Reb Rev's Blog

Have you ever wanted to live life on the “wild side”? How about living the Christian life on the wild side? Does that sound contradictory? Well, that’s exactly what Mr. McManus proposes in “Unleashed.” He calls it the “barbarian” way.

McManus’ proposal is that the modern church has become much too civilized in order to be safe. He posits the early church, and especially Christ did not picture this type of life as normal. In this challenging work, he calls for modern Christians to get back to the culture confronting , living on the edge type of faith to which Christ has called those who will follow Him.

The author makes the pint well we have been called to walk by faith, not to be frozen by fear. As the Church, we are far less dangerous – and take far fewer risks – than God ever planned for us. There are many who will not be comfortable with this challenge, and that helps make the author’s point.

I recommend this challenging work, but be ready to feel convicted, confronted and called out by it.      

I post these reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program. I receive a free copy of the book, but am not required to give a positive review.  Check it out at http://www.booksneeze.com

“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” – Romans 12:18 

Blisters. No one likes them, but everyone gets them. I’ve recently done some research on these aggravating little things. Wikipedia describes the primary cause as “forceful rubbing (friction).” What a pain they are, literally!

Often when someone gets a blister, they cease the activity which caused it. Raking the yard caused a blister? Well, I won’t do that again! Walking in a new pair of shoes? Put them away and don’t wear those suckers any more.

Sadly, some people cause us “blisters,” maybe not on our body, but on our psyche’. They are just painful to be around. These folks cause friction wherever they go, and what’s worse, some even seem to enjoy it!

The easiest remedy is to just avoid them like the activities which cause blisters on our hands and feet. But that’s not the direction this passage takes us. This verse, and the context from which it is taken, tells us we are to “live with” them, be nice to them, and not to be overcome by evil, but to “overcome evil with good.”

Not an easy task to be sure, but one to which we, as Christians, are called.