Mike Horton's New Book -- Ordinary

Mike Horton's newest book will be released in October.  You may recall the White Horse Inn series, "the Ordinary."  Michael's manuscript was the basis for those programs.

Here's the publisher's blurb (Zondervan):

Radical. Crazy. Transformative and restless. Every word we read these days seems to suggest there’s a “next-best-thing,” if only we would change our comfortable, compromising lives. In fact, the greatest fear most Christians have is boredom—the sense that they are missing out on the radical life Jesus promised. One thing is certain. No one wants to be “ordinary.”

Yet pastor and author Michael Horton believes that our attempts to measure our spiritual growth by our experiences, constantly seeking after the next big breakthrough, have left many Christians disillusioned and disappointed. There’s nothing wrong with an energetic faith; the danger is that we can burn ourselves out on restless anxieties and unrealistic expectations. What’s needed is not another program or a fresh approach to spiritual growth; it’s a renewed appreciation for the commonplace.

Far from a call to low expectations and passivity, Horton invites readers to recover their sense of joy in the ordinary. He provides a guide to a sustainable discipleship that happens over the long haul—not a quick fix that leaves readers empty with unfulfilled promises. Convicting and ultimately empowering, Ordinary is not a call to do less; it’s an invitation to experience the elusive joy of the ordinary Christian life.

 You can pre-order the book here:  Mike Horton's Ordinary

Comments

[Ruben Cardenas]

Now there's a book my generation needs to read. I'm sure it'll bring some much needed biblical sanity to the whole conversation about discipleship and vocation. I just read Veith's book "God At Work" a few months ago and found it super helpful. A real paradigm-shifter for many evangelicals if they'd read it. And I anticipate Horton's to be no less helpful.

[Alberto]

Way before you all started talking about that on the White Horse Inn, I became tired of the revolutionary and radical talk coming from many. It's not that foreign to me because I heard it constantly in my Pentecostal upbringing. I did get a bit burned out by this because I was not experiencing the kind of supernatural living some were promising if only I let go and let God. The lack of good biblical teaching didn't help the situation either. I then "naturally" started listening to Renewing Your Mind, the WHI, and others who were more ordinary; they were more interested in teaching the kinds of things found in confessional documents.

This problem seems to come from that Enthusiast/Charismatic background of many. But I think perhaps more deeply, this teaching and emphasis is a product of Chafer and others. Perhaps Wesley as well? It seems to be a manifestation of spiritual and carnal Christian teaching. But perhaps I'm wrong?

[Matt Holst]

Another great book by Horton, no doubt. I am looking forward to reading it.

[Deborah]

I always appreciate Dr. Horton's books and have already pre-ordered this one. The church I attended for 14 years is so busy trying to create a weekly whiz-bang worship experience that the wonder of God, His magnificent plan of redemption, and the Sacraments have been completely overshadowed by the "worship" rock concert.