Book Review - The Home Team (5/10)

If you play any team sports, I’m quite sure you’ll enjoy this book. Furthermore I find the illustration of a team excellent when discussing about the concept of family. Using this illustration, Clint Archer has written a practical and helpful book on how to build godly families in this thin and engaging book.

First Archer tackles the issue about why raising godly families is difficult, he talks about sin and its effects on creation, family, and on menhood and womenhood. It is also in this chapter that Archer highlights to the readers that only their desperate need for the Holy Spirit to be to carry out anything outlined in the book.

Archer very wisely brings out the importance of the principle of one flesh and to forsake all others. This he affirms and wants christians to grapple with this truth early on in the book. This is the foundational truth that God has given to families.  Archer then very logically, systematically takes the reader through starting from husbands and dads, then on to wives and mothers. Archer reminds the men that as fathers, they are the spiritual leaders in the family, likewise he reminds the ladies, that as wives they are to be a helper to their husbands.

Next Archer delivers 2 very helpful chapters on children. Archer shows the readers very clearly that from the bible, the child's response towards their parents is very simple: to obey them in everything. However Archer also very even-handed tells parents that their aim in lives is not to have children who obeys superficially.  He includes a short teaching on parenting that is both insightful and perceptive. Archer also have an additional chapter on adolescents (and extended adolescents) he very wisely grapples with the issues of this age, and dishes out very wise and biblical advice on this matter.

Next, he covers an expected topic: Singleness. Archer helps parents see that God may have called some of His children to celibacy, as such we need to have a correct understanding of celibacy. It’s purpose to so that the celibate can serve the Lord more wholeheartedly. He adds also a short writeup on how we can help the singles in our church not to feel lonely in the family of God.

Archers then moves on to talk about the para-support system for families, these includes grandparents and the educational system. He addresses each of them and gives an idea of their rightful position. I felt this chapter has done an excellent job in the discussion about the boundaries and use of the educational system.

Archers ends off by topping out all this with the importance of prayer in the whole process. He encourages family to consistently spend time together reading God’s word, and praying together. Those with younger kids can start with an easy to read version of the bible and keeping it fun. Slowly they can move on to give our heavier content to the children, Archer reminds parents that kids do have a very strong ability to learn, even early on in their lives, do not to be too afraid to use some of the denser stuff like catechism.

This has been an excellent book on how to build a godly family. Short, insightful and biblical. I strongly encourage those who wish to build a godly family to start to read and learn from this book!

Rating: 4.75 /5

If you're interested you can get it here, and here (free international shipping), Kindle.

Disclaimer: I was given this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review - Power Perfected in Weakness (5/7)

Imagine you’re diagnosed multiple sclerosis. What would you do? How would you response? How will your spend your remaining time? This actually happened to the author of the book. But instead of complaining or whining, the author shows us what it means to live a life of thanksgiving and joy.

Here are three things I think you can learn as you read this book:
1) Rejoicing - Interspersed throughout the book, you will see many many situations where the author repeated give thanks for everything that has happened, be it a fall or an excruciating pain that Klicka is experiencing. This is not something that is extraordinary, it just helped us see what this familiar verse “Rejoice always” (1 Thess 5:16) really should mean in our lives. As I read, I’m often ashamed as I reflected back on how unchrist like I am, as compared to Chris Klicka, who could have complained, but never did.

2) Evangelism - Many a times, you will read of how Chris is passionately sharing the gospel with everyone he meets, he appears to be tireless in this work and often finds or creates opportunities to share the gospel with the people around him. If you would like to “see” what it’s like to be with an evangelist up front, read it. Chris never lets an opportunity to share Christ slip, and so should we.

3) Productiveness - Chris does not in any way laze around despite his illness, you will find him doing his work as director in HSLDA until the point he is unable to continue to work. What drives him is the lordship of Christ in his life, as I reflect upon this, I recalled what John Calvin reply was when others tell him to rest more, “What! Would you have the Lord find me idle when He comes?”. I think that was how Chris felt as he lived through his remaining moments.

This is a heart wrenching book, and I mean this in a good way. As you read, you can’t help but catch his joy and excitement in life yet at the same time you can't help but reflect on your own life, “what more can you do for the Lord?”

Rating: 4.5/5

If you're interested, you can get it here, and here (free international shipping), Kindle.