ANOTHER HONEST LETTER:

God, thank you for answering my first letter. You never cease to amaze me at how much You care for and tend to Your children.

The day I wrote the first letter, You sent me Your faithful servant, Gregg. Not only did he email me, be he asked to have a phone conversation. We've never met, him being way out in Colorado, and me being here in Michigan. Yet, the technology You've inspired men to invent served Your purpose of drawing me close to You again. We talked on the phone, and in just a short 20-minute conversation, Your servant -- my brother -- encouraged me.

His first question was whether or not I had been in the Word. Although I honestly was, Gregg showed me that the system I was using was not very worthwhile, thus robbing my joy. Instead, bible reading felt more like a chore.

And he prayed with me...one of the most God-honoring prayers that I've heard prayed over me. So, that said, God, thank you for Brother Gregg.

Second, and in the same week, another of Your servants, Jeff Manion of Ada Bible Church in Ada, Mi, spoke Your words into my life, and he doesn't likely know he did it. Thanks for me being able to listen to his words of encouragement via podcasting...another of Your wonderful inspirations. Ironically, the week I wrote You my first letter, I listened to a podcast of Brother Manion speaking around Easter, 2011. He was expounding on the mock trial of Your Son, where Pilate released Barrabas instead of Jesus. Jeff's words dug deep into my soul: "Isn't the story of Barabbas a summarization of the Gospel? You and I, like Barabbas, are released, and Jesus is punished."

Finally, an MSP chaplain, another of Your People, Pastor Bakker, inspired me with words I will continue to hold dear: "...take heart and lift up your head. Sin, death, and the devil were not overcome by magnificent power or show of might; they were overcome when a sinless man suffered and died. The resurrection is the victory lap, but the battle was already finished. Sin could not overcome him; death could not contain him; the devil utterly lost."

What else can I say, God? Thank You so much for putting very good people in my life. As a good friend of mine once prayed, "God, Your people are everywhere!". Thank You again for sparking my joy to return to me. Please bless these men who do Your work.

I'm dedicated to You,
Mike

"Alienation", by Jon S. Lewis

This book has just about everything a young reader would enjoy: alien invasions and infiltrations, aliens transforming to look like humans, jet packs, action, fighting, you-name-it!  If you missed it, this book is for teens and tweens, not adults.  I must have missed the memo on that part when I requested a review copy :-)

This is book #2 of the CHAOS (Central Headquarters Against the Occult and Supernatural) trilogy.  Not having read book #1 in the trilogy, I was concerned that I would be lost early in the story.  However, Lewis presented a comic book at the beginning recap-ing the important details of that first book.  I was able to jump right in without a problem.

The action and adventure take off right away with the 3 main characters operating their jet packs in an obstacle course training session prior to entering the CHAOS Academy.  Colt, the main character in the series, is the Christ-type -- the only one who can save the world from the alien invasion of the Thule species.  It is his destiny, but he didn't always know it.

"Alienation" wraps up a portion of the story, but leaves enough room for adventure in a final book in the trilogy.  I honestly found myself wishing I had book #3, wondering what would happen next.

This one is an easy read, and is short on depth and detail.  So it won't bog down a young reader's mind, but keep him/her excited about reading.  I highly recommend it, giving it 4 out of 5 stars.


DISCLAIMER: I received this book from Thomas Nelson / Booksneeze free of charge in exchange for my unbiased review of it.  I was not threatened or coerced in any way to provide a positive review.

FIT MINDS, FAT BODIES:

What if the bodily "temple" you've been given to tend here on earth is the one that your glorified temple in heaven will look like? Many Christians hope for that day when we will be transformed, when our broken, sin-sickened bodies will be miraculously and mysteriously changed into something more Herculean, more angelic.

But what are you doing about the transformation today? Great sermons are preached about our need to eschew sins in life, from over-consumption of alcohol to pornography, from gossip to adultery, etc. Our minds are stretching with information, and our intelligence is growing. Unfortunately, so too are our bodies. Our minds are fit, but our bodies are fat!

Every Sunday morning, people are showing up in churches to hear messages designed to transform their souls, hearts, and minds. Yet, many of those same people are cramming donuts and cookies into their already-too-chubby faces, and thus dishonoring the temple God gave them to care for. Seems like sexual sin is not the only one that affects the body; Gluttony and lack of self-discipline have ugly results as well, and it shows.

• 58 Million (18.6%) Americans are overweight; 40 Million (12.8%) are obese; 3 Million (1%) are morbidly obese. America's population is right around 311.6 million.
• Eight out of 10 over the age of 25 are overweight

Consider the medical definitions of "obese" and "overweight". Obesity is defined as being 20% or higher over one's ideal healthy weight, and to be "morbidly obese" is to be 50% over one's ideal healthy weight.

So, what if that temple you've been given is the same one you will always have? What if only the pain and sickness is taken away, but the shape remains? Are you honoring God in your body as well as in your speech and conduct? Will you start the transformation today?

COURAGEOUS:

By now, you've likely heard "Courageous" by the Christian band, "Casting Crowns".  If not, well, that's ok.  The song serves as the theme song for the movie by the same title. Well, I've grown tired of the song.  Not only because I've never been much of a Casting Crowns fan, but primarily for its message.  (I'll spare you the details on why I dislike the musicality of the song.)

Message: The notion Casting Crowns presents on what courage is and where it comes from is bothersome to me. The lyrics say this: "We were made to be courageous...Lord, make us courageous."

Here's my first question: If we were already MADE to be courageous by God, then why do we need to ask Him to MAKE us courageous all over again? Didn't CC just tell us God already did that? It's like asking God to make you closer to Him; It just doesn't come without sacrifice and effort. It's why Joshua was told to "be strong and very courageous." Are we to think that was the first time Joshua ever faced his fears with courage?  Likewise, Paul tells us to stand guard over our lives, to stand firm in faith. The imperative was never to ask God to MAKE us firm, but to BE firm.

I think Christians waste too many breaths asking God for things rather than practicing what He has already made possible in us. How many people do we know (because we all know it's not US we're talking about here) who ask God for more patience in dealing with a certain situation, or more you-fill-in-the-blank? Why ask? Control your head; Take charge of your emotions; Exercise patience! Initiate honesty...generosity...whatever!

Courage doesn't come by simply ASKING God to make us courageous. It doesn't come by singing louder with a trendy tune. Instead, courage only shows up through hard growth, just like everything else in life that is worthwhile. In his book, "Why Courage Matters", Sen. John McCain said "we become courageous by doing courageous things."  No great warrior ever woke up as a newborn and said, "Today I will conquer the world!" No, he fought small battles on the playground for his girlfriend-of-the-week, she trained, he practiced, she stood up to a bully, he confronted a dishonest employee, she exercised, he bled, she sweated. The warrior built up his courage to the point where it became his nature to rush into enemy fire when the odds were heavily stacked against him; to rescue his fallen comrades as he dragged his own leg behind him.

Stop simply praying for God to help you lose weight; to help you regain control of your finances; to help you speak up and share the gospel. Just do it! Exercise what you know is the right thing to do. Seek wise instruction on how to get you moving in the right direction.  Build up your courage today, and tomorrow you'll have a little bit more courage (or patience, or self-control, or...) to face the bigger battle that faces you on Tuesday.

Be strong. 
Be courageous!

AN HONEST LETTER:

This post his difficult to write.  Because it's raw.  It's painful.  So, I'm writing it to God, and allowing you to peer into my world for just a moment, because writing is how I best process my thoughts.


God, I'm going to be honest here. 
With every keystroke. 
I'm just not that into You right now.
I know You don't need me to say it, because You already know it by my behaviors. 
I know it must hurt to read this.
It hurts to even write these words, knowing You're reading them. 
I'd be crushed if my wife or one of my sons said the same to me. 
So, I know You must be crushed, too.

I don't know why I feel this way. 
Maybe it's the lack of use of a gift You've given me. 
It has been sitting like a rusty tool on the bottom of a tool cabinet. 
It hasn't been picked up and dusted off. 
It's decaying. 
Maybe that's why.

Or, maybe it's because of some skepticism I'm experiencing. 
Maybe doubts are sowing seeds that are taking root, growing into weeds that clutter my mind and rob me of joy. 
Maybe that's why.
I don't know.

Or, maybe it's because I need to be wooed all over again. 
I trust what You've said is true, and that you've done a ton to woo me already. 
You've won me, but I'm drifting. 
Maybe I need something more. 
Not a gigantic miracle, but something real. 
Something that tells me, "I'm here.  I'm with you.  I still believe in you."

Please don't give up on me.
Please don't abandon me.
I'm sorry for hurting you.
Pursue me.
Catch me.
Now!

"HEROES AND VILLAINS OF THE BIBLE", produced by Thomas Nelson

I had high hopes for this one. Instead, I was greatly disappointed.

Here's the synopsis of "Heroes and Villains of the Bible". It's a bible...a very condensed bible, but a bible none-the-less. Leviticus is absent, so that was a relief since it's marketed as a children's book.  It's not much of a story book, since one lonely picture prefaces each bible passage, and a brief children's lesson closes out the narrative.  The problem is that the bible passages are anywhere from 2 to 5 or 6 pages long...with no additional pictures! If they want to market this to children -- especially boys -- then there better be more pictures, especially pictures of fire, and bows & arrows, chariots, horses, and war. But there's none of that, except for that one lousy picture at the beginning of each "chapter".

My youngster had absolutely NO interest in this one. He was more interested in turning the digital pages on my iPad than he was in the story itself. He wants pictures and story-telling, not a repackaged bible. That said, it would have been nice to have some fictionalized additions to the biblical narratives to keep childrens' attention.  Not only that, but shorter would also help to maintain their interest.

"But the bible is pure and perfect", someone may suggest. Yeah, yeah, yeah, but let's be realistic: we want boys to engage the bible with great interest, and this one doesn't do it.  I've read many great authors who could render the accounts contained in "Heroes and Villains of the Bible" much more alive in a youngster's mind.

Needless to say, I was extremely disappointed with this "book". I give it one star out of five stars for lack of creativity and imagination.  This title lacked any real effort.


I received this book free from BookSneeze in exchange for my unbiased review. I was not compensated, threatened, coerced, or promised favors in return for a positive review. All opinions are mine.

I COULD SING...FOREVER?

The bowling alley was quiet. Quiet for a bowling alley, anyway, until the one loud guy rolled a strike, and exuberantly yelled, "C'mon, get up! What are we in, church?" Guys laughed and the mood gradually grew to it's norm. Now, I've heard similar statements, but they usually compare the quietness to a funeral instead of a church.

No matter, the point was clear: people (saints and sinners alike) equate church with boredom. And I can't say I blame them. Who wants to be part of something where it's adherents look like they have a foot in the grave and are drinking from a glass of lemon pulp?

I had to laugh one Sunday morning when our church music director chose to sing one rather peculiar song. I say peculiar because this particular church is largely behaviorally conservative; far from charismatic, that is. Great group, friendly, loving group, but not a very lively group. Leadership wants to be contemporary, but it just doesn't work there for some reason. Anyway, I smiled as I played the drums and watched the congregation worship...err, sing...err, stand during this particular tune:

The name of the song is, "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever", and a portion of the lyrics go like this: "Oh I feel like dancing. It's foolishness, I know.....we will dance with joy like we're dancing now. I could sing of your love forever...."

Let's break it down.....

First, quite honestly, lots of people in this place barely move their lips during the praise and worship, let alone sing;

Second, many of them don't feel like singing for 5 minutes, let alone for 5 million years, which looks a lot more like forever than does 5 minutes;

Third, statues come to mind;

Fourth, I've never seen a statue dance.

Fifth, "dishonesty" also came to mind. So maybe it was actually a good thing people weren't singing along.

....and those piercing words of the bowling alley loudmouth rang in my ears: "C'mon, get up! What are we in, church?"

SUCH GLORIOUS GRACE:

Yesterday while instructing a class, I was briefly interrupted by a supervisor who quietly called a student out of class. I thought this student had to answer a phone call from home, so I immaturely gestured, "oooooohhhhhhh", like a school kid does to his buddy called down to the principal's office. We are pretty jovial and laid back in this atmosphere so students will learn better. What I didn't realize, however, was the reason she was being removed: for not meeting required minimums. She was dismissed.

When class finished, I asked my supervisor where she was. And that's when I was absolutely mortified. I blew it, and I added to her embarrassment, to be sure. When I asked where she was so I could apologize, I was told she had already left. I was crushed for her.

Not knowing how else to settle the matter, I sent her an email, profusely apologizing for the embarrassment she certainly endured. I provided my cell phone number in the email and told her I'd like to at least tell her I was sorry in a more personal way than email. My apologies were deep and sincere, not merely because I felt bad for putting my foot in my mouth, but because of what I had done to her.

She called the following day, but I was not near the phone. She left the most glorious message of forgiveness on my voicemail. Here's what she said:

"Mike, I completely and fully forgive you, and you are completely absolved from all wrong. You are forgiven."

Her words were music to my ears. I didn't deserve her grace, but she gave it...not reservedly, but fully. See, we had spoken earlier in the day about our commitment to Christ. She not only spoke it, but demonstrated it.

While my apology was true, her forgiveness was most impressive.
I was humbled.
I was grateful.
Deeply grateful.
She was a model of Christ-likeness.

And that's precisely the grace God extends to those who place the care of their souls in His hands. Ahhhhh, friend, if only you'll repent and receive full, unquestioned pardon, then your soul would finally be at ease. Jesus Christ bore your shame, embarrassment, and burden. Receive His glorious grace.