Review of Church Planting is For: Wimps, by Mike McKinley

Church Planting Is for Wimps: How God Uses Messed-up People to Plant Ordinary Churches That Do Extraordinary Things by Mike McKinley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What an enjoyable read! I was not prepared for how good this book would be from the title. The title comes from a competitive analogy of church planters vs. revitalizers. McKinley writes from his heart and soul's experience in revitalizing a church that was hanging on to life with a few people and a building in an expensive real estate market. After calling McKinley to pastor their church, revitalization would prove to be no walk in the park. McKinley's transparent testimony was a personal encouragement to me. I appreciated his commitment to real ministry that focused on a multi-generational church and not just a trendy demographic. He offers some great tips for those who are younger in ministry and a real way to disciple men for future elders in your church. I recommend this book to pastors who are not even thinking of church planting, because the revitalization approach is an excellent idea for larger churches to consider doing.



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Review of Chuck Milian's "We're Just Friends" and Other Dating Lies: Practical Wisdom for Healthy Relationships

We're Just Friends and Other Dating Lies: Practical Wisdom for Healthy Relationships by Milian Chuck

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Chuck Milian brings biblical wisdom to western ideas of attraction and dating. This is not a book for just singles but for parents who used to be single a long time ago. Milian provides a very useful grid for thinking through the various stated and unstated stages of opposite gender relationships. Having grown-up in a fairly restrictive environment for dating, I found this book to be provocative and helpful, and much more realistic as to how things will actually go in boy-girl relationships. His five-step guideline for bonding and relational intimacy is helpful for both parents and singles to read prior to starting the often confusing world of dating. Chuck Milian states the need for discipline in dating, in particular the need for balance in ones feelings, thinking, and behaviour. Chuck is an advocate of communicating philosophy of dating early on so that no one is surprised, hurt or disappointed when a relationship ends prior to marriage. As a married man of 12 years, I appreciated the advice found in Stage Five Dating: Dating After Saying I Do. A quick and easy read, I would recommend this to parents to read along with their children the younger they are and I recommend that college-age singles read this book as soon as possible.



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When Will My Life Not Suck?

When Will My Life Not Suck?: Authentic Hope for the Disillusioned by Ramon Presson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ramon Presson writes from 20 years of counselling experience.  Even though it says so in the biography, his manuscript demonstrates that he knows people, their problems, and disillusionment.  This book was not written for the theologian, but for the person in the throes of pain and possibly in your office for counselling.  A good counsellor will talk through the gospel and the riches that are available in Christ Jesus through the cross and this book will complement by presenting gospel-hope to those in despair.  If you keep this perspective when reading the book, you will see its value.  Presson's style is very enjoyable and the book is very easy to read because of his ability to turn an analogy.  This again, will be a good reason to use the book in your practice as it will be easy for a person to read and conquer.


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What Is A Healthy Church?

What Is a Healthy Church? by Mark Dever
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This mini-book is an excellent primer for everything a church should be.  Caution to those who might be a bit nervous regarding theological discussion of conversion--Dever's description and analysis of conversion is well stated, biblical and every believer should take his assessment into consideration.  Dever does a good job defending his thesis that A healthy church is a congregation that increasingly reflects God's character as his character has been revealed in his Word. The book is pastorally written and is not intended to cause you problems as a pastor.  The book clearly is in your court should a parishioner get their hands on it.  Dever insists that a church member who sees the benefits of this book should hang in and pray for their church and be a catalyst for revival in their own church, rather than church hop.  He does make provision though for leaving should apostasy be in the pulpit and with elders of the church.


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