BOOK REVIEW: Lights Out

"It would be the ultimate irony if the most connected, the most media-saturated population in history failed to disseminate the most elementary survival plan until the power was out and it no longer had the capacity to do so." 

In Lights Out, Ted Koppel gives a compelling, thorough overview of Americans' naivete and lack of preparation for a cyberattack that could disrupt the country's power grid in a catastrophic manner. Shocking in its reveal of avoidance and utter helplessness among the very agencies we would expect to be preparing for such an attack, he interviews numerous science, security, and military experts for their assessments and recommendations. Threading through these interviews is a consistent theme: we are not ready for that. 
This book should be distributed to our President, Cabinet members, and Congress. Leading members of agencies that would be directly involved in assisting Americans through a disaster lasting weeks, perhaps months, should familiarize themselves with the facts and warnings Koppel has worked so hard to gather in these pages. Then they should take heed and prepare. 

As for me, I am thankful for the wake up call. While I can't prepare on as a large a scale as some individuals and groups described in the book, I can step back and plan, with my family, what we would do for at least two weeks if the electricity failed in our city. 

I received this book free of charge from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers in exchange for a fair review. 

BOOK REVIEW: You're the One That I Want

What fan of the passionate, complicated Christiansen family isn't going to be excited that the sixth book of the series is hitting bookshelves? I can't wait to catch up with this amazing family as they conquer a new set of very honest, very believable struggles--and this book does not disappoint. 

In "You're the One That I Want," author Susan May Warren re-connects us with Owen Christensen, who has been missing in action since his regrettable fight with brother Casper at sister Eden's wedding. Oh yeah, remember that? While Casper has put his engagement to Owen's former girlfriend Raina (oh yeah, remember that?) on hold to search for his wayward brother, Owen has run from one city to another to flee his constant feelings of guilt and failure. Ending up on a crab boat in the Bering Sea, Owen impulsively jumps overboard to rescue Scotty, the new girl he has his eyes on--and almost dies in the process. When the brothers are reunited in Owen's hospital room, Scotty quickly sees the problems between them and is about to get as far away from them as possible. But a bit of a legal glitch--murder, actually--loops her into the Christiansen fold, and we're off and running through the pages to another gripping story of redemption among very real characters who, like all of us real people, fall short of it. 

I grabbed the opportunity for a free copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for a fair review. 

For more on this book, and to download the first chapter for free, go here. While you're at it, peruse Warren's other series; you'll want to run through them too! 

BOOK REVIEW: Under Our Skin

Ferguson. Perhaps many in this country had never known of this city in Missouri before last summer. Suddenly, Darren Wilson and Michael Brown were household names, and many people debated for and against one and the other...their opinions on the situation perhaps determined by the color of the opinionee's skin.

Into this cacophony of strong emotions and words came a Facebook post by NFL tight end Benjamin Watson, after the grand jury voted not to indict Officer Wilson for Brown's shooting. The post, expressing strong emotions and yet seasoned wisdom, went viral. In Under Our Skin, Watson takes each point from his post and expands it, weaving in anecdotal information from his father and grandfather as well as his own experiences as a black man in 21st century America.

I found Brown's book to be thoughtful, balanced, and kind. He stands in the shoes of those on either side of the race problem (because it is still a problem today), both describing what the world looks like from that vantage point as well as how each view is faulty. He does this without anger or accusation.

The chapter "Fearful and Confused" was probably my biggest takeaway from this book. Watson describes the constant background fear for many black men, sometimes grounded in reality and sometimes not, of negative--perhaps even deadly--interactions with white police officers. Although he is an upstanding, educated Christian man who has a recognizable face from Sunday football and does not choose to violate the law, a simple police stop breeds a fight-or-flight response. This helps me to understand why I look at the news clips on my TV and see that yet again, another black teen or man has fled from what could have been a simple few moments of compliance with a law enforcement officer. My not understanding this to this point in my life is humbling. I get it now.

The solution, according to Watson? The gospel. Jesus' blood ran red for skin of all different hues, and the ground is even at the cross. We each need to admit that we are sinners in need of a Savior. Once we are set right with God, He transforms minds and hearts to bring unity. I agree.

The book ends with some practical suggestions to bridge the gap between races. We can start in our own neighborhoods and workplaces to step across lines of color and begin understanding.

If you would like more information about the book, you can visit the website here.

I received this book free of charge from Tyndale Publishers in exchange for a fair review.

What the devil doesn't want you to know

In Matthew chapter 4, satan tempts Jesus in the wilderness. He repeatedly challenges Jesus, "IF You are the Son of God..." do this, that, or the other thing. Plenty of Bible studies exist on this segment of Scripture, but I would just point you to--satan knows Jesus IS the Son of God. 

This is the first mention of Jesus as the Son of God in the gospel of Matthew. 

The second mention comes in chapter 8. This time it's the demons in the man from Gadarenes (a lot of them--legion refers to a Roman troop of 5,000 soldiers) who address Jesus as the Son of God:

 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted." (Matthew 8:29)

Interestingly, the Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of satan. They don't believe Jesus is the Son of God...but the demons He is casting out do. 

If satan knows Jesus is the Son of God...and so do the demons...why are we so often unbelieving of the power this represents? Two thousand years after these exchanges between Jesus and the demons, we're still debating and denying His true identity because satan knows once we really, really get this--he's defeated. 

One of the devil's best kept secrets...don't let him get away with it. 

Jesus, I believe afresh today that You are the Son of God. I believe You hold all authority in the spiritual realm. I believe that with a word You dispel demons and make the afflicted whole. I believe You are in the midst of my family, a mighty warrior to save and fight for us. I freely and newly give You Lordship over my life, worshiping You as Almighty God.