Life Goes On

Although written with a decidedly Pentecostal slant, this book has useful information to any Christ-follower.  Based on the truth that Jesus called people to "follow Me", and Paul's admonition "Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1) Heward-Mills encourages believers to follow the example of some of faith's Old Testament heroes.  He points out both the positives from their lives to be emulated and the negatives to be avoided. I did find that I had to somewhat "cherry-pick" parts of the book that were helpful to me.  At times it almost seems like a Tony Robbins self-help book.  Of the three divisions of the book;  1.  Following is Eternally Significant  2.  Following God's Champions 3.  Following Begins at Home  I found the 2nd segment to be the most helpful and enlightening. This book was provided to me by The B & B Media Group in return for my review.

I beli eve that if the Apostle Paul were alive today, he would want to visit the USA just as he desired to visit Rome in his day.  Why?  Because the USA shares some of the same characteristics that Rome had during its hey-day.  John MacArthur listed some of the questions facing people in both countries; “ Is Jesus really God? What proves He is God? Why did He come? What is a saint? What is God like? How can God send people to hell? What will happen to people who have never heard the gospel? Why do men reject God and Christ? Why are there false religions and idols? What is man's biggest sin? Why is there sex perversion, hate, crime and those other things and why are they so rampant? What is the standard by which God condemns people? How can a person who has never heard be held responsible?” (John MacArthur) Perhaps what we need in America today is a modern day Paul who would address issues without concern about political correctness.  He presented the gospel without...

Today many are sad about the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the Defence of Marriage Act.  The real thing we should be sad about is that so-called committed Christians have been "fiddling" just like Nero while the United States burned.  This is nothing less than confirmation, not that we lost, but that we didn't show up for the game.  Over the past 50+ years Christians have blithely gone about their sheltered lives while leaving government to those who don't have anything better to do.  We have become self-absorbed to the point that we have lost our flavor (like Jesus spoke of in Matthew 5)  His warning is that when the salt has lost it's flavor, it is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and walked on.  Welcome to the road!  We are now being walked on and we don't like it.  Our only hope is to get serious about makiing 2 Chronicles 7:14 reality in our time.  However we must read the context.  God's promise of forg...

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Lately on the news we are hearing supposedly intelligent people make inane and assinine statements.  These are people with numerous degrees after their names from prestigious institutions.  I could list some here, but you can find them daily on line and in print.   This has led me to ponder the question, "what has happened to wisdom and knowledge in our day?"  Perhaps the starting point to find an answer is to read the words of the Preacher in Proverbs 1:1-7.  If the BEGINNING of knowledge and wisdom is the fear of the Lord, isn't that a good launching point for our query?  And by the way, the "fear of the Lord" is the FEAR of the Lord.  It involves awe and reverence, but it doesn't end there.   I have heard that wisdom is the practical application of knowledge.  That being true, two people with the same knowledge may arrive at two distinctly different conclusions because one possesses wisdom and the other doesn't.   The fact that we ...

tbbmedia gave me the opportunity to read and review this book by Don Jacobson.  As a busy pastor, Don has provided me a priceless tool that will remain on my desk near my commentaries and Study Bibles.  I'm always looking for real life illustrations that will enhance my sermons.  That is exactly what Don provides in this book.  The illustrations are from real life incidents that Don has gathered from numerous sources.  In addition, at the end of some of the stories, he provides a "Lemon Drop" which is an addendum that Don adds which gives a brief application of the story. Sixty eight real life stories will encourage and cheer the reader, and will provide illustrative material for many sermons.  

Brain, Interrupted - Yahoo! Finance : 'via Blog this' Paul hit the nail on the head long before any scientist began testing our ability to "multi-task".  In Philippians 3:13-14 he wrote "Brothers I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus." When we try to have our devotion time in from of the TV (even if we mute it) our attention is not fully on the Lord and what He is saying to us through Hid Word.  If we pray while driving or sitting in a resturant, we are not able to focus on our request or on His immediate response to our request.  Even as I write this, I'm convicted because I'm guilty of doing the very things I'm mentioning here.  The bottom line is that all of us need some "closet time".  Jesus said in Matt. 6:6 "But you, when you pray, go into your...