The Search Committee

Book Review by
Valerie Inman

As a pastor’s wife, I’ve sat through many a search committee meeting as my husband “interviewed” as a candidate for pastor. I understand all too well the concerns, nerves and anticipation of the outcome of the “interview.” However, I’ve never really given any thought to what the search committee members must go through on their side – until now. 

While “The Search Committee” is a fictional account of what a search committee goes through – it has given me some insight into the process. “The Search Committee” is a book that I could not put down, anxiously anticipating what happens next. 

It’s the story of a small town Southern church that throws seven wildly different people together in the church van to search for their next pastor. The seven characters seem to be as different as day and night – but in the end, they find they have more in common than they realized as they travel the roads together in search of the “perfect” pastor. They also find that the perfect pastor is sometimes closer than you think. 

I’m not sure if I laughed more or cried more when reading this book, but I do know my perception of search committees has forever been changed. I highly recommend that everyone read this book, but especially if you are serving or may serve on a search committee. 

‘Implosion’

Book Review by
Nona Cheatham Almond

Many of Joel C. Rosenberg’s books of fiction have been surprisingly prophetic, “The Last Jihad,” “Dead Heat” and “The Ezekiel Option” for example.  “Implosion” suggests scenarios which could come true. It remains to be seen.

Will America be destroyed? If so, how? Is it too late? He deals with the anxious circumstances our country faces but also considers reasons for optimism. Our support of Israel and how we are dealing with tough situations facing us – terrorism, political and financial unrest, moral decay – and how these could force an implosion of our country are discussed thoroughly and with keen Christian insight. Might we be destroyed by natural disasters, earthquakes or drought?

Even with all our problems, hope is offered as the First and Second Great Spiritual Awakenings of our country are reviewed and their contributions assessed. Could we possibly see a third revival in America? Can America again be a shining city on a hill? Rosenberg offers a very comprehensive look at that possibility. He puts forth a serious challenge to Christian churches and individuals to “shape up” their Christian behavior, witness and commitment to that end.

What impressed me most as I read this book was the very Spirit of Christ in Joel I felt as he lovingly looked at our problems, examined our history and strongly advised toward renewal and offered steps to achieve it. He obviously hopes we can avoid destruction but is willing to admit that it may come. It is thorough and thoughtful writing.

'October Baby' comes to DVD, Blu-ray

Movie Review by
Jessica Vanderpool

Anger. Greed. Revenge. Violence. Death.

Twenty-first century movies are often teeming with negative messages. Then comes a movie like “October Baby,” which at its very core, is a message about life and forgiveness.

“October Baby,” which comes to DVD and Blu-ray Sept. 11, is inspired by the life of Gianna Jessen, an abortion survivor. The movie tells the story of Hannah, a young woman who discovers she was not only adopted, but also is an abortion survivor. Struggling to come to terms with her past, Hannah sets out on a journey to find her birth mother.

Audiences are responding to the movie.

“It’s been amazing to see the post-abortive women and men (who) have come to us in the hundreds just from these … screenings that we’ve done, saying, ‘Thank you for this. It’s such a healing experience for me, and I feel forgiven,’” said Jon Erwin, director, writer, producer and executive producer of “October Baby.”

He said one girl chose to keep her baby after she saw the movie.

“You can have every award I’ve ever won in exchange for something like that,” Erwin said. “It’s really, really spectacular to see things like that happen.”

Actor Jason Burkey, who plays Hannah’s friend Jason in the movie, has also witnessed audiences responding to its message. He said when the movie was in theaters, they had people coming up to them and thanking them for making a film like “October Baby.”

“Seeing the impact that it had on audiences just kind of inspired me to keep doing projects – whether they’re faith-based or not – just doing projects that have meaning and that people can connect with and are entertaining at the same time,” he said.

“I don’t agree that a person of faith should leave pop culture alone,” Burkey said. “You know, I think that whether it’s music or film or whatever, … you need people of sound morals and faith to be in those places to influence those places for the better. I mean, otherwise what change are you going to make, you know? We can’t be afraid to get involved in these places.”

He said he thinks people need to be tactful about influencing the industry and do it by building relationships, rather than by “beating people over the head with a Bible.”

“And, you know, it can be subtle things - you know, like, October Baby wasn’t hitting you in the face with Christianity, but there were some subtle things in it that point toward that. … I don’t think we should be afraid to dive into those industries and have God use us because He can do amazing things, and He has.”

Erwin, too, expressed how important it is to impact culture.

“I think, you know, through history there have been ways to communicate God’s truth to culture. You know, it might have been Martin Luther translating the Bible, it might have been the printing press or radio. It’s so important. God never changes and His truth never changes, but our culture is constantly changing, so we have to find ways to speak to our culture.”

He pointed out how the current culture is visually-driven and entertainment-driven.

“And so what an amazing thing when you can capture that medium. And I just believe it’s time for our voices to be heard again. I think we’ve sat silent in the arts for far too long, and it’s time that we engage the arts and that we create great art – entertaining art – but that really shares our worldview – because people want to hear our worldview. … I don’t care what you believe. I don’t care what political party you are. You want to feel forgiven for things that you’ve done in your life. You want to experience grace. You want to be loved. … And so when you present them on screen in a great and compelling way, people are drawn into it.”

“We won’t let you down on creating the entertainment if you’ll just go watch it,” he added. “So we say we can buy our culture back one movie ticket at a time, and I think it’s something that we can all do together and something that I’m really excited about.”

According to the “October Baby” website, 10 percent of the profits from “October Baby” have been assigned to the Every Life is Beautiful Fund, which will in turn “distribute funds to frontline organizations helping women facing crisis pregnancies, life-affirming adoption agencies and those caring for orphans.”

Contact Jessica Vanderpool at jessica@arkansasbaptist.org.

The Creation of the American Soul

Book Review by
George Peters

Roger Williams is known in connection with the religious liberty heritage of our country. However, his living in the most trying, difficult and formative years of our early colonial history and his contribution to “soul liberty” of America, is grasped by few unless they have read such a book as this one.

In “The Creation of the American Soul,” author John M. Barry shares about the pivotal times Williams lived in, listing his life span as 1603 to 1683. Monarchs and rulers of that time included King James I of England (VI of Scotland), Puritan ruler Oliver Cromwell and King Charles I. As a child, Williams may have witnessed executions of “Separatists” – or nonconforming Christian teachers and leaders.

His father was a member of the Taylors Guild, one uncle was mayor of London in 1611 – the year the King James Bible came out – and another uncle was a sheriff.

The noted English jurist Edward Coke mentored Williams and took him in as a son. Williams learned from Coke about law, customs and connections; Williams later attended Cambridge University. Coke’s quotes include: “Every Englishman’s home is as his castle.”

Barry also shared about Williams’ own desire for freedom and how that placed him in a position to help establish religious freedom in America.

Church and state enforced conformity by piercing or cutting off tongues, beheadings, mutilations and other gruesome penalties. As a young man, Williams and his wife traveled to the New World of New England – desiring freedom for himself and his family.

The family settled first in Puritan-ruled Boston and Salem, where Williams’ influence increased via his teaching, preaching and holding public offices. However, exercising freedom of speech and worship there resulted in reprisals from England and local officials. Williams was banished from Puritan colonies, but – surviving by kindness of Indians – he developed and founded Rhode Island, acquired properties and became governor. Significantly, he named the town of Providence, R.I.

All Rhode Island charters had included freedom of religion and separation of church and state, but only the last one submitted by Williams was fully approved by royal and parliamentary authorities of England.
Williams eventually became a Baptist, believing Baptists’ views on faith and freedom were closest to his own.
It is significant to note that Williams influenced early American political leaders such as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and John Quincy Adams, as well as the United States Bill of Rights.

These are only a few of the facts Barry masterfully intertwines in his book. When tied together, all the details portray the life of a man who sacrificed to make a great contribution to religious freedom in the United States.

Reflections of a Disenchanted Calvinist

Book Review by
Jared Park

Calvinism is peaking in popularity among our state convention and denomination. It has helped to provide a renewed commitment to Scripture, but it has also caused much controversy within some churches, conferences and seminaries. These conversations often end in anger and disunity, which necessitates a loving and honest handling of the Calvinist doctrines.

This need has been fulfilled by Arkansas native and former Arkansas Baptist State Convention president Ronnie W. Rogers in his new book “Reflections of a Disenchanted Calvinist: The Disquieting Realities of Calvinism” (CrossBooks, 2012). Rogers writes not only as a pastor who answers such questions almost daily, but also as a disenchanted Calvinist who “wore the label” for 20 years and “was continually confronted with the incompatibility of Calvinism and the simple and impartial reading of Scripture.”

Prominent scholar R. Alan Streett wrote, “‘Reflections’ is unlike many other anti-Calvinist treatises, whose authors erect a Calvinist straw man, knock it down, and claim a stunning victory.” Streett says this because Rogers knowledgeably portrays Calvinism by quoting Calvinist scholars such as Piper, MacArthur, Sproul, Pink and even Calvin. Rogers uses the writing style of affirmation and denial in discussion about the relevant issues, which provides the reader with Rogers’ precise beliefs.

Since “Reflections” is not meant to be a systematic theology of Calvinism, rather an accessible guide to Rogers’ beliefs, it does not cover all facets of the issues in intricate detail, such as his brief handling of infant baptism in the chapter concerning the age of accountability. The book is not the ultimate authority of all beliefs and arguments on both sides of the debate, but it is a very good resource for studying the doctrines of Calvinism. “Reflections” is a brilliant, concise handling of critical issues, causing it to join “Whosoever Will” (B&H Academic, 2010) and other works as great alternatives to those of Sproul, Pink, Piper and other persistent Calvinistic crusaders.

Jared Park is a student at The College at Southwestern at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and attends Crossgate Church in Hot Springs.