THE BIGGERNESS

The Devil in Pew Number Seven

2012-02-05T21:42:00.007-05:00

Ramona and Robert Nichols moved to Sellerstown, North Carolina in 1969 where Robert would be the pastor of the Free Welcome Holiness Church. All seemed well for the Nichols, yet in the church, in pew seven, an adversary was beginning his plot to end the Nichols' time of blissful service of Jesus and his church. Mr. Watts had spent years controlling the church and community. When his control of the church slipped through his fingers while support for the new pastor grew, Mr. Watts unleashed a plan of terror on the young family. He sent threatening letters and disrupted worship services. Bombs being detonated on the parsonage property within feet of the parsonage on multiple occasions, causing windows to break from the blasts.

Even though the whole community knew Mr. Watts was behind it all, law enforcement couldn't collect evidence enough for an arrest, one reason being he always hired others to do his dirty work.

Just before Easter 1978, the terror came to a head when an angry man with a gun entered the Nichols home. Shots were fired and young Rebecca, age 7, witnessed this tragic end of years of torment. Sadly, Rebecca still carried the scars from this dark day in her life and many dark days followed. The Devil in Pew Number Seven is her story. Now in her 40's and with a family of her own, Rebecca Nichols Alonzo shares her journey through the valley of death and into the light on the other side.

The Devil in Pew Number Seven is a beautiful example of how "we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). Rebecca Nichols Alonzo shares her life and offers help and hope for those who have endured deep pain in their lives. This book shows how faith is an anchor when stormy seas abound and what it means to cling to the old rugged cross when there is a devil in pew number seven.

(A free copy of this book was provided by Tyndale Publishers in exchange for an honest review.)

I am Second

2012-01-13T09:16:00.013-05:00

Everyone loves a good story, whether it be told on the big screen in visual form, in a book, or in conversation with a friend. We all seem to be moved especially by a story that actually happened. These stories inspire us to be better people and to appreciate life and others at a deeper level. God is the great storyteller and He is writing each and everyone of our stories, even if we don't accept it or even like it. His desire is for us to surrender our stories to Him. In the surrender, He becomes the focal point and we are given peace, forgiveness, and purpose. We must say the God is first and I am second. In their recent book I Am Second, Doug Bender and Dave Sterrett share 20 stories from people who have made God first and made the proclamation that "I am Second."

The stories include rock stars, successful businessmen and athletes, and others who are not as widely known or not known at all. When faced with God, they all found that they have the same need. They needed to be rescued from the wreckage and chaos that their lives had become. In the rubble, God became real and their lives were changed forever.

I Am Second has such varied stories that the readers will find personal connection at some point in the reading and will most likely see pieces of their own stories scattered throughout the book. If you prefer to watch a video and hear the story told by the actual person, a QR code is provided so you can do just that. Additional codes are added at the end of each story if you want to watch other videos for stories not included as part of the book.

I recommend this book to anyone searching for God and meaning, but also to those (like myself) who have those moments of wondering what God is doing or possibly struggling with purpose and sensing God's presence. This book is a powerful reminder of what can happen when you put God first in your life and boldly claim: I am Second!!

To learn more about "I am Second" go to www.iamsecond.com

I received a copy of this book free of charge from Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review.

Ascent from Darkness by Michael Leehan

2011-09-19T04:54:00.006-04:00

Michael Leehan served Satan for twenty years. His life consisted of ritualistic cuttings on his arms to draw blood used to invite demons in, depression, jail time, ruined relationships, and doing spiritual battle with his enemies, the followers of Jesus. There was no end to what Leehan would do to serve his master, Satan, and it eventually led to his utimate assignment for the father of lies. The assignment: to kill Craig Groeschel, the senior pastor of Lifechurch.tv.

In his first book, Ascent from Darkness, Michael Leehan takes his readers on a journey unlike any they have ever been on as he recounts in detail his descent into Satanism. This is a true story of one man's giving up of himself for the darkness and emptying his entire being to evil. It contains tragedy and terror, but is filled with hope as he begins his ascent out of it.

I have read many books that deal with supernatural and spiritual issues, but this is one of the best I have given my time to. Leehan is open and honest about what he was thinking as he did the things that he did, and gives an honest assessment of what he experienced with Christians, the good and the bad. I am moved spiritually by this book as I look seriously at my heart condition and my commitment to Jesus. At one point in the book, Leehan writes "What is the difference between a Satanist and a lukewarm Christian...Nothing." Encouragement abounds between the covers of this book as you read about the many Christians that were not lukewarm as they pursued Leehan, prayed for him, and loved him where he was until God rescued him.

I recommend that everyone read this book, Christians and non-Christians alike. It will provide a realistic encounter with what the spiritual realm looks like and why the battle is there and not in the flesh. It also provide answers to the only hope we have in surviving....Jesus Christ.

I received this book free from the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze program in exchange for my honest review.

Vigilante by Robin Parrish

2011-09-10T14:50:00.005-04:00

The world is controlled by evil men, crime lords that have no limit to the pain and and agony they are willing to inflict on the innocent. Everyday citizens live in a state of fear, with no hope of positive change coming anytime soon. Is there anyone or anything out there to rescue and bring light to the darkness overshadowing all of mankind?

Nolan Gray, the most highly decorated soldier in American war history, has been killed. Can the U.S. take anymore? Gray, a symbol of heroism, taken down. Another sign of defeat and despair.

However, Gray has faked his murder only to become "The Hand" to SHOW EVERYONE A BETTER WAY. Gray, with the help of Branford, an old military buddy, and Arjay, a genius at making high-tech weaponry and gadgets, takes on crime in New York City. His vision is that his mission will change the hearts of people, reviving hope that crime is not the way to live and that there is a better way. Along the way, Gray and his team make an enemy of Yuri Vasko, the most powerful crime lord in New York City, and the battle is on.

This is the first book of Robin Parrish's that I have read and it was worth the time. It is a fast-paced, adrenalin-rushing, action thriller. The short chapters keep you turning pages until the satisfying ending is reached. Parrish has created a crime fighter in Nolan Gray that you can relate to in his humanity, as he is passionately seeking justice one minute and battling his own will and desire for vengeance the next. He was a real person with real personal demons that haunt him from the past.

Parrish has done well with Vigilante and I look forward to my next read by this gifted writer.

(I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.)

100 Read and Sing Devotions

2011-08-24T05:56:00.009-04:00

God created us for praise and worship of Him. He desires for us to sing praises to Him, study His Word, and communicate with Him in prayer. He also has a special place in his heart for children, which we see in Jesus as He continually gathered the children around himself to show what the Kingdom of God looks like. 100 Read and Sing Devotions by Stephen Elkins and beautifully illustrated by Tim O'Connor is a great book to help in leading children into Kingdom life.

This devotional book is unlike most I have seen for children in that it combines several important elements to disciple a child's heart. These elements are found as the devotions follow the following format:

A Bible song: The song provides the foundation for what the focus of that particular devotion. The book comes with 2 cd's containing all 100 songs.
A short, easy to understand devotion that points to God and Jesus.
"Word Watch": A short scripture highlighting that devotion's topic.
"My Prayer for Today": A short (one or two sentence/phrase) prayer.

Also, the book is designed in a "padded" hard cover format, having the feel of a soft cover with the durability of a hardback. Some kids are hard on books and this one should be able to take it.

I really only have one minor complaint about this book, but it is good for potential purchasers to know. It contains the 100 songs (each running at about a minute in length) but the book only contains the first line or two of the lyrics. Complete lyrics would be helpful in helping parents (or grandparents) to teach the songs, since some of the songs may be unfamiliar. An online site to download the lyrics, if needed, would have been acceptable, but I couldn't find anything anything in the book addressing this.

I am impressed with this book and look forward to using it to read and sing songs with my granddaughter.

I received this book free of charge from the Booksneeze.com program in exchange for my honest review.

Billy Graham in Quotes

2011-06-18T07:01:00.003-04:00

I remember as a child going to a Billy Graham crusade at the Atlanta Stadium. The sight of hundreds of people walking onto the field toward the platform where Graham was preaching the Gospel amazed me. What was it about this man? Now 40 years later, I realize it wasn't this man, but the Word preached that moved people out of their seats and onto the field. The Word demanded a response. Graham has been in ministry for over 70 years and has managed to not be involved in any major controversy. He has received his share of criticism, but has stayed true to his calling to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Because of this, it would do us good to listen to what this preacher has to say. Now, with Billy Graham in Quotes, we can hear what he has to say. This book, compiled by his son Franklin Graham, is arranged topically (A-Z) so we can find a quote from this great minister on a variety of topics.

Here are just a few samples:

" In some churches today and on some religious television programs, we see the attempt to make Christianity popular and pleasant. We have taken the cross away and substituted cushions."

" The cross shows the seriousness of our sin - but it also shows us the immeasurable love of God."

"Many Christians want the benefits of their belief, but they hesitate at the cost of discipleship."

"The will of God will never take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us."

"Envy and greed starve on a steady diet of thanksgiving."

"End your journey well. Don't waste your life, and don't be satisfied with anything less than God's plan."

"The Christian life isn't a playground but a battlefield."

"If we are at peace with this world, it may be because we have sold out to it and compromised with it."

"The more worldly pleasure we enjoy, the less satisfied and contented we are with life."

"Salvation is an act of God. It is initiated by God, wrought by God, and sustained by God."

"Our chaotic, confused world has no greater need than to hear the Gospel truth."

Hundreds more gems like these are found in this collection of quotes.

This book is a great reference tool for times when you need some encouragement or insight into a particular area of struggle in your life, or if you need simply to to be refocused and re-centered on what matters most...Jesus Christ. This would make a great gift book as well.

This book was provided free in exchange for a review through the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze program for bloggers.

Psalm 18

2011-06-03T06:41:00.003-04:00

This great psalm of David spoke to me this morning through the Holy Spirit. The words reveal the promises of God to protect and care for His own. The Lord is called a rock, a fortress, deliverer, a refuge, a shield, a stronghold...and all this in only the 1st 3 verses.
David writes from a place of knowing what it means to be ensnared and strangled by the very throes of death (v.4-5) and be delivered. When I am distressed, as David was, I can cry out to God because He is my God, and He will hear my voice and my cry. It will reach His ears.
When God moves, nature responds. In fact, God is speaking to us all the time in nature as he command it. He uses nature to act on behalf of His people. God always delivers his people. We see it throughout scripture: we see it on the cross and in the resurrection as Jesus provides deliverance from the eternal consequences of sin and from the wrath of God that we all deserve, but was absorbed by Christ.
The question that always lingers and hovers over all of this, and completely baffles me at times, is Why?

Why does God even put up with us?

Why does He speak to us and deliver us, even through natural means?

Why does He hear our cries, cries that often come from a place of being in the middle of the mess we created for ourselves?

The answer is found in Psalm 18:19 when David writes these words of healing:

...because he delighted in me.

Imagine that:

The God that made everything and can destroy all things to dust with one breath

This God that holds all things together (Col. 1:17)

The God who has always been (Gen.1/John1)

The God who said "let there be light and there was light" (Gen 1:3) and then did the same in our hearts (2 Cor. 4:6)

This is the God who delights in us, who delights in me. He wants what is best for me and will go to great length to make sure I get it. He delights in me, like an artist that creates a work of art and looks on it in joy and sees its great worth. Or the joy and delight I see in my wife's eyes when she sees her granddaughter...delight. God's heart overflows with love toward us. He is delighted when we delight in Him.

Psalm 18 is based on a passage in 2 Samuel 22. The two versions of the song are almost identical, but one difference stood out to me. Psalm 18: 1 says: I love you, O Lord, my strength. The 2 Samuel version doesn't contain this; it begins at Psalm 18:2. Is it possible that Psalm 18:1 is a dedication, where David speaks his love to his Lord before putting the song down on paper, something like this:

I love you, O Lord, my strength. I delight in you. you have shown your great delight in me through the deliverance of my life from my enemies and from death itself. Here is my song of praise to you."

This great psalm flows out of a heart that delights in God...a heart that knows and understands that God delights in him.

God delights in you. Immerse yourself in Him!

Desiring God- The DVD study

2011-05-30T09:31:00.007-04:00

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." This is the main of point of Desiring God by John Piper and is the purpose statement that has directed his ministry over many years. I had already read the book (which I highly recommend that all Christians read), but was excited to receive the DVD set and study guide to view. The DVD set is broken down into 10 short clips of around 30 minutes each and the study guide is arranged to be used as a 12 week group study.

Piper teaches that the pursuit of pleasure for Christians is not optional, but essential. This pleasure is not a worldly pleasure where we seek to satisfy all of our fleshly cravings, but a pleasure where all desires are satiated in enjoying God. It is joy in God that we pursue and it is joy we are to fight for. Piper unpacks many scriptural texts and you will find precious jewels uncovered in the crevices of familiar passages. I had moments when I asked myself, "How did I miss that?" Piper's method of reading and understanding the Bible, through underling phrases and words and connecting them with lines and arrows, helped me to see the truths he was teaching. He teaches on finding joy in suffering, sanctification, worship, the ministry, evangelism and more.

After watching, I had an increased desire within me to enjoy God more than anything else and to pursue Him relentlessly. That will be my on-going prayer, for God to strengthen that desire and to help me be most satisfied in Him, so He will get the Glory. These DVDs are well worth the time spent watching.

I received this book free from Multnomah Blogging for Books program in exchange for a review.

Male and Female?

2011-05-27T09:17:00.004-04:00

Kathy Witterick and David Stocker appear to be your typical parents. They have three children: Jazz, Kio and their youngest, Storm. But these parents are anything but typical. Unfortunately, they may be what could become typical. What makes them different is the fact that they have chosen to raise their children "genderless." (the two older children know they are boys)You may be asking the same question I asked which is "How can you raise a genderless child?" To this couple, this means that they will not tell anyone the sex of Storm, nor will they contribute to any gender social norms (blues and pinks for clothing, hairstyles, etc.) for any of their children. Nor will they use "he" or "she" when referring to Storm. To quote them, this is "a tribute to freedom and choice in place of limitation." David says, "If you really want to get to know someone, you don't ask what's between their legs."

I must admit that when I first read this, I was hoping these people were kidding. I knew they were not. I happen to have a schoolteacher friend that has a similar situation with a student, where the parent lets her daughter be a boy. I agree that you don't ask what's between someone's legs in order to really get to know them. His comparison of what they are doing as parents to knowing someone is a giant leap of logic and reason, even silly and ignorant. In fact, for the seriousness of the issue at hand, his response was lighthearted to the point of being irresponsible and, to me , quite unsettling. Gender is not something you get to choose. Saying someone is not a girl or boy (or even surgically changing genitalia) doesn't change the fact that they are a girl or a boy. God is very clear on human creation from the very beginning in Genesis 1:27 where we read:

So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them.

Kathy and David have bought into the cultural lie that gender doesn't matter and is limiting in some way. God created male and female for the obvious reason of procreation, but also for having two defining genders to complement each other and join together as they image God on the earth. The marriage relationship, male and female, models God's relationship to man and Christ's relationship to the church. When these images are perverted and confused (which this situation and the whole realm of other gender perversions we see on a daily basis does), the very image of God is also confused and perverted. God is glorified and honored when men and women embrace their natural gender for the proclamation and fame of His name. When a human attempts to, or even claims the right to, appoint or assign gender, he has removed the lordship of Jesus Christ and placed himself on the throne as a false creator and this is a path to destruction.

I am saddened that these children are being stripped and robbed of truly knowing who they are, as created by God. This abuse in the name of freedom needs to be stopped. How will this gender denial play out in the future relationships and possible marriages of their children and future generations? Are Kathy and David even asking questions like this or is this a way for them to play out their own confusion vicariously through their children? Witterick writes, "In fact, in not telling the gender of my precious baby, I am saying to the world, 'Please can you just let storm discover for him/herself what (s)he wants to be?!'"

Sorry, Kathy, it has already been decided and it is my prayer that you will let God mold Storm and your other children (and you) in this decision that He has made in His divine will and surrender your will to His.

Read the whole story here:

Parents keep child's gender secret - Parentcentral.ca

How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen

2011-05-20T07:00:00.003-04:00

For years I have talked about writing, both fiction and non fiction. This blog and my previous one, Thin Places, were birthed out of this desire. If it has crossed your mind to put pen to paper (or fingers to the keyboard) to create a non-fiction book, then How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen is a must read. Larsen has been a literary agent since the early 1970's and brings his vast knowledge and experience to this book. He reveals everything an aspiring writer needs to know to write and sell his or her non fiction book idea. This is not a book about writing style, though there are some helpful tools in that matter. This book is about how to outline and put everything together to get published. Larsen writes early on that "this requires a fundamental shift in your thinking from being an artist to being a merchant, from being a writer with something to say to being an author with something to sell."
Publishing is a business and Larsen provides a must-have resource for anyone with that dream or gnawing book idea that needs to get out. I plan to keep this book close by as I try to get my ideas into a marketable form. We all read enough non-fiction, don't you think it's time we write something of our own?
Get to writing and get this book.

This book was provided at no charge from www.Booksneeze.com in exchange for this review.

The Next Story by Tim Challies

2011-05-14T06:56:00.012-04:00

If you are reading this, you are engaged in the use of technology. You may be reading this on your computer or even your phone. If you have set yourself up as a follower of my blog, then you may have heard a BEEP! as you received an email on your phone, alerting you to the fact that I had posted something. It is difficult- I would say impossible- to live in this digital age and not be "connected" with some sort of digital device.

This digital age we find ourselves in has not always existed. In fact, I remember the day of rotary phones, 8-track players, and television with a very limited number of channels (I was fortunate enough to grow up in the Atlanta area when Ted Turner was getting his conglomerate started, so we had a few extras. If you don't know who Ted Turner is, then Google his name and you will see what I mean). I am what Tim Challies, in his new book The Next Story, would call a digital immigrant...I remember the pre-digital world. My children, however, are digital natives...they were born into it.They move from one device to the next effortlessly and , unfortunately, with little thought or reflection to how they are being affected by it.

In The Next Story, Challies provides us with an excellent resource broken into two main sections: the first helping us to understand technology and the history of the digital that has brought us to where we are today; the second part helps us to understand the implications of this digital world we live in and how to be discerning, as a Christian, in our use of it.

Because I think everyone should read this, Christians and non-Christians alike, I am not going to go over all the details of the book, but will highlight the points that I found most helpful. In Chapter 5 of The Next Story, Challies discusses "media" or "mediated information", basically meaning there is a medium ( a device of some sort) that stand between the sender and the receiver of information. He points to the introduction, and the eventual dominance, of "the screen" into our lives. This began with the movie screen, that people went to another location to view, and has become controlling in our lives where we may be monitoring multiple screens at the same time (i.e. looking at our laptop while watching television and keeping tabs on our cell phone simultaneously). Until reading the statistics Challies provides on the average time spent looking at "the screen", I was oblivious to it....it was just a typical day for me. Is this good or bad? The answer depends on if the things that God says are important are being sacrificed on the altar of technology. It could be face-to-face time in real relationships or the false intimacy of Facebook "friends", neglected responsibilities, or disintegrating ability to think deeply about the things that matter, primarily the things of God and his purposes and will. When I seriously looked at it, I was convicted by what I saw in myself and my use of technology.

Another aspect that I found so intriguing about this book was the discussion of truth and relevance and the subtle way these can be undermined with our use of technology. Challies educates his readers about how Google and Wikipedia function and how they try to determine for us what is relevant and true about any particular topic. For instance, if you do a Google search on any topic, it will be determine the most "relevant" link for you to go to find your information, with Wikipedia usually being either the first or second choice. Interestingly, many people will blindly accept as truth what Wikipedia says, not understanding the fact that anyone can write or edit a Wikipedia article, without any regard for accuracy or truthfulness, or of the writer being an authority on the subject. I am sure you can see the implications of all this. Basically, the consensus determines truth and relevance in this digital age, which is why Christians must be discerning. We know that God is Truth, so we must hold to God's Word as the Truth source.

I highly recommend this book and hope you will read it. It will help you in traversing the digital landscape as we live in The Next Story.

Thanks to Tim Challies and Zodervan for providing me this book to read and review. I highly recommend Tim Challies'blog at http://www.challies.com/

Slave by John Macarthur

2011-04-21T06:46:00.004-04:00

"Slave of Christ Jesus." If you are in Christ, then this is your new identity, according to the latest book by John MacArthur, Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ. But why would MacArthur say this is a hidden truth? It comes down to one word: doulos. Doulos is the Greek word for slave and it appears 124 times in the New Testament and is the most common word that the writers of the New Testament use when denoting their identity and relationship to Christ. Surprised or confused,wondering why you never noticed it before? The answer, as identified by MacArthur, is that the word has been translated as servant in most cases. So what? you may ask. Servant, Slave, same thing isn't it? The problem is that the Greek language has a dozen or so words that can mean servant and doulos is not one of them. Doulos only refers to a slave or an attitude or status of a slave. This is very important and has dramatically altered my view of my identity in Christ.
Here is why it makes a difference in what word is used: Servants are hired; Slaves are owned.
Jesus used numerous illustrations where he used slave imagery to explain the relationship between himself and his disciples, including the well know statement "Well done, good and faithful servant" (literally good and faithful slave [doulos]) (Matthew 25:21)
Paul understood this slave relationship when he said, "You are not your own for you have been bought with a price." (1 Cor. 6:19-20) The New Testament writers commonly referred to themselves as "servants [doulos] of Christ Jesus" ( Romans 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1; Revelation 1:1)

MacArthur carries the reader through scripture as he describes slavery and shows the connection and importance of slaves being joyfully loyal to their Master. The slave is given the privileged status of adoption as part of the family. What could be greater than to be a slave to a gracious and merciful Master that will provide for all your needs and give you a seat at His family's table?

In summary, there are only two kinds of people: slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness (which can only come through Christ)
Which are you?

Knock 'em Dead:The Ultimate Job Search Guide 2011

2011-04-12T05:42:00.008-04:00

When I saw the opportunity to review this book, I asked myself if I really wanted to look at another job search guide, especially one that claimed to be the "ultimate" guide. Having worked for years helping welfare recipients find employment and end their dependence on the government, I have read plenty of books telling me how to construct a resume and interview well. Why would this one be any different? I am not sure what makes a guide the ultimate guide, but this one is actually one of the better ones I have seen. Martin Yate has written a book that will help the job seeker get an edge in the search process which, in today's broken economy with record unemployed, is crucial. This book will also help those who are wanting to change careers or get a better job in the same industry. Yate begins the book by stressing the point of defining the product of what he calls MeInc. and branding the product. I thought he did a very good job in helping the reader identify transferable skills that are needed and desired by most employers. These are used to help differentiate you, the job searcher, from your competitors. Once you know who you are and what you are offering, then you can construct a resume. What stood out to me in this book is the comprehensive way he handles interview questions. Yate dedicates four chapters to a detailed look at difficult interview questions and how to prepare for them and answer with confidence. The book is worth the money for these sections alone. Other sections include negotiating salaries and where the jobs are today. If you know someone struggling in their job search or someone wanting a career change, this book would make a great gift for them. I received this book free from the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze Program in exchange for an honest review.

The Corruptible by Mark Mynheir

2011-03-26T15:49:00.007-04:00

Ray Quinn, ex-homicide detective now private investigator, has just been hired by Mayer Holdings to recover some stolen "merchandise" in the form of a brown satchel and a hard drive containing important information. The value of this information is evidenced by the obscene amount of the check Ray is holding to take the job. Being of sound mind, at least when he is not drunk from spending time with his closest friend Jim Beam, and being broke, he takes the case. When the person suspected of taking the merchandise is found in a shady motel with a skull-handled knife protruding from his chest, the investigation spirals into complexity. Ray and his assistant Crevis find themselves neck-deep in trouble as they tackle the obstacles of the case. Add the personal struggles of Ray's alcoholism and his disability from his days as a cop and Crevis' studying to pass the police exam, tempers and stress are at a high.

This is the plot of Mark Mynheir's latest novel, The Corruptible, the second installment in the Ray Quinn Mystery series. As in the first book, The Night Watchman, Mynheir brings his knowledge as a real-life detective to play in an action packed, fun-to-read book. He has created characters that are realistic, that the reader will actually care about. I enjoy the senses of humor that Ray Quinn is able to maintain in the midst of crazy situations he volunteers himself into.This is the third book I have read by Mynheir and I would recommend him to anyone that likes crime drama. I have recommended his books on numerous occasions. I read novels for entertainment and this one, along with the other Mynheir books I've read, will deliver. Enjoy.

This book was provided free of charge by the Multnomah Blogging for Books Program in exchange for an honest review.

Soul Surfer

2011-02-11T09:30:00.010-05:00

Last night I had the privilege of attending a pre-screening of the new movie Soul Surfer which releases in theatres on April 8. Soul Surfer presents the story of Bethany Hamilton, an up and coming surf champion in Hawaii, who had her life turned upside down when, at age 13, a shark attack results in the loss of one of her arms. Hamilton, played by AnnaSophia Robb (Because of Winn-Dixie, Bridge to Terabithia) wrestles with God's purposes as she seeks to rebuild her life and shattered dreams. Encouraged and supported by her parents(played by Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt), and refocused by her youth minister (played by Carrie Underwood), Bethany embarks on a journey of discovery, one that takes her to visit tsunami victims in Thailand, into her own heart and finally back onto the waves. Soul Surfer is a rare movie jewel in the fact that it presents an engaging true story, but is not laced with profanity and sexual content. This movie shows that with God all things truly are possible and that life, even in tragedy, is worth living to the fullest.
Support this movie by going to see it on opening weekend (April 8). Link to the trailer below.

Watch the Soul Surfer Trailer

The Ill-Tempered Klavier by Ben Shive

2011-01-08T08:54:00.008-05:00

I love this record (CD for you younger folk). Referring to this as a record is appropriate because it hearkens back to the day when a new music release meant an entire collection of new music from your favorite band or artist. Every song mattered and it's merit wasn't dependent on the success of a single-song download. The Ill-Tempered Klavier by Ben Shive contains songs that matter. I received this CD as a Christmas gift and have listened to it in its entirety probably twenty times since then. I can't craft words that do it justice, but since you need to have something to give you reason to purchase this for your collection, here we go.

The Ill-Tempered Klavier will be satisfying to music fans that bore with the usual 3 minute radio hits. Here you will find tunes that are not unlike the Beatles with the string arrangements swirling in and out of beautiful melodies. Unexpected changes and variance of instruments keeps the listener engaged.

A Name, A Name, A Name sounds like it could have been on the White Album.

Out of Tune is a bouncy tune with an old upright piano sharing his heart. Rise Up is a song of that builds in intensity providing hope for those who believe in a final victory over all evil .

My favorite song on this record is Do You Remember?, a love song that shows the joy of remembering all that has gone into the building of a relationship. Fans of The Beach Boys will quickly notice that this one could have easily been on Pet Sounds, complete with great Brian Wilsonesque harmonies and catchy melody.

My next favorite is New Year which can best be described by considering what would happen if you blended The Alan Parsons Project with Christopher Cross (If you have to ask who these are, then see paragraph 1). Yes, you guessed it....an immediate radio hit because of its simplicity, yet heart level connectivity so all can relate. You will hum along with this one and want to hit repeat and hear it again when it is over.

4th of July is a different take on our independence celebration.

I could go on and on about this record. It is that good. My recommendation is that you download it for only $7 from The Rabbit Room at http://www.rabbitroom.com/ (click on the music tab at the top). Get the lyric sheet from http://www.benshive.com/, grab a cup of coffee, put your headphones and enjoy.

Help this talented musician in continuing to provide quality music. His second release, The Cymbal Crashing Clouds, is now in the making and I can't wait to hear it.

The Charlatan's Boy by Jonathan Rogers

2010-12-28T07:58:00.007-05:00

Grady is an orphan that has no idea of who he is or where he came from. He is also the narrator of Jonathan Roger's new book, The Charlatan's Boy:
"I don't remember one thing about the day I was born. It hasn't been for lack of trying either...I only know one man who might be able to tell me where I come from, and that man is a liar and a fraud."
That liar is Floyd, a flim-flammer just looking for his next big "act" that will rake in the copper coins. His on-going act is in the feechie trade; this act focuses on Grady playing the role of a for-real in the flesh feechie. Everyone in the frontier of Corenwald has heard of the feechies, but no one has ever seen one.
Grady plays one and Floyd cashes in on it. When the civilizers tire of talk of feechies, Floyd and Grady revive interest by creating a feechie scare across the land. The plan works and so business booms again.
Jonathan Rogers has created a world that hints of the American Deep South, with its tales that weave truth and legend. Being a native Georgian like Rogers, I appreciate his yarn-spinning and had to laugh at times thinking of similar type stories I had heard growing up...not of feechies, but of other mysterious entities just waiting to gobble you up in the night (or if they are daring, in broad daylight). Humor and sadness are quilted into satisfying quest for belonging and self discovery. I applaud Rogers for this contribution to Southern literature which is great for children and adults alike.
I received this book for free from Waterbrook Mutnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Tired of Trying to Measure Up by Jeff VanVonderen

2010-12-19T04:50:00.004-05:00

I wasn't sure what to expect when I began reading this book. I only know that my spirit resonated with the title because I was, without question, tired of trying to measure up. VanVonderen has broken his book into two parts: Part 1: Wounded by Shame and Part 2: Healed by Grace.

Part 1 works toward revealing what is at the core of the feeling of not measuring up to what the world or specific people expect. It explores a fascinating model of how one gets caught in a cycle of give up/try hard. This cycle is one of defeat and a continual drive to "perform" better. VanVonderen details how this cycle works as one caught in it filters everything through a lens he calls the "shame-based grid", a view that clouds all of life with failure and shame. A person living in this grid will remain tired because nothing will ever be enough and yet will continue to try to do better and work a little harder to measure up and be acceptable. It is a futile effort with destructive results, not only to the one "trying harder" but to all relationships and people in their path. Reading this first section, I had more than a few "a-ha" moments as I saw myself in the illustration and model he presented. I was relieved to move to part 2 for some help in the cycle.

Part 2: Healed by Grace begins with an introduction stating that "it is God's grace, not our striving, that makes us accepted and acceptable. It is His performance in Christ, not our trying to perform, that eradicates our shame...we can be loved, accepted, capable, and worthwhile for free-because, in love, God purchased our eternal state of 'acceptedness' with the blood of His own Son, Jesus Christ...That's the real Good News of the gospel." This section introduces the "rest cycle" to replace the "give up/try hard cycle" and focuses on the grace grid which is replacing the shame-based grid. The goal of the grace grid is to be alive, where the goal of the shame based grid is to perform better and be acceptable. In Christ, the work has already been accomplished on the Cross by Christ and because of that, I am accepted and acceptable to Him, the only one I need to be accepted by. VanVonderen provides a lot of scripture to point out the grace grid that he is presenting, which is basically our identity in Christ.

This book helped to bring some clarity to areas of my life that I found to be helpful. Seeing some of his points played out in my life wasn't easy to take and accept, but overall it was beneficial to understanding why I do certain things and think certain ways. I recommend this book to anyone that battles feelings of inadequacy and struggles with being "good enough" in anyone's eyes. If you have wondered where all of these feelings come from and want to move to freedom in Christ, this is a good read for you.

In the Spirit of Christmas by Chuck Cape

2010-11-19T06:50:00.013-05:00

The season is almost upon us. The time for celebrating the birth of Jesus. One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is the music. Late November and December have a melody of their own and the joy and peace is captured in them. You hear it in laughter and even in the background of the hustle and bustle of shoppers at the mall. I look forward to Christmas each year in hopes that a new selection of holiday songs will catch my ear and be added to my collection of favorites. This year it is In the Spirit of Christmas by Chuck Cape. You might not see this CD displayed at your local music store, but don't let it slip past you (it can be purchased at iTunes).
I am a big fan of instrumental keyboard music, especially solo piano, and George Winston's December has been my all-time favorite piano CD. In the Spirit of Christmas belongs right next to it and if I keep listening to it, it may even surpass George on my Christmas instrumental favorites list. Cape has painted musical decorations and a snowfall of notes that fill any room with the joy and wonder of Christmas.

"A Winter's Hymn", with it's beautiful melody has an undercurrent of sadness, much like the sadness that come in the cold, chilly months of winter when all of nature seems to come to a standstill, waiting in silence for the first ray of spring and the dawning of new life. The title fits perfectly the feelings that stirred in me when I first listened: I wanted to kneel in awe of God and His mysterious gift of winter. Capes unique renderings of traditional Christmas carols such as Away in a Manger, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Joy to the World, and Jingle Bells are refreshing and warm the heart like a hot mug of wassail or a cup of hot chocolate warm the body.
I have included a video below for "The Remembrance Carol." I love what Cape says about where the song came from. He says, "My mom was the one that showed me the spirit of Christmas, but life moves on and she passed away a few years ago. I wrote this song the first Christmas after she passed. So, this song is dedicated to my Mom and anyone who has ever missed someone at Christmas." His words breathe life into the song and I can relate to them. This year will mark the 10th year anniversary of the death of my father, who left us suddenly two weeks before Christmas that year and only one week before our annual family Christmas get together. Knowing the story behind the song, it is hard for me not to listen as tears fill my eyes as I remember in sadness, but also in thankfulness of the time I had with my father. So, like Chuck Cape says, this song is for those of us that know what it is like to miss someone as you take in the sights and sound of Christmas.

As you can tell, I recommend this CD to all lovers of Christmas music, especially those of you who, like me, love to hear piano music blanketing the landscape during Christmas. Thank you, Chuck Cape, for a brilliant addition to the ever-expanding playlist of Christmas music.

Adventures in Booga Booga Land-Volume 1

2010-10-17T16:52:00.006-04:00

In Adventures in Booga Booga Land, we follow Gerard the Giraffe and Marty the monkey as they go through life in Booga Booga Land, living out the parables of Jesus. The first two segments cover the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) and the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 5:24-27). These parts told the parables correctly, but I thought they failed in overall application when they didn't even mention Jesus. The only place it was even mentioned as being from Jesus was in the titles of the segments. If I was a child unable to read, I would have no idea these had anything to do with God or Jesus' teaching.

The final segment, based on the Light of the World/Lamp under a bowl passage in Matthew 5:14-16, just didn't seem to make much sense with regard to what the segment was supposed to be based on. On top of this, the voices for the various characters were nothing unique and the script was lame. Attempts at humor fell flat. Maybe the books are better. As much as I was hoping to like this DVD, I'm not even sure if I would be willing to give it another chance. Farewell, Booga Booga Land.

Retiring my Bible

2010-10-01T06:42:00.002-04:00

I decided several weeks back, maybe even months, that on my birthday this year I would retire my Bible. I received this NIV Disciple's Study Bible from my parents on my birthday 1990, the year that Michelle and I returned to Christ after a time of wandering aimlessly. The truth contained in this book has carried me from the desert of Arizona back to Georgia and then to Tennessee. It has held me up through the death of my father and my brother. It has given me hope in the troubled waters of strained relationships and shined light into the dark places of my soul when I chose to hide in the shadows. In those twenty years, I have cried into it's pages over disappointments in life and unfulfilled dreams. It has consistently reminded me that I must die so Christ may live in me. Some lessons I learned and some I ignored, but it never gave up on me. The pages are filled with notes from my journey, so I will keep this treasured book in hopes that someone travelling behind me in later generations may pick it up and use it on the journey. So now I lay my friend aside and begin the next 20 years with my ESV Study Bible. I may consult my old friend occasionally to talk about "the good ole days" and see what it has been up to, but for now I say "Thank you" for a great 20 years.

The Least Among You-DVD Review

2010-09-23T05:34:00.003-04:00

The Least Among You, inspired by a true story, tells the story of Richard Kelly, a young black man, who is sent to serve probation at an all-white seminary after being arrested in the 1965 Watts riots. As Kelly faces racial obstacles to his acceptance at the seminary, he receives guidance from Samual Benton, the seminary's gardener and the only other black person on campus. Kelly finds that he is not only battling racism, but he is at the same time wrestling with God as the external war becomes one of an inner spiritual nature.Kelly must have an answer to a question: Is his purpose for being at the seminary a punishment or the providence of God?

I was hesitant in agreeing to review this DVD for Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze program, mainly because I haven't been overly impressed with many of the Christian movies (like Facing the Giants, etc.) that have been released in recent years, primarily because the preachiness of them just didn't feel like real life to me. With that said, I wasn't sure what to expect out of The Least Among You. I enjoyed the movie and had to examine my own heart as I asked myself how I would react or behave in the same situations the character's found themselves in. There were some scenes that lacked in their development and could have been explored a little more, but overall the film accomplished what I generally look for in a movie which is an hour or two of entertainment that doesn't insult my intelligence or overly offend me.

Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado

2010-09-07T11:51:00.005-04:00

In recent months, I have read several books that focus on global human needs (hunger, poverty, etc.) and challenge Christians, especially wealthy western Christians, to take a front-line position in helping to meet these needs. Max Lucado's most recent book, Outlive Your Life, is in keeping with this theme.

Lucado is known for his gift of storytelling to make a deeper spiritual point and OYL is no different. This book uses the early chapters of the biblical book of Acts as a springboard to tackle such topics as turning a blind eye to human needs, the importance of community, persecution, defending the helpless, and the power of prayer. I admit that I am not a big fan of Lucado, because I am distracted at times by his attempts to tell an engaging story when an in-your-face point would be more effective. Some topics are best not watered down.

With all that said, I enjoyed this book and, oddly enough, some of the story illustrations were my favorite parts. Go figure, my biggest complaints about Lucado in the past were what I benefited most from in this latest book from him. The opening, Father Benjamin: A Fable, was insightful into what it means to Outlive Your Life.

This book includes a Discussion and Action Guide in the back. I did not work through every question, but the parts I did look over were well done. I am convinced that the book is not intended to be read apart from this action guide. Using this guide would greatly enhance the book and would be a great tool for small groups to use to put the concepts into practice in a community setting.

Radical by David Platt

2010-08-15T04:56:00.013-04:00

This book crossed my path several times before I read it. I don't believe it is coincidental that I finally read it after returning from ten days in Kenya. I was, and still am, in a place of trying to sort through the ever-widening gap between how I live and how the average Kenyan lives. In Radical, David Platt addresses a variety of challenges that face western Christians, if they are to journey toward becoming more obedient to the teachings of Christ found in the scriptures. The subtitle of Radical is "taking back your faith from the American dream." Radical is built upon Platt's observation that we, American Christians, have made Jesus into our own image and worship this Jesus that feeds and even approves of our material excesses and devotion to our entertainment, comfort, and conveniences. God's purposes are much greater than this.
I must admit that this book made me uncomfortable as Platt told of his experiences from around the world working with various churches. This book is not just a book of inspiring stories. Platt does an excellent job in pointing to scripture to back up the truths he is sharing. I am confident that my squirming as I read this book came from the conviction of the Holy Spirit in how I have ignored and completely disobeyed the teachings of Christ because they weren't in line with the kingdom I am building for myself.
Here is some chapter titles that will give you a taste of what you can expect from Radical: (1) Someone Worth Losing Everything For (2) The Great Why of God: God's Global Purpose (3) How Much is Enough: American wealth in a World of Poverty.
I was both encouraged and challenged by this book. Encouraged that there are people addressing these topics and taking them seriously and challenged that I haven't been one of those people but have a stirring desire to be counted among them.
In this post, I have included 2 videos for you to watch: a general book video and also one of David Platt himself talking about the book. I strongly recommend this book for all Christians to read. It is in an easy to read style, but the content will not be easy for anyone. I am working my way through it a second time.

David Platt has challenged his church in Alabama to what he calls The Radical Experiment (http://www.radicalexperiment.org/).

Here are the five challenges included in the experiment:

In One Year:

To pray for the entire world
To read through the entire Bible
To commit our lives to a multiplying community
To sacrifice our money for a specific purpose
To give our time in another context

Details of the above can be found in the "Overview" section of the Experiment website. If you are interested in being part of an "experimental group" at some point in the future, leave a comment on this posting and we can talk about it.

Blessings as you journey in a Radical life for for Jesus.

The Boy Who Changed the World by Andy Andrews

2010-08-14T06:25:00.010-04:00

Everything you do matters. This is the truth that Andy Andrews presents in his new children's book, The Boy Who Changed the World.

The story is about a boy named Norman that decides to change the world and as an adult does just that. However, the story is also about Henry, George, and Moses. You see, each of these people impacted another's life, and that person impacted another and so on. It's the butterfly effect, the name given to the principle that everything triggers an effect on something else . All of these people did something that led to Norman being able to change the world. This book is a wonderful tool to instill in children the truth that that they can make a difference in the world, even if that difference is several generations away. The things we do today impact the future. Nothing is insignificant. As you can imagine, this is a message not just for children. It is a message for grownups, too.

This book is great for kids of all ages with it's wonderful message and beautiful illustrations by Philip Hurst. All will enjoy this as we move toward doing our part in changing the world. It starts today. I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Booksneeze books for bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16CFR, Part 255.

Two Books on Evangelism

2010-08-09T04:16:00.005-04:00

Thousands of books have been written on evangelism, with some promising results from a particular technique or formula and others in total dependence on God's Spirit to lead. In this posting, I want to introduce you to 2 books on evangelism, both which are faithful to biblical truth regarding "going and making disciples of all nations" (Mt. 28:19).

The first book is Evangelism & the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer. In this small book, coming in at only 135 pages, Packer provides a sound, biblical response to the question 'If God is ultimately sovereign in the saving of men, then why is evangelism even necessary, since it is out of man's realm of power or control?'

Packer discusses human responsibility on the front end, then moves into a detailed discussion of what is meant by evangelism by looking at what it meant to the greatest evangelist of all time, the Apostle Paul. He summarizes the evangelistic message as a message about God, a message about sin, a message about Christ, and a summons to faith and repentance. But what about God's sovereignty? Packer makes it clear that God is the one who saves, but He has chosen to save by the Gospel and people must hear in order to respond, therefore or taking and preaching the message is a vital link in the process. It is not by us, it is through us. Packer speaks of the urgency of evangelism, because it enables the dead to hear and live. Because God is sovereign and we can be confident in it, Packer says we should be bold in sharing the Gospel; we should be patient, waiting for God to bring the harvest; and we should be prayerful, relying on God's power and sovereignty in all.

The second book is Marks of the Messenger by J. Mack Stiles. This is another excellent resource for anyone desiring to explore evangelism. Stiles, who lives in the Middle East, writes from the vantage point of a missionary so his book is packed with application stories and less scholarly than Packer's book. Like Packer, Stiles provides a description of the Gospel message because if the the message of the Gospel is not clear then the taking of the message to others is futile.

Stiles impacted me in his chapter entitled "On Your Guard." He says, "Losing the gospel doesn't happen all at once; it's much more like a four-generational process...in the first, the gospel is accepted; in the the second, the gospel is assumed; in the third, the gospel is confused; in the fourth, the gospel is lost." In other words, if we assume people understand the Gospel and are genuinely saved, then the next generation will confuse the true message of the gospel, and the generation after that will have no real gospel left. In this, I saw the progression of the gospel in America.

The importance of our lives matching the message is a focal point of Stiles as well. He stresses that we should be doing good, but the goodness we do should never be divorced from the hope of sharing the gospel message. Our lives should be radical messages of Christ. So where does one start in having this kind of life?

I am not going to list them all here, but Stiles ends his book with "16 ways to demonstrate love and unity in the church and in so doing become a healthy evangelist" The first two are (1) Attend a church that takes the gospel seriously and (2) Become an actual member of a church.

I recommend both of these books to anyone wanting to explore evangelism more deeply. After reading these, you will equipped with a better understanding of the gospel message and the need for taking this message to the world,along with practical tips for living out the gospel in your day-to-day living.

Walking in Kicheko

2010-07-22T05:48:00.011-04:00

Walking in Kicheko was not that difficult. It was the seeing that proved to be no easy task. Kicheko means "mocked" and this name serves as a direct indication of how the residents here feel about themselves and how they are viewed by many in the community. Fountain of Hope Church in Syokimau is changing this perception as they open their hearts and arms to serve their neighbors in Kicheko.
Why was I troubled by what I saw in Kicheko? This community was literally a series of rooms built and held together by whatever could be found at the time of construction, whether it be sheet metal, cardboard, spare lumber. The pieces were leaned against each other, forming living spaces that were less extravagant than what the "family pets" enjoy in the U.S. I took note that my bathroom is larger than most of the living areas of these homes. Piles of garbage, in plain view, mark every step. Flies, dogs, and chickens share the open spaces.
In the middle of these horrible living conditions, the light shines in the faces of the children and the Fountain of Hope church members that live here and have been rescued from the dominion of darkness. They are alive and well as they walk and put their hope in Christ, rather than in their circumstances. I was blown away as I heard church members talking about how they wanted to help those around them in need. The focus was not on simply bettering their own situation, but bettering so as to help their neighbors. This is a God-focus and a lesson our Western churches can learn from our brothers and sisters in Kenya. As we build buildings, they are building the Kingdom.

Find your local "Kicheko" and serve there.

Clean up the sewage and trash, not just in the streets but in the hearts as well. and keep yourself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27)

Broken Toys and Smiles of Life-Kenya 2

2010-07-22T05:45:00.008-04:00

Day one at Fountain of Hope Church, Nairobi found me strolling the grounds, taking in the Kenyan air with each breath, looking for God in the simple flowing moments of living. A single boy, wearing the blue shirt that all the boys wear, played in the dusty yard next to the church. He joyfully kicked a flattened ball of surgical green. His time of play and enjoyment was not tethered by the faultiness of a non-bouncing ball.

He stopped and graced me with his smile as I snapped this picture. It is a great reminder to me of how God uses us. I am full of faults, a ball with no bounce. Yet, through Him I can still smile and be part of the celebration of life. The world is imperfect, but in Christ all is being made perfect.

Kenya- Beginning thoughts

2010-07-22T05:12:00.002-04:00

Enroute to Nairobi, Kenya the plane descended to Washington, D.C., the capital city of this country that I call home. From this aerial view, my attention was drawn to the presence of swimming pools of all shapes and sizes in most every yard. I knew that this would seem like a different planet from what I would be seeing over the next week as I visited my brothers and sisters in Africa. Though the lives of the residents are polar opposites, God still holds it all in His hands and desires for All people to enjoy Him and to find freedom in the Cross of Christ. Why do so many still not believe? is the question that I find myself returning to time and time again. Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing my experiences in Kenya with all of you and this question will be answered in various ways along with answers to its counterpart question of Why do people believe? Both are important questions.

Sitting uncomfortably in my airplane seat, I was comforted by knowing that one day the very clouds that I was flying through will burst open and Jesus will be known by all and all will acknowledge that He is Lord of Lords. He will gather His people and the "not yet" will become "now". I will at that time be truly home for the first time. But for some it will be too late. Don't be one of those. Turn to Him today.

Forgotten God by Francis Chan

2010-06-12T10:02:00.018-04:00

Whatever happened to the Holy Spirit and why are Christians not living lives led by the Spirit? These questions are part of the focus of Francis Chan's latest book, Forgotten God: Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit.

Many Christians (and I have been guilty) give a nod of acknowledgment to the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives, but fail to actively strive to be led by the Spirit in daily living. This was the aspect of Forgotten God that resonated with me. How often do I meditate on and live in accordance with the Spirit of God that indwells me? I have part of the triune God that has taken up residence within me. That is not only breathtaking and awe-inspiring, but unmistakeably liberating in its possible effects on my life. The same power that raised Jesus to life has made His home in me. He resides in you as well, if you have been born again through the Blood of Christ that took on your sin and gave you His righteous standing with God. Why does my life not reflect the Holy Spirit within me? That's a question this book left me asking myself over and over again. Oh, the number of times is countless that I have grieved the Spirit by living in accordance with my fleshly desires, rather than that of the Holy Spirit and His desires.

I was pleased that Chan pointed to scripture throughout the book because that is where we will encounter and learn from the Spirit as He guides us into truth. I was also glad that he didn't succumb to the temptation of delving into the ongoing debates that have divided the church throughout history with regards to various aspects of the Spirit and the role and gifts provided by the Spirit. His purpose was to bring us into remembrance of the Spirit, the Forgotten part of the Trinity, and to provide a tool to rescue us from the tragic neglect of the Spirit. I believe he achieved his goal and it without a doubt has made me give more careful attention to the Spirit in my life.

If you liked Francis Chan's previous book, Crazy Love, the Forgotten God will be no disappointment. I recommend them both, but I must lean to Forgotten God as my favorite of the two.

Watch the video below and hear Francis Chan talking about Forgotten God.

What is the Gospel? By Greg Gilbert

2010-05-30T07:10:00.012-04:00

Preach the Gospel. Share the Gospel. The Truth of the Gospel. In the church, we will hear statements like this and they elicit a hearty "Amen" from the eager listeners. But what is the Gospel? Ask 10 people and you will most likely get 10 very different responses. I asked some Christians I know this question and I was really surprised and, in many case, disappointed in their responses. I fully understand that each individual will his own style of articulating the message, but I found that the message and content was inconsistent, sometimes even unbiblical.

This variance in content is why Greg Gilbert's book What is the Gospel? is so important. This short book, with 128 pages including all of the notes pages and endorsements, is easy to read and accessable to any reader. It does not contain heavy theological vocabulary, just simple language to communicate the essence of the Gospel.

The book is organized into eight sections: Finding the Gospel in the Bible; God the Righteous Creator; Man the Sinner; Jesus Christ the Savior; Response-Faith and Repentance; The Kingdom; Keeping the Cross at the Center; and The Power of the Gospel.

This is a must-read for anyone wearing the name "Christian" because this name is grounded in the Gospel (the good news) of Jesus Christ. If you are not in agreement with the Gospel, then you are not a Christian and should wear a different name. We are exposed to false gospels on a daily basis which makes it all the more critical to stay grounded in the True Gospel so we are not led astray and may "contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (Jude 3).
This book is a great tool to help you.

66 Love Letters by Larry Crabb

2010-05-26T12:02:00.006-04:00

In 66 Love Letters, Larry Crabb embarks on a conversational journey through all 66 books of the Bible. In an unusual style, Crabb intertwines his struggles with living the Christian life with responses being communicated from God in the Bible. I don't usually take a long time to read a book, but this one took me several months. I discovered in the early pages that if I was going to benefit from this book, I would have to take it slow. Once I was comfortable with the alternating from Crabb's voice then to God's, I was able to move at a more rapid pace. One of the major truths communicated in the book was how God never promises an easy or comfortable earthly life for His people. In fact, suffering and pain are more common for those choosing the narrow road. I was weighed down at times over this recurring theme, but God kept reminding me to trust Him for what is to come and hope found its way in. I appreciated being pointed to some golden passages in the Bible that are easily missed in some of the least-read books. I recommend this book, but not if you want a quick read or if you want to hear how God wants you to live a comfortable pain-free life. Here is the final paragraph to give you a taste of God's 66 Love Letters to you:

Trust Me. Things are not as they seem. My Son is right now bringing His kingdom to earth. The collision of kingdoms, the resistance of everything opposed to My plan, is the source of all the upheaval in the world. My Son will judge severely. The forces of evil will be destroyed. And He will bless abundantly. My story is about to end in the eternal day of a new way to live in a new world, Can you hear the music? The party is underway. It won't be long till My Son makes everything new. And then you'll really dance!

The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns (An Exhortation)

2010-05-16T07:06:00.006-04:00

You may have noticed that I didn't call this a book review. I found that this book did not need to be "reviewed" but needed to be used as a launching point for an exhortation. The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns goes to the heart of the mission of Christ and the church. He correctly points to the hole in OUR gospel, because what we (the Western church) live out as the gospel is not the Gospel Jesus called us to. Yes we are saved, but have we given all to serve the poor, helpless, and the seemingly hopeless of the world's "least of these" to relieve the pain and suffering and free the captives? Are we spending ourselves for the poor? I look at myself and the answer is NO, I am not! The question that comes next is What now? Do I continue to sit at the buffet restaurant, shoveling food into my mouth while the rest of the world eats the crumbs from my table? And what about the Aids problem? And orphans? The lack of clean water?
Do I even see the food and clean water I enjoy each day as a blessing? Do I consider them at all?
Richard Stearns has written what could be the most important book for the church in many years. This should be required reading for all Christians. Stearns has packed his book with scripture references to show these aren't just his thoughts, but demands and commands from the very heart of God in His Word. In addition to the scripture, he recounts numerous stories of God's people in action to step out of themselves to love their neighbor.
I am left stirred with a shaken foundation, knowing I not only should do something but MUST.
There is a hole in our gospel, but not in THE GOSPEL. As the church, together we must fill it.

Plan B by Pete Wilson- Book Review

2010-04-28T09:00:00.010-04:00

We all have a picture of what our lives should look like. Call them plans, dreams, expectations or whatever you choose. That is Plan A. What happens when the unexpected breaks in to our existence? It could be a job loss, illness, divorce or betrayal, or death. How are we to cope or respond when we suddenly have to resort to Plan B, the reality of life when we think God has let us down by not showing up in the pain and disappointment?

Drawing from his personal stories and experiences as a pastor and from Biblical texts and accounts, Pete Wilson has given us a valuable tool that I think most, if not all, people will be able to relate to and gather vital truths to help in Plan B living.

I have read much lately on the topic of suffering and pain. One thing I appreciate about Plan B is the way Pete Wilson shares as a fellow struggler, not talking down to his readers, but walking with them on their journeys through life. He doesn't give trite answers and quote scripture as if it will make the difficulties go away. In fact, there are times when he humanly and honestly admits that he doesn't have the answers. He does provide real stories, within scripture and from people he knows personally, making Plan B a comfortable read on an uncomfortable topic. He looks at the illusion of control, darkness, and what God is doing when we are waiting on Him. He explains the importance of having "me too" people in our lives and how lives can be transformed through tragedy. He doesn't wrap everything up neatly with a pretty bow, but he does leave you at the cross and embracing hope. Is there a better place to end? Thanks to Pete Wilson for a well written and much needed book.

Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper

2010-01-15T15:06:00.004-05:00

I was introduced to the writings of John Piper when I was in a men's group several years ago. Since then, I have read many of his books and would recommend all of them. So when the leader of the missions team at my church asked all of us to read Let the Nations be Glad, I didn't have to have my arm twisted. I was not disappointed. In typical Piperian (yes, I made that up!) fashion, deep theological thoughts are put forth, this time to the topic of missions.
Piper pours the foundation for a biblical worldview of missions, one with the supremacy of God as the overarching truth in taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
The opening paragraph of Chapter 1 is the spring from which the remainder of the book flows.

Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.

Can the call to missions make any more sense? If people were worshipping God in spirit and truth, we wouldn't have to proclaim the Gospel because everyone would already be living the Gospel.

This book is a great reminder to me of the necessity of missions and where prayer and suffering fit into the picture. I was challenged as I read of compassion for the soul's of men and I asked myself if I have that kind of compassion. Packed with scripture references, this book will help anyone in having a worldview that models a heart for missions, a heart sold out in satisfaction for God alone.

Free Book by Brian Tome

2010-01-15T15:04:00.004-05:00

Jesus said if we hold to his teaching, then we are really his disciples. Then we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free (John 8:31-32). We all want to be free. Free from pain. Free from disappointment. Free from addiction. Free to truly live. This deep longing and how to begin the journey toward the freedom that eludes us is the focus of Brian Tome's latest book, Free Book.

Tome states his theme and purpose right on the front cover:

I am a fanatic about freedom. And I'm fanatical about coming at you hard in this book. I'm tired of seeing people beaten down by the world's systems and by religion. I'm sick of seeing people live safe, predictable lives while their God-given passions die. I hate the assumption that getting close to God means more rules and restrictions. No more. God's offering real freedom. Get yours.

Tome offers short chapters (for those of us with a short attention span) that are easy reads, but are full of truth that will guide you toward the freedom that Christ offers. The book is packed with personal stories and examples to illustrate the "do-ability" of the principles presented. The chapters on strongholds and "evicting the squatters" (the strongholds that move in and stay) are very helpful.

I benefited from the 4 phases that we experience on the road to freedom: (1) The Blahs-the beginning point when things are just messed up and you don't know what to do; (2)The Break-this is the moment of change when you take that first intentional step toward freedom; (3) The Blues-this is when you start to miss the old, familiar ways because you are not yet experiencing the blessings of the new freedom; and (4) The Blessings- when you are finally experiencing the grace that comes with the taste of freedom.

Tome's finishes his book in the final chapters by discussing community (because we can't be free in isolation) and grace and truth (because this is what Jesus was filled with, so should his people be).

I recommend this book for anyone that is taking seriously their walk toward freedom. Though some may be offended by his stepping out with things that they would deem "inappropriate" (whatever that means) for a Christian book, Tome chooses to exercise his freedom in Christ to simply tell it the way it is. I found it to be refreshing and encouraging.

Five Cities that Ruled the World - A Book Review

2009-11-18T08:16:00.005-05:00

I have always enjoyed big cities. They offer a large variety of multicultural events and a swarms of people from all over the world. When I heard about 5 Cities that Ruled the World by Douglas Wilson, I was excited about reading and reviewing it. I am not one to jump into reading historical books. I will watch documentaries about aspects of history, but my reading travels other directions for the most part. All that to say that reading this was a stretch. Unfortunately, it confirmed the reason why I don't do much reading of history. Excepting the occasional interesting anecdote about the cities (Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, London, and New York) I was rather bored with the book. I felt cheated, wanting to know more than what I was given. The subtitle offered to answer how these cities shaped global history, but didn't deliver much substance. I would have felt better served had Wilson chosen to stay within the parameters of a specific aspect of global history, instead of jumping all over the board.

Bluetree - God of this City

2009-11-07T07:20:00.013-05:00

From the opening of this CD, I knew I was about to have a great musical, and spiritual, experience. The chorus of the first song "Life's Noise" says

He wasn't in the fire, He wasn't in the quake

He wasn't in the wind, He's in a whisper

This reference to 1 Kings 19 is amazing. I was just thinking this week about this part of Elijah's life. He has just witnessed the power of God over the prophets of Baal, yet he quickly falls into a period of depression and feelings of defeat and despair. I am no different. My spiritual life tends to be like a roller coaster with all of the ups and downs, turns and spins, upside downs and right side ups. I am encouraged that the great people of God in the Bible are just like me...normal and constantly wrestling with life.

Now, back to Bluetree. This band is from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Anyone who knows me well can tell you that I love Ireland, so the accent in the vocals immediately caught my attention. I had heard the title track on the radio and was struck by the chorus and overall message of the song.

There is none like our God

There is none like you God

For Greater things have yet to come

and greater things are still to be done in this city.

There is none like our God.

I asked myself, "Do I really believe that for my city?" and if so, "What am I doing to be a part of it?"

Occasionally a song will come out that really nails down what the church is to be about and what the hope of the Gospel is about. God of this City is one of these. Here is the video telling the story behind the song. It is amazing how God works in the most unlikely of places.

Some of you may have heard the song on the new Passion CD by the same title.

Great song and even greater CD by Bluetree.

Green:The Circle (Book Zero) by Ted Dekker

2009-10-17T09:31:00.008-04:00

I have been a Ted Dekker fan since reading Thr3e in 2003. When he published Book One (Black)of The Circle Trilogy, I gobbled it up in a short time. A few months later, I did the same with Book 2 (Red), and again a few months later with Book 3 (White). When I came to the end of the last installment, I remember screaming, "He can't do that to us on the last page of the last book!" Well he did do "that", but has returned with Green: Book Zero of the Circle Trilogy, which completes the Circle by serving as both the beginning and the end.

Green retells our history through a fantastical tapestry of good and evil, future and past, fantasy and reality. It is an apocalyptic tale that will intrigue you and frighten you.

I have to admit that I made my way through this book at a much slower rate than I did the other three books of the trilogy. I believe part of the problem was that it has been 5 years since I finished my reading of White.

In addition, there were points when I thought the story was dragging in comparison with the other books.
I wrestled with understanding how this book could be read either first or last. All that said, I was satisfied with the ending/beginning and pleased with how Dekker completed the circle. Overall, I see how someone could benefit from reading this book first or last and that there is much that can be gained from the truths found in this Circle Trilogy. Watch the trailer below for an introduction to this book.

The Holocaust- 3 Movies

2009-10-17T05:52:00.008-04:00

Last weekend, I watched 3 movies about the Holocaust: Inheritance, Schindler's List, and The Pianist. As I watched these movies, I was reminded of the horrors and evil that lie in the depths of the human heart. When I hear people make statements like "People are generally good," I have to think of some of the people involved in the holocaust atrocities and, if I think more seriously about it, I will be frightened by the darkness in my own heart. Fact: The Holocaust happened. Fiction: It couldn't happen again. Don't forget Bosnia and Rwanda. I believe that any person, put into a particular situation, can commit great evil. That is why we can't save ourselves, only Christ can. There is still goodness in the world...glimpses of light in the darkness. Each of these films show the light as well.

I won't get into the details of the movies I watched, but will include the trailers. If you have never seen them, watch them. If you have, watch them again and remember.

Just Courage by Gary Haugen

2009-10-16T06:29:00.005-04:00

The subtitle of Just Courage by Gary Haugen provides insight into what is in store for the reader: God's Great Expedition for the Restless Christian.

Gary Haugen voices his observation that Western, specifically American, Christians are restless and bored, attending church on Sunday and, for the most part, not living an adventure with God on any given day of the week. Haugen serves as President and CEO of International Justice Mission (http://www.ijm.org/), a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation, and other forms of violent oppression.

Just Courage is a challenge for Christians to be move from being rescued by Christ to being the rescuer of those in the world that are bound by the chains of injustice...from rescued to rescuer. He asks a poignant question at several points in the book: Do you want to be be brave or do you want to be safe?
He notes that God doesn't call us to be safe, yet our life decisions seem to point to personal safety as a top priority. He points to Isaiah 1:17 and 58:6-14 to get to the heart of God's desire for those who want to walk with Him and be brave, not safe. Haugen sounds the horn for Christians to cross their boundaries of fear out of a life of restlessness into a life of rescuing the oppressed, a life that is significant.
I recommend this book to anyone, but it will be particularly helpful for the American Christian that is bored or staganant in their walk with Christ and wants to be more involved with making a difference by being part in the global atrocities that occur daily. Do you want to be brave or do you want to be safe?

To Save A Life

2009-10-08T22:19:00.023-04:00

I was able to catch an advance screening of To Save A Life which is set for release in January.
The film follows Jake, a high school student with everything going for him: a scholarship to play basketball for his favorite team, his lifelong dream; his girlfriend is the most popular girl in the school, and he is the life of every party. A tragic event involving his former best friend begins the unravelling of Jake's life and relationships. Should he have treated people differently? Was his life really going anywhere that mattered? What is a real friend? These, and many more, questions swirl through Jake's mind and heart as he digs for answers.
I would recommend this film for anyone that interacts with teenagers, whether you are a teacher, youth minister, involved in a youth community program, or a parent. It will assist you in understanding the world that our teenagers live in everyday. It may even stir up your own life.
I encourage all of you to see this film which is set for release in January 2010. I have included the trailer below for your viewing. Learn more about the movie: here

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller

2009-09-28T05:36:00.025-04:00

Summary

In A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Donald Miller works alongside two filmmakers to adapt his life to the screen as they write a screenplay of his life. Miller shares his thoughts on life as a story as he comes to the awareness that if his life were shown on the big screen the way it is, that the viewers would "stab each other in the necks with drinking straws." To summarize too much would ruin your reading experience of this book.

My thoughts

Let me start by saying this book changed me and the way I see life. I have read this book twice in the last few weeks, wrestling with what could possibly be said in a review and how I am going to "rewrite my life." Buy the book .

It motivated me to want to live a better story and help others do the same. Think about what makes your favorite movies or stories meaningful to you. "The elements that made a story meaningful are the same that make a life meaningful" (p.39). Buy the book
In his usual style of humor and mental wanderings, Donald Miller has released his most powerful book to date. I want everyone I know to read this book; I think it is that important. We all want to live a great story, but we don't want to pay the price and make the sacrifice to do it. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years is a challenge to live. So live!

Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart by Chuck Black

2009-09-21T05:17:00.030-04:00

Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart by Chuck Black is Book 3 of The Knights of Arrethtrae series.

Summary

Sir Dalton is a knight in training, being raised up for service of the King and the Prince. He is well-liked and respected among his trainers and his fellow trainees. When a new trainer is brought in to lead the future Knights, Dalton immediately sees that something is not right, as the training becomes less serious and the adherance to the Code is minimized. When Sir Dalton is sent on a mission, he encounters Lord Drox, a shadow warrior, who imprisons him and ,after Dalton suceeds in an escape, tracks Dalton down and leaves him for dead. Dalton is rescued by an old hermit who provides him with the tools he needs to face his enemies, both within himself and those around him.

My thoughts

My initial reaction when I received this book was that I wouldn't like it. I am not generally a "Knight" kind of person (in real life or in my preference for books), but I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised with Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart. It is not necessary to have read the first two installments of the series to appreciate it. Black has created a plotline filled with symbolism that will keep the reader engaged and anticipating the next clash of a sword or shadow of the enemy, all the while exposing the weaknesses of the heart and the crevices where doubt in the Prince can show itself. There were quite a few moments in my reading that I had to put the book down and deal with my own commitment level to the Prince. I have to admit, however, that there were times when the spelling of words resembling biblical names and places was a bit distracting for me, but the story and characters were interesting enough that I was able to get beyond it. Overall, I believe that this series would serve as an excellent tool for teaching young men and women some foundational principles in living in God's Kingdom. This is Black's intention, evidenced from the inclusion of discussion questions and answers found at the back of the book. I thought it was a fun and informative read and I may just pick up one of the other installments. Happy reading.

Samson and the Pirate Monks by Nate Larkin-A Review

2009-09-17T05:38:00.022-04:00

Over the years, possibly thousands of books have been written for and about men and manhood. I have read many of them. Some were helpful and others, sadly enough, I felt did more harm than good. Samson and the Pirate Monks by Nate Larkin is in a category by itself. It is not a self-help book for men because it speaks against the idea of a man "helping himself." It is not a theological treatise even though it has scripture as it's foundation. The subtitle of the book describes it: Calling Men to Authentic Brotherhood. Authenticity and Honesty are the keys.

Summary

Samson and the Pirate Monks is divided into four parts.

Part 1: Confessions of a Preacher's Kid is the author's story told with brutal honesty of his struggles with addiction and sin.

Part 2: I, Samson contains a fascinating comparison between Samson and King David and the differences between how they lived their lives. Larkin discusses what he has learned about walking with other men.

Part 3: A New Way of Life addresses becoming a new man.

Part 4: The Pirate Monks tells the story of the formation and early days of The Samson Society, how The Society works, and the point behind each part of The Fact, The Path, and The Pact.

My Thoughts

I have to say first that the title is great. Pirate Monks, how cool is that! Adding Samson to the front of it make it even more intriguing. After reading the book, you will understand more of what it means. Larkin makes his points of the book primarily through a retelling of his life's journey which proves to be effective because most, if not every, man will find something he connects with that will make the overall point of the book deeply impactful. With a surface glance, the book could look like a promotion of The Samson Society, but since The Society collects no money or dues and doesn't own anything, what would the point of that be? The book is about brotherhood and men walking with other men in honesty and openness. Warning, this is not a book to pick up and use in your next men's bible study. It is also not a how-to guide to starting a men's group because, as The Samson Society website says, "Most of us have had it up to here with men's groups" It could help you in starting a group of The Samson Society, which I will guarantee will be different than most church men's groups you have attended and quit. Having attended a couple of meetings myself prior to reading the book, I assure you it is a different experience. If possible, attend meetings before starting one and never do it alone. Reading the book has helped me understand the purpose for the way things are done in the meetings.

I love this quote from page 139:

"In the Samson Society, it's our failures even more than our successes that bind our fellowship together. No longer are we spending our days alone in the darkness of our caves, hiding our failures for fear of rejection and ridicule. Instead we are walking together on a sunlit path that is taking us somewhere. We are carrying each other's burdens, and Christ is walking with us."

This book helped me to see my need for close bonds and connection with other men, something I have neglected most of my life. It has also revealed to me that brokenness, weakness, and pain don't keep me from being a man. It is these things that make me a man and opens the door for God to work in me to make me whole and work through me to do the same for other men.

I recommend this book for all men. Men, buy it and read it. Women, buy it for the men in your life. If it all sounds suspicious to you, visit http://www.samsonsociety.org/

North! or Be Eaten - A review

2009-09-12T07:30:00.013-04:00

It began on the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. In North! Or Be Eaten, Andrew Peterson chronicles the travels of the Jewels of Anniera north to the Ice Prairies, where rumor has it an army is being assembled to take on the dastardly Fangs of Dang.

Laced with betrayal, family division, battle, and magic, Peterson has constructed an adventure unlike anything I have encountered since my first reading of The Hobbit. I was captivated by the people and places I visited. (Please don't take me back to the Fork Factory!) Watch out for the Stranders: those murderous, thieving scoundrels. You will continually ask yourself Who is friend and who is foe? as you travel with the Wingfeathers.

Peterson holds nothing back when he shows evil things as they are: pure shadow and in ghastly form. In contrast, the beautiful things ride on the golden song of the whistleharp and carry you beyond all that is wrong. Through it all, the theme of knowing your name and who you are is driven like a nail into the hearts of the characters and the readers alike.

I light a fire on the shore, waiting to see that speck in the distance, the ship that carries the Jewels of Anniera. I wait for the restoration of things lost. I wait for Book 3 of the Wingfeather Saga.

Visit Andrew Peterson at http://www.andrew-peterson.com/ and http://www.rabbitroom.com/ .

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness-Book Review

2009-08-28T12:46:00.023-04:00

The old stories tell that when the first person woke up on the first morning in the world where this tale takes place, he yawned, stretched, and said to the first thing he saw, “Well, here we are.” The man’s name was Dwayne, and the first thing he saw was a rock. Next to the rock, though, was a woman named Gladys…the first sentence was taught to children…all speaking creatures referred to the world around them as Aerwiar.

So begins On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, Book 1 of The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson. The story focuses on the Igiby children (Janner, Tink, and Leeli) who live with their mother and grandfather in the Glipwood Township that sits next to the Dark Sea of Darkness. Apart from the annual Dragon festival, Glipwood is a town just like yours and mine, with the exception of being completely unlike anything we have ever known, with the lizard-like Fangs of Dang lording over the townsfolk and the fear of being eaten by the toothy cows or being carried away at night by the Black Carriage. Then, of course, there is Peet the Sock Man walking on his hands and Zouzab the ridgerunner sitting atop Books and Crannies, the kids playing Zibzy, and the secret talk of the Jewels of Anniera. Other than these minor differences (and a few more), it is just like the world we have come to know. All of these elements are skillfully crafted into the beginning of an adventure that will have you longing for a world that used to be and that your heart tells you one day shall be again.
Peterson has created a world in which the young and old alike will want to get lost and wander freely for a while, a world that will help each of us discover who we truly are. Fans of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis will feel at home here, curled up in front of the fire with a hot bowl of cheesy chowder. Buy it here and read it to your students (if you’re a teacher), or read it to your children (if you’re a parent), or read it to your parents (if you’re a child). If you’re none of these, just read it to yourself. It will be time well spent.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan: Book Review

2009-08-27T06:39:00.009-04:00

I had picked up Francis Chan's Crazy Love several times in different stores, wondering if it worth the time or is Chan going to be another "cool" young preacher wanting to redefine Jesus and God, not that either can be defined adequately in human terms and language. So I didn't get it. Not long ago, I saw the audio book offered free of charge and took advantage of it. It rested on my hard drive for a while, then one day I started listening. Three days later, I was done.

I was pleasantly surprised at the content of this book. Chan effectively interweaves scripture with stories from ordinary people outside the Bible to illustrate his point of Crazy Love, God's crazy love for us and the crazy love we are to have of Him. For those who are engaged by the visual, Chan has video clips that can be found on his book website( www.crazylovebook.com) to accompany the book. This book can start anyone thinking about the bigger things in life. Even if you are not a Christian, there is much here to be considered. Each reader (or listener as was the case with me) will take away different points of impact, so I will focus on what captured my heart and mind.

Early in the book, Chan reminds us that in 50 years no one will remember you or me and they will not care what jobs we had, what car we drove, etc. This is a point that is terrifying (what am I doing that matters beyond my years of life?) and reassuring (I can be free to live differently and radically for God). In talking about the parable of the sower in Matthew 13, Chan makes a stinging statement: "Don't assume you are the good soil." Like many of you reading this, I immediately want to assume the best of myself even though I know I display many traits of the unfavorable soils. Chan dedicates a chapter to a lengthy discussion of lukewarm Christians and what characterizes their lives. Again, this was hard to read, since I saw my face in more of these than I am comfortable admitting, though I just did. Oops! The point Chan is trying to put forth is living in radical obedience and following of Christ.

Here are just a few statement and questions to give you a taste of the book:

Half-hearted following is not following at all.

We are comfortable with the little bit of God we have.

Are you really willing to say to God that He can have anything He wants?

Actively running to Christ is getting fulfillment in Him alone; Wholehearted surrender is the only way to please God.

Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers.

Allow God to be creative with you.

What are you doing right now that requires faith?

Would anything you are doing now be different if you didn't believe in God?

Chan states his purpose toward the end of the book : "I wrote this book because much of our talk doesn't match our lives." Ouch!

I was pleased that Chan addresses the importance of how believers live without embracing a gospel that makes Jesus to be just a social worker. The book is a call to radical love for God. I recommend this book because of it's ability to get you thinking about the daily living of the gospel with others. Crazy Love will be helpful for individual growth or group study.

Is Jesus only loving?

2009-08-17T05:24:00.004-04:00

The topic of hell has grown so unpopular these days tha people either ignore it or make attempts to redefine it. There is a question that always comes up in "religious" conversations and it goes like this: How can a loving God send someone to a place of eternal punishment? or Wasn't the message of Jesus love and not condemnation? The need for these questions is totally understandable, but what I am interested in is the presuppositions found in the question and the motivation behind the question.
In having these types of discussions with people, I have discovered that what people want is for God or Jesus to be fair and just. That makes sense and is perfectly reasonable. The apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans (3:23) that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
I agree with that because I have yet to discover a single person, including myself, that is completely righteous. In fact, there is not a single thing we do or say that is not tainted with sin in some way, whether it be a hidden selfish motive, pride, or whatever. Since we are all sinners and can't measure up to the standards of God, do we really want God to be fair and just? Justice would be for the wrongdoing to be paid for, a punishment to make amends for the crimes against God that have been committed. We all want guilty parties to pay for their crimes, especially when we are the victims of the crimes. But we want God to just look over our crimes (or sins) against Him and make Him out to be some villain if he stands for justice. This is justice as we define it: We are sinners and guilty and are deserving of Hell, every one of us. This is justice on our terms.
But God is loving, just as we would hope he would be. But He is loving in the greatest of ways. He knows we are sinners and utterly incapable of doing anything righteous (even our righteousness is filthy rags), so he provides the payment for the crime. He offers to come down and live through the treachery and sin-filled world we inhabit. He offers himself as payment. That is not justice, that is Grace. Those that belive in Him on His terms will be saved. "..whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."(John 3:18). These are the words of Jesus, not mine. It is amazing to me that this follows the famous John 3:16 passage that "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son." My generation of church attenders memorized this as a child, but never discussed the condemnation passage that followed. Now the most quoted passage by people is Matthew 7:1 when Jesus says,"Do not judge, or you too will be judged." Many use this to prohibit any judgement, but this refers to men judging men, not Jesus judging men which is the case in the John passage.
What I am trying to make plain is that Jesus is loving, but he is also wrathful. It is not necessary to choose one over the other when it comes to God. He loves us so much that he provided the way to avoid His wrath which is in faithful belief in his Son, Jesus. It really doesn't get any more fair than that. It's like a man guilty of murder being given the information to share that will bring a verdict of not-guilty. He is still guilty , but will be free because he had someone provide the means necessary for freedom from wrath. Another illustration: Suppose you are backpacking on a trail and come to a place where the trail forks and you have to make a decision of which path to take. Another hiker points one direction and says, "That path takes you to a dangerous cliff-edge that few make it past." Pointing to the other,"That one takes you back to town and safety." If you take the first trail and it ends in destruction, is it the other hiker's fault? Couldn't it be that you were told and just chose to deny and do it your way regardless of the consequence?
Jesus is loving, but not only loving. Jesus is wrathful, but not only wrathful. Jesus is loving, by providing the grace for all of us to enjoy eternity with Him, beginning today. He is also wrathful, by letting unbelief have it's just punishment which is eternal separation from Him (John 3:36).

The Note, The Soloist, and Eliot

2009-07-05T07:58:00.012-04:00

In the past week, I have viewed 2 movies and one online video diary that all seemed to drive the same point home. I could go into great plot details on the 2 movies but I will just give the points that impacted me, in the hopes that you will watch them and have a similar takeaway inspiration.

The first movie was The Note. I am not usually one to watch Hallmark-type movies because I typically dismiss them as chick-flicks and move on to something of greater interest to me. I had picked the movie up several times at the library, but never watched it. This time I did, which I have concluded was God's timing, considering all the other items he put in my path right soon thereafter. The story revolves around a note found in a plastic bag washed up on the shore-a note written in the final minutes of someone's life as the plane they are traveling on plummets to the ground. The note is found by a reporter, a woman who is trying to save her job as a columnist of a small newspaper. She needs the perfect human interest story and found it in the mystery of the note. The movie follows this reporter as the note transforms her life and all that cross it's path.

The second movie was The Soloist. My wife and I caught this at the dollar theatre. I wanted to see it because it involves a musician (I am a huge music fan) and a reporter (I also am interested in writers and the birth of a good story). We were both moved by this true story of a reporter for the L.A. Times and his discovery that a former Juilliard music student was homeless, yet still playing his music on the streets of Los Angeles. As in The Note, the reporter is in a dry spell for something to write about. He hears music while walking the streets in search of a story, meets this homeless man, and the story is birthed. The reporter discovers the homeless man has a mental illness, but is still moved deeply by the music he plays and the music he hears, both outwardly and in his heart. In his attempts to save this man suffering from mental illness, the reporter is changed as he befriends this man and finds new purpose and meaning for his own life's journey.

Lastly, the video diary. This short clip (link below), is a brief diary that a young couple put together for their son. I will let it speak for itself.

What was the impact these three things made on me? They reinforced my belief that God has a plan for all of us, even me, and He has swept us up into an amazing journey called Life. Our Life is not about seeking to "save our job" or "find the perfect story." Life is about making a difference, living to the fullest the story we are already in. I was reminded of how I rush through each day and I miss the the way my story intersects with the stories that those around me are in. We are in One Story and it is God's story. The girl that scans my food at Wal-Mart, the guy I tell to put me on the "Do Not Call List', my family members, my coworkers and my neighbors, and any of you who my take the time to read this. I am reminded daily of how we have only a few short breaths of life and we are gone. Many people I have spent fleeting moments with have already passed away and there will be more, including myself. So what am I going to do? What are you going to do? Am I making a difference? Are you?

As for me...

...I am going to try to have my eyes open, to truly see the brilliant images that flash before my eyes and I will join the display. Right now, East Tennessee is being washed clean by a July shower and the multi-shades of green are exceptionally beautiful in a summer right before sunset.

...I will listen for the music that plays and add my own melodies and notes to the symphony of life. The rest of the house is quiet as afternoon naps commence, backdropped by the sound of the thunderstorm outside. Peace and thunder mixed to perfection.

...I will breathe in deep the air that encircles us and smell the aromatic fragrances that blend together in sweetness and joy. The scent of freshly brewed coffee, one of God's special gifts to the nose, ranking high on the list somewhere close to the mesmerizing scent of honeysuckle growing on a bank off the main road in rural Georgia.

...and in everything I will taste that God is good because it all comes from him and is meant to point us to Him. Wow, if all that surrounds us is this good, imagine what a totally restored New Earth will be like. Hope to see you there.

Fireflight

2009-06-06T06:27:00.011-04:00

In a casual conversation with a guitarist from my church, he mentioned to me that he had recently heard a band he was really impressed with. I filed the name of the band in my "Music to check out Later" vault located in the back of my mind. Sometimes I retrieve from this vault, sometimes I don't. That was two months ago. A few days ago, I entered the vault and dusted off the name of the band and found the CD.

The band is Fireflight and the CD is Unbreakable.

The title track opens with the following:

Where are the people that accused me?

The ones who beat me down and bruised me

They hide just out of sight, Can't face me in the light

They'll return but I'll be stronger

On the band's website, Bassist Wendy Drennen says the title track represents the new album and is "about overcoming a defeated mentality and finding the power to remain strong amid the landscape, not allowing fear to hold us back from having victory over the things that used to control us."

The rest of the Fireflight lineup consists of Wendy's husband Glenn (guitar), Justin Cox (guitar), Phee Shorb (drums) and Dawn Richardson (lead vocals).

My first listen to Unbreakable caught me off guard because the band sounded so tight and the vocals were strikingly passionate. It is rare these days to hear a debut full of such power. When I went to the band's website, I discovered that it was not a debut, but the band's fourth release, preceded by The Healing of Harms (2006), On the Subject of Moving Forward (2004), and Glam-Rok (2002). Fireflight has been around a while.

What can you expect from Unbreakable? If I had to compare, I would say the vocals are reminiscent of Pat Benatar with edgier guitar work that reminded me of Coheed and Cambria, with continual changes in syncopation and rhythm. Each composition is filled with lyrical pictures that all people will be able to identify with, delivered in a package of flawless vocals and superb musicianship.

It is my hope that this latest installment of the Fireflight story will propel the band to receive the fruits of their efforts allowing them to continue to bring more quality music to a decaying world of musical shallowness.

Adoration That Offends

2009-04-22T15:23:00.003-04:00

This appeared on the Desiring God Blog (http://www.desiringgod.org/) on April 22, 2009

(Author: Tyler Kenney)

There is no other name [than Jesus] by which men can be saved.
These words from Acts 4:12 filled the screen in worship as we sang "There Is No Other Name." And it struck me again how incredibly exclusive they are.
I thought to myself, "Man, what a strong thing to say! In singing this, I'm immediately dismissing every other religion in the world. If they could hear me, no doubt I'd offend billions of people."
Paul commands the Corinthians,
Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:32-33)
So why would I sing something in worship to Christ that I know is causing others (who I want to be saved!) to be offended?
Here's why:
Offense is only one result of my singing, not the aim. I'm not singing in order to make other people upset. Nor am I trying to gloat over them or "seek my own advantage."
We sing "no other name" because it is the truth. And we sing it with joy because it glorifies our Savior. It is a beautiful expression of his worth and our love for him. And to refrain from singing it so as not to offend others would instead be an offense to him.
We show more love for others than we do for Christ if we don't say that his is the only name by which men can be saved. And that's wrong! Jesus is our first love.
We shouldn't stop singing humble, honest lyrics to our Savior that happen to offend others. But with our singing, we must also spread the good news that no one needs to remain offended. God is still gathering a choir of people reconciled to him from every tribe and tongue.

Religulous

2009-04-19T07:19:00.018-04:00

Bill Maher, the comedian, takes his place among many to make his contribution to the criticism of religion by presenting Religulous. Rather than trying to be clever through the combination of "religion" and "ridiculous," Maher would have captured the totality of his point by aptly naming his documentary Ignorance: A Fool's Approach to Theology.

I have viewed many films, TV shows, and documentaries relating to religion and spiritual matters, but Religulous struck a nerve with me because this is the type of information that I see people blindly embracing as if it were full of facts. We'll come back to some of these errors in a moment.

Maher makes several statements throughout his presentation that provide the foundation of the points he is trying to make. Here are a few of them:

"Religion is detrimental to the progress of humanity"

"I am promoting doubt, that's my product; the other guys are selling certainty."

"How can smart people believe in things like a talking snake and the virgin birth?"

"Religion is a neurological disorder."

"The plain fact is: Religion must die for mankind to live."

"The only appropriate attitude about the big questions that is correct is doubt. Doubt is humble."

I found a VERY big discrepancy between this film's stated purpose and the content which pointed to a different purpose. As quoted above, he states that he is promoting doubt, but what he is actually doing is attacking, refuting, and, at most times, making a mockery of Christianity and those who say they are Christians and believe the Bible to be Truth. He says he is talking about all religions, but he spends over 80% of the movie bashing Christianity. I understand (not agree with) this approach, considering it has now become hip, cool, or trendy to criticize Christianity. Being a Christian myself, I am not surprised when I hear someone like Maher say the things he does. Why would a non-Christian believe in the foundational tenets of a belief system he does not adhere to? What does rattle me is when he speaks as if he has knowledge and authority on things he is obviously incorrect about, which I will touch on now.

Maher states that none of the gospel writers met Jesus. Hmmm. Let's see. It is true that not all of them met Jesus, but it is not true that none of them did. Yet, even the ones who did not meet Jesus had personal access to people who did. Matthew (also known as Levi in the gospels) was one of the twelve disciples (Mark 2;Luke 5). Mark (or John Mark) was a companion of Paul and Peter, so had access to their eyewitness testimony. Luke was a companion of Paul and would have spoken with him. (I believe that is very likely that Paul witnessed the trial and execution of Jesus, because he was a Pharisee at the time and was present for the stoning of Stephen in Acts 8:1. Paul also encountered the living Christ in Acts 9). According to scholars, John was most-likely written by John, one of the twelve disciples. Maher either did not do his research or has simply convinced himself of these errors. An important thing for Christians to pay attention to is the fact that standards for authenticity and accuracy are placed on the Bible that are not placed on any other ancient document. Every year hundreds of biographies are published that are based on the same type of eyewitness accounts as the gospels, yet they go unquestioned. Why is that? It is all about the nature of the content, not the accuracy of the accounts. If the Bible is based in fact and inspired by God, and I believe it is, it demands my attention and obedience. Maher, like millions of others, does not want to live for anything but self. Maher makes a big issue of the virgin birth by saying that only one gospel mentions it. Matthew and Luke both mention it, and Maher would benefit to know the importance of Luke choosing to include it. Maher says a good reporter would not miss something like a virgin birth. Well, the one gospel writer (Luke) that specifically says he did a thorough investigation of the facts chose to include it. That is just 2 examples of the ignorance oozing from this film. One more is up next.

No anti-Christian film would be complete without more promotion of homosexuality and an attempt to make anyone that disagrees with it look like an imbecile. Like all effective propoganda, he parades video clips of extremists, demonstrations with "God Hates Fags" signs and a lady saying that God Hates Them. Maher conveniently fails to mention that this approach is taken by a very small percentage of Christians. Let me note here that God does not hate homosexuals, but he does hate homosexuality as he does all sin, a point the minister tries to make in the film. In keeping with his ignorance, Maher promotes the false belief that homosexuals are born gay, which is simply a false claim and based on no reputable data, scientific included (Even if there was, it would not change anything, but that is another topic). Maher tries again to pretend he knows something about scripture when he says that "all the references against homosexuality are in the Old Testament. Jesus never mentioned it; why didn't he bring it up?" I agree that Jesus never mentioned it specifically, but why would he bring it up if he is speaking to people that already knew it was wrong? It was commonly understood as wrong so why spend unnecessary time on it. It is important to note, however, that when questioned about divorce, Jesus makes it clear in his reply that marriage is defined as male and female (read for yourself in Matthew 19). If there were other acceptable options (i.e. male-male or female-female), it seems to me that he probably would have mentioned it. Maher must have also forgotten about Romans 1:27 and 1 Corinthians 6:9 and the last time I looked , these were in the New Testament. The bottom line is this is just another part of his agenda.

Religulous, as expected, attacks Christianity on the basis of "science" which interestingly has become its own religion, so should come under the attack of Maher as well. Science, in the way it is being used in the current world to attempt to answer deep questions of origin, is Humanism in a lab coat holding a test tube over a Bunsen burner. When speaking with Ken Ham, the founder of the Creation Museum, Maher notes that the majority of scientists line up on the side opposing the creation account of Genesis. He says "there would have to be an enormous conspiracy between scientists of all disciplines and all different countries." Maher is on to something here and if he would like to pursue this hypothesis further, he might want to watch the documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.

I found many things lacking in this documentary, with the primary being the obvious absence of mainstream biblical evangelical scholars when discussing areas of theology. Maher knows that he would not be able to stand up under the scrutiny of Truth coming from the mouths of well educated Christians, people that would have an answer to his questions. Apart from Ken Ham, Maher has chosen people off the beaten path, people he could make look stupid (which he does through his mockery and insertion of subtitles during the interviews). Where are people like Ravi Zacharias and Stuart McAllister, intellectuals that regularly debate the truth of the gospel. There are countless others that could have provided stimulating conversation, but that is not what Maher wanted; he couldn't respond and would probably risk becoming a believer himself in the process.

What is bothersome to me regarding this film is the fact that people will watch this and actually believe it contains the Truth, when it actually pointing a direction that leads to destruction. People will actually forget that Bill Maher is a comedian.

One final note on the film. Maher ends with a statement that "the only appropriate attitude about the big questions [like what happens after we die] is doubt...and doubt is humble. The reason you don't know is because I don't know and you do not possess mental powers that I do not possess." It is ironic that if doubt is the only appropriate response and man must be humble, then why take 1 hour and 41 minutes to show how you are right and all religions are wrong. If you don't know, which Maher admits several times in his film, then it doesn't seem to be a posture of humility to me to say you do and there is only one response. Why is that more "tolerant" and humble than saying there is only one way to the Father? Watch the film, make your own decision. As for me, I think Religulous is ridiculous.

Adam by Ted Dekker

2009-03-03T13:16:00.005-05:00

My first exposure to Ted Dekker was his psychological thriller Thr3e. I then went on to read his Circle Trilogy (Black, Red, and White). Apart from the trilogy (which is in a category of its own), Adam is my favorite so far.
The story follows Daniel Clark, an FBI behavioral psychologist, who is on the trail of a serial killer, known only as Eve. A face-to-face encounter with Eve at the latest crime scene ends with Daniel being shot and killed. Twenty one minutes later, he is revived. Daniel is the only one who has seen Eve’s face, so he embarks on the journey to retrieve the face of Eve from his mind. Interspersed in the novel are installments of “Man of Sorrow: Journey into Darkness,” the account of Eve. This adds a layer of realism to Adam that haunts you with a “this could be anyone” chill down your spine.
Reminiscent of the movie Seven and laced with flashbacks of The Exorcist, Dekker takes his readers on a hellish trip into the mind of a serial killer as they ride shotgun with the FBI. Laced with a shot of romance, this story leaves you reeling in a drunken stupor, hoping to wake up to find it was only a dream. ..and hoping that the guy next door likes his mother. No questions, just read the story.
I have to admit I am a fan of serial killer stories, having been terrified in my early years with the story of Charles Manson and his Family. Several years ago, I went on a learning binge, drinking in the experiences found in the books of John Douglas, a pioneer in the profiling department of the FBI. I am fascinated by what makes people do the horrific things that they do, and how, to their friends and coworkers, they can appear normal and even be enjoyable to be around…when they have a contorted head in the refrigerator.
Adam addresses the heart of humanity as it struggles with truth, evil, Satan, God, religion, redemption, love, and hate. Dekker paints a picture of the reality of the spiritual battle, whether we choose to view it or not.
If you share my oddities in this area, I suggest you pick up a copy of Adam, lock the door behind you, turn on all the lights and make sure you have a full charged cell phone with the FBI on speed dial.

The Last Lecture

2009-02-08T08:03:00.015-05:00

For the past few months, I have eyeballed The Last Lecture in stores, at the library and other places I have seen it. I had been wanting to read it, but I just always ended up reading other things. One of my daughter's teachers was reading it to them in class in short bits at a time (It has really short chapters). She, my daughter, prefers to read rather than be read to, so I grabbed the book a the library for her. Since it is short and it was there, I started reading. I just finished it last night. For those of you who haven't heard of it, it is basically the last lecture given by Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon. The topic was "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." What keeps the lecture moving is the knowledge we have that Randy Pausch has only a few months to live as he meanders his way through a battle with pancreatic cancer, a battle that finally took his life in July 2008.

The lecture is an easy read ( I read it in just 3 very short sittings) and is full of good advice for people of all ages. Pausch talks about marriage, children, career, persistence, and the importance of being honest with and about yourself. He also stresses the importance of teamwork and giving to others what you have been given by helping them achieve their childhood dreams. Overall, I liked the book and would recommend it. I laughed, smiled, and even cried at one point as I thought about my own life.

I was concerned, however, over one missing element in the book; for someone about to die and giving advice on life, it is a very important element.

I was reminded of a story I heard told several years ago:

A young man went to visit a much older man, a man he respected and would go to for advice. The old man asked, "So what are you going to do with your life?"

The young man answered, "Well, I think I am going to go to school and do the best I can in my classes."

"That's good," replied the old man. "Then what?"

"I'll have my college degree and I will get a good job."

"Okay, then what?"

"I'll work really hard at the job and move up the ladder."

"Then what?" the old man continued.

"I suppose I'll get married and have kids."

"That's great. Then what?"

"I' ll raise those kids, retire one day, and hopefully have grand kids."

"Grand kids are nice. Then what are you going to do?

"Well, I suppose I'll get older and then die."
"Then what?" asked the old man.

The young man looked confusedly at the old man's penetrating eyes. He then replied, "What do you mean, then what? I'll be dead."

The old man said, "Son, You haven't thought your life through far enough. I suggest you go take some time to think a little more about what happens after you die."

That is what is missing from The Last Lecture. I know the purpose was "Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" but if there is no hope of seeing again these people you've helped, then what's the point. He vaguely mentions faith toward the end, but it is unclear what he means, especially when he mentions "karma" at one point. I wish Pausch would have gone the next step, but he didn't. If he had, we probably wouldn't have "The Last Lecture" to read, especially if anything remotely Christian was revealed. That would have immediately kept Oprah and all the major media networks away and his little book would be in a little notebook on the shelf at home for his kids to read someday, as they wished their dreams would have included their father.

Horton Hears a Who!- A Review

2009-01-26T11:13:00.010-05:00

You have to love Dr. Seuss. If you don't, seek counseling! Like many Seuss fans, I approach any film adaptation of his books with hesitancy and reservation. I have found that that the result is either a delightful enhancement of the original story or a total disappointment. The Grinch fell into the first category (Jim Carrey nailed the character of Grinch) and The Cat in the Hat falling into the latter (Michael Myers was just Austin Powers with whiskers). I put Horton Hears a Who into the first category, with Jim Carrey returning to Seuss-land providing the voice of Horton.
The story follows Horton, an elephant, who hears a voice coming from a speck on a flower. The speck, as it turns out, is an entire world. Only one person on "the speck", the mayor of Whoville(voiced by Steve Carell), can (or will) hear Horton. The mayor tells people of the voice, as does Horton in his world. Both find they are being ostracized for believing such a ridiculous thing. You can imagine the possibile outcomes when given such a storyline.
This movie is full of talking points regarding God and Christianity. It deals in detail what can happen when someone says they are "hearing a voice". When a person "hears from God" it is so intensely personal that he/she may do what seems to be extraorodinary or insane things. Others close to the person often respond in disbelief. The kangaroo in Horton says that if you can't see something, it doesn't exist. The mayor and Horton develop a relationship as they dialogue about their lives. Horton is very "God-like" in that he goes to great lengths to save "the speck" because his world wants to destroy it because they think he has lost his mind. Horton is a picture of what God has done in his pursuit of his creation, a pursuit that culminated in him becoming the saving sacrifice for it. I found it very interesting that in Horton Hears A Who that the Mayor's "only son" is the one who actually saves his world by being the one to break through and connect with Horton. How is our world (only a speck) saved? By the ONLY SON (John 3:16). He broke through and satisfied the wrath of God in his sacrifice on the cross, a debt that can never be repaid, but one that can be received as a gift of Grace.

One

2009-01-25T13:42:00.002-05:00

My purpose is to help people to understand Jesus as we can get to know him in the New Testament. The last thing I want to do is present something and have people take issue with my presentation and never go to the Bible to find out for themselves. If you disagree with what the Word teaches, then your issue is with God, not with me. I don't have the authority or power to change a human heart. If you choose to reject the Bible as being authoritative to life or have concluded that the Bible is in error, inconsistent, or just irrelevant for current times, then it really doesn't matter what I say because you have already made up your mind and have no intention of growing to be more like Christ anyway, since the Bible is where you would get to know Him. I am concerned over your spiritual growth and the eternal state of your soul, as I am my own.

It concerns me that so many are deceived as they are creating their own god(s) instead of seeking to know the one true God. Jesus said it would be that way (Matthew 7:13-14). I heard someone say not long ago that the churches are filled with "baptized unbelievers." That thought has stuck with me because I am finding it to be more and more prevalent. These are people who have supposedly accepted Christ at some point and claim to be Christian, yet defend anti-Christian ways and beliefs. Something to think and pray about.

In this post I want to deal with the topic of Jesus being the only source or author of salvation, the one and only way to God and eternal life. Some call this the exclusivity of Christianity, a sore spot for those advocating an inclusive system of belief. I won't discuss all the major world religions here, but I have done formal studying of Islam ( college level independent study with an archaeologist who supervises a "dig" in Jordan and knows Islam fairly well) along with studies in the Old and New Testaments, which covered Judaism and Christianity, including the various sects of each. I say that not to set myself up as an authority on world religions (I have only scratched the surface), but I have spent enough time looking at them to know that each of the 3 major religions mentioned above is exclusive and ,in their purest forms, excludes the others. Judaism, however, is the first part of the story of God's pursuit of man which is completed in Christ (The Book of Hebrews or Stephen's speech in Acts 7 can give you a good background for the connection).

That being said, Christians are often attacked as being narrow because they are limiting salvation to only those who follow Christ. I know that is not popular and won't get a high-five from your non-Christian friends, but that is what the Bible teaches and it reveals Jesus saying the same thing, in a variety of ways. This doctrine was supported by Jesus' disciples and continued on in the church as it grew in numbers and influence. Yes, there was rejection of it and continues to be in the current age as those opposed to it call it foolish, intolerant, hatred, just to name a few of the labels attached to it. The cross is central to the gospel of Jesus Christ: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18) Without the cross there is no salvation. When other ways are treated as equal ways to redemption, you spit on the cross and say it was meaningless and unnecessary and those who understand the cross know that daily clinging to the cross is what provides hope and assurance of eternal life and victory over the things of the world. And there is only ONE cross and ONE savior.

Below you will find a list of verses for meditation:
Matthew 10:32-33
Mathew 12:32
Mark 16:16
Luke 9:23-27
Luke 12:8-9
John 3:16-21
John 5:19-47
John 6:26-58
John 8:31-32
John 10: 1-18
John 12:44-50
John 14:6
John 15:5-6
Acts 4:10-12
Acts 5:31-32
1 Corinthianns 3:10-23
Hebrews 9:24-28
1 John 5:1-12

If you want to dig really deep in full-book studies, I recommend reading the Gospel of John, Hebrews, and Romans. Be prepared to be challenged in your soul.

If you want to add to your reference library, I recommend Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem and New Testament Theology by Donald Guthrie.Happy Reading

Elementary Teachings

2009-01-21T05:01:00.016-05:00

It is no secret there are certain "hot buttons" that create discussion with very little effort among Americans of all different belief systems. I obviously hit on one of these with my audacity to suggest that homosexuality is a sin. Homosexuality, along with abortion, are probably the 2 biggest political buttons that cause the most controversy and upheaval because of the deep convictions on either side of the arguments. I won't, as you probably can tell, hold back my beliefs on either issue. What is a major concern for me (in fact, I have had trouble sleeping since my "Prayer..." posting) is what many "professing Christians" actually believe. I am troubled by comments on my blog, what I hear people say on television and on the street, and things I read in the newspaper and magazines. Sadly, what is being communicated is what the majority of Americans think is truth (I use a lowercase "t" because "truth" according to most is like silly putty that can be manipulated to whatever shape someone desires).

The problem with some of the things people are saying is that they are teachings that are simply not found in Christian scriptures. By Christian teachings, I am referring to the full word of God, both New and Old Testaments. I am convinced more than ever that many people call themselves Christian but have absolutely no clue what the Bible teaches on most any subject, including the very basics of the Christian faith. I will be posting individual articles on some of these to attempt to show that what some people are holding so dear is in direct conflict with what Jesus and his followers believed, taught, and died for. Much of what people say is simply what they want to believe, not what is found in the Christian scriptures.

Hebrews 5:12 says that "by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again." It seems that "Christian" America could benefit from a return to the basics of what it means to be a Christian. If you are not getting the foundation of what you believe from the Word of God, then what you are claiming can be turned on its head at any moment.

You can usually brace yourself to hear non-truths when someone begins a statement of belief with "It doesn't make sense to me that God..." or "My experience has been..." It is the me/mine theology.

I acknowledge that God doesn't seem to make sense according to human logic and I am keenly aware that experience will shape one's character and worldview. However, if someone arrives at a place where logic and experience is given priority over what God says in His Word, then that person has put self in the place of God. It is the Christian's responsibility to study the Bible and align his/her thoughts, beliefs and actions with God, not the other way around. God doesn't make mistakes and He doesn't have to adjust to what we "feel" is right. It is in God's infinite wisdom that he provides the Holy Spirit to illumine our hearts toward such an enormous task.

If you call yourself a Christian or not, my recommendation to you is read your Bible for yourself and let God speak to you with the guidance of the Holy Spirit through His Word. He will guide you into Truth (now I use a capital T because this Truth is unchanging) if you are seeking it. Looking for something to back up your predetermined belief system will only fail you and frustrate you. Many people, some that are more crafty and intelligent than any of us, have set out to disprove the validity and Truth of the Gospel, only to find themselves on their knees in total submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

What America needs now is Christians who have their roots planted firmly in God's Word, persevering to the end in Truth, for the the Glory of God alone.

I Have A Dream

2009-01-19T08:47:00.008-05:00

Below is the famous "I Have A Dream" speech:

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.
We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.
As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "For Whites Only". We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.
Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Prayers in the spotlight

2009-01-17T06:44:00.007-05:00

Inauguration 09 has put prayer in the spotlight once again as various groups have celebrated or become outraged over what prayers will be offered up at this momentous event. First, we saw gays outraged over Obama's choice to allow Rick Warren to pray, since he was publicly supportive of Proposition 8 in his state of California. They saw the invitation as a slap in the face of their cause to see gays given the same treatment as traditional man/woman marriage.

So as we should have suspected, Obama's see-saw team crumbled under the pressure and invited gay New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson to offer prayer at the kick-off event. While conservatives expect Warren to deliver a prayer in the name of Jesus, Robinson has made it very clear he will not offer up anything resembling a Christian prayer. In the New York Times, he said that "this will not be a Christian prayer and I won't be quoting scripture or anything like that." He goes on to say that he might pray to "the God of our many understandings," a phrase he learned from a 12 Step program he was in at one point. It should not come as a surprise for someone like Robinson to offer up a non-Christian prayer, much the same way that it is no surprise that an apple tree doesn't yield oranges. I don't expect a non-Christian to pray in the name of Jesus. Robinson told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that "God never gets it wrong. The church often takes a long time to get it right. It is a human institution, but one capable of self-correction. I believe in my heart that the church got it wrong about homosexuality. There is great excitement in my heart to be living in a time when the church is starting to get it right." I can sense his enthusiasm and joy in his proclamation, but can't share in his celebration. To be frank, the only part of what he said that I can agree with is the first statement that 'God never gets it wrong.' After that, I got a little lost. No, I take that back. I was trying to shake all the nonsense out of my ears so I could make sure I was actually hearing correctly. We went from God to Humanism in just a few brief words.

Let's look at it piece by piece.

First, "the church often takes a long time to get it right. It is a human institution...." As soon as I saw this, it made perfect sense why Robinson would not be quoting scripture. He doesn't know scripture. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus says to Peter "on this rock I will build my church." Note that Jesus will build His church, not man. If Robinson meant that it is made up of humans, I could accept that, but that is not what he means. He says it is capable of self correction. In other words, people can choose at will to rewrite scriptures to suit themselves and their own self-interests, in this case the gay lifestyle. One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness (John 16:8). If Robinson would submit to the conviction of the Spirit of his sinful lifestyle, he would experience a more intimate relationship with God. Yes, I called homosexuality a sin. I know that is not politically correct, but I'm not running for anything and I'm not very political anyway. So why should you expect me to be politically correct? Before you start calling me a homophobe, intolerant, gay-hater, or some other media-hyped name, let me make a few things clear. I am not "afraid" of gays. I have had close friends in the past who chose that lifestyle, but I never agreed with or embraced it. As far as tolerance, I can tolerate it as long as it is not forced upon me, but that doesn't seem to be the case with the media. I can't "force" my religion on others, but the gay lifestyle forced on me is done in the name of equality and freedom. I don't hate gays either. I can love them just as Christ loved them. Unfortunately, our society has this blindness that claims I have to embrace and support it to be loving. If I substituted murder for homosexuality in Robinson's statement, people would say that is outrageous: " I believe the church got it wrong with murder. It's not really wrong. I'm glad to see the church is finally getting it right." There is no end to where scripture-rewriting will go. Hence, why Robinson doesn't use scripture. He obviously doesn't believe it's truth. I am merely saying that we don't have the right to decide something is not a sin simply because we don't want to wage war to rid the sin from our lives.

So how should the church respond to gays? We should love them and accept them and help them in their journey out of sin, just as we would someone caught up in any other sin. Can you be a "gay Christian"? It depends on what you mean. I believe you can become a Christian while gay, but you won't willingly stay there. The Holy Spirit will continue to sanctify you and lead you out. Mind you, it may be a lifetime process, but you will be in the process nevertheless. All believers are in process. Philippians 2: 12-13 says to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." The answer is not to rewrite the Bible, but to allow God to rewrite your heart. That is what I pray for Bishop Robinson and his flock and any of you out there in the same situation.

I love the way Jesus handles people caught in sin. In John 8 we read the story of the lady caught in adultery. Jesus calls for the one without sin to cast the first stone. No one casts a stone and they all leave. Jesus asks her if anyone has condemned her and she replies that no has condemned her. Jesus says "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Jesus is not about instant condemnation and death for sinners, though he could take that approach and still remain totally justified in it. He is also not just about grace. He is about grace (loving acceptance of the unworthy) and sanctification (helping people grow into being Christ-like). Jesus is saying this to Gene Robinson, Rick Warren, me, you, and all of those we know. He says,"I love you more than you could ever imagine. I died and took on God's wrath against sin, so you wouldn't have to. Leave your life of sin and come to me."

What prayer do you want lifted for our nation?

Leatherheads- A movie review

2009-01-10T12:19:00.017-05:00

I must be honest up front in saying that I am not a big sports fan. You won't catch me sitting on the couch for hours on end watching Bowl games with my buddies, high-fiving when the favorite team scores. However, I do enjoy on occasion watching a sports movie and I have seen my share of the overkilled plot lines of "coach saves underdog" or "unknown becomes star and fulfills dream." I was taken by surprise with the George Clooney-directed Leatherheads.

The time is around 1925 and the popularity of college football overshadows professional football and the latter is viewed as a joke, a point made in the opening scene when Carter "The Bullet" Rutherford (played by John Krasinski of The Office), a college football star, is asked if his next step is professional play. He pauses for effect, then breaks out into hysterical laughter along with all the reporters. It turns out that Carter's next step is the military where he becomes a war hero. The movie follows Dodge Connolly (Clooney), a middle-aged professional player who helps get "The Bullet" recruited for his pro team. Enter Lexie Littleton (Renee Zellweger), a reporter with an assignment to uncover the real scoop on if this young buck, Carter, really is a war hero because there is talk that the story of his heroism is greatly over exaggerated. Competition ensues, both on the football field and on the romantic field, over "Miss Littleton," between Dodge and "The Bullet." At times there are some rather humorous exchanges as the two men battle to see who is the better man. Who will emerge victorious? Will Lexie Littleton get her story and, if so, what will her story be? Will professional football finally be taken seriously? You will have to watch and see. I enjoyed it.

So, apart from the storyline and the entertainment value, what does THE BIGGERNESS have to say about Leatherheads? This story demonstrates what happens when someone puts too much value in image and popularity. We see in Leatherheads what can happen when people will do anything to increase themselves, whether in position or wealth. I am not saying it is wrong to desire a fulfillment of your dreams or to want to better yourself in your chosen vocation. That is ambition. Selfish ambition is what I am referring to...ambition that is only self-serving and self-glorifying. This is what empowers people to walk over others on the way up the phantom "ladder of success." Another powerful theme illustrated in Leatherheads is old vs. new / young vs. old. Life has phases and there will always be new things replacing the old and old giving way to the young. There are some things that should never be replaced. Postmodern America wants to replace God with self and desires to rewrite (or rid of completely) the Bible to fit into this framework.The urgency and need for foundation in the Word of God is more evident now than for any other time in history. The media plays an important role in Leatherheads and a powerful statement made in the movie is "We Love Our Heroes." Pick up a newspaper or watch the news today and you will see that we do love our heroes. The world is constantly looking for a hero and it seeks anyone to try to put into that role. Right now it is the Obamas; in a couple of years (if it takes that long) they will will be insufficient to fill the hero void. The problem is the heroes we are loving are not worthy of worship. Only Jesus the living Christ is worthy of worship. In the past few days, I have become increasingly annoyed at the media's coverage and questioning of whether or not Michelle Obama will revive the fashion industry. Who Cares? A real hero is one who will stand up for Truth of the Gospel regardless of the cost to reputation, position or status. If fashion is what we compare ourselves to, we are to be pitied for our shallowness. Philippians 2:6-11 reveals the hero we should be loving:

Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

However, Jesus is not just a hero to love...He is a Savior and Lord.

Probably No God?

2009-01-08T06:38:00.006-05:00

There's Probably No God? Probably? In the picture you can see the new bus ad campaign that is currently underway in Britain. It is spearheaded by the British Humanist Association and promoted by atheist Richard Dawkins, bestselling author of The God Delusion. The campaign is running as a response to an advertising campaign that said such things as "Jesus died for your sins" and provided a website that stated that people that reject Jesus will burn in hell.

What I find fascinating about the campaign is the slogan they chose to make the atheistic point. It is not an atheistic point at all. It is agnostic. How can you adamantly and publicly claim atheism and then promote your lack of confidence? Well, that is exactly what they have done. It proves the point to me that when it comes down to the final words and what ground atheists will stand on, it is not ground at all. Like the old Christian hymn says about standing on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ: All other ground is sinking sand. I think the action point of the ad slogan makes the real point when it says "now stop worrying and enjoy your life." This implies that God is the cause of worry and the hindrance to a person enjoying life. I am in full support of the annihilation of worry; Jesus said not to worry in Matthew 6 because the heavenly Father (God)will take care of those who seek first his kingdom. I also believe in an enjoyable life; Jesus promised that in John 10:10 for those who enter through him, the gate: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. He says in John 10:9: I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. Do all Christians live a worry-free and abundant life. Of course not. We have all sinned and this life will be a continual process of being redeemed and molded to be like Jesus. But we can put our confidence and hope in Christ. These hopeful promises are reserved for those who are clothed in Christ. We that are in Christ will one day live on the New Earth in eternity as described in Revelation 21-22. I am sure of this and put my faith in the saving blood of Jesus, because the Biggerness of this reality doesn't rely on God "probably" existing. God does exist and we will all bow before Him one day in surrender, judgment and worship. At that moment, a cry of "I SAID YOU PROBABLY EXISTED!" will not be enough. That friends, is not a probably, it is a fact! Call on the name of Jesus and be saved from this corrupt generation.

About The Biggerness

2009-01-04T07:11:00.012-05:00

When I click on a website, especially any sort of blog, the first question I ask is What will I find here that may be of interest to me? If I am still interested, I then look to see what sort of links there are to other sites. This will give me an idea of where the writer/host is coming from and from what particular persuasion of thought he is launching from as indicated by the company he keeps.

Stemming from the fact that this blog is just getting started and is not crowded with posts or links, I decided I would lay out what you will and will not find here. Hopefully this make the decision simpler for you as to whether to bookmark or move on to something else.

What You Will Find

General commentary on life, social issues, and happenings

Movie Reviews ( I am going to attempt to write on every movie I see, whether new or old, with the focus on how the Gospel of Christ speaks into it)
Book Reviews (Just like the movies, I am going to write on the books I am reading)

* If there is a particular issue, movie, or book you would like me to comment on, feel free to let me know and I will get to it as soon as possible. For books, I won't comment until I have read it completely, so be patient when it comes to reading a post on these recommended books. Movies can be taken on at a much quicker rate. Other issues will depend on whether or not I have to do extended outside research.

What You Will Not Find

A diary of my life and the life of my family (We value our privacy as much as you and I plan to honor that desire for it)

My other creative writings. I have committed 2009 to serious pursuit of getting published.Therefore, my fiction and non fiction material that I will attempt to submit for publication will not be shared here. If you are a writer, you will understand my reason for this.

Welcome to The Biggerness?

2009-01-03T06:57:00.004-05:00

Welcome friends, family, and fellow travelers to the Biggerness!
Regardless of what you may be going through, where you find yourself, whatever you may believe or think, or whether or not you care, God is Bigger than all of it. All in life, good or bad, is governed and carefully aligned by the Master painter of the sunsets over the mountains and also of the vivid colors of the inhabitants of the coral reef. He is the designer and overseer of our lives and wants us to be with Him in this life and the life beyond. He made this possible through a river of blood that flows never-ending from the cross of Jesus, a river that becomes the river of life for those who will dive in and submerge themselves in its life giving waters.
Nothing that can be faced or encountered is bigger than Jesus, so I say along with the apostle Paul that "we are MORE than conquerors" (Romans 8:37) because a conqueror only gains the spoils of war. We, as partakers of the blood and salvation of the cross of Christ, gain fellowship and friendship with God himself. If the BIGGEREST thing in the universe and beyond is our friend and companion on the journey, the meaning of "enemy" fades into a roaring laughter that fills the darkest canyon and the coldest, hardest heart. Join me on the journey. Join THE BIGGERNESS!