Book Review - Fearless

Max Lucado's latest book is so applicable to Christians today. In today's society where there is a techno-gadget to solve every problem and medical research is extending our lives it is so easy to forget that we serve the all-powerful Creator of the universe. My default reaction to almost any problem is, "What can I do to fix this?" In his book Fearless, Max Lucado gently reminds us that our first reaction to any fear-inducing situation should be to turn to God.

I enjoyed the way Lucado separated the chapters of this book into types of fear. For example, he addresses fear of not protecting your children, fear of worst-case scenarios, and fear of life's final moments. But throughout the book he continues to emphasize - often by quoting Scripture - that while we are not in control God is, and He walks with us.

I was especially moved by the anecdotes Lucado shares from the lives of several Christians including Boris Kornfeld (of whom I'd never heard) and C.S. Lewis. When I am tempted to give in to my fears I hope I remember that nothing God calls us to do is ever wasted, as evidenced by many of the stories in Fearless.

One point I disagree with is Lucado's explanation of why Christ prayed at Gethsemane the night before He was crucified. According to Lucado, He was afraid of what was to come. I've never read the Scripture that way, but instead feel that He prayed because He dreaded or dismayed what was facing Him. Dread and fear are not the same emotion. Despite this portrayal, the book Fearless is overall an excellent reminder that as Christians we have nothing and no one to fear - except God.

The Principle of the Path

I have just completed reading Andy Stanley's new book "The Principle of the Path" and I wanted to share a few of my thoughts on it. When I picked this book up I originally thought it would outline steps I could take to figure out what career path to choose. As I read it I was surprised to discover that this book is much more than that. It does not offer a personality test or set of steps to take to get you to where you want to be. Instead it challenges you to live your life intentionally by focusing your attention on what matters to you.

After I started reading I couldn't help but think of Robert Frost's poem, "The Road Not Taken". We all make choices on a daily basis that determine our direction in every aspect of life - physical, relational, spiritual, financial and so on. Andy Stanley, with humor and anecdotes from his own life as well as Bible times, guides you in choosing the right path on a daily basis.

When we find ourselves at a place in life we never intended to be it is easy to blame someone or something else. "It's not my fault" has become the mantra of our society. This book challenges that notion on every level. The decisions you make today will - not may - affect where you end up. The book contains excellent Biblical examples that clearly highight several components we should consider when deciding direction.

This is an excellent book for all adults, but is especially appropriate for young adults. It will make you reevaluate the choices you make on a daily basis and hopefully make decisions based on long-term goals and priorities. Another excellent aspect of the book is the Study Guide in the back. It it very useful for revisiting the ideas presented in each chapter.

We all choose the paths we take and our direction - not intention - determines our destination. What's more, the things to which we devote our attention determine our direction. So make sure you are giving your attention to the things (people) that matter to you.