We’ve had a category for book reviews since the inception of this site, but I beleive this is our first one.  I hope to do many more.  I’m on the final pages of Jared C. Wilson’s Your Jesus is Too Safe, and will give it my highest recommendation (I need to come up with a rating system like 5 stars, but that’s too unoriginal - any ideas?).  In a nutshell, I agree with his assertions, it is consistent with my general opinions, and affirms my pre-existing biases, thus I like it, thus it is a good book .  No, seriously, I consider this book a must read.  It examines the many roles Jesus filled in the historical and religious context of His time on earth (and after that time), and cuts past the common misoncseptions of who He was and is in ways that were new and real to me.  The book is leans heavily on scripture and historical context, and I gained many new insights - based in scripture and fact (always a nice bonus) - into who Jesus really is and how I had previously shaped Him in my image.  From the back cover:

There are too many Jesuses running rampant in the world today.

Open this book and take a closer look at who Jesus really is.

I can’t say it better than that.  Sometimes those little blurbs don’t realy tell you what’s in the actual book.  This one is on point - however, I would like to say that the author spends little time attacking misconceptions about Jesus as might be inferred from that blurb, but rather spend his time illustrating directly who He really is.  Good book… really good book.

Do you know about the KTM chat room?  If you are a member here at KnownToMe, you will find the chat room under the Member tab. We have been using this chat room for Sunday night book chats. So far we have discussed Red Letters by Tom Davis and Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  Our next series will be discussing the book Forgotten God by Francis Chan.
Go check out Francis Chan’s quick video introduction of this book here:
http://www.forgottengod.com/

I like how this reviewer of the book described its contents:

In seven easy to read chapters Chan covers the following topics:

* The role of the Holy Spirit as Jesus’ promised gift. * Fears and concerns about the Holy Spirit * How theology about the Holy Spirit has more to do with how a person lives than what they say they believe. * Motivations around the Holy Spirit and his power. * What a relationship with the Holy Spirit can really be like. * Letting go of manipulation and control by trusting the Holy Spirit. * Living in true community with the Holy Spirit and with others.

Like the Big Red Tractor video illustrated (that we posted here a few weeks ago), the Holy Spirit gives us the power to go and do what we have been told in scripture to do. Wanting to extend love to your brother or your enemy? Wanting to share hope with the hopeless? The Holy Spirit was sent for just that! As Jesus said in John 14:16, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—”

Please join us for the next month as we discuss the chapters of this book. We start on Sunday March 21st at 8:30pm central time and we finish at 9:30pm. Discussion questions are provided weekly in the forum:  http://www.knowntome.net/index.php/forums/viewforum/15/

Looking forward to meeting you there!