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We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in 2008. Our children helped us celebrate with an all expense paid all arranged vacation In Hawaii.
Monday, August 10, 2009
BOOK REVIEW--REAL CHURCH--DOES IT EXIST? CAN I FIND IT by Larry Crabb
Dr. Larry Crabb, a member of the church for decades, author, speaker, and counselor found himself longing for the church to be something more than it many times is. I was surprised by his statement, "Church as I know it usually leaves deep parts of me dormant, unawakened, and untouched...I don't much like going to church."
For millions of Americans, church is a relic of past generations. For millions more, it's a habit that defines one day each week. Whether formal or contemporary, liberal or evangelical, it is an institution with buildings and employees and rules and promises and marketing campaigns.
Inside this book, Dr. Crabb uncovers the weaknesses that handicap modern churches--attributes that many would laud as professional achievements. He then carefully depicts a new paradigm--practical, philosophical and refreshing: "Is church a ragtag assortmen of folks who want to hear the beautiful story that God is whispering, who want to love like Jesus so they can join the story and advance its plot...who want to hang out with others who don't love all that well but who, in their brokenness, admit it and long to change; who are willing, and eventually eager, to get involved in a messed-up world with messed-up people...because they believe that every moment of loving well makes the world... a little more of what God has in mind?"
John Ortberg, author and pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church said, "In Real Church, Larry Crabb is voicing questions a lot of people feel but may not ask aloud. It is time to ask." Dallas Willard, author, The Divine Conspiracy, wrote, "Larry Crabb's Real Church burns with passionate clarity for what the people of Jesus Christ on earth could be--must be...Dare we go there? Dare we not?"
Real Church is provcative and inspiring. It will redefine what it means to be a healthy church--and will propel you to find one.
Inside this book, Dr. Crabb uncovers the weaknesses that handicap modern churches--attributes that many would laud as professional achievements. He then carefully depicts a new paradigm--practical, philosophical and refreshing: "Is church a ragtag assortmen of folks who want to hear the beautiful story that God is whispering, who want to love like Jesus so they can join the story and advance its plot...who want to hang out with others who don't love all that well but who, in their brokenness, admit it and long to change; who are willing, and eventually eager, to get involved in a messed-up world with messed-up people...because they believe that every moment of loving well makes the world... a little more of what God has in mind?"
John Ortberg, author and pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church said, "In Real Church, Larry Crabb is voicing questions a lot of people feel but may not ask aloud. It is time to ask." Dallas Willard, author, The Divine Conspiracy, wrote, "Larry Crabb's Real Church burns with passionate clarity for what the people of Jesus Christ on earth could be--must be...Dare we go there? Dare we not?"
Real Church is provcative and inspiring. It will redefine what it means to be a healthy church--and will propel you to find one.
3 comments:
Hi Clif, I have a few of Larry Crabb's books...what a man of God he is, that he can see people the way God does...broken, needy, hurting, and lost...if we could see it that way, too, especially in the "church".
Clif,
I love the sentiments expressed by Dr. Crabb. Some people in our church are asking some of these same questions. I am confident that Jesus will show us the way.
~Jean
People who walk into a church building seeking the Living Lord should be able to find Him. I go to a REAL church where He is worshiped. My prayer is that it would be so in all other church buildings.
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