5 comments about The Faithful Departed: The Collapse of Boston's Catholic Culture.

1. Well written, well researched and carefully thought out book proposing the hypothesis that the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church was only the most visible manifestation of a general malaise in moral leadership among the hierarchy.
   I would have liked footnotes to many of the assertions in the book.



2. The author sees the basic problem clearly, the effort in Boston to "make it" by Catholics as if they constituted a sort of race rather than a religion. I think he errs in suiggesting that this atttude was universal in the USA.



3. Lawler uses the failings of the Boston Archdiocese not only recently but over its history as a platform to review the scandals besetting the Catholic Church in America that have been so much in the news.
   
   He rejects the notion that the sex abuse scandal was a series of aberrations, but had at its root the unwillingness of bishops and priests to be faithful to Catholic dogmas and discipline. Outstanding analysis - and a critically important book for understanding not only the sex abuse scandal but also the contemporary situation of the Catholic Church in America today.



4. This book really exceeded my expectations. It was interesting, well written and had the best anecdotes- like the disappearance of the Cardinal's dog on the day of his death, fascinating. There is a blog discussing the book ([...]) and its current black listing by some/most religious bookstores.
   
   If you are like me and like history but find most of it dead boring, you'll like this book because it is a way to learn history and be entertained at the same time.
   
   Best of all it is hopeful.



5. The book was well written and the author's arguments were well developed. However, the editing (eg.,mistakes in tense and agreement) was shameful. To charge good money for such a sloppily produced product does not reflect well on the publishing house. If I were the author, I'd lodge a strong protest.

3 comments about Devil's Gate: BrighamYoung and the Great Mormon Handcart Tragedy.

1. It's about time that someone put some more light (FACTS) on another of the FPR's (Faith Promoting Rumors) of Mormonism.
   Sacrifice? Yes; Stupidity? Plenty of that also.
   Perhaps now that Hinckley isn't the (PR oriented) head of LDS, Inc. more actual Facts & in-depth information regarding the history of the LDS church and its top-down decision model were subject to scrutiny.
   It's about time.



2. This book provides an important perspective on one of the greatest horrors of the settlement of Utah.
   
   My great-great-great grandmother was a member of the Hunt wagon train that trailed the two hand cart companies that are the focus of this book. She died a day before the remains of her family arrived in Salt Lake City in December, 1856. Three of her children died along the trail. Two others arrived seriously frostbitten. All available evidence suggests that the surviving family members remained true to the Church. But it is hard to believe that the family would have made the trek from England to Utah had they had any realistic notion of what awaited them.
   
   My grandfather was a man of faith, a good Mormon, who lived his entire life in Utah; all of it with a serious attitude about the leadership of the LDS church. I have often wondered about the roots of his somber hostility toward higher ups in the Church, whom he generally regarded as feckless fancies more concerned with appearance than truth. I find this same strain of disgust in the attitudes of my uncles. In my family, there is great appreciation and affection for everyday people who live in the understory of the the Mormon hierarchy, and very often a generally accepted bitterness toward Church leadership, in word and manner.
   
   I have long suspected that the strain of deep bitterness evident in the family had its roots in a deep sense of great injustice sometime in the past. This book may provide the answer.
   
   The stories my grandmother shared about the horrors of the last emigration of 1856 were honest yet focused on faith and enhancing understanding and appreciation for the hardships suffered by our ancestors. There was never mention that the suffering was caused in large measure by the bad decisions of Church leadership.
   
   I've read dozens of accounts of the emigration of 1856. This book matters. It is the best yet.
   
   The author writes with a profound respect for the humanity of all involved, but also with a clear head about the causes and consequences of terribly flawed decisions.
   
   When I take people to the mouth of Emigration Canyon and relate the story of my great-great-grandmother who arrived there, "dead in the wagon," I will look at the men on the top of the great monument there with respect, but not with the reverence that is commonly promoted. I will also wish for them the fruits of their faith - the opportunity to face the souls of the good people who didn't make it to Salt Lake in 1856 for all eternity - as equals.



3. I found Devil's Gate absolutely fascinating! I had never heard of the Handcart Migration, and to discover that the tragedy that befell the handcarters exceeded the suffering of the far-more-famous Donner Party was a revelation. The author does a great job of fleshing out the individuals whose story he tells, from the Mormon leaders down through the handcarters themselves, including children. I especially liked the end of the book, when the author visits the important sites of the migration, and even pulls a handcart himself - a modern replica, much better engineered and built than the originals, and still an almost indescribably difficult mode of travel. I thought his account was very well balanced between admiration and crticism, and between the basic facts of the historical story and the very moving human experience he relates. A real page-turner, and an absorbing story that very much deserves more widespread recognition. Highly recommended!

5 comments about My Descent Into Death: A Second Chance at Life.

1. This is a most interesting book in which the author describes his experience of entering Hell, and then being transported to Heaven. Not sure I believe it all, but his experiences are certainly in line with other books I have read on heaven and hell. His experience is believable to a point, and it does seem to have changed his life, but does seem to get carried away with his projections of the future (life in this world will get better and better, happily ever after and all that) and his many visits from angels. Can't say that it is definitely NOT true though, so I think it is worth reading and you decide. And it certainly makes you think more about eternity and where you may be spending it.



2. This is a must read book. I have shared with several friends and all have had a postive feedback from reading this book!



3. First, I would like to say that I am so tired of the christians & the catholics with their bible opinions about this book. New age is not really new age it's old just as Gnostic Christianity/Jewish Mysticism are ancient religions. Nobody disrespects your religion don't disrespect others for their beliefs. BTW who wrote the bible? How does anyone know that is truly the word of god & not lies? Everyone knows that the bible has had texts taken out, manipulated texts, & things added in by the catholic church. So do not assume that you know the truth because really no one does & all religions will bring you to god. As for this book I loved it & I thought it was absolutely beautifully written. Truly inspiring!!!



4. I loved this book. I think every human being should read this. Really let's you see what's important in life and what's not. This is a wonderful glimpse of the other side. It's easy to read and such an encouragement.



5. Ok, I've read something like 10 NDE books as well as countless stories of them from the IANDS site, but this book is by far the best. If you're looking for something that is realistic, and doesn't lie to you about virtually everybody going to Heaven (now there's an inconvenient truth, eh?), then this is the book for you. Keep in mind that even Dannion Brinkley himself admits that he was wrong about telling everyone that there is nothing other than love and light in the afterlife. In his recent book (Secrets of the Light) he acknowledges that his experiences are not, and are not going to be, everyone's. I commend Dannion for coming to that realization and helping others to see it too. And it was this book that helped me do a 360 when I was in the midst of persecuting everything except new age fluff (*shakes head* all that time wasted, as a self-righteous fool indeed). All I search for is the truth, and I believe that can best be found in this book as well as some of Emanuel Swedenborg's writings. I know that in recent times Christianity has gotten a horrible rep, and the Inquisition is inexcusable we can all agree (see how no one is denying that, let's face it they were demons in sheep's clothing were they not?), however, you might possibly feel caught up in the lie that everything is fine and dandy in the new-age fluff world, which of course you know isn't true (visit your local ER on a Friday night or penitentiary on any day, as a reference for why that's a conclusion to be made) so I highly recommend this book for you. For all we really know, all those people "lying to you about hellfire" might have really cared about you and been trying to warn you about hell's salivating mouth that's waiting to give you your real welcome. And if you don't think that hell should exist then I must introduce you to some of my neighbors at once. In this book Jesus says that religion isn't the important thing it's people's hearts that matter, nice message and I very much agree with it, but let's face it it was Jesus Himself that saved this man and not just some multidimensional martian entity with a soft-spot for humankind. Recommended but not for the faint of heart, as I believe Mr. Storm really did experience the bowels of hell. My Descent Into Death, the book that changed me for the better and might change you too.

1 comments about The Faithful: A History of Catholics in America.

1. This book is an excellent, concise view of the cultural experience of American Catholicism. Mr. O'Toole does a great service to readers by avoiding the ecclesiastical issues when ever possible to focus on the human development of the Roman Catholic Church in this country. Rather then seeing the names of famous cardinals, though they are in there, you are given examples of how the people of the United States expressed their faith and how it impacted their lives.
   
   Mr. O'Toole does a wonderful job of guiding the reader through the post WWII tumult that the church went through and does so with an open mind yet clearly drawn conclusions. His narrative is very crisp and clear and the work itself is very enjoyable and highly readable. I would recommend this to any Catholic in the US who would like to learn how their faith arrived at where it is.

5 comments about Godless: The Church of Liberalism.

1. Ann Coulter's book is a work of fiction. She shows her total ignorance of science. On any topic such as evolution you can always find a dissenting scientist. But the vast majority of scientists accept that evolution is a fact. The theory is in how evolution works. The Cambrian explosion was not an explosion. It took 20 million years to occur and the Burgess shale fossils show that the prototypes already existed much before the so called explosion. The HOX genes that direct the bodies arrangements already existed. The reason for the so called explosion was that the level of oxygen increased dramatically in our atmoshere allowing for the surge of new species. Ann makes another 15-20 errors in trying to debunk science. Ann would rather have the Dark Ages again when religion ruled and science was forbidden by the church. She is typical of the religious extremists that want to replace science in our classrooms and in its place put religion as the explanation for everything. Ann is ignorant and arrogant. But she sells her books because she panders to the public which is unfortunately also science illiterate. She sees the world in black and white colors and nothing in between is acceptable. Please do not waste your time or money on this worthless and distorted book.



2. I like how she gets to the piont - easy to read and understand - not bogged down with stuff that makes ya put it away for later



3. A couple of years ago, I loaned my copies of Ann Coulter's Treason: Liberal Treachery from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism and Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right to a conservative friend who then loaned it (with my permission) to a liberal relative. The books were never returned and probably never will be. Typical liberal taking what is not theirs and providing nothing in return.
   
   I say that to say this, I am not loaning my copy of Godless: The Church of Liberalism to anyone. Besides providing a great history lesson in how we got to this place, my favorite part of the book was the section dealing with evolution. Now some may disagree with her, but I have never read a more clearly defined argument for this subject. This was a sharp mind and a great wordsmith at her best. I could feel the passion on the written page and knew that I was in the hands of a true believer.
   
   Having read several modern books dealing with - to varying degrees - evolution such as Of Pandas and People: The Central Question of Biological Origins, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything and The God Delusion, I can honestly attest that Ann Coulter's arguments win the day. I highly recommend this book for both the political writing and the section on evolution. I hope you find this review helpful.
   
   Michael L. Gooch, Author of Wingtips with Spurs



4. The chapters covering evolution were the most valuable part of the book. After reading it, I begin to rethink my views on evolution. I've always considered evolution to be a science, but not anymore. But I don't consider intelligent design to be a science either. If it is being taught as a science, then that would still be wrong in my opinion. After rethinking my views on this, I think that evolution could be considered as a philosophy. It reminds me of what was said about the so called "theory of everything" in physics. This theory is not considered to be science because it can't be proved. Like the "theory of everything" in physics; evolution could someday be thought of as a "theory of everything" that applies to biology. Therefore, it would no longer be considered a science, but a philosophy instead.



5. Ann Coulter, Godless: The Church of Liberalism (Crown, 2006)
   
   I would like to be able to review Ann Coulter's newest tome, Godless: The Church of Liberalism, fairly. However, I find myself unable to do so because Coulter's entire premise is a ludicrous, but increasingly common, fallacy: the equation of conservatism with orthodox religion (specifically, in this case, Christianity, though I've often heard Joe Lieberman, an orthodox Jew, described as conservative as well). I'm not sure how this odd distortion of reality came about, but let me set the record straight here: anyone whose opinions on any given topic come from a solely religious viewpoint is not a conservative. They are, without doubt, a wholly different stripe of liberal than, say, the Warren Court that Coulter so despises, but trust me-- conservatives don't want them either. Where do you think the term "neocon" came from? That's right-- us. The conservatives.
   
   To use an example that's obviously near and dear to Ann's heart, given how much she brings it up, let's talk abortion. Ann's premise is that liberals (because, obviously, all liberals feel the same on every subject; liberals are a monolith like one might find in a Kubrick film) support a government-guaranteed right to abortion on demand, while conservatives of Coulter's stripe (see above about monolithism) support a government mandate that abortion be illegal. Any true conservative knows that neither of those options is the correct answer (despite how we may feel personally; I am virulently pro-choice, myself)-- the only conservative option is "abortion falls under the ninth and tenth amendments." In other words, let the states decide. It's all right there in black and white, for anyone who cares to read the constitution.
   
   Not that "constitutional law expert" Ann Coulter isn't above bending the laws a little. While she talks up the first amendment on a number of occasions here, it's pretty obvious that she'd like to see the first amendment (and a couple of others, notably the fifth, which she attacks over and over again while spewing invective against Miranda) go the way of the great auk. A pretty funny position for a "conservative", someone for whom the Constitution holds the same mystic power as the Bible does for the "liberals in wolves' clothing", as I've taken to calling the neocons in the past few years.
   
   While I'd actually planned to make Coulter's unsurprising lack of actual conservative views the real substantive body of my non-review, as I was actually reading the book, I found my qualms about the sand upon which her arguments were founded taking a back seat to the woman's writing style (which, and this is surprising, Joe Maguire goes out of his way to praise numerous times in Brainless: The Lies and Lunacy of Ann Coulter). Simply put, Coulter is one of the shrieking harridans she's constantly attacking. Her writing style is based on unfunny, borderline-offensive "jokes" and ad hominem attacks rather than anything at all of substance. This isn't political writing, it's ranting, much of it unsubstantiated. That's all well and good when it's billed as ranting. I rant quite often myself, though I do at least attempt to back it up with facts sometimes, and I always clearly label ranting as ranting, and don't expect people to take it seriously. After all, it is ranting. Coulter, on the other hand, does seem to expect to be taken seriously. But whatever her views on the subject, it's obvious given her sales figures-- Godless debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list (a liberal rag she hates, by the by)-- that people do take her seriously. Which says a great deal more about the average Ann Coulter reader's lack of ability to think critically than it does about Ann Coulter, I guess. But then, Coulter subscribes to a belief system that considers it a sin to think critically, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised at that, either.
   
   I wondered, when I was putting myself through the torture of attempting to read Ben Shapiro's worthless Porn Generation, where he'd gotten his writing style. Well, now I know, and I can safely avoid ever having to read tripe like this again. Unless, that is, another drooling sycophant like Shapiro decides to ape Ann Coulter's barely-competent writing. (zero)

5 comments about Confessions of a Reformission Rev.: Hard Lessons from an Emerging Missional Church (The Leadership Network Innovation).

1. Interesting review of a Seattle church that went from storefront to megachurch status in nine years. Author is as much entrepreneur as minister - much like high growth business owners, he constantly started and killed ministries, hired/fired staff accordingly, and shifted locations on a regular basis and took risks in doing so. He also identifies the types of people he wants and doesn't want as church members and shows how technology can be used to attract and communicate with parishioners.



2. Mark Driscoll has marked a clear trail for those who desire to be relevant while remaining radically orthodox. Having waded through the land minds of a new generations desire to reach the world for Christ, he has come through in one piece bearing some great wisdom on how to relate to the postmodern culture while remaining deeply committed to the age old tenants of the faith. His work will make you laugh, and it might make you mad, but it will surely challenge you to authentic Christianity. Thanks Driscoll for sharing reality in Christ. It is true apostolic genius. Tom Griner



3. This is a well written, engaging book. If you have ever heard Mark Driscoll preach, you will recognize his style...he writes the same way.
   
   He gives some "confessions". He certainly stirs up the reader to think about how to make the church they attend grow, preferably by winning souls. It has some good information in it. I just wish it had more. Then again, this was not meant to be a "how-to" as much as a "how-was".
   
   All in all I have to recommend this book pretty highly. It will build your desire to get out and reach the unchurched/lost in your area. His sermon series on the book of Nehemiah is also worth listening to.



4. I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book, and I honestly didn't expect that much from it. I was pleasantly surprised by the book--not because my expectations were so low, but because it really is a helpful and useful book for a pastor trying to wrestle with the deepening and broadening of the church. The sarcasm was an unexpected treat. I am sarcastic a little too often, and it was fun reading his take on the world. As with all hard humor, though, it was great when I agreed with it, and it was frustrating when I didn't.
   
   But humor aside, Driscoll has a handful of extremely important things to tell pastors (and church leadership in general). To being with, church is about Jesus. We can put on dazzling shows, mimic models working half-way around the States, or disband the whole thing in favor of house churches, but every adaptation needs to be about Jesus. Pastors and churches grow in the right ways when we preach Christ and him crucified every week no matter the topic or text. A church without carefully defined and followed theology is like a grocery store that only sells Hostess cupcakes. People will get a sugar high coming, but the crash is not far away and they certainly won't grow.
   
   In addition, churches need to define or discover why they exist and move in that direction. As so many church leadership books tell us, that sometimes requires hard decisions. But as Driscoll reminds us, churches are guarded by shepherds that are supposed to tend for and protect the flock.
   
   He also raises an issue I have discovered in my own journey as a pastor. It sounds simple on paper, and if you haven't struggled with this temptation you may not guess how powerful it is. Pastors and leaders need to be who Jesus called them to be and do the things Jesus called them to do. We make huge mistakes fitting into someone else's mold or trying to act and preach like the popular guy down the street. Churches sometimes put pressures on pastors to be and do certain things that will end up sapping them of vitality and ruin the church. Sometimes it is a cult of personality or a denomination, but the problem is the same - pastors give into other peoples' expectations at their own peril. We all know pastors and leaders end up with things in their portfolios they are not great at or need to learn to love, but, as a matter of priority and gifting, be who God called you to be.
   
   I am not a huge fan of books on church leadership technique. That is probably why I liked this book. Instead of a heck of a lot of tips and tricks (there are a fair amount of details, pie charts and schematics), it is mostly about a set of lessons learned trying to do what God called a pastor to do.



5. I find this book both wonderful and sarcastic. Mark Driscoll is deffiently a truthful author more so than others I've read. The book gives the deep, dark, intimate truths of startinga new church and the struggles you may face. For the first two-thirds of the book I didn't care for Mr. Driscoll. He was sarcastic, negative, and aerogant. but afther the fact I found he was writing exactly what he was thinking through out those tough times. All in all I would recommend this book with the warning to be prepared. Mark is not the traditional Pastor you would think of.

5 comments about Churched: One Kid's Journey Toward God Despite a Holy Mess.

1. Many individuals lack a desired level of comfort when it comes to regularly attending church. Some will, like the author of Churched, trace this discomfort back to their youth. It is not difficult to comprehend this phenomenon when one examines any group of more than a few people with the intention of seeking normalcy. People are diverse. Include something that people are genuinely passionate about into any group of individuals and the prospect of finding what every different onlooker or participant would consider normal decreases dramatically. To experience this, one does not necessarily need to read about one denomination of Christianity or another but rather need not look further than one's extended family. However, one's family is not as easy to leave for the sake of being uncomfortable.
   
   In Churched, Mathew Turner takes a surface level approach to recounting his childhood and the church that appeared to have encompassed every aspect of his youth. Turner derives the occasional humorous tidbit at the expense of this individual or that without granting the reader access into what he was really experiencing below the superficial descriptions. While brief glimpses of Turner's actual sentiment and some valuable lessons that the author learned along the way are what keep this work afloat, it is nothing more than the collection of stories that the back cover claims it is. That is, there is plenty of commentary about what the world, literally, looks like through this author's eyes but no indication as to what it means or why it was deemed necessary for the author to write an entire book about his seemingly common perspective. The material for a meaningful work appears to exist in the author's mind, but might have failed to find its way to the pages of this particular work.



2. I was drawn to select this from the Amazon Vine list because I was raised in a devout Methodist family and spent the first quarter century of my marriage as the minister's wife in a small, fundamental, Southern Baptist congregation. I could not wait to see how closely his story paralleled my story or any story to which I have been a witness. The verdict is in: this boy has definitely "walked the walk", and gives an honest depiction of his experience, and his first-person account is far from unique. He does a superb job of being exceedingly fair with his people. He grasps their sincerity, but does not gloss over how misguided and harmful it can be. He also makes the true point that God helps each of us in spite of a lot of wrong-doing by those self-appointed spokespersons for Him. As I read, I was reminded that, "With friends like the ones from the author's childhood, God certainly does not need any enemies," but God does take care of Himself and the author, too. I highly recommend this book to anybody that can read.



3. Despite the 3 star rating on this book, I started out enjoying the writing immensely. I was laughing so much and so hard through the first sections of the book (up to about 1/3 of the way through) that my family came in to see WHAT I was laughing at.
   
   Matthew Paul Turner does something that many people can NOT do- he bares his soul for the world to see. His honest open attitude in recounting his childhood is beautiful and deeply appreciated - at least by me. I would rather have someone be painfully honest than to hide the truth trying to be someone or something they are not.
   
   That is what this story is about.
   
   It is about a young boy raised in religious circles that are all about a person that none of them ever quite meets in person- Jesus Christ. It is about man's contrived formulas and self-prescribed tenets that are practiced to try to reach someone who supposedly paid the price so they would not have to do that.
   
   Matthew's account of his younger years are often delightful and "laugh out loud" funny. He captures the perspective of a young child perfectly in his recounting of his own responses to the muddle of religion that he was dealing with at the time.
   
   I want to be clear that I did not rate this book three stars because of the subject matter. Many religious institutions- of all types of faith- leave young children with honest yearnings for God with many unanswered questions and often terrifying fears ingrained in them often for life.
   
   Matthew Turner manages to portray his confused childhood and those surrounding him with conflicting fuzzy chopped up theology pretty well. He addresses many things that have turned people off of churches for life once they are older.
   
   What I had a hard time with in the book is that it starts to become weighed down about halfway through the book with too much sludge. In other words, the reading pace slows WAY down and the reader is almost left to fend for him or herself, feeling like Matthew Turner has become so weighed down in memories that he/she has lost the tour guide and have to swim out from the center of the mucky ocean alone.
   
   The book endeavors to plow through some heavy stuff. Misunderstood concepts and convoluted perceptions of the christian faith which cut off many of its followers from reality and effectiveness in the world around them is told over and over in sometimes amusing and other times discouraging candor.
   
   Matthew Turner let's us in on his journey with lovely openness. He is kind enough to allow us into his past, fears, and discomfort without restriction. I applaud that.
   
   Although in this journey, Matthew talks of a love for Jesus, this book is like a tour all around the mountain seeing what others say about it without ever walking up the mountain to see for himself what is REALLY up there. It is as if Matthew has never really met the one whom he professes love for.
   
   The book ends with Matthew still trying to find out from others what Jesus is all about, but one gets the distinct impression that he has never really met Jesus personally like so many in the Christian faith seem to do with clarity.
   
   Whether that is true or not, I appreciate this book very much. It is funny, sad, and sometimes downright depressing, but it is honest and open and I enjoyed that part of it.
   
   If you are the type of person who gets offended at religion, you might find this book throwing you into a filibuster type monologue that will drive away friends and family on the evils of right wing fundamentals. However, if you, like many around the world, have had to jump through the many hoops of religion hoping to be accepted by family and friends, you will probably relate to this book very well.
   
   Many who have been turned off by bible thumping, verbally assaulting so-called born again christians trying to make you a notch on their belt- over and over and over will relate to this book.
   
   If you have been through that kind of experience,I recommend that you read CHURCHED by Matthew Paul Turner for solidarity, but not for answers. There are only a few little glimmers of light in this book which bring hope.
   
   It would be nice if Matthew writes a book if and when he finally does meet the *object of his affection* in person. I am sure that many will be interested to see how and if it is different than the way he grew up.



4. Being an ex-fundamentalist Pentecostal, this book hit home so much for me. I felt like someone could relate finally!
   Matthew Turner's great sense of humor is evident throughout the book, as well as the love he and his parents have for each other - something that is sometimes lost amid the rigid rules of Christianity that fundamentalists follow. I will definitely be picking up other books by this author and am following his blog - www.jesusneedsnewpr.blogspot.com.



5. This is a kids perspective of what it was like to grow up in a fundementalist Baptist household told by his adult self. It can be pretty funny & sometimes a little sad all at the same time. His story isn't as bad as I thought it would be! I anticipated some wild out there stories that I could relate to, but even though they weren't wild, they were "crazy" to quote a word he uses often. I guess I'll have to write a wild story about growing up in a Born Again Christian household! LOL! This book is great for any adult who's been there & would love to read about someone elses suffering. This book lets you know that you wern't the only kid with the Bible Thumping family! His tales about the attitudes the non-believers had towards them were priceless & all to familiar! All in all a quick, easy, & fun read.

5 comments about The Tangible Kingdom: Creating Incarnational Community (J-B Leadership Network Series).

1. Thanks to Hugh & Matt, I was sleep deprived for a whole weekend. The Tangible Kingdom was so good, I didn't want to put it down! As a lay-person, I highly recommend the book. It helped me process my personal frustrations of the Church in a healthier way, and look at how purposefully I'm living among the "Sojourners" in my life.
   
   I'm really glad that Hugh & Matt weren't foolhardy enough to give a "formula" on how to live in community ("Follow these 5 easy steps..."). Instead, they filled the book with stories of their conversations with ordinary people, whether at a bar, a coffee shop, in their neighborhood, and in the living room--places that I hang out in too. That reinforces to me that ministry doesn't have to happen in a church and I don't have to be in vocational ministry to have an impact on people. I can do that wherever I am too. The middle chapters of the book were heavier, as Hugh went into different church models. It was interesting, but not as directly applicable as it would be to a church planter or leader.
   
   The book's also been "key" to me intentionally readjusting my lifestyle. Working in a young marketing firm in California, I'm learning to see and love my coworkers differently. I'm enjoying all the new conversations, getting to know them, and trusting that God is working mightily throughout it all.
   
   Excellent book, funny, and very impactful!



2. This book is spot on to the realities faced by churches attempting ot be relevant in a post-modern culture!
   
   If your are a lay or vocational leader of a church and the sweet taste of "church" has turned to limonade without sugar for you, then explore this book.



3. Tangible Kingdom makes me aware, that business as usual in the church, has resulted in the decrease in effectiveness, and the overall decline of the church, we have seen over the years. TK presents incarnational ministry and living 'missionally', as Christ-like qualities we all aspire to, yet seem to fall short of, as we become trapped in our Christian Worlds.
   I'll paraphrase my favorite quote in the whole book....If you want to love starving African children...you must go to Africa and spend time with them, if you want to love mentally handicapped people....you must spend time with or around those with mental deficiencies...and if we are going to love our neighbors (as ourselves) we must re-engage them, spend time with them, enjoy life with them.
   We have presented this to key leaders in our church, as a starting point to missional living.



4. I found this book's content to be very challenging, going well beyond lifestyle evangelism. It has made me rethink my strategy for reaching those in and outside my circle who don't have faith in Christ.



5. The Tangible Kingdom: Creating Incarnational Community (J-B Leadership Network Series) This is the church of the future. My Son actually attends this church in Denver and can't stop telling us how much he likes the way they do church. It's a great read the author is funny and entertaining, at the same time he teaches you how to reach out to non christins in a non threatening way and show them what Christ is like, much in the same way they did in the book of Acts.I highly recomend it. I bought a copy for my pastor. Brian Wiest

5 comments about The Radical Reformission: Reaching Out without Selling Out.

1. There are few men in the US who are raising the bar for ministry and the men who are called to do such work, quite like Mark Driscoll. Young men going into ministry need humble models and they are hard to find. God calls real men to stand in the gape for souls. Driscoll is burdened to see men in ministry who love Jesus best and love His word. Everyone else stay away! This is a man worthy of imitation and this book is a good start in understanding how to follow him as he follows Christ.



2. I really, really liked this book. So much so that I not only ordered my own copy, but I didn't give back the one I borrowed, I gave it to someone else to read first.
   
   Radical reformission is about a transformation of the church. Mark shares his philosophy regarding the church, and what it means for a church to be missional. This book combines powerful teaching with storytelling, and the typical driscoll humor.
   
   I love the story of how he started in ministry. Mark accepted Christ, and then immediately decided to start a bible study (the same week!). He summarizes it like this "It then dawned on me that I had been a Christian for only a few days, had never been in a Bible study, and did not really know anything in the Bible other than the fact that I sucked and that Jesus is God." Mark offered to let anyone ask any question, as long as they would give him a week to try to figure it out.
   
   Mark is very transparent in this book, sharing both success and failures. After one very entertaining story about going to a gay cowboy bar (gotta read the book!) in which he was afraid to tell people he was a pastor, he said "I cared more about how I appeared to people than about whether I shared the passion of Jesus for those who are lost"
   
   But the chapter on reformissional evangelism really hit home with me. I struggle with the idea that we expect people to jump through hoops to be part of the church, and Mark writes an incredible analogy on this point:
   
   "In reformission evangelism, people are called to come and see the transformed lives of God's people before they are called to repent of sin and trust in God. Taking a cue from dating is helpful on this point. If we desire people to be happily married to Jesus as his loving bride, it makes sense to let them go out on a few dates with him instead of just putting a shotgun to their heads and asking them to hurry up, put on a white dress, and try to look happy for the photos."
   
   Mark then explains "In our church in Seattle, as lost people become friends with Christians, they often get connected to various ministries (for example, helping to run concerts, helping to guide a rock-climbing expedition, taking a class on biblical marriage, helping to develop a website, joining a Bible study, serving the needy) and participate in them before they possess saving faith."
   
   This is a key difference between the emerging church and the traditional church. Traditionally churches require people to be members before they do things, which requires that they are already Christians. The emerging church is about exposing people to a life in Christ and using that to draw them in.
   
   Mark challenges readers to engage culture rather than withdraw from it, but is careful to caution that engaging culture does not include sinning (e.g. things like fornication and drunkenness are not engaging culture, they are sin).
   
   In a chapter entitled "the sin of light beer" Mark talks about the dangers of syncretism and sectarianism, and specifically utilizes the Christian church's demonization of something God created for the joy of His people, alcohol, to make his point. I really love Mark's conclusion in this chapter:
   
   "Here's what I'd like you to remember from this chapter: reformission is not about abstention; it is about redemption. We must throw ourselves into the culture so that all that God made good is taken back and used in a way that glorifies him. Our goal is not to avoid drinking, singing, working, playing, eating, love-making, and the like. Instead, our goal must be to redeem those things through the power of the gospel so that they are used rightly according to Scripture, bringing God glory and his people a satisfied joy."
   
   The conclusion of the book is profound in its own very post-modern way. Rather than wrap everything up into a neat little conclusion, Mark concludes the book by sharing his hopes and dreams for the city of Seattle and the ministry of Mars Hill. In essence, Mark shares what he prays will be the end result of putting into practice the things that he has been writing about through this book. That the world would be transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
   
   This is one of the best books I have read in a long, long time.
   
   Joel



3. This book is really helping our small groups rethink how we evangelize and speak to people. Its been a great tool and we are thoroughly enjoying it.



4. Driscoll really provides the reader with a good view of the Gospel and its effect on very different people



5. If you can get past the fact that Mark uses 'street language' this is a wonderful book. There is much to be learned from Mars Hill. Not everything will translate out of Seattle, but we need to realize this cannot be 'your grandmas church' even in small town America.

5 comments about The Long Loneliness.

1. I was required to read this book for school this summer and it was by far the worst book I have read in my life. Its only a 280 page book, but her style of writing makes it seem as if it was about a thousand. She fills the book with useless information (i.e. she writes an in depth account of a cover of a book her brother brought home one day and then wonders what it was about. That was completely pointless and failed to advance the plot at all.) Instead of sticking to the core story, which might have been interesting she rambles off about random occurences constantly.



2. Catholic faith fascinates people. How did her spiritual life develop, and how did it influence the remainder of her life? Many wonderful authors, including but not limited to people such as William Miller, Robert Coles, and most recently Paul Elie, have written extensively about Dorothy Day and help us understand this amazing and complex woman, but nothing is more rewarding than reading the writings of Day herself.

   THE LONG LONELINESS is a classic spiritual tome and is often referred to as Day's spiritual autobiography. In many ways it is similar to Thomas Merton's SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN, and it is easily a close second in popularity with many Catholics. Though Day's writing style is much drier than Merton's writing and her story is not quite as spellbinding as the artist and aspiring writer turned monk, the reader can sense God working powerfully in Day's life. If the book were published today, it would probably be categorized as a memoir, rather than an autobiography since day does not as much tell her story as reflect on how God called her to a life of faith.

   The book is a "must read" for anyone who loves and admires Dorothy Day. It is also a book that will interest people interested in religious social activism. Yet the book may speak most powerfully to those who are on a spiritual quest themselves, either knowingly or unknowingly.




3. This book is Dorothy Day's own autobiography. I know she was a remarkable woman. Everything that I have seen and heard about her has been outstanding. I was excited when I found this book.
   However, I felt disappointed by this book. It was rather boring and dry. Dorothy must have been very humble, because she writes about herself in a mundane fashion. It sounds like this is the diary account of her life. I guess she must not have realized how heroic she really was. She also experienced significant pain and isolation in her life, hence the title.



4. "The Long Loneliness," is one of the most enriching testimonies of an individual's search and discovery of faith that I have ever read, although I found the first 60 pages a bit slow (about her background and coming of age). I am very happy I persevered, because it only got better and more inspirational, as she began to perceive glimpses of God and tried to learn how best to follow Him.
   
   Dorothy Day was a journalist who lived in the early 1900s and died in 1980. She was raised an agnostic. Her family did not practice a religion. Early in her life she attended churches with neighbors, and loved the feeling of communal worship, but felt discouraged by so many people who attended church only on Sunday and thought that was the end of their religious obligation to others.
   
   An early memory that had a great impact on her was an earthquake during her childhood, in which the families who retained their houses opened their homes to those who had lost theirs, and the community banded together to help each other in brotherly love. She lived her life searching for this sense of community. During her college years she began an activist involved in political causes such as women's voting rights, and labor rights for women and children, and had sympathies with communist organizations, that, from her perspective, seemed to assist the needs of the poor more than any Christian church.
   
   This is a conversion story, much similar to Thomas Merton's "Seven Story Mountain," but which inspired me much more than his good work. She felt an incredible need to worship God, so much that she believes that human beings have a deep psychological need to worship and when their devotion is misplaced on humans rather than the divine, it is a recipe for disaster. The First World War and the Great Depression was the background for her conversion. She worked as a nurse during the War and began attending church with a colleague, but latter returned to writing in an environment where there was less church, but she continued to pray.
   
   She had a common law marriage with a man, whom she loved dearly, but when she became pregnant, she decided that she must have the child baptized so that her daughter would not experience the lack of spiritual support that caused her so much confusion and soul searching. She felt such great love durign her preganancy, that she believed she required a supernatural channel to channel the love. She had hoped to enter a church with her partner as a marriage before God, but he was adamantly opposed to religion and perceived it as a form of imperialism. She left him with her daughter, in order to follow a life that she believed would be pleasing to God. It was not an easy situation for her, as she had hoped for a traditional life, and being a single mother is never and easy vocation in any time period. The anguish she described when she reached the conclusion of what she must do was only a page but it moved me to tears. The situation that the decision evoked was not easy, but reaching the decision for her seemed to be a simple matter, because of her great faith. She wrote about it as occasionally God offers s the same proposition to us that he gave Abraham; to sacrifice something we love in pursuit of Him, whom we should love above all created things. She worte too, that staying with him felt natural, but that she was aspiring for a supernatural life, which requires different considerations when making decisions. I would like to hope that I would have the same faith and courage in a similar situation, but I don't know.
   
   The time period following her separation was difficult for her, and she experienced loneliness, as she searched to discover what would be her niche in the world, according to God's plan. She believed that the antidote for loneliness is involvement in community life. She started the "Catholic Worker" with Peter Maurin (who she felt was sent to her by God as a response to her prayers for guidance in her vocational quest), a paper which reported about the injustices confronted by the poor and that presented articles of helpful advice for struggling families. The paper is still in existence.
   
   She also started a hospitality house that offered food and shelter to those who need it, and a space where people can find a voice. Eventually a chain of such houses grew and now are operating not only across the US, but across the world. Some became retreat centers. Day's life is a perfect testimony of an individual discovering God's love and learning to return the love with faith, not only through worship to God, but also through offering love and help to others.
   
   This is a great book for people seeking to understand what is faith and how does it move people, and a great book for people dealing with difficult situations in their lives when they are seeking to find what it is that they are meant to do with their lives. I recommend her story to every one.



5. The Long Loneliness by Dorothy Day has long been held to be an important social document as well as a meaningful written Catholic memoir, because it delves deeply into the intimate conversion experience whereby there is a moving epiphany that changes that person so completely and totally. And The Long Loneliness illustrates that point quite clearly. Even before the Catholic Worker was ever founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, their approach to religious activism was almost on par with other lay Catholic social orgaizations, mirroring the motto of Catholic Action, founded in 1868, the best, whose battle cry is: Prayer. Action. Sacrifice. However, what makes this memoir so appealing is that it is outlined in a belief framework of pragmatic thought and a consistent work ethic, like Opus Dei. Dorothy Day, in the recounting of her conversion and the afteraffects of it, is not given to flights of supernatural fancy or prone to self-created mystical experiences or visions, which, when people do have them, are psychosomatic or psychotic, at best.
   
   There are various reasons why people enter the Catholic Church, and for Day, she wanted her daughter-Tamar-to not flounder in a life of sexual radicalism and voracious wantonness, both of which wounded her quite grievously before she had her conversion experience. Before she became Catholic, Dorothy Day was a doer rather than a sayer; she put action behind her words, and she found comfort in the Gospel: feeding the hungry and clothing the poor. The latter was the very impetus for why The Catholic Worker was established, to make it real, living and vibrant for others. What is recounted in the Long Loneliness is not any caliber of theological scholarship or penetrating analysis of the Gospel. Rather, besides being lived, Catholicism in conjunction with pacificism, economics, helping the downtrodden and the labor movement is thoroughly explored. And yet, simplicity, simplicity, simplicity is exemplified throughout. Through her collected writings, especially her memoir, Dorothy Day illuminated that in accepting the Catholic ideal, everyone must carry their cross if they want the world to be even a slightly better place and that the Catholic faith is not one to take lightly.