Tag Archives: book review

Dem Bones Gonna Rise Again

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Carl Simmons

As it was with our last entry (and for much the same reasons), I’ve been a fan of Paul Ford’s approach to ministry for nigh on a decade now. In fact, I’ll go one further and mention that his resource Unleash … Continue reading →

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Going OUT and Making Disciples

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Confession time: I’ve always—OK, for the past eight years, anyway—had a decided aversion to the term “missional.” I’ve never objected to what it actually means (or should mean), but I’ve also never quite understood why living out the Great Commission … Continue reading →

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Finding a Greater Desire

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Carl Simmons

There’s no question that you know someone who struggles with a sexual addiction, whether you’re aware of it of not. What’s more: If you’re a guy, there’s a very good chance that person is you (and that you’re all too … Continue reading →

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Reframing the Gospel, or Diluting It?

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Yeah, this one’s decidedly more scholarly than the usual fare here. And yet, at the heart of it is a very practical question: How does one adapt the gospel to the culture it’s being presented to—and when does it cross … Continue reading →

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It’s Easier to Talk About Grace Than to Give It in a Book Review

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Carl Simmons

I wanted to like this book; I really did. And once again, I got sucked in by the recommendations (and the apparently now-near-obligatory Rick Warren imprimatur foreword). But when all is said and done, it just left me kind of … Continue reading →

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Leading Out of Who You Are

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Carl Simmons

In a way, this book’s title is a bit of a misnomer. Not that it’s not about mentoring—and to be certain, the book’s main audience is mentors (of some sort). But really, this book is more about discovering what God’s … Continue reading →

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Making Time for God, and Letting the Words Speak for Themselves

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Carl Simmons

Let me get this confession out of the way first: I am liturgically disabled. 🙂 And having gone from no religious background whatsoever to the reformed-arminian-charismatic-relational Christian mutt I am today, I’ve never really felt the need to hunt down any liturgical … Continue reading →

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Re-engaging Men…. starting in the home….

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Carl Simmons

David Murrow is back. Mostly. But perhaps some history is in order…. Even for someone like me, who loves men’s ministry but recoils violently at the thoughts of Promise Keepers and John Eldredge (huzZAH!), Why Men Hate Going to Church … Continue reading →

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Maybe We Should Just Go Read the Original Words Instead…

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Carl Simmons

As I’ve always said about Shane Claiborne: I may not agree with everything he says, but I’m glad there’s someone out there saying it. And Tony Campolo’s been eminently quotable for decades now. Plus, Claiborne was Campolo’s student at Eastern … Continue reading →

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Living as Though God Mattered

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Carl Simmons

I had to adjust my sights a bit, but after doing so was able to enjoy this book. Because really, there aren’t any secrets here, or even that much in the way of new insight. What this is, really, is “Stuff We … Continue reading →

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