A semi-short review of Crazy Busy.

 
Book reviews can be long and arduous sometimes.
And when you're "Crazy Busy," who has time for that?

So here are a few quick thoughts and take-a-ways on my reading of Kevin DeYoung's book, Crazy Busy.

- It's a little, "mercifully short" book, yet for me, it took awhile to digest. Anticipate taking time to allow DeYoung's thoughts to marinade in your mind for a bit.

- As I think about my time in full-time ministry, and how "busy" I said or thought I was, so much of it came down to the pride swelling in my heart that eventually became overwhelming. So when DeYoung writes, "So much of our busyness comes down to people's expectations" and then goes on to say later that either we are busy with the wrong things (things that won't matter at the end of time) or we are busy with the right things and the wrong motives, I can relate. It boils down to this: busyness can be - and often is - a pride issue, believing no one else can do things as well as we can. Oh how that belittles God.

- Many things he mentions are not new. Or even new ways of saying old things. Yet, DeYoung's way with words is impeccable. We all know setting priorities is a thing. And this was a good reminder: "Stewarding my time is not selfishly pursuing only the things I like to do. It's about effectively serving others in the ways I'm best able to serve and in the ways I am most uniquely called to serve." He goes on to say, which I am grateful he recognized, "caring for people is wildly inefficient."

- Though I'm not a parent, I hope I will go back and re-read this portion when the time comes. He remarks that people are so busy with their kids - essentially making them idols. Harried with feeding them organic foods and getting them to soccer practice - that they forget the Bible's call in Deuteronomy 6 to be sharing God's truth all the time. Be busy with the right things, essentially, is what he says.

- The last two chapters are the best two chapters. Too many good quotes to count. DeYoung writes:

• "If you have creativity, ambition, and love, you will be busy."
• "The busyness that's bad is not the busyness of work, but the busyness that works hard at the wrong things."
• "You will suffer if you are committed to people."
• "If we love others, how will we not be busy and burdened at least some of the time?"
• "We have to believe that the most significant opportunity every day is the opportunity to sit at the feet of Jesus. We won't rearrange out priorities unless we really believe this is the best one."
• "Making consistent time for the Word of God and prayer is the place to start because being with Jesus is the only thing strong enough to pull us away from the busyness."

May I never be working so hard at the wrong things that it overshadows sitting at the feet of Jesus everyday. 

Crazy Busy: A (Mercifully) Short Book about a (Really) Big Problem is for sale on Amazon.

HIRI | Comforts From the Cross

How I Read it (HIRI) is an idea I stole from me co-worker (co-laborer?), Pheaney.
You can go read thoughts over at pheaney.com.
It's simply a short and effective way to review a book.

Comforts From the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick

Quotable: "The early Jewish Christians experienced something that their predecessors had never known: complete freedom from guilt, rest from the law's cruel lash, infinite acceptance before a holy God. Think of their joy and relief. No wonder they turned the world upside down." (I may just like it due to the upside down reference!)

What I Liked: It was jammed packed with the gospel. The truth of the Word of God. The freedom we have in Christ as his followers. She communicated clearly who we are in him.

What I Liked II: I would highly recommend this book to a new believer, or maybe someone who does not know Jesus yet. Someone who struggles with whether or not God truly loves her. In Appendix 1, I appreciated how Elyse articulated what a good church is and what it isn't and emphasized being plugged in to a body of believer.

What I Liked III: Day 22 was particularly insightful to some sin issues I am struggling with. The reminder of Galatians 5:5, "...we ourselves eagerly await the hope of righteousness." She says on that day, "We must not give up in despair or seek to anesthetize our conscience with the shallow delights of this world. And then, even when we do give in to our wandering heart, we must remember our Father's promise. True righteousness and holiness will be ours.

What I Didn't Like: It was a little over-dramatic. So much so, there were moments of questioning her theology based on her hyperbole. The first sentence of Day 3 - "...your heavenly Father has no wrath left for you." Is this true? It seems to me Scripturally, that God in his righteousness does have wrath that he will one day poor out on Satan, ect. Or is that not what she meant? This is where things for me were jaded by the over-dramatization.

2013 Personal Impact Rating: Well, it's the first book I've finished (sadly!) this year. So, it's #1 (for now, anyway).

1. Comforts From the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick*


* I own it; you can borrow it.