Book Review: "The Chasm" by Randy Alcorn

The small book has been sitting on my desk for a while, but I have failed to pick it up.  In the midst of a rather hectic week -- filled with Holy Week activities and work responsibilities -- I finally decided to pick up Randy Alcorn's The Chasm to have a time of leisure reading in the evenings.  It would have been impossible to find a better work to read while celebrating our Saviour's passion.  I have been tremendously blessed by the book and will definitely return to it again in the near future!

The Chasm is reminiscent of Pilgrim's Progress in my mind.  As the reader follows traveler along the Red Road, we become aware of the impact sins -- both public and private -- have had upon his life as well as others in his world.  Spiritual warfare and deception are shown with such powerful language that the reader quickly begins to think of the presence of such activity over his head at that very moment. 

As the work progresses, our sinfulness is clearly blamed for the divide between man and God.  In one of the most beautifully conceived allegories I have ever read, Alcorn examines our role in the suffering of the crucified Christ and the incredible love and provision demonstrated by Jesus' willing sacrifice at the cross.  Although I quickly became aware of the direction the story would move, I found myself engrossed in the details and crying because of the undeserved suffering of my Saviour for me.

I finished the book last night and have already passed it on to a friend.  My hope is to see a class developed in my local congregation using The Chasm as a jumping off point.  Of all the books I have read so far this year, this work has made the greatest impact upon me.  I pray that the story will not soon be forgotten as I continue my personal journey along the Red Road.

*I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Knowing When It's Time to Make a Change

On Sunday evening, I watched "Masterclass" on Oprah's OWN network.  I rarely watch Oprah and will mark Sunday's late night viewing to insomnia, but I must admit that many of the things Oprah shared in her personal story sparked my thoughts and have stayed with me throughout the week.  The most powerful of these concepts has been the fact that she always knew when it was time to make a change.  I'm finding myself in the same boat.

In Oprah's story, she said that she consistently knew it was time to make a change when she found that her current situation no longer challenged her and she saw no room for further growth.  That is such a powerful statement to me!  Why would anyone ever choose to remain in a stagnet situation and cease to grow?  Personally, I love learning too much to stay put if I am not finding new challenges.  However, the challenges cannot simply be presented in an effort to keep me content in the situation;  the challenges must help me reach my ultimate goal.

It's no secret that I am ready for change.  I long for the day that I am able to stand on my own feet financially and pursue new challenges without the stress of balancing so many diverse jobs.  Still, I don't want to run into a new situation just to escape my present frustration.  This was probably the greatest revelation I came to on Sunday night.

As Oprah shared her story, she said that it was not until she was willing to surrender her plans to a Higher Power that opportunities began to come her way.  As I thought and prayed about this statement, I found myself surrendering my will and timetable to my Heavenly Father.  I know that His purpose is to give me hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11), so I am choosing to relax and trust Him.  In His time, for His glory....

Looking for an Outlet

Last night, I got to sit around and just have a quiet conversation for the first time in a very long time.  It was quite overdue.  The conversation began with the typical discussion of my involvement in music and church.  Following a mild lull, I was asked what else I enjoyed doing.  When I had to pause and admit that I couldn't come up with much else I felt rather disturbed.  Is my life truly consumed with only my work and nothing else?  What do I do in order to find relaxation?

When pressed, I can come up with standard answers -- I read, watch television and go to the movies when I have a chance -- but the truth is that they don't really relax me.  Generally my reading is in preparation for a lecture or performance.  I rarely have the opportunity to take 3 hours away to go to a movie theater and I watch television when I'm crawling in bed late at night.  Don't misunderstand -- I love the fact that I am busy in my career and love the multi-faceted aspects of my musical life -- but I also know that I have to have some down time to renew myself.

So today, I finished up my last rehearsal of the week and set out for an evening of relaxation.  Rather than stressing out over trying to come up with a plan, I went with the tried and true technique of going to the Paradiso and saw "Lincoln Lawyer."  The movie was not what I was anticipating it would be from the trailers, but I really had a fun time with it.  Then I went to have dinner at Ciao Bella.  The chicken piccata was perfect -- light and savory.  Now I'm sitting at home and have put all the papers, application packets, and practicing aside for the night and plan to just catch my breath. 

What do you do when you need to recharge from a busy time?  What's your favorite outlet to plug into?  Share your tips......I may just steal a few of them and give them a try myself.

The Return to {Relative} Normalcy

It feels as though it has been an eternity since I have been able to post anything here.  After a long departure, it's good to be back.  Why so little writing, you ask?  There have simply not been enough hours in the day for the past month.  I found myself burning the proverbial candle at both ends.....and was frantically looking for a third wick extending from the middle to keep everything afloat.

This weekend saw the closing of Germantown High School's production of The Secret Garden.  The experience was wonderful.  The colleagues I met will be invaluable.  The creative process was incredibly rewarding.  The physical demands combined with the normal strains of my life were exhausting.  I'm looking forward to some much needed recuperation in the coming weeks.

Ideally, I want to take it easy this week and let me body and mind recover.  The reality of the situation is that I have put other things on the back burner to survive the rehearsal schedule of The Secret Garden that I have to get back to those tasks in order to keep them from becoming overly urgent sources of stress.  But, for a few days at least, I'm going to be productive and accomplish a few tasks at a much more leisurely pace than I have been moving recently.

On Friday, Spring Break begins here at the college.  I'm leaving my last class and heading to the airport for a brief trip to Los Angeles.  Why am I going?  Officially, I'm meeting with a performer to discuss a possible engagement later in the fall.  Truthfully, that could have been done over the phone.  I need to get away, enjoy the beauty of a place I dearly love and visit with some friends that I miss tremendously and have been neglecting for the past few months.  I'm also looking forward to participating in an annual tradition at my Alma Mater.  I'll only be away for 5 days, but I am looking forward to it more than you can imagine.

And just like that.....I'm back in the mode of writing. Can you believe I was worried that I would have anything to say to you today?  I suppose it really is like riding a bike......

"Soar" by Kenny Luck

Soar is an amazing book that examines the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.  Intended for use as a men's group study, Luck explains in concise language who the Holy Spirit is, the transformations He desires to make in believers' lives and the impact He will make on their world as the God Men follow the Spirit's guidance.  Whether you are looking for a personal study or a group investigation, Soar will definitely provide you with a challenge and alter your approach to living a God-conscious, Spirit-led life.

Who knew that the common situations of life could teach so much about the Spirit?  With humor and contemporary relativity, Luck's introductions include stories of his son's broken arm, an approaching tsunami, and Christmas surprises to unlock the mysteries of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives.  Regardless of your personal beliefs, the book is very approachable for all believers without making a stance on the controversies that divide us on this topic.

One of the best -- and most challenging -- books I have read in quite some time.  I plan to revisit Soar in the future as well as read the other volumes in Kenny Luck's God's Man series.  I highly recommend you check out this volume!

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Book Review: Churched

Recently I read Churched:  One Kid's Journey Toward God Despite a Holy Mess by Matthew Paul Turner.  My expectations and what I found in the work were vastly different.  Once I changed my mind set and began looking at the book for what it is, I found myself coming to enjoy this humorous work.

When I first read the title and the brief descriptions of Churched, I was quite interested in the book.  As a children's ministry leader, I am always on the lookout for works that provide some insight into children's perceptions of truth and spiritual truths that arise from them.  As I began reading Turner's memoir, I encountered a towel-wrapped man relaxing in the sauna of a Nashville gym.  In this condition, Turner describes his uncomfortable conversation with another towel-clad gentlemen sporting a "tattoo of Jesus breathing fire out of his mouth."  (Turner, p. 1)  How's that for an attention grabbing opening scene? 

The opening conversation serves as an introduction to Turner's reminiscence of his spiritual journey as a child growing up in a Fundamental Baptist church.  I found myself coming face to face with situations that led me to question exactly what the book's purpose was.  Most memorable for its humor and its shock value was the description of the pastor's piano-playing wife, Mrs. Laura Nolan.  Turner states, "I only knew her [Mrs. Nolan] as the woman in our church who made walking in high heels a reason for even the holiest of Baptists to stop reading their Bibles and stare.  My first thought upon seeing her hips shift gracefully back and forth as she moved from her chair to the piano bench was that she looked exactly like Farrah Fawcett."  (Turner, p. 34-35)  By this point in the book, I decided it was COMPLETELY necessary to remove any thought that this was going to be helpful in children's ministry, and simply read the book for what it was -- a personal memoir.

And that became the key to my enjoyment of this book!  Churched is filled with charming, humorous and heart-felt anecdotes that will resonate with many readers as Turner explores issues of sin, death, personal evangelism, and boring sermons.  Hidden among the funny and occasionally shocking comments -- the kind that make you ask yourself if he really just SAID that -- are some gems of spiritual truth that encourage and challenge. 

I think Turner himself gives the best advice to his readers on how to approach his book in the memoir's final chapter, "Benediction."  In an introductory conversation with Pete, the man who will become his current pastor, Turner describes himself as the author of "Christianish" books.  Churched is not intended to be a work that will spark great theological debate or provide new insights into Scripture.  Rather, it is the fun-filled and honest memoir of a man who has learned to laugh at his past and recognize that in spite of it all -- and because of God's grace -- he knows his Heavenly Father in an intimate, personal relationship.

Happy reading!
Kennith

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Update....

It has been far too long since my last post, so I simply had to sit down and write something.  Rather than trying to find something profound to say, I thought I would take the opportunity to update you on what's going on in my life....especially since it has been a while since I have had a chance to update many of you personally.  So, here goes a brief (I hope) overview of what's going on in my world at the moment.

1.  Another Semester at MSCC.  The spring semester has been plagued with snow days, so all classes are lagging behind schedule slightly.  Add to that the fact that it feels as though there is a mass exodus of the faculty, so I have picked up an additional class (college survival).  That means I'm teaching daily and serving as a tutor 10 hours each week.  It's enough to keep a guy very busy, but I am not complaining.....I really do enjoy working with students and watching them succeed.

2.  The Secret Garden at Germantown High School.  This gig sort of fell into my lap earlier this year....and I'm really thankful.  The students are extremely talented and the music director and choreographer are super easy to work with.  I am playing the weekend shift (Friday - Monday) due to conflicts with classes and church in the middle of the week.  The music is more demanding than I originally anticipated, but I'm finding my way back into the groove that is musical theater.  I still find it hard to believe how long it has been since I've played a legitimate show with a solid company.  Broken turntables and wasted rehearsal time aside, it's a great experience so far.  The show is slated to open in late February.

3. The Piano Studio.  After much debate, I continued teaching piano privately and have picked up a few additional students in addition to keeping all of my previous students.  The debate was never over whether or not I enjoyed teaching, but if I was willing to continue dealing with the physical environment.  The price of the space is perfect (free), but most of the time the place is slightly better than a pig stye and there's not much I am authorized to do to improve the situation.  I thought about moving the lessons into my home, but the physical layout of the house and the distance my students would have to travel were not going to be conducive to that option.  I am currently discussing some other options with a fellow artist in the area for the future;  I'm hoping that by the summer situations will be much different.

I am also working on a couple of recitals that will be performed later this spring.  I am most excited about the opportunity to work with my good friend, Joe McClellan.  The repertoire is quite fun and we have similar interpretations of the music.  After a string of stressful and unfulfilling collaborations this time last year, it is refreshing to work with people who are respectful and considerate in all matters.
 
4.  The Church Job.  Last night, we began a new semester of Awana.  21 kids and 10 staff members showed up for the start.....and I was thrilled with the results.  Even though I didn't have everyone that I had hoped for present, the night went well -- with nothing falling through the cracks -- and the kids had a blast.  This semester, we are producing a series of mini-musicals with the kids each month that will be presented in the sanctuary on Sunday morning.  This adds a little more work to my plate during the week, but the students seem to be responding positively.....so I think it will be worth it. 

There has been some stress recently related to my sister's ex-husband (a totally inconsiderate jerk, to be quite honest) and his attendance on Sunday mornings.  I refuse to go into this here, but it has led to some other complications in my world.

5.  Dentistry.  Whenever I become terribly stressed, my TMJ begins to flair up.  Normally it is something that goes away after a few days of medication and wearing my retainers.  Not this time, though.  Throw in the fact that I am PETRIFIED at the thought of visiting the dentist, and you begin to see the issue at hand. 

Thankfully, I have found a great dental practice in Germantown that specializes in reluctant patients.  After 2 sessions (I know, I know)....we finally discovered the root of the problem and pain I have been experiencing:  an old mercury filling has separated from the tooth and a bit of decay has developed.  The pain is under control and next Thursday the dentist will remove the old filling and replace it with a newer treatment.  The repair work plus the fees for cleaning and a new retainer (for upper and lower plates) is going to run me a bit in the hole financially, but I am willing to deal with the additional expenses just to be in a situation that is not so emotionally traumatic for me.

Other than that, I eat (most evenings anyway), do a lot of driving, and sleep.  I anticipate some things slowing down a bit in a few weeks and finding time to return to a regular schedule of blogging and reading.  Definitely stay tuned for more adventures in my life, though.....it promises to be an exciting ride!