Messy Spirituality

Messy Spirituality: God's Annoying Love for Imperfect People

Written By: Mike Yaconelli

Read By: Fred Stella


Background:  Mike Yaconelli  was a lay minister and founder of Youth Specialties. A Christian leadership organization that focus's on developing people specifically for ministry with young people. Mike tragically passed away in 2003 of an auto accident after suffering a stroke while driving. This was my first introduction to Mike and I have to say I think I would have really liked him had I known him. His brand of "K-mart Seminary" is refreshing in it's simplicity. He doesn't feel the need like allot of Churches and Church leaders to constantly have everything look perfect.

The Review:
Messy Spirituality, is truly what Mike practiced. He was not perfect, and he knew it. He made many mistakes, big ones too. He was divorced, which for many would be Church Leaders can be the end of your Ministry Career. But in spite of all of his short comings in life , he was constantly reminded that God loved him. Just a few days before his death, he was speaking at a conference and said that his first words to God if he had died right then would be "What a Ride, What a Ride".

Mike speaks to what many in the Christian culture would call "Legalism" or "Holiness" or just plain "Perfectionism" that has pushed many people away from the Church. It has always struck me as odd how an institution that should be loving and accepting of all people can so blindly do the exact opposite of what Jesus taught. This is a hot button issue if you're involved in the Church leadership world. And it's never just as easy as doing what Jesus says, because Jesus doesn't always speak in formula's or absolutes. He speaks in stories and gives real examples. Like another favorite author of mine Donald Miller says, "if you read through the Gospels, it's almost as though Jesus is doing everything He can to never do the same thing twice, because if He did we wouldn't trust Him , we'd trust the Formula". I think that's what we in the Church in America have become addicted too. Practicing the formula of Religion. Instead of living like Christ.  Top that off with todays 21st century media coverage, and now everyone can see how living life according to Formula doesn't work.

Another problem I think this has created in the Church in America is the "Can't someone else do it?" mindset. There's this group of Christian teachers out there in what has been labeled the "Emergent Church Movement" (which may be on it's way out), and the one thing they most all have in common is calling the Christains that attend their Churches to get out and DO SOMETHING about Extreme Poverty, Justice, Slavery, Sex Trafficking, the list could go on forever. And many of these Churches, are literally changing the world in Jesus name.

Then there's the critics, who latch onto one or two taken out of context statements by (insert name of popular preacher here) and then claim they're of the Devil and Heretics and should be burned at the stake. Usually their solution for all the issues that plague the world today is Pray about it, and God will help them. Now this may be true, God can help, but I think more often then not. When we're praying for God to fix something, He's right there asking us , "ok what are YOU going to do about it?" . We are supposed to be the "Hands and Feet of Christ" after all.

This has become a Messy blog entry, and it's fitting I think. Because it just shows that being a Christ Follower in today's world is not easy, it's not clean, and anyone who says otherwise is lying to you.

Bottom line, I think more us of should be like Mike Yaconelli. He's a great guy, that is truly missed.


Rating 5 out of 5

Read it. Or listen to it, Fred is a good reader.


-B

Flashforward

Flashforward

Written By: Robert J. Sawyer

Read By: Mark Deakins


Background: Flashforward is the 1999 novel that the 2009 TV Series of the same name, was based on. In part the TV series is similar only by the inclusion of the main character from the book. In the TV series Lloyd Simcoe is really a secondary character compared to the main character as he is portrayed in the novel. On the whole, the novel is really completely different from the TV Series. If someone watched the TV series and was hoping the book would fill in the blanks left by the TV shows cancellation. You will be sorely disappointed.

The Review: I think Science Fiction was meant for the Audio Book format. It really works well when all your mind has to do is process the story, and the imagination of the author. The book takes place in the year 2009, and instead of Flashing Forward only a few months as the TV show did, the books Flashforward goes 21 years into the future. And there's no Conspiratorial subplot in the book either.
Probably one of the most interesting side parts of the book, is all the News of the day interludes. Where the author takes the time to explain how the world has changed in 21 years. Things like, sometime in 2027 Bill Gates will lose his entire fortune, and by 2030 Microsoft will be bankrupt. Some of his predictions of what the future will be like are very interesting. The cause of the Flashforward is attributed to experiments conducted at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. The giant Atom smasher built on the border of France and Switzerland. In the book they were colliding lead particles together, and interestingly enough, the LHC just announced last week that they are now starting to do this very same process! Kinda scary. 

The book is read by Mark Deakins, this is my first book I've heard him read, and I have to say that I really enjoyed him reading this. He kept the pace good, kept me interested in the story even through some of the deep science parts. I was able to listen to this book while jogging, driving to work and even found myself listening at work. I will be looking for other books that he's read for sure.


Overall I enjoyed Flashforward the book, and the TV Series was ok. I just wish that it would have gotten picked up by another network after ABC let it die. As long as you can separate the Book from the TV series I think you will enjoy Flashforward.
So , What did you see ?.............



Rating 4.5 out of 5


-B

Star Wars: Rouge Planet

Star Wars: Rouge Planet

Written by: Greg Bear

Read by: Michael Cumpsty



Background: I did read The Phantom Menace, but I didn't bother reviewing it here. It was largely the same as the film, and even the Unabridged Audio book could not save it from itself. It was still a terrible storyline.

The Review:
Rouge Planet is the follow up to The Phantom Menace. Yet again, I found myself wishing this movie had been made. It seems like all the side story novels are just 10 times better than the stories Lucas ended up giving us. In Rouge Planet Obi-Wan and his 12 year old Padawan, Anakin Skywalker are sent on a mission to a distant planet to find a missing Jedi. The world they visit is called Zonama Sekot, and they produce the fastest Starships in the Galaxy. The odd thing is though , everything that is made on Sekot is grown from living beings called "Seed Partners" , and even the furniture you sit on is still alive. Nothing has to be killed on Sekot in order to produce something to use. It makes for a very symbiotic relationship between the inhabitants of the Planet and the Planet itself. It's quite unlike any other Star Wars world that is shown.

The audio version is abridged, and all Star Wars Abridged audio books have sound effects. Thankfully though whoever produced this book went easy on the effects, and just let the story tell itself. This is one abridgment however  that I wish I could have had the full text in audio. I think there was alot of details left out, so much that at the end, the narrator has to give you a summation of what all was left out.

The reader again, is Michael Cumpsty, and again he did a very good job reading, and portraying the different levels of characters in the book. I always find it funny how whoever is reading, always has to do their best Yoda impression when reading his lines.

I enjoyed this book alot. I just wish I would have enjoyed The Phantom Menace as much. If you like the Star Wars universe and exploring new places, you'll certainly like this.


Rating 4 out of 5

-B

Nullification : How to Resist Federal Tyranny in the 21st Century

Nullification : How to Resist Federal Tyranny in the 21st Century

Written By: Thomas Woods

Read By: Alan Sklar




Nullification is the democratic principle based on the 10th amendment to the United States Constitution. The term "Nullification" is drawn from the "Principles of 98" , which were responses by Virginia and Kentucky to the passage of the "Alien and Sedition Acts", both were issued in 1798. Basically, the State Governments of Virginia and Kentucky passed resolutions stating that the laws that the Federal Government had passed were unconstitutional and thereby null and void. Since the laws were null, the States were not going to enforce those laws.

Thomas Jefferson , is credited with coming up with this idea. Because during the founding of the Union, every other nation in the known world was based on a Central controlling Government. But Jefferson had the Policy that the Government that Governs nearest to the People Governs Best. So by his measure each State in the Union should be able to stand up to Washington D.C. and say we will not enforce your unconstitutional laws.

Here's where it gets sticky, and why most State Governments just do what they're told by the Feds. There are always certain political ideas that a loud minority will make lots of noise about just to make it into an issue and get Washington to do something about it. For example, Health Care. You'll hear lots of complaints about how many people don't have Health Care, and that is why it was important for the Feds to pass the Health Care bill. But Washington in it's infinite Wisdom can't just pass a Health Care bill, no, they have to make it Mandatory, and if you don't buy insurance , you can be "fined" by the IRS. This is where Nullification, can come into play. Individual States can stand up for their people and simply not allow the Government to Fine or penalize anyone for not having insurance. But it would take a State Government with the guts to do it. And because of the Constitution, the Federal Government can do nothing about it. The reason most states bow to Washington's wishes though, is usually due to them needing Federal Funding.

Now proponents of Central Government will sometimes say that it doesn't make sense to live in a country where one States laws are different than another. Thomas Jefferson would disagree. For him and the founders that was one of the main points of why they setup the system the way it is. So if you live in a State and they have a law you don't like , say you'd rather drive 70 on the Highway than 65. Then you can move to a State where the Speed Limit is 70. That was the point. And in the event that something needed to be outlawed on a National Level, the Federal Government should propose a Constitutional Amendment, and when enough States support it, then it becomes the law of the land.

The part that people today don't like about amending the Constitution is that it would take seemingly a long time. And in today's "we want it yesterday" mentality , Americans seem willing to put up with losing Freedoms bit by bit, while gaining perceived Government services. There hasn't been a Constitutional Amendment Ratified by the States since 1992. And that one was about limiting changes to Congressional Pay. Interestingly enough, the 27th Amendment was initially introduced in Congress in 1789, so it only took 202 years to become an amendment. Clearly we are so easily distracted by the whatever the crisis of the day is.

The Review:
The book it self is very deep and somewhat complex. I have to admit , I'm not a Constitutional Scholar, so it was difficult to follow along at times. Overall it was an interesting read, and the author includes alot of Full quotes from old documents. Including the full readings of the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798 at the end of the book. The most interesting thing Mr. Woods purposes is that each State should form an independent office of Constitutional advisement. Basically a group of bipartisan Constitutional Scholars who would review Federal Laws, and then advise State Legislators on weather or not the law is enforceable by the  State.

The book is read by Professional Reader Alan Sklar. As a reader I felt he was just ok. He wasn't able to keep my attention at all times. I can't say I recommend him as a reader.

Even though the book itself wasn't the most captivating read, I think it I need to recommend that all Americans should read it, and understand it. Because unless more people understand how our Government SHOULD work, then our Government is just going to do what IT wants, and not what it's people want.


Rating 2.5 of 5

Tom Woods on the Principles of 98

-B

Wild at Heart

Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul

Written By: John Eldredge

Read By: John Eldredge


Background: About two years ago I decided I would try and read thru the Entire Bible. For anyone who's ever done this and is not an avid reader, this is a daunting task. So I thought I'd make it a little easier on myself and increase my chances of success by listening to it. I found a free Podcast called the One Year Daily Audio Bible. The guy who reads the Bible there every day of the year (Brian Hardin), had recommended the book and the Wild at Heart conferences.
John Eldredge is an author, counselor, speaker, and president of Ransomed Heart.

The Review:
When I started this book, I knew almost nothing about John Eldredge. I had heard some other people talk about him and his work. But nothing in great detail. Wild at Heart is a difficult book to describe, it's part Self Help book , part Spiritual Guide, part Social Critic. The crux of the book is his assertion that men in general but especially Christian Men, have been tamed. Almost to the point that Christian men have no backbone, and will just roll over and give up, rather then fight for something. This is a big statement, but one that I think carries a lot of truth in today's world. His theme is that all men need "A Battle to Fight, An Adventure to Live, and a Beauty to Rescue" .
He is quick to dispel the myth that all men should be like Lumberjacks, but instead of just being "Nice Guys" men should aspire to be something more. He uses a lot of examples from movies like Brave-heart & Gladiator. Which can be helpful, but mostly I think he takes the use of those examples a little far. I really don't think that there's a William Wallace or Maximus Decimus Meridius in every man.

Being that John has a background in the performing Arts, and Live Theater, he's in Excellent Reader. I find him very easy on the ears. This is another author that, if someone else were reading his material I'm not sure it would work the same. 

Overall the book is good, and I think at the very least it's a worthy read for men and women alike. I've listened to it twice now, just to make sure I've got it all. Also, here's a Interview the author did with CNN. John Eldredge on CNN

Rating 3 out of 5.

-B

Shop Class as Soulcraft

Shop Class as Soulcraft

Written by: Matthew Crawford

Read by: Max Bloomquist

Background: I heard about this book in one of the many Podcasts I listen to, and thought it sounded interesting. Matthew Crawford is a former Electrician, turned PHD Philosopher working at a Washington Think Tank, turned Motorcycle Mechanic. Quite the career path. 

The Review: 

The book is read by Professional reader Max Bloomquist. I would say he was a fair reader on this book. I've listened to some pretty deep stuff, and had to struggle through it with a terrible narrator before. Thankfully this was not one I had to struggle through. He varied his pace and tone just enough to keep your attention. The author does wax philosophical quite a few times in the book and that can be hard to keep your mind from wandering off with a bad reader. 

The strength of the book for me were the author's stories about working on various motorcycles and the challenges ensued in attempting to fix them. Being somewhat mechanical myself I always find it interesting listening to someone else work through a problem. 

One of the more shocking parts of the book is how Shop Classes in High Schools all across America have been shutdown. Due to schools closing these programs, you can often find Wood and Metal Shop equipment for sale online pretty cheap. The issue with this is, we're now raising a generation of kids who don't know how to do basic math and problem solving or how to fix things. He argues that instead, 90% of High School students today are advised to go to college instead of learning a trade. This deepens the false notion that you can't make it in life unless you have a college education. 

I agree with the author that not everyone need go or should go to college. I myself never went to college. I hated doing school work and reading books that I had no interest in. So I never saw the point of forcing myself to go through 4 years of torture only to come out with a mountain of debt. Instead I've taken the long road and worked my way up in the IT field, starting out working on various Call Center help desks, and finally graduating into running the IT department of a mid-sized construction firm. Every job I've taken I've slowly moved up in pay. And I really don't see where having a degree would have helped me. Not one company that I've ever interviewed with has ever been concerned that I didn't have a degree.

So to finish up, if you enjoy fixing things, and a little philosophy on the side, you may like this book. This is probably a better book to listen too, than to read. 

Here's an Interview the author did for C-SPAN Book TV, Shop Class as Soulcraft, C-SPAN

Rating: 3 out 5

-B

Letters from a Skeptic

Letters from a Skeptic: A Son Wrestles With His Father's Questions About Christianity

Written by: Dr. Gregory Boyd & Edward Boyd

Read by: Dr. Gregory Boyd & an unnamed reader


Background:
I came across Greg Boyd when I heard about his book titled "The Myth of a Christian Nation" . I listened to his Sermon series that he gave in his church in St. Paul, MN that he based that book on. And after listening to him there, I really liked him alot. He's not afraid to tackle difficult topics. Indeed , when he preached on his "The Myth of a Christian Nation" series, about HALF of his congregation in his church left the church because of his message.

The Review:
I have had this book "Letters from a Skeptic" , sitting in my Wish List and finally decided to give it a read. It is read by the author, and another professional reader reads the letters written by Ed Boyd. I love this part about audio books, when there are two distinct people talking, and there are separate readers for each part. It really helps bring you into the conversation. Greg is a good speaker and so naturally he's a good reader. Another thing that you get out of the audio version is the sheer emotion Greg clearly feels as he's reading in parts talking about his late mother.

Ed Boyd grew up in the Catholic church, and at some point he decided that he really didn't believe any of it anymore. I don't think he was ever a total Atheist, probably more of an Agnostic with Atheist leanings. Ed really takes his son to task in these letters. Asking questions like , Why has Christianity done so much harm? Why did God create Satan? How is the Bible inspired? Do all Non-Believers go to Hell?

Greg's answers to all of his fathers questions are well thought out and explained, and he tries not to talk over his level of understanding. Given the depth required to answer such Theologically hard questions, this is a book that may require several reads to fully grasp what he's saying. I would say that I'm just a beginning armchair theologian myself. Some of Greg's arguments I've heard before, some I haven't. But for the most part I believe him to be Theologically sound in his defense of the faith.

Some critic's tend to automatically dismiss Dr. Boyd, because he holds to a view called "Open Theism" which essentially says that the future is not settled or predetermined in God's mind, and thereby unchangeable. Instead, Open Theism posits that God can and does change his mind when we petition him and give him our requests.  See the Wikipedia article for more info. Open Theism  
I tend to agree with Dr. Boyd on this issue, since there are cases in the Bible where God changes his mind after talking with someone.

Overall, I think if you're a person of Faith or not, you will find this an interesting book if you wrestle with these big questions like Ed did. I think it's debates in this kind of format that really help people understand what they believe. When people instead get into emotionally charged shouting matches, this doesn't help anyone.
If you're looking for more of an Academic style debate about Faith checkout this Podcast  Unbelievable? .

Rating:  4 out of 5

-B