Prayer is Only Play...

It seems that with regular frequency I'm seeing a disturbing trend regarding how people say they will "pray" for others. Maybe this observation is due to the prevalence of social media and email that opens access to others' thoughts. I will explain with an example that is an amalgamation of recent social media posts and emails received:

"Hello friends, please say a prayer for Suzie. She is having surgery this afternoon to remove a tumor in her lungs. Thank you."

I'm satisfied with the request for prayer...it's a serious need.  However, many of the replies to the request give me heartburn.  Here are some examples:

-- "Prayers and thoughts sent!"
-- "Done!"
--"Prayers headed her way!"

So what's my beef?

First, we have a rather cavalier approach to prayer these days.  After all, we have emails to send, Facebook feeds to read, and candy to crush. To many people today, the average prayer is akin to a short tweet or email sent up the chain to God, only then to be checked off the list of things to do that day.  I imagine God opening his web browser and reading, "You've got mail!"  His reply?  "Oh, super!  Let me just reach down there and fix things now that I've read all these little notes asking for my help."

I imagine people praying (if they actually pray for the requested need at all), "God, please heal Suzie", then clapping their hands together like they're removing dirt from their palms, saying, "Good, done with that one. Ok, now what am I going to make for dinner?"  We may not actually SAY those words, but our approach to prayer seems to suggest that's exactly what we believe.

Pastor David A. Redding, in his 1962 book, "The Parables of Jesus", when discussing the parable of the persistent widow, wrote, "Those who take prayer so lightly they can't remember what is was they meant to pray for and never pray for the same thing two weeks in a row, who assume one mention is enough, at least to be mad about if He doesn't answer within the hour, make prayer a pity.  Prayer demands determination and patience." (p.39).

Next, what exactly are "thoughts" sent?  This has also been translated as "positive vibes", "good thoughts", etc. How can one's positive vibes or nice thoughts help even the most distressed person in this world? "That guy down the street sure is cold and hungry, but I'll just think positive thoughts, and everything should be alright."  James wrote, "What good is it if a person goes without clothes or daily food and you say to him, 'Go, I wish you well. Be warm and well fed?' and you do nothing for his physical needs?...faith without deeds is useless!" (James 2:14-26).  Our thoughts cannot truly help anyone! The hurting, the hungry, and the lonely crave our ACTION, not simply our "positive thoughts and vibes".

Finally, and this is probably my biggest beef of all -- whenever I read something like, "...sending prayers your way", I get, well....  NO!  Don't send your prayers to me, or to Suzie, or to the doctors, or to anyone else.  What value is in that?  Pray FOR me, or Suzie, or the doctors, but not TO us.  Sadly, this is not just something I've observed only from non-believers; I've also read this from professing Christians!

Prayer offered to anyone but the Father Almighty is not only pointless, but is an idolatrous abomination to God himself! (Ex. 20:3).  Please, if you're truly going to pray for this-or-that need, please earnestly approach the throne of Heaven (Matt. 6:9-13), and beg God for His mercy and favor.  If you pray for me, please do so in this manner, or I must kindly ask you not to pray for me at all.  Please don't ever send prayers "my way".  Instead, "...in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Php. 4:6). Approach HIM, not me -- or anyone else.


Lord, may I take prayer so seriously that I will "pray with passion -- until all the yawns are gone and the sleepy, halfhearted hopes and dreams become burning desires".  May I remember "prayer is only play until it is intense, relentless." (Redding, p.41).

"Patriots, Redcoats, & Spies", by Robert J. and Robert A. Skead (book review)

I requested this book for review because my 9 year-old son was studying the founding of America at the same time this book was made available.  I told him I had requested the book, and that it was my hopes that he would read it and type a review.  This book is written for youngsters, so I thought it would be best for a youngster to read and review.  What you are about to read are HIS words, not mine (I only helped with very minor editing for flow), so please be graceful when you read my 9 year-old's thought processes and sentence structure.

HIS REVIEW:  There were two kids named Ambrose and John and their father gave them a letter to give to George Washington about the secret plan the Redcoats were going to play on them. When they were gone they had to get horses. They arrived at a barn to get some horses to ride but they had to do a trick to get the horses. They did their trick and they got 2 horses.

When they rode in the woods they got caught by some spies. Their father told them to trust no one and that’s what they did. They rode off into the distance.

When it was getting dark they went in to the woods and slept for the night. In the morning they saw someone took their horses. They went to the thief’s camp and they got their horses and rode away. When they rode away they got to George Washington’s house and got caught by his guards. The guards took them to Washington. When George Washington saw the kids he said to the guards to let them go and give them bread.

So the kids gave him the letter. He read the letter, which said the Redcoats were going to attack. He got right to work on preparing for the fight against the redcoats.

LIKES: I liked that it was very kid friendly and it was very entertaining to read.  I learned that the Redcoats did not like George Washington.  It was good that my class had already learned about George Washington, the Redcoats, and the Patriots.

DISLIKES: I liked the pictures, but they weren’t as nicely drawn as in some of the other books I’ve read.

RATING: I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free of charge from BookLook Bloggers (Zondervan).  None of the opinions were forced upon us, and we were not required to provide a positive review.

"Chasing the Woodstock Baby", by Steve Hagood (book review)

INTRODUCTION: Legend has it that one, two, or three babies were born during the 60's Woodstock concert, but none of those babies, now long grown (if they exist) have been identified.  Identifying one of the Woodstock babies would require the sharp skills and diligent efforts of a trained investigator.

When two lovers, one of them being a pregnant 19-year old Caroline Wolf, and their friends attend Woodstock, a drug-induced high led to the birth of a child who would disappear.  Decades later, Caroline's other child is ill and in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant.  Caroline reaches out to Chase, a retired Police officer from Detroit PD.  Chase has a never-give-up attitude, the perfect candidate to find Caroline's lost Woodstock baby.  

The problem was that Caroline wasn't exactly sure the baby was still alive, and didn't know where to suggest Chase begin looking.  Using his investigative skills, Chase's leads take him into Saline, Michigan, a city gripped in the clutches of a corrupt Hannigan family.

What would Chase uncover?  Would he find the baby? Would good prevail over evil?  Read the book to find out!

LIKES: The author, Steve Hagood, is a Michigan native who decided to write the setting of his book in his hometown of Saline. Being familiar with that city myself, I was excited to follow the story around town in my mind.  I saw clearly the buildings, roads, and turns as he described them, and I even imagined where certain crimes had taken place -- even though he didn't suggest exactly where they occurred.

The book contains only one story line, which makes for a quick, easy, and entertaining read.  (In fact, I completed the book in two sittings.) The chapters are short (typically 2 or 3 pages), and he keeps readers turning to the next chapter. I like this because many cookie-cutter books have two or three story lines, one of which is usually just a "filler" plot to make a book a little thicker so publishers can bump up the prices. Being an independent book, however, there was no need for unnecessary fluff.

Steve is a gifted writer whose scene and character descriptions provide just enough detail to paint a mental picture, yet not so much that bogs a reader down.  He writes with wit and real-world humor that caused me to laugh aloud a number of times.

I smiled when I reached the end, and I said to myself, "Well done, Steve".  While there was no major twist to the story, I was pleasantly surprised how one relatively minor character came into play at the end of the book.  I couldn't help but think Steve's was a brilliant conclusion.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!

DISLIKES: Lower-budget publications tend to have a few editing flaws, and this one was one of them. There were several in this book, but none detracted from the plot.  However, I had to re-read a few sentences to think about what Steve intended to say in those particular instances. Because I know the author, I sent the list of necessary edits to him in case this book goes to additional printings.

RATING: If you're into investigative stories with creative wit, I think you'll be pleased with this book.  I think Steve is a talented writer who has a serious potential to be on a best-seller list one day if a big-name publisher will pick up on his work. I give this book 4 stars out of 5.  It was a fun page-turner, but in need of some edits.  The 155-page, soft-cover book retails for $9.95, and the Amazon Kindle edition retails for $4.99.  Please support an up-and-coming author by purchasing your copy today!

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free of charge directly from the author in exchange for my unbiased review of it.  I was not obligated to provide a positive review; all opinions are mine.

"The Matheny Manifesto", by Mike Matheny, with Jerry B. Jenkins (book review)

When I recently watched the St. Louis Cardinals in the playoffs on television, I was stricken by the imposing figure who was the team’s head coach – Mike Matheny.  Every time the camera showed him, I couldn’t help but admire how he led his team – from the way he stood calmly and stoically in the dugout, to the manner in which he argued close calls.  I make no bones about it, I’m a Tiger baseball fan!  More than that, however, I’m a baseball fan as there are so many aspects of the game I enjoy.  Baseball is so much more than a sport of bat, ball, and glove.  And Matheny models character that youngsters (and oldsters alike) would be good to emulate. 

Matheny appears to live the class he preaches.  While fans can watch him in action in person and on television, now we can read about it in his new release, “The Matheny Manifesto”.  Here’s the gist: Prior to agreeing to coach a youth-league baseball team, Matheny wrote a letter to and for the parents of the boys on the team.  It became known as his manifesto.  The general synopsis was that parents need to keep quiet and trust the coaches to coach.  While explaining his coaching philosophy, Matheny lays out 8 keys to success: Leadership, Confidence, Teamwork, Faith, Class, Character, Toughness, & Humility.

“The Matheny Manifesto” is not just another hoo-rah book spouting various leadership principles supposedly valued by some high-paid, upper-class, successful individual.  Instead, it is a short, easy, leadership primer that highly encourages one central theme: Class!  Class is weaved into each of the keys to success.  Win, lose, or draw, in order to teach youngsters class, we must be adults who model class. Even if you’re not a baseball coach or fan, the principles laid out in the book apply to all arenas of life.

DISLIKES: I fully recognize Matheny didn’t intend for this book to be about him.  It’s about his philosophy of success.  However, high-profile figures have the ability to espouse their philosophies in books people will buy because we look up to these individuals.  That said, there is not one picture in the book…and no, I’m not like a 4^th grader who chooses books based upon the number of pictures it contains in order to make it a quicker read.  Like I said, I’m a baseball fan, so I would have liked (even expected) to see some pictures from Matheny’s high-school-to-the-pro’s playing days.  Especially for the outrageous price being asked for this small 221-page book ($24 USD), I would hope it would contain a few glossy pictures.  That being the case, I think the pricing will be the main discourages from people buying this book…and it’s unfortunate because the book is so well-written, containing much encouragement!

RATING: 4 stars out of 5

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free of charge from Blogging for Books in exchange for my unbiased review of it.  All opinions are mine, and were not forced upon me.  I was not obligated to provide a positive review.

Build a Load-Bearing Bridge with Popsicle Sticks and Tongue Depressors:

Like us, you've Googled the "How to's" for building one of those wooden load-bearing bridges out of popsicle sticks and/or tongue depressors.  Maybe you've decided to try a free-time experiment, or, like us, your student is participating in a Science Olympiad competition.

Long story short, our son was told THE DAY BEFORE the competition that he could participate in the bridge building portion. We were given a bag containing 100 popsicle sticks and 20 tongue depressors, we could use only glue to attach them, and the bridge had to span 1 foot of distance. Not cry-babying here, but while the other students had several weeks to build sturdy bridges, we had only about 18 hours. That's why I share this...in the end, the quick design we devised ultimately held approximately 150 pounds and didn't break!  Here's what we did.

We decided to design the bridge with a truss system of layers of staggered sticks.  Each truss consisted of 4 layers of sticks set on top of each other at differing (thirds) intervals.  If you can zoom in on this picture, you'll see we "striped" lines across the face of the sticks, dividing each stick into thirds. Rather than overlaying the sticks in halves (imagine a cinder block wall), we decided to overlay them in thirds so that if one stick gave out under a load, there was another immediately below it to help support it.

 The picture above gives you an idea of how we staggered the layers of each truss. When layering in thirds (just like in halves), some of the "thirds" had to be cut so that each layer of the truss would start and end in line (well, approximately).

In total, we made 6 trusses that stretched approximately 15 inches, and each truss consisted of approximately 16 popsicle sticks (the top and bottom layers were exactly 4 sticks long).  While the glue was setting, but not completely dry, we overlayed what would be the top of the bridge with the thick tongue depressors.  Their purpose wasn't to provide strength (since they laid flat, rather than vertical), but to connect the trusses together and hold them in place.  We crossed our fingers as we allowed the glue to harden overnight.  We weren't confident, and even prepared our son for the possibility (probability, even) that his bridge would probably crumble under even the lightest weight.  But...

After holding approximately 30-or-so pounds, the teacher decided to have a boy sit on the bridge.  When it didn't break, my son sat on his friend's lap.  As the two sat on it together, the bridge STILL didn't collapse! Around the 150-pound mark, this design finally started to bow, but still didn't break.  They stopped the competition when one girl's design didn't even begin to show signs of weakness at the 150-pound mark.  The below design was her's.

Great job, kids!  What would be a competition without also teaching some invaluable life lessons?  Here's what we helped teach our son.

LIFE LESSONS:

First, life sometimes gives us lemons (like being told to build something or complete a task in a relatively short time).  But when handed lemons, make lemonade.  In other words, do the best you can with what you've been given.  That's real life, folks!  How many times do we have an agenda for our work day, but our supervisor says to us at the last minute, "Hey, I need this done ASAP!"  So what do responsible people do?  Cry? Whine?  No, we get to work and do the best we can.

Second, this bridge was a direct result of teamwork, and not any one person's ideas.  Our son, my wife, and I all had good ideas about how to build the sturdiest bridge in the shortest amount of time, but we had to acknowledge when someone else's ideas were better than our own.  Due to time constraints, we didn't have days or weeks to debate or research our ideas.  Instead, we had to make decisions and put them into action.

Finally, our son loves science, but is not so fond of math.  We've been trying to show him how math comes into play in all fields of science.  Here, we helped him see the value of thirds and how they work together to even build bridges.  We connected the boring-ness of theoretical math with the exciting fun-ness of science.

CONCLUSION: I hope this is helpful to you in your bridge-building adventure.  So, have fun, keep calm, and build on!

"Jesus, Continued", by J.D. Greear (book review)

Many authors have undertaken the difficult task of writing about the Holy Spirit.  The "3rd" person of the Trinity can truly be difficult to understand, and I imagine He's an even more difficult Person to write about. I've read a few contemporary books on the Holy Spirit, including "Forgotten God" by Francis Chan.  This one, "Jesus Continued", ranks among my favorite contemporary works on the Holy Spirit.

The book is divided into three parts: Part 1: The Missing Spirit; Part 2: Experiencing the Spirit; and Part 3: Seeking the Spirit.  The first two parts each contain six chapters, and the third contains four chapters, totaling 227 pages.

THOUGHT-PROVOCATION: I was inspired by numerous thought-nuggets throughout the book, and there is not enough space in this blog review to discuss them all.  Therefore, I will briefly address a few of those nuggets I found most insightful or thought-provoking.

1) A famous quote has been attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, "Preach the gospel; when necessary, use words."  J.D. discusses this peculiar concept of "witnessing with my life" on page 57.  He writes, "The gospel is...an announcement about what Jesus did to save people, not a presentation of what a good person you are...Sharing that announcement requires words, because you can't really explain what Jesus did through charades.  How can you preach the gospel of Christ's finished work without words?" (emphasis mine).

This thought inspires me because the Holy Spirit's primary role, as J.D. quotes J.I. Packer, is to illuminate the gospel message in what J.I. calls it a "floodlight ministry" (p.23).  Therefore, it seems appropriate that the Spirit of God would inspire us to speak the truth of the gospel He intends to illuminate.  I wonder if Assisi's quote has done more harm than good by providing well-intending Christians with an escape route from having to speak the gospel.  Instead, they hope living a good life will do it all.  Certainly, words AND actions ought to work in concert with each other, but actions alone do not explain the gospel message with any sense of clarity.

2) All of Chapter 5: "God Doesn't Need You" was entirely liberating.  Ironically, this nugget falls on the heels of what inspired me in the thoughts above.  In chapter 5, J.D. expresses that "not every assignment that comes from heaven has your name on it" and "There's no reason to feel guilty over what you're not doing if you're doing what God has commanded you to do"..."nor should I feel guilty that God has not assigned it to me." (all p.82)

Let's hear it for one collective sigh of relief: ahhhhhhhhhh.  You mean, it's not all up to me?  You mean, if all the details aren't hammered out, God can still use my flaws?  You mean, if I'm not eloquent, the Spirit of God can still use my words to accomplish his floodlight ministry on the gospel?  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!  "Faithfulness, not degree of sacrifice", writes J.D., "is our measure of 'success'" (p.83).

3) In Chapter 16, "The Way Up is the Way Down", J.D. punched me right in the gut.  Hard!  "You will never be full of the Spirit so long as you are full of yourself" (p.219).  Whoa, don't be so hard on me, J.D.!  See, I'm a rather proud person.  I've accomplished much, and I want to make a good name for myself. (By the way, I should know better...my name isn't known by initials, such as J.I. Packer, A.W. Tozer, or J.D. Greear...just sayin').  But the prideful person I am is exactly the kind of person the Spirit of God cannot use.  Instead, "God's power comes as a gift only to the empty-spirited", J.D. writes on page 219.

This sobers me because I find myself in competition with the Spirit, thinking I can do much on my own. Obviously, that doesn't work.  Instead, I need to be broken and emptied of self so the Spirit can fill me.  J.D. quotes A.W. Tozer, "It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply" (p.220).  Honestly, my pride says, "I don't want to be hurt deeply!" But my spirit says, "I must be if I want to be used by God."  Thanks for the gut check, J.

RECOMMENDATION: I enjoyed or was challenged by just about every page in this book, either by having my theology challenged, or by chewing on thought-nuggets that inspire me to be more conscious of the Holy Spirit's work in and around me.  If you're the type of person who doesn't want to read anything that might rattle your long-held beliefs, then don't bother with this book.  While that's not the purpose of J.D.'s book, it's bound to happen.  Just stick to reading only the topics you agree with and be content in your world.  Otherwise, if you want to be challenged and encouraged by the Holy Spirit's real, living presence TODAY, then this one just might be right for you.

RATING: All said, I give this book 4 1/2 stars out of 5.  I like what he had to say, but I'd have liked to see a little better editing.

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free of charge from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my unbiased review of it.  I was not promised gifts or rewards to provide a positive review.  All opinions are mine, and none of the statements expressed in my review were forced upon me.


NOTES FOR THE EDITORS: This section is simply a note to the editors. I'm not sure editors and publishers ever read simple bloggers' reviews, but these are for their use in case this books goes into a subsequent printing.

1) Pluralization: "An infinite amount of power and possibilities await us" (p.15).  Since "power" (no "s") is used, then "possibility" (no "ies") should also be used.  Therefore, "awaits" (with an "s") should be used.

2) "Where God has given clarity in his Word.  So throughout Scripture..." (p.37).  The first sentence seems to suggest a comma should be used after "Word" and that an additional phrase is missing.  As written, however, it appears to be an incomplete sentence.

3) "Don't mock those who overestimate their potential for the kingdom of God. mock those who underestimate it" (p.63).  I agree with the idea, but the "m" in "mock" needs to be capitalized.

4) On page 71, J.D. began telling a story about a Muslim man named "Ahmed" who had dreams and asked for interpretation.  I think it would have been good to complete the story, but J.D. left me hanging.

5) Referring to an analogy about a friend paying a debt he didn't owe to cover your $900,000 back taxes, J.D. wrote, "...but your friend paid that debt off, you would probably fall on your feet and say..."  How does one "fall on" his feet?  Did he mean "knees"?  Did he mean, "fall from your feet"?

"Inside the Criminal Mind", by Stanton E. Samenow, Ph.D. (book review)

As a police officer, I find interesting the study of the thought processes and personalities that inspire criminals to behave as they do.  Although originally written several years ago, "Inside the Criminal Mind" has been revised and updated to include recent news-breaking crime stories, taking readers on a journey through the criminal mind from adolescence to adulthood.

WHAT CAUSES CRIME? The main question in the book is the one asked frequently, "Can we predict who will or will not commit crime?"  While Dr. Samenow attempts to answer such questions, each chapter seems to conclude with the suggestion, "We cannot know for sure who will or will not become a criminal."

What is encouraging to know is that parents don't turn children into criminals, and that we cannot predict how a child will turn out by looking at his parents (p.21).  This is going to come as a relief for some people, wondering if their poor decisions as parents led one of their children into a life of crime, but will be frustrating to others, thinking fixed parenting will lead to the solution.  But citing numerous stories of siblings who grew up in the same households, Dr. Samenow showed how some became criminals, while others became productive members of society.

SOCIAL LIFE: Simply associating with "rotten apples" is not a causative factor in criminality.  While associating with delinquent peers is indeed a risk factor for turning to crime, Dr. Samenow says this is "like saying diving into water gets you wet.  It reveals nothing about causation, but a great deal about choice" (p.47).  We cannot forget that criminals make choices; they are not forced into any action they commit.

Citing case studies of criminals' school, work, and social lives, Dr. Samenow drives home the point that criminality is a matter of choice, and adding drugs and alcohol to the "mix" only intensifies what already exists in a person (p.176).  Drugs and alcohol are not inherently the problem; they simply exacerbate the problem that already exists.

Dr. Samenow makes the case that responsible people discover the meaning in the processes of achievement.  When hard work leads to accomplishing a task, a good feeling about oneself is achieved.  A criminal, however, tends to set unrealistically high goals for himself that he cannot realistically achieve.  As a result, he becomes discouraged and quits shortly after beginning his work (p.209).

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? Much great emphasis has been placed on the rehabilitation process of criminals.  The problem, however, according to Dr. Samenow, is not solved by RE-habilitation, but by habilitation.  "The very concept of rehabilitation is flawed" (p.279).  RE-habilitation assumes a positive personality trait and good character has always existed in a criminal's life, and that the criminal simply lost it and needs to get it back.  However, that is largely not the case.  Instead, the good character traits were never present in many criminals' lives to begin with, so the issue is establishing a new personality and character in place.  He calls this habilitation, rather than re-habilitation because for many, this process is a first-time event.

Unfortunately, many people (loved-ones, mentors, etc.) abandon the effort to habilitate criminals -- it's costly, time-consuming, and tiresome.  The criminal has to want to change if he is going to be habilitated.  But his mentors may just run out of steam in the habilitation process.  If the criminal, therefore, is your loved one, this process of habilitation will be long and arduous.  But, it will not succeed if the criminal does not want to change.  "They must reach a point in life when they are becoming fed up with themselves and, consequently, desire to change" (p.329).

CONCLUSION: I think the last paragraph sums up the solution quite succinctly, and it is found in the Bible's Proverbs: "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he" (23:7).  We are as we think.  It is impossible to help a person give up crime and live responsibly without helping him to change what is most basic -- his thinking" (p.330).

RATING: For those interested in the study of crime and causality, I think you will appreciate this book.  I gleaned from it many invaluable insights, and I believe the intended readers are those employed as social workers, therapists, police officers, corrections officers, etc.  For this reason, I give "Inside the Criminal Mind" 5 stars out of 5.  For any other reader group, you likely won't be too interested in it.

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free of charge from Blogging for Books in exchange for my unbiased review of it.  All opinions are mine, and were not forced upon me.  I was made no promises in exchange for a positive review.

"NKJV Note-Taker's Bible", by Zondervan Bibles (review)

For those of us who like to write in our Bibles, this version is a good resource.  However, there are a few things you must understand about this Bible before purchasing it.

Whenever a book offers large spaces in the page margins for note-writing, one of two things must occur. Either (1) the Bible has to be a monstrous volume in order to provide ample writing space, or (2) the Bible must be written with such small print that the reader strains his eyes reading it.  The latter is true in this case.

DIMENSIONS:
The Bible weighs 1 pound, 14.4 ounces.  Its thickness from cover to cover measures approximately 1 1/8". The cover is approximately 9 1/2" tall, and 6 1/2" wide. Pages measure approximately 9 1/4" tall, and 6 1/4" wide.  The outer and lower margins provide approximately 1 1/4" and 1" respectively for note-writing.  Not bad, actually.

However, letters stand approximately 1/16" tall, and each of the two columns per page span approximately 2 1/4" (depending on whether it's a poetry or prose section).  A little small for my tastes.

Photograph added to show margin and print sizes only.

VERSION:
The version I received for review is the NKJV.  On a personal level, I enjoy the NKJV, a proven readable and reliable version. However, I am not providing a review of the text, but the physicality of the Bible only.

COMMENTARY:
If you're looking for a study Bible with author/editor commentaries, then this is not the right choice for you. If, however, you find yourself getting bogged down with all the varied suggestions, you might like this Bible. There exists at the bottom margins of the pages some editorial inserts suggesting what the original texts of given verses seem to have suggested.  Because there is no concordance in the back, cross-referencing passages will have to be accomplished via the use of other tools.

RATING:
This Bible version is a good idea for note-takers, but its text is a bit small for reading.  Nevertheless, it is simple and basic.  I give this Bible 4 stars out of 5 for its simplicity and usability.

DISCLAIMER:
I received this Bible free of charge from BookLookBloggers in exchange for my unbiased review of it.  I was not promised reward or coerced to provide a positive review.  All opinions are mine.

It is Good!

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to the Most High.  It is good to proclaim His unfailing love in the morning, His faithfulness in the evening" (Psalm 92:1-2).

 The Genesis account of creation presents the great pleasure God finds with the creation of His own hands, saying, "God saw that it was good" (Gen 1:12, 18, 21, 25, 31).  Elsewhere, we read that "the heavens proclaim His righteousness" (Psalm 97:6).

 The point is that God is pleased with all that His creation says about Him, for ALL of creation says SOMETHING!  All creation says something glorious, whether the creatures know it or not, whether the voice is of an unintelligible language or not.  Through scientific advancements, such as Asteroseismology (aka "stellar seismology"), we can easily hear this truth from pulsating stars.



 If God finds pleasure in the songs of whales and stars and winds and waves (and anything else we cannot right now hear), then how much more does He find pleasure in our praises!  Of all creation, we human beings are the only creatures who have the capability and freedom to either praise or curse God.  All other creation sings only glorious praises day and night.

 What songs will your heart and soul sing?  Who will they praise?  Will you join with all of creation to sing praises to your Maker?

 Keep these simple thoughts in mind: Nowhere does the Bible say that the quality of your singing voice is what's important; or that the abilities of your artistic expression need to meet the standards of Beethoven or Michelangelo.  Instead, God looks at the heart (1 Sam 16:7) it is the heart of your praises (Psalm 51:17) that matter to God .

 Praise Him with all of your heart...for it is good!

"Parcells: A Football Life", by Bill Parcells & Nunyo Demasio (book review)

I grew up watching one of the all-time best linebackers in NFL history: number "56" -- Lawrence Taylor -- of the New York football Giants.  And I remember watching as the imposing figure on the sidelines, whose coaching style was nothing short of driven to win: Bill Parcells.

This book takes the reader on a journey from the early days of Bill's childhood -- where he was raised by a tough father -- to his induction into the NFL Hall of Fame. Because it is difficult to sum up a 500+ page biography in a short blog book review, I will hit on a few points that inspired my thinking.

THE INFLUENCE OF A FATHER: There are many reasons why fathers' influence over our sons' lives are crucial.  For instance, who we are as fathers/men and how we treat our children and wives cause our children to view our Heavenly Father in much the same ways as they view us.  Are they afraid of us, or do they find comfort in our presence?  Are we lazy, or are we driven? 

Who Bill Parcells was as a coach, and who he is as a man, is the direct result of his father's strong influence on him.  The two men pulled no punches; they knew what was necessary to be successful; and they were driven to accomplish their goals.  Many of the stories told in the book regarding Bill's coaching tenure returned to the influence his own father had on him.  Fatherhood is no small task!

BEING TOUGH, BUT RESPECTABLE: I think we humans tend to equate a coach (or a supervisor) being "tough" with his/her employees to being a jerk.  Likewise, we may also be tempted to equate "respectable" to being liked or nice.  But that isn't necessarily so.

Bill Parcells cared about his players, and he cared about winning.  He had high expectations of his players, and he was never afraid to have those difficult conversations that needed to be had with the people who needed to hear them.

Bill was known for his tough-on-drugs approach to football, and his influence on his teams is what inspired the NFL to pursue substance abuse policies.  In his system, drug users and winners did not mix.  Personnel may not have liked Bill Parcells during those tough conversations, but afterward they came out on the other side as human beings.  I got the feeling after reading the book they all appreciated those hard conversations, too.

STRONG LEADERSHIP:  Crummy teams that start at the bottom in one season and finish at the top just a few seasons later always seem to be coached by strong leaders. I've often wondered how influential coaching staffs really are, as I considered my favorite team's mediocre season with mediocre players and coaches and the possibility of them being turned around with the same players but different coaches.  I think Parcells answers that question, because Bill was able to make winners out of non-winners.

I talked with my wife about strong leadership in the workplace, and how Parcells's style would fit in the public sector.  Imagine knowing exactly what was expected of you on a daily basis at work; Imagine being held to a known standard; and imagine knowing exactly what the rewards and consequences were for not meeting those standards. 

Strong leaders in those scenarios pull no punches.  Employees know exactly what they're getting because strong leaders are consistently strong, rather than wishy-washy.  Employees may not like to hang around that kind of supervisor, but it begs the question: Is it a supervisor's job to be an employee's friend, or to make them and the organization better?

CONCLUSION: Once again, this is certainly NOT all that this book is about.  There is so much more.  You'll have to read this monster volume for yourself the glean what you will from it.

RATING: This book was very well researched and documented, and brilliantly intertwined biographical information with sporting replay.  If you're a sports fan, this book is for you...it has all the who's-who you could ever hope for in a biography.  It's a no-brainer: I give this 5 stars out of 5!

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free of charge from Blogging for Books in exchange for my unbiased review.  All opinions are mine; they were not forced upon me.  I was not promised anything in exchange for a positive review.

Expressing Thankfulness on Thanksgiving Day:

When I was young, holidays were all about me...or so I thought.  It was about what gifts people would give ME, because I was the center of my universe.  As I've grown and matured through the years, I've come to appreciate the deep value of holidays as a time for reflection.  While I am (and we are) thankful daily, I think expressing our thanks as a group has tremendous value.

So after we finished eating lunch and sat around the table talking, I unfolded my son's art easel and explained to the family and loved ones what I hoped they would do with me.  Starting from the youngest and moving up to the oldest, I asked each person to express one thing for which s/he is thankful.  I started writing the answers on the easel, but my oldest son liked the idea of drawing pictures better...so he drew peoples' answers.  He was right, it was much better.

We laughed and we cried as we shared with each other what was on our hearts: one person was healed of cancer, others experienced restored marriages or relationships.  We expressed thankfulness for love that was lost and found, jobs that provide income.  And we expressed thankfulness for the grace, faithfulness, and salvation God our Savior has lavished upon us. 

As each person shared, we didn't simply leave it at that.  Instead, we talked about their reflection and if that same thanks affected our own lives.  I thought it was a tremendously remarkable experience to hear and share.  As I listened, I was truly blessed.

God, thank you for all those things (...and more) you heard us talking about today.

"Bonhoeffer Abridged: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy", by Eric Metaxas (book review)

INTRODUCTION: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Christian pastor in Germany during the rise of the Third Reich, was killed for his opposition to the regime.  Born in 1906, and turning to Christ at a young age, Bonhoeffer entered pastoral ministry, and stood firm amid persecution.  In the early '40's, he humbly and courageously accepted his fate that was held by the gallows.  This is his story in abridged format.

REFLECTIONS: I have mixed feelings when I read biographies like this one.  First, I am discouraged by the eerie shadows of history looming over us, as if history is waiting quietly to "repeat itself".  On the other hand, I am encouraged as I enjoy peering into the lives of courageous men and women who have refused to bow their knees to the tyrant-du-jour, despite facing real threats of execution.

Nazi Germany issued harsh ordinances against Christians, forcing allegiance to the Hitler and his Reich (p.119).  Those who rejected it were rewarded with death, while those who paid it allegiance did not fare much better. Still, while many acquiesced, some remained faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of them.

There seems to be a common thread found among the message of the persecuted in Jesus Christ, and that is the deep faith they have in their Lord.  When Bonhoeffer fled to America in the early 1930's, attempting to find relief from persecution, he wrote of the American church, "In New York they preach about virtually everything; only one thing is not addressed, or is addressed so rarely that I have as yet been unable to hear it, namely, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the cross, sin and forgiveness, death and life" (p.43).  The Church that waters down the message of the gospel faces certain risk of death.  The German church allowed it to happen then, and the American Church has been doing it since.  History suggests that it is only a matter of time before Christians in the West face similar oppression as those under the hood of the Third Reich.

In 1937, "more than eight hundred Confessing Church pastors and lay leaders were imprisoned or arrested" (p.112).  And "In Berlin, the Confessing Church planned a service of intercession...two hundred and fifty of the faithful were arrested..." (p.115).  Since the early days of Christ's Church, persecution has only strengthened its resolve against evil.  The Christian under these pressures "must obey God rather than men" (p.113).

I was most encouraged by one of Bonhoeffer's statements near the end of his life: "To be sure, God shall call you, and us, only at the hour that God has chosen.  Until that hour, which lies in God's hands alone, we shall all be protected even in greatest danger" (p.145).  What a tremendously powerful proclamation of the sovereignty of God, and it ought to encourage the faithful.  No matter what evil men may conspire against the Bride of Christ, nothing will come other than that which is at God's direction.  Bonhoeffer's words are in line with God's word: "no harm will befall you, and no evil will come near your tent" (Psalm 91).

As death loomed over him, Bonhoeffer was a man who was faithful to the end.  As he was led toward the gallows, Bonhoeffer quietly said to his fellow captives, "This is the end.  For me, the beginning of life" (p.208).  Reflecting upon Bonhoeffer's death, one camp doctor concluded, "I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God" (p. 209).  O, when my day arrives, may those words be said of you and me.

RATING: I give "Bonhoeffer Abridged" 4 stars out of 5.  I was a good book -- not a "page turner", but certainly worth my reading time.

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free of charge from BookLook Bloggers (Thomas Nelson Publishers) in exchange for my unbiased review of it.  All opinions are mine; they were not forced upon me.  I was not promised anything in exchange for a positive review.

Always a Hero:

From 1968 to 1969, my dad fought for others' freedoms in a country literally on the other side of our world -- VietNam.  For many years after the war, he tucked away the stories, thoughts, and emotions.  I didn't come to realize just how painful those memories of losing some of his best friends in combat were until one Christmas about 20 years ago.  Here's our story.

I was rummaging through the attic in our home one day and came across a dusty, black box.  I wiped off the dust and opened it, finding a treasure of US Army medals inside: 2 Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars, and a Silver Star.  I had little idea what these medals meant or the emotions they carried with them.  All I knew as a naive, uninformed 18-year old is that my dad fought in 'Nam.

That's when the idea struck me, "I'll put these in a shadow box.  He'll like that."  I talked the idea over with mom, who gave me tips on how to make the shadow box.  After finishing it, I had the epiphany, "I'll wrap it like an American flag.  He'll love it!"  I finished off the shiny wrapping with pride.  I was so excited not only to give it to him for Christmas, but to watch him open it.  Oh the joy he would experience upon opening these long lost treasures!  Right?

Christmas morning came, and it was finally my turn to give him the surprise.  I carefully handed dad the American-flag wrapped box and watched him open it.  Slowly.  He looked inside and slowly closed it.  I don't remember him saying much more than, "Thanks, buddy."  I was taken aback that he wasn't more excited.  Remember, I was naive, so I didn't understand why he wasn't more excited.  When the days and weeks passed by and I didn't see the shadow box proudly hung up somewhere, I felt sad.  Not just for me, but for him. Because that's about the time it hit me.

That Christmas season was the point when I realized these were no long-forgotten medals.  Instead, dad remembered them clearly; and he remembered too vividly how he "earned" them.  The price was his own blood and the lives of his friends, comrades, and brothers in arms.  These medals were tightly closed away, not out of forgetfulness, but simply guarding the feelings and emotions of the great soldier whose breast they once adorned.

I have scant memories of dad ever talking about his ordeals in VietNam until one day about five years ago.  I'm bad with dates, but it was probably around 2009-2010 -- nearly 40 years after returning home from war -- that I would begin hearing stories and seeing pictures that told of the times he and his men endured.  I saw pictures of men huddled around boots and rifles and tanks and trucks; pictures of men with their arms around each others' shoulders, laughing and smiling, probably in celebration that they were still alive to see another day -- probably already trying to tuck away the painful emotions that accompanied the pain and loss they had already experienced.

More than forty years later, dad seems like he is healing well.  I'm sure there's more inside, but he talks about it, actively visiting schools, spending time with troops in V.A hospitals, and speaking at events.

Today happens to be Veteran's Day 2014.  I called dad to "chit-chat" with him on this day when so many of us simply appreciate the day off of work, or the overtime allotted for working a holiday, or even the sales at the stores.  Today, he told me about his weekend.  Helping.

A program called "Never Forgotten Heros" has made its way into my dad's life.  It is a program designed to help veterans of war in Iraq and Afghanistan who suffer from physical and mental (PTSD) trauma.  Dad told me about the 3 days where he selflessly served his country yet again.  Twelve young soldiers, ranging in ages from the low 20's to the mid-to-upper 30's shared and opened up and broke down with a handful of soldiers many years their senior.  It was a time for all of them to connect in some way -- a time for the young to lean on the old; a time for the old to honorably hold up the young; a time for these senior soldiers to pass along to young warriors the encouragement and support that they so desperately needed during their own journeys toward healing.

My heart pounded with pride as my dad humbly told me about how he was now involved with a few of these young men as a result of this weekend.  I said, "You 'da man, Pop."  'Cuz that's what I call him, "Pop."  And "You 'da man, Pop!" is guy talk for, "Dad, I am so damn proud of you!"

You see, in 1969, my dad was having a whole much of metal pinned to his chest for risking his own life to save the lives of other American GI's who had moms and children and sisters and fathers at home wishing for their return.  Some gave all, but all gave some.  Now in 2014, my dad is sacrificing his own time once again to help other young heroes find healing and wholeness in their lives...one day at a time. 

He IS -- not was -- truly an American hero.  Because once a hero, always a hero!

"My Battle Against Hitler: Faith, Truth, and Defiance in the Shadow of the Third Reich", by Dietrich Von Hildebrand (book review)

Dietrich von Hildebrand's "Mein Kampf Gegen Hitler" stands in stark contrast to Hitler's manifesto with a similar -- albeit shorter -- title.  This memoir is a work that details Hildebrand's philosophical and public opposition to Germany's Nazi party socialism of the 1930's.  Ironically, many of the issues written by Hildebrand in the '30's has validity in America.

LAYOUT: The book is divided into two pars.  The first couples the editor's commentary and Hildebrand's memoirs regarding events leading up to and surrounding the rise of Nazism and his opposition to its destructive philosophies.  The second contains thought-provoking snippets from a publication for which Hildebrand shared his thoughts.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: We all know first impressions are important.  So I have to be honest, I thought the book was boring...until I got to about the middle.  Prior to then, I thought more could have been edited out to make it shorter and more interesting.  I really didn't find interesting that Hildebrand ate this or that dinner with this or that dignitary as they discussed the color of the sky.  I'm being facetious, but it's not far from how the first half of the book read.  After the middle, however, reading began to get interesting.  It was then that I noticed much of what Hildebrand wrote had application today.

THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS: I thought, "How much of a battle is it when someone simply writes about his displeasure?  Is it enough to simply speak/write?  Or should we do?"  But that's easy to ask when I live in a relatively safe America where my freedoms are not threatened if I speak out against the state.  But when one's life is at risk for speaking out against a dangerous philosophy and regime, writing and speaking is an altogether different issue.  Hildebrand wrote, "...it is precisely our struggle against evil that God wills, even when we suffer external defeat" (p. 206).  The editors remind us that Hildebrand's "struggle against Hitler was above all carried out on the battlefield of conscience" (p.240).  If you can change a person's (or a society's) mind, you can change his/its trajectory.

Have you seen any of the recent terrorist videos where a hostage is seen kneeling in the sand moments prior to being beheaded?  I've often wondered, "Why don't they resist?  Why not fight until you die?  You're no mere propaganda...FIGHT!"  Similarly, the question was asked of Germany and how it could allow the rise of Nazi socialism and racism: "Why did no one resist?" asked Hildebrand.  His answer: "There is a moment when intimidation and paralysis set in to such a degree that one becomes passive in the face of something harmful, no longer actively resisting, even though the possibility of resistance still exists" (p. 51).  Lesson learned, don't EVER give up!  Fight, speak, write -- do what it takes to oppose evil.

Robustly Catholic, Hildebrand also spoke loudly against the church.  He was one voice, but the echo in the background suggested if others had spoken up, the rise of Nazism might not have been what it was.  It appeared as though the church capitulated to the Nazi movement, hoping to gain favor in the eyes of the Fuhrer.  That hope lasted only momentarily, as eventually Hitler took off his mask and returned the church's capitulation with persecution.  Hildebrand wrote, "...rather than politicizing Catholicism, one must instead Catholicize politics" (pp. 281-282).  Once again, don't EVER give up!

I wonder if Americans are looking toward government as their "messiah", expecting the state to Solve all problems and right all wrongs.  Hildebrand addressed that, as well: "...the transformation of the face of the earth does not proceed primarily from without by means of laws of the state, but rather from within by means of the conversion of the person" (p. 282).  I think Christians today would do well to remember this truth.

SUMMARY CONCLUSION: The thoughts I've shared above serve only to spark an interest in your mind to consider reading Hildebrand's memoir.  While the early chapters were boring, I do not regret pressing forward reading to the end.  I was shocked how applicable Hildebrand's words are in today's climate.

RATING: I give this book 3 1/2 stars out of 5.  It was interesting, but the early boredom knocked it down a bit.

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free of charge from "Blogging for Books" in exchange for my unbiased review of it.  I was not threatened, coerced, or made promises in order to provide a positive review.  All opinions are mine.

"The Maxwell Leadership Bible - NIV (book review), edited by John C. Maxwell

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a lot of Bibles in America.  I'm beginning to think publishing companies publish gimmick Bibles in September like gyms offer membership discounts in January.  For both, their design is to get people in, but they fail to keep people there.  Leadership guru, John Maxwell, can now add the book of all books to his portfolio: the Holy Bible.

The Bible itself is the New International Version with several leadership principles and articles intertwined throughout its pages. Now, I'm not opposed to gimmicks, new gym memberships, or Bible reading, but I'm skeptically concerned with why this version had to be published.  After all, John Maxwell already has a million books on leadership.  As trustworthy as he is, do John Maxwell's words somehow lend more credibility to the words of God?

FEATURES:

1) Each biblical book contains an introductory page or two, which contains smaller sub-units regarding God's role in the book, listings of "Leaders" and "People of Influence", and various "Lessons in Leadership".  The introduction of each book concludes with an index of "Leadership Highlights", which directs readers to various pages within the biblical book that Maxwell highlights as containing leadership principles or qualities.

2) Leaders whose names were listed in the introductory section of each biblical book are described within the book why they were good or bad at displaying leadership qualities.

3) Drawing on his book, "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership", Maxwell plants brief snippets of each of these 21 laws throughout the Bible.  The laws in view in the particular books describe how the characters displayed leadership or lack thereof.

4) Numerous leadership principles are highlighted throughout each biblical book, highlighting...well...leadership qualities, rather than godliness.

5) There are more, but they're not really all that noteworthy.  You'll see why if you just keep reading.

DRAWBACKS:

Why am I being so hard on The Maxwell Leadership Bible?  Because it is man-centered rather than Christ-centered.  For example, in 1Kings 10 (p. 421), Maxwell highlights a section entitled, "Play to Your Strength: the 70-25-5 Principle".  Introducing the highlight, Maxwell writes, "Great leaders play to their strength."  He continues to explain the wisdom and riches of Solomon, but gives only a mere tip-of-the-hat to Solomon's Creator.  The short reading ends with a question and answer: "How did Solomon gain such fame?  He focused on what he did best.  Leaders would be wise to follow a similar pattern, called the 70-25-5 principle."  Rather than pointing readers to Yahweh-God, he directs them to his own 70-25-5 principle! 

Another leadership lesson, this one found in Romans 15 (p. 1,356), simply refers to Christ as a "model", rather than the Savior of sinners.  In his "Servanthood: Leaders Lose the Right to be Selfish", Maxwell's 4th point describing a servant is simply this: "Imitates Christ -- we are to look to Jesus as our model."  Ohhhh, Jesus: the good teacher, good role model, good example.  But no Savior!

Here's one more.  Embedded in Titus 2 (p. 1,465), Maxwell provides a lesson in "Leadership Development: From Shepherding to Developing".  There, Maxwell provides three lists (Shepherding, Equipping, Developing) containing ten items each.  Descriptors included in those lists include such traits as, "Care", "Feel better", "Addition", "Skill-oriented", "Person focus", "Empowering", etc.  Nowhere does Maxwell point readers to godliness, holiness, or the Cross. 

CONCLUSION / RATING:

While I understand leadership principles can be drawn from God's word, I don't think those principles were the Holy Spirit's focus when inspiring its writing.  I didn't sense much of an inspiration by Mr. Maxwell to point readers to the Cross.  Instead, he points readers to the self.  In this Bible version, there's a whole lot of Maxwell, but little-to-no Jesus.  If Jesus Christ, Paul, Peter, etc pointed sinners to the Cross, I think it would be good for us to maintain our focus there, as well.  Mankind is broken because of sin, and no leadership quality will ever heal our sin sickness -- and THAT is the focus of God's word.

I give the Maxwell Leadership Bible just 1 star out of 5 (because I have to give it something, right?). 

DISCLAIMER: 

In exchange for my unbiased review, BookLook Bloggers provided me with this free copy.  I was not promised favors, threatened, or coerced to provide a positive review of it.  All opinions are mine. 

THAT'S WHY WE PRAISE HIM:

Recently, Victoria Osteen, wife of mega-church pastor motivational speaker, Joel Osteen, said, "When we obey God, we're not doing it for God...we're doing it for ourself. Because God takes pleasure when we're happy. Do good 'cause God wants you to be happy. When you come to church, when you worship Him, you're not doing it for God, really. You're doing it for yourself because that's what makes God happy."



She's taking some heat for it in the Christian community -- and rightfully so, I think. While I believe she is THEOLOGICALLY incorrect in her statement, I think she is PRACTICALLY correct.

She's theologically incorrect because God is not dependent upon US in order for HIM to be happy.  God is fully pleased within Himself whether we are happy or not.  God said of Jesus at his baptism and transfiguration: "This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased."

However, I want to give Victoria a smidgen of credit -- because I think she's more correct than many Christians are willing to admit.  How many people attend worship services on a regular to semi-regular basis than to (1)feel good about ourselves or (2)look good in others' eyes? 

How many attend in hopes to earn points with God on some mysterious "goodness scale"? 
How many attend out of mere habit and ritual?
How many attend because we think God will be more pleased with us, and therefore give us what we want in life?
How many attend because our public image might be sullied if we aren't "in church" on any given week?
How many attend out of a desire for "political expediency"?  "Will this give me more votes from the religious right in the coming election?"

With that, I think Mrs. Osteen is right on, for many of us ARE "doing it for ourselves".

I would suggest that if we simply "attend" worship services, then we may be in serious trouble.  If that is the case, we better do some serious introspection to determine if we are even in Christ Jesus.  The following questions, while not an exhaustive list, may help us:

Do we desire to worship our Creator and hear from Him via His written and spoken word?
Do we desire to be involved in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ?
Do we worship and hear from God any other days of the week than Sunday?
Do we gather together in order to pray for and encourage one another in Christ?
Do we worship when times (health, finances, etc) are good AND bad?

Christian, it is my hope and prayer that we recognize our complete need for God, that we depend upon Him for everyday life and breath.  It is my prayer that we recognize our brothers and sisters in Christ depend upon us to be there.  We need each other to walk with, to encourage, and to give counsel in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The gospel isn't just for "getting people saved", but is for the daily lives of the blessed saints of God -- and THAT'S why we praise Him!

COMPASSIONATE MERCY:

Where I live, there are thousands of people who are living in darkness -- not in a lack of light; but in spiritual darkness.  No doubt, it would be no less true if you inserted your city's name into that statement.  Sadly, many of those souls will leave this life before the end of 2014 and behold their first glimpse of eternity.  Many will leave before the end of the month; before the end of the week.  Maybe even before I'm done typing this.

Do those souls -- drunks, wife-beaters, murderers, thieves, etc -- deserve God's wrath in the eternity that awaits them?  Unquestionably.  Do I, however, deserve His mercy? Surely not, for I am the worst sinner I know.  For some reason, however, God, has chosen to show His great mercy and compassion to sinners galore.

The ancient prophet of Yahweh -- Jonah -- faced a situation in which his enemies (the very enemies of God) were subjects of God's mercy and compassion.  That account is over in Jonah 4.  Yahweh's mercy was so shocking that it would be similar to Him showing mercy upon Islamic State militants today.  Jonah was ecstatic shocked; but I have to admit, I think I'd be ecstatic shocked too.  Jonah was pleased angry at God for showing His great compassion on a people of His own choosing; but I have to admit, I think I'd be pleased angry too.  Had Jonah forgotten that he, too, was once a sinner not deserving of God's mercy?  Yet, God, in His great compassion, showed mercy even to him.  I sometimes forget that I, too, was (and still am, if not for Jesus Christ) undeserving of God's mercy.

I'm getting to my main point in just a moment, but first let me draw your attention to two verses that stand out to me in this Jonah account.

First, Jonah's confession that God is a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love; that He is eager to turn back from destroying people (verse 2).  Did you notice that?  Eager to turn back from His wrath!  Truly, this is bold!

Next, is God's announcement that Ninevah (insert your city's name here) had, at the time, more than 120,000 (insert any number you wish here) people living in spiritual darkness.  Then He asked Jonah, "Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?"  It will forever boggle my mind why God would ever want to restrain His hand from instantly destroying His enemies.  Yet, He does.

As I consider that conversational exchange, I must ask myself, How does this inform and influence my involvement in the arts, or forensic science, or politics, or law, or fatherhood?  Do I use those arenas to extend God's compassion and mercy to my city, workplace, family? Are people relieved when I arrive, suspecting that I will provide strong hope, compassion, and gentleness?  Or do they dread my arrival, knowing that I will do nothing but gripe and complain and bring them down with me?

These are sobering questions I've asked myself, but I think I'm afraid to hear the answers.  If I truly believe this, it seems to me that I should live a life of compassion for the outsiders, the broken, the not-so-attractive, the unpopular.  Instead, I routinely choose judgement and condemnation.

May God help me.

If There's a Design...

I recently visited the greater Washington DC area, and decided to make an exodus from my hotel room for a while.  I chose to hike the Union Dam Trail in the Patapsco State Park in Ellicott City, MD.

Watch the video to hear more about this stack of rocks.

This is the Union Dam tunnel, built in 1902.

 Sitting on a rock in the middle of the Patapsco River.

"The Book of Revelation Made Clear", by Tim LaHaye & Timothy E. Parker (book review)

I was hoping for something meaty when I requested to review this his book.  However, very little impressed me about it.  Instead, I found it to be lacking any considerable substance.  But since mom always told me, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all", then I guess I better say something positive about it, eh?  Here it goes: if you read this book cover-to-cover, you will have read the entire book of Revelation :-)

That's because each and every verse of Revelation is contained in this particular book, and each chapter correlates to a chapter in Revelation.  So, as a quick reference, if you're looking for light, simple commentary on Revelation 12, then simply turn to chapter 12 of this book.

Each chapter is broken in to two or three segments, leading off with a short 3-question quiz. Following the quiz is the biblical passage, and then a short (very short, in most cases) commentary.  I don't think it's possible to "make clear" the book of Revelation...or Daniel, or Ezekiel, or Isaiah.  Volumes have been written on those challenging books, and a mere 187 pages is sure not to do it for Revelation!  One thing is clear, though: If you're familiar with Tim LaHaye's eschatology, this book is a simplified version of his "left behind" rapture theory.

Since I'm providing a book review, I have to ignore mom's advice for just a moment and be completely honest about it.  If you're looking for commentary to really sink your teeth into, then this book is sure to disappoint.

RATING: I give "The Book of Revelation Made Clear" just a single star out of five, and that's only because it contains all of the book of Revelation.  Otherwise, LaHaye has not really added anything to the conversation worth mention.  I personally wouldn't waste my money on it...for myself or for a gift.  Definitely not worth $17, in my opinion.

DISCLAIMER:  I received this book free of charge from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my unbiased review of it.  All opinions are mine, and I was not encouraged to provide a positive review.

In Defense of Life:

Veiled behind a plea for equality in "reproductive health" is a chart showing the disparity in regulation of womens' bodies compared to mens'.  The title of Julianne Ross's recent article, "One Troubling Chart Shows How Many Times Politicians Regulated Men and Women's Bodies in 2014", is misleading enough, let alone the fact that her -- and her position's -- arguments hold little water.

As Ross would admit later in the body of her article, legislators have only attempted such regulation (which I'll address in a moment) 468 times.  Legislation that has actually passed, however, is a whopping 21 "restrictions" (as she calls them) across 13 states.  Even if someone wanted to suggest 21:0 women:men reproductive health legislation ratio is astronomically askew, they would do well to admit why legislation is proposed in the first place: women are capable of carrying life inside them; men are not.  Period.

Let's make one thing clear: this debate is not one surrounding reproductive health -- for that is only the cleverly-worded disguise.  Instead, this debate is a matter of "reproductive health" -- also known as "abortion rights".  Ross would agree, for she wrote, "It is about the unrelenting obsession with regulating a woman’s womb."  Therein lies the real issue of "reproductive health": the life inside the womb.

The pro-life position is not so much interested in legislating what women can and cannot do in the privacy of their own homes with the sexual partners of their choice and in the manner of their choosing.  Those are different arguments altogether.  Instead, the pro-life position is ultimately concerned with the life of the unborn child -- a person who has no ability to protect herself.  Her defenders are those who care enough to stand up against the atrocities committed against her and her unborn brothers and sisters.  Her defenders will face the ire of those who wish to silence her forever, who say he is merely attempting to "restrict" a woman's "reproductive health".

To show the shallowness of their position, Ross quotes pro-choice advocate and Senator, Nina Turner (D-Ohio), as saying, "If [representatives] want to make intimately personal decisions about women’s lives and their anatomy, I strongly urge them to go to medical school. But until then, stay out of a woman’s womb!”  But let's clarify what her words mean: Only doctors are capable of deciding the fate of the unborn.  Only doctors can save or take life.

Applying the Senator's logic to other examples, one might conclude that only those who are capable of defending the lives of their fellow American citizens are soldiers and police officers.  Yet, many non-uniformed heroes walk our streets every day.  If it is doctors who must be relied upon to protect the lives of those in the womb, why are many of those doctors killing instead?  Therefore, it seems apparent that we absolutely must rely upon non-medical voices to defend the unborn.

I don't want to spend the remainder of my space commenting on the foolish positions and bills six female legislators presented to Congress, which Ross briefly discussed.  You can read for yourself how their attempts don't meet the same threshold as that of defending human life.  Instead, I'd rather address the real issue at hand, and conclude with a word or two of encouragement.

The real issue at hand is not one of flesh-and-blood.  It is one more diabolical than that.  Here it is: Satan hates Jesus Christ, and will do whatever he can to attack anything that gets him closest to the heart of God.  Therefore, he assaults the unborn with weapons of twisted logic, using catch-phrases like "reproductive health" to cover up abortion; he invades marriage, the very picture of Christ's relationship with his redeemed people -- the Church; he besieges sexuality, convincing us that the consequences of sex outside of God's design are not really that harmful.  I could continue, but my intent is that we recognize the war for life is being waged on a supernatural scale, but fought on a human battlefield.


It is not my intent to condemn anyone who has faced or is facing a crisis pregnancy.  I'm willing to bet we all know someone who is or has been there, whether we know it or not.  The sheer numbers speak loudly.  However, there is hope in Jesus Christ. You are fighting the guilt that has overcome you because of your sinful choices; you've carried out plans that were harmful to you or others; you cry yourself to sleep at night because of your shame.  I think we've all been there a time or two.  But Jesus Christ said, "I have not come to condemn the world, but to save the world, to give life!"  That's a far cry from the Devil's purpose: steal, kill, and destroy, and I'd say he's been doing all three quite well for a long time.

You don't have to live the rest of your days in guilt and shame.  You can have renewed life, and you can have it now.  And that is the reason we aim to defend all of life.