Book Reviews: Hungry for Worship

Hungry for Worship: Challenges and Solutions for Today’s Church by Frank S. Page and L. Lavon Gray (New Hope Publishers)

Looking for a thorough discussion of many vital aspects of the worship wars? Then this is the book.

Essentially, the conflict over worship styles centers on two Scripture passages. Apologists for contemporary worship emphasize 1 Corinthians 9:22, which says, “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” Advocates of traditional worship point to Romans 12:2, which declares, “Do not conform any longer (be squeezed into) the pattern of this world.”

A brief listing of the chapter titles reveals the essence of the book’s content: “Worship as the ‘Golden Calf’,” “Have it Your Way,” “The American Idol Experience,” “The Worship Mirage,” “Worship Under a Flag of Truce,” “Back from the Dead,” “A Theological Melting Pot,” “Worship Leader, 2.0,” “Multisensory Overload” and “Every Nation, Every Tribe.” Each chapter of this comprehensive text begins with an illustrative introduction that explains the content. After this, the authors offer solutions—often with scriptural references.

Hungry for Worship advocates multigenerational worship services. The authors insist separate generational services tend to divide congregations, while scriptural admonitions demand unity. Often, the authors are quite frank in their opinions, at one point saying, “Young adults need to grow up, and senior adults need to get over it.”

Although the writers briefly mention significant modern hymn writers, they offer little emphasis on the use of traditional hymnody as a vital vehicle for contemporary worship. From this, readers could conclude the authors consider hymns relics of the past and not treasures to be discovered by current worship leaders.

Even so, this book is well-researched, well-documented and well-written. It will be extremely helpful for readers interested in transformational worship that deals with cultural shifts in modern society. The authors carefully present their perspectives on theological distinctiveness, the music minister’s calling, the worship leader’s training, choirs in post-modern worship, multicultural worship and consumerism. Christians involved in post-modern “worship war” culture will benefit greatly from reading Hungry for Worship.

Ed Spann, retired dean

College of Fine Arts

Dallas Baptist University

The Way of Grace: Finding God on the Path of Surrender by Glandion Carney with Marjean Brooks (Renovare)

Glandion Carney packs The Way of Grace with tender gifts for the heart. We witness debilitating Parkinson’s disease through Carney’s eyes. He walks the reader truthfully through his emotional process of acceptance, submission and relinquishment. As he relates the painful aspects of his journey, Carney encourages the reader to place energy into trusting God, not circumstances.

Each chapter points to the conclusion—God is faithful in whatever we face. Carney reinforces this truth with biblical characters and biblical stories. The book clearly expresses an important message: God is the one who carries our pain through his gifts of grace, love and mercy.

This powerful book invites each reader to reflect on his or her own life. But the author doesn’t leave readers hanging; he offers an application and concludes each chapter with a simple prayer.

The Way of Grace is a simple read and an encouragement for anyone experiencing a life-changing event.

Bobbie Bomar-Brown

Estes Park, Colo.

Unstoppable by Christine Caine (Zondervan)

Christine Caine is founder of The A21 Campaign, dedicated to rescuing victims of human trafficking in 12 countries, and her latest book, Unstoppable, is an encouraging collection of stories that are both heartrending and hopeful. Caine—with her husband, Nick—operates a ministry of encouragement to churches and leaders worldwide.

Caine likens the Christian life to the Summer Olympics relays. As a sports enthusiast, she clearly understands the relay. She focuses on passing the baton, which she uses as a metaphor throughout the book. She asks: Have you caught the baton and are running with it, or have you dropped it along the way? What part are you playing in God’s relay race for humanity—for your own life? Are you passing the baton to the next runner or clutching it close to your chest?

Caine offers biblical examples to show how to join in the race so it continues and everyone wins. She even describes one generation who dropped the baton. Encouragement, hope and freedom—great themes in a book that challenges readers to run the race of their lives.

Alice Stone Thomas

Conroe