The Money Challenge – Art Rainer

©2017  B&H Publishing Group, Nashville

According to the blurb on the back of the book, Art Rainer is the “vice president for Institutional Advancement at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University and an MBA from the University of Kentucky.” What makes me want to read what Art has to write is more that he is the son of Thom Rainer, and I expect that what he has to say will be well-thought out and succinct. In relation to his degrees and position, I think that perhaps his subject matter is right down the alley of his education. That subject matter: money.

More than money, though this little 150-page book is about applying God’s design to your money in order to help you become a stronger follower of Jesus. It’s a book about the Christian’s use of the resources entrusted to him/her by the Maker and Master of his/her life. If you think that this is just another in a room full of already written, tried, and tested tomes about the subject of money management (or even stewardship) you’d miss the mark. Rainer seems to be more interested in helping Christians be better Christians than simply help Christians be richer Christians.

If you are interested in simply a stewardship or money-handling, pick up a book from Ron Blue or Dave Ramsey or the late Larry Burkett (all good Christian money management experts). Some of the money management principles they espouse are either used or expanded on here. So, what is it that Rainer is offering? I would personally label it discipleship. The springboard he uses to launch into Bible-based, full-out discipleship is one that is dearest to the heart of many Americans—the pocketbook.

The thirty days of discovery (part of the book’s subtitle) are woven into the three aspects of living the Christian life that turn money woes into money management and general living into genuine Christianity: give generously, save wisely, live appropriately. People, Rainer states, are designed to be generous. And through our generosity we find happiness. The reason we save is to be generous. The reason we get out of debt is to be generous. The reason we buy a house is to be generous (in the long run). Rainer also asserts that “living appropriately” is based in the idea of living within one’s means—not trying to keep up with the Joneses (whoever they may be) nor having the latest gadget.

What might draw the reader to this book as opposed to other money management books? Its brevity is a big plus. Rainer says as much in 150 pages as many gurus take 300 to disseminate. I also enjoyed the fictional example woven throughout the book, bringing a personality to both the person needing help and the mentor who presented her with the challenges (it never hurts to have an It’s a Wonderful Life allusion).

I would recommend this little book to Christians (both new and old), especially those who are struggling with financial matters. As with many books, producers may be interested in churches and small groups using this as a curriculum for small group study. I think it will have its best application as a one-to-one discipleship tool. In fact, I am making plans to use it to disciple my children as they reach the age of 14-17, as a tool for both discipleship and money management learning. It will be an invaluable tool for Christians desiring to find God’s design for them (and their money).

Five out of five reading glasses from me. For more information about the book, listen to this interview between Thom and Art Rainer (the publisher and author of the book). [#TheMoneyChallenge from @artrainer and @bhpub is available NOW at your favorite bookselling outlet.]

—Benjamin Potter June 10, 2017

[Disclaimer: I received this book for free from B&H Publishing Group for this review.]

Discipleship – J. Heinrich Arnold

© 2011 The Plough Publishing House, Walden, New York

Living through the middle of the 20^th century (1913-1982) J. Heinrich Arnold discovered a deep and lasting faith that guided his every step. In this volume we have a collection of his writings (drawn together by his children and friends) that bears reading by every follower of Christ.

This leader of a Christian community (without formal theological education) walked deeper in the word than most of the men and women considered great heroes of t

he faith today.

First of all, I must admit that the book is not an easy read for several reasons. Arnold‘s writings are collected piece by piece making the book more a collection of sayings that a “read-through-me” volume. In this respect the book does not have flow. On the other hand this makes Discipleship: Living for Christ in the Daily Grind a perfect reference volume. The writings are collected under general to specific headings. Want to read about “Faith”? Look under the heading. “Communion”? It’s there too.

The other main reason for the difficulty in navigating this book is the depth at which Arnold hits the reader’s spirit. This is not a book to pick up if you want no-challenge, feel-good fluff. It is however, the perfect read for the Christian wanting to be more like Christ (which is after all, the ultimate goal of becoming a Christian in the first place).

Arnold tackles man in his sin nature and his salvation. He writes readily about the nature and community of the church. I would give this book 4 out of 5 reading glasses and join greats like Mother Teresa and Elisabeth Elliot in recommending the book to any Christian.

 

—Benjamin Potter, December 29, 2014

[Disclaimer: I received this book for free for the purposes of this review.]

Radical – David Platt

© 2010 Multnomah Books, Colorado Springs

David Platt is the pastor of the Church at Brook Hills. Prior to this he lived in New Orleans until being displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He is a man of study and a man of vision (both of which play a vital role as he writes this book).

From page one, Platt not only challenges readers with Scriptural truth, but also shares genuinely about his own struggle with following a Master who poured His life into a handful of men while Platt himself leads the modern phenomenon known as a mega-church.

Within the pages of Radical, readers are confronted with the difficult truth that living the American Dream is not the biblical call to discipleship that we as Americans would like to believe. Chapters are devoted to giving up one’s own desires for the sake of spreading the gospel, and denying oneself in favor of feeding the hungry.

In a day when everyone is writing books about how to grow your church, how to get God to do things for you, how to make the most of your Christian life, Platt is a refreshing voice. He doesn’t sugar-coat the gospel; he doesn’t soft-pedal; he simply looks into the scripture and exposes our traditions and pet philosophies to the light he finds there. Consequently, one of his conclusions—that our salvation is not ultimately for our benefit (to get to go to heaven), but for us to have an opportunity to glorify God—flies in the face of the egocentric society that has developed in America (often in the name of Christ).

This is a book that should be read. Change that. This book is a MUST read for anyone who calls themselves “Christian.” The biblical foundation alone is worth the read, but the call back to living according to the teachings of Christ make it invaluable in the development of a Christian walk. So, I’ll say it over in another way, “Read this book.” (Five out of Five reading glasses)

—Benjamin Potter, December 21, 2010

[Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.]

Called to Love – Kaye Miller

© 2009 New Hope Publishers, Birmingham

When I signed on to work with New Hope Publishers as a “review blogger” I expected to receive one book in the first four that they sent and was disappointed that it was not there. Instead I received a copy of Kaye Miller’s Called to Love. What a nice surprise it turned out to be—just the kind of inspiring reading any pastor needs to pick up.

Miller, the 21^st president of the national Women’s Missionary Union^® (WMU^®), really understands living love. She grew up on the mission field of Thailand as a missionary kid (MK) and learned the love of Christ from her medical missionary parents.

This book claims to be “Stories of Compassion, Faith & God’s Amazing Grace” right on the front cover. The stories related (both from Miller’s life and as told to her or read by her) are more than just stories, though. They are the illustrative fabric with which the author weaves the reminder to Christ followers that it is ours to live love every day.

Divided into three parts, part 1 reminding us of the great call to love we have been given; part 2 offering reflective material to help readers internalize this call; while part 3 challenges readers to do more than just acknowledge this love and this call, but to actually live it.

The reflection questions at the end of each chapter and group study suggestions at the back of the book are almost unnecessary for the reader who takes seriously the message contained in this book. At times inspiring, at times encouraging, and at times challenging—complete with extended Bible study material woven in—this book is highly recommended, with 5 out of 5 reading glasses.

—Benjamin Potter, December 11, 2009

“Become a New Hope Book Review Blogger. Visit www.newhopepublishers.com for more information.”

Beyond Me: Living a You-First Life in a Me-First World – Kathi Macias

© 2008 New Hope Publishers, Birmingham

Kathi Macias’s biography lists mainly devotional and mystery novels in her list of works. Now she is spreading her wings, digging deeper, and challenging her readers.

Beyond Me takes a hard look at how Christ followers live in the self-centered society that permeates the world today. Each chapter tackles another facet of the selfish lifestyle that the world – and most Christians practice in the modern world. She includes a variety of meaningful illustrations straight from her own life, from her conversion experience, to opportunities she encountered in areas of ministry that she found herself as she grew in her faith. In addition she uses Scriptural bases to form her ideas about what believers should be about.

One of the helpful inclusions in the book are the end-of-chapter, think-deeper questions. These are designed to help the reader to evaluate their own place in the Christian walk, internalize the previous few pages’ material, and challenge the reader to apply the truths to their life.

Especially enjoyable was the treatment of familiar biblical passages such as the stories of the Prodigal Son, and the Good Samaritan. I would highly recommend this challenging read for anyone who is tired of living a mediocre Christianity. Others will want to avoid this book until they are ready to be convicted of their selfishness.

Four and one-half out of five reading glasses

—Benjamin Potter, October 8, 2009

“Become a New Hope Book Review Blogger. Visit www.newhopepublishers.com for more information.”

Breaking the Discipleship Code – David Putnam

© 2008 B & H, Nashville

Of late I have been reading a mountain of books that give advice on how to adjust life in the church or among her members in order to make her more relevant in today’s world. Some of the books have been disturbing—not because of the content but because of the accuracy in which they point out the shortcomings of the church as I have known it. Just one challenge after another seems to be crossing my desk. David Putnam’s follow-up to his collaborative effort with Ed Stetzer (Breaking the Missional Code, B&H, 2006) is another keeper.

The difference between Putnam’s book and most of the challenging books being released is its approachable manner. Putnam doesn’t inundate us with research (although the research is out there in full force), nor does he lambaste us with berating language that often accompanies the call to church-wide repentance. What he does instead is simplify the call to return to the basics of Christ-followers’ faith. His theme which is impossible to miss because it is repeated ad infinitum throughout the book: Live like Jesus; love like Jesus; leave what Jesus left behind.

The first two commands—to live and love like Jesus—take little explanation. Live in a servant-leader style that makes more of others than of yourself, without compromise. Love everyone, even those that do not love you or are unlovely. But when Putnam calls on Christians to leave what Jesus left behind he has to explain and expound. Jesus left followers who did what He did as He moved on to make end times preparation. We as Christ followers will leave this world someday, our objective in living and loving like Jesus is to leave behind more followers of Jesus who live and love like He did. Biblical scholars will easily catch the link to Matthew’s record of the Great Commission—“teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.”

I will admit that I liked much of what I saw in the book even before I began to read. The table of contents revealed a simple yet informative arrangement of the material. The book is arranged in three divisions that purports to (1) define for the reader what a missional follower of Christ is, (2) discuss the process through which one becomes such a follower, and (3) what such a follower looks like in everyday situations.

Putnam is adept in conveying his message concerning the life and lifestyle of a missional disciple of Jesus. He uses easy stories from his own experience in life, in church, in church planting, and in his home to draw a portrait of how one moves along the journey of becoming more like Jesus.

For the reader who likes to have his interaction with a book directed, each chapter is followed by several questions to help apply what has been discussed in the chapter to his life. Part three, in which what a missional follower of Jesus looks like is discussed, short testimonials are inserted between the chapter and the study questions which show that there are people who are actually removing religious baggage from their lives and truly following in the steps of Christ. Some will find these testimonies to be extra blessing validating the material they illustrate. For me, they were actually a bit of a distraction from the flow of the text itself.

Without exception as I read through the chapters of the book I found nugget after golden nugget of profundity that made me stop and say, “Yes, that is what it is to follow Jesus.” The stories and thoughts were well-organized and helpful. With but one hiccup as Putnam discussed living missionally in the city the reading went easy and smooth. The introductory material on the chapter about city felt a little less polished than the rest of the book.

Breaking the Discipleship Code shows evidence of Putnam’s desire to live and love as Jesus loved and to lead others to that same end (leaving behind believers who live and love as Jesus loved). In the course of the book we see Putnam’s heart for the next generation of church planters, his commitment to finding others who are taking the journey with him, and his desire to grow personally.

Was the book challenging? Yes, without being preach-y. Who should read it? Anyone who is on his way to becoming Christ-like. Those who haven’t yet said yes to Jesus, but are interested in learning more, as well as those who are part of God’s kingdom and looking for advice on how to become more like Jesus will find the book helpful. Those who are satisfied that they have all the answers would do better to leave this book alone unless they want to get angry about yet another leader who is calling the church to repentant truthfulness. I give it four and one-half reading glasses and am looking forward to more from this honest young leader.

—Benjamin Potter, July 28, 2008