THE JOY OF DISCOVERING WHO YOU ARE

Monday, August 19, 2019

THE JOY OF DISCOVERING WHO YOU ARE

In his excellent book, SOUL PRINT, Mark Batterson tells the story of Corrie ten Boom traveling the world sharing her story of the atrocities she experienced at the hands of the Nazis. After a speech she would hold up a needlepoint she had been working on. The backside was a jumble of colors and threads with no discernible pattern. And she'd say, "That's how we see our lives. Sometimes it makes no sense." Then she'd turn the needlepoint over to reveal the finished side. And Corrie would conclude by saying, "This is how God views your life, and someday we will have the privilege of seeing it from His point of view."

Who are you? Who am I? There has never been and never will be anyone else like you. The same is true of all of us. We all should be on a journey to be all that God made us to be. Our moments of life are important. Moment by moment. Everything that has and will happen to us is shaping us to be who we are. I want to be me. I want to be who God intended for me to be!

I truly believe with all of my heart that God intended for me to be a preacher. I look back over my life and I see many of the moments meant to shape me into being ME. Of course I do not recognize them all. But I do recognize many that to my mind, point me in the right direction.

Don't take life for granted. Thank God for His providence. He is leading. Follow Him into the joy of you BEING YOU! Nobody else can be. Just you. Press on with Joy.

Corrie ten Boom often concluded her talks with the following poem:

                                 My life is but a weaving between my God and me,
                                 I do not choose the colors, He works so steadily,
                                 Oft times He weaves in sorrow, and I in foolish pride,
                                 Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside
                                 Not till the loom is silent, and the shuttles cease to fly
                                 Will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why,
                                 The dark threads are as needful in the Weaver's skillful
                                        hand
                                 As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has
                                       planned.

CHURCH REFORMED

Thursday, August 01, 2019

CHURCH REFORMED
By Tim Bayly

OVERVIEW: In this book, Pastor Tim Bayly exposes lies the American evangelical church has believed and calls us to a simple, humble pattern of church that is clearly rooted in the Bible. It is a call to reform—a call to repent of the ways we have left God's design for the church, and a call to embrace what we see modeled for us in the Bible and in those places in church history where our fathers in the faith have been careful to show us what the Bible teaches. (From the back of the book)

AUTHOR: Tim Bayly was ordained a pastor in 1983. Since 1996, he has served as senior pastor of Trinity Reformed Church in Bloomington, Indiana. He is the author of Daddy Tried and co-author of The Grace of Shame. Tim and his wife Mary Lee have five children and twenty-some grandchildren.

MY REVIEW: This is a book about the church. The Scriptures make it plain that Christ is the head of the church which is His body. Christ loves the church and we should too. Those who are baptized are added to the church—His body. Tim Bayly has done an excellent job in this book of showing that in today's culture we have messed up God's plan for the church. He calls for reform!

Church Reformed points out what the church should be, what it should do, and why it matters. Tim Bayly writes clearly about how the church has gone away from God's pattern found in the Scriptures. He then takes what he calls the pattern and breaks it down piece by piece: the teaching of the Apostles, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer. I was a senior pastor for forty-seven years. I agree with Bayly that the early Christians set a marvelous example for us and that we need to follow that example.  I do not agree with everything that he says about baptism, the breaking of bread, etc. However, that does not take away from my favorable opinion of the need for this book. Tim Bayly loves the church and wants all Christians to love the church and be faithful to God's plans for the church as found in the Scriptures. I highly recommend this book.

(I received this book free from The Barnabus Agency for a fair and honest review.)

CALLED TO FORGIVE

Saturday, July 13, 2019

CALLED TO FORGIVE
By Anthony B. Thompson
With Denise George

OVERVIEW: This book is the account of pastor Anthony Batiste Thompson's wife's murder, the grief he experienced, and the radical choice to forgive the killer. But beyond that, pastor Thompson casts a compelling vision of the power of the forgiveness to transform our lives—personally, in our communities, and even in our nation.

AUTHORS: Anthony Batiste Thompson is the pastor of Holy Trinity Reformed Episcopal Church of Charleston. He was married to the late Myra Thompson. They have three children and six grandchildren. Denise George is the author/coauthor of thirty-one books. She is married to Dr. Timothy George. They have two grown children and one toddler grandson. George has served as founding director of LifeWay's Women's Ministry program and adjunct instructor at Beeson Divinity School.

MY REVIEW: Amazing. Absolutely amazing. This is a powerful story of forgiveness. While reading the book and now having read it, the same thought keeps coming to my mind, "How in the world could he do it? How could he forgive a man who killed his wife?" I too am a minister. I preached for forty-seven years. I preached many sermons on forgiveness. Still I wonder—could I forgive someone who murdered my beloved wife?

Pastor Thompson and his coauthor, Denise George tell the story of how on June 17, 2015, Dylann Roof, a young white man, attended the Wednesday evening Bible study at the predominantly black Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. An hour later, Roof pulled a concealed weapon and killed nine African-Americans as they prayed, including Myra Thompson, the wife of pastor Anthony Thompson. Myras' murder devastated Anthony, yet he chose to privately and publicly forgive the shooter.

The story is told in ten chapters. From the first chapter, The Unthinkable Tragedy to the last chapter, The Path to Healing and peace. It is hard to read because it is so sad but compelling and uplifting as you see Thompson's beautiful heart of forgiveness. There is added value in the Epilogue, the Bible study questions and the five appendixes.

(I received this book from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group for a fair and honest review)

ACCESSING THE RICHES OF HEAVEN

Saturday, June 01, 2019

ACCESSING THE RICHES OF HEAVEN
Keys To Experiencing God's Lavish Provision
By Patricia King

OVERVIEW: Patricia King believes that God has given us access to the riches of heaven here on earth? She dives into Scripture and answers questions like: Do I have to wait to experience God's goodness? What kinds of riches are in heaven? What impedes my access to this heavenly abundance? How can I receive my spiritual inheritance? Does God bestow different kinds of riches on different people.

AUTHOR: Patricia King is a respected apostolic leader, evangelist, author, television host, media producer and sought-after speaker who has given her life for the advancement of God's kingdom. She is founder of Patricia King ministries and Women in Ministries Network and co-founder of XPmedia.com. Patricia and her husband, Ron, have two adult sons and three grandchildren and live in Maricopa, Arizona.

MY REVIEW: If you are part of the charismatic movement, this book will be a blessing to you and build your faith. If you are not part of charismatic Christianity, this book can still be a blessing to you if you are open minded and always interested in studying the Scriptures. Patricia King uses many Scriptures to back up her beliefs. I do not always interpret the Scriptures she uses in the same way she does but I am always searching for truth anywhere I find it. I want to know what she believes. I want all of what God has for me. Hopefully you do too and will find this book interesting and challenging.

Patricia King wrote: "I received divine revelation, but when I acted on it, I experienced divine, heavenly encounters—angelic appearances, open visions and miracles." I have been a Christian for almost seventy years and I have never experienced these things. I do not believe in any special revelation beyond the Scriptures. But I remain open and continue to pray and search the Scriptures. As I said before, this is a book that many will be blessed by. Those who believe as Patricia does and even those who don't.

(I received this book from Chosen, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for a fair and honest review.)

ALWAYS NEAR

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

ALWAYS NEAR
10 Ways To Delight In The 
Closeness Of God
By Robert J. Morgan

OVERVIEW: In Always Near, Pastor Rob Morgan shares a lasting message: God wants an intimate relationship with you, and He has gone to great lengths to make it possible. In our chaotic world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and isolated, far from our Lord. That's when we most need a reminder that God is in the room. He is here, in this place.

AUTHOR: Robert J. Morgan is a writer and speaker who serves as the teaching pastor at The Donelson Fellowship in Nashville. He is the author of several books with more than 4.5 million copies in circulation. He is available to speak at conferences and conventions. He and his wife Katrina, have three daughters and sixteen grandchildren. Contact him at www.robertjmorgan.com.

MY REVIEW: Always Near is a lovely little book that would be a splendid gift, a lovely coffee table book, and a blessing to have by your bedside. We all need ways to delight in the closeness of God. Always Near provides 10 ways.

The book begins with an uplifting, encouraging introduction and then part one is Delight in Jesus. It's always a good thing to begin with Jesus. Part two is Delight in Listening to God and that's good—that's very good. There are ten different parts and they are all good.

Robert Morgan writes in a clear, interesting and encouraging way. He uses several illustrations and stories in each individual message. This is a book that will help you feel the nearness of Jesus, just when you need Him.

(I received this book from Book Look Bloggers for a fair and honest review.)

40 VERSES TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH

Monday, April 22, 2019

40 VERSES TO IGNITE
YOUR FAITH
By Laurie Polich Short

OVERVIEW: In this powerful, accessible new book, author and speaker Laurie Short mines the Scriptures, revealing insights and promises from 40 verses we often overlook. Digging into these "in-between" verses, she unearths fresh wisdom, guidance, and encouragement that will help you seek and experience God in new, dynamic ways. From trusting God's timing, to not worrying about the future, to holding on to faith when things look dark, the deeper understanding gleaned from these verses will help you navigate the challenges that cross your path, breathe new life into your weary soul, and ignite your faith once again. (From the back of the book.)

AUTHOR: Laurie Polich Short is a popular speaker and author. She speaks at conferences, colleges, churches, and denominational events around the country and has been featured on PBS, Focus on the Family, World magazine, and more. Find out more at www.laurieshort.com.

MY REVIEW: The 40 verses That Laurie Polich Short writes about in this splendid book are lesser-known Scripture verses. But she unearths fresh wisdom and encouragement from each of them. I have been busy highlighting and underscoring these verses and making notes in the margins of my Bible. Before retiring I preached, taught Bible classes for the church and taught extension courses in Bible for Pepperdine University. In all that time, I didn't spend much time with these 40 verses. Laurie Polich Short has helped me to see what I missed. These verses and her insights have been a blessing to me.

I agree with comedian Kerri Pomarolli who wrote: "Laurie Polich Short has a way of making every reader feel as if they are having an intimate one-on-one chat with a friend. She writes with clear messages and thought-provoking questions that make us think and ponder biblical truths in a new, enlightening way."

You can look these verses up in Bible commentaries and be blessed by what theologians think about them. And I have done that with most of them. But I feel I have received a double blessing by having these insights from Laurie. I like what pastor and author, John Burke said, "Laurie's life experience gives her great wisdom in bringing insight to life from Scripture verses we often miss, and these insights will deeply encourage your walk of faith."

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