AT PEACE IN THE STORM

Monday, March 31, 2014

AT PEACE IN THE STORM
Experiencing the Savior's Presence
When You Need Him Most
By Ken Gire

OVERVIEW: Bestselling author Ken Gire weaves together stories from the Bible, history, and his own life to reveal how we can find strength and encouragement through the storms of life. Experience the joy of knowing the God who is always there to reach out a hand and pull you out of the waves. (From the back of the book.)

AUTHOR: Ken Gire (ThM.Dallas Theological Seminary) is the author of twenty-four books, including the bestselling Moments With The Savior Series and Windows of the Soul. He has won two ECPA Gold Medallion Awards, and two of his titles were selected as C.S. Lewis Honor Books. Ken teaches weekend seminars on writing throughout the country. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

MY REVIEW: Ken Gire is one of my favorite writers. So I was not surprised by how good and helpful this book is. He has done it again. I have a huge library and of all the books on the shelves, Ken's books are among my favorites. His Windows of the Soul may be my favorite book. And now this book has touched my heart and helped to calm my soul.

So many are looking for peace. Ken has written thirteen chapters that will help you experience the Savior's presence when you need him most.  An old song, one that I don't much like, but that we sang often when I was young, says "Troublesome times are here, filling each heart with fear... ."
I may not have liked singing this song, but it was true then and it is true now―troublesome times are here, filling each heart with fear.

Ken Gire says, "This miracle of the inner variety, this inexplicable and supernatural calm in the storm, is the greatest miracle you'll ever experience." Looking at the chapter titles like, "Peace Through Deep Rest," Peace in and Through Music," Peace Through the Body of Christ," I think to myself, that's just common sense. And it is! But there's not a lot of that around these days. And when we are in the midst of a terrible storm and we cry out to God thinking that all hope is gone and seemly out of nowhere we are swept up in peace―we say "Thank you God for this miracle. This kind of peace could only come from you." You don't want to call it a miracle? Okay. That's alright. But if storms are all around and your peace is gone, get this book. After you read it share it with someone else. You will not have to look far to find someone that needs it.

(I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

THE QUESTION THAT NEVER GOES AWAY― WHY

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

THE QUESTION THAT NEVER GOES AWAY WHY
By Philip Yancy

OVERVIEW: In his classic book Where Is God When it Hurts?, Philip Yancey gave us permission to doubt, reasons not to abandon faith, and practical ways to reach out to hurting people. And now, thirty-five years after writing his first book, Yancey revisits our cry of "Why, God?" in three places stunned into silence by the calamities that have devastated them. At some point all of us will face the challenges to faith Yancey writes about and look for the comfort and hope he describes. There are reasons to ask, once again, the question that never goes away: Where is God when we suffer? And Yancey, once again, leads us to find faith when it is most severely put to the test. (From the back of the book.)

AUTHOR: Philip Yancey serves as editor-at-large for Christianity Today magazine. He has written thirteen Gold Medallion Award-winning books and won two ECPA Book of the Year awards for What's So Amazing About Grace? and The Jesus I Never Knew. Four of his books have sold over one million copies.

MY REVIEW: He has done it again! Philip Yancy has written an outstanding book on one of life's most difficult problems--human suffering. I continue to be amazed by his excellent writing. But I don't know why I am. He never disappoints.

This is a small but powerful book. It provides real and practical help for those in desperate need. We often want to know where God is and why terrible things are happening to us and others. Yancy explores suffering in places all over the world. He recounts his own personal experiences of suffering and tells the stories of suffering people all over the world. By doing this he will help you to respond to your own suffering in a way you never thought possible. You will move closer to God by reading this good book. I predict that before you finish reading the book you will think of someone you just have to share it with.

(I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

AFTER LAMENT―Psalms for Learning to Trust Again

Monday, February 24, 2014

AFTER LAMENT
Psalms for Learning to Trust Again
By Glenn Pemberton

OVERVIEW: Nearly half of the psalms are "laments"―expressions of grief, trouble, and suffering combined with calls for God's help. Glenn Pemberton's previous book on Psalms, Hurting with God, describes how the lament psalms helped him express his heart honestly before God. In this rich book, he masterfully explores how the Psalter also provides the guidance and language we need for learning to trust God after lament. How do we live with a God who said "no" in our time of greatest need? Focusing on the psalms of trust, this books lays out the Bible's answer to this question. (From the back of the book.)

AUTHOR: Glenn Pemberton teaches Old testament at Abilene Christian University, including a popular undergraduate course on Israel's wisdom and devotional literature. Glenn has been a preacher among churches for over twenty years. He earned his PhD from the University of Denver and the lliff School of Theology, and is author of Hurting with God (ACU Press, 2012) and When God Calls: Will You Trust Me Now?

MY REVIEW: This is the best book I have read this year. Yes, I know the year is young. But for now, and I have a strong feeling my passion for this book will not change anytime soon. This book is a winner. I learned things from this book that I had never heard anybody discuss before. I preached for forty-seven years,  and oh how I wish I had read this book before those years of preaching were over. I studied the Old Testament at Abilene Christian University where Dr. Pemberton now teaches but I never was taught anything about the Psalms like what is in this book.

I agree with the statement of Walter Bruggemann printed on the cover of the book: "In this book, readers will find a faithful, strong companion in the move into and out of lament, all in act of profound faith."

There is an excellent discussion guide in the back of the book. Is this a good book for a Bible class or a small group to use? If it is in the hands of the right teacher. Many classes and small groups do not have the kind of teacher I think is needed. I find no pleasure in saying this but I say it because I feel strongly it is true. Therefore, my recommendation is going to be that this is a book for serious students of God's Word. I read, re-read and prayed over large sections of this splendid book. I agree with Walter Brueggemann who said, "It is not easy in our culture of denial, to move into honest lament, complaint, and protest." Glenn Pemberton knows the pain of life and he knows how to express his heart honestly before God. I recommend this well-written, wise book to those who struggle with life. It will strengthen the faith of every student of God's Word.

( I received this book from Leafwood Publishers in exchange for a fair and honest review.)

DITMORE ROAD

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

  

DITMORE ROAD

Walking Where My Ancestors Walked

I have seen this picture (above) of my grandfather, father and other relatives in front of their home on Ditmore Ford Road many times.

The name Ford comes from a small stream of water (a place where a river or other water may be crossed by wading). It is a short distance down the road from the Ditmore home.

My heart was beating a little faster than usual as I walked from the corner where this picture of me, my daughter, Carol, and my niece, Linda was taken. I walked down the road my father walked down as a young boy and man.

I stood for a long time just looking at the ruins of the Ditmore home. And then I walked over and picked up two or three old, loose bricks. They now serve as book ends on one of the shelves in my office. I'm looking at them now.

On down the road I stood in front of the Ford, stared and dreamed. I didn't cross it.

Things are different out on Ditmore Ford Road today than they were back in my fathers day or even July, 2000 when I walked down the road. Franklin, Kentucky is growing. New homes are being built. Somebody else is creating history.



GRABBING ALL THE MONEY YOU CAN

Monday, January 27, 2014

GRABBING ALL YOU MONEY YOU CAN

The Day I Got My First Ice Cream Cone 

 

It was a hot day that Saturday noon in that little Oklahoma town back in 1939.

 

A crowd had gathered at the center of town and children would be called out of the crowd according to age.

 

I was five. My group was called for. Mother turned loose of my hand and sent me to the circle.

 

A man stood in the middle of the circle with a bag of money. He threw the coins into the air.

 

The point of it all? Grab all the money you can!

 

I got a dime. Well, I can't honestly remember how much I grabbed but I know I got at least that much.

 

Just outside the human circle on the corner was a drug store.

 

My mother took my hand and we went immediately to the store and to the soda fountain.

 

I was five. I'm now 79. But I still remember.

 

Strawberry. The ice cream cone was strawberry.

 

Why do I remember this silly little story?

 

You wouldn't ask that question if you knew how much I like ice cream.

 

Strawberry ice cream!

 





THE GLOBAL WAR ON CHRISTIANS

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

THE GLOBAL WAR ON CHRISTIANS
Dispatches from the Front Lines of Anti-Christian Persecution
By John L. Allen Jr.

OVERVIEW: "This book is about the most dramatic religion story of the early twenty-first century, yet one that most people in the West have little idea is even happening: the global war on Christians," writes John Allen. "Christians today indisputably form the most persecuted religious body on the planet, and too often its new martyrs suffer in silence."

AUTHOR: John L. Allen Jr. is the senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and the senior Vatican analyst for CNN, and writes for other national and international publications. He speaks at nearly fifty engagements a year and is the author of seven previous books.

MY REVIEW: Before reading this book I knew that Christians were being persecuted. I had no idea that persecution is so wide spread. Part One of this informative book is about Anti-Christian Persecution Around The World. Allen gives an overview and then writes about the persecution in Africa, Asia, Latin America, The Middle East and Eastern Europe. I had no idea!

Part Two covers Myths About The Global War On Christians. Here again, I was surprised. Allen talks about the myth that no one saw it coming, the myth that anti-Christian persecution is a political issue and several other myths.

Allen does not just leave readers "hanging." The last chapter is: What's To Be Done. This final chapter presents a set of suggestions for responding to the global war on Christians. He does not suggest that his suggestions are the only things that can be done. Rather, his suggestions are among the immediate things that can be done, right here and right now.

My conclusion from reading this splendid book is it's TIME TO WAKE UP! Since I don't think I'm the only Christian that needs to wake up, I want to recommend that you read this book and this pass it on to a friend.

(I received this book from BloggingForBooks, WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in exchange for a fair and honest review.)