DCC Book of the Month

March 2010

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
by Francis Chan
Recommended by Mark Elliott

What's in a question? When we look at the unfolding conversation of Matthew 22 we see the Religious leaders of Jesus' time posing situations and questions for the mere purpose of trapping Jesus, attempting to expose Him as a fraud. In the midst of this dialogue, an expert of the law steps forward to test Jesus with a question, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied directly from the Hebrew Scriptures stating: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." He knew that these "experts" would be very familiar with this prayer-the Shema was central to everything they believed.

But Jesus was calling these leaders to move from a system of belief to a radical love relationship with the Creator of the Universe. This thinking, in their minds, was beyond revolutionary it was just plain crazy. Jesus knew something they did not know, He knew that to fall in love with the Heavenly Father would not just change their thinking it would transform their lives.

In his book entitled, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed By a Relentless God, Francis Chan invites us to take an uncomfortable look at our lives asking ourselves the question, "Do I really love God with all my heart, soul and mind.?" Chan states, "Our goal as people who follow Christ should be no less than becoming people who are madly in love with God." The really crazy thing is the more we fall in love with God the more we realize how madly in love He is with us!

Book of the Month Archives

Select a month below to view details for earlier Book of the Month Recommendations:

	February 2010 More than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell Recommended by Arol Wolford "More Than A Carpenter" is one of my favorite books, and with a circulation of over 15 million copies it shows that a straight-forward Christian message is a story many do want to hear. This book tells a great deal about Jesus and simply but powerfully depicts His life, death and resurrection. I believe this book would help anyone who is seeking comfort from our Savior.
	January 2010 Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller Recommended by Brad Lantis In "Searching for God Knows What," Donald Miller follows up his immensely popular "Blue Like Jazz" with an intimate, and at times humorous, look at his own journey of faith. My heart resonates with Miller's as he yearns for redemption, and for a closeness with God like we (mankind) once had in the Garden. While this book is really engaging on many levels and actually enjoyable to read, do not be surprised if it also leads you to pause and consider your relationship with Jesus in a new and fresh light.
	December 2009 The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Timothy Keller Recommended by John Seckman This book unpacks the parable of the lost son in a whole new light. It’s not just about the lost son but also his brother, the righteous one, and their relationship with their father. Our own attitudes about God can be found in both brothers. The lessons are applicable to everyday life as we struggle with our own rebelliousness as well as our righteousness.
	November 2009 The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions Edited by Arthur Bennett Recommended by Bob Albee I was given this book several years ago by a friend and it has become one of my all-time favorite books. In it are found the prayers and devotions of 14 leaders of the Puritan Movement which occurred in the 16th and 17th centuries but had influence at least until the time of Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892). The book is not about how to pray, but a book of prayers that inspire me to know my Lord better and to acknowledge His complete knowledge of me. The authors know God deeply and intimately and yet have a desire for more. You need not guess where their hearts are because they reveal their innermost thoughts in their prayers in a humble manner; yet, they consistently know the source of their ongoing transformation and the love of a 'Father' who will never fail them. The language is poetic and beautiful even though I must look up an occasional word. I recommend the book for anyone who wants to know what goes on inside the mind and heart of those who can confidently be called 'men of God'.
	October 2009 Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas Recommended by Archie Wanamaker The subtitle to this book is “What if God designed Marriage to make us Holy more than to make us Happy”. If you are seeking a deeper understanding of how God uses the paradigm of marriage to form you into greater Christ-likeness, you may find a great deal of truth in this book. Above and beyond any other book that I have read on marriage, this book by Gary Thomas is the single one I recommend to those who are seeking to know Christ and to see His life work through their marriage. There are no tips or techniques, but deep truths of how God transforms people through the context of marriage. “Marriage is the greatest test in the world…but now I welcome the test instead of dreading it. It is much more than a test of sweetness of temper, as people sometimes think; it is a test of the whole character and affects every action.” T.S. Eliot
	September 2009 Epic: The Story God is Telling by John Eldredge Recommended by Rutledge Beacham I believe all can relate to this book since we are all in the "middle of God's story". Life, for the most of us, feels like a movie we've arrived to forty minutes late. In our lives, good things happen along with tragic things. What does this mean? Each of us was born into the middle of God's great story and each of us has a crucial role to play.