Introverts in the Church Review by Adam McHugh
Adam McHugh has written a comprehensive review of introversion in the Church. Starting with a discussion about the dominance of extroversion in our culture and most particularly in the Church around us, McHugh then moves the reader through how introverts can find healing in the church, what introverts can offer the church as introverts, and how introverts can lead effectively without pretending to be extroverts.
I said this book was comprehensive – and it is. It is well written, and McHugh (an introvert himself) leaves no stones unturned. In particular, the opening chapter, in which McHugh explains how the Church is primarily extroverted., can be an eye opening experience – for an extrovert like me. It’s easy to look past how church is done and assume that the way I feel comfortable with is the correct way – and that’s not always true.
In fact, my only concern after reading this book is that it is written to introverts. As I was reading as an extrovert, if I read too much at once, I could walk away almost… depressed, for lack of a better term. It was overwhelming to see how little the Church does for introverts and how much it does do for extroverts. Seeing as how I believe this book is bringing some balance to an extremely unbalanced aspect of Church (and culture), I almost wish McHugh would write a companion book, to extroverts.
Even so, this book is a very important read. McHugh has explained so much that it helps me understand my introverted wife better – as well as other introverts I have relationships with. I recommend it as a read for anyone with introverts in their social circles (everyone) and anyone who interacts in large group settings (Church!). 4/5.
This review posted on Amazon.com and andyszymas.blogspot.com; I would like to thank Intervarsity Press for the review copy.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Avatar Review
Avatar is an immersive film. No other way to describe it. What James Cameron has done is to create a world that is real and I have no other way to describe it. I was seriously enthralled looking at the fauna and flora of Pandora, the first digital world that I seriously believed in.
It's hard to review this film. Most films you review based on story and scripting and acting, but those are all secondary to the world of Avatar. The story has been told before (think Dances With Wolves or Pocahontas); the scripting is tight, but ultimately nothing special, and the acting is well done and believable, without anything being knocked out of the ballpark. So overall, it's a smooth film... but the experience of Pandora makes it amazing.
Some of the creatures are breathtaking - and I'm not talking about the massive terrifying beasties. The dragons are cool and all - but they're dragons, which are always cool. My favorite were the 'helicopter lizards' - which aren't a plot point, but a little beautiful creature that serves as nothing but eye candy for that scene.
If you get the chance, see it in 3D. It's a wonderful experience. (And it's not a 3D "coming at you!" movie, but a movie which uses the 3D to create the world).
Great movie. 5/5.
It's hard to review this film. Most films you review based on story and scripting and acting, but those are all secondary to the world of Avatar. The story has been told before (think Dances With Wolves or Pocahontas); the scripting is tight, but ultimately nothing special, and the acting is well done and believable, without anything being knocked out of the ballpark. So overall, it's a smooth film... but the experience of Pandora makes it amazing.
Some of the creatures are breathtaking - and I'm not talking about the massive terrifying beasties. The dragons are cool and all - but they're dragons, which are always cool. My favorite were the 'helicopter lizards' - which aren't a plot point, but a little beautiful creature that serves as nothing but eye candy for that scene.
If you get the chance, see it in 3D. It's a wonderful experience. (And it's not a 3D "coming at you!" movie, but a movie which uses the 3D to create the world).
Great movie. 5/5.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
20.10
20 Memories of the Decade
20. Climbing Mount Gerard
19. High School Open House
18. Hamster Fighting Machine
17. Finishing a first draft of Ashram
16. Getting a car.
15. Catching a Shark
14. Every Tuesday Finale
13. Fusion - "Welcome, to Jurassic Park."
12. Baptizing Steve
11. Red Wings Spanking Patrick Roy 7-0
10. India
09. "I love you."
08. The Black Fork Club
07. Friday Nights at the Muffins
06. Singing at my Wedding
05. 22nd Birthday Party
04. Monday Midnight Prayer
03. The Man House
02. My First Kiss
01. Watching my Beautiful Bride Come Down the Aisle
10 Movies/Books/CD's of the Decade:
10. Tropic Thunder
09. The Dark Knight
08. Miracle
07. The Irresistable Revolution by Shane Claiborne
06. Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
05. Mmhmm by Relient K
04. Wall-E
03. Signs
02. Lost Seasons 1,3,4,5
01. Lord of the Rings Trilogy
20. Climbing Mount Gerard
19. High School Open House
18. Hamster Fighting Machine
17. Finishing a first draft of Ashram
16. Getting a car.
15. Catching a Shark
14. Every Tuesday Finale
13. Fusion - "Welcome, to Jurassic Park."
12. Baptizing Steve
11. Red Wings Spanking Patrick Roy 7-0
10. India
09. "I love you."
08. The Black Fork Club
07. Friday Nights at the Muffins
06. Singing at my Wedding
05. 22nd Birthday Party
04. Monday Midnight Prayer
03. The Man House
02. My First Kiss
01. Watching my Beautiful Bride Come Down the Aisle
10 Movies/Books/CD's of the Decade:
10. Tropic Thunder
09. The Dark Knight
08. Miracle
07. The Irresistable Revolution by Shane Claiborne
06. Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
05. Mmhmm by Relient K
04. Wall-E
03. Signs
02. Lost Seasons 1,3,4,5
01. Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Silly Christianity - 2
Do you remember the first time you read Wild At Heart (if you're a woman, Captivating)?
One of the main things that the book (a good read, very helpful, even though I'm about to make fun of it) harps on is that the things that we desire, our deepest innermost longings, are a reflection of who God made us to be.
In Wild At Heart, that meant the reason men like to play wargames and be brutal is because God made us to be warriors. Women, if you read captivating, like to read Vogue or whatever it is that women read because God made them to be beautiful.
It's an interesting premise, and one that is getting more and more play in christian circles and books. I just read about it in a book for introverts (review forthcoming) - the idea that if we're not sure what to do, to listen deep down to what our desire is - that God planted that desire in our heart.
Does anyone have scriptures to back this whole premise up? Because it sounds silly to me. Here's the argument in different wording: "I should do what I want because that's what God wants me to."
Anyone else sensing a self serving christianity here? Maybe my desire to pickpocket is a God-planted desire. Or my desire to see the Red Wings destroy everyone else in the NHL is God-planted - because that desire is as real as any I've known.
It's a seriously silly question.
One of the main things that the book (a good read, very helpful, even though I'm about to make fun of it) harps on is that the things that we desire, our deepest innermost longings, are a reflection of who God made us to be.
In Wild At Heart, that meant the reason men like to play wargames and be brutal is because God made us to be warriors. Women, if you read captivating, like to read Vogue or whatever it is that women read because God made them to be beautiful.
It's an interesting premise, and one that is getting more and more play in christian circles and books. I just read about it in a book for introverts (review forthcoming) - the idea that if we're not sure what to do, to listen deep down to what our desire is - that God planted that desire in our heart.
Does anyone have scriptures to back this whole premise up? Because it sounds silly to me. Here's the argument in different wording: "I should do what I want because that's what God wants me to."
Anyone else sensing a self serving christianity here? Maybe my desire to pickpocket is a God-planted desire. Or my desire to see the Red Wings destroy everyone else in the NHL is God-planted - because that desire is as real as any I've known.
It's a seriously silly question.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Fearless Review
Fearless by Max Lucado
The subject of Fear is one that dominates our society. Books, movies, entire industries are based in fear. Our culture seems to love to live in and around fear.
But how are we as Christians supposed to respond? The Scriptures tell us that we are to fear God only, and that any other fear has no place in our lives as Christians, called by God.
That’s the subject of Max Lucado’s latest book – appropriately titled Fearless. Lucado has long been a force in the Christian writing circles, and his latest work takes head – on one of the scariest subjects out there, and Lucado does it with all the grace and skill we’ve come to expect.
Lucado starts with “Why Are We Afraid” and turns the question on it’s head, and gently provokes thoughts and ideas on the subject. Lucado stays to his tried and tested formula of dispensing deep truth along with humor and sensible practical ideas, and has written another great book. 4/5.
This review posted on barnesandnoble.com and andyszymas.blogspot.com; thanks to Thomas Nelson for providing a review copy.
The subject of Fear is one that dominates our society. Books, movies, entire industries are based in fear. Our culture seems to love to live in and around fear.
But how are we as Christians supposed to respond? The Scriptures tell us that we are to fear God only, and that any other fear has no place in our lives as Christians, called by God.
That’s the subject of Max Lucado’s latest book – appropriately titled Fearless. Lucado has long been a force in the Christian writing circles, and his latest work takes head – on one of the scariest subjects out there, and Lucado does it with all the grace and skill we’ve come to expect.
Lucado starts with “Why Are We Afraid” and turns the question on it’s head, and gently provokes thoughts and ideas on the subject. Lucado stays to his tried and tested formula of dispensing deep truth along with humor and sensible practical ideas, and has written another great book. 4/5.
This review posted on barnesandnoble.com and andyszymas.blogspot.com; thanks to Thomas Nelson for providing a review copy.
Give This Christmas Away Review
101 Simple & Thoughtful Ways to Give This Christmas Away by Matthew West
This was an interesting little book. I picked it up having low expectations, at best. Thoughtful little Christmas books tend to be just that - thoughtful, not practical. I hoped that this book by singer Matthew West might be more practical than most other little Christian "stocking stuffer" books.
Thankfully, "Give This Christmas Away" met me halfway. The book is just what it says - 101 simple ways to make someone else's Christmas. It's an extraordinarily quick book to read through, because each idea takes one page (and is sometimes a single paragraph).
West balances out thoughtful (if generally vague) suggestions (for example - #21 Comfort the Brokenhearted") with the practical ideas. #83, Donating to the Salvation Army Angel Tree, and #38, pick up random trash, are examples of some of the more thoroughly practical ideas.
All in all, it's a nice stocking stuffer. This would probably be a great thing to give to kids in whom you're trying to instill a spirit of giving during this Christmas Season. I give it a 4/5 - neat little stocking stuffer.
This review has been posted on andyszymas.blogspot.com and barnesannoble.com; thanks to Tyndale House for providing a review copy.
This was an interesting little book. I picked it up having low expectations, at best. Thoughtful little Christmas books tend to be just that - thoughtful, not practical. I hoped that this book by singer Matthew West might be more practical than most other little Christian "stocking stuffer" books.
Thankfully, "Give This Christmas Away" met me halfway. The book is just what it says - 101 simple ways to make someone else's Christmas. It's an extraordinarily quick book to read through, because each idea takes one page (and is sometimes a single paragraph).
West balances out thoughtful (if generally vague) suggestions (for example - #21 Comfort the Brokenhearted") with the practical ideas. #83, Donating to the Salvation Army Angel Tree, and #38, pick up random trash, are examples of some of the more thoroughly practical ideas.
All in all, it's a nice stocking stuffer. This would probably be a great thing to give to kids in whom you're trying to instill a spirit of giving during this Christmas Season. I give it a 4/5 - neat little stocking stuffer.
This review has been posted on andyszymas.blogspot.com and barnesannoble.com; thanks to Tyndale House for providing a review copy.
Evil and the Justice of God Review
Evil and the Justice of God by NT Wright
I suppose I find it hard to believe that I've never actually read a book by N.T. Wright. I've been aware of him for a long time, but I've never actually sat down to read any of his works. I've heard him quoted in books, in classes, in conversations, but until now, I didn't really know whether he was a good theologian or a good writer or both.
Now, I feel confident in saying that Wright is both. His theology (at least in Evil and the Justice of God) is quite strong, and it is clear he puts a lot of thought and research into his work. Yet Wright also manages to be understandable, which is something that many other theologians seem to lack. I felt comfortable reading his book without the Bible in one hand and a dictionary in the other, to say it in better words.
As for this book itself, I found it to be a great treatise on the problem of evil. It moves and flows in a very natural progression; from examining (that there is) the problem of evil, and moving towards solutions on personal and communal levels. I particularly liked Wrights conclusions about how Evil exhausted itself on the cross - that it spent everything it had in an still desperate attempt to tempt Jesus and failed.
All in all, an excellent book. I would give a book a good review for managing to make theology readable, and this book goes above and beyond that. Truely excellent, and I give it 5/5.
This review posted on andyszymas.blogspot.com and amazon.com; I wish to thank IVP for the review copy.
I suppose I find it hard to believe that I've never actually read a book by N.T. Wright. I've been aware of him for a long time, but I've never actually sat down to read any of his works. I've heard him quoted in books, in classes, in conversations, but until now, I didn't really know whether he was a good theologian or a good writer or both.
Now, I feel confident in saying that Wright is both. His theology (at least in Evil and the Justice of God) is quite strong, and it is clear he puts a lot of thought and research into his work. Yet Wright also manages to be understandable, which is something that many other theologians seem to lack. I felt comfortable reading his book without the Bible in one hand and a dictionary in the other, to say it in better words.
As for this book itself, I found it to be a great treatise on the problem of evil. It moves and flows in a very natural progression; from examining (that there is) the problem of evil, and moving towards solutions on personal and communal levels. I particularly liked Wrights conclusions about how Evil exhausted itself on the cross - that it spent everything it had in an still desperate attempt to tempt Jesus and failed.
All in all, an excellent book. I would give a book a good review for managing to make theology readable, and this book goes above and beyond that. Truely excellent, and I give it 5/5.
This review posted on andyszymas.blogspot.com and amazon.com; I wish to thank IVP for the review copy.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Nerd Files - 5
A short essay on why Diablo and Diablo II made me a better employee:
Efficiency. It's the key to being a good employee. If I can do everything at the same level of quality as anyone else, but I can do it twice as fast, I am getting twice more work done. Stupid math, right?
Diablo was a hack'n'slash RPG from the nineties. You chose a character class, and you journeyed into a randomly created dungeon to fight Diablo - the Lord of Terror. The randomly created map was a first of its kind - and meant there was no best way through the maze. You had to figure out the best way for each and every game.
And since the single player game had a finite amount of levels, it was in your best interest to complete each dungeon before taking on Diablo himself. When you're talking 16 major dungeons, this takes quite a bit of time. And so I started figuring out the most efficient way to get through each - and all of - a dungeon.
Now I use the same ideas to make work more convenient. I get all of my admits done faster than anyone else - because I'm not wasting time and doubling back. It's like a metaphysical dungeon - and I can navigate it faster than anyone else.
Now to slay some demons.
Efficiency. It's the key to being a good employee. If I can do everything at the same level of quality as anyone else, but I can do it twice as fast, I am getting twice more work done. Stupid math, right?
Diablo was a hack'n'slash RPG from the nineties. You chose a character class, and you journeyed into a randomly created dungeon to fight Diablo - the Lord of Terror. The randomly created map was a first of its kind - and meant there was no best way through the maze. You had to figure out the best way for each and every game.
And since the single player game had a finite amount of levels, it was in your best interest to complete each dungeon before taking on Diablo himself. When you're talking 16 major dungeons, this takes quite a bit of time. And so I started figuring out the most efficient way to get through each - and all of - a dungeon.
Now I use the same ideas to make work more convenient. I get all of my admits done faster than anyone else - because I'm not wasting time and doubling back. It's like a metaphysical dungeon - and I can navigate it faster than anyone else.
Now to slay some demons.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)