MBR: The Christian Studies Shelf

The Christian Studies Shelf

A Simpler Faith
Ed Galisewski
Samizdat Creative
9780983328025, $14.99, www.thecompletesolution.com

Faith can at time seem so confusing. "A Simpler Faith" is a to the
point discussion of faith from an everyday 'Joe Palooka' in his words,
as he seeks to inspire faith in those who may have been turned away
from their faith in recent times. Encouraging faith in Christ, instead
of the demonationalism and other things that get in the way of the
message, he hopes to help those who are at the end of their rope, and
advises them on how they can change it for the better. "A Simpler
Faith" is a strong pick for those who are strongly contemplating
abandoning the church.

What Do You Think of Me? Why Do I Care?
Edward T. Welch
New Growth Press
2007 Yanceyville Street, Suite 3600
Greensboro, NC 27405
9781935273868, $12.99, www.newgrowthpress.com

We see ourselves in others opinions. "What Do You Think of Me? Why Do
I Care?: Answers to the Big Questions in Life" discusses the natural
search for approval that will all face in our life, and why rejection
hurts us so much. Offering a thoughtful discussion in the Christian
context, Edward T. Welch offers much thought on sociology and how to
understand ourselves and our relationships. "What Do You Think of Me?
Why Do I Care?" is a choice pick for Christian self-help collections,
recommended.

Hope Underground
Carlos Parra Diaz
Imago Dei Books
1030 Hunt Valley Circle
New Kensington, PA 15068
9780986979958, $14.99, www.tbbmedia.com

Through hope and determination through all involved, crisis was
averted. "Hope Underground: The 34 Chilean Miners: A Story of Faith
and Miracles" discusses the struggles of the Chilean miners, whose
rescue seemed hopeless. Attributing much to faith, Carlos Parra Diaz
shares their story and how tragedy turned to triumph, and the will of
God to place his hand where it is needed. "Hope Underground: The 34
Chilean Miners" is a devoted story of the power of faith, highly
recommended.

The Other Face of God
Mary Jo Leddy
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570759109, $20.00, www.orbisbooks.com

THE OTHER FACE OF GOD: WHEN THE STRANGER CALLS US HOME is from a woman
who lives with refugees at Romero House, a temporary shelter in
Toronto, and who presents her insights on Christ and the church.
Examples of refugees who came through extraordinary circumstances to
survive offer fine religious and spiritual connections between
Christianity and social issues in this powerful survey for any
Christian library.

Teaching and Christian Practices
David I. Smith & James K.A. Smith, editors
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802866851 $27.00 www.eerdmans.com

Teaching and Christian Practices: Reshaping Faith & Learning collects
essays by distinguished university professors, discussing how historic
Christian practices have effected their curriculum strategies.
Specific writings include "Reading Practices and Christian Pedagogy:
Enacting Charity with Texts", "From Tourists to Pilgrims: Christian
Practices and the First-Year Experience", "Christian Practices and
Technical Courses: Making Integral Connections" and more. A thoughtful
resource for examining the harmonious and potentially beneficial side
of the co-existence between faith and pedagogy, Teaching and Christian
Practices is especially recommended for the libraries of religious
schools and colleges.

Lutheranism 101
Scot A. Kinnaman and Laura L. Lane, editors
Concordia Publishing House
3558 South Jefferson Avenue
Saint Louis, MO 63118-3968
9780758625052, $19.99, www.cph.org

Lutheranism has the distinction as the original protestant faith, but
what was Luther's teachings really about? "Lutheranism 101" is a
Christian reference for those who want to gain a better understanding
of Lutheranism and what the church stands for. Telling the history of
the faith, what differentiates it from other Christian sects, and much
more, "Lutheranism 101" provides an excellent, easy to read, and fun
study of the faith, a choice addition to any Christian studies
collection.

Grace Notes
Brian Doyle
ACTA Publications
4848 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60640
9780879464349, $14.95, www.actapublications.com

The Catholic Church is more than Latin and funny hats. "Grace Notes"
is a collection of thirty seven short stories by Brian Doyle, granting
a vivid image of the modern Catholic, who lives his life while
revering their faith. Poignant and honest, Doyle's stories seek to
give understanding of modern Catholicism and what it means to their
followers. "Grace Notes" is a solid addition to any Christian literary
collection.

Answer to Common Questions About Jesus
H. Wayne House & Timothy J. Demy
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
9780825426544, $10.99, www.kregelpublications.com

Christ is the central figure surrounding Christianity, but even among
Christians, some thins aren't universally understood. "Answer to
Common Questions About Jesus" is a guide to Biblical studies from H.
Wayne House & Timothy Demy as they guide readers through what they
need to know about the role of Jesus in not only Christianity, but
other faiths and his role in secular history. Scholarly and thoughtful
from non-evangelical source, "Answer to Common Questions about Jesus"
is a top pick for those who want to understand the faith from an
academic standpoint.

Gospel
JD Greear
B&H Publishing Group
127 Ninth Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37234-0143
9781433673122, $14.99, www.bhpublishinggroup.com

Love is a major virtue of Christianity, but too much love has been
given to the self. "Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made
Christianity Revolutionary" is JD Greear's call to a return to gospel-
driven faith, calling for love of others, for Christianity to live for
the community, and not for himself, being critical of many of the
actions of modern churches, stating the message of the gospel has
fallen aside in favor of other goals. "Gospel" is worth considering
for any pastor who believes the message is being lost.

Missional Spirituality
Roger Helland & Leonard Hjalmarson
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400
Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830838073, $16.00, www.ivpress.com

Spreading one's faith can be done in a daily manner. "Missional
Spirituality: Embodying God's Love from the Inside Out" is a guide to
living as a Christian outside of the Church, stating that the house of
God does not end at the temple doors, is the entire world. Inspired
and thoughtful amongst the world and for life, "Missional
Spirituality" is inspired reading for any Christian seeking wisdom on
spreading their faith beyond Sunday.

Be The Second Coming
Hopes Ive Mauran
Balboa Press
c/o Hay House
PO Box 5100
Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
97814525536620, $13.95, www.hayhouse.com

There is more to faith than belief. "Be the Second Coming: Guidebook
to the Embodiment of the Christ Within: A Personal Journey, Our
Collective Destiny" is an inspirational read from Hopes Ive Mauran, as
she advises readers on finding their spirit for finding Christ's
teachings and being more like him in life. With wisdom and wit to help
readers find their way, "Be the Second Coming" is an insightful and
much recommended read, not to be overlooked for Christian readers.

Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
www.orbisbooks.com

Kristin Johnston Largen's BABY KRISHNA, INFANT CHRIST: A COMPARATIVE
THEOLOGY OF SALVATION (9781570759321, $30.00) considers how Krishna
and Christ both were imagined in childhood, offering distinctions and
comparisons between how Christians understand Jesus and how Hindus
understand Krishna. Stories about their births and childhoods offer
fascinating contrast and consider different variations on themes,
approaches, and how the two stories lead to different perceptions of
God. Any spirituality collection will find this a detailed, strong
contrast. Catholic collections will find important Tom Roberts' THE
EMERGING CATHOLIC CHURCH: A COMMUNITY'S SEARCH FOR ITSELF
(9781570759468, $24.00). It comes from a journalist who offers a
different survey of the Church's role in spreading the Gospel,
considering the methods of modern Catholicism and its role in a
changing community church. Chapters analyze cases of Church crisis,
consider the changing roles of church authorities, and provide
detailed insights into the methods and processes of Catholicism.
Bryant L. Myers' WALKING WITH THE POOR: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF
TRANSFORMATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (9781570759390, $30.00) appears in a
revised, expanded edition to consider various theories on the causes
of poverty, challenging readers to follow Jesus by embracing the poor.
Chapters tell how to achieve this in a fine guide for Christians of
all church traditions. It outlines principles for working with the
poor and using this experience to connect theology and economics, and
documents development practices and transformation goals. Christians
contemplating missionary work especially will find this a solid
connection between economics and faith.

I Will Sing the Wondrous Story
David W. Music & Paul A. Richardson
Mercer University Press
1400 Coleman Avenue, Macon, GA 31207-0001
9780881462432, $35.00, www.mupress.org

I Will Sing the Wondrous Story: A History of Baptist Hymnody in North
America provides a fine history of Baptist hymnody, starting with a
review of the British roots and following its evolution in America
from New World origins to modern day. Readers receive a fine review of
the social and spiritual contexts under which Baptist congregational
song evolved, offering a survey of texts and tunes as illustrations of
topics and including insights on major contributions by Baptist
composers. Any collection strong in spiritual music insights will
consider this a winner!

The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry
Andrew Root & Kenda Creasy Dean
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 605151426
9780830838257, $18.00, www.books.ivpress.com

The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry considers the concept and
applications of youth ministry services, offering a discussion of
theories, practices of youth ministry people, and how youth ministry
is typically seen as a lightweight mission. Youth ministry suffers
from the traps of self-justification and isolation but it needs to
become part of an overall theology and mission, and the authors
provide a strong survey of youth ministry's actions and purposes in a
discussion that belongs in any Christian ministry collection.

Barefoot Church
Brandon Hatmaker
Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49530
9780310492269, $18.99, www.zondervan.com

BAREFOOT CHURCH: SERVING THE LEAST IN A CONSUMER CULTURE shows how the
modern church can be a catalyst for individual and social change, and
uses the author's own journey to document how serving ideally affects
the entire community. Practical ideas for applying the principles of
benevolence to community needs are accompanied by many examples in a
pick highly recommended for any spirituality holding.

The Exceptional Life
Stephen Arterburn
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55438
9780764204258, $19.99, www.bethanyhouse.com

THE EXCEPTIONAL LIFE: 8 POWERFUL STEPS TO EXPERIENCING GOD'S BEST FOR
YOU tells how to upgrade one's life to 'exceptional', and shows how to
relinquish a bad thing to gain a fantastic goal. From changing
impatience to patience and letting go of resentment to gain love to
understanding the costs of anger and negative patterns, this blends
religion and self-help and is a pick for any who would lead an
inspired, better life.

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