Phil Wickham - ‘Cannons’
CD REVIEW

Review by Ben Symons

This second album by Californian Phil Wickham resets the bar on culturally relevant Christian music. The combination of a stunning voice, powerful songwriting and superb production makes these songs as radio friendly as any other brit-pop sound out there.

Knowing God J.I. Packer
BOOK REVIEW

Review by Simon Walpole

Knowing God was one of the first theology books I read. I picked it up quite by accident in a discount book store in Harrogate nearly twenty years ago for the princely sum of 99p. Not knowing who J.I.Packer is I wondered whether my developing but nevertheless strong beliefs would find an ‘Amen’ with his writings. My copy of this book is now underlined and well thumbed - well loved is perhaps a better way of describing it as testament to its value.

The Call to Joy and Pain
Ajith Fernando

BOOK REVIEW

Review by George Jarvis

For quite some time now the Spirit of God has been exercising my heart concerning the whole question of suffering in a Christian’s life. I felt that the attitude of some Christians that suffering was wrong, or “not kingdom”, and must be eliminated did not accord with what I was seeing in the scriptures.

The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical
Shane Claiborne

BOOK REVIEW

Review by Nick Howes

I have just finished reading this book and my mind is jam-packed full of a thousand and one different thoughts about what to write. I’m incredibly stirred and encouraged to live ‘radically’ by what I’ve read; I’m also deeply moved and saddened by many of the stories of suffering and injustice in our world that challenge to the core my tendency to settle for comfortable Christianity. Just the fact that all the proceeds from the book are being given away to the poor tells you he’s probably got something to say about consumerism, politics and the state of the church!

Rocking the White Citadel
A book review of "The Next Evangelicalism" by Soong-Chan Rah
Reviewed by Greg Taylor

In The Next Evangelicalism, professor and pastor Soong-Chan Rah says the evangelical church has been held captive to Western-white power and must be released in the same way the early Christian church was released from Jewish ethnic control. Nearly 95 percent of Christian churches in America have more than 80 percent of one particular ethnic group. Most evangelical churches are white monoliths.

The Blue Parakeet
Scot McKnight

BOOK REVIEW

Review by Simon Walpole

The basic premise of this book is that everyone picks and chooses what they want to believe when they read the Bible, and that we often adapt what we read to fit our culture (or even what we want it to say). The intriguing title comes from a story he relates that when a blue parakeet entered his garden… well, rather than spoiling it I could heartily recommend you find out for yourself!

Kim Walker - 'Here is my Song'
CD REVIEW

Review by Rich Houghton

It was the sheer weight of recommendations that prompted me to purchase this album (without having heard any of it), from people undoubtedly gripped by its contagious joy and passion for Jesus. Here is my Song is an excellent album with an incredibly appropriate title – it does exactly what it says on the tin! Each song reflects Kim’s heart for God so unreservedly and passionately; a clear snapshot of her heart’s cry to, and affection for, God.

Summer Reading
By Jeremy Williams

The season of holidays and heatwaves is upon us! For many of us, it’s also the reading season, when we check out bookshops and websites for the perfect paperback to read by the pool.

Here are six books we recommend this summer. Whether your taste is fiction, biography, academic tome or inspiring devotional, there’s a book on this list for you!

 
AN AUDIENCE WITH TIM LARSEN (49MB)

The Schofield Centre, Loughborough on Wednesday 27th May 2009.

The mp3 of this event is available by clicking here.

Frank Viola
Reimagining Church

BOOK REVIEW

Review by Simon Walpole

What does an authentic New Testament Church look like? It’s an argument that seems to have been going on for decades, perhaps even centuries. Each varying congregational stream seems to claim at least a small degree of ‘authenticity’. It’s a conversation that has great relevancy at the moment, especially if we believe the reports that traditional ‘Sunday service’ congregation numbers are dwindling.

Joseph Prince
Destined to Reign

BOOK REVIEW

Review by Sandra Duffty

This book is truly inspirational. It will revitalise you, remove any sense of condemnation, guilt, shame or disappointment and enable you to look into the face of Jesus once again.

Tom Wright
Surprised by Hope

BOOK REVIEW

Review by Simon Walpole

Brian McLaren
Everything Must Change

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

 
Graham Cooke & Gary Goodell
Permission Granted to do Church
Differently in the 21st Century

BOOK RECOMMENDATION
 
A must read for anyone who wants to 'do church differently,' in the third millennium.
 
On several occasions, history has provided the needed critical mass and the synergistic inertia to thrust the church into breaking out of its box and becoming the force in culture and society that God intended it to be.

Brian McLaren & Tony Campolo
Adventures in Missing the Point

BOOK RECOMMENDATION
 
If you're brave enough to take an honest look at the issues facing the culture-controlled church - and the issues in your own life - read on.

Do you ever look at how the Christian faith is being lived out in the new millennium and wonder if we're not doing what we're supposed to be doing? That we still haven't quite 'gotten it'? That we've missed the point regarding many important issues?

Johnny Kinch
Johnny be Good

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Easter weekend saw the launch of Johnny Be Good the true-life story of a celebrity whose life went horribly wrong due to drink and drugs. Actor, Johnny Kinch, tells his story in a bare-all book about how he became an alcoholic, was dealing drugs, and who consumed vast amounts of cocaine. He says he smoked 40 cigarettes a day, developed a gambling addiction and was issued with an electronic tag.

Bill Johnson
When Heaven Invades Earth

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

When Heaven Invades Earth is a powerful statement and testimony on the Kingdom of God.
 
Theologically sound, well supported and extremely well argued, this message provides a carefully constructed biblical foundation for the average Christian to live and walk in the miraculous power of God.

John Arnott
The Importance of Forgiveness

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

As Pastor of the Toronto Airport Church, the author faces this issue repeatedly in counselling and prayer.
 
Forgiveness is a key to blessing. Forgiveness and repentance open up our hearts and allow the river of God to flow freely within us.

William P Young
The Shack

BOOK RECOMMENDATION (Review to Follow)

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his great sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend...

Gregory MacDonald (Pseudonym)
The Evangelical Universalist
BOOK REVIEW

Review by Gareth Duffty

WOW! What a read! Get ready, hold on to your hats for a roller coaster ride, get ready to be shaken and challenged in your thinking. This is the one for you!

I am a firm believer that over the last 35 years or more the church has become more accustomed to teachings and understandings of the Kingdom of God and Covenant and Restoration to the point that today weighty writings influenced by this thinking are now emerging in our bookstores. These new books have been well thought through and considered theologically. We are in an era of establishing a thinking that is so different from our Historic Dispensational roots which has, and still is in some settings, so hindered the church in its advancement, understanding and purpose. This book is one that will deeply challenge your dispensational thoughts.

Darrell Cosden - The Heavenly Good of Earthly Work

BOOK REVIEW

Review by Gareth Duffty

I can only recommend this book to all who want to further and more fully understand the notion of work, and its place in God’s onward redemptive economy. Work is not a passing evil.

We need to come to a place and be delivered from the thought that work is evil or a hindrance. In a modern society of a consumer spirit, it is refreshing to come across a book so well laid out on our assignment to work.

Becky Fischer - 'Redefining Childrens Ministry in the 21st Century'
BOOK REVIEW

Review by Sandra Duffty

This book, both inspiring and challenging, is a must read for all ministries, pastors, elders, children’s workers and parents.

The day in which we live, being a day for revival and harvest, open heaven and heightened spiritual awareness, requires that we ensure we serve the full body of Christ, equipping all the saints for the work of the ministry.

This book will challenge you to the core on how you see and train the young amongst your community. Not only will it challenge you but you will be inspired to reach for more and raise the bar on your expectations. Clear practical guidance and testimonies of children walking in a fuller revelation of the ways of God are all outlined.

Hillsong United - 'United We Stand'
CD REVIEW

Review by Rich Houghton

The latest offering from the Hillsong United production machine is as we’ve come to expect: a well-written and well-produced album, even exceeding the high standards they’ve previously set themselves.

Gilbert Bilezikian - Beyond Sex Roles
BOOK REVIEW

Review by George Jarvis

If ever a book was brought to my attention at the right time, it was this book by Gilbert Bilezikian, who is a leader in the Willow Creek Community Church, and also a teacher of biblical studies at Wheaton College.

It came at a time when, along with a number of colleagues, I was looking afresh at the role of women in the church, particularly in the matter of church leadership. I had come to a point in my spirit where I felt that there was virtually no limitation to the part a woman could play within the church community. This in itself was an about turn for me as for many years of enjoying the ministry of women, I stopped short of believing they could occupy primary leadership roles. I was now searching for a solid Biblical basis for my ‘newly forming’ belief.

Ern Baxter
READING LIST

Ern Baxter - a long-time leader in the Charismatic Renewal, pastored a large evangelical church in Vancouver, Canada , for more than 20 years. Almost from the beginning of his ministry in the 1930's, he was in demand as a conference speaker. He travelled extensively, ministering to people in memorable and heartwarming ways as he lifted them into the majesty of God.

Here you will find the Reading List that helped him search out the majesty talked about above.  

Jim W Goll - 'The Seer - The Prophetic Power of Visions, Dreams and Open Heavens'
BOOK REVIEW

Review by Sandra Duffty

The Seer by Jim Goll is an excellent guide for the Body of Christ on the gift of the Seer amongst the prophetic community of God’s people.

Tony Wastall - 'From Home to the Throne'
BOOK REVIEW

Review by Sally Murcutt

I thought I knew the story of Joseph inside out having been told it from the earliest of ages. But this book brought alive and revealed another dimension to this old and much loved story.

Tony parallels Joseph’s life to that of Jesus. At each stage of Joseph’s life he draws out the similarities of what was happening to him and the lessons being learnt and what Jesus went through when he lived on earth. Tony also challenges the reader to ask searching questions of themselves and very kindly writes those at the end of each chapter.

John Crowder - 'Miracle Workers, Reformers and The New Mystics'
BOOK REVIEW

Review by Sandra Duffty

I want to highly recommend this book, “Miracle Workers, Reformers and The New Mystics” by John Crowder, published by Destiny Image in 2006. In this book you will learn How to become part of The Supernatural Generation.

In it you will discover the lives of William Branham, William Seymour, Aimee Semple McPherson, George Whitfield, Sundar Singh, Brother Lawrence, Charles Finney and so many more…