BOOK REVIEW - "IS THE CHURCH STILL RELEVANT?" BY JODY BURKEEN

 

Can a person live a strong Christian life without the Church? Or does the failures of the Church justify an isolated Christian life without other believers helping?

Pardon for me spoiling the end of the book - In "Is the Church Still Relevant?" author Jody Burkeen says yes. This book traces the church's history from Pentecost, and point out that while the Church has hurt a lot of people and give its parishoners ample reason to withdraw, the Church also has an important place in other people's lives.

In "Already Gone: Why Your Kids Will Quit Church and What You Can Do To Stop It" by Answers in Genesis' Ken Ham, pollist Ken Beemer with  Todd Hillard, the authors make the case that the youth who abandon the church do so for two reasons: Either the Bible is believed irrelevant or the Church is believed irrelevant. Burkeen's book focuses heavily on the latter.

One nice thing about this book is it's a quick, easy read. The text is written in mostly one or two sentence paragraphs, with a very poetic style, and enough repition to drive its points home.

I do have a couple of problems with this book. In the first chapter, Burkeen states that Pentecost included literal fire on each head. Technically, no. Acts 2:3 reads, "Then there appeared to them divided tongues, AS OF FIRE..." This is a minor point, but to me, that weakens his point, and it's weakened early. Another is that it doesn't really deal with repentance: it's more like people leave church because one or more people in the church failed them, with nary a message that the person might have left church because they are engaged in an activity either the Bible or the Church (or both) calls sin.

That being said, this book is an encouraging book. As said, it's a simple read, with short paragraphs. I would recommend it for a person who has been hurt by either an individual believer or by a church. It is written with admonitions both for the person who left church and for the church that wants to bring them back. 

ALBUM REVIEW - "RUN FROM THE DARKNESS" BY THE DANIEL BAND

 

A friend of mine, Concert Fotos photographer Chad Fenner, told me this was his third favorite album. Ever.

As a fan of the Daniel Band, and hearing some of the songs in isolation, I wasn't surprised. But a couple of weeks ago, I finally listened to the complete project, and concur that this is a great album.

I can talk about all the great songs on this project. It's easier to say they all fit that category. One song, however, stands out, which is the title track. That song has joined "He's The Creator" (from On Rock), "Spiritual Game" (also On Rock), and "Here I Am" (from Straight Ahead) as my favorite Daniel Band songs.

In other words, I really enjoyed it.

One other note - the final two tracks on this version were originally on other projects. "My Children" was the finale on the fourth album, "Rise Up," while "In The Sky" was originally on  their dubut project, "On Rock." Listening to the latter on Spotify, it gives the time as being 6 minutes, about twice as long as the "On Rock" version, but on Spotify, the extra time is silent.

BOOK REVIEW - "A HERMENEUTIC OF IMAGINATION: UNLOCKING SCRIPTURE'S FULL POTENTIAL" BY KNUT M. HEIM WITH JEFFREY S. OETTER

 Being an artist, this title caught my attention. I have written a novel (unpublished) that's a mystery set at an apologetics conference, a lot of songs (likewise, unpublished), and studied creative writing, ceramics, drawing, and art theory and design at a community college. One thing that I thought would be powerful is reading certain books of the Bible as a dramatic reading, such as the debate between God and Israel in Malachi or Paul's farewell letter to his beloved student Timothy. Additionally, I am a Bible college graduate including a class on Biblical Interpretation, a.k.a. hermeneutics.

"A Hermeneutic of Imagination: Unlocking Scripture's Full Potentiel" by Knut M. Heim with Jeffrey R. Oetter deals with the subject on a strong, scholarly level. Chapter themes include figurative language (e.g. ambiguous language and the use of metaphors), expression of emotion, and humor in the Sacred writings. The authors then turn to topics like translations and their impact on imagination and how academic theology fits in.

One example of how thinking imaginatlitively used in the conclusion is Psalms 23:2. We often picture our Good Shepherd comfortably keeping an eye in a peaceful pasture, with a calm brook flowing nearby. However, a nice open pasture might have predators looking for an opportunity, and a sheep may not be able to swim to shore with his fleece wet in quiet but deep water.

I recommend most book's I've read. This one is in a middle category, not commending it, not dondemning it. The authors are more theologically liberal than I am. For example, the translations mentioned are the New Revised Standard Version, the Good News Bible, and the Contemporary English Version, while I'm most familiar both with personal reading and the translation of choice by the authors I read are the KJV, the NKJV, the New International Version, the New Americaln Standard, the English Standard Bible, and the Christian Standard Bible.

Another indication of a worldview/churchview of Scripture is an encouragement to be familiar with feminist and womanist criticism. "Womanist" is a new term for me. The authors state that feminism is white, Western, hetrosexual, Christian, and middle-class, while Womanism deals with the views of women of more varied background.

My last criticism is revealed in the title. To me, the way to "unlock Scripture's full potential" is not based on human thinking (or imagination) but in avoiding any theology that asks "Yea, hath God said" as the serpent did to deceive Eve.

Again, I'm neither recommending or condemning this book. There are some useful thoughts here, and I'm glad I read this book. But I have concerns. If you want a challenge, go for this book.

ALBUM REVIEW - "STRAIGHT AHEAD" BY THE DANIEL BAND

In the early '80's, Christian music saw not one, not two, but three albums called "Straight Ahead": Jamie Owens-Collins in '81, Amy Grant in '84, and in between, The Daniel Band ('83). Which do I like best? Technically, it's a two way tie, but one of those two is The Daniel Band. Their debut project, "On Rock," has always been one of my favorite albums, and "Straight Ahead" is a worthy follow-up.

Let me divide the songs in two categories. I'll start with the majority - those with bassist Dan McCabe doing lead vocals. All of them were good, but five of the seven stand out: "You're All I Need," "Here I Am," "Reality," "Come Into My Life," and "Comin' Home." "Here I Am" is a song that has always had a special place in my life. By the way, two of the songs are demos from "On Rock": an extended version of "Free From Sin" and "I'm Sorry." (I didn't note anything different standing out on the latter.)

Guitarist Tony Rossi did the singing on the remaining three songs. The title track was a typical hard rock song; the others were not. "T'ank You" is a pop/island style song, while "In My Mind" (the last track before the two demos) was more of an acoustic ballad.

I absolutely love this album, and highly recommend it.

BOOK REVIEW - "A DEEPER WALK: A PROVEN PATH FOR DEVELOPING A MORE VIBRANT FAITH" BY MARCUS WARNER

Recently, my wife Becky was looking at books and thought this sounded like a good book for me to read. So I started reading "A Deeper Walk: A Proven Path for Develping a More Vibrant Faith," written by Marcus Warner with a foreward by Neil T. Anderson, author and founder/President Emeritus Freedom in Christ Ministries. 

Warner's premise - one I agree with - is that the church is not making disciples that are transforming the world. He is encouraging the body of Christ to grow more mature through our freedom, our identity in Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, and heart focused community. I also agree with the excellent cover, though isn't there a proverb about judging a book by its cover?

While I agree with the premise, I don't agree with his views on what that looks like. Warner encourages us to exercise our freedom in Christ through Spiritual Warfare, including commnding demons to leave, with addiction to pornography, eating disorders, and unforgiveness being possible demonic oppression, as well as generational sin. The impression Ezekiel 18 gives me is that those who live righteous will be rewarded for their righteousness, regardless of how their ancestors lived. 

I know true Christians may disagree on the issues I mentioned. But one thing that bothers me is when a Christian gives the impression that there are those who agree with them and those who are wrong. This book sounds like the author believes his proposed approach will have a 100% success rate and not using it will result in failure 100% of the time.

Most books I read I can recommend and give a 5 star result. I have enough questions that I'm giving this only three stars.

 

ALBUM REVIEW - "ON ROCK" BY THE DANIEL BAND

 Back in the early '80's, Orange County CA station KYMS would broadcast Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa's live Saturday concerts. In '81, The Daniel Band, not to be confused with Daniel Amos, was one of the artists. At first, I thought they were a little too hard rock for my tastes. But a year later, they came back, and a friend heard them practice and raved about them. So I listened to them over the radio, and was hooked. For the next month I looked every week to find out if their new album was out, and when I saw "On Rock" on the shelves, one of those albums came home with me.

There are certain artists that have such a strong first song on their debut album that it sounds like they're making sure everybody knows they've arrived. Songs like "More Than A Feeling" by Boston or "Feels Like The First Time" by Foreigner or "Loud and Clear" by Stryper. Add "He's the Creator" from The Daniel Band to that list. Guitarist Tony Rossi's opening riffs capture my attention, combined with lead vocalist Dan McCabe reminding us that, yes, God is the Creator of the universe. Somebody, please talk your group into covering it, because we need to hear that song again. That's not the only song on the project that needs to be heard by today's audience: "Undercover Christian" and "Spiritual Game" both are strong messages to the church to return to their first love.

There is not one mediocre song on the project, but some stand out. "I'm  Sorry" features unforgettable guitar picking by Rossi, and if you need a pick-up, "You Don't Need The Blues," one of the few times Rossi takes the lead vocals, will deliver. "Never Again" was entered into a contest in Toronto and came in 3rd place in a tough competition. If you hear it, you'll not be surprised. 

I can talk about the other songs, too, but I first want to mention a difference between the album that came out in '82 and the collecter's edition. The latter adds two songs to the 11 original tunes: "It All Turns To Rain" (a song that immediately made my list of Daniel Band favorites) and "I Give You All."

BOOK REVIEW - "THE ROUGH GUIDE TO CLASSICAL MUSIC: AN A-Z OF COMPOSERS, KEY WORKS, AND TOP RECORDINGS," EDITED BY JOE STAINES

I've heard of series like "Complete Idiot's" and "...for Dummies," but this is my first encounter with "Rough Guides." Joe Staines is listed as the editor of this book, and as co-authors with Jonathan Buckley, Phillip Clark, Andrew Dickson, Kate Hopkins, Stephen Johnson, Nick Kimberley, and Gavin Thomas.

This book gives you an introduction to many classical composers, identifies what is considered as their key works, and providing you with a list of recordings, making this a good guide if you want to enlarge your collection of classical music. 

Note I said this is "a good guide." Considering that three of my ten favorite symponies are not considered "key works" (i.e. the Lobesang and Reformation symphonies by Felix Mendelssohn, and the Singulaire Symphone of Franz Berwald), or that one composer I like is not mentioned (again, Berwald), I'm being fair when I call it "a good guide." After all, this is not meant to be exhaustive, and I've recently looked at another book where Berwald is again omitted from the list. 

I've read some reviews that are critical of this, but I do not agree with the criticisms. In spite of my disappointments, I think this book achieves its goals, and I would recommend it to someone who wants to learn more about classical music.