their birth? If you argue that God could choose it, and so Jesus chose Bethlehem just for the sake of fulfilling Micah 5:2, you're allowing that Jesus is God. If you consider “born of a virgin,” there's another that couldn't be deliberate. The Magi, the slaughter of the babies of Bethlehem, these are prophesied, and certainly would have been difficult for Joseph, Mary or Jesus to force into being.

My point is, you're really faced with option of acknowledging that these prophecies are accurate or that the New Testament is false, especially the Gospels. If you choose that opinion, I'd like to ask this question:

Why?

What good would it have been to falsify the story of Jesus Christ? If both religious and secular historical sources are to be believed, the first 150 years of supporting this story didn't profit anyone anything, if it was false. Why bother? Objective history supports that these writings were done before Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire in the 4 ^th Century AD, so it wasn't a political ploy. Even if it's a plot to undermine the Empire, it's got to be one of the most ill-conceived plots in history. Brutus and Cassius killed Caesar in a lot less time than it took Christians to take over Rome.

Do we think that a group of fisherman and tax collectors, surrounded as they were with redeemed sinners, former prostitutes, and a few wealthy people, thought that they could set up a religion that would eventually become the dominant force on a different continent than they lived on?

Seeing the strong interaction between Old Testament and New Testament shows the unity of Scripture. This also demonstrates the trustworthiness of the whole Bible, that those parts that seem not to have come true yet can be trusted. It may not be clear yet, but it can be trusted.

Doug

September 1 Daily Journal

September 1 2009—Daily Journal

Rolling back to the beginning of Proverbs. This month's translation: NIV. I've done NLT, NASB, KJV, NKJV, HCSB, ESV, and now NIV. Suggestions for next month's translation can be made in the comments, because I'm curious what some of you think!

Proverbs 1:1(NIV) →Just as an observation, even when you're the wisest king around, you're still someone's son. Your position and identity is still partially bound up in your family.

Proverbs 1:7(NIV) →This is the fruit of a foolish life: despising wisdom and discipline. If you claim to love the Lord, but despise His wisdom and discipline, it shows that you are instead a fool.

Proverbs 1:23(NIV) →We get multiple attempts to harken to wisdom's plea. We just don't take them!

Proverbs 1:33(NIV) →Considering our earthbound viewpoint, we mistake this for an error. But it's an eternal perspective!

Devotional reading: Psalm 26:1-8 →It should be true of me that, no matter what happens, I have walked in my integrity. This Psalm is a good reminder of that. In the preacher-world, it's easy to occasionally get wrapped up in all of the machinations and meeting of other people's expectations, that I lose sight of doing exactly what I know I should be doing. I must focus my life on walking in integrity before God. Then trust Him for the vindication.

Sunday School: Psalm 19:7-11 →I love the whole description of the aspects of God's Word. Then you get, “ in addition” or “moreover.” Do you see here how God's Word, His laws, instructions, precepts, ordinances, and commandments, basically all of it, are immeasurably valuable on their own merit . It's simply an addition to the value that they are useful for us. Read it again. Verse 11 is the kicker. This is a praise of the value of God's Word on its own, for its application to the world at large, with the side benefit being that the writer is warned and rewarded by them. Do we worship God this way? Recognizing His worth on its own? Or are we living in verse 11---we worship for what we get?

AM Sermon: Daniel 3. Take a read through it. Some quick background: this part of the OT is, as far as we have available, written in Aramaic, not Hebrew. Why does it matter? Aramaic was, as English is now, a somewhat universal language of the time. Not everyone knew it, but it was a language that was studied and recognized in many parts of the ancient world, at least from Greece to the Indus River. Aramaic was a language that crossed cultures, so this story, along with a few of the surrounding chapters, was accessible throughout the Empire, not just for the Jews. Why does that matter? It's one of clearest parts of Scripture about God's provision, protection, and personal involvement with His followers. Pretty good stuff to know.

PM Sermon: Topic: Teaching Authority: Where does teaching authority come from in the church? What is the source for your answer?

Tuesday Theology will come a little late today. I've got meetings this morning.

Doug