Christ in the Chaos

This really is a little gem of a book and I'm sure I won't do it justice in reviewing it.  Kimm Crandall is brutally honest about the chaotic nature of motherhood, but makes no attempt to give 'top ten tips of being a less chaotic mother' (what a relief!).  The essence of it is captured in the subtitle 'How the gospel changes motherhood'.  The Gospel!  For a true believer, the gospel and the power of it known and felt in the soul is what changes everything (not just motherhood).  But because Kimm applies the true message of the Gospel especially to motherhood it really strikes a chord with those mothers who feel that every day they should do better, try harder, be more patient, not shout, remain calm, keep the house clean, the children clean, the husb... etc etc (does that cover every mother??).  Actually, what matters is Christ.  He knows our failures before we do and in spite of them, He loves us.  Kimm presses this point all the way through the book and applies it so practically to the reality of our day to day lives as mothers.  Whether it is our desire to be the perfect Mum (and outwardly only showing this mask), our comparisons between our parenting skills and others, our inability to keep calm in aggravating circumstances, our struggles to meet the ever-changing needs of our family, our felt failure to keep the home... and so the list goes on. How often we bind ourselves up in rules and lists of our own making. But what liberty there is in the gospel! 

The writing style of the book is very direct and at times Kimm took me by surprise in her language. However, the truths she expresses have been written about throughout the ages and only the day I finished the book I read a piece by J C Philpot (1802-1869) which chimed in beautifully with its essential message.
Highly recommended for all Mums AND Dads (actually, I think this book wouldn't go amiss read by most people who feel they struggle with understanding how the gospel applies to their chaos).
Lorna
Christ in the Chaos, by Kim Crandall, published by Cruciform Press, available in paperback or eBook.

Contend

Another fine book from Aaron Armstrong.  He doesn't try to be too trendy and flash, but he is contemporary and clear.  Although dealing mainly with Jude v3, and what it means to 'contend for the faith', you realise that he has virtually managed to walk you through the epistle by the end! The subtitle 'Defending the faith in a fallen world' would suggest a book on apologetics, but if that sounds remote and academic it is misleading.
This is his premise:

'Contending must be understood and exercised as an act of mercy toward those who doubt and those who have been deceived, regardless of whether they claim faith in Christ'. 

Not in a supercilious way, but in humility.  Nevertheless it is active, not passive, determined to give glory to God.  Pastors have a particular responsibility, but doing battle is unavoidable for every Christian.
Read this book if you are not sure what is worth contending for, (does everything come under the umbrella of 'the faith'?) and also if you are, so that you might be reinvigorated to go on 'speaking the truth in love'.
Jeremy
Contend. Aaron Armstrong. Cruciform Press. £6.50, p/b.

Awaiting a Savior

I don't know anything about the author, but I would go so far as to recommend this as the first book to read on the theme of social responsibility. Aaron Armstrong's approach is just so right, starting with sin and its effects. Once there was no such thing as poverty - now it can never be eradicated. Note that poverty is a state of spiritual loss involving all Adam's descendants before it is an economic or relational one. A true christian is a person who has had a deep felt need, and found it met by God's grace through Jesus Christ. Grace given so freely, yet so incredibly undeserved! Never can such a person sit in judgement on the deservings or undeservings of his fellow men, whether down the street or on the other side of the globe. Compassion, kindness and generosity are foundational to a true christian. He must do as he has been divinely done by. Armstrong makes a careful distinction between this peculiarly christian ethic and that which drives other well meant but ultimately worldly initiatives. Christians are realists - there will never be a human led solution to human need, whatever resources are put into it. Such understanding avoids the common guilt trip response. However cynicism ('What can I do about it?') is thereby also overturned. How many opportunities there are and always will be to help the destitute, because they will always be here!
The theology is thus soundly set out - in fact it occupies most of the book, with satisfying biblical backup. And this is necessary because so many go astray at the very start. Legalism (the 'default setting' of the fallen mind) in particular is a major danger. Hence in making his applications, including offering detailed thoughts on the subject of giving, Armstrong strongly emphasises the 'willing mind' acting out of love to God.
I am pleased to have this book from Cruciform Press in stock now at £6.50, along with other titles from their ever increasing range.
Jeremy

Perfect Timing!

I'm really chuffed that we have just received our new stock of Cruciform Press books - just in time for me to add them to my holiday reading pile! 
In this batch of books we have added 3 new titles to our Cruciform Press stock - this is in response to direct requests from our customers so we hope you will enjoy them. 

Servanthood as Worship - The privilege of life in a local Church by Nate Palmer. 
This is a book which looks not at leadership in the church but at the role of the 'normal' member and their calling to serve within their local church setting.







Intentional Parenting - Family discipleship by Design by Ted Thompson.  The blurb says...

Many books involving family life and child training are well worth reading.  This is not one of these books.  This book will allow you to take what you have read, and all the sermons, teachings, and exhortations you have received on family discipleship, and make sense of it.

This sounds like just the book for me!


Awaiting a Saviour - The gospel, the new creation and the end of poverty by Aaron Armstrong.
This one looks to be an interesting read about the opportunities and limitations of ministry to the poor.  Pastor Dave Kraft writes...

Awaiting a Saviour brings a fresh approach to the world-wide problem of poverty.  It is gospel-driven, Jesus-centred, and gets at the real but often overlooked cause of poverty... it is a solid theological treatment of what poverty really stems from and how to see it within a biblical framework.

See our complete stock of Cruciform Press titles

All I need now is to head off to Wales & find a cosy caravan to hole up in with my pile of books.
Lorna

Best Mother's Day Buy!

With no apologies for being repetitive I am going to mention again a book that I think would make a great Mother's Day present.  Wrestling with an Angel by Greg Lucas.  New in from Cruciform Press (see my previous post) I really enjoyed this book & have now lent it to 2 friends who are both as enthusiastic about it as me!  This is a book about a family which includes a child with a disability.  It is written with raw & honest emotion, but not overwhelmingly so.  The trials & struggles of this one family are used as the backdrop to a book on God's amazing grace to each of us.  Through a father's anecdotes we see clearly the biblical lessons learnt through tribulation when sanctified by the Spirit.  It is the kind of book that grips you from start to finish & then you sit back, take a deep breath and say 'wow'!  Actually friend number 1 rang me & said 'that book... it has so much to say to everyone, you can apply these lessons to any situation you are struggling with'. Friend number 2 particularly mentioned how the book brings out God's individual dealings with each of his people - whether young or old, healthy or disabled, we are each taught by the Spirit in a way that is suitable to our case.  I heartily recommend this book!

I can't blog on Mother's Day without also mentioning another book from Cruciform Press - The Organised Heart, a Woman's Guide to Conquering Chaos by Staci Eastin. An amused 'huh' has probably escaped your lips by now, but don't worry, this is a serious book & asks some serious questions.  The author's analysis of disorganisation is that it is a form of idolatry - are you disorganised because of perfectionism? Busyness? Possessions? Do we have our priorities right? Have we remembered that God is sovereign & in control of all things?  This is a book with many valid points & a useful reminder that we need to commit ALL our way to the Lord.

And if these two don't whet your appetite, I could mention some new historical fiction books we have just stocked up on... but I won't get started now!

Lorna

Cruciform Press

Who's heard of Cruciform Press?  It is the publishing brainchild of popular Canadian blogger Tim Challies (www.challies.com) & 2 of his friends.  Their vision is simple: they aim to publish books which are helpful, inspiring, biblical & gospel focused.  In that vision, you could say they are no different to many other evangelical publishers.  However, this publishing business began in the 21st Century (October 2010) with 21st Century technology & endeavours to make full use of it.  They publish one short book a month, on the first of each month, each with the same price, each available either in print format, a variety of ebook formats or as an audiobook.  The books cover a variety of topics (e.g. Marriage, backsliding, disability, grief) and use a variety of authors, some well known here in the UK (e.g. Joel Beeke, Al Martin) others not so well known (e.g. Greg Lucas, Casey Lute).

We decided it was about time we took a look at these new books & have just received stock of our first batch. Here they are...

Wrestling with an Angel - A story of love, disability and the lessons of grace, by Greg Lucas

"But God..." - The two words at the heart of the gospel, by Casey Lute

Friends and Lovers - Cultivating companionship and intimacy in marriage, by Joel R Beeke

Getting Back in the Race - The cure for backsliding, by Joel R Beeke

Grieving, Hope and Solace - When a loved one dies in Christ, by Albert N Martin

The Organised Heart - A woman's guide to conquering chaos, by Staci Eastin

So far I have read 'Wrestling with an Angel'.  Within the space of the hour that it took to read I found myself going through a whole range of emotions - Greg Lucas writes honestly about the difficulties he and his family have been through (continue to go through) with their child who has disabilities.  But we don't just read his life story, this is really a book that examines God's Word in the light of life's difficulties and comes through shining with God's grace.  I found it emotionally moving and spiritually searching.

Next, I have picked up 'The Organised Heart' (I had to really didn't I?!).  I'm only half way through the second chapter about being a perfectionist & already finding too much that rings true to be comfortable!

These titles are available to order from our site (although I don't have full pics & descriptions on there yet) at introductory prices of £5.99 each. They're worth trying out!

Lorna