Please Excuse The Dust!

Due to changes in certain circumstances

the Sunday Study will be under-going

certain remodeling and changes.

The Study in I John will be 

temporarily suspended

until further notice.

Please continue to enjoy the other posts and pages

of this blog. Gospel-driven Disciples will remain

open during this time of remodeling!

Thank you for your patient, loving, kind, merciful

longsuffering, and gracious use of this site!

The Slow Demise and Departure From PCBBC

This chapter of my life may not be as exciting as the last couple of chapters, however, it is an important part of who I am and what I have become. Maybe, since God is always at work in our lives as he makes us into the image of his dear Son, I should say, what I am becoming. So, without further delay, let's turn the page...

As I settled into student life the trials that God continued to allow to come our way subsided in "drastic" or "dramatic," ways, at least to me. As far as I was concerned in this modern day world of mechanization, being without a car is huge. It is huge when you are in Los Angeles and you need to commute to The City of Industry for work, San Dimas for school, Pomona for shopping and church. Loosing that Vega was a milestone for me, not because I was fond of the Vega, but because I did not trust God enough to know that he knew I needed a car. The only other thing that I can think of being a greater trial is being evicted from your home for failure to pay rent. That had never happened to me prior to moving to college, and I thank God has never happened since.

Smaller trials and tribulations still were dispatched from heaven to lay siege against my innate pride and to develop my trust in God rather than my own abilities. Tuition and books were always a struggle to fully pay for even with the G.I. bill Veteran's Benefits. It seemed to me and any other normal human being that who ever had set the amounts of the benefits had not attended college in a long time, especially a private bible college. Semester after semester God devised ways of humiliating my pride and providentially providing for me. God worked through his people in ways that I had never imagined that he did.

I had never studied history, particularly Christian history, and never knew stories like Through Gates of Splendor, To the Golden Shore, George Mueller of Bristol, J. Hudson Taylor, William Carey, Adoniram Judson, C. T. Studd, or any modern day "miracles of provision." I didn't even know that in the early days of my pastoral preparation that God needed to do a work in me to make me, first, into the image of his dear son, or second, to make me into a man who would be able to effectively shepherd God's people.

So, we experienced times when we had no money to buy groceries, gas, tuition, books, supplies, clothes, shoes, or doctor bills. I tried to work hard and earn a living but paying for your own schooling and supporting a family as a high school drop-out was difficult, even in 1978. Fortunately, my mind, for good or bad, has the capability of putting those memories in the deep recesses of my mind. Today they are vague shadows, half-forgotten memories of pain, struggle, fear, frustration, and even anger. I recount them for three reasons. First, to magnify and reflect God's glory in each one of them; second, to encourage me as I experience another trial of trust and dependence upon God during this season of unemployment; and third, to encourage you! I want you to be blessed with the knowledge that God loves you very much, is well aware of your need or needs at this very moment, and is more than capable of meeting them in his timing and good pleasure.

As I was saying, groceries would be provided for us at times in different ways. Sometimes people who shook my hand would slip a ten or twenty into my hand. There were times I preached and received a stipend or love offering. I once crossed my legs in a staff meeting at a church I was serving in and a man saw wholes in my shoes and at the next staff meeting he presented me with a pair of brand new shoes.

Hair was a major issue at PCBBC-you could not have facial hair nor could your hair touch your collar. When you are trying to keep a roof over your head, gas in the Olds (which was a gift), and feed yourself, a wife, and two little girls, a haircut was the last thing on my list. However, you could be suspended if you failed to get a haircut after being "cited." Many times someone would come up to me and say, "Here, take "this" and go get a haircut."  And no, in those days, this buff, former athlete with golden blond hair was not going to cut it himself or let his wife cut it. (What horrible pride yet remains.)

I remember one time, someone recounted how I was always wearing the same suit. Well, I only had one. What came next nearly floored me. He took me to a suit store and bought me a suit. God supplied what I lacked and was unable to provide through working. The job and the G. I. Benefits provided the majority of our needs, but God always let it fall short so that he could supply what remained himself for his glory.

As painful, frightening, and sweet, yes sweet, as those days were trouble was brewing. I wasn't aware of it at first, but a showdown was coming. It began slow and as I matured both in my faith and my ability to exegete (the practice of exploring the biblical text for meaning and application by use of rules of hermeneutics) the scriptures my days at PCBBC were being numbered.

My parents visited our church in San Jose sometime in 67 or 68 and immediately liked the pastor. They wanted a fiery preacher and an independent church. Unbeknownst to us was the fact that the church, though billed as "independent" fellowshipped with a fellowship of churches that were KJV's only, bus ministry oriented, sin-hating, devil-fighting, independent, fundamental, and baptist to the core. It was, "We don't drink, dance, spit or chew, nor do we go with girls who do." It was ultra-funnymental and legalistic. True, there is nothing wrong with some of those things in the proper context and spirit. This church suggested I attend PCBBC which also was owned and operated by those in the same fellowship. The school had the same mind set as my "home" church.

The trouble with that fellowship (mind you that was in 1978 and I haven't been a part since 1984) was that it tends to be very shallow and breeds unbiblical principles. The messages typically were "evangelistic" and directed to the lost and there was all most no commitment to discipleship whatsoever. Maybe here and there lip service was paid to discipleship. "Deep thinking or deep Christianity" was usually looked down upon and ridiculed. Sermons were more often than not, three points and a poem, with sad, sad stories that emotionally manipulated people into "decisions." Win em, wet em, and work em" was the basic underlying principle of the movement. Large numbers, big bus ministries, beautiful buildings, and large budgets were important. Although they would deny it and argue that they were in compliance, scriptural integrity was often disregarded. After all you can't be very accurate with Scripture when you read a verse as if you were on a diving platform, and then dive into a message that had nothing to do with the context whatsoever.

Little things began to develop as I learned how to study scripture. First, in 1978, 79, 80, I had never heard of John MacArthur. I had never heard of "Elders" or "Grace Community Church." As a matter of fact up to that point, if you weren't an independent, fundamental baptist you probably weren't a christian. One of my professors wrote nearly an 86 page paper "proving" MacArthur to be a heretic. (He isn't) Elders were denounced as inventions of the devil, community churches were not of God. Then, as I turned in assigned papers, I was being marked down heavily and some outright were "flunked." My "interpretation" of scripture and certain passages were being challenged as incorrect, heretical, or against school standards. Slowly but surely, even at a young age of 25 or 26 I was beginning to see I didn't fit into their mold.

I began hearing things in sermons, chapels, and services that were not accurate. Propositions, sermon points, and applications were taken out of context and certain passages were horribly molested for the sake of making a point. I began asking questions and challenging certain statements or conclusions. This didn't go over well at school or church.

First, let me say, I don't have any idea how I could learn to study the scriptures in their true context and setting in that setting. Second, I don't know why God gave me the gift of pastor/teacher but he did. Teaching is my spiritual gift and as a teacher I diligently study and allow the text to speak for itself. Back in those days I was a beginner, wet behind the ears, very rough with the need of much practice and development. Third, I am still humbled today by the gift that God has given me as a bible expositor and theologian. Fourth, I do not consider myself "perfect" or "as to have arrived." or no longer needing training or practice.

The handwriting was on the wall. I was no longer in line with the doctrinal and practical position of the college. The only right thing I could do was leave quietly. So, when school year ended in June of 1982 I withdrew from PCBBC. After, selling almost all that we had, moving some 400 miles away from family and friends, spending two years barely scrapping by, enduring countless trials, tests, and tribulation as bible college students I was done. Done with PCBBC and school at least. I wasn't done with the conviction that God has called me to ministry and to teach his word.

What do I do now? Where do we go from here? What will happen to us? The answers seemed apparent in the next segment of our Christian Walk in Faith. Join me will you for the next installment called, "Herlong, CA."






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Saturday - "Walk of Faith..." Segments of Christian Testimony

Join us as we take a look at back at the spiritual journey and blessings of the Metcalf's Walk of Faith

Take It From Ole Abe...

Folks, this is Ole Honest Abe here, takin' time to say a word of thanks the day before my Birthday to Eddie Eddings and Calvinistic Cartoons for both the concept, artwork, and testimony! Tell 10 people today about the Gospel-driven Disciples and Calvinistic Cartoons- and don't forget Facets of Grace!

What do you think of Mr. Lincoln's endorsement of this site?

Why?

Who do you think is the greatest President who ever served this land?

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Friday - "Friday's Features" 

Join the Gospel-driven disciples for a "pot-pouri" of topics from jokes, humor, videos, stories, summaries, and a collection of anything.

The Spirit of Adoption

There is a charm there: we cannot describe or understand it: it is a sacred touch of nature, a throb in the breast that God has put there, and that cannot be taken away. The fatherhood is recognized by the childship of the child. And what is that spirit of a child—that sweet spirit that makes him recognize and love his father? I cannot tell you unless you are a child yourself, and then you will know. And what is “the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father?” I cannot tell you; but if you have felt it you will know it.

It is a sweet compound of faith that knows God to be my Father, love that loves him as my Father, joy that rejoices in him as my Father, fear that trembles to disobey him because he is my Father and a confident affection and trustfulness that relies upon him, and casts itself wholly upon him, because it knows by the infallible witness of the Holy Spirit, that Jehovah, the God of earth and heaven, is the Father of my heart.

Oh! have you ever felt the spirit of adoption? There is nought like it beneath the sky. Save heaven itself there is nought more blissful than to enjoy that spirit of adoption.

Oh! when the wind of trouble is blowing and waves of adversity are rising, and the ship is reeling to the rock how sweet then to say “My Father,” and to believe that his strong hand is on the helm!—when the bones are aching, and when the loins are filled with pain, and when the cup is brimming with wormwood and gall, to say “My Father,” and seeing that Father’s hand holding the cup to the lip, to drink it steadily to the very dregs because we can say, “My Father, not my will, but thine be done.”

Well says Martin Luther, in his Exposition of the Galatians, “there is more eloquence in that word, ‘Abba. Father,’ than in all the orations of Demosthenes or Cicero put together.”

“My Father!” Oh! there is music there; there is eloquence there; there is the very essence of heaven’s own bliss in that word, ” My Father,” when applied to God, and when said by us with an unfaltering tongue, through the inspiration of the Spirit of the living God.

My hearers, have you the spirit of adoption? If not, ye are miserable men. May God himself bring you to know him! May he teach you your need of him! May he lead you to the cross of Christ, and help you to look to your dying Brother! May he bathe you in the blood that flowed from his open wounds, and then, accepted in the beloved, may you rejoice that you have the honor to be one of that sacred family.

--Charles H. Spurgeon

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Thursday: "Theological Thursdays" - Studies in Christian Theology

Be a part of Theological Thursdays as we unlock the meaning of various terms, news, and definitions. Words mean things and we need to correctly understand biblical terms.

In Regards to Yesterday's Post...

Given the language, the grammar cannot be disputed, therefore it behooves the believer to go to God in honest prayer asking God to give us insight into these great and marvelous mysteries that are over our head. At least, to accept the truth given by the Holy Spirit to the writers of the these epistles such as Paul's. Remember, Peter wrote to his churches that they should recall the things that Paul wrote even though they were hard to understand.

It is no surprise to me that these biblical truths are difficult for believers to grasp. They go against the grain, they strike at our pride, they lower us into the dust as dead, depraved, and darkened sinners as these truths should. No doubt the human heart hates them, despises them, and recoils from them. These truths remove all boasting, all the initiative, and the human partnership that serves our pride.  It isn't difficult to see man who elevates himself as the master of his domain and destiny to shake his head at these glorious truths, roll his eyes, turn up his nose, or just simply say, "it ain't so."

A man persuaded against his will is of the same opinion still, so I will not attempt to "convince" you of the veracity, authenticity, and awesomeness of these biblical truths. However, you asked two very good questions which I shall answer. The simplicity may astound you but they are the answers.

I hope I understand the first question; why should any of those who are not chosen attempt to do any good or be considerate of others?

First, no one knows apart from the Triune God-head  who has been elected and predestined to be adopted as sons of God. Neither the elect (believer) nor the non-elect (the non-believer) knows who has been chosen by God before the creation of the world. No one knows. 

Second, God's standards, laws, and commitment to holiness and righteousness applies across the board to all. God commands all peoples to be obedient, subservient, and to be considerate of others. The naked truth is that only by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit can we fulfill these demands of God, therefore until the unbeliever is regenerated by the Holy Spirit, those without the Holy Spirit cannot please God nor keep these standards in and of themselves. This is why God gave the conscience, parents, teachers, society, government, and laws so that there would some manner of restraint against lawlessness. Unbelievers who do not know whether they are elect or not (by the way, unbelievers do not care nor have any desire to know) are to be good and to be considerate of others. The basis for doing good and being considerate is not predicated on whether one knows if they are "the elect" or have been predestined to adoption as the son of God. The basis for doing good and being considerate is predicated on the fact that God revealed His standards for behavior and He is worthy of all mankind submitting to and keeping those commandments.

As to why Christians should be exhorted to spread the gospel is a question that first, is self-answered by the Scriptures. Second, I think it is a smoke screen to be hidden behind in order to resistance the necessity of wrestling with tough doctrines of the bible. This question is truly beneath most who ask it. The reason is three-fold:

First - God commands it. He gave this command in Matthew 28 and in Acts 1. It actually began in Genesis and has never been rescinded. We, who have believed and have been transformed by the good news are commanded to go into the world, beginning in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world. This includes the hedges, highways, by-ways, and every place human beings reside. God told us to preach the gospel. What more do we need? I can't imagine that being not a sufficient reason for spreading the gospel.

Second, no one including the elect knows who has been chosen prior to the creation of the world. Therefore, we need to preach the gospel to those who have not heard. Those who are unbelievers are dead, (Ephesians 1) absolutely unable to respond to any spiritual thing. No unbelieving person seeks the God of the Bible. There are no who seek God, none who want salvation, (Romans 1 and 3) The heart is dead, darkened, and deceived. Therefore no one will come to the good news. The good news must be brought to the unbeliever in the power of God through the Holy Spirit.

Third, linked to both number one and two, it is the only means by which God has authorized to reach the elect. Even the elect will not come to Christ until someone in some form or fashion has shared the word of God with them. Faith comes by what? Hearing, hearing what? The word of God. The elect will not automatically one day wake up "saved." The elect must be regenerated by the Holy Spirit, repent of sin, and turn in faith to God through the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.  Being the elect is not a magic trigger that will one day mysteriously go off producing a child of God. The good news must be given in order for the Holy Spirit to regenerate and save them. This is the only means God has given - the preaching of the gospel. Yes, to some foolishness, and to some a stumbling block, but the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes.

If we were able to design a black light, ultra-violet light, a sonogram, or such to determine the elect then maybe we would need not preach the gospel. But we don't know. Therefore, we must preach the gospel or be disobedient and worse than murderers.

I sympathize with your first concern, brother. I sympathize with the toughness of this doctrinal and biblical truth. It goes against everything the  proud, sinful, anti-God human mind can imagine. I struggle with the same charity over the age old and well-worn question of why we should preach the gospel, it is patently obvious. The plan of God was not obvious. It is a mystery that has been hidden for ages and was given primarily to Paul and others to make known and clear. It is hard to set aside previously incorrect teaching, personal prejudices, and human pride in order to wrestle with and grasp these truths.

Grasp them we must. It is imperative that you wrestle with them and grasp them for a number of reasons. 

First, this is the only "means" of redemption that gives God the absolute and complete glory. 

Second, it colors your understanding of the gospel and whether you have opportunity to boast or not. 

Third, it is the only hope that the unsaved, unredeemed, and unconverted have of ever being converted. 

Fourth, it colors or determines how you live out your life. How do you view redemption? How do you view God's glory? What does redemption mean to you. We live out what we believe.

Fifth, it colors or determines how you do "evangelism." It determines how you pray for the lost, how you feel about the lost, what your responsibilities are to the lost. It determines how you preach the gospel. What means do you use? It determines whether we have churches full of Matthew 21:7 people. If we resort to tactics, gimmicks, altar calls, pressure, manipulation, emotional appeals and any other man-made techniques, then you will have people who pray prayers, make decisions and remain unsaved. 

I hope this gives you something to pray about and wrestle with God in all earnestness and honesty. It is not something that we can simply agree to disagree on. It is something that we both must exercise love, patience, long-suffering, grace, and Christ-likeness until one of us have our eyes truly opened. Agreeing to disagree would suggest that both views are right. This is not the case. 


The sinner is either dead, unresponsive to any stimuli, must be chosen for redemption, must be given an acceptable sacrifice for sin, regenerated by the Holy Spirit as He breaks down the sinners natural resistance, given faith and the desire and ability to repent, and then preserved by God until the end of this age or not.This biblical truth is not  schizophrenic. 


So, our only course then is to agree to be gracious and Christlike. Believe me, I am not suggesting that you have ever been anything but gracious or Christlike in all of your dealings with me. This post, these points, and this pronouncement is for all who will visit this page and read this post. 

Thanks, however, for stopping by and commenting. Your comments always encourage me! I appreciate you dearly!

In His Grip for His Glory,

Gregg

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Wednesday - "Developing Disciples" - Steps to Christian Triumph

Join us for articles,  news, and teachings on the subject of discipleship. Come and follow along as we provide the basics for Gospel-driven Disciples. 

Predestined To Sonship

Text:  προορισας ημας εις υιοθεσιαν δια ιησου χριστου εις αυτον κατα την ευδοκιαν του θεληματος αυτου

Translation:  "having predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." Ephesians 1:5, (ESV)


Truth:  προορισας ημας εις υιοθεσιαν - "...having predestined us to adoption as sons..."

proorizo (pro-or-id’-zo) Our participle comes from the Greek verb orizw which means "to set a boundary, determine, separate. We then take our word "horizon" from this word. When we add the "pro" or "before" it gives us the meaning of "before" in time. It means "to determine before hand, mark out beforehand. Of course in our context it means before the creation of the world, before time.

Paul makes it quite clear that God chose us and marked us out or predestined us before he ever created the world. This means we have been in God's mind and plans forever and ever and ever. God has predestined us to something. Paul makes it clear that our ultimate destiny is determined beforehand. Paul uses the active voice of the verb which shows us that God himself did this action or activity. God did the choosing and the predestining of each and every believer. The interesting and most blessed thing to see in this passage is that both the choosing and predestining were done by God himself. The active voice of the verb shows that God did the activity Himself.

The reason that God chose certain people out of the mass of humanity that would be born is because God had already predestined or predetermined their destiny. The prepositional phrase "to son ship" tells us just what the saint has been predestined to, it is "to adoption as sons of God."

In the Roman culture the father had absolute power of his family. This was known as "patria potestas." The Father's power was so absolute that he could take the life of one of the members of his family and it would not be considered murder under Roman law. The Roman father had absolute control over all of the property that the family had and could buy, sell, trade, or otherwise encumber it at his discretion.

Under Roman law there were two steps to adoption. In step number one the individual being adopted (almost always were males-sons) was released from the natural father's control. This involved the natural father selling the individual as a slave three times to the adopting Father. The adopting father would "release" the individual twice whereby the individual came back under the authority of the natural father. However, with the third "sale as a slave" the adopted father then assumed control and responsibility and the individual was now absolutely free from the natural father.

In the second step the individual who now had no father, since the natural father sold the individual as a slave, the individual came under the control and authority of the adopting father forever. The individual was no longer responsible to the natural father. He was only responsible to the new adopting father.

The purpose of this adoption was so that the individual could take the position of a natural son in order to continue the family line and maintain family ownership of property. This new individual, provided it was a male, who is now the "son" became the patria potestas for the next generation.

Believers are chosen by God and predestined (marked out beforehand) to become adopted sons (and daughters) of God. What does this mean? It entails two things. First, believers who were previously children of Satan, were "sons of disobedience" and "children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:2-3) no longer have any responsibility or obligation to their old father, the devil (John 8:38, 44). Believers are now God's sons and daughters and God has absolute control over them as their father. God controls their lives, property, and their future. Since God is eternal and will never die, we as his children will be eternally under this control.

Our new father has the right to discipline us as his sons and daughters (Hebrews 12:5-11). We  share in the inheritance of our "elder-brother" Jesus Christ. Believers have a new status and new privileges as adopted children of God.

Second, this determination of who would be adopted as "sons and daughters" of God was settled before God ever created the world. Just as orphans cannot choose adoptive parents but are chosen to be adopted, human beings can not choose to be adopted by God. In God's own secret counsel and mind lie the reason or motivation for  the adoption of any human being as sons or daughters of God.

δια ιησου χριστου εις αυτον - "...through Jesus Christ to himself..."

As we continue to read on in verse five, it tells us through whom the adoption is made possible. This adoption, where we are released from the responsibility of Sin and Satan and adopted by God is through or by the means of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection makes it possible for the sinner to be adopted into the family of God.

κατα την ευδοκιαν του θεληματος αυτου - "according to the good pleasure of His will..."


Paul tells us why or at least by what standard governed the actions of God. The standard is the good pleasure of God's will. This word is used in the LXX (Septuagint) to describe God's actions. God chose to adopt us because it pleased him. God takes great pleasure in caring for His adopted children and in the dispensing of the riches of his grace to them.

This is a second reason why we as believers are to praise God. We praise God for his benefits or blessings to us. This benefit or blessing is something we had no control over. God took the initiative and predetermined the destiny of some of humanity to be adopted as his sons into the family of God through Jesus Christ. God did this freely as he operated from his own will for his own pleasure. In other words, nothing compelled God to choose and predetermine whom he would adopt. It was not our lineage, our disposition, our merit, our value, our desire, nor anything inherent within us.  Nothing "made", "caused" or compelled God to adopt any one of us. He did so from his own free will which was governed by his own pleasure.

Is it any wonder that God is to be praised?

What are your thoughts on your adoption?

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Tuesday: "Priceless Pearls" - Stories of Christian Truths

-Weekly Devotions for Disciples

Follow along on Tuesdays as we offer filling and fruitful devotional commentary on various Scriptures.

Book Review: Radical

The title of this book is called Radical, with a subtitle or thesis of Taking back your faith from the American Dream. Truthfully this book should be called Normal: Resisting and Refusing the Lure of the American Dream. I say this because Platt wants us to look at the call to discipleship as something radical when in reality, it is merely normal Christianity. Amongst the personal stories and antidotes. Platt lays out for us the call of Christ to discipleship. There is nothing radical about his proposition. What makes it radical is that the evangelical church as a whole has been lured into redefining what Christianity really is and have been suckered into what has been defined as the American dream.

I was very hesitant to read this book. I was well aware that it had been in circulation for quite some time. It was all over the Internet. Almost every pastor or believer who had a Facebook account had swooned and gushed nothing but "Platt-itudes" since it had been published. I couldn't look at a status for days without seeing a quote from this book.

My second concern was the age and experience of the author. It seems any more that if a guy can be in the right place at the right time and seemingly under the right circumstances have a large or successful ministry some publisher is pushing him to write a book. As a result I was in no hurry to purchase this book. Then the opportunity came along from Walterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group to read and review this book.

I am now glad I did. This book seems to be very bible-centered with a good understanding of what it means first to be a Christian, and second a disciple or follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Platt has a definite passion for God and for the mission that Christ gave to the church prior to His ascension.

This book is about the great commission. It is a blue-print for discipleship and godly living. This book clearly outlines the major sin that has enveloped the evangelical church as a whole and Christians individually. This book also clearly outlines the standards set by Christ. Finally, this book clearly outlines both the solution and the steps for individuals and churches to clear of the sin and get back on track for Christ.

This book is one of the first that I have read that truly hits the problem we face today head on. It identifies systematically greed, wealth, and materialism as the major problem with the American Evangelical Church today. Platt identifies for any who are interested the thought process that has lured the American Church into its present and woeful condition. In the Old Testament God was glorified by the supply of wealth and blessing which He generously and mercifully bestowed on His people. The Old Testament mind set promoted the idea that if you were wealthy and had great material possessions it was a sign that God was blessing you. However, in the New Testament, we see that the large majority of the blessings of God for His people are Spiritual and not material. As a matter of fact believers are called to be humble in order to be exalted, to die in order to live, to give in order to receive, to become poor in order to become rich, and so on.

The American Church has rejected that. The American church has bought hook line and sinker into both the so called American Dream and American Individualism which endears those who pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. All the while forgetting the great commission to make disciples and the lost souls all over this globe. Platt describes how materialism and American wealth has sidetracked believers from thinking about and caring for the poor, the destitute, the orphans, and the unconverted.

This book is a wake-up call for the church and for individual Christians to, as in Jim Elliott's words, "to give up that which cannot be kept for that which cannot be lost." This book calls for a self-examination of every reader of their call and commitment to both Jesus Christ and the principles of discipleship. I believe that this is a must read for every truly born-again believer.

This book is written very well and very simply. It is an easy read. As a matter of fact if one has any interest at all in Christ's call to discipleship and His true claim on their life, this book almost can not be put down until it has been finished. I highly recommend this book to any true child of God.

I have a couple of concerns with this book, or at least with Platt's passion. First, how will this passion and vision play out over time. He is young. Has he been truly tested? Second, how does his passion work itself out with his church. It seems that much of what he writes about his church would contradict this clarion call to true discipleship. After all this is a "rich" or wealthy large church. How does the true mission and life of this mega church support this message? Third, I think we must be careful in adopting yet another "How To" or "Five Steps to Freedom From the American Dream." His five step challenge is a good one and will bless  many people. However, we must guard against it from simply being a methodology that we depend on to produce true transformation. Pragmatism does not change people, the Holy Spirit does. I would caution Platt, the publishers, and anyone else who reads this to be careful that we don't substitute the American Dream for a pragmatic methodology of "do" rather than the biblical principle of "be."

 I received this book for free from WaterBrookMultnomah Publishing Group for this review. All opinions, however, are from the spectacular machinations of my own hyperactive mind.

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Monday: "The Monday Mentor" - 

Come along with us on Mondays and be "mentored" as we examine various points of interest from book reviews to pertinent events in church history. We hope to challenge, stimulate, and encourage you as we share various facts about people, places, positions, and performances of interests.