These past few months have been for me all about simplifying. I got rid of all the clothes, books, stationary, and to-dos I didn’t really needed and just kept the essentials. This whole process has been very eye opening. You really don’t realize how much stuff you really own until you move… or simply empty out your closets. The modernization of our world has given us an endless amount of possibilities in every aspect of our lives. We must be very thankful for that, but also very careful. We can ... Read More
‘Negotiating the Nonnegotiable’ by Daniel Shapiro [Saturday Morning Review]
Let me make it really easy for you in this review: read this book. Seriously, you need to read this book. You want the longer version? Okay, then. ... Read More
About Your New Years Reading List [Podcast #139]
This week on the podcast, Jeremy wasn't able to join the podcast at the last minute, so somehow Eric and Phil stumbled into a topic – happened to record it – and they called it the 139th ChurchMag Podcast. As haphazardly as this may have come together, the results were great. In the end, we get some great insights and thoughts from one of ChurchMag's most avid readers. ... Read More
NIV Bible for Teen Girls and Guys [Saturday Morning Review]
Every year, new Bibles are being released. Not all of them are an improvement, to put it mildly, and some of these are downright embarrassing. That's not the case with two new NIV editions from Zondervan: The NIV Bible for Teen Guys and the NIV Bible for Girls, Journal Edition. Both of these really offer something extra that will speak to teens. ... Read More
‘Great Church Sound’ by James Wasem [Saturday Morning Review]
James Wasem is an expert audio engineer with a knack for explaining complex concepts and a desire to help the church with one of its most persistent areas of conflict: sound. You might remember James from a past episode of the ChurchMag Podcast in which we talked about his book and why he is just so darn awesome. It's a good time; you should have a listen. But for now, let's review Great Church Sound. ... Read More
‘Scrappy’ by Terri Sjodin [Saturday Morning Review]
Since reading this book, I’ve become a big fan of the word scrappy. I like all that it embodies: fighting spirit, creativity, persistence, being feisty, determination, and street smarts. This book is all about learning to become scrappy and acquiring that scrappy attitude. The key idea is that you have a goal, an objective, but there are obstacles in the way. How do you overcome these in a smart, fast way? That’s what being scrappy is all about. ... Read More
‘5 Voices’ by Jeremie Kubicek and Steve Cockram [Saturday Morning Review]
The key thought behind this book is that everyone has a natural (dominant) style of communicating and that becoming aware of your style and that of those around you will help you to become more effective. It’s a great thought in theory, but I wondered if reading a book could really help me improve my communication. ... Read More
‘None Like Him’ by Jen Wilkin [Saturday Morning Review]
Jen Wilkin is hilarious. I first heard her speak at The Gospel Coalition’s Women Conference back in June. She clearly loves God, his Word, and teaching. Instantly, I was sold. At #TGCW16 I bought her most recent book: “None Like Him”. It is a relatively thin, teal book with flowers on the cover. I must admit I hesitated. I really don’t like girly Christian books. Pink theology? I hate it. But then I looked closely, and my complaints vanished. ... Read More
‘A Praying Life’ by Paul E. Miller [Saturday Morning Review]
This year I’ve been seeking to grow in my prayer life. I started looking up for resources on this topic, and almost every time someone recommended books on prayer, “A Praying Life” would be on the list. I’d never heard of Paul E. Miller before, but a lot people I follow were recommending him (including J. I. Packer and Tim Keller in the back cover) and I decided to order his book. Many people struggle to learn how to pray because they are focusing on praying, not on God. (p. 20) Let me say ... Read More
Why I Write In My Books and Why You Should Too
Once upon a time I was paranoid about the look of my books. They shouldn’t be stained, bent, nor – God forbid – written on. I love my books. But then I grew up, smarter and a little bit wiser. I wanted to learn more and more about the world and the people in it. My love for books evolved into a love for reading. And my days of having pristine volumes were over. ... Read More