Tuesday, September 8

Fearless

Being a book review blogger for Thomas Nelson has been a fun and productive way to do something that isn’t school or work related. I just received Donald Miller’s new book, but my first review is of Max Lucado’s Fearless. This book challenges the status quo, where fear is allowed to rule while Christians dismiss Christ as completely in control.
Lucado’s illustrations are accessible and relevant. He addresses the root of the problem by appealing to the surface of our fears, and then weaving his way towards our misplaced fears. We shouldn’t have no fear – that’s the logo made popular in mid-90s clothing – we should have the one healthy fear (fear of "God getting out of my box"). All our other fears, such as fear of violence, of losing money, of worst-case scenarios and death are not fears that we should give into. Lucado encourages us to arm ourselves with Scripture, have a thriving relationship with the Lord and focus on what matters most. “Feed your fears, and your faith will starve. Feed your faith, and your fears will.”
I didn't expect this book to be such a decent, fun and relevant read. Fear and worry have never been at the top of my list of sins, I thought. But reading this book, I was struck by how often I actually am preoccupied with fear and worry, albeit relatively subdued. Fearless was the kind of book I needed to read, precisely because I had no idea I needed to... It surprised me with its good stories, and I was amazed at how quickly I read it (180-or-so pages were finished on a single 2-hr flight). Max Lucado engages readers with his story-telling, from familiar anecdotes to well-woven quotations to pressing biblical themes and passages. When you read about Peter stepping out of the boat in faith, you understand how fear needs to be banished. Jesus is our answer; He is our hope; He is our Lord. "When Christ is great, our fears are not." I couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks, Mr. Lucado, for a good word.
Check out a free preview here, and buy the book!

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