Tag Archives: Book

Uncanceled (Finding Meaning and Peace in a Culture of Accusations, Shame, and Condemnation) by Phil Robertson

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This book gives you a blueprint for standing up for the truth of Jesus Christ in a culture that has forgotten how to have respectful conversation and often suppresses conservative opinions and biblical values.

After Phil Robertson quoted Scripture in an interview with a national magazine, his hit show on A&E, Duck Dynasty, was put on hiatus. It was then that Robertson knew he had been a target of Cancel Culture. Since then, he has spoken out against widespread public shaming, strategic campaigns to get folks fired, and other tactics that have wreaked havoc in our society. While our country is so deeply divided and so many people are bent on condemning others, Robertson calls for us to carry out the uniting message of Jesus Christ.

In Uncancelled, Robertson uncovers the motivations and faulty thinking behind our human desire to cancel other people, including our sinful desire to “play God.” He reminds readers that the goal is not to win the public relations war, or to convince the masses to love (or even like) us, but to win the war for our own integrity by refusing to bow down to the god of political correctness.

Instead, it’s time to trade cancelling and retaliation for the love and forgiveness that God continually offers. When we recognize who the real opposition is-the Evil One-and embrace that Jesus Christ already paid an enormous debt to cancel our sins, we will find a path to redemption, a way to forgiveness, and a means for godly connection.


How to get this resource:

See if the book is available from your local library – It’s free (Minnesota Viking Library System)

Uncancelled (ChristianBook) at: https://www.christianbook.com/uncancelled-finding-meaning-culture-accusations-condemnation/phil-robertson/9781400230198/pd/117335EB

Uncancelled (Amazon) at: https://www.amazon.com/Uncanceled-Finding-Meaning-Accusations-Condemnation/dp/1400230179

Uncancelled (Walmart) at: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Uncanceled-Finding-Meaning-and-Peace-in-a-Culture-of-Accusations-Shame-and-Condemnation-Pre-Owned-Hardcover-9781400230174-by-Phil-Robertson/1832959124

Book: Chuck Smith Autobiography (A Memoir of Grace) by Chuck Smith Jr.

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In times of trouble, trial, pain or loss, we often can’t see the value in what we’re experiencing. We don’t realize what God is doing, or why He has allowed us to struggle.

But there comes a day when we look back over the road map of our lives, and we understand, finally. We see the dots laid out along the path, and the events God permitted in order to move us to our destination.

I am pleased to invite you to pull up a chair and listen as Pastor Chuck tells the story of his life. This book is presented to you with the prayer that what you read will help you see how God s grace is at work in your own life.

Everything you have experienced in the past, everything you’re going through now, and everything that awaits you on the path ahead is all part of God’s plan. His will for you is perfect, and He knows just how to prepare you for your life s purpose. Everything is preparation for something else.

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Book: Living Water (The Power of the Holy Spirit in Your Life) by Chuck Smith

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Jesus promised His confused disciples that He would not leave them as orphans, but that He would pray to the Father who would send them another Comforter who would come alongside to help them and would abide with them forever. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would teach them all things and bring to their remembrance all the things that He had commanded them.

In his warm personal style, Pastor Chuck Smith, a bible teacher for over 50 years, paints an intimate picture of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. He is to conform you into the image of Christ. He is to come alongside of you to help you in your walk. He is to teach you all things. He is to give you an understanding of spiritual things. He is to give you the power to be a witness of Jesus Christ.

There is a vast difference between being filled with the Holy Spirit and having the Holy Spirit flow forth out of your life like a torrent of living water. Pastor Smith will lead you step by step into this rich and intimate relationship with God which is made possible by the work of the Holy Spirit. You will experience the refreshing streams of living water filling your life then flowing forth from your life unto a thirsty world.

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Book: Mansfield’s Book of Manly Men

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The Western world is in a crisis of discarded honor, dubious integrity, and faux manliness. It is time to recover what we have lost. Stephen Mansfield shows us the way. Working with timeless maxims and stirring examples of manhood from ages past, Mansfield issues a trumpet-call of manliness fit for our times.

In Mansfield’s Book of Manly Men, you’ll see that: Manliness is not about physical strength but about knowing the deeds that comprise manhood and doing those deeds. Habits have to be formed, and actions have to be aligned with the grace received. Masculinity is a discipline that requires cultivation.

Mansfield offers 30 revolutionaries, inventors, soldiers, philosophers, preachers, and adventurers by sharing their stories, challenges, and triumphs as key lessons that reveal how to grow into a godly man—in work, play, faith, family, and more. A humorous must-read for men of all ages. Mansfield says: “My goal in this book is simple, I want to identify what a genuine man does, the virtues, the habits, the disciplines, the duties, the actions of true manhood, and then call men to do it.”

Dave Ramsey, New York Times best-selling author and nationally syndicated radio show host says: “I’m sick to death of seeing men portrayed as bumbling morons in movies and TV commercials. We’re living in a culture that tries to make masculinity a punch line, and it’s having a devastating effect on our families and society. In Mansfield’s Book of Manly Men, Stephen takes the bold, potentially offensive step of calling men to be men again. It’s about time!”

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Book: The Case for Christmas (A Journalist Investigates the Identity of the Child in the Manger) by Lee Strobel

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From Lee Strobel comes the holiday themed book ‘The Case for Christmas: A Journalist Investigates the Identity of the Child in the Manger’. Strobel adapts segments of his previous book “The Case for Christ” to give a shortened version and examine whether Jesus’ biographers can be trusted, if the archaeological and forensic evidence support the Gospels, and if Jesus met the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah.

The narrative is well-written, with Strobel introducing each topic with an anecdote from is career as a reporter demonstrating its importance, and showing a clear line of reasoning for both his questions as a skeptic and what the answers he got mean. And Strobel does a good job at being objective and conveys the journey that took him as a convert to Christianity. A fascinating logic read which will help people find the evidence for the reason for the season.

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Book: The Prince Warriors by Priscilla Shierer

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As brothers, Xavier and Evan are used to battling each other but now, they’re discovering that there is a much bigger battle going on all around them and that it’s their turn to fight. The Prince Warriors is an epic, fiction, adventure trilogy geared towards kids written by Priscilla Shirer that brings to life the invisible struggle ensuing in the spiritual realm and uncovers some of the truths from Ephesians 6:10-18.

The Prince Warrior stories are fiction but embedded within the books are some secrets – little hints that can lead you to discover and understand spiritual truths. I hope you’ll have some great conversations with someone your kids about what these things mean and how they can live victoriously as a Warrior for God.

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Book: Small, Strong Congregations (Creating Strengths and Health for Your Congregation) by Kennon L. Callahan

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Many books suggest that the future of the Christian movement rests with the success of mega-congregations. These authors also conclude that small congregations are doomed.

But author Kennon L. Callahan, a noted church consultant, moves ahead of such thinking and envisions a very different future.

In this book, Callahan confirms that the twenty-first century will be the age of consciously small, strong congregations that are dedicated to advancing God’s mission.

Callahan suggests that small congregations should assess themselves by eight distinctive qualities afforded by their size:

  1. Mission and service
  2. Compassion and shepherding
  3. Community and belonging
  4. Self-reliance and self-sufficiency
  5. Worship and hope
  6. Leaders and team
  7. Just enough space and facilities
  8. Giving and generosity

Callahan doesn’t try to convince the small church leader to adopt a mega-church mentality. Rather, he challenges them to look within their respective communities and tap into the power and the resources that already reside there.

And, Callahan does challenge the small church to live a life of service to the community rather than retreat into a life of survival. Some are preoccupied with a lot of land, a powerful preacher, more members, and a beautiful building, but they are preoccupied with “us” and the church growth model rather than the mission of growth.

Small, Strong Congregations have a passion for mission not a mansion, and they focus on the family more than facility. It is about mission not membership.

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Book: Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome by R. Kent Hughes

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How does one measure success in ministry? 8 out of 10 pastors will statistically never lead a church of more than 150 members, and every year thousands of God’s servants leave the ministry convinced they are failures. What are we to do? Years ago, in the midst of a crisis of faith, Kent Hughes almost became one of them.

This book describes their journey and their liberation from the “success syndrome” – the misguided belief that success in ministry means increased numbers. According to all the formulas, the church Ken Hughes planted should have been wildly successful. And in today’s world it is easy to be seduced by the secular thinking that places a number on everything.

Kent and Barbara first determined that the basic problem was their definition of “success”. After looking at the life of Moses in Numbers 20 where God told Moses to speak to the rock in order to give the people fresh drinking water instead we find Moses struck the rock twice. By all outward appearance Moses appeared to be successful as the people got the water that they wanted through a miracle, however God didn’t view the event same way as man did as God was looking for obedience to His word.

The authors of this book encourage readers that true success in ministry lies not in numbers but in several key areas: faithfulness, serving, loving, believing, prayer, holiness, and a Christlike attitude. Their thoughts will encourage readers who grapple with feelings of failure and lead them to a deeper, fuller understanding of success in Christian ministry.

Here is one resolution I would encourage you to consider making: regular prayer and encouragement for your pastor. Here is the conclusion of Kent and Barbara Hughes’s book, Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome, and thought it would be worth reprinting here:

Every pastor knows that the strength of the ministry rests on prayer, and that it is those faithful souls who pray regularly for him and the church who bring God’s special blessing upon the ministry. This fact invites a marvelous “what if” scenario. What if not just a few but the entire leadership and congregation prayed in detail every day for the pastor and their church? What would happen to his heart, to his preaching, to worship, to evangelism, to missions? Can there be any doubt that the minister and his people would know greater enablement than ever before in their lives?

Prayer is where the congregation must begin in this whole matter of encouragement. Will you make a personal commitment to encourage your pastor by daily prayer for him and his work? If so, we leave you with this suggestive outline, from which you can draw your own prayer list.

Pray that he will be a true success: that he will be faithful, true to God’s Word and hardworking; that he will be a servant, following the example of our foot-washing Lord; that he will love God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength; that he will truly believe what he believes about Christ; that he will lead a holy life, and not succumb to the sensuality of our culture; that he will lead a life of deep prayer, following Jesus’ example; that he will have a positive attitude free from jealousy.

Pray for his ministry–for his preaching, for time to prepare, for understanding the Word, for application, for the power of the Holy Spirit in delivery, for Sunday’s services, for his leadership, for immediate problems he is facing.

Pray for his marriage–for time for each other, for communication, for a deepening love, for fidelity.

Pray for his children by name. Perhaps you might ask the pastor or his wife how they would like you to pray for their children.

Consider printing this out, placing it in your Bible, and putting this prayer into practice.

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Book: Boundaries (When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life) by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

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In this book Boundaries, Dr. Henry Cloud and John Townsend use the Bible as the spiritual compass to guide us back to healthy boundaries that are Christ like. One of the main themes of this book is that our deepest need is to belong, to be in a relationship, to have a spiritual and emotional ‘home.’

In fact, the very nature of God is to be in a relationship: ‘God is love’ says 1 John 4:16. And this love is within a relationship – the caring, committed connection of one individual to another.

By reading this book you will learn what boundaries are, what they look like, how they are developed, and some common myths about setting and having boundaries. The authors cover a wide range of boundaries such as between you and your family, friends, spouse, children, work, your self, and God.

Learning how to say no can seem difficult at first but if you are ready to take control of your life and saw yes to a healthy, balanced lifestyle then this book is for you. Often, as Christians we focus so much on being loving and unselfish that we forget their own limits and limitations.

Boundaries impact all areas of our lives: Physical boundaries help us determine who may touch us and under what circumstances — Mental boundaries give us the freedom to have our own thoughts and opinions — Emotional boundaries help us to deal with our own emotions and disengage from the harmful, manipulative emotions of others — Spiritual boundaries help us to distinguish God’s will from our own and give us renewed awe for our Creator.

A boundary is a personal property line that marks those things for which we are responsible. In other words, boundaries define who we are and who we are not. Boundaries are a “litmus test” for the quality of our relationships, and learning to set limits has to do with telling the truth.

And God is more concerned with our hearts than He is with our outward compliance… when we are afraid to say no (to other people), then our yes is compromised. When we say no to people and activities that are hurtful to us, we are protecting God’s investment. We each have only so much time and energy we can give out and this book provides incredible insight into why we behave the way we do, where habits come from, and how to have healthy boundaries our life.

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Book: Calvinism, Arminianism, and the Word of God (A Calvary Chapel Perspective) by Chuck Smith

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Calvinism and Arminianism . . . since the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century, Christian churches and leaders have disagreed over such issues as depravity, God’s sovereignty, human responsibility, election, predestination, and eternal security, as well as the nature and the extent of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

In the midst of this tumultuous debate, it is easy to ignore the plain statements of the Bible and to believe we have the ability to fully understand God’s ways.

How tragic it is when we become more concerned with being “right” than being loving. Our desire at Calvary Chapel is to bring believers together in the love, truth, and unity of the Holy Spirit, focusing on our awesome God rather than on ourselves.

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