Death by Love: Letters from the Cross

As I began reading this book, it quickly became apparent to me that Driscoll's writing style is much more pastoral than I would have expected. This book, heavily due to that fact, quickly became one of my favorite books long before I finished the last page. The combination of cross-centered theology and practical application of the gospel is far unmatched by any other book I've read. In fact, Driscoll is so real and caring for those he is ministering to, both inside and outside of the book, that you get a real taste for his heart as a pastor. His minister's heart, interwoven through the text of this book, is one thing I came to really respect.

The book consists of twelve letters written to twelve individuals, meant to witness gospel truths to ways they have sinned, been sinned against, or both. For example, in one letter written to a man named David, a man who would call himself a Christian because he follows all the rules of Christianity (good morals, basically), the author writes of how only Jesus' righteousness and work on the cross could save David. There is nothing he can do, even by what he thinks to be "good" morals, as his self-righteousness, no matter how good, will get him nowhere with God.

Through some of the most real and devastating sins--rape, molestation, pride, violent abuse--Jesus' person and work on the cross are appropriately applied. In the book's simplest form, Jesus dying on the cross and resurrecting from the grave is the solution to any sin of man, even the most dark and horrific. After all, the killing of a perfect man was one of the most dark and horrific events in history, but Jesus came for this very purpose, to love wicked man enough to die the death he deserved.

This pastoral book helped me to see Pastor Mark minister to those in and around his church in an astounding way. He was bold, yet gentle; forthright, yet truthful; and even blunt, yet filled with the grace of Christ. Each person he ministers to is done so with an appropriate signpost, if you will, pointing to Jesus. The harsher the sin, the harsher the message. This is not to say that all sins are evaluated differently in God's eyes; they are not. Each sin does, though, have differing earthly consequences, especially as to who they affect.

Another big positive to this book, is its Christology, or theology of Christ, which is applied to real-life situations in a way that would minister to any reading heart. What Jesus has done for all of mankind is made new and understandable. Through twelve unique people and their stories, it is sure to impress the gospel on you in significant ways.

It is for these very reasons that I would give "Death by Love" my highest recommendation. It does just what it is categorized to do: Make theology practical. Jesus' act of reconciling, revealing, sacrificing, atoning and much, much more will be a lot more clear and visible after reading this book.

"Theology/Practical Life" (5 of 5 STARS)

Three Cups of Tea

Greg Mortenson was a twenty-something man living the stereotypical lifestyle of searching for, but having not yet found, purpose in life. After receiving a nursing degree from the University of South Dakota, he became an addict of climbing. Not long after acquiring a taste for this new adventure hobby, his ambitions soared and he attempted to climb K2, the second tallest and most feared mountain in the world, situated in Northern Pakistan. It was there, after failing to reach the summit, that a purpose began developing which involved the little-known Baltisan people of Korphe, Pakistan.

Nearly at the point of death, the Korphe people treated and nursed the first American they had ever met back to health. The over-sized, soft and lovable Mortenson quickly became a good friend. Before leaving, the Pakistani people were promised their first school by the inspired American. It is here that this young, now ex-climber, developed his sense of purpose in life: building elementary schools for young children, and in particular, young Muslim girls.

Soon Mortenson is building one-to-three classroom schools throughout Pakistan, wooing and befriending Pakistani's as he goes along and casting vision for Americans on what it looks like to curb terrorism through education, not war. This comes as the U.S. is on the verge of going to war against terror.

From a worldy, secular perspective, this is a refreshing piece of literature, depicting one of the greatest humanitarian efforts of our time. It is an eye-opening picture of the people of the Middle East that the American government and media are simply not depicting in their broadcasts of the war torn area. Not only that, but the very reason for Mortenson's successes were due to the kindness and trust of many accommodating Pakistan and Afghan men and women.

From a Christian perspective, it was sad to see a man who grew up with Christian parents find no purpose in Jesus. Mortenson completely abandoned his faith in Christ for a relativistic take on being good to all, which is fine and well, but was not grounded in an absolute truth.

The greatest strength of "Three Cups of Tea" is that the feared people of the Middle East are seen as just that, people. In fact, very few have anything to do with radical Islam. People from the area are rather sad to see hate rise between their country and America. In a revolutionary take on relations between warring countries, you can hardly come away without having a changed perspective on world politics. Moreover, you might just find yourself advocating education over war in the combat against terrorism.

Recommendation:

I would recommend this book to anyone with a misguided, misinformed or incomplete view of the Middle East, Muslims, or the War on Terror. It is an enjoyable and engaging read, and though some parts seem slow and trivial, overall it will open your eyes to relevant world events and talking points.

"Humanitarian" (4 of 5 STARS)

The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

Wow! This book is perhaps one of the most simply-spoken, profound gospel presentations I have ever heard.

Central to this book is the idea that we are not just prodigal sons, but God is also a prodigal God. In other words, we not only radically rebelled against God and sinfully turned away from him, but that He was all the more radical for taking us back. No matter our idolization of other things--in the case of the prodigal son in Luke 15, the son idolized pleasure and living the good life--God radically accepts us in the depths of our sin and receives us back with a welcome-home party of great proportions. In fact, as I learned, the father in the parable risked his family's name to celebrate the return of his lost, sinful son.

Keller starts to get radical himself when we deepens the discussion, defining the elder son with just as much "lostness" as the younger. We often forget, as he points out, that a self-righteousness will no more save us than losing our righteousness, or dignity, as the younger son does. I found this to be the most revolutionary truth of the book. I will let Keller explain:

"Here, then, is Jesus's radical redefinition of what is wrong with us. Nearly everyone defines sin as breaking a list of rules. Jesus, though, shows us that a man who has violated virtually nothing on the list of moral misbehaviors can be every bit as spiritually lost as the most profligate, immoral person. Why? Because sin is not just breaking the rules, it is putting yourself in the place of God as Savior, Lord, and Judge just as each son sought to displace the authority of the father in his own life." (pg 43)

I found this book a fascinating, quick read. I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone. It presents the gospel in such fresh way that you cannot not change after reading it.

-ae