Tag: review

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The second best book to read | Jesus All About Life

The best book to read is the Bible. Hands down. But I think I’ve recently discovered the best book, after the Bible, to read. Over the last 10+ years I’ve been recommending books to teenagers, to help them get to know who Jesus is and what it means to follow him. My top three were the John Dickson trilogy for teenagers: A Sneaking Suspicion; A Hell of a Life; and Hanging in There. Now, don’t get me wrong – JD’s books still rock the suburbs, seriously. But they are starting to date and we need more good books that will help to introduce young people to the real life that is found only in Jesus.

Jesus all about Life by Murray Smith

Introducing, Jesus All About Life by Murray Smith. This book is now my number 1 recommendation to teenagers (closely followed by JD’s trio). It’s brilliant! Murray, one of the Pastor’s at Kirkplace Church, is a really smart dude. So he knows his gear. Yet he writes in an informal and teenage friendly style, without trying to be a teenager!

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Bring You Praise | Trevor Hodge

Trevor Hodge has been writing praise and worship songs for over 10 years. In the past 12 months, I’ve been to a number of events where Trev has led the congregation in singing, ranging from 20 people to 400 people. In both contexts he’s effective in taking the spotlight off himself and directing it toward Jesus through uplifting songs.

bring you praise | trevor hodge

Bring You Praise is a fantastic album that also directs the listener toward Jesus. The album achieves something that many others in this genre fail to achieve: emotional AND theological engagement. That is; lots of albums are brilliant musically, but lack theological richness; while other albums are theologically rich, but lack in their ability to engage emotionally.

One of the striking features of Bring You Praise is the centrality of the gospel throughout the album from beginning to end. The death, resurrection and return of Jesus are themes that are returned to again and again.

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Qurious – The Good Life | High School Ministry Resource

Most scripture teachers and youth pastors that I know are pressed for time and are limited in their capacity to produce quality resources. Qurious have just released a useful tool for using in high school scripture classes and seminars. It’s well produced and one of the great strengths of this package is its flexibility.

qurious - the good life

The DVD has the following features:

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you: an introduction | by michael jensen

You don’t have to look too far to realise that “life is all about me”. Here is the most recent addition to my collection of me-centred narcissistic paraphernalia. It’s a t-shirt. A week after I photographed the t-shirt on the rack, I saw some crack pot actually wearing it at the local mega-plex shopping centre!

Actually, Yes, The World Does Revolve Around ME!

But I’m not so stupid to believe that the world really revolves around me? Am I? Are you? Often I am. Often you are. The problem is: we hear this message so often, that we actually start to believe it.

It’s into this context that Michael Jensen has written a book called you: an introduction. It might sound like it’s a book all about you. It is. And it isn’t.

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NiteEV Live

On 28 July 08 a couple of hundred people packed out the Avoca Beach Cinema for an uplifting night of singing praise to Jesus. The Nite EV crew have done an incredible job at pulling together their first live album: NiteEV Live.

NiteEV Live

The recording quality of the instruments is exceptional, and even though some of the vocals are wobbly at times, it only adds to the raw energy of the album. Have a listen. Click to keep reading and for pictures from the night:

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Nothing in my hand I bring

Nothing in my hand I bring – by Ray Galea

Book Review

Nothing in my hand…

In preparation for some recent talks on the 5 Solas of the Reformation, I read Ray Galea’s new book Nothing in my hand I bring (published by Matthias Media). I believe that Galea’s book is a very helpful read for all Protestants in the lead up to the World Catholic Youth Day 2008 (which incidentally will cost NSW tax payers $86million).

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