As a small group or church leader, do you ever run across a person with a mixed worldview? A Christian who can’t articulate the fundamentals of their faith? A Christian whose values and beliefs are blended with beliefs of other faiths or worldviews? Or perhaps you are discipling a person who holds onto lies and can’t seem to replace them with truth. These are difficult enough circumstances, but add to that your own lack of clarity and we have a real mess. Beieve me. I’ve been there.

Enter Christian Contours: How a Biblical Worldview Shapes the Mind and Heart. This book is a series of chapters written by different authors and edited by Douglass S. Huffman, Professor and Associate Dean of Biblical and Theological Studies at Biola University in LaMirada, CA. All of the other authors are on the faculty at Northwestern College. His goal is to “reacquaint al Christians with the basic claims that the historic Christian faith has about all of life in every era.” He addresses both the heart and the mind, with the intent of encouraging a biblical worldview scholarship, character, and conduct.

The authors do a good job of pointing out how to use the material practically. They also offer outstanding footnotes and a huge resource section (66 pages) at the end. While this book is definitely written at a college level, it offers some very practical strategies for helping your folks live authentically. For example, they affirm a single Christian worldview, which in turn should affect behavior. They make the case that while my beliefs don’t change truth, the truth can change my beliefs. If I operate out of an authentic Christian worldview, it will change I behavior. And that makes this an excellent resource for leaders who want to see their people  grow into “mighty oaks of righteous, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor” (Isa 61:3).

It took many years of growing and healing before those verses really sank in. And healing didn’t come easily. It took a blessed combination of marriage and a child, therapy, prayer ministry, deliverance, and a lot of applying Scripture literally before I could break out of the identity I had been born and raised in. Could it have happened more quickly? Maybe. But one of the verses I learned to love and hate is Deuteronomy 7:22. I’ve found in my own life and in the lives of the many people I’ve ministered to, that healing is best when it’s progressive. Yes, we all want to experience a miracle healing, just like we all want to win the lottery. But we know what happens to those who win the lottery. Most are broke within a year. And I’ve seen the same thing happen when a very wounded person experiences a huge deliverance. They’re free for a while, but since they don’t know how to change their thinking, it isn’t long before they are right back where they started. Deep healing takes a little longer, but is ever so much more lasting.

But I digress. I was struck by verse 6 (will not be put to shame) in relation to verse 9 (an amazing identity—chosen, royal, priest, His possession). How do we enter into that identity? One lesson that has helped me tremendously is understanding the difference between true moral guilt and shame. True moral guilt is related to what I do. I sin, make a mistake, behave badly. True moral guilt is easily resolved by repentance and the forgiveness of the cross. Once forgiven, it’s gone. But shame is related to who I am. It’s often a by-product of guilt, introduced by the enemy to an unsuspecting, unprepared person. Getting rid of shame is often harder because it requires a new mindset. Remember last week’s lesson? I have to gird up the loins of my mind and deliberately bring every though into agreement with the Truth of Jesus. I have to deliberately take on the new identity. I have to agree with the Truth God gives me and reject the lies that Satan gives me. In dealing with shame, it seems that more of the responsibility falls on me.

So as you read the passage for this week, consider these questions and share your thoughts with us .

What does Peter mean when he says we will never be put to shame? Is that true for you, or do you need to do some work on guilt vs. shame?

In verse 9, Peter is making reference to the special position the nation of Israel has enjoyed. From your knowledge of the Old Testament, discuss how this identity has been extended from the chosen nation of Israel to the chosen person of you.

How will this understanding change the way you live this week?

It started when I found myself feeling sorry for myself and reacting a little sourly. After all, there were a number of things in my life that weren’t great, or in fact even good…. But I started being deliberately grateful for little things. The sunny day. They rainy day. The ability to bend down and pick up something from the floor – and get back up again (increasingly important).  The fact that we have an abundance of good food. Computers and all they add to my life.

As I began developing this habit, it became more natural. Soon I could rattle off a dozen things I was thankful without pausing. It became a lifestyle. And when I would begin thanking God for everything – big and little, tangible and intangible – my heart attitude would change. And that changed my demeanor, my outlook, and my attitude. Now, if I’m beginning to feel a bit down, I just find a dozen things to be thankful for. I’ve developed an attitude of gratitude as a lifestyle.

I’ve found over many years of ministry that challenging people are often cynical and ungrateful people. They’ve grown so used to things going wrong that they expect it, and sure enough, they’re absolutely right. They become “glass half empty” folks (and as Paul would say, “and such were some of you”). It’s easy to get on that slippery slope and stay there.

So one of my latest techniques is to challenge ministry recipients to make a daily list of things they’re thankful for. Usually 10 per day. No repeats. They look at me like I’m crazy. I rattle off 10 things in a row. They look at me like I’m crazy. But the ones who take on the challenge and stick with it gradually – often very gradually – begin to take on a new attitude, a new demeanor. And they begin to see how very much God does for them on a daily basis. And eventually they develop an attitude of gratitude, which is one more step in their healing.

So let me challenge you this Thanksgiving. Deliberately cultivate an attitude of gratitude. You’ll be glad you did.

Photo compliments of Flickr/Ani Carrington

One of my areas of delight and specialization is working with people who are stuck in their personal or spiritual growth. People who know there’s more, but they can’t seem to grasp it. Or people who are so defeated they no longer even dream of more. Most of these people have been abused or seriously wounded in childhood and have never developed the skills to mature. This is a focus not many aspire to, but I love it. The problem is, there aren’t many resources out there for this target population.

Until now. I recently received a review copy of Stuck: The Places we Get Stuck and the God Who Sets Us Free by Jennie Allen. This is an intriguing 8-week Bible study for women covering areas we all get stuck in—broken, mad, discontent, scared, overwhelmed, and sad. The final chapter is Unstuck. The leader’s package includes a DVD, a leader’s guide, a participant’s guide, and an intriguing deck of cards. I was immediately impressed with the quality of the product. No black and white study guide here. Thomas Nelson has invested in slick paper, colored ink, a variety of fonts, and great graphics. Even the 8” by 7” size is distinctive. The product is just downright appealing.

OK, but what about the content? Allen is a pastor’s wife from Austin, TX with a master’s degree in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. The study is solidly biblical. She doesn’t offer quick fixes or psychological strategies. Her lessons are straight from the Word of God. The study guide offers several mostly objective and interpretive questions, with “projects” for each chapter. The participant can make a list, draw a picture, or answer questions. The study guide is to be done in advance, leading to a short discussion before the DVD is shown.

The DVD is beautifully done. Again, Thomas Nelson spared no expense. In each segment, Allen is in a different location, one that complements the chapter content. She is real, authentic, and compelling. A mom with young to pre-teen children, she relates well to that generation. Her openness will prompt excellent discussion.

And for the main discussion, she has developed something I haven’t seen before. There is a deck of cards with application questions for each chapter. The leader puts these one the table with the questions face up. Participants pick one they like, and these questions direct the discussion to apply the biblical principles. It’s a clever approach that gives the participants a part in directing the discussion.

My only regret is that she targeted this to women. I’d love to use it in our mixed small group and I know some men who could benefit from her teaching. But if you are leading a women’s group, consider this study. I think you’ll like it.

This book is well written—clear, humorous, and at times compassionate—but I struggled as I read it, wondering just who his audience is. The back cover talks about “Liars. Hypocrites. Men, women, and children who attend church because it’s what they are supposed to do. Just going through the motions. These are the undead—people who are disconnected from the Spirit of God—who are spreading a virus of passivity, or worse. No one is completely immune.” Just the group I want to be identified with…. He spends the first half of the book excoriating the average church-goer, then offers some pretty traditional antidotes in the second half. Problem is, if the reader doesn’t identify with the problem, he won’t see the need for the remedy in himself. It will just increase the critical, finger-pointing spirit such books often engender. And if the reader does identify, Edwards is preaching to the choir. The most likely audience would be a small group with a leader committed to open and personal discussion.

This book is similar to several I’ve read over the years. Every few years, there seems to be a new crop of “diss the church” books, some better than others. They pick up on the flavor of the season or the specific wounding of the author. I’d rather see a great case study from a pastor who has actually changed the climate of his church.

This season, I’m seeing more books calling us to radical discipleship of the social justice variety, which of course will appeal to the younger generation. In fact, our church is on a 10-week campaign to study the book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt. It’s being covered both in Sunday morning sermons and in our small groups. And it’s causing a lot of angst as members grapple with the radical implications of the gospel. This angst is best handled in a small group, not in exclusively in a book or from the pulpit.

So, if you have a small group that has been together for a while and has built trust, this might be a good book to study for a season. But be prepared to navigate some angst. And you might try a little affirmation on the side.

Win a $50 Amazon gift card:

Kregal Publishers is sponsoring a $50 Amazon.com giveaway. To enter all you have to do is send a tweet (using @litfuse) about Zombie Church  or share about it on Facebook! If you tweet we’ll capture your entry when you use @litfuse. If you share it on Facebook or your blog, just email us and let the blog tour sponsor know at info@litfusegroup.com. Easy. You can see the rest of the blog tour here.

I recently received a review copy of Destined to Live, Despite Me by Yolanda Shanks. If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or are helping someone who is, this is a useful resource. Shanks uses her own testimony of conquering suicide as the foundation for a strong theological stance on life and healing. Here’s what she has to say about her book.

What was your purpose for writing and who is the intended audience for Destined To Live, Despite Me?

I thought my intended audience was solely attempted suicide survivors, but as the book progressed, it became clear that absolutely every person has a breaking point.

My purpose for writing this book then became to use my testimony to assist others, regardless of their story. Assisting others in choosing to deliberately live life in abundance — not an abundance of things or money — but of abundant joy, peace, and hope found in Christ Jesus.

You discuss having a breaking point. Will you share more about that?  

I definitely had a breaking point. We all do. My particular one is not the important issue. The important issue is that everyone has one. It can be any emotional event that leaves a person broken and destroyed, such as:

a car accident
a divorce after 20 year and the wife has to find a job
a child blaming themselves for the divorce
financial difficulties

That is why it is so important to understand the signs to save your family members, your neighbors, and your friends. I have a list of warning signs on page 131 of the book.

The stats reveals that suicide is the third leading cause of death in the age group 15 to 24. What message of encouragement would you give to our young people today?  

Know WHO you are and WHOSE you are. If I can elaborate, I want our next generation to NOT define themselves by the standard of this world – not by the cars, clothes, the tangibles. Let’s consider our whole-man: mind, body, and soul. Chose to use the standard in which God defines you.

If you have surrendered your life to Christ, you are His child, a co-heir with Christ.  You can stand on all of God’s promises in the Bible because you are sons and daughters of the Creator Himself. So do not walk defeated!

Chose to live this life deliberately – know that each morning you are alive, God has purpose for you.

Will the struggle ever end for people who have survived? Or, is it always a constant that they could fall back into feeling the hopelessness? 

Struggles are a part of life. What matters most, is how we learn respond to life struggles!

For anyone still considering suicide, first there has to be an elimination of this mindset as a workable alternative. Assistance is available by contacting a mental health professional or by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

For those who have survived a previous attempt and no longer struggle with thoughts of suicide but continue to live under the guilt and shame associated with their past actions; I am here to say that there is freedom in Christ Jesus! It is time for you to build a spiritual foundation for deliberate living. Pick up my book, learn how to shake off the unnecessary baggage, and gladly receive the Lover of your soul … Jesus Christ … who offers you hope, joy, and peace.

For those who have not considered suicide but are trapped in feelings of constant negativity, pick up my book as well. We are a hurting generation and people who have been hurt tend to hurt others; let’s chose to receive healing. I am a living proof that one can overcome the battle with feelings of hopelessness to the point of despair.

How would you sum up the book?

The book is my story, written for you. I am sharing my private life, my disappointments, my fears, my un-loveliness. Yes it started out hard for me, but the Lord poured out of me some of the things that had been holding me down.

I know now, that I can be alone; but I don’t have to be lonely,
I sometimes feel unloved; but God loves me unconditionally.
I can be financially broke; but God will provide.
I can be friendless; but Jesus is longing to be my friend.
My life can be broken; and He will put it back together again.
I can be a sinner. Jesus died for my sins, and your sins. He already paid the price

I will sum it up…….BUT GOD!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speakers Services.

I received a review copy of Think and Make it Happen: The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Overcoming Negative Thoughts, and Discovering Your True Potential by Augusto Cury, M.D. many months ago. I’ve reviewed numerous other books since then, but this one I read and let it sit at the bottom of my pile. (My apologies to Thomas Nelson). I went back to it today and realized why I never wrote the review.

In a sentence, where do I start? The primary focus of my ministry at Mighty Oak Ministries is helping people become who God created them to be. Helping them to grow deeply, heal progressively, and mature splendidly. I work with individuals; conduct training, workshops, and retreats; and equip leaders to help others. A huge part of that ministry revolves around training people to renew their minds. As I minister to spirit, soul, and body, the goal is to help people think and believe differently, and therefore become different. This ministry takes a variety of forms, but seems to all come back to the basic concepts of taking every thought captive and renewing the mind. I believe that “decide” may be the most important word in our language.

When I read Dr. Cury’s book, I resonated with every page. This leading psychiatrist understands the human mind and psyche from both a medical and Christian point of view. Every page is quotable. Every page houses a treasure that I can and must use in my own life and in my ministry. I didn’t write the review because to do it justice, I’d have to simply copy the book.

All I can say is, if you’re having problems with fear, depression, anger, or other harmful emotions, this book has answers. If you’re constantly in a mental fog, this book has answers.  If your body is beginning to break down from stress, this book has answers. You’ll probably want to read it more than once. Slowly. And if you’re ministering to a person who remains stuck no matter what you do, this book has answers. Here are a few choice morsels:

 The mind is really our control tower – the source of every word we speak, every action we take, every emotion we feel, and every thought we have. By harnessing the power of your mind, you can do, have, achieve, and create anything you want for your life. You can truly make it happen. (And no, this is not new age thinking; it’s biblical.)

Our DNA does not determine our destiny to the degree we once thought. Extensive new scientific research shows that many genes are being turned on and off—every day—by our beliefs, feelings, and attitudes. Every thought we think ripples throughout our body, affecting our immune systems, brain, and hormones.

Writing one’s own story means leaving the audience, going onto the stage, and directing the action of one’s life, scene after scene.

Every single thought—conscious or not—affects us and shapes us for good or for ill. That means we are changing all the time too—whether we work at it or not! However, because we live in a world filled with negative, disturbing images, it is easy to be changed more for ill than for good. Especially if we’re not developing our minds and filtering what comes our way.

The reality is that if we don’t recycle negative thoughts within five seconds, they will be filed and cannot be deleted, only re-edited.

Things like forgetfulness—failing short-term memory—are the body’s cry telling us we are losing quality of life.

He offers a three-step process to conquer our thoughts:

 1) Doubt: That which you believe controls you. Therefore, you must doubt everything that disturbs you.

 2) Criticize:  It is acceptable for you to judge that which your mind presents to you. You are not required to accept every thought the comes into your mind.

 3)  Determine:  Determine to be happy, secure, and strong rather than being enslaved by your conflicts. Decide to be enchanted with life, to contemplate beauty, and to fight for your dreams.

 There’s more. Much more. I heartily recommend this book to you. It would make a wonderful resource for a small group, for discipleship, and for prayer ministry.

A few weeks ago, Tyler Charles interviewed me for a BuildingChurchLeaders.com download, which was recently published and contains seven excellent articles. My interview was recently posted on their site.  They also published my article, Ministering to Challenging People. Both are valuable resources for anyone who leads people.

I’ve received great feedback on these articles. It seems that every ministry leader is dealing with challenging people but as the Body of Christ, we can’t ignore them. I’d love to get your feedback and ideas as well. What are your most effective strategies for dealing with your challenging people?

The Christmas Giftt by R. William Bennett is a charming story of a newcomer, a bully, and the benefits of doing the right thing. The lessons young Scott learns are good reminders to all of us who are tempted to react in kind rather than responding kindly.

As I minister to challenging people, it’s helpful to remember that there is always a reason for their behavior. Challenging people aren’t challenging on purpose, you know. I may or may not know the reason. I may or may not understand it. Sometimes it will make sense; sometimes it won’t. But we all have “stuff” that can govern our behaviors and feelings. If we ignore the stuff, if we don’t actively heal it, we’ll live it out in one way or another. Usually by hurting others. In this book, Scott’s actions are the key for those of us ministering to wounded people.  This book would be a great discussion starter for your small group.

Do you have a broken piece in your life? A physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual issue that hinders you from enjoying your life.  An issue you feel is the reason for your dissatisfaction, depression, or problem? You’re not alone. We all have brokenness somewhere.  But does it have to destroy you?

I can’t tell you how excited I am to offer this book. Judy Squier is my personal friend and my hero. Although she was born with stumps rather than legs and with deformed hands, Judy and her family never gave up. She learned to walk using prosthetics, got an education, married, and raised three lovely daughters. Now well past middle age, she continues to serve on mission trips around the world. She has more spunk than just about anyone I know.

Unable to run from her birth defect, Judy’s life became a stage for God to show up and craft a masterpiece out of her detested missing pieces. Her book will fortify you and set you free as you encounter Judy’s authentic responses to daily her struggles. This book is particularly valuable for those facing issues that can’t be changed. How do you deal with a problem that can’t be fixed? Judy gives us strategies for success, using delightful stories from her life. This book is a must read for every small group leader, for everyone who deals with challenging people, and yes, for challenging people. Remember, Christmas is coming… This book is available from Mighty Oak Ministries. Contact me for quantity discounts on 10 or more units.