Follow Me by David Platt

This book made me think, but even more importantly, it made me consider the focus of my life, and it re-energized me to walk in a single-minded pursuit of God.

While I do agree with a reviewer who was afraid that a reader might miss the message of grace, this book stands as a reasoned counterpoint to the hyper-grace writings that imply that we can all just run amok, and grace will make it all ok.

I started with a combination of a bias for and against the book.  I was suspicious of the hype that surrounds popular authors.  But then I was immediately gripped by a statement in the front matter, before the book proper even began: "The author's royalties from this book will go toward promoting the glory of Christ in all nations." Now he had my attention. And he kept my attention throughout the book.

The main thrust of the book is the mandate to all believers to respond to the great commission: "go and make disciples".  The author summarizes it thus: "It is about helping the church go beyond 'come and listen' to 'go and tell.'"

The pseudo-Christianity of our own culture can blind us to the need to let go of our own idols. We want to live the American dream...and go to heaven when we die.  But what about all the time in between? What does life as a Christian look like?  How is it different from the life of a non-believer?  Is the only difference what rules we follow, such as what movies to avoid and how modestly we dress?  The author sets a challenge to follow Jesus with every fiber of our being, wherever that takes us.

The last 20 pages list some questions to take personally, in order to start with some concrete steps.

Day of the elephants by Ron Swager & Ed chinn

Day of the Elephants is an amazing story, portraying the life of a young man, Roland Deah, who lost his home, his family, his school, and even his country, in the violence that took over Liberia in 1990.

It is peculiarly easy for an American such as myself to ignore wars in Africa. It is far away, we don't know anyone personally involved, and the details seem murky and confusing.  Reading the story from the perspective of a young boy changes everything.  We get to understand the African proverb - "When the bull elephants fight, the grass always loses."   Here is a young boy, as innocent as the grass, who has to run for his life, and is a double target because of his red school uniform, which makes him look like a rebel soldier. How is it possible for an 8 year old child to be mistaken for a combatant?  In an environment where tiny children were forced to carry weapons, and use them on other human beings, an eight year old was assumed to be a soldier rather than a child.

The story has twists and turns that would make a soap opera sound mundane.  Without giving away the ending, it is still fair to say that the highs and lows are almost unbelievable.  From adults who risked themselves to take him under their wing, to the death of those trying to protect him, to the care of near strangers, we see the best and the worst in human beings.  And we see the incredible strength of this small boy who grows to be a man in spite of escaping again and again from chaos and danger.  And we also see the merciful love of God, a love that cannot be extinguished even amidst the worst depravity that man is capable of.  The love that causes impossible connections to create unbelievable outcomes (you need to read the book to see how).

It is worth stopping for a moment to see life through Roland's eyes. He is puzzled by the American problems with stress.   "This man who lived through human slaughter, watched brutal rapes, dwelled in the squalor and disease of refugee camps, and suffered other horrors (as a child!) cannot understand how people can be driven so deep into the emotional abyss by so little."  Having lived through so much to get to America, he prizes his adopted country.  And after reading the book, when I see the picture of him holding his U.S. Citizenship Certificate it brings me to tears.

The actual writing is not as impressive as the story, and the parallel between the writer's health situation and Roland's life is not as compelling to the reader as it is to the author.

[Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this- book free from the Publishers as part of their Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. ] 

Inescapable by Nancy Mehl

Having enjoyed Nancy Mehl's Unbreakable, I was looking forward to her next book, and I was not disappointed. Once again she deftly crafts a story in a unique genre -- Mennonite suspense, with a touch of romance thrown in.

Lizzie had left her Mennonite community years ago.  She was pregnant out of wedlock, and couldn't face the judgmental friends and disappointed family that were inevitable when her boyfriend didn't stick around to father the baby. She had built a new life for herself, and was happy and successful until it all started falling apart.  It wasn't bad enough that she was being stalked, but she was also accused of theft at work.  She has nowhere else to run except for back home to Kingdom. Unsure of her reception from her father, she stays with a friend.

She can't believe what her life has come to. Back home to a house with an outhouse instead of indoor plumbing. Back home to a mother who is loving, but has to go behind her father's back to even see her.  Back home to a father whose rigidity has culminated in trying to unseat the pastor. The irony of infighting in this supposedly peace-loving community is an interesting sub-theme that is handled sensitively.  Mehl avoids the temptation of implying that the Mennonite community inevitably leads to hypocrisy, and instead shows the way people's personalities and values lead them to make different choices.  Cora gives her a job at the cafe. She is not a church member, but follows the Holy Spirit and acts in love. The church is suffering from factions. Those who are afraid to 'relax their standards' cause tension and infighting.

She is surprised to encounter her old boyfriend, Clay.  Maybe he wasn't such a bad guy after all. As it turns out, he had tried to contact her after she left, but her father intercepted the letters. She wonders if it is too late to make a family with Clay, but is also torn by an attraction to Noah, a childhood friend who is still reaching out in friendship (and whom her daughter thinks looks like a prince).

Things are looking up, but the stalker has found her.  Will she have to run again?  Will she be able to choose between Clay and Noah?  Will her family reconcile?   Is anyone trustworthy?  I don't want to spoil it -- read the book to find out.

Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman

Julie Charlton is tired. She is stressed.  And she hates her life.  Her kids, (son Brian, 13, and daughter Whitney, 16) are over-scheduled and under-appreciative.  When her sister-in-law Susan asks for her help with a reality TV series, it sounds like it could be a win-win. Maybe Julie and her kids can step off the treadmill for the summer, exploring the Amish lifestyle, and Susan can revive her flagging career.

Julie's naivete is quickly shattered when she is blindsided in the initial interview. She thought she was just giving background information and didn't realize that what she said (including criticisms about Susan) are on camera.  To make matters worse, the situation is structured so that Susan can make simplicity look easy (as a tie-in with her upcoming book) but Julie has it hard, starting with having to walk the last part of the way to the farm.  Here kids aren't happy either, when their clothes are confiscated and they have to wear more picturesque outfits.

The challenges mount, intentionally. Julie has to clean, cook, wash, all without modern conveniences.  She copes with (or causes) disasters. The simple life is really not as simple as it sounds. In fact, it is a huge amount of work.  The scenario backfires, however.  While the goal of the show is to contrast Julie's ineptitude with Susan's accomplishments, the viewers end up with a different attitude.  They love Julie's attempts, and are annoyed by Susan.  Frankly, as a reader I'm annoyed by Susan too!

The crisis comes when the producer threatens to use footage of personal family issues and Susan threatens to walk off the show.  When the chips are down, her family loyalty outshines her hunger for her career.  And in an ironic twist, finally the viewers like her.

And in the end, the summer actually accomplishes what they all hoped. Susan's career does get a boost, but even more  appealing is when we see Julie's new perspective. "I love my life."

Utmost, Classic Readings and Prayers from Oswald Chambers

One could ask why we need another edition of one of the most popular books of all time.  But there is a good answer.  As popular as it may be, there are many who have not yet read the classic edition. This new edition makes it even more accessible by taking selections from an updated language version.

A comparison of the classic edition with the modernized language edition reveals extensive updates that serve to make it easier to understand for contemporary readers.  Here is a sample sentence from the original: "An over-weening consideration for ourselves is the thing that keeps us from that decision, though we put it that we are considering others."

Compare this to the  new version: "An undue amount of thought and consideration for ourselves is what keeps us from making that decision, although we cover it up with the pretense that it is others we are considering. "

Each page has gems -- thought provoking sentences that linger in the mind and heart.  Although I had dabbled in the original version I had never quite been gripped enough to read it through.  The newer version is more immediately compelling, and this latest edition chooses about a quarter of the selections, resulting in an easy to read, and easy to understand devotional, that still has meat and substance.

Here are a couple of examples of sentences that really made me think:

"As long as I dwell on my own qualities and traits and think about what I am suited for, I will never hear the call of God."  That skewers me to the heart, because it cuts right to the heart of it.  I cannot limit my decisions to what is sensible if I want to go where the Holy Spirit sends me.

"The greatest competitor of true devotion to Jesus is the service we do for Him."  The ministry we do is all good, but it can actually distract from listening to Him and following Him.

For a new look at an old favorite, this is a successful revision.

Unbreakable by Nancy Mehl

Unbreakable by Nancy Mehl takes three genres--Mennonite Romantic Suspense-- and melds them together to create a compelling story.  Faith, love, and revenge all compete to drive the action and the decisions, and indeed the suspense includes not just the question of how it will turn out, but whether Hope will follow the teachings of her church on non-violence, or the more pragmatic view that they need to defend themselves.  Where do you draw the line? Can a proponent of non-violence act  in self-defense?  Is carrying an unloaded gun a valid compromise, or is it the worst of all worlds, relinquishing principles without being effective? 

I appreciated the fact that people of faith were represented with full-fledged characterizations, not just stereotypes of rigidity or passivity.  Indeed, the nuances of the internal struggles to understand and live out the ramifications of faith were an integral part of the story. 

I have no idea how accurate the portrayal of the Mennonite community is, but I found it fascinating to see how the oversight of the church leadership played out in terms of the behavior and actions of the congregation. Again, there was an interesting balance point that tried to draw a line between mindless acceptance, and obedience and loyalty.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants more substance than a typical romance, and who prefers a more wholesome, edifying style. 

[Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. ]

Courting Cate by Leslie Gould

Courting Cate is a successful example of a sub-genre: an Amish Romance.  I know that 'wholesome' makes it sound like health food, but I really mean it as a compliment. It is such a pleasure to read a story that has interesting characters, good writing, and an unusual setting, without having to wade through gratuitous sex and violence.

The family dynamics were especially compelling. Sibling rivalry, parental control, differences in generational agendas all play their part, and it is fascinating to see how these timeless themes play out in an Amish setting. It was also heartwarming to see how a family can argue or disagree, yet still demonstrate that there is a fundamental love that will not be shaken even when they are mad at each other.

I especially appreciated the fact that while faith is an undercurrent throughout the book, it is not preachy. The title character is also unusual in that she is outspoken and eager to pursue learning -- not a typical Amish woman.

I did find that the visit with the in-laws seemed a little implausible -- it was so horrible but she seemed so unbelievably willing to take it, that it was a little inconsistent with her character. But that is a minor complaint in the context of the whole book.

Finally, I recommend this book to anyone who is sick of insipid romances, because the characterizations raise this to a much more substantive level.

[Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. ]