Last time I blogged I mentioned two books I wanted to read: Crazy Love and Radical.
Well I finished them both and would recommend either one. In fact, I have an extra copy of Radical if someone wants to borrow it. Here’s a taste of them both:
By Francis Chan
Chan writes with the passion of one who has found a love so big that to say small things would be unthinkable. And he asks the question – what is your response to this love? What is the right response to this love? In the end it’s not about the packaging we put on things. It’s about our hearts. And our hearts are reflected in our actions, our words, our lives. What’s important in eternity is important now.
Really, just go read it. If you need a copy, email me.
Reading this book right after returning to America from a cross-cultural missions-soaked culture of bible college, I could relate so much to what Platt poured out in a similar state -- the frustration and confusion and clarity that comes with reverse culture shock. He talks about our lives and our churches in a global perspective of what Christianity was meant to be. I remember a story he told about the underground church in China… how they laughed when they heard about American church hoppers, because finding the best church isn’t an option they’ve ever had the opportunity to consider. But as much as he focuses on the misplaced focus of the American church, the book struck me as more than a look at how we’ve gone wrong. In the last few chapters I found an arrow sign for getting back on track. His challenge is simple: over the next year… pray for the whole world, read through the entire Bible, sacrifice your money for a specific purpose, spend your time in a different context than you normally do, commit to a growing body of believers. And see how God uses it to change what you value.
I’ve got to be honest - I’m still only dipping my toes into the challenge. But I think it’s because I know how much it will change me. I think it takes purposeful action to let God change us sometimes. Mainly when we honestly don’t want to be changed.
Let’s want to be changed.
Don’t Waste Your Life answered that question for me in a way that made me set the book down a few times in amazement of God. Why does it matter? Because God is worthy. And in His worth, all else pales in comparison.
It was like Crazy Love and Radical put together, with a little more digging through scripture and church history in the mix. “To live is Christ, to die is gain.” Truly.
Beloved, don’t settle for a life that just tries to avoid sin. Make your life count for something that is of infinite value.
If you’re going to read only one of these, pick this one.
