Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Highly Recommended!

American business executive Ben Fielding seeks out his Chinese college roommate Li Quan in order to gain business strategies by living amongst the Chinese people. But Li Quan is a Christian involved with illegal house churches and Ben Fielding does not understand his former roommate’s faith or the lengths he goes through to keep it. The story closely examines persecution and the gospel message while painting a comparison of the American and Chinese churches and lifestyles.

This is both an exhilarating story and a challenging glimpse into spiritual realities. I was encouraged and provoked by the story and especially valued the new insights emanating from the dialog. Safely Home is beautifully written and strongly felt.

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of the Tyndale Blog Network.

Genre: Church Planting and Growth/House Churches

Recommended.

Originally published as The Rabbit and the Elephant, this book is now updated and expanded. What makes Small is Big special are the personal stories of various simple (house) churches: how they were started, how they worked, how they expanded, and so forth. It’s also about evangelism and outreach, since most of the churches are started among non-Christians outside of church culture.

It is more balanced than many other house church books in that it speaks positively regarding both “simple” (organic) and “legacy” (traditional) churches. The benefit of this is that the pastor/leader of a traditional church could easily glean from the information given without necessarily reforming all of church structure. It’s also informative regarding the predominate move toward house and non-conventional churches, even in the Western world. Examples are taken from diverse movements within the church body, ranging from Iris Ministries in Mozambique (very organic and charismatic) to Saddleback Church (a program-lead mega church). It is a unifying resource.

On the other hand, it’s not as specific or detailed regarding the “theology” of house churches so to speak. For the reader who has specific questions regarding communion, giving, five-fold ministry, and so on, I recommend: The House Church Book by Wolfgang Simson, and Corinthian Elders by Jack Fortenberry. Small is Big is an encouraging and simple book about simple church, not a complete work on the ins and outs of the house church movement.

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of the Tyndale Blog Network.

I have been so encouraged in watching the mighty works of the Lord through my good friend as she (and now others with her) minister to the homeless in our area.

She started passing out lunches to homeless people—no big thing, in her mind—which moved into also eating lunch with the homeless, and eventually—to her surprise—became a larger thing: other people wanting to come and share in what the Lord is doing, others (even local businesses) donating food, clothing, and such to the “ministry” and still more coming to minister outright. The ministry is still young, but already they have had opportunities to lead people to know Jesus, and to see signs and wonders as He demonstrates His love among them. Here are a couple accounts of the miracles that have taken place among them:

Not too long ago, as they gathered, homeless people continued coming to them, so that they didn’t have enough food. But they read one of the stories of Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes, prayed over the meal, and as they served the food, they witnessed it multiplying. The Lord provided so much that just as in the biblical accounts they had leftovers—even though there was not enough in the beginning. (And hungry people don’t exactly eat meager portions if they can help it.)  There was more than enough!

Another day, my friend put too much water in the coffee, and by the time they noticed, it was too late to fix it. She reports that it tasted TERRIBLE—more like water than coffee—but as her and another gal watched the homeless people drinking it down, they apologized to one man that it was so bad, and he responded in surprise. It was very strong coffee, he said, and very good. The Lord had changed hot water into strong coffee, and they hadn’t even asked for it. God knows what we need!

Miracles like these aren’t rare. One homeless man shared that God always supplies his needs. One time, he told them, he asked God for something very specific, and when he opened the dumpster, he found it right on top! When needs are prevalent, and faith is childlike, miracles happen.

I love you dear friend.  Thank you for walking faithfully before the Lord.  You have shown me that signs and wonders follow obedience and humility regardless of our expectations. :)

Genre: Biography/Autobiography

Highly Recommended!

This is one of the best books I’ve read in awhile. Keith Green was a composer and musician who pursued God passionately and only became more passionate after finding the One he was looking for. His life was short, but his spiritual legacy still continues after his death.

I love how honest this account of his life is. Keith’s wife, Melody, writes his story (as well as her own) using clips of his personal journal entries and songs. She doesn’t shy away from sharing the questions and struggles he had in his pursuit of God, nor does she quench his deep passions and dreams. I was deeply encouraged by his boldness, fearlessness, love of God and people, and especially that within all these things, he still had questions, still made mistakes, and didn’t have it all together.

This is also a great book for a book club or Bible study. I read it along with a class I’m taking and we had many lively discussions. Almost all of us expressed the Holy Spirit had communicated to us through Keith’s life: encouraging us, exhorting us, creating more introspection into our lives, or bringing us to a new level of passion or intimacy with Him. I don’t usually read biographies, but this one was excellent! It has caused me to think deeply and live with a deeper awareness of the effect of my actions.