Reviews

REVIEWS

BOOKS

God's Word with a family emphasis

Parents' Bible - Contemporary English Version (Harper Collins, Hardback, £16.99)

It's become the fashion in recent days for publishers to repackage their Bible editions for particular groups. We've had the women's Bible, the youth Bible, the pastor's Bible and more, so it was only a matter of time before the parents' Bible turned up.

And, marketing exercise aside, it's actually quite good. Whether you prefer this translation is largely a matter of personal taste (I still prefer the NIV, or The Message for a colloquial feel), but there's no denying the CEV is clear, easy to read and aids understanding.

What you get in this special edition are more than 100 mini-articles/studies scattered throughout the text tackling issues that are relevant for many parents: discipline, self-sacrifice, how to love your children, coping with tiredness and more.

There's also help on how to read the Bible with children, and a mini-dictionary, extensive notes, Bible maps and timeline help put things in context.

It won't meet all your needs in terms of parental issues and advice, but it's a useful adjunct to the Biblical text and helps steer you into applying Scripture in the areas you have to face day by day. And that can only be a good thing.

Russ Bravo

Getting real with God

The Naked Christian, by Craig Borlase (Hodder & Stoughton, £5.99)

One of the most rewarding meetings I have experienced was a gathering with three other guys at what we called ‘Masks off!’ Craig Borlase’s book about getting real with God reminds me of those times of eating, praying and being honest with one another.

It is unfortunate but true that honesty is in short supply in the Christian community.

Borlase exposes what he calls the ‘Six pack’ approach to Christian self-image; the idea that you are only worth anything as a Christian if you have the spiritual equivalent of the flat stomach of the perfect six-pack! Such an approach, the author argues, is fostered by many churches and by the growing coterie of Christian celebrities. For them the ultimate faux pas is to acknowledge a lack of credibility in any area! By contrast this book invites the readers to picture themselves as "naked before God … just you and God".

The author does this by exploring the more authentic air that breathes through the Bible, taking an upbeat stroll through a variety of Bible passages to show the type of healthy self-image God has in mind for us.

There are some uncomfortable things said in this book about a Christian sub-culture that has become more concerned about style than substance. Exposed are among other things: the cult of the personality, unthinking fad chasing and the fascinating short sell-by date moralities that are all too apparent in the modern church.

Taken seriously, this is a book that could signal an escape from cool (but hollow) Christiana! However, the book with its cool endorsements by that hyper-cool 'six-pack' event Soul Survivor may make this a best seller and Borlase into a really big star! Let’s hope that he does not forget what he has written here!

John Woods is pastor of Lancing Tabernacle in West Sussex

MUSIC

dc Talk goes solo

1+1+1=SOLO, by dcTalk, CD £6.99; and
Empty by Tait, CD £14.99 (Forefront Records, EMI Christian Music)

But for a couple of songs on their Intermission compilation, nothing new has emerged from dcTalk since 1998. Instead, they’ve been concentrating on solo projects, the first fruits of which can be sampled on a seven-song EP. For starters though, there’s dcTalk’s live version of U2’s classic 40 (from Psalm 40), then two tracks apiece from Michael, Kevin and Toby individually.

Michael Tait’s liking for rock and pop is apparent with Alibi and the Oasis-influenced All You Got, the featured tracks from Empty. Ironically, the first of the 'solo' albums to reach the shops isn’t quite what it seems – Tait are very much a full band, with Grammatrain’s Pete Stewart and brothers Chad and Lonnie Chaplin joining Michael throughout.

Next up, Kevin Max displays more of a taste for loops
and grooves – Eastern tinges add to the backdrop for
Return Of The Singer, while Be has a more open sound.

By contrast again, Toby McKeehan has long championed
the hip-hop genre, so it’s unsurprising that both Somebody’s Watching and rock/rap film soundtrack number Extreme Days indulge this passion in quite different ways.

A revealing three-way deconstruction of the dcTalk stylistic mélange – they’re a great band together, and not so bad separately.

New talent

Fred Hammond presents: “In case you missed it ... and then some”, by Various Artists. (F Hammond Music/Verity Records, Word), CD £14.99.

Firstly in Commissioned, then as a solo artist, Fred Hammond has become one of the giants of contemporary gospel music. Now he’s using that experience to nurture and showcase some up-and-coming talent. "Introducing the anointed voices of the future" is his strapline for this collection, and he should know what he’s listening for.

But Fred’s involvement goes deeper than that – he’s producer, plays bass and he penned most of the material himself. Outstanding amongst the new songs are Pour Out Your Holy Spirit from the Singletons and I Anoint Myself, soulfully delivered by Pam Kenyon M Donald, with a little extra vocal support from Fred Hammond and Radical For Christ.

From his back catalogue come Love U For The Rest Of My Life (superbly reworked by Charles Laster and Candace Laster-Jones), Heart Of Mine (Darrin Patterson’s performance is equally impressive), plus Resurrection’s interpretation of A Life That Shows, and Save Me Now (Howard Smith and Lisa Scott-Bailey).

And proving he can still turn out the goods himself, Fred joins up with his former Commissioned colleague Keith Staten on Let Me Tell It. Enjoyable though it is to hear them together again, it’s a good sign too that they don’t overshadow the other artists.

Peter Dilley is a bass guitarist and co-ordinator/mentor for a support scheme for young people with learning disabilities for the charity InterAct

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		REVIEWS BOOKS God's Word with a family emphasis Parents' Bible - Contemporary English Version (Harper Collins, Hardback, £16.99) It's become the fashion in recent days for publishers to repackage their Bible editions for particular groups. We've had the women's Bible, the youth Bible, the pastor's Bible and more, so it was only a matter of time before the parents' Bible turned up. And, marketing exercise aside, it's actually quite good. Whether you prefer this translation is largely a matter of personal taste (I still prefer the NIV, or The Message for a colloquial feel), but there's no denying the CEV is clear, easy to read and aids understanding. What you get in this special edition are more than 100 mini-articles/studies scattered throughout the text tackling issues that are relevant for many parents: discipline, self-sacrifice, how to love your children, coping with tiredness and more. There's also help on how to read the Bible with children, and a mini-dictionary, extensive notes, Bible maps and timeline help put things in context. It won't meet all your needs in terms of parental issues and advice, but it's a useful adjunct to the Biblical text and helps steer you into applying Scripture in the areas you have to face day by day. And that can only be a good thing. Russ Bravo Getting real with God The Naked Christian, by Craig Borlase (Hodder & Stoughton, £5.99) One of the most rewarding meetings I have experienced was a gathering with three other guys at what we called ‘Masks off!’ Craig Borlase’s book about getting real with God reminds me of those times of eating, praying and being honest with one another. It is unfortunate but true that honesty is in short supply in the Christian community. Borlase exposes what he calls the ‘Six pack’ approach to Christian self-image; the idea that you are only worth anything as a Christian if you have the spiritual equivalent of the flat stomach of the perfect six-pack! Such an approach, the author argues, is fostered by many churches and by the growing coterie of Christian celebrities. For them the ultimate faux pas is to acknowledge a lack of credibility in any area! By contrast this book invites the readers to picture themselves as "naked before God … just you and God". The author does this by exploring the more authentic air that breathes through the Bible, taking an upbeat stroll through a variety of Bible passages to show the type of healthy self-image God has in mind for us. There are some uncomfortable things said in this book about a Christian sub-culture that has become more concerned about style than substance. Exposed are among other things: the cult of the personality, unthinking fad chasing and the fascinating short sell-by date moralities that are all too apparent in the modern church. Taken seriously, this is a book that could signal an escape from cool (but hollow) Christiana! However, the book with its cool endorsements by that hyper-cool 'six-pack' event Soul Survivor may make this a best seller and Borlase into a really big star! Let’s hope that he does not forget what he has written here! John Woods is pastor of Lancing Tabernacle in West Sussex MUSIC dc Talk goes solo 1+1+1=SOLO, by dcTalk, CD £6.99; and Empty by Tait, CD £14.99 (Forefront Records, EMI Christian Music) But for a couple of songs on their Intermission compilation, nothing new has emerged from dcTalk since 1998. Instead, they’ve been concentrating on solo projects, the first fruits of which can be sampled on a seven-song EP. For starters though, there’s dcTalk’s live version of U2’s classic 40 (from Psalm 40), then two tracks apiece from Michael, Kevin and Toby individually. Michael Tait’s liking for rock and pop is apparent with Alibi and the Oasis-influenced All You Got, the featured tracks from Empty. Ironically, the first of the 'solo' albums to reach the shops isn’t quite what it seems – Tait are very much a full band, with Grammatrain’s Pete Stewart and brothers Chad and Lonnie Chaplin joining Michael throughout. Next up, Kevin Max displays more of a taste for loops and grooves – Eastern tinges add to the backdrop for Return Of The Singer, while Be has a more open sound. By contrast again, Toby McKeehan has long championed the hip-hop genre, so it’s unsurprising that both Somebody’s Watching and rock/rap film soundtrack number Extreme Days indulge this passion in quite different ways. A revealing three-way deconstruction of the dcTalk stylistic mélange – they’re a great band together, and not so bad separately. New talent Fred Hammond presents: “In case you missed it ... and then some”, by Various Artists. (F Hammond Music/Verity Records, Word), CD £14.99. Firstly in Commissioned, then as a solo artist, Fred Hammond has become one of the giants of contemporary gospel music. Now he’s using that experience to nurture and showcase some up-and-coming talent. "Introducing the anointed voices of the future" is his strapline for this collection, and he should know what he’s listening for. But Fred’s involvement goes deeper than that – he’s producer, plays bass and he penned most of the material himself. Outstanding amongst the new songs are Pour Out Your Holy Spirit from the Singletons and I Anoint Myself, soulfully delivered by Pam Kenyon M Donald, with a little extra vocal support from Fred Hammond and Radical For Christ. From his back catalogue come Love U For The Rest Of My Life (superbly reworked by Charles Laster and Candace Laster-Jones), Heart Of Mine (Darrin Patterson’s performance is equally impressive), plus Resurrection’s interpretation of A Life That Shows, and Save Me Now (Howard Smith and Lisa Scott-Bailey). And proving he can still turn out the goods himself, Fred joins up with his former Commissioned colleague Keith Staten on Let Me Tell It. Enjoyable though it is to hear them together again, it’s a good sign too that they don’t overshadow the other artists. Peter Dilley is a bass guitarist and co-ordinator/mentor for a support scheme for young people with learning disabilities for the charity InterAct © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.