A review of "Jolt" by Phil Cooke
Review of “JOLT!” by Phil Cooke
Phil Cooke is an innovator and original thinker. He is unashamedly bold is announcing himself as a writer, filmmaker, producer, etc etc …. His media company advertises many of the largest and most effective churches and non profit organisations in the world.
His book Jolt was for me and interesting read. Getting the jump on a world that is constantly changing is his sub-title and describes his mission in this book. Chapter by chapter he challenges and inspires us to take a JOLT in various areas of our life. Jolt in our directions, what matters, our potential, our heart and our future.
The book is full of stories and personal experiences of others that go to describe his points.
Cooke’s content is good and mostly fresh though his applications are a bit too prescriptive for me.
Respectfully submitted by
Tom Rawls
A Review of James Galloways book, "From Beach hut to Palace"
James and Becky Galloway are the Lead Pastors of Breath City Church in the city of Stoke on Trent in Staffordshire in England. They have, with much courage and with a word from God, taken a local church through a process of re-purposing – a re-engineering. This book tells their story.
James is quick to say this is not a model for others to follow but a story of where and what God breathed into their hearts. James stresses the importance of receiving revelation from God regarding how God wants to move in our own churches, cities and towns.
From a beach hut near Cardiff God spoke into their hearts a dream and a vision of a church that would be significant, explosive and give a mighty hit to the “status quo” of what church is thought to be. His story speaks of a church that blasts through the barrier erected by mediocrity and sustained by a pedestrian version of just average.
On his arrival in Stoke he began a process of what he calls re-purposing a church. His book speaks about his hardships and his successes. This is an honest book. The book stresses the need to create culture and not allow the momentum of culture by default to find refuge and comfort.
In a rare moment of insight James (the book is full of them – rare insights that is) speaks about a “spirit” that can at times animate people to detract from this awesome God-process of repurposing. His book speaks openly about the Ahab & Jezebel spirit that can animate seemingly genuine people to block what God is doing in His church.
Without insulting any one (No names are mentioned so as to protect the guilty) James walks graciously through describing the hate mail, critical emails and the Facebook campaign to disgrace him. He boldly uses the victory to describe his journey to overcome this attack upon his integrity and his character.
Many will appreciate the way James takes a fresh look at an Old Testament story of Jonathan and his armour bearer found in 1 Samuel 14. James brings out many truths about having a “heart & soul” mentality to work together to achieve a lasting success we can hand over to another generation.
I have appreciated the chapters dedicated to “culture” and his explanations of what goes into the makeup of BCC, how culture is created and the source of the culture which is the culture of God’s Kingdom.
This book is not solely the work of James, his wife has a chapter and two of his close team also write with a load of conviction and passion. The book is interspersed with stories of BCC’er as they tell their inspired stories of God’s transformation.
Many will find the chapter on Intentionality refreshing as he opens up the power of doing things on purpose. I appreciated very much the way he opened up the usage of the word “no” & “yes.” Let me mention a small part of that passage; “People will always smile if they receive a “yes”, but the fruit of who they are is revealed when they receive a “no”. Unity is not unity until two parties disagree and still walk together.”
This book is a testimony of the impact that Breath City Church – no one can deny the fruit this church is seeing as literally hundreds of people are being added to the church through conversion growth. People are connecting with Christ; salvation is in this house and this book is an inspiration to anyone wanting to commence a journey towards repurposing their church. I thoroughly recommend this book!
To purchase this book go to Amazon.co.uk
Respectfully submitted by Tom Rawls
Lead Pastor of Proclaimers
It's not about ME by Max Lucado
“It’s not about me: Rescue from the life we thought would make us happy.” By Max Lucado
Max Lucado is a prolific author who has captured the ability to speak “straight to the heart!” His book “It’s not about me” is a brave book which challenges and successfully unseats us as individuals from the driver’s seat and from the centre of our own universe.
Challenging yet incredibly uplifting of God and His awesome glory Lucado speak to our hearts and minds about making sure we have Jesus at the very centre of our lives.
His book shows us the ludicrous nature of self absorbed Christian living and the abundant nature of God’s love.
As a pastor I will make sure we have this book available on our resources stand. I will personally promote this book with great passion. Because when people get this truth they will become all we ever want from them as passionate members of the church the body of Christ!
Our 21st century doesn’t take kindly to being usurped from the central place of power or desire. Just like the world was disturbed by Copernicus and Galileo when they told the waiting world that the earth did indeed revolve around the sun and not the other way around so we get disturbed when we have to sacrifice the central slot to the LORD Jesus Christ.
But Lucado doesn’t just provide challenge he provides enormous inspiration for us to surrender the leadership to God. The second half of his book is page after page of inspiration and to have the courage to make Him Lord.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this book and want to recommend it to as broad a readership as possible. Again this is another great book for those seeking after Christ and desire a connection with God in salvation. (To purchase this book go to Amazon)
Respectfully submitted by Tom Rawls
Lead Pastor of Proclaimers
www.proclaimers.com
Book Review of "Max on Life" by Max Lucado
“Max on Life” – like most of Lucado’s book this is an ‘easy read’ book full of godly inspirations and to-the-point responses to everyday life. Max gives us a divine perspective on some of life’s tough questions.
As a matter of approach Max uses an unusual style of using real people’s questions and responding with his unique outlook on the bible, life and learning God’s ways. The subtitle makes it clear what you’ll get in his latest book “Answers and inspiration for today’s questions.”
Reading this book as a pastor and church leader I became aware of the questions many normal church goers may ask about my sermons and the overall teaching ministry of the church; people understand less than I expected!
“Max on Life” is a book you’d want to include with your New Christians pack.
”Max on Life” is a book you’d want to distribute to the people coming to your new Christian’s course letting each participant know it’s okay to ask questions.
“Max on Life” is a book you’d want on sale in your lobby at church for folks maybe too shy to ask the questions poised in this book.
Max Lucado has once again produced a great book with a powerful message. It’s okay to have questions; we all do! He goes a long way to answer a lot of the most asked questions from people both from within the church and from without the church. This is a great resource for churches with loads of people coming to Christ! I can recommend it!
Respectfully submitted by,
Tom Rawls – Lead Pastor
Proclaimers, a 21st Century Church in Norwich, England
Second Review of Rob Bell's book "Love Wins"
Something huge is taking place in the evangelical church world. Proponents like Rob Bell are on the cusp. Rightly or wrongly his book has made waves in our theological community and it appears the book isn’t going away any time soon but actually gaining even more press and popularity.
Following on from my previous review of this book I felt the need to address some of the comments I have received and make further observations and notes.
I’ve got to say, I liked the book – but that doesn’t mean I have endorsed the conclusions; I did however enjoy reading the book. Rob Bell is sheer genius and well deserves his place as one of TIME’s top 100 most influential people in the world. [Time Magazine 100 most influential]
“Love Wins” throws a grenade into the Evangelical’s theological camp meeting upsetting our Kumbaya moment. What upsets many is that he has been considered for a long time as “one of us” but his latest book has made a lot of people mad.
Amazingly a lot of people are mad and haven’t even read the book. To those people I say, “Get a grip, overcome your prejudice, read the book and join the conversation.” Whether we like it or not there will be 100,000’s who have and will read this book and they won't be theologian and “Love Wins” will resonant with them and we’ll need to understand before we seek to bring clarity and correction.
In my review of April 22nd 2011 I said I believe the book was “unscholarly.” Maybe a poor choice of words; John Cottey, [comment 23rd April] seems to understand where I’m coming from and helps me to further explain my point.
“Love Wins” is not an academic treatise on the doctrine of Hell. Neither is it a work sighting other theologians and other theological views. It most definitely isn’t a systematic theology. Bell’s book doesn’t employ classic expositional strategies and he does not unpackage scriptures to allow them fully speak.
The book is a narrative; it tells Rob Bell’s story - it’s not meant to be a scholarly work. The book is a discussion piece, it’s an interchange. The book is more a walk through Rob Bell’s thought processes as they unravel.
Nathan Smith’s comments on my blog [23rd April] are also a very welcome correction. I’m sorry; my intention was not to make a character slur against Rob Bell. I didn’t express myself adequately and so “... thanks Mr Smith for your correction.”
When I say Rob Bell’s book is misleading – let me explain. Bell is definitely leading his readers to his conclusion. This is the reason is he such a great communicator and he brings us along in his conversation. The conclusion is of course his own conclusions about Heaven and Hell.
Rob Bell makes the thought of an eternal Hell of suffering and torment at odds with a loving God. I feel he misleads his readers because he neglects the biblical nature of God’s justice, righteousness and His holiness. He appeals to the human emotion of “fairness” instead of the divine nature of holiness and justice and that somehow God “changes” after we die and becomes something He isn’t.
Fairness does resonate in the human heart but so does the sense of human moral outrage over wrong perpetrated by others. When we hear of rape, human trafficking or sexual abuse against children out hearts are enraged; I would like to suggest that this is “eternity in our hearts.”[1] This outrage is the residual image of God within our hearts. God is a God of love as well as justice.
What I sought to express in my previous review was that through his astonishing intellect and amazing logic Rob Bell’s employment of inductive reasoning seems to imply that you may be an intellectual midget if you can’t see his point of view.
I have genuinely appreciated this book. It has had an impact upon me. I am not a Universalist – I do believe in Hell and unlike some I do believe that Hell will have people there because they chose to be there by denying Jesus Christ.
I have to be honest though I find the subject of Hell a really hard subject to preach about. I am passionate about sharing my faith and seeing people connect with Jesus Christ; it consumes my every waking moment as a Church leader.
Hell, mentioned by Jesus repeatedly, is the rubbish dump outside Jerusalem? Is that what He was meaning? I think Jesus may have had more in mind than merely rubbish and rabid dogs.
I would love to hear your comments.
Respectfully submitted by
Tom Rawls
Lead Pastor at Proclaimers
[1] Ecclesiastes 3:11 Amplified Bible "He also has planted eternity in men's hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy]”
A review of the book "Love Wins" by Rob Bell
A personal review of the new book “Love Wins” by controversial pastor Rob Bell
Let me start by saying how much I enjoyed this book. It had many challenging and incredibly thought provoking fresh ideas and I have loved the way Rob Bell unpackages certain scriptures with a fresh eye and articulate voice.
I must say however that some of his “theological” conclusions are a bit misleading and even border on the unbiblical... let me explain.
He employs an inductive style of teaching that leads you to his own conclusions rather than what the bible actually says. Many have thought of Rob’s book as a bit of evangelical mutiny.
- His use of questions is misleading to the reader
- His understanding of what others see as salvation is very man centred and depends on what you believe
- His theology of God’s nature is skewed to reveal only a one dimensional view of either love or anger
- What I do love is he widens the door to Heaven; in our evangelical legalism this is indeed good news – but in the next chapter virtually closes the door to Hell
For me as I read his book (and I read it twice – once to get through it and the second time had my bible open to check out his use of scriptures) I really wanted to believe what he was writing! It sounded so good and just made it easier to think about God, a relationship with Him through Christ and just forget about the reality of Hell.
- I found his theology very one sided and it came down heavily on “... the love of God for us all.” It is very stilted, one sided teaching to get across his message – which he has done very well!
- His story and teaching about the “rich young ruler” was not a great example of New Testament salvation because it was a pre-cross story. Rob is a bit of a minimalist as well because he leaves out a few important parts of the scripture like “... leave all you have and come follow me!”
- Rob’s train of thought expressed in his book seems to put down traditional evangelicalism – seems quite obvious that this is what he’s doing. The concept of repentance or the simple changing of our minds, the expression of free will, seems redundant for salvation.
- His teaching about Hell is just too thin – he doesn't take into consideration the scriptures appropriately like a good theologian should – it appears he is trying to make the bible seem “unclear” or simply ambiguous about Hell.
- Shoddy approach to scripture makes it look like when ever Jesus mentions Hell he is merely speaking about the rubbish dump outside of the city gates in Jerusalem. Did he not know that other preachers and theologians would read his book or did he just produce this for the masses of people who don't use their bibles! I’d say shame at this point; shoddy work and unacceptable. It is almost a dishonest exposition and explanation of scripture to prove his point. Scary! Unscholarly.
- Rob appears to misuse his striking logic to... help me here... to deliberately mislead his readers with the over use of reason and logic relying on people’s scepticism to carry his argument. He makes light and pokes fun at the thought of Hell and the more traditional approach toward the biblical subject of Hell. Rob’s prose makes many of us feel like intellectual midgets if we happen to actually believe in Hell.
Now please don't get me wrong. I am not seeking to be “critical” in a negative sense. I think Rob’s book is a good read. Love Wins is a “crackling good yarn” as they say in reference to Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler novels.
I love his fresh approach to certain well worn scriptures and I love the noble attempt to open a little wider the doors to Heaven. We evangelicals can become so legalistic and nit picking we actually become like the Pharisees of old, and shame o us trying to close up those doors to heaven so that heaven will just be people who think and act like me!!
God is a God of indescribable love; but He is also a God of justice. I will never assume I know who’s going to heaven and who is not but I will seek to declare and proclaim as faithfully as I can that Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life and no man can come to the father unless they come through Him.
I am not ashamed of the good news story about Jesus – it is the power for God for salvation to all.
1 John 2:2-5, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him.”
I appeal to people to read this book, but make sure you have your bible open along side of it. This is a book you have to read with your brain engaged!
Respectfully submitted by Tom Rawls
Lead Pastor of Proclaimers
Mark Conner endorses Relentless
Every since I first met Tom Rawls, I have been impressed by his passion for God and his willingness to push the boundaries to see God’s kingdom established on the earth.
Two thousand years ago, Jesus said that he would build his church but what did he have in mind ... and does today’s church reflect his vision?
In this book, Tom leads us on a journey, asking the tough questions and encouraging us to relentlessly pursue what Jesus really had in mind for his church in our time. I highly recommend it!
Mark Conner is the senior leader of CityLife Church in Melbourne, Australia and author of “7 Strategic Changes Every Church Must Make” available on Amazon
Tim Stevens endorses the new book Relentless
"For years I’ve been told the church in Europe is dead, but after reading Relentless—I no longer believe it."
"God is raising up a voice in Tom Rawls that is full of hope and challenge for the church. I look forward to the not-too-distant day when we hear of revival sweeping through all of Europe!”
Tim Stevens,
Executive Pastor, Granger Community Church
Author, Pop Goes the Church
Blogger, LeadingSmart.com
Granger Community Church is a relevant and innovative church in Granger Indiana; 2 hours from Chicago. Senior leader mark Besson leads this cutting edge church and Tim is the Executive Pastor. Check out their website at http://www.gccwired.com/ Granger is a large mega-church of over 6,500 people in the US known for their creativity, leadership and desire to help other churches around the world.
Wayne Alcorn - National President for Australian Christian Churches endorses Relentless
Tom Rawls is a pioneer. He’s a “journey man”, and he’s been used by God to provoke thought and action. It has been an inspiration to watch him lead in his own unique style for almost 3 decades in 3 very different cultures (Australia, Thailand and the UK). All the while, he has retained a freshness in his approach to leadership, a passion to stay in touch with culture and a prophetic edge to his message.
This book captures his quest for truth and relevance, his understanding of current trends, and his heart to see the Church be the unstoppable force its founder meant it to be.
Wayne Alcorn – National President – Australian Christian Churches and Senior Pastor – City Church, Brisbane, Australia
Scott Wilson endorses Reletless
Scott Wilson:
I have known Tom and Denise for many years, probably too many! Tom has a big heart for the church and this is reflected in his book "Relentless" The title more aptly describes Tom. He is relentless in his pursuit of vision and his passion for the church is all pervading.
Relentless is a timely book about THE church but also about A church. Pastors, leaders, volunteers and any student of the church will enjoy the story of the church, but especially one church, on its journey of reshaping, change, and, ultimately, growth.
Challenging, witty, engaging and provoking, a must read for all.
Dr Scott Wilson, author of "The G Factor, Using vision, values, goals and strategy to build a church" President, Eurolead.net. Founder, Institute for Creativity, Leadership and Management (ICLM)
THE NEED TO BE MATURE IN CHRIST
A few words on maturity:
What is maturity? Let me tell you what it’s not … Maturity is not being able to tell us what the Mercy Seat is, quote the 10 commandments, be able to explain the 10 plagues of Moses, or knowing who the Anti-Christ is; Maturity is not being able to tell us all about the Temple, the table of shew bread, the ark of the covenant, and the shittim wood. That is knowledge – it is all good bible knowledge but this is not maturity.
Like in life, maturity is all about being able to fully function in the midst of growing relationships, making good and godly decisions, perseverance through difficult times, becoming an emotionally stable person working through the scars and hurts of the past to become whole and functional. Being mature is resourcing yourself and living out of the purposes of God serving His agendas. Being mature is having “the mind of Christ” [1 Corinthians 2: 16] and living according to it.
Let me quote from Bill Hybell’s latest book “Reveal”: “The church is extremely important in the early stages of [spiritual development], but its main activities—like weekend services and small groups—decline in importance as people [grow closer to Christ]. The church becomes less of a place to go for spiritual development and to find spiritual relationships, and more of a platform that provides serving opportunities.”
Hybell’s is not denigrating or demeaning the role of the church – He is redefining from a biblical perspective the mission of the church – the mature are those who no longer look to the church for “ … the meat of the word.” They have become mature enough to now feed themselves they are responsible to resource themselves and in turn be a part of looking after the spiritual babies! Their spiritual fervor is derived from being fully engaged in the great Mission of Christ! They live to see others coming to Christ in salvation!
Let me read an excerpt from Getting fed: By Pastor Steven Furtick – he quotes Proverbs 26:15, “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.”
We all know that one of top 3 reasons people leave churches is the (infamous) claim: “I wasn’t getting fed there.”Pastor Steven says, “Maybe you weren’t! Maybe the church set the table, presented the bread of life, and you were too stinking lazy to bring it back to your mouth, chew it, swallow, and digest it, like a big boy. You know, I don’t mind helping my 2 year old eat his Happy Meal. But if he can’t pick up a fork and bring the food to his mouth by age 20, we have a problem."
Churches are filled with those who have known Christ for decades, and still need a bib, a high chair, and want Daddy to do “open wide, here comes the airplane” tricks with the fork before shoving it into their mouths.
I love the way the Message Bible say it in Ephesians 4: 14 – 16, “No prolonged infancies among us, please…. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love – like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do.”
Why are you challenging us to spiritual maturity? - Because it is an absolute essential for a truly 21st Century Church.
Being driven by the mission of Christ is a non negotiable to the church, it is the focus and driving heart of the 21st Century Church. The church was never meant to remain childish, at a standstill or static inwardly looking or introspective.
The mighty church of God is always maturing and growing taking ground, pounding down the gates of Hell marching to the sounds of today reaching people who Jesus came into the world to save! For us to “tell the truth in love – like Christ in everything”
