Reviews     Rather than review a book or movie in detail, I have posted some recommendations below. All of these are highly recommended. Books --------------------------------------------------------- MegaShift by James Rutz. This is a book that will encourage you. Rutz painstakingly chronicles the moves of the Spirit in the earth today including detailed accounts of numerous raisings from the dead. We loved his first book, Open Church, and gave them away by the score. But this book is far better for it lacks the sarcasm that permeated his early writings. Read it and be strengthened. Available at Amazon.com. --------------------------------------------------------- Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow. Here is an excellent sequel to John Eldredge's Wild at Heart. Eldredge's book was inspirational and gutsy, but lacked substance. This book has substance, and unlike Eldredge's, it offers some suggestions. It is a must read for those who are still in church, yet, for people on this List it has two shortcomings: (1) Being evangelical in nature, it does not address Charismatic issues. The color of the church walls might be one issue, but what about reactions when demons are cast out or new believers are filled with the Spirit and speak in tongues?And -- (2) -- those who have given up on "church" will find Murrow's suggestions to be too little and too late. Just the same, Murrow, a social anthropologist and filmmaker, has some poignant insights and he voices his opinions with an excellent spirit. I relished the book and underlined it considerably. I look forward to his next effort. Available at Amazon.com --------------------------------------------------------- Imagine (a vision for christians in the arts) by Steve Turner. My son gave this to me for my birthday along with the new novel by Cormac McCarthy. I collect books on writing and particularly books on "Christian" writing. This one is excellent. Turner is a London-based poet, music reviewer, and author. His books include a biography of Bono and U2. Thoughtful and thought-provoking. Available at Amazon.com --------------------------------------------------------- Movies --------------------------------------------------------- "Saints and Soldiers" What a gem. Here is a little film made for under $1 million that far outshines projects with 50 times the budget. You may have to hunt to find the DVD but it is well-worth looking for. It is the story of a heroic World War II soldier nicknamed "The Deacon" who struggles with the gruesomeness of war. --------------------------------------------------------- Teaching Tapes   --------------------------------------------------------- "The Relationship Series" by John and Paula Sandford. Four CDs: 1 - Getting to Know You 2 - Truth and Consequences 3 - How We See God 4 - What Should Happen in Small Groups Listening to John Sandford teach is like having your soul coated with warm honey. We highly recommend these tapes to everyone and especially to those in small groups. If you are not familiar with John and Paula's teachings, take a risk and order the set. If you don't like it, send it to me and I will reimburse you. To order go to www.elijahhouse.org.