Book Review: In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day

IN A PIT WITH A LION ON A SNOWY DAY

Mark Batterson

Published by Multnomah Books, Colorado Springs, CO (2006)

Pastor Batterson focuses on a Bible verse found in II Samuel 23: 20 which says “Benaiah was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Kabzeel, who had done many deeds. He had killed two lion-like heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.”

The Bible doesn’t tell us what Benaiah was doing or where he was going when he encountered this lion. We don’t know the time of day or Benaiah’s frame of mind. But the Scripture does reveal his reaction. And it was gutsy. Typically, when we encounter a man-eating beast, we run away. But Benaiah followed the lion into the pit. He went into a situation in which he was the underdog. And the snowy conditions on that day didn’t help his chances either. However, Benaiah was victorious and in II Samuel 23:23 we learn that King David appointed him over his guard.

What a story of courage! Pastor Batterson reminds us that we also are faced with choices. Do we run away or give chase? Do we follow opportunity under seemingly impossible odds? A pattern seen throughout Scripture shows that God won’t intervene until something is humanly impossible. And He usually does it in just the nick of time.

Pastor Batterson suggests that it is time for us to stop trying to create God in our image and let Him create us in His. This means that we should stop praying for comfort, and begin praying for character. We should view adversity as a blessing in disguise. He reminds us that faith in Christ doesn’t reduce uncertainty. Rather, faith embraces uncertainty.

When we face an opportunity, we often make excuses such as:

• I’m too busy
• I’m not qualified
• I’m too qualified
• I’ve got too many problems
• I don’t have enough money
• I’m not ready yet.

Newsflash …. We’ll never be ready. Sometimes opportunities arise when we least expect it. What will we do when we find ourselves in a pit with a lion on a snowy day?

Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men.

Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, pray for powers equal to your task.

–        Phillips Brooks (1835 – 1893)

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, he is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. – Deuteronomy 31:6

meet the reviewer: jon schommer

Jon Schommer grew up in Calumetville, Wisconsin (dairy farm country) and currently lives in Woodbury, Minnesota. He has been married to Lisa since 1988 and they have two children; Dave (born in 1993) and Emily (born in 1996). Jon’s hobbies include gardening and hiking. During the summer, he enjoys golfing once or twice and during the winter he enjoys ice fishing a few times. Jon earned his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and currently is a professor at the University of Minnesota.

Book Review: Not A Fan

NOT A FAN

Kyle Idleman

Published by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI (2011)

The most basic definition of “fan” in the dictionary is “An enthusiastic admirer.” Pastor Idleman uses this definition to describe many Christians today. We are like a fan who goes to a football game and cheers for his favorite team. He may wear a shirt with his team logo and may have a bumper sticker on his car. But he’s never in the game. He enjoys attending the stadium each week, but never breaks a sweat or takes a hard hit in the open field. He knows all about the players and their latest stats. He cheers and raises his hands, but nothing is really required of him. There is no sacrifice he has to make. He’s just a fan.

Pastor Idleman points out that Jesus was never interested in having fans. He doesn’t want enthusiastic admirers who don’t go all-in. In fact, Jesus criticized people “who honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Matthew 15:8). Instead, Jesus wants completely committed followers. Jesus described it this way … “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

Jesus calls upon his followers to die daily. “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it” (Luke 9:24).

It is only by dying to ourselves that we truly find life. When we finally let go of our lives and follow him completely, we find real life in Christ. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God” (I Corinthians 1:18).

• The cross that represented defeat – for a follower, it is an image of victory.
• The cross that represented guilt – for a follower it an image of freedom.
• The cross that represented pain and suffering – for a follower it is an image of healing and hope.
• The cross that represented death – for a follower it is an image of life.
• The cross that may not be attractive – for a follower it is beautiful.

Taking up a cross and dying to self sounds like torture. We think that such a decision would make us miserable. However, there is a surprising side effect to dying … we discover true life. We find that giving up our lives and turning them over to Jesus gives us the life we so desperately wanted all along.

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. – Jim Elliot

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world; and is himself destroyed or lost? – Luke 9: 25

meet the reviewer: jon schommer

Jon Schommer grew up in Calumetville, Wisconsin (dairy farm country) and currently lives in Woodbury, Minnesota. He has been married to Lisa since 1988 and they have two children; Dave (born in 1993) and Emily (born in 1996). Jon’s hobbies include gardening and hiking. During the summer, he enjoys golfing once or twice and during the winter he enjoys ice fishing a few times. Jon earned his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and currently is a professor at the University of Minnesota.

Book Review: Freedom from Tyranny of the Urgent

FREEDOM FROM TYRANNY OF THE URGENT

Charles E. Hummel

Published by IVP Books, Downers Grove, IL (1997)

Charles Hummel points out that many of us constantly wish for more time. We find ourselves working harder and harder, but enjoying life less and less. However, our dilemma goes deeper than a shortage of time; it is basically the problem of priorities. Hard work does not hurt us. We all know what it is to go full speed for long hours, totally involved in an important task. The resulting weariness is matched by a sense of achievement and joy.

Not hard work, but doubt and misgiving, produce anxiety as we review a month or year and become oppressed by the pile of unfinished tasks. We sense uneasily that we may have failed to do the important. The winds of people’s demands have driven us onto a reef of frustration.

Our greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out the important things. We live in a constant tension between the urgent and the important. The problem is that important tasks rarely must be done right away. We give in to the tyranny of the urgent.

This book gives guidance for helping us prioritize what is truly important. For example:

• We should manage our time under the lordship of Jesus Christ, from whom we get our goals and values.

• There is no substitute for the confidence that today – in this time and place – I am obeying the will of my Father.

• Just when you think you can’t afford to take time out … that’s when you need it the most.

• Use the Scriptures to set priorities. When reading the Bible, ask yourself: (1) Is there a command to obey?, (2) Is there a sin to confess and forsake?, (3) Is there an example to follow – or avoid?, (4) Is there a promise to claim?, (5) Is there a new insight about God?

• The value of an action lays not in its size but in its motive – love for God.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time. – Ephesians 5: 15-16a

On my calendar there are but two days; today and That Day. – Martin Luther.

meet the reviewer: jon schommer

Jon Schommer grew up in Calumetville, Wisconsin (dairy farm country) and currently lives in Woodbury, Minnesota. He has been married to Lisa since 1988 and they have two children; Dave (born in 1993) and Emily (born in 1996). Jon’s hobbies include gardening and hiking. During the summer, he enjoys golfing once or twice and during the winter he enjoys ice fishing a few times. Jon earned his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and currently is a professor at the University of Minnesota.

Book Review: Wild Goose Chase

WILD GOOSE CHASE

Mark Batterson

Published by Multnomah Books, Colorado Springs, CO (2008)

Celtic Christians referred to the Holy Spirit as An Geadh-Glas (the Wild Goose). Pastor Batterson proposes that, much like a wild goose, the Holy Spirit has an element of danger and an air of unpredictability, mystery, and adventure.

He suggests that many, if not most, Christians are bored with their faith and use the “excuses” of: (1) responsibility, (2) routine, (3) assumptions, (4) guilt, (5) failure, and (6) fear for not following the Holy Spirit with all our being. We turn Christianity into a noun and become safe, silent, and stale. Christianity is intended to be an action verb. The Wild Goose (Holy Spirit) is always calling us into terra incognita … that is where the action is. For example:

• Nehemiah was a cupbearer with no architectural training, but God used him to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.
• Noah was a farmer who God used to build the ark.
• A shepherd boy named David was used by God to defeat a Philistine giant.
• A murderer named Paul was used by God to write about half of the New Testament.

For us, it might be time to fill out the application, make the call, pack the U-Haul, write the check, set up the appointment, have the conversation, make the move, or go on that mission trip. In the words of Andre’ Gide, “People cannot discover new lands until they have the faith to lose sight of the shore.” Rarely does the Holy Spirit lead us down the path of least resistance. It is not in His nature. We are called to lives of faith in Him no matter what.

Pastor Batterson challenges us to:

• quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death
• not let what’s wrong with us keep us from worshipping what’s right with God
• not just make a living … but to make a life.

Furthermore, he challenges us to:

• pursue God-ordained passions
• live today like it is the first day and the last day of our lives
• burn sinful bridges
• chase the Goose!

“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

meet the reviewer: jon schommer

Jon Schommer grew up in Calumetville, Wisconsin (dairy farm country) and currently lives in Woodbury, Minnesota. He has been married to Lisa since 1988 and they have two children; Dave (born in 1993) and Emily (born in 1996). Jon’s hobbies include gardening and hiking. During the summer, he enjoys golfing once or twice and during the winter he enjoys ice fishing a few times. Jon earned his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and currently is a professor at the University of Minnesota.

Book Review: The Jesus I Never Knew

THE JESUS I NEVER KNEW
Philip Yancey
Published by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI (1995)

Prolific and best-selling author, Philip Yancey, uses a self-reflective, biographical, historical, and biblical approach for investigating (1) who Jesus was, (2) why he came, (3) what he left behind, and (4) what this means for who he is right now in our lives.

Yancey paints a rich picture of Jesus as he describes how Jesus came to earth as a particular race, at a particular time, in a particular place, and in a particular culture. Furthermore, Jesus’ activities on earth point to God’s intentionality as He unfolded His perfect plan of sacrificial love to restore relationship with Him.

Jesus made it possible to go from the old covenant in which:

• God’s name could not be pronounced
• Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies once per year
• Sacrifice for sins was done at the tabernacle

To the new covenant in which:

• God is called Abba (daddy)
• We have intimate relationship with God at all times through Christ
• We are saved by grace and are His tabernacle

When Jesus ascended into heaven almost 2000 years ago, he left with a long-range plan (His return to restore all things) and a short-range plan (His church on earth to do His work). Yancey refers to Jesus’ time on earth as ‘Good Friday” and His triumphant return as “Easter Sunday.’ Where we live right now is on Saturday, the day with no name. Human history grinds on, between the time of promise and fulfillment. Jesus has entrusted us to be his hands and feet, His body and heart until the time of His glorious return.

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood he entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. – Hebrews 9: 11-12

meet the reviewer: jon schommer

Jon Schommer grew up in Calumetville, Wisconsin (dairy farm country) and currently lives in Woodbury, Minnesota. He has been married to Lisa since 1988 and they have two children; Dave (born in 1993) and Emily (born in 1996). Jon’s hobbies include gardening and hiking. During the summer, he enjoys golfing once or twice and during the winter he enjoys ice fishing a few times. Jon earned his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and currently is a professor at the University of Minnesota.

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