Book review "Primal- a Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity", by Mark Batterson

Book review “Primal” by author Mark Batterson

     Mark Batterson asks the question “What would your Christianity look like if it was stripped down to the simplest, rawest, purest faith possible?”  In the new book “Primal, A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity”, Mark Batterson takes us on a journey into the past to see what the early Christian church imagined this walk with God should be.

     He challenges the reader to look at oneself to see if we’ve cluttered our Christian walk with traditions and meaningless things and lost the passion, wonder, curiosity, and energy that the early believers were willing to give their lives for. Mark points out that God wants us to worship him not only with our memory but also our imagination. And he adds that half-formed imagination is a spiritual shortcoming in the church. Instead the church should be made up of the most imaginative people in the world!

     I found this book full of challenging questions. Mark dares to ask the question why?

Why can’t a body of believers have a thriving coffee shop and give all the profits to missions?

Why can’t we as Christians have a "Holy Curiosity" as did the great Da Vinci?

Mark pulls no punches when he says “As salt and light, we cannot afford to take potshots at our culture from the comfortable confines of our Christian subculture”. He adds, “We need fewer critics and more creators”. We aren’t to water down the Gospel for creativeness’ sake. But, instead have the courage to incarnate the Gospel in creative ways not just maintain the status quo.

     I believe that the first book any Christian reads in 2010 needs to be “Primal”. If we are going to really be relevant to our world we need more people asking challenging questions and finding better ways to reach the lost and dying. Mark Batterson does that in this new release.

Primal is an easy and engaging read. Mark intertwines personal stories of struggle, failure and success and does so with a passion for finding better ways to disciple and reach out.

    There was a dream that was Christianity by the early church …

In the new release “Primal” Mark Batterson challenges us to rediscover the compassion and excitement for our faith once again.
Thank you to Waterbrook Multnomah for providing the complimentary copy for this review.

Make this year's holidays different?

Kinda funny ...or sad really how everyone runs around being festive for festivity sake and never slows the train down enough to really take-in the season we are in.
This is my 34th Christmas. 11th as a husband, 9th as a father. And to say that I have the recipe for the perfect holiday is far from accurate. But, about 3 years ago my wife and I had an epiphany of sorts.
What if we stopped the madness? I mean really halted things during the holidays?
No driving ...more staying still. Create memories with our little family.
So I offer this as an example. You might say "sorry man that won't work for us." Or maybe you can take a little idea and mold it in to a family tradition of your own.
 I know some of you do something like this ...and I commend you for beating me to the idea.

What if this year .... we didn't drive hours someplace only to turn right around shortly and drive right back...?
    We lit a fire in the fireplace and played Sorry, Clue and other various boardgames way to late ...?
Rent movies we always wanted to see at the theater but missed years ago ... stayed in pajamas all day, ate sushi we fixed at home together. Slept late repeatedly. Snacked all day ...
Stared at Christmas lights and prayed for snow ...?
Turned off the newscasts ...?
...Popped popcorn and ate peanut brittle and fudge before lunch. Drank way to much coffee ...? Didn't take on any major "home improvement projects"? Baked "Birthday Cake for Jesus", watched the Nativity, and read the story from Luke on Christmas Eve ...
 Turned off the cell and computer ... told stories to the kids of when I was their age ...(and watching their faces react to the idea of my being their age ever!)
Didn't try to solve family problems ...
Played old Nintendo games while the little ones giggle at mommy beating daddy at Mario Cart.
Laugh as my kids pound on pots and pans running in the yard at the stroke of midnight New Year's Eve ...
...Create memories ...that my kids will tell their kids ...
Loved more ...argued less ... ponder about all God has given me ...and thank Him ...
What if?

New Book Review Coming ...Mark Batterson's "Primal"

Just received a new book to review.
Excited to begin reading the new release from Mark Batterson "Primal, a Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity".
I will be posting a review in the very near future.
Hope everyone is close to having your Christmas shopping done!

Stay tuned ...
D

The tunes of the week ...

I was thinking about my music listening habits this week and decided to share what's spinning in the jukebox. What are you listening to this week? Love to hear new suggestions.

-Jars of Clay "Christmas Songs",
      I like the new version of Drummer Boy. Christmas Time is Here and Winter Skin are nice. I saw their Christmas Concert a couple seasons back ...good new songs too.

-U2 "No Line on the Horizon"
       Still spinning this one ...doesn't get old.

 I want to hear from you ...what's your faves?

Blog Rewind- "Listening for Whispers" ...

Originally posted Mar. '09
When I worked in Christian radio about an ion ago I liked the band "Lloyd". They had a song called Listening for Whispers ...the central premise was that we are so busy trying to see the big picture ...we are missing the simple. Busy making a buck that we don't see the pain around us ...So worried about creating a big ministry that we forget about those close by that need help.
"We are listening for whispers while we cannot hear the screams".
All the trends currently are pointing to society wanting a more sense of local community. That is where we have to pay attention and provide that local ministry that they are wanting for their family in these turbulent times.
So listen for the whispers ...see those hurting folks around us that sometimes just need us to show them hope ...especially when they aren't seeing it very many places right now.