Book Review: Cure for the Common Life

Cure for the Common Life
by Max Lucado
240 pages (I read an ebook version)
Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006

Do you ever find yourself in a rut? Do you ever feel like something is missing from your life? Like there must be something more you were meant for?

This book is for you. Max Lucado is offering a cure for a life that feels so much more common than you ever dreamed it would be. What’s the trick? Max says you should live in the “sweet spot”:

Use your uniqueness (what you do)
to make a big deal out of God (why you do it)
every day of your life (where you do it)

Max walks the reader through considering the desires, passions and abilities that God has placed within them, leads them to evaluate the kind of work God has given them regularly to do, and consider how to use what he’s given them, where he’s placed them, to magnify God and make his name known. What else could be better?

In a world that loves big things: lottery winners, the Kardashians, Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook founder and CEO) and other nobodys-to-somebodys stories, it’s refreshing to read from one who elevates the importance of small things. Not many of us are going to make a large imprint across our nation, but we all have the opportunity to make large impacts on a small amount of people by making small, prayerful, faithful and joyful efforts to make much of God in the life he’s placed us, each and every day.

I thoroughly enjoy reading Max Lucado. My appreciation for his books dates back 15 years. I’ve read and benefited from Six Hours One Friday, In the Eye of the Storm, When God Whispers your name, Traveling Light, Just Like Jesus and many, many more.

Cure for the Common Life was no different. Max Lucado has an easy reading style, is a master illustrator, and creatively highlights and teaches biblical truth and values.

The publisher provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze® for purpose of review. It was not required that I give a positive review.

Book Review: Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick

Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick: A Review
210 pages
Multnomah Books

I began this book wanting to like it.

Steven Furtick, the author of Sun Stands Still, is pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina and the church has exploded since it’s inception around 5 years ago. I rejoice with the idea of church growth, people newly coming to faith in Jesus, and churches reaching a young generation.

Elevation Church is a Southern Baptist Church. I am part of a Southern Baptist Church.

Steven Furtick received his theological education at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. I am soon moving to Louisville where I, too, will pursue theological education at Southern.

I did not like this book, nor would I recommend it to others.

Here is my greatest concern:

Furtick’s focus throughout is what we can do for God, through audacious faith, if we dare to believe the impossible. His focus is on us – not God.

His definition for audacious faith is found on page 40:

Audacious faith isn’t some newfangled, extrabiblical variety of faith. It’s a return to the core of Christianity: trusting Jesus completely in every area of your life and setting out to devote your life wholly to revealing his glory in this world.

I have no problem with his definition. I agree that those who call themselves the church need to go through life with an audacious faith in God. Our goal should be to “reveal his glory in this world”. I simply disagree with his emphasis. The church needs to be challenged to trust and obey God in little things – sacrifically loving their spouse, leading their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, integrity in personal and business affairs, being charitable with those nearby in need, offering food to the hungry and shelter to the homeless, pursuing holiness and purity in all things, putting to death fleshly desires… Furtick challenges the church not in these areas, but in dreaming big and asking God for the impossible. His challenge is to dream big, pray hard, and with audacious faith step out to accomplish big things for God. Where is the call to wait upon God? Is there not value in pouring over requests in prayer?

This book contains hints of “word of faith” and “prosperity gospel” theology – If we want it, if we can dream it, God is big enough to deliver, so ask, believe and step out in faith.

I have waited many months to write this review. I have attempted to be fair and balanced. This is Pastor Furtick’s first book, and I sense that he is a man full of ambition, zeal, and vision. I hope that this, his first book, is an overflow of such enthusiasm and not a complete picture of his theology. I will look forward to his second work, hoping for more theological balance.

Here is another review I recommend to you.

(I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. You may view and rate my review on their site here.)

Depth of Mercy

Last week, I mentioned my discovery of Indelible Grace Music and their wealth of re-worked hymns. There is a Presbyterian Church in Alabama, Red Mountain Church, which has done the same. I came across their version of Charles Wesley’s song Depth of Mercy a year or more ago via a YouTube search. I was not familiar with the song since it is not printed in the Baptist Hymnal, but I love the lyrics and its focus on the fallenness of man and the redemption and mercy that God so freely offers.

I had the opportunity to sing this past Sunday at church and chose this song with Red Mountain Music’s tune. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Depth of Mercy
Charles Wesley, 1740

Depth of mercy! Can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear,
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?

I have long withstood His grace,
Long provoked Him to His face,
Would not hearken to His calls,
Grieved Him by a thousand falls.

I have spilt His precious blood,
Trampled on the Son of God,
Filled with pangs unspeakable,
I, who yet am not in hell!

I my Master have denied,
I afresh have crucified,
And profaned His hallowed Name,
Put Him to an open shame.

Jesus speaks, and pleads His blood!
He disarms the wrath of God;
Now my Father’s mercies move,
Justice lingers into love.

There for me the Savior stands,
Shows His wounds and spreads His hands.
God is love! I know, I feel;
Jesus weeps and loves me still.

Pity from Thine eye let fall,
By a look my soul recall;
Now the stone to flesh convert,
Cast a look, and break my heart.

Now incline me to repent,
Let me now my sins lament,
Now my foul revolt deplore,
Weep, believe, and sin no more.

Red Mountain Music
Depth of Mercy Chord Chart
Audio Clip