Customer Reviews

For The Tough Times: Reaching Toward Heaven for Hope

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(63)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was hooked on Max Lucado's FOR THESE TOUGH TIMES from the beginning because it starts with a question from the Psalms: "When all that is good falls apart, what can good people do?" Questions are a time-honored approach to the mystery of all we don't understand about faith --- and the perfect way to start a book on the difficult problem of suffering and evil.

First written as a response to the events of September 11th, FOR THESE TOUGH TIMES has been redesigned as an all-purpose gift book that speaks to any difficult situation: the death of a loved one, the injustice of world hunger, a broken relationship. Christians have long mined the Psalms and the Book of Job for answers to the problems of evil, pain and suffering in the world. And what they've found, as Lucado has found, is that there are no pat answers. Rather, as Psalm 11:3-4 continues, we discover that God is in control. He is over everything. And when we have no pat answers, Lucado compellingly shows that we still have the knowledge that God loves us and cares about what happens to us.

Eight short chapters, plus an introduction and a prayer, make up this slim yet meaty volume. In the book, he asks "Who is God? Where is God in the midst of evil? Can good come from evil? And prayer --- is God really listening?"

Lucado looks to scripture for examples of biblical characters --- Joseph, Moses, Daniel --- who endured difficult circumstances yet whose tragedies were turned into triumphs. He also looks to creation as evidence of God's power and majesty. "Nature is God's workshop. The sky is his résumé. The universe is his calling card. You want to know who God is? See what he has done. You want to know his power? Take a look at his creation. Curious about his strength? Pay a visit to his home address: 1 Billion Starry Sky Ave."

His images are fresh and vivid throughout, whether retelling the story of the nativity or the drama of Jesus calming the storm. "And that was just the beginning of what his sea mates would witness," Lucado writes. "Before it was over, they would see fish jump into the boat, demons dive into pigs, cripples turn into dancers, and cadavers turn into living, breathing people."

Lucado points to scriptures such as Romans 8:31 ("If God is for us, who can be against us?") as a reminder of God's personal care for us. "You are protected. God is with you." Nothing can separate us from God's love if we desire it, because of Jesus, he reminds us.

One of the toughest ideas Lucado offers is that God uses Satan to refine the faithful and allows us to experience pain to come back to faith, be disciplined when we've sinned, or test the church. This is perhaps the most discussable portion of the book, depending on your theology of suffering.

He also discusses the terrible price of revenge and bitterness when we've been victimized in some way and invites readers to consider this: "Would you like assurance that God forgives you? I think you know what you need to do." He urges readers to remember to make time to listen to God, to be quiet, and to be still. He reminds us that "your prayer on earth activates God's power in heaven....When you speak, Jesus hears. And when Jesus hears, the world is changed."

At the end of the book, Lucado includes "Do it Again, Lord," a prayer adapted from one written for America Prays, a national prayer vigil on September 15, 2001. The prayer echoes his belief that "Though we may not be able to see his purpose of his plan, the Lord of heaven is on his throne and in firm control of the universe and our lives. So we entrust him with our future. We entrust him with our very lives." Readers in need of reassurance about God's love and power in the face of evil and suffering will find solace in these pages.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

Didn't realize it was just a small (almost daily reader) type bookLET, but its contents are typical Max Lucado. How y'gonna fault that? I did think I was getting a "real" book, however.

For These Tough Times: Reaching Toward Heaven for Hope and HealingRead this and learn how to really live life and how to really reach your goal of eternal salvation and to live with God for the eternities. Again, Max writes no "poor" book. He should be considered the "Nora Roberts" of the relgious genre.

It is difficult to write a review for Max Lucado because all of his books are 5 stars. I never hesitate to give one of his books as a gift because I know it will be helpful and there won't be anything that would offend. Max has an intimate relationship with God. God's love fills Max's heart and it spills out in his books.

I thought I'd begin this review by comparing Max Lucado's new book FOR THE TOUGH TIMES, Reaching Toward Heaven For Hope to C.J. Mahaney's LIVING THE CROSS CENTERED LIFE, Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing.

Both books are about the same size. End of similarities. Lucado does not even come close to reflecting the Biblical truth which underlies Mahaney's work, nor is the Lucado book Christ-centered, rather it reflects the man-focused religion which dominates modern "Christendom."

FOR THE TOUGH TIMES is a small book. It is small in size; it is small in content; it is small in value to believers and dangerous to non-believers.

Mahaney is able to take serious theological concepts and present them in an understandable form so that one does not need to be a seminary grad to get his point. Lucado wants to be "readable" for a general audience as well, but his methods involve taking the things of God and trivializing them. Such childish rubbish as "God's address is 1 Billion Starry Sky Avenue" is not "putting the cookies on the bottom shelf where even the kiddies can reach them" but putting rat poison in the milk.

Lucado's presentation of theological concepts is not only flawed by such trivialization but fraught with error. I'm not going to spend time refuting much of this, if any. I'll just let his words demonstrate the shallow-at-best understanding of God and His character and work:

"He (God) invented Grace"

"He (God) placed His hand on the shoulder of humanity and said "You're someting special"

"Your prayers may move God to change the world"

and First Honors for:

"...upon learning that God would rather die than live without you...."

This is the first Lucado book I've ever read. He is presented as "America's leading inspirational writer" I believe it. He is teaching exactly what Mainstream Christianity believes and wants to have reinforced: It's all about Me. God thinks I'm really Special. The whole of creation revolves around Me. I am so powerful I can get God to change His plans! Me, Me, Me!

To his credit, the chapter on Good and Evil and the role of Satan is pretty solid Biblically. Lucado credits 3 other writers in this work: Erwin Lutzer, John MacArthur, and Anthony Hoekema. He should have leaned more heavily on them.

Initially I was going to offer the criticism that there was not good continuity between chapters; the change is often abrupt. Then I happened to read on the copyright page:

Most of the material for this book has been adapted from (4 previous titles)

ISBN 978-0-8499-2144-5 (repackage)

So, it's not only a small book (barely 10,000 words I'd guess), it's a rehash of already published stuff.....

Bottom line: Hallmark appearance, shallow content, Gospel-deficient.

Generally I find Lucado's books shallow and repetitive, and this small devotional style book- the sort that many people keep in their bathrooms, is about the same. However, when you actually are in the midst of really tough times, sometimes you aren't able to think deep thoughts or focus long enough to read more than a few sentences. Though I favor the Psalms for the really tough times, I can see that this book could serve a need when you are too stressed to concentrate very deeply.

Max Lucado has a gift; he is able to distill complex theological issues into easily digestible and eloquent snippets. This book is no different. Lucado once again succeeds in offering comfort with compelling examples and biblical authority. This book would be a good gift book for a friend who is hurting, although there is one element that Lucado misses and that is explicit recognition that God's sustaining grace is often delivered through other believers. No one is meant to do life alone, most especially someone who is hurting. I wish that Lucado had written more about the importance of biblical community and our responsibility to seek it. God is Sovereign and He is faithful, and part of his plan is to see that we are comforted through His agents of love and compassion. If we isolate ourselves we cannot receive this gift of grace.

In For These Tough Times, a brief yet powerful, gift book author and Bible teacher Max Lucado addresses the problem of suffering with his characteristic wit, grace and encouragement.

Beginning with a question posed by Israel's second king in his compilation we call Psalms in the Bible, Lucado plumbs the depth of disappoint, disillusionment and death. He never sugar-coats the realities of the harshness of life while gently and firmly reminding us that God is there, this circumstance is not out of the blue for Him and there is a way through this event. Christ will walk you though the valley to the mountaintop.

This small volume ends with a prayer which Lucado wrote shortly after the most troubling time in America's recent history, 9-11. God has seen us though innumerable challenges and with the words of this simple prayer those of us who suffer ask as Lucado did during that time. Do it again, Lord, do it again.

I suffer from bad anxiety attacks. I never know what will bring one on or how long it will last. Some have been known to stick around for as long as a month before. The bottom line is that they are NOT fun at all. A few days ago I could feel an attack bubbling just under the surface. That night I found this book and started to read and didn't put it down until I had read it from cover to cover. Of course, being only 79 pages long didn't make it much of a challenge to read in one sitting.

This book covers several different topics, all of which are backed up by scripture and illustrated with several real world applications and scenarios. The topics range from where is God, to God's love for us, to revenge to prayer and even God's own perspective.

Reading it reminded me that God is for us. All of us. That He is here in the now and He is in control. A lot of times I tend to think of God in past tense terms. What a wake up call and reminder this book was, especially during one of my attacks. Whenever I have an attack, I find myself wishing I could control it; wishing I could stop them all together. What I neglect to do is realize that all of the worrying in the world isn't going to change a thing. Bad things are going to happen to good people. Good things are going to happen to bad people. The thing that we all need to remember, and what this book tries to remind us to do, is to put our faith in God. To realize that He is in control and that He loves us.

I believe that this book was originally written just after the September 11th attacks. But it covers a wide array of topics. From the death of a loved one, to a relationship that has been broken to poverty and hunger. If you need reminding that God is in control and loves you this book is for you.

Max Lucado has always been one of my favorite authors. In fact, I once asked the Lord to make me into the female Max Lucado of Christian writing. His reply? "Why don't you just be the female Jeanette Levellie of Christian writing?" Oh, well. I tried.

In this 80 page book, Lucado addresses common questions such as, "Where is God when all that is good falls apart?" and "Is God really in control? If so, what is He thinking?"

Overall, this book was an encouragement to not blame God when things go wrong, to find His grace in the storm, and to find peace by forgiving those who have wronged us. The poignant word pictures Lucado paints are stirring and heartening.

I was, however, appalled by his chapter on how God "uses satan" to fulfill His purposes. In my Bible, satan is the accuser of the brethren and the father of lies. Although God is master at turning around satan's schemes to destroy us, and bringing good ends from bad beginnings, they are in no way on the same team. Not even in the same league.

If you can overlook this chapter and not allow it to hurt your faith in a loving, good Father, you will find hope and comfort in the remainder of the book.

--- Jen