Pastor Patrick - Never On A Sunday

Star Trek Volume 1 : A Review

2012-01-27T01:25:00.003-05:00

Star Trek Volume 1

by
Mike Johnson

A Review

In 2009 Star Trek took a trip into the past on the movie screen with a prequel to the original TV show. Star Trek Volume 1 begins where the movie ends - preparation for the sequel to the earlier movie coming later this year.

The art work is good - particularly Spock. The characters are interesting - even as their character changes, the reader hurts and wonders what will become of the Enterprise and its crew.

Finally, the story is as good as Star Trek gets - except, unlike a 60 minute TV episode, this story is “To Be Continued” - and one will need to purchase Volume 2 to see the rest of the story. But if it is a well written as Volume 1, it will be worth purchasing.
______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.

The Encounter : A Review

2012-01-27T00:02:00.003-05:00

The Encounter:
Sometimes God Has To Intervene

by
Steve Arterburn

A Review

As a mathematician, I learned about intersecting lines. As a counselor, I understand that the same is true of lives. Steve Arterburn’s newest book illustrates this truth.

Jonathan “Gold” Rush and Ada Rose Guthrie had separated some 30 years before - but the effect on both of them was greater than either could imagine. Jonathan’s return to Fairbanks Alaska only seemed to extend the discomfort both would feel in the few days he would spend in 17 below (and worse) weather. Perhaps it is understandable - stepping over and reliving 30 years of time is not easy. But, as the subtitle says, sometimes God has to intervene.

Steve Arterburn’s story is fictional, but it has its roots in the stories of two men - one whom he knew, one whom he had observed. The two stories are woven together to reveal how two (or is it three) lonely people learn to care for each other. The love they find is best described in Ada’s favorite hymn:

There's a wideness in God's mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There's a kindness in His justice,
Which is more than liberty.

There is welcome for the sinner,
And more graces for the good;
There is mercy with the Savior;
There is healing in His blood.

For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of our mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.
We may not need to travel 5000 miles to find the grace we are looking for, but we do need to allow God to teach us to forgive - lessons both Jonathan and Ada had to learn.

This review is based on a free electronic copy
of the book received from the publisher
for the purpose of creating this review.

Spontaneous : A Review

2012-01-25T22:48:00.003-05:00

Spontaneous

Written by Joe Harris
Drawn by Bret Weldele

A Review

Spontaneous is a well done story told as a graphics novel. Melvin Reyes’ father was the first, but not the last person to burn from SHC - Spontaneous Human Combustion. The novel focuses on Melvin’s attempt to discover the “why” beyond these events. The story has the qualities one would expect of a good mystery or thriller - it draws the reader in and then resolves itself without the use of magic or other worldly science fiction.

The artwork is not typical “comic art”, but make use of water color and pencil drawings - done effectively with this book.

As well as being a well -written story, it also addresses issues that face all of us in the 21st century. Particularly, it addresses the ethics of big business as it goes about developing new products - one can almost hear echos of the UK publisher, speaking to their recent cell-phone hacking scandal, “Ethics … I don’t even know what that is.”

This review is based on a free
electronic copy provided by the publisher
in order to create this review.

Letters From A Skeptic : A Review

2012-01-25T21:33:00.001-05:00

Letters From A Skeptic

by
Dr. Greg Boyd

A Review

Letters have long been a means for those who are a part of the Christian Church to communicate truth. Over half the New Testament are letters, the letters of Augustine, Luther, and Wesley are all studied by scholars to help better understand these leaders of the church. Many have been introduced to the formal study of theology and apologetics by reading C. S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters. In 1994, Greg Boyd contributed a set of letters between his father and himself.

Boyd’s father had given up on the church and faith years ago - perhaps it was a position that was cemented when his wife died, leaving him to raise his children as a single parent. Over the years, the resentment, the anger, and the confusion had grown - to the point, that as the book begins, he is not certain about what he does believe; though he feel fairly certain about what he does not believe.

It is at that point that Dr. Boyd and his father begin a two years correspondence concerning the major issues the unbeliever has when he or she considers Christ as Lord and Savior. The compiles this correspondence topically and somewhat chronologically. Issues are address one by one - using history, philosophy, and scripture. The answers are accurate and well thought out, though rarely getting heady or unintelligible.

I have two concerns about a book of this caliber that is now entering its 4th edition. The first is the lack of documentation. With very few exceptions, the author does not provide references for scripture (whether quoted directly from an English translation or merely a paraphrase written on the fly by the author). The same is true for statements made from third party sources. I can understand why these were not part of the original correspondence; but as the book enters its 4th edition, it would make sense to add the references - even while clearly noting that they were added to the original letters years after they were written.

The second concern is that a book that is entering it 4th edition provides no path for further study. Again, though not part of the original written correspondence, it would seem important to guide the reader in discovering additional resources that explain the ideas discussed in the book. The addition of a set of discussion question covering each topic does help the reader in processing the ideas - but provides not guidance in better understanding the history, philosophy, or scriptures that support those ideas.

The book would make a great textbook on apologetics with the addition of references and suggestions for further study. In a classroom, these missing elements can be provided by the instructor; but the reader is at a loss if the book is being read without the direction of an experienced teacher.

But even with those flaws, the book still serves as an excellent tool for evangelism. As the author makes clear, by the end of the correspondence, Ed Boyd (Dr. Boyd’s father) did come to faith. It has served the same purpose in the lives of others. It will continue to be so in the lives who read it in the future.

This review is based on an electronic copy of the book provided by the publisher.

Free Books for Your Kindle

2012-01-24T18:13:00.006-05:00

Read Your Kindle For FREE

Having spent a chunk of change on a Kindle,
I was excited to find that there are lots of FREE books available. Over the last year or two I have found a number of sources for FREE book - most of which are relatively new books, not reproduced public domain works.

Here is that list:

Amazon.com
http://amzn.to/A0Y1S7 Top 100 free books
http://amzn.to/srjsrx None public domain books
Books on the Knob
http://blog.booksontheknob.org/ First blog that I discovered with free books
Ereader News Today
http://ereadernewstoday.com/ Post lots of books throughout the day
Pixel of Ink
http://www.pixelofink.com Post a number of books throughout the day
eReader IQ
http://www.ereaderiq.com/free/ A web site with links to 2-3000 free Kindle books

These links are listed in the order in which I discovered them; and, except for the last, I have used them regularly to add to my own library.

Steve Jobs : A Review

2012-01-19T22:59:00.004-05:00

Though written for a younger audience, Steve Jobs by Nick Hunter serves as a suitable introduction to the men, times, and institutions that built the first personal computers and shaped much of the electronics industry for 30 years.

Jobs was involved at many levels, both inside and outside Apple. After leaving Apple in 1985, he created a new computer box, NeXT. Where Apple succeeded beyond his wildest dreams (“he never needed to work again”), NeXT was a colossal failure. From NeXT he jumped into the movie industry, purchasing a small computer animation studio called the Graphics Group - which he later renamed Pixar. Pixar was sold to Disney in 2006 for $74 billion.

This was the beginning - ten years after leaving Apple, he would again become part of the Apple team. The iMac, the iPod, the iPad, and more, would follow, leaving former rivals in the dust.

Hunter’s book also introduces us to Job’s struggle to understand business. From Wall Street to building brand loyalty were all lessons that Jobs had to learn.

The book ends with a series of “appendixes” that contribute to the books value - five characteristics that define the successful entrepreneur, a glossary that defines many of the formal terms used in the book, and an index to the people, ideas, and products discussed in the book.

The world lost a brilliant man on October 5, 2011, when Steve Jobs passed away. Nick Hunter has done a good job of introducing us to this man.

The Dog That Talked To God : A Review

2012-01-19T16:19:00.003-05:00

We do not own a Schnauzer - we own a Shih Tzu. But he does talk. In fact, most people who own dogs know that they can talk. The bigger problem comes when we try to understand what they are saying.

The problem was that Mary Frassler could understand her pet Schnauzer. And he claimed to speak for God. Theologically, one might describe him as a prophet - though I doubt he would claim the title for himself. But he did talk for God and to God:

“How often do you talk with God?” I continued … I wanted to know how this dog came to have a direct line to the Almighty.

“Once a week. Like all the animals.”

“Only once a week?”

“It’s enough for a dog.”

The problem is that nobody else would understand her ability to have a real conversation with Schnauzer. A conversation that would help her past the grief of losing her husband and son, Jacob and John, three years ago. A conversation that would help her to understand the new relationship she was developing with Brian. And a conversation that would help her to renew her relationship with God - a relationship that was seriously damaged when …. why would God take the two most important people in her life away. The accident brought a quick halt to any relationship she had with God or with the church.

I enjoyed the writing. I enjoyed the intentional weaving of new vocabulary words into the story; words like parsimonious, pithy, and torpor. Some I had heard before, some were new, but I had to verify the definitions as I came across them in the story.

Jim Kraus has written an interesting story of how a dog fits into the life of one woman. His role of healer, confidant, and friend, is portrayed in a way that I could clearly see my dog - his sounds, his behaviors, his attitudes - yep, there was Bo Dandy alright. This dog, my dog, can be used by God touch the lives of their humans. Rufus did it in The Dog That Talked To God, Bo Dandy does it in our own lives.

The Silence of Our Friends : A Review

2012-01-12T21:39:00.001-05:00

I attended high school from 1964 through 1968, in the midst of some of the most intense racial conflict that America faced. The one event that I remember which highlighted discrimination to me occurred in my senior Pre-Calculus course. The girl who sat in front of me had missed a number of classes and upon her return I asked if she was okay. It seems she was Jewish and had been gone during the midst of one of their holidays. After explaining, she said, “I hope you won’t hate me.” It would be years before I understood her fear; but when I did, I understood far more than just her story.

The Silence of Our Friends is another story that took place in the late 60’s - a story that takes place in Houston, TX. Based on actual events, the graphic novel has been slightly changed to maintain the flavor of the times. As the authors write in his postlude to the story:

Some details from these events - as well as names and details about my family and Larry’s - have been changed for storytelling purposes in The Silence of Our Friends. Creating a book like this one requires finding a balance between factual accuracy and emotional authenticity. What we have striven to create is a story that offers access to a particular moment in time, both for those who lived it and for those who are discovering it for the first time.

The authors have accomplished this as they tell the story of two families that focus on events on or around the campus of Texas Southern University. As the two families develop friendships, events spiral out of control. The results might have been catastrophic - except for those who are courageous enough to present the truth to a hostile audience.

The story held my interest, the art was well done. It provided a good introduction to the tensions experienced by the different parties in the racially tense times of the 60’s. Though it would not be a common event, the families remained friends - with sufficiently strong ties they were able to write The Silence of Our Friends.

This review is based on a free electronic copy of the book provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.

Then Sings My Soul - Book 3 : A Review

2012-01-12T13:58:00.000-05:00

Robert J. Morgan is one of my favorite authors - not just because of the “Then Sings My Soul” series, but because of other books which he has contributed to my library.

The book is a collection of hymn stories - hymns dating from the 1st century AD to the 21st century. The author not only tells the story of the hymn, but also the stories of their authors - men and women who loved the Lord enough to share their joy with us in song. The author does not disappoint. The author tells stories of songs that every church goer knows well (e.g. Jesus Loves Me) and hymns that I have never heard (e.g. One More Day’s Word for Jesus). But each story is worth telling and worth reading.

My only regret as I hold this book is the lack of a CD (or 2 or 3) that contains the music. I am hoping a search of the Internet may turn up copies of these hymns so that I can learn the songs whose stories have touched the souls of so many.

This review is based on a free copy of the book provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.

Chain Reaction : A Review

2012-01-12T13:13:00.001-05:00

Chain Reaction was described as “FICTION - ADULT: Science Fiction & Fantasy: Science Fiction” - I certainly did not understand that “Adult” meant explicit sex. If I had known that Carina Press was an imprint of the Harlequin romance line, I probably would not have chosen to read the book - but I had chosen it and did read it. Do use caution if you choose to read this book.

The description was of a Science Fiction thriller - and that it was. As Celene and Nils attempt to discover the Disrupter that almost cost Celene her life, the also discover a great deal about each other. The apparent strengths and weaknesses of these two main characters are not what they appear. Each brings a combination of abilities to the job that lies ahead. Traveling through unknown parts of space in search of this new weapon on the verge of being sold to PRAXIS, the sworn enemy of the 8th Wing to which both Celene and Nils belonged, they encounter pirates, insects, and coniverous animals before finally encountering Marek, its inventor. A battle to the death insures that Mareks machine will never again be a danger to Celene or the 8th Wing.

The excitement does not stop - well it did stop, but for a different kind of excitement. Though not Jules Verne or Edgar Rice Burroughs, the book is an exciting read.

This review is based on a free electronic copy of the book provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.

The Corruptible : A Review

2012-01-10T23:56:00.006-05:00

The Corruptible:

A Ray Quinn Mystery

by Mark Mynheir

A Review

Too often conversion is shown as an event that changes a person’s life totally and completely in an instant. Conversion does occur in an instant - but the changes that God will make in a person’s life will take a lifetime. That is what Ray Quinn had to discover as he begins his journey with God.

The Corruptible is the second book in a series of novels being written by Mark Mynheir - the first that I read. I found the book enjoyable - though it did slow down for a few minutes about halfway through the book. Though faith is evident throughout the book, the story does not become mired in the issue of faith.

As the story develops, each character grows and develops, living with their individual brokenness . The plot does come to a satisfactory, if not totally happy, ending. Ray Quinn’s faith still has a long way to go before most of us would view him as a faithful believer, but it is clear that he is trying to understand the nature of faith, as those around him pray for him.

In the weeks ahead, I will be doing two things:

I will take time to read the first book in this series: The Night Watchman
I will be keeping my eye open for the next book in the series - which I hope arrives soon.

The Second Messiah : A Review

2012-01-01T17:47:00.003-05:00

The Second Messiah
by
Glenn Meade

A Review

This thriller is an exciting story as the heroes move from Qumran to Jerusalem to Jordan to Rome. Jack Cane, both the son of a respected archaeologist and an archaeologist in his own right, discovers a scroll in Qumran that could destroy three religions if revealed. Yet, before its contents are fully known, it is stolen and Cane’s mentor is murdered.

The missing scroll declares the presence of a second man claiming to be the Messiah - a man whose story may have become confused with that of Jesus Christ as found in the Scriptures. If true, the missing scroll would impact not only the Christian world, but also those who practice Judaism and Islam.

To recover the missing scroll, Cane must work with security forces from three very different cultures. Some wish to destroy the scroll, some want to see that it is published - both are willing to kill to reach their goal. To make matters worse, two women seem to be trying to get Cane’s attention - but why?

Rooted in the tensions that define much of the 21st century, the story holds the reader’s attention from start to finish. The author has included hints of history, geography, and archaeology - that provide a backdrop as his story develops. The evidence of a second messiah is not as damaging as one might think, as the newly elected Pope states in a very public forum toward the end of the book, “... this scroll, by revealing the existence of a false messiah, also confirms the reality of the true Jesus. We who walk in His footsteps need no such confirmation. We have willingly given our lives to the work of delivering His message.”

One highlight of the book was the “Author’s Note” found at the very end of the book. Here the author places the fiction that is The Second Messiah into perspective with the history of Qumran and the Catholic Church. The note leaves room for speculation and fantasy - could this story ever be true? The answer to that question lies firmly in the future.

This review is based on

a free copy of the book supplied

by the publisher for the purpose

of completing this review.

2011-12-26T12:13:00.006-05:00

Last night, I discovered this book available for sale on CBD.com -

This ad refers to a slightly damaged copy of the book; but, given my theological persuasion, I could not help but laugh. Pleas take it with the humor with which it is intended.

A Marriage Carol : A Review

2011-12-26T01:41:00.001-05:00

A Marriage Carol
by
Chris Fabry and Gary Chapman

A Review

I have long been impressed with Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. I first read it when my own marriage was going through struggles - and it contributed to the healing that my wife and I experienced 20 years ago. Earlier this year I was privileged to read an Advanced Copy of Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennett. Bennett’s book was a retelling of the original story. The Marriage Carol may best be described as a parallel narrative.

Jacob and Marlee’s marriage was at an end. They both knew it. They had not yet told the kids, but today was to be the end. They were due at the lawyer’s office to sign the papers for a no-fault divorce. It was time, but the weather would not cooperate. To save time they take a shortcut that leads to the accident.

In the hours that follow as Marlee finds help and looks for her husband, she is also faced with her own life - her life as it was, her life as it is, and her life as it might be. It was a long night - a night that did not end the way she had expected. On the other hand … well, you will need to read the book to find out about that other hand.

As Marlee writes, in the first person, “... it is a dangerous thing to have your eyes opened. It is dangerous to see. It is dangerous to love … There is no barren place on earth that love cannot grow a garden. Not even your heart.”

The Marriage Carol may be written as fiction, but it is not fiction. It is my story, it is my wife’s story. But not ours alone - it is many stories of people who have found themselves hurt, lost, and confused. And, just as my wife and I discovered, it is a story that offers hope. It was hope that Dickens offered in 1843 when he wrote the original; it still offers hope for us today.

This review is based
a free electronic copy of the book
supplied by the publisher
for the purpose of creating this review.

The Big Book of American Trivia : A Review

2011-12-24T13:05:00.003-05:00

The Big Book of American Trivia
by
J. Stephen Lang

A

Review

Fun, Fun, Fun.

While I have collected trivia books for several years, most of them have focused on Biblical or church history. I was excited to discover this 360 page book of American History trivia. However, the book was not quite what I expected - but I was not disappointed.

As I picked up the book, I expected to find a series of anecdotes - brief essays - giving trivial facts from American history. Rather, the book is a series of 3,000 questions (and answers). Topics include -
National, Regional, and Local history
Well-known monuments (National, Regional, and Local)
American Personalities (Presidents, song writers, comedians, etc.)
Food
The arts
etc.
In what year’s World Series was “The Star-Spangled Banner” played at a sports event for the first time? (The answer can be found on page 239)
What major East Coast city has a Cherry Blossom Festival every April? (The answer can be found on page 145)
What outdoorsy president was the first president to ride in an automobile? (The answer can be found on page 205)
What 20th century president was the first to be born in a hospital? (The answer can be found on page 259)

These questions, taken from the back cover of the book, demonstrate that the book can be as much fun as it is educational.

This review is based on a

free copy of the book

received from the publisher

for the purpose of creating this review.

Tall: Great American Folktales : A Review

2011-12-22T00:05:00.003-05:00

Tall is a wonderful retelling of the tall tales of my youth. Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, John Henry, and Johnny Appleseed each take on their bigger than life roles in more ways that I could recall from my youth. The fun retelling of these stories is not just for kids, but for all of us that have grew up with these characters as part of our childhood.

Each of the four stories has it’s roots in the stories we grew up with, but then they are expanded beyond the historic tales passed down to us from our parents and grandparents through story and song. Paul Bunyan is given credit for creating the Golden Plains of Kansas, the Grand Canyon, the greatest of the Great Lakes, the Smoky Mountains, and the bayous of the American South, and the Land of 10,000 Lakes (hey, I remember that one).

Take a trip down memory lane - and share that journey with the children of today. Remember the fantasy that became the folk lore of a previous generation and don’t let it get lost in this one. Tall:Great American Folktales is a wonderful way to carry on those stories.

This review is based on a

free electronic copy of the book provided by the publisher

for the purpose of creating this review.

The Last Plea Bargain : A Review

2011-12-21T20:51:00.006-05:00

Life never seems to work out the way we plan it - after all, Jamie Brock was an Assistant DA and knew it was her only logical career choice. She never did understand why her father chose to be a defense attorney. Not just an attorney, but a good attorney.

Between trying two cases, including the man accused of her mother’s murder, her life is shaken to the core. She learns that people are not always who they seem - the ones she trusts are not all trustworthy; those she distrusts are not what she feared.

The Last Plea Bargain is fun journey through the legal system. Randy Singer’s writing can be compared favorably to that of Robert Whitlow (author of Water’s Edge, Greater Love, and Life Everlasting, et al) an accomplished author and lawyer. Jamie Brock and we, the readers, will learn to look at people with grace filled eyes, rather than the boxes that are so easy to build around them. And when we do, good things are bound to happen.

This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.

Free Life Application Study Bible

2011-12-08T12:16:00.002-05:00

Here's an opportunity to get a free copy of the Life Application Study Bible for everyone in your family:

https://www.facebook.com/NewLivingTranslation?sk=app_121121694568521

Good luck!

At The Throne Of Grace : A Review

2011-12-06T19:02:00.002-05:00

Seminary has a bad reputation, at times. I enjoyed it. Having said that, there is one thing that it did not teach me - it did not teach me how to pray. Oh, I know, prayer is speaking to God. But when a pastor is in the pulpit prayer can feel very uncomfortable - not only is God listening to the prayer, but so is the congregation. One would hope that we are only praying for God, but most pastors are aware that there is that second audience present as well.

John MacArthur’s At The Throne of Grace proves that point. His prayers, if truely said from the Sunday pulpit as the book claims, is as much about teaching as it is about speaking to God.

Each prayer begins with a brief scripture reading and a devotional - then comes the sample prayer. The prayers are well-written - a pleasure to read; though, as a pastor, I would feel uncomfortable using them in a worship service. Here is a portion of a prayer following a devotional on I John 2:1-19:

Dear Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow,

we confess that You alone are the giver of every good and perfect gift,1

and You have given us so many things,

richly supplying us with things to enjoy.2

And we are reminded by the passage we have just read that

the greatest gift of all is Your Son, Jesus Christ,

who sacriﬁced His very life in order that

we might be freed from sin’s bondage.

Fill our hearts with gratitude, and may our lives

reﬂect overﬂowing thankfulness

so that all who see may honor You.

In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

_______________________________________________

1.James 1:17 2.I Timothy 6:17

The most helpful part of the book is how it has directed my attention to other books on prayer:

Alexander MacLaren, Pulpit Prayers

C H Spurgeon, The Pastor In Prayer

Richard Foster, Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey into Meditative Prayer

Stormie Omartian, Powerful Prayers For Troubled Times

Richard Kriegbaum, Leadership Prayers

Those of the ones that I added to my reading list as a result of starting MacArthur’s book of prayers. Each reader will want to add their own selection as they continue to think about the role prayer will play in their own life.

Do you want to learn to pray? Begin by praying. Then read the prayers of those who have gone before - let them teach us.

This review is based on a free, electronic copy of the book provided by publisher prior to publication.

Against Calvinism : A Review

2011-12-06T15:00:00.004-05:00

It has been a fun journey over the last month as I have read Michael Horton’s For Calvinism, which I reviewed a few weeks ago, and Roger E. Olson’s Against Calvinism.

Though I reside firmly in the Wesleyan/Arminian camp, I did attended a Calvinist leaning seminary and taught at a Reformed Church of America college during my career. I have heard and studied the arguments from both sides and have come to some conclusions on my own. Taking the time to read Horten and Olson has allowed me to revisit decisions that I made some 35 or more years ago. Those decisions have not changed, but these two books did allow me to rewalk a path that I traveled years ago.

Olson’s book is not so much a defense of a Wesleyan/Arminian faith, but a reflection of the problems presented by those who follow the teachings of John Piper or R C Sproul. Though I, as indicated above, did find myself immersed in their teaching, I have never read their writings. I found Horton’s and Olson’s books helpful in understanding the Calvinist position as it is being expounded in the first decade of the 21st century. Both draw on the writing of current propounders of Calvinism, but also draw heavily from those in both its early history and the more recent past of the 17th - 20th centuries.

Olson’s book is not merely a restatement of non-biblical writers, he also reflects on both the obvious and the more difficult passages of scripture - which one would expect from a well-written theology text.

Roger Olson’s Against Calvinism is recommended reading for those both in and out and on the fence as they relate to Calvinism. Reading Michael Horton and Roger Olson together is the best solution in studying and understanding the current issues involved in this five century old debate.

This review is based on a free, electronic copy of the book provided by the publisher prior to publication.

2011-11-22T15:23:00.005-05:00

Loving Thanksgiving

Intro.: There are some who think that Thanksgiving is the best holiday.

Lots of food, family, and fun.
But we don't have the added complications of decorating a tree (yet), buying or wrapping presents.
Dinner is just as good, but only half the work.
It is time to focus on all that we have received – both in the past and especially the past year.
It is a time to thank the people that have contributed to our lives in one way or another. It is also a time to thank God for all that he has done – be it for His salvation or the care and love he has shown to us.
I want to spend some time this morning thinking about this thing we call the “Love of God”.

Read: I John 4:7-12

Pray

Trans: For those of us who are a part of the church, there is a connection between Thanksgiving and Love –

Brennan Manning once wrote “I believe that the real difference in the American church is not between conservatives and liberals, fundamentalists and charismatics, or Republicans and Democrats. The real difference is between the aware and the unaware. When somebody is aware of the love that the Father has for Jesus, that person is spontaneously grateful. Cries of thankfulness become the dominant characteristic of the interior life, and the byproduct of gratitude is joy. We’re not joyful and then become grateful—we’re grateful, and that makes us joyful.”¹

T.S. In the next few minutes, as we prepare for Thanksgiving I would like to spend time looking at this thing called the love of God.

Their is no reason to believe in God's love, short of the fact that Scriptures tell me so.
1. I look in the daily news paper and I have no reason to be convinced that we have a loving God:
  1. The number of violent crimes committed in the US is virtually unchanged since 1980. Though the number of murders and robberies has decreased, but all other types of violent crimes has increased.²
  2. Nearly a 1000 US military personnel die each year in the course of doing their duties.³
  3. There are 1.5 million new cancer cases diagnosed each year. Each year almost 600,000 people will die either from that cancer or from complications related to it.⁴
  4. A casual look at the daily news leaves a great deal of doubt of God's love.
2. Unless, I turn to the word of God, there is no way I could know of God's love. I can know of God's existence, I can know of God's power. I could even sing of an awesome God – but until I turn to the scriptures, I can know nothing of God's love. It is there that it is revealed.
3. No one but God could have revealed that to the world.
4. Scripture tells me “God is love”;
  Scripture tells me “For God so loved the world ...”
  Scripture tells me “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you...”
5. Though there may be times that I don't feel that love, but God's word never changes.
6. His love is constant.

A Father's Love⁵

(Ill.) One of my favorite country songs from the past few years is sung by George Strait - “Love Never Ends”, though it goes by the more common name of “A Father's Love.”:

The problem of course is that each have a different concept of a Father's Love – depending on love, or the lack thereof, was shown to us as children.
For some of us, the image of a father that comes to mind might be a very stern man – with an impossible set of rules, that no one could follow. I wonder if God is like that father?
Or you may have grown up in a home where the rules were always changing – you could never know for sure whether you were obeying the right set of rules on Tuesday, because on Thursday the rules would be changing again. The person growing up in this family could never get it right. I wonder if God is like this?
Then we need to ask the question – how do we really learn about God?
1. Our parents may or may not have reflected a loving, caring God.
2. Or do we turn to the media for our spiritual instruction – movies like Bruce Almighty, or TV shows like Joan of Arcadia, or even music like “A Father's Love”
3. The media only show a glimpse of God – and likely as fractured glimpse at that.
Jesus told us something about God's love, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” (John 15:9) John, the brother of Jesus tells us more,

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be
called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the
world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved,
now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we
will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him,
because we will see Him just as He is. (1 John 3:1—2, NASB)
But I think Paul says it best, “You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'“ (Romans 8:15) “Abba” was the way that children would have said “Daddy”.

(Ill.) Max Lucado tells of a time when he and his daughter Jenna were spending several days in the old city of Jerusalem.

One afternoon, as we were exiting the Jaffa gate, they found themselves behind an orthodox Jewish family—a father and his three small girls. One of the daughters, perhaps four or five years of age, fell a few steps behind and couldn’t see her father. “Abba!” she called to him. He spotted her and immediately extended his hand.

When the signal changed, he led her and her sisters through the intersection. In the middle of the street, he reached down and swung her up into his arms and continued their journey.

Isn’t that what we all need? An abba who will hear when we call? Who will take our hand when we are weak? Who will guide us through the hectic intersections of life? Don’t we all need an abba who will swing us up into his arms and carry us home? We all need a father.

Our relationship to God is to be personal, close, loving. We are God's adopted children I God's adopted children in Christ Jesus, through Him we have become spiritual sons and daughters.

Conclusion:

Pray

1Brennan
Manning, in “The Dick Staub Interview: Brennan Manning on
Ruthless Trust,” ChristianityToday.com quoted in Larson, C.
B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect
(31). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

2 http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0312.pdf

3 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1920490/posts

4 http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2008/browse_csr.php?section=1&page=sect_01_table.01.html

5Blemins, Winfield H. (2011). Creed: Connect to the Basic Essentials of the Historic Christian Faith (460/2261). Colorado Springs: NavPress.

Sherlock Homes: Year One (Volume 1) : A Review

2011-11-16T23:32:00.001-05:00

Sherlock Holmes: Year One

Volume 1

Scott Beatty and Daniel Indro

I looked forward to reading this graphic novelization of Sherlock Holmes, but ultimately found myself less than satisfied. The stories were certainly not the same quality as I would expect from a Holmes author, be it Arthur Conan Doyle or otherwise. The title attempts to lay down an early history for Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick, Dr. Watson. It is a collection of six stories originally published as individual issues. At the time of writing, Sherlock is a little known problem solver; Dr. Watson is an employee of London’s Criminology Lab. They have a growing admiration for each other as they stumble through their early cases together.

I did enjoy the artwork, as a whole; though occasionally it did become difficult to track individual characters - I suspect, however, that this may have been a result of reading an electronic copy of the book rather than a printed copy.

The stories introduce us to some of the characters that will become familiar to those who have read Doyle’s original stores: Inspector Lestrade and Irene Adler are good examples.

I expect that the knowledgable Holmes reader would get a great deal from the title. The average reader will enjoy the stories for what they are, stories.

For Calvinism : A Review

2011-11-14T20:57:00.004-05:00

One of the things that I have learned as I age is that theology can be as dry as a Calculus text or as attention getting as a well written fictional adventure. Michael Horton's “For Calvinism” easily fits into this latter category.

It was with some trepidation that I first picked up this, the first of two books commissioned by Zondervan, evaluating Calvinism. As an established Arminian trained in a Calvinist seminary, I have been disappointed over the years at both Wesleyan and Calvinist who tend to set straw men to define those who have followed alternative opinion. Michael Horton attempts in this book to clearly state a traditional Calvinist position – he is not defending TUPIP, but a clearly stated version of the Reformed position as articulated by Calvin and his heirs. When he does choose to compare Calvinism to Arminianism, he chooses from both classical theologians (e.g. Richard Watson) and more modern spokesman (e.g. Clark Pinnock).

I found the book readable and enjoyable – even as I disagreed with some of the conclusions to which the author arrives. Regardless of whether the reader comes as a Calvinist, an Arminian, or if the reader is searching, the book is a good introduction to the Reformed faith.

I will look forward to reading the other Zondervan title being published in parallel with Horton' text, Against Calvinism by Roger Olson.

This review is based on an electronic copy of the book provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating an unbiased review.

2011-11-03T14:12:00.004-05:00

Nearing Home
by
Billy Graham

How does a man who has been preaching, in one form or another, for over seventy years, a man who has shared his faith with twelve presidents, a man who is probably more well known than any spiritual leader alive today, still manage to inspire and encourage believers? By writing his memoirs and sharing his life, both as lived in the past and as experienced today, with the world he served.

Billy's writing is true and honest – both as he talks about his losses and his joys. He cannot wait to get home, but he also wants to live what years God gives to him to His glory. And as he writes, he asks the same of us.

As I slowly enter what most would consider elderly (I am sixty), I serve as the pastor/chaplain of a group of men and ladies who are ten to twenty years older than I. Graham provides me with goals for myself and for those I serve. My prayer is that I may be as encouraging as Billy Graham is to his readers when, and if, I reach the age of 93.

This review is based on a free copy
of the book provide by the publisher
for the purpose of creating this review.

Paper Angels

2011-11-03T12:42:00.005-05:00

Paper Angels

Jimmy Wayne with Travis Trasher

My wife and I have participated in a number of Christmas based charities: Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child or Heifer International's Heifer Project. Though we have never participated in Paper Angels, when given the opportunity, the book caught my eye.

The stories of Kevin (a father and entrepreneur) and Thomas (a high school student from a broken home) are interwoven. Though they never meet, the decisions and circumstances of their lives bring changes, possibly eternal changes, to both their lives and to the lives of their families. Thoughout the book we are reminded that how we live our lives is not just about us; but the choices we make can reach far beyond our individual lives. Those choices are about families, friends, and communities – for good or bad.

I have come to enjoy the work of Travis Trasher – this is the third or fourth book that I have read by this author. I was not disappointed. At times the book was a bit slow, but it was well worth reading. It is a good introduction to Travis Trasher and his writing.

This review is based on a

free electronic copy provided by

the publisher for the purpose of this review.

Technology For Beginning Readers

2011-10-27T23:53:00.004-05:00

From Typewriters to Text Messages

Jennifer Boothroyd

[ISBN: 978-0761378389]

I am sitting here with very conflicted feelings about this book. At first, I felt that a book aimed at 1st graders about communications and the Internet was a bit premature. Then I remembered a news item that appeared earlier this week saying that 52% of kids younger than eight are using some kind of mobile device - a smart phone or a tablet - on a daily basis.

With that knowledge, Jennifer Boothroyd book make sense. To the average teen, the books contents would seem strange - full of well known information; but to the 1st grader who is just learning about the role that phones, computers, and communication in his or her world, the book will begin to provide a larger perspective to their quickly developing world.

My only concern is that the vocabulary may be a bit beyond that of a 1st grader - the age group toward which the book seems to be aimed.

Though not designed for the grandparent or even the parent, the book would help a young child begin to become an understanding user of modern technology.

This review is based on an electronic copy

of the book provided by the publisher

for the purpose of creating this review.

Jacob T. Marley : A Review

2011-10-27T10:08:00.003-05:00

It was twenty years ago that I last read Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in its entirity. At that time I thought it might be fun to rewrite the story as a case study in Recovery. I did not do it However, R. William Bennett’s Jacob T. Marley has created a wonderful rewrite of Dickens’ classic story.

Dickens tells us the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bennett tells us the story of Jacob T. Marley. It is a touching story - with bits of horror and of grace. I would not call it a “tear jerker”; but as I read, I did find tears coming to my eyes. Marley had to carry the chains of his greed as he revisited his past decisions - and saw the consequences of all that preceded his own death.

As the author creatively interweaves the lives of the Marley and Scrooge families, we not only see the great sadness created by their decisions, but we see the grace which each man was capable of showing, given the chance.

This review was based on an electronic copy

of the book provided by the publisher

for the purpose of creating this review.

It Couldnt Just Happen : A Review

2011-10-24T20:02:00.001-05:00

It Couldn’t Just Happen

Lawrence O. Richards

The author has used a gentle touch to introduce theology to children - though as an adult I also found it very readable and challenging. It is the book that can be read as a daily devotional, be read as review of how God’s creative work in this wonderful world, or sit on the coffee table to attract the attention of curious visitors.

Lawrence Richards has brought his lifetime of work in children’s ministry to bear with the colors, the chosen text, the concepts covered, to make the book attractive to children or young teens. The questions that are raised in the classroom are addressed - probably not sufficiently to respond to a teacher’s objections, but certainly to assist the inquisitive child to look further into how God creation came to be.

Grandparent, parent, or child - this book is recommended as a place to begin an exploration of God’s creation.

This review is based on an electronic copy of the text

provided by the publisher for the purpose of

creating this review.

Accused : A Review

2011-10-23T17:23:00.001-05:00

Accused

Janice Cantore

When an experienced cop writes a police thriller, the result is awesome - at least in this case. Though I cannot speak to the for the authenticity of the action - but it did hold my attention.

When Carley Edwards is pulled off patrol, even after being cleared of the shooting, she cannot but wonder why. At the same time, other questions continue to pop to the surface - the integrity of her fellow officers, a successful mayor is murdered, her mother’s home is firebombed - it does not make any sense.

And in the midst of all this confusion Carley’s faith, or rather the lack of it, is challenged.

Altogether it makes for a readable book that I could not put down - holding my interest as the best police drama on TV or at the theater can do. And when I got to the end of the book, I found I wanted more. And there will be more as Accused is the first in the “Pacific Coast Justice Series” being written by this author.

Throughout the book, Carley is encouraged to examine her faith. Finally, she is challenged to ask God to reveal himself. What does she have to lose - if He does not exist, then nothing has changed; and if He does, she would find her world turned upside down. In the course of the book she does exactly that - and her life is turned upside down.

Janice Cantore has done a good job of blending the drama of the police force, the diversity of life, and mystery of faith into an exciting and engaging novel - which should appeal to men and women from all walks of life.

This review is based on a free copy of the book
provided by the publisher
for the purpose of creating this review.

Pastor's Handbook : A Review

2011-10-21T22:09:00.009-05:00

Pastor's Handbook
by
John Bisago

The last time I read a rewritten classic, I was sorely disappointed. Happily, this was not the case as I read John Bisago's Pastor's Handbook.

I also found myself surprised at the style of the book – I expected to see sample worship service, sample prayers, sample sermon outlines. I found these – but I found so much more. The book is laid out as a series of devotionals – each about 2-1/2 pages in length. Each “devotional” is rooted in scripture, but it is also practical.

Beginning with a series of short devotionals (i.e. essays) on the nature and the origin of the church, the book moves on to more practical matters. The section headings provide a survey of the topics covered:

Part 1: The Church
Part 2: The Pastor as God's Man
Part 3: The Pastor as Spiritual Leader
Part 4: The Pastor as Organizational Leader
Part 5: The Pastor as Preacher
Part 6: Worship Services
Part 7: Programs and Ministries
Part 8: The Church Staff
Part 9: The Church Finances
Part 10: Facilities and Operations
Part 11: Other Important Matters
Part 12: Issues/Taking a Position

A closer look at the table of contents will provide a more detailed look at the subjects covered.

Though the author is now a retired pastor, he does not speak for the graying church. He recognizes the need for the church to be more than it was it was – it will reach out to speak to people from various cultures and different generations.

Though I come from the Wesleyan Church, I found John Bisago's book interesting, helpful and encouraging. Pastors and leaders from across the ecclesiastical spectrum would be assisted in reaching their world for Christ as they take the time to study the 400 pages of the Pastor's Handbook.

I was glad to have the opportunity to read this book

This review is based on an electronic copy of the book provided
without cost by the publisher for the purpose of writing this review.

Going Deep : A Review

2011-10-14T17:18:00.001-05:00

Going Deep

Gordon MacDonald

(ISBN: 0785226087)

I was dubious as I began to read this book. I had not read its predessor (Who Stole My Church), so had no idea what I was about to discover. But when I found that the book was a first-person, fictional, devotional, it seemed on the surface to be a flawed concept.

I was wrong. The book was an easy read - yet full of theological and practical insight as an experienced pastor is challenged, first by God and then by his church, to redefine his ministry. Rather than being the church’s CEO, he was to become its CTO - the Chief Training Officer. Rather than running the business of the church, he was to become the main discipler within the church.

It took time to understand what God would want - but with the advice of a high school principle, his wife, and the local Reformed Rabbi, he gradually understood what God would expect of him - we then watch him fulfill those expectations.

The book itself is a daily, weekly, or periodic look (using a undated calendar) at how Pastor MacDonald (remember, it is fiction) changes his ministry. Practicality is mixed with principles as the author takes us through two years of his life as he changes his job description - and he does a good job of doing so.

This review is based on a free copy of the book provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.

Confirmation : A Review

2011-10-14T10:50:00.002-05:00

Confirmation

Ralph Reed

(ISBN: 1433669248)

Confirmation has a good premise, but it has a difficult time getting it done. Some may enjoy this version of Washington politics as usual, I did not. If this is an accurate picture of the people (though fictionalized) involved at all levels of the 21st century political scene, then we really need to throw out all the politicians and rebuild our government.

Beginning with a very strange election to the office of the President of the United States, Independent Robert Long must deal a cast of characters that supported him during the election, as well as those from the Republican and Democratic party. Along with the politicos that define Long’s administration, he must also respond to his Clair’s, his wife’s, alcoholism.

Though the President does get his way, in the end, most of those whose lives are touched by the confirmation of a new Supreme Court Justice will find their reputation hurt, their families damaged, and a sad lacking of God’s grace.

This review is based on an Advanced Readers Copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of completing this review.

Expanded Bible : A Review

2011-10-04T00:49:00.001-05:00

Expanded Bible

Thomas Nelson Publishers

I have mixed emotions when I see a new edition of the Bible being published. I collect various Study Bibles – the combined knowledge in them allows me to understand some of the wealth of study that has preceded me. But a new edition of the Bible is one more tool that I have will want to study and examine.

Given the opportunity by the publisher to review an electronic copy of a new edition prior to publicatin was an exciting prospect. The best comparison I can make for the Expanded Bible is the Amplified Bible. But there are three advantages of the Expanded Bible over the Amplified Bible:

The Amplified Bible (as currently published) was created in 2001, making the Expanded Bible 10 years newer.
The additions to the Amplified Bible are clearly marked as their purpose
Wide margins for making personal notes as one reads the Bible

Notations are marked using a code that will allow the reader to recognize different types of comments:

Simple “Expansions” showing alternate meanings of the original Hebrew or Greek words
“Alternate” meanings that may change the sense of the sentence in which they are found.
“Literal” meanings of the underlying text
“Traditional” readings (i.e. KJV) of the text that many readers may be more familiar with but are not used in the current translation.
“Historical, cultural, theological,” etc. comments designed to help the reader “better understand a verse or passage”
Cross references to parallel passages

Each type of note is clearly indicated in line with the text – in lieu of traditional footnotes. Though the comments are clearly marked, they occasionally become confused the actual text of scripture. The font of the notes is slightly lighter (i.e. less bold) than the text of the scripture, but it would have been nice if they had been printed in an alternate color as well (e.g. blue).

Other than this one concern, I am looking forward to adding this Bible to my library in November 2011 when it is published and would recommend that others do so as well.

Digital Disciple : A Review

2011-10-03T23:39:00.002-05:00

Digital Disciple – A Review

by Adam Thomas

Much of my career was spent responding to the role of technology within the church. Adam Thomas' book has attempted to do just that. He recognizes that “the Tech” both provides opportunities to bring people together – people we may never have met except for the technology we have chosen to use. The relationships developed with the Tech are real, they are limited.

“The Tech” also will put up a wall between those same people. Though efforts have been made to incorporate more than two senses into the connections we make, we will be limited to using only 40% of the senses God has given to us when we use the Tech as our communication medium.

Ultimately, the author argues, relationships have to be intentional. Whether they are relationships with people or with God, we need to work at building them. If the relationships are going to be real and deep we must move beyond the limitations placed by the Tech upon those relationships. And that takes work – hard work.

This review is based on an electronic copy of the book
provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating an unbiased review.

Christmas Stories : A Review

2011-09-27T21:12:00.003-05:00

Though I have not read a great deal of Max Lucado's work, I have enjoyed what I have read. Similarly, Christmas Stories does not disappoint. It is a collection of short stories, many (if not most) pulled from previous books and sources. In some way, each story points us back to the manger in Bethlehem that day so long ago. But he also points us to an eternal story – not one merely rooted in history, but one that stretches across the ages: from Bethlehem, to rural England, and to the Midwestern USA. Though fiction, the book introduces us to men, women, children, and angels, who may have been effected by the coming of the Christ child that first Christmas day.

If you like Max Lucado, you will like Christmas Stories. If you like Christmas, you will like Christmas Stories. If you like inspirational Christmas stores, you will like Christmas Stories.

This review is based on an electronic copy of the book
provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.
There was no obligation to write a positive review.

A Heart for Freedom : A Review

2011-09-25T20:39:00.006-05:00

A Heart for Freedom
by
Chai Ling

It was the Spring of 1989 and a group of students were beginning to explore how to bring democracy to mainland China. In the midst of the protests that would define much of that Spring in Beijing, a number of students rose to positions of leadership that neither they nor their world would have expected. Chai Ling was one of those students. And A Heart for Freedom is her story.

In 1989, the events on Tiananmen Square, seemed far away. But in those days, God was shaping the heart of a young lady – not only to provide leadership to the students of China, but also to serve Him.

A Heart for Freedom provides a look at the students, the leaders, the history, that defined much of the world's attitude toward China for the last 20 plus years. We see the fear, the frustration, and the concerned that defined the student leadership of those events.

But A Heart for Freedom is more – it is also the story of a young woman growing up in a traditional Chinese home who matures as a student leader, completes her education in the United States, and starts a highly successful business. As the book ends, we find that she has also come to understand what it means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. That journey is just starting for Chai Ling, but it may be just as exciting as the first 40 years of her life. For the answer to that, we will have to wait for Part II of her memoirs.

This review was based on a pre-publication copy of the book supplied by the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review but have willing done so.

Moses Standing Before the Burning Bush

2011-09-16T02:51:00.006-05:00

What God Promises to the Israelites:

1. Deliver them out of the hands of the Egyptians
2. Bring them out of that Land to

- a good and broad land

- a land flowing with milk and honey

- the place of

the Canaanites,

the Hittites,

the Amorites,

the Perizzites,

the Hivites,

and the Jebusites.

God promises all this to Moses as he stood, bare foot, before the burning bush. I wonder how Moses felt - meeting God for that first time. He had heard stories about others that had met God. People like Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. He had probably heard of Job and all of his problems and how God had broken into his life. And now God was breaking into His life. And it all started when Moses was willing to say, "Here I am". (Cp Is 6:1-8)

Have I said, "Here I am!" to God? Have I?

Realms of Thereunder

2011-09-13T15:38:00.005-05:00

I am writing this review with some trepidation.

I downloaded The Realms Thereunder for review from the publisher’s website; but having started several chapters, I know that the book is not going to be a pleasant read for me.

I have a couple of options, the best would be to request to be released from my obligation to review the book. Though that is my preferred option, it is not likely to happen.

The other is to write a very biased review. I generally have not liked fantasy/supernatural fiction (I have read the Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings, but have avoided the Left Behind series like the plague), but had recently read a couple of books from this genre that I did enjoy so I thought I would try another. This option did not work. However, I don't wish to penalize the author/publisher because of my personal reading interests.

Hence, I am posting this brief response to the book. I do not expect my lack of interest in this book to generate much feedback, but it is an honest attempt to explain my response to the book. I do wish I could have been released from the promise I made to review the book; in lieu of that, I post this minimal response to the book. I do hope that others, who are more familiar with the genre can give it a more informed review.

This review is based on a free, electronic copy of the book provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating an unbiased review.

After posting this review I did receive permission to not review the book. In a second e-mail, I also receive a request to remove this review from my blog. Because the review was posted before I received any response to my request to be relieved of my obligation to review the book, I have chosen to retain this review on my blog.

Kisses From KatieA Review

2011-09-07T11:19:00.005-05:00

Kisses From Katie is an encouraging book about a young girls journey of faith. It details Katie Davis' transition from high school student to being the adoptive mother of 17 children and “Aunt Katie” to hundred of kids in war torn Uganda.

I have enjoyed reading her story and have found it to be uplifting to see what God can do through one committed individual. The author makes it clear that the choices she made were not always easy, “hard” is sometimes an overused word – though how these difficulties were evident in her life is not always spelled out. Having said this, it becomes clear that God has worked through those difficult times and used Katie in some truly miraculous way.

It has been some time since I picked up a true missionary's story – I am glad that I picked Kisses From Katie up and spent time reading it this summer.

This review is based on a free, electronic copy of the book
provided by the publisher for the purpose of writing this review.

The ChairbyJames RubartA Review

2011-09-05T18:43:00.002-05:00

What does on do when an elderly woman brings in a chair made by “most talented tekton craftman the world has ever known”?

I was drawn to The Chair by James L. Rubart because of his earlier work, Rooms. It too held my attention, but not to the extent that this current did.

The story that unfolded from that event in chapter one to the restoration of the chair and the restoration of the book's characters is a gripping novel that leaves the reader laughing and crying throughout the book. Life is not always what it seems – and we need to leave the hard stuff in God's hands.

We are in a position to miss up our lives – God is in the position to restore us, if we are willing. James L. Rubart delivers that truth well in his current offering, The Chair.

This review is based on a free, electronic copy provided by the publisher
for the purpose of creating this unbiased review.

Code Word:GeronimobyCaptain Dale Dye and Julia Dewey DyeA Review

2011-09-05T15:57:00.009-05:00

I am not a soldier. I have never been in the military. Though I have learned to appreciate the gift that America's soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, etc., contribute to my life, as I picked up Code Word:Geronimo, I was not sure how I would react.

I found this graphic novel to be encouraging and uplifting. It provided insight into the teamwork, skills, and operations of an army unit in ways that I had not previously seen.

The book is really two books. The first 80% is composed of the graphic novel which illustrates the work of Seal Team 6 on May 1, 2011, in dispatching Osama Bin Laden as he slept in the upstairs bedroom of his home in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The second part of the book, a narrative, describes the selection, the training, and the character of the men and women who make up Seal Team 6. The Navy Seals are a unique group of soldiers – Seal Team 6 consists of the best of the best Navy seals.

Code Word: Geronimo by Captain Dale Dye and Julia Dewey Dye is a relaxing read of a very tense day in the life of the American military. The work they accomplished in May 2011 was amazing and made me proud to be an American.

This review is based on a free, electronic copy provided by the publisher
to allow preparation of this unbiased review.

The Guardian : A Review

2011-08-29T15:02:00.002-05:00

I somehow missed that this book was a "supernatural" thriller - a genre I genre I generally avoid reading. Having said that, I have now finished the book and found it to be a satisfying read. I discovered a book that is a combination of

The DaVinci Code

Indiana Jones

Book of Ruth

The story moves from Nashville, to NY City, Rome, and beyond. With the cooperation of believers from across the denominational spectrum and from around the world, Anna and her associates attempt to decipher a scroll passed down through her family for generations. In the process Anna is forced to evaluate her own faith - finding that she needed to rethink much of what she had learned as a child.

In the midst of her search for the hidden meaning of the scroll, she is presented with one of the clearest presentations of the Gospel that I have seen in a fiction book. Much of it could have been clipped out and used as a pamphlet to share with family or friends.

If excitement, action, and a hint of romance are of interest to you, then The Guardian may be a book for you.

This review is based on a free electronic copy of the book provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.

God's Love Letters To You : A Review

2011-08-22T16:44:00.003-05:00

God's Love Letters To You by Larry Crabb

I have long dreamt of putting together a sermon series that would allow me to walk through, albeit, briefly, each book of the bible. When I first saw this title, I thought that it might provide a foundation toward accomplishing that goal. Alas, it does not.

The devotionals are well written and allow one to explore and evaluate one's spiritual life. Yet to say that these books are based on each book of scripture is only loosely true. Unless the books have been read prior to picking up God's Love Letters To You, the devotional do little to introduce the reader to the various books. Scripture readings are often pulled from other parts of scripture, there are no suggested readings associated with each book, and the reader is left to his own devices to discover the connection between each days devotional and the particular Bible book being examined that day.

This book could be helped if used along side Henrietta Mears' What the Bible Is All About or some other simple Bible survey. This little gem would provide the Bible background needed to understand the book - while God's Love Letters To You provides the motivation to better understand each book.

This unbiased review was based on an electronic copy of the book

provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review.

Cooking the Books : A Review

2011-08-22T15:35:00.003-05:00

http://bit.ly/CookingTheBooks

What would a man who is married to a former librarian and a current bookseller read? Cooking the Books was a great choice.

I could sum up the themes found in this book in three words: Brokeness, Boundaries, and Books

Sloan Templeton had unwillingly inherited her mother's bookstore and the building in which it was housed. But she also had to deal with valuable books and an aunt that cooks - sort of. Actually, I would be scared to death to eat any of Aunt Verlene's food; which, truth be told, is hardly fit for her cats.

In the midst of dealing with the unwanted store, she had to deal with murders, gang members, and rediscovering her own faith. It was a story I could not put down, I laughed, and I hurt as Sloan found her way through life. It was a story I would recommend for a leisurely read on the beach or on the train (where I found myself reading it).

Rocketeer Adventures Volume 1 - A Review

2011-08-16T21:26:00.002-05:00

Though I have had a lifelong interest in comics, my first introduction to the Rocketeer was not in the comics. I suspect, like many, my first introduction to the Rocketeer was provided in 1991 by the Walt Disney Company. It was not until I had the opportunity to review this reprint of the original comics from IDG that even knew that Rocketeer had its beginning in the pages of a comic book.

The electronic copy of the book provided by the publisher for this review was actually an abbreviated version of the full book. On the other hand, I was impressed with the graphics and story lines which were included in the sample. I will be looking forward to reading the complete book when it is published later this year.

A "Down and Dirty" Guide to Theology

2011-08-01T17:20:00.001-05:00

Theology is dry and uninteresting. Though I joyfully completed three years of seminary, I never quite got past this truism. I remember reading our three inch text book, written by Augustus Strong, with its bold face, normal, and small print fonts. I enjoyed the teachers, not the reading.

Donald K. McKim has overcome this memory - at least for the lay or beginning theology student. Not only is this reading interesting (I keep coming back to it to see what he says next), it is also practical. And not practical in the sense of "Practical Theology" (aka homiletics), but in the sense of helping the reader understand how Biblical truth can be applied to our daily lives - to my daily lives.

Though coming from a reformed perspective (Westminster John Knox Press), this Arminian theology student found the reading to be a breath of fresh air. Regardless of your theological background, Dr. McKim's "Down and Dirty" Guide to Theology will make for interesting and helpful reading.

Walking Into Walls - A Review

2011-07-29T00:50:00.003-05:00

Walking Into Walls - A Review

Most people have walls - walls that we have been given by others or walls that we have built ourselves - that originated in our past, but no longer serve us well. Stephen Arterburn's new book provides tools that will help identify, understand, and move through, around, or over, those walls. Walls built in the past "block the work God wants to do". Weaving scripture and personal stories together to make for a powerful resource to help those of us keeping walls in place to face them squarely.

Walking Into Walls by Stephen Arterburn reminds me of the "bibliotherapy" I discovered 20 years ago. It helped me then, it helped me again - reminding me of ideas and principles that made a difference in my life. Though I expected to read a good book; I ended up reading a helpful book. Perhaps it will help others as well.

This review is based on an electronic review copy of the book provided by the publisher.

Lethal Remedy - A Review

2011-07-28T11:38:00.006-05:00

Lethal Remedy

Over the last couple of years as my wife and I struggled with a variety of difficulties - job loss, health issues, family deaths, etc. In the midst of our lives we discovered a set of three questions would get us through those days when life seemed to be getting the best of us:

Who do you have to trust? God
What do you have to do? The best you can
What else do you have to do? Nothing

Lethal Remedy by Richard Mabry, MD, stresses the truth of these simple statements. As John deals with an unexpected health crisis, as Sara deals with the pain of a divorce, as Mark deals with the death of his wife, these men and women are called together to fight a bigger crisis - the potential side effects of a new medication.

And in the midst of their growing concern stands the men who hold allegiance to Jandra Pharmaceuticals. Men who are capable of anything, even murder, to bring their new drug to market.

Lethal Remedy is a well written story by an accomplished writer - though this is the first book I have read by Richard Mabry, it will not be my last.

This review is based on pre-released copy provided by the publisher in support of this unbiased review.

2011-07-12T22:10:00.001-05:00

Letters to the Church:
A Survey of Hebrews and the General Epistles

Karen H. Jobes

A Review

Karen H. Jobes does for commentaries what Zondervan's Encyclopedia of the Bible did for Bible dictionaries. Besides the usual textual notes, the book is full of aids helping in understanding the lives, the purpose, and intent of the original author. Beside a great deal of insets (as expected in a modern commentary), the text contains a great many full color images augmenting the text.

When I chose to review this book, I had hoped that it would include a commentary on the book of I John, the book I am currently studying for our Sunday services. Sadly, this was the abbreviation in the copy provided for the review. The commentary on Hebrews was readable. Issues of authorship and dating were broadly and fairly discussed. I will look forward to adding this commentary to my library when in is published later this year.

The review was prepared from an abbreviated electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.

2011-07-12T10:42:00.001-05:00

Cash Burn

Michael Berrier

A Review

I was disappointed in Cash Burn - it is a sad and depressing book which leaves the characters wanting. There were times I almost decided to put the book down and not finish it, but I kept hoping that it would improve. Sadly, it never did.

The story had a few gaps (I never did figure out what was in Mr. B's mouth) But what disappointed me the most was that the book came from a nominally Christian publishing house - this book did not live up to Tyndale's reputation. As an e-book, it will be deleted from my collection.

This review is based on a free copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of writing this review.

Water's Edge: A Review

2011-07-03T21:53:00.003-05:00

A Review

Title: Water’s Edge
Author: Robert Whitlow

I have been a fan of Robert Whitlow for a number of years having read a number of his books. When I discovered that he was coming out with a new book and (at the same time) starting a new series, I became excited.

And waiting has been worth the effort. Water’s Edge is one of Robert Whitlow’s best.

Thomas Joshua Crane had lost everything: his father had died in an unexpected fishing accident, he lost his job as his employer made cutbacks because of the economy, and his girlfriend broke up with him taking his cat with her. And that is in the first chapter. Before the month was over, his life would get worse – even as his faith grew.

After receiving the book, I could not put it down – and even in the midst of writing the week’s sermon, I would pick it up in order to break up each day. And as I did, it brought tears, laughter, anger, and joy. Robert Whitlow, a practicing lawyer in North Carolina, gives insight into law (expected in a legal thriller), but he allows us to also connect with the characters. With them I did cry, laugh, get angry, and rejoice.

As I did this, I also found myself examining my own spiritual life. Most importantly, I was challenged to look at my own devotional life. Let me give one example. It becomes easy to study the scripture each week to prepare a sermon. Remembering to read the scriptures so that if changes my life is a more difficult task. I am surrounded by computer indexes, I have access to multiple Study Bibles, a theological library is across the street. But I also have a responsibility to let the scriptures speak to me. It was a lesson the protagonist had to learn and a lesson I had to be reminded of.

If you have not previously read Robert Whitlow, Water’s Edge is a good place to begin. I eagerly await the next book in this new series from an accomplished author and lawyer.

This review is based on an electronic copy
provided by the publisher
for the purpose of completing this review.

2011-06-29T23:34:00.002-05:00

Review:
The Camel
How Muslims Are Coming to Faith in Christ

http://www.amazon.com/Camel-Muslims-Coming-Faith-Christ/dp/0974756296

Muslims cannot become Christians - I mean, they believe in a different God, they are terrorists, they don’t believe in Jesus. Christians - no way.

Yet this book presents a model that is being used effectively to win Muslims to Christ; not by Western missionaries, but by “Muslim-background” believers who have come to Christ.

What amazes me most is that the lessons given in the book are some of the same ones I heard in Mission courses in seminary - the need to present the gospel within the culture of those who need to hear. The Camel presents the tools and methods to do exactly that.

I found the book to be an enjoyable read. Though the focus is on “Muslim-background” believers reaching their own community, the book offers ideas and concepts to others who are also working within a Muslim community. Many of the principles can also be of help to anyone that is working cross-culturally. Finally, the book contains principles that can apply to anyone involved in evangelism - which should be every believer.

As a pastor, I would recommend this book as an introduction to missions and evangelism - wherever God has called the believer to serve.

This review is based on a free copy of the book provided by the publisher.

Photo Book

2011-06-27T12:56:00.001-05:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

2011-06-22T03:01:00.002-05:00

My Thought

A thought is not mine,

Till I write it down.

A written thought is mine,

Till I let it go.

Desert Gift - A Review

2011-05-26T21:57:00.001-05:00

Desert Gift by Sally John is definitely a book worth reading. It is about a married couple who after twenty-four years together finds one of them asking for a divorce. Jill Galloway is a nationally known marriage expert who has a radio show and is about to release her first book when her husband says he wants a divorce. Jill decides to visit her parents who live in the California desert. Their marriage and their lives both are represented by the desert, dry and dying; but God’s hope is there to help them get through this difficult time in their marriage. “Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after” but God was there to help them put the pieces back together. They come to find out the importance of being best friends to each other in the marriage.

The author has enough seriousness and humor in the book to make it interesting. Sally John not only deals with the marriage proper, but how other relationships (i.e. parents, children, siblings, and friends) as well. “Black and white thinking” (not realizing there are some gray areas in life), being judgmental, personal space, and genetic traits are dealt with in the book. The concept of “let go and let God” by turning our “garbage” over to God is mentioned several times throughout the book. It is a great book in learning about relationships and how God is always with us during the difficult times in life.

Written with the assistance of my wife using a free copy of the book provided by the Tyndale Blog Network.

A Review: Sword of the Lord:The Roots of Fundamentalism In An American Family

2011-05-26T19:56:00.005-05:00

The Sword of the Lord:
The Roots Of Fundamentalism In An American Family

A Review

I do not consider myself a Fundamentalist. But in the late 1970’s I did become acquainted with Dr. John R. Rice while at seminary. My on campus job was as the serials librarian at Rolfing Library at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. One of the periodicals we received regularly was John R. Rice’s periodical The Sword of the Lord. I appreciated scanning each issue as it arrived in the library before adding it to the library holdings.

This past month, I discovered that John R. Rice’s grandson had written a history - of the church in America, of fundamentalism, of the Rice family, of his grandfather, and of his own faith. The author has woven together a tale of spiritual growth across generations. It was instructive to see the Christian faith move across America. Like most of church history, it was a spotted history - with times to celebrate as it took off and changed the nation and times to cry as it brought blight upon the church. The book was a pleasure to read - a better history book than most that have crossed my path.

Whether you are familiar with the core character, John R. Rice, or not, I would recommend this look at church history by an author who grew up in a family that defined much of that history.

This review is based on a copy of the book provide free of charge by the publisher.

The Reason Why - A Review

2011-04-24T23:06:00.007-05:00

A Book Review

Title: The Reason Why
Author: Mark Mittleberg

I have been postponing writing this review – not because the book held my interest and I could not put it down, but because it did not. Being a rewrite of a book originally penned over 100 years ago by Robert Laidlaw, the author's name was familiar – but not the book. I found the original on-line:

Laidlaw: The Reason Why

Mark Mittelberg's rewrote this small monograph to update illustrations and applications from early in the previous century to speak directly to 21^st century culture. This work may be of interest to a reader who is familiar with the earlier work or who is looking for one man's attempt to apply the scripture to today's world.

This review is based on a free copy provided by the Tyndale Blog Network.

Tyndale Book Club

2011-03-22T18:51:00.007-05:00

In a book club?

Like to read?

Like to read books?

Then you might be interested in this contest:

http://www.tyndale.com/00_home/contest.php

To enter the giveaway you just need to visit the contest page and click on the book you’d like to sign up to win. You can even go back and sign up for both books. Each day is a new giveaway so you can return to the site each day and try to win. Every few days the books change, so check back!

==============================================

Life Promises for Success

2011-03-18T09:41:00.002-05:00

A Review

Life Promises for Success:
promises from God on achieving your best

Jim Tressel
Head Football Coach
Ohio State
ISBN:978-1-4143-3728-9

My review is best summed up in the comment I made to my wife earlier this week:

“I really would like this book for Father's Day, except for one problem.”
“What's that”, she asked.
“I already own it.”

This small, daily devotional would make the perfect Father's Day gift for the dad or husband that enjoys football or sports in general and wants a better understanding on the meaning of “success” in the life of a believer. It would be just as appealing to the sports minded mom or any person that is trying to discover where “success” fits into the his or her life – interested in sports or not.

The author has done a superb job of combining scriptural nuggets, anecdotes, quotations, and good advice into a readable, pocket sized, daily devotional. Though written by the coach of a Division I football powerhouse, the book is not a sports book. Anecdotes and quotations are borrowed from all walks of life – literature, politics, the sciences, and sports. Though not common in a daily devotional, my lack of familiarity with many of the individual quoted, an occasional photograph highlighting the individuals in their normal setting, whether in the office or on the football field, would have added some context to the stories and quotations.

Whether a sports fan or a casual fan, the book will help prepare the reader for the game of life wherever it must be played.

This review is based on a free copy of the book provided by the Tyndale Blog Network.

2011-02-11T00:01:00.005-05:00

The Brotherhood

Jerry B. Jenkins

Jerry Jenkins' The Brotherhood is the first book of what looks to be a series focusing on the work of a group of men and women employed by the Chicago Police Department. Boone Drake worked in the 11^th Precinct – Chicago's most dangerous. But he was in line or a big promotion – if life did not get in the way.

The loss of most of what he lived for and dreamed of was almost too much for Boone – it would take him to the edge. But as he discovers the faith, that he never quite had, he discovers that life can go on even when it seems that all is gone.

The author has done a wonderful job of bringing to life a character that struggles with what most would say are too many loses. The book does not hinge on the “magic” that I find in too much Christian fiction, but on the work of God in a man's life as he is surrounded by the love and prayers of God's people. Prayer in and of itself is not “magic”; it is one way in which God allows His people to demonstrate His live to a hurting and broken world. In the coming year, I will look forward to a sequel being published to The Brotherhood. In the meantime, I encourage the reading of the book to all who have experienced loss or to those who work with those who experience loss.

This review is based on a free review copy received as part of the Tyndale Blog Network.

Being in the Presence of Jesus

2010-12-29T02:12:00.002-05:00

As John begins his letter, he shares that what he is discussing is not merely theology. It comes from his life experiences. It represents what he has heard, seen, and touched. It represents his life – not his intellectual knowledge.

John uses words that each go beyond the simple use of our senses. He uses words that indicate that the “seeing” is not just watching from the sidelines, but understanding and experiencing Jesus in ways that go beyond the simple act of watching Him. To hear is to understand. To touch is to find out its texture, to discover what it is made of – to get to its core. What John is left with is not just head knowledge, but a life changing interaction with the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, the creator, God Almighty.

What about my preaching? Am I merely trying to share what is in my head or am I willing to share the life that God has allowed me to experience with Him. If all I share is merely head knowledge, then I may as well be only a member of the crowds that followed Jesus – a spectator. May I share what I have experienced – what I have seen, heard, and understood. May I share, not from my head, but from my heart – a heart touched by the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, the creator, God Almighty.

A Reflection On I John 1:1

2010-12-28T01:28:00.005-05:00

Some thoughts from I John 1:1 ==

John has three voices as he writes. At one level he speaks for himself. He takes time to explain what he has seen, heard, and touched. He speaks about and from experiences that only he can have.

But John also speaks for the church. Five times in this first verse he uses 1^st person plural pronouns to describe what he is about to say. Though John had many personal experiences with Jesus (he was the disciple that Jesus loved), he also shared many experiences with the other disciples. History tells us that John was the only original apostle alive as he wrote these words exiled to the island of Patmos, thus his words are the last words spoken for the apostles as the church enters the patristic age.

Finally, John spoke for God. As he wrote I John, he was inspired – so that the very words he wrote were the words God intended for him to put to paper.

As a pastor, I also speak with three voices: my own, the church, and God. I pray that the three voices will be in harmony. My prayer is that I may say nothing that does not reflect well on the church and on Almighty God as seen in all three persons of the Trinity.

2010-11-30T21:47:00.005-05:00

Son of Hamas

A Book Review

Occasionally a book seems so uninteresting that the reader does not want to finish reading to the end. Son of Hamas was such a book – I was about halfway through and I came real close to putting it down and writing the review that is beginning to sound like.

I am glad I did not do it. Here is the real story of man who lived inside one of the sources of terror in the Middle East – yet was sensitive enough to see inconsistencies in the faith he had been given as a child. The second half of the book details the author's conflict as he struggles to understand his Islamic background, the Israeli security police and their need to keep Israeli population safe, and the Christian students whom he had joined for Bible Study. It was not an easy journey, but one that left the author fully in the hands of Jesus Christ.

Confused by the events in the Middle East, the author takes time to explain the political, military, cultural, and religious issues that dominate the region. From the earliest beginnings of Hamas (as started by seven men, including the author's father) through the events of 9/11 to his eventual move to the United States and request for political asylum – granted in June 2010.

The book is as thrilling as any mystery on the best sellers list – except this story is true. It provides background that I have not seen elsewhere and explains events that were simply recorded in the evening's news. It is worth the time spent time reading – both for the casual reader and for the committed believer.

This review is based on a free copy of the book supplied by the Tyndale Blog Network.

first things firstbyKurt and Brenda WarnerA Review

2010-10-19T12:32:00.008-05:00

“first things first” is my second book this month about the people of football. As I said earlier, I am not a football fan, but enjoy reading about people who have made a lasting impact on others. Kurt and Brenda Warner have done this.

Beginning with their first meeting, the books gives a glimpse into their family of seven and “rules” that allowed it to work. Though the “rules” have not been written down – other than a lopsided summary given by the kids as transcribed by a New York Times reporter – the family has allowed life to work for them.

Though Kurt Warner took his time understanding what faith was all about, his decision came, not so much of the testimony of his future wife, as the patient teaching he received from his teammates. But once the decision to follow Jesus was made, it obviously became the core of his life: before his team, before his family, and before his wife. Not to diminish the role of his team, family, and wife – but he had to place first things first.

But the book is not just Kurt's story, it is also his wife's. Each chapter address similar issues of life – first from Kurt's perspective and then from Brenda's. As they lay out the day, Kurt discusses the pattern that defines each day as the kids get ready for school – both in and out of football season. Brenda follows up with an acknowledgment that, with a large family, the pattern that works for Kurt, can, in real life, become quite hectic. The book is an attempt to get a real look at a very real family.

Reading the book has given me an increased appreciation for my wife – and all that she contributes to mine. Though our kids are all out of the house, I learned much of what it means to be a husband in a modern family. If you love football, if you love your family, if you are struggling to make your family work, “first things first” will better prepare you for the job.

This review is based on a free copy received from Amazon.com for use on its PC Kindle app.

2010-10-14T18:27:00.004-05:00

Remember Why You Play:
Faith, Football, and A Season to Believe
by
David Thomas

A Review

I am not normally a football fan – but when I first heard the story of Faith Christian High School a year ago, tears came to my eyes. More recently, the story was refreshed when I watched a YouTube video about the school and how it reached out to the Texas state school for boys.

I was excited to read the story of Coach Hogan, the school, and football team that left a lasting impression on the lives of 14 boys from the state school. Actually, the book follows the team from its pre-season planning, through early two-a-days, through the final game of the year – the year before the school was asked to play, for the first time, the Texas state school.

I found the first third of the book, as the coaches and team prepared for the season, of interest. It caught my attention and kept drawing me back into the book. However, much of the book is a week-by-week, game-by-game, analysis of the lives, decision, attitudes, and plays made on the field. As I said, I am not a football fan, and weekly recaps became less and less interesting. The comments on players, coaches, and others, which introduced each chapter, were uplifting, but the play-play recap of what happened on the field was less so. By the time I reached week three or four, I felt like I was rereading the same game over and over. A football fan may have enjoyed the on-field experience, I did not.

I do recommend the book. If you are like me, you might want to skim the parts of each chapter that focus on the game itself. However, do skim (and not skip) even these parts, because there are occasionally thoughtful insights on living life and sportsmanship – like when it might be appropriate for a quarterback to take a knee on the final play of a game. And when the book is over, you can be glad that a team of 40 and a team of 14 were able to change each other’s lives.

This review is based on a free copy provided by Amazon.com on its Kindle e-reader.

Code Triage - A Review

2010-10-02T14:14:00.004-05:00

Code Triage

Candace Calvert

A Review

“Nothing is forever and ever.” That is what her mother had told her and now Dr. Leigh Stathos believed it. It would take a remarkable set of events and the Grace of God to convince her that her mother was wrong.

When Tyndale first offered a review copy of this book, they called it a “Medical Thriller” - so I asked for the privilege of reading it. They agreed to let me review it; but before my free review copy arrived, I read a second description of the book - “... a Christian romance.” Now I was not sure I wanted to read it. However, when the book arrived a week ago, I decided to give it a try – and it held my interest.

With too very different villains and the others that God put across her path, Dr. Stathos would discover that some things can last “forever and ever.” Like most things in life, it would not be easy, but with her new found faith and the support of her friends and her pet horse, Frisco, she would find a path that for some is too easy to miss.

Though this book is the third of a series, it does stand alone – with new characters in a new city at a new hospital. Only in the epilog does the author bring the characters from all three books together. And, except that I had read the discussion questions found at the back of the book, I would not have known about the crossover between the three books

In spite of my earlier reservations, I would recommend this book for anyone with a sensitive heart. Perhaps, like Dr. Leigh Stathos, they could find that some things are “forever and ever.”

2010-09-10T15:21:00.001-05:00

Philippians 2:15 "... you shine as lights in the world."

I look up at the stars at night, I am impressed by the number of them, the designs they make in the sky, knowing that each one is like our own sun. But along with those dots of light is a great deal of darkness. Paul sees the darkness as the world, an evil, bleak space, that thoroughly rejects God and all he has to offer. But in the midst of that dark space there are dots of light.

We live among people who do not know God. But here we are - like "stars in the universe" as one translation puts it. We, as believers, will stand out in a dark and depressive world that has rejected Jesus Christ.

2010-08-31T15:19:00.001-05:00

I finally finished "Rooms: A Novel" by James L. Rubart. If you liked "Shack" or "Pilgrims Progress" you will like "Rooms". Themes that it addresses for those of us who are Christians are choices and their consequences, God's grace, trusting God, and spiritual warfare.

I received a free copy of the book from the publisher to read on my Kindle app for the PC. Thank you B & H Books.

2010-08-13T12:38:00.002-05:00

SHAME says that I am not good enough.

God says, "I love you just the way you are."

ENVY says I do not have enough.

God says, "I will give you all you need."

Some things never die --

2010-07-09T17:47:00.000-05:00

Ten technologies that should be extinct (but aren't) - Technology & science - Tech and gadgets - PC World - msnbc.com

Raggedy Ann turns 95! - Local News - Rochester, NY - News - msnbc.com

2010-07-09T17:38:00.000-05:00

For those who were wondering whose birthday it was --

Raggedy Ann turns 95! - Local News - Rochester, NY - News - msnbc.com

Bring the Rain

2010-04-30T08:23:00.001-05:00

I was listening to Mercy Me's Bring the Rain earlier today. It seems to me that rain can signify three things:

The storms of life that God uses to shape us
The showers of blessing that can cleanse us when we have strayed
The cool nourishment that we need to sustain us

May I experience all three today.

New Word - Massefer

2009-12-05T18:18:00.005-05:00

My wife's newest word - Massefer

Definition - "The appearance of a Shih Tzu when sleeping in a circle and his tail is intertwined with his or her head."

Typical sentence: "When my dog is sleeping on the bed, he is a real massefer."

Yours because His,

Pastor Patrick

Saying Goodbye

2009-12-01T11:46:00.002-05:00

Saying Goodbye

How do you say goodbye to a church. It seems like an easy question. Pastor's leave churches all the time. They learn to say goodbye. But sometimes it is more than a pastor or a pastoral team saying goodbye to a church. Sometimes it is a community saying goodbye to its focus. Sometimes it's saying goodbye to a lifetime of spiritual support. Sometimes it is more than just saying goodbye.

And that is happening in Garland. A church with a 187 year history is closing its doors. What are the loses that our people are feeling:

There is the family whose roots go back four generations. Though they now have another church home, they have taken the responsibility for saying goodbye the church for their family.
There is the family who came to our church three years ago - even before they were a family. They said their vows a little over two years ago. Now the only church they have known, is closing its doors.
There is the neighbor who has never attended church here, but has come faithfully to our Turkey and Ham Dinners and the annual Strawberry Festival in June. Recently, as we struggled to survive, they also have supported our new Roast Beef Dinner (in August) and the new Rummage Sale held each May. These events will be missed in our community.
There are others. Families who have supported, both by their attendance and their giving, the Garland Church. They too have to find ways to say goodbye.
There is the pastor that came 7-1/2 years ago to a struggling, hurting, and broken church. He hoped to see it grow - and it did in ways. Just not in numbers. The hurt that was felt too many years ago never quite went away. This was the same pastor that has married, baptized, confirmed, taught, preached, and walked with others as they said other kinds of goodbyes. It was this pastor that worked through the God and Country Award with a group of Girl Scouts for three years. It was this pastor who took a group of teens through confirmation class - including the overnight retreat. It was this pastor who cried when he heard the church had decided to close its doors.

Saying goodbye is not just saying goodbye. "Goodbye" is a reflection on all that has gone before. On December 31, 2009, we say goodbye to the Garland United Methodist Church.

Trapped?

2009-08-07T00:33:00.002-05:00

I learned this week that baseball games can be dangerous. Oh, they are good about warning foul balls or thrown bats. But their is a danger that is not covered by the regular disclaimers. It was last week when a young girl, 4 or 5 years of age, got her head caught in the railing which follows the stairs up into the stands. And tonight, a young man of about the same age got his foot caught in the seat. Both were painful reminders that a ball park can be a dangerous place.

But it would seem that there might be spiritual lessons as well. To many times we think the things we find in life are safe, but when we get to involved with them, like those two children, we find that they do not match with what God expects - they are, in fact, dangerous. What am I, what are you, doing that seems safe, but is dangerous to my spiritual life?

Personal Statement of Faith

2009-08-03T00:16:00.024-05:00

A Personal Statement of Faith

Using the model of E. Stanley Jones, I want to examine the truths that have defined my life over the last 35 years. It is not intended to represents the faith of the church I serve (a small United Methodist congregation) or the church with whom I hold my ordination (The Wesleyan Church); rather, it is intended to be a personal statement of faith that has developed from my personal study, my training, and my experience with a loving God.

I expect that this will be a growing list - but I also expect it to be finite at any given time. I can never know God in His entirety, but I can know Him personally. The next step, perhaps a lifetime task, will be to add scripture and references in support of the statements given below.

Floyd H. Johnson

God exists
God is all knowing, all powerful, and always present (omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent)
God is love
There is a Trinity, consisting of three persons, yet one God
The Father is God
The Son is God
The Holy Spirit is God
Scripture is inerrant - God so prepared the authors of scripture that they wrote without error what God intended for them to write.
I am more concerned with how we view and use scripture than what we call it - though the original writings were inerrant, we do not have an inerrant copy
Jesus is God's Son
Jesus never sinned
Jesus gave His life for our sins
Jesus died, was buried, and rose again on the third day.
Man and woman are God's creation
All have sinned
All need God's forgiveness
Christians do sin
Christians know that God has forgiven them
God does not force his grace on us
God's perfect Son died on the cross for everyone
We must choose how to respond to Jesus
There are consequences (both in the present and in the future) for choosing Jesus-this is salvation
There are consequences (both in the present and in the future) for rejecting Jesus
The Holy Spirit is given to all who choose to believe - the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
But, just as we must respond to Jesus, so must we respond to the Holy Spirit
When we respond to the Holy Spirit, we are filled with the Holy Spirit
There are consequences (both now and in the future) for responding to the Holy Spirit
There are consequences (both now and in the future) for rejecting the ministry of the Holy SpiritThe church is Christ's representative on earth - His body
Christ has commanded us to individually be baptized and corporately receive communion
Jesus will return

Let's Talk About Sin

2009-05-12T08:24:00.007-05:00

Let's Talk About Sin

I have been told that it has become unpopular to talk about sin. Some would say that it has become politically incorrect to refer to sin in the 21^st century. In a world where we learn and see daily that anything goes, how can one speak of doing something wrong.

Yet, of course, we do. Though "anything goes" we still live in a world of laws - laws made by man. We do not like to speak of laws that come from a being higher than ourselves, laws that come from God. Once we focus on laws made by God, we hit the law of immutability. As long as we only derive our lifestyles from man made laws, we are free to change the law. But once we admit that God also has laws, we are not free to change those laws. We must do our best to free ourselves from God's Laws. We hear that "God does not exist", "God is dead", or "God is irrelevant".

Yet we do want to hear about the more positive gifts that come from God - things like "forgiveness", "grace", "mercy". But I have a problem. Unless we talk about sin (or its synonyms), these terms make no sense.

Forgiveness has little value, unless I have sinned.
Grace means nothing, unless I am broken.
Mercy is not needed, unless I have fallen short of God's expectations.

I do not need to be afraid of sin - mine or someone else's - because unless I know something of sin, I can neither experience God's forgiveness, grace, and mercy; nor can I show it to others.

Blessings,

Pastor Patrick

Crackers and Juice

2009-04-23T23:24:00.007-05:00

Crackers and Juice

I found her offensive.

Clearly, her appearance would drive anyone away. The mottled hair, the fat that hung from her chin, the nose that pointed almost straight up from her face. They each served to drive all who would approach away.

But it was not just her face. The fingernails had not been trimmed for some time. The first time I met her I was afraid to shake her hand as I wondered if she would slash my palm. Her hips had been stretched by the extra body fat in her mid-section. She almost waddled as she moved down the hall.

One might hope that her voice might make up for her appearance. That was not to be. That squeak came every time she had to open her closed lips - like whenever she had to speak a word that started with "b" or "p". I could not help but be reminded of someone scraping their fingernails across the blackboard.

I found her offensive. But I learned a long time ago that I too am broken. And that morning I found that my brokenness kept me ... well, that is what this story is about.

Though, I found it hard to be near Claire, that was her name, there were others that did not. The children. They loved her. Why? Because, as I watched them this morning, it was clear that she loved them. I first saw her in the middle of that big, multicolored, target shaped rug. Not standing, but sitting on her knees. There at her left side were three girls. There were four boys on her right. I did not see the two other children who were sneaking up behind her until it was too late. For as those last two climbed on her back, all ten of them went tumbling forward and as they looked up I saw ten of the loveliest smiles I had ever seen. Claire flipped to her back and start lifting the children as high a she could reach. She would no sooner pick up one child and hold her or him high and gently place them on the ground than she would find another and repeat the process.

The play that day was not just for the young children, but for all those who remembered what childhood was like.

When someone over in the corner yelled "refreshments", the kids bounced off Claire and ran to the table to sit. It would not be fair to say Claire bounced, but she, too, took a seat at the table, right in the midst of all those kids. As she took the hand of the girl to her right and the hand of the girl to her left, the children began to grasp each others hands, following her example. She bowed her head, waited a moment, and began to say grace. It was a simple prayer, but, other than her voice, there was no noise. The children listen while she spoke for just a few seconds to the God that had showed her the love that the children felt that morning. "Amen." And then noise began again - what do you expect from a room full of pre-schoolers who had been wrestling on the floor one moment, in the presence of God the next, and now were ready to take the juice and crackers that were offered.

The children loved Claire, because she loved them. And now, I'm really not sure why she offended me.

With apologies to Dr. Paul Welter, author of Learning From Children.

The Tree

2009-04-13T15:41:00.004-05:00

The Tree

It was the only tree he could climb - or the only one he knew he could climb. There were other trees in the park, but the branches were so high he would never reach them. But this one, just off of Crosby Road, actually had two trunks. They came together in a "V" about two-and-a-half feet from the ground. Just high enough that he could climb up and start up the one side. The other side went almost straight up - climbing that side of the tree would have to wait awhile.

But this side had a shallow enough slope that he could start shimmying up the tree. And he did. One hand, one foot, another hand, another foot. Up he went. One hand, one foot, another hand, another foot.

At first he could see the acorns on the ground, but as he climbed higher, even they could not be seen. He did see patches of dirt in the grass. Or was it patches of grass in the dirt? He could look a bit further away and see the younger kids playing in the playground on the other side of the fence.

And so it was - one hand, one foot, another hand, another foot. He continued to go further up the limb. Though he had not planned it when he started, he had decided, today, to go as high as the branch would allow him.

And he did climb higher. Now those kids on the playground equipment looked down right small. Given how small everything looked, he began to wonder how far he had climbed out on the limb. Could it have been 25 feet – no way. But it sure felt that high. Maybe he could go just a bit higher.

Wait, what was that. It was amazing how easily he could hear his mother’s voice. What had she said? Was it “Dinner!”?

There, he heard it again. “Dinner!” It was his mother – and dinner was ready. Now he had a decision to make – should he climb back down the tree or jump the three feet to the ground? Regardless, he knew the food would be worth it and the tree would be climbed another day. After all, it was the only tree he could climb.

The Mug

2009-04-07T09:04:00.005-05:00

It is one of 300 in my collection. They come from twenty states. They represent six artists, 18 different companies, four colleges, and a variety of thoughts and insights expressed by their creators. But it stood alone – for, of all 300, it was the only handmade one in the collection.

It was also the only imperfect one I owned. But I knew that the first time I saw it.

And if I wanted a cup of coffee, I could not use this one. It would never work.

I had long thought of it as being my favorite mug. My youngest son had made it as part of a 7th grade craft project from rolled bits of clay. His excitement showed for a week before he brought it home – of course he would not tell us what he was so excited about, we would have to wait. Finally, on the last day of school before Mother’s Day, he brought it home and proudly handed it over for our inspection.

The colors were perfect – purples, browns, and white. There was the obligatory handle, of course. It had a bottom with circular sides. If I stood a ways off, it looked almost like any other mug. Oh, it was a bit flatter, but that was offset by its larger than normal diameter. My son glowed as he handed it to my wife and me that Friday afternoon.

But it was imperfect. It would not hold the coffee, the tea, or the hot chocolate that one might want it to hold. The clay bars that had been designed to form the bowl of the cup had separated and formed holes in the side. There was a notch in the top where a small piece of clay had fallen away from the rim. No, this cup, this mug, would never hold coffee or tea or chocolate.

Yet this mug has rarely sat empty. It has held M&Ms, it has held a day’s receipts, and it has held pocket change. Today, it holds quarters. Not just any quarter, but state quarters from around these United States. But its most important contents have not been the M&Ms, the receipts, the pocket change, or the quarters. Its most important contents were the tears that came as I held it in my hand one that afternoon fifteen years ago.

A few years after my son had brought it home from school, I had been asked to bring my favorite mug to a weekend retreat of hospital chaplains. That afternoon, as if I were looking at it for the first time, I saw a broken life. That afternoon, it reflected a life full of holes that could not be easily filled. It was that afternoon that the mug began to fill with tears.

It would be another 24 hours before I could understand that even a mug full of holes and flaws could be useful. It could hold M&Ms, receipts, or pocket change. And though it never has, it could even hold tea bags. That same afternoon, I came to see that even this broken life, this life full of holes, could serve a purpose. It could share love with those who had not experienced it, it could hold the hand of a parent whose child lay dying, and it could pray with a mother who does not know where her son will live tomorrow. I could no more fix this broken mug than the life it reflected that afternoon; but I could use that mug, I could use that life, to serve those who hurt in the world around me.

With apologies to Joyce Rupp, author of The Cup of Our Life,
and J. Andrew, my youngest son.

New Word - "Conbaffled"

2009-03-29T20:26:00.013-05:00

My wife's newest word - Conbaffled

Definition - "The feeling expressed by the interrobang punctuation mark."

Typical sentence: "I was conbaffled after hearing last nights news about the atomic computer."

Yours because His,

Pastor Patrick

New Word - "Whitetified"

2009-03-20T12:59:00.008-05:00

My wife's newest word - Whitetified.

Definition - "The color of the world after an unexpected, overnight snow fall."

Typical sentence: It's must have snowed last night, it is all whitetified outside.

Yours because His,

Pastor Patrick

Free Seminary Help: e-Gape (humor)

2009-03-18T23:15:00.000-05:00

Seminary sure has changed since I attended. Look at what Calvin Seminary (from the Reformed Church) has managed to put together [:-)] .

e-Gape

We probably should't share this with all those going to Methodist schools - the students may want to transfer. I know I would have if I had not been married when I arrived on campus. [:)]

Blessings,

Pastor Patrick

PS This was passed to me earlier this evening by some friends who, like me, make use of the LOGOS Bible software program.

The Old Manor - A Camp Asbury Icon

2009-03-16T11:31:00.000-05:00

Last summer, during the middle of June, some of us were privileged to be present when the Old Manor at Camp Asbury was taken down. The two videos below were created to remember that day. The first is a 10 collage of pictures taken thoughout the day. The second is a 20 minute time-lapsed video of the eight-hour event.

10 Minute Video

20 Minute Video

Shortly before the Old Manor was removed, a new building (now "The Manor") took its place. It is our prayer that this new building will serve as a place of ministry - just as the building it replaced did.

Yours because His,

Pastor Patrick

Book Review: Coffeehouse Theology

2009-03-12T23:33:00.004-05:00

Book Review: Coffeehouse Theology

I stumbled on Contextual Theology purely by accident. While in seminary, in 1977, my wife and served as chaperons for a group of high school students who were holding Vacation Bible Schools for eight weeks in the upper Midwest of the United States. On the Sunday morning we were invited to attend Sunday School at the church scheduled for next week's program. One question caught my attention, “What are the problems of cities?” Having lived in cities all my life, I expected answers such as “pollution”, “crime”, or “isolation”. But the answer that was agreed to by most in attendance that day was “the destruction of prime agricultural land.” It was Contextual Theology, except I did not know it until I read Ed Cyzewski's book Coffeehouse Theology.

Coffeehouse Theology explores the implication of Contextual Theology for the church today. The author recognizes that each person who reads scripture does so from their own perspective. They bring to the scripture their own biases, their own history, their own successes, hurts, and desires. Those things that make us unique can influence how we read and study scripture. By balancing our understanding of scripture with our interaction with Christians from different cultures and different eras, allows them to help us grow. Then we can better understand the God who loves all mankind. Ed Cdyzewksi provides resources and tools allowing us to do just that.

The book comes with a strong recommendation to those who have not read previously on this subject.

Communion - March 8 2009

2009-03-12T23:32:00.007-05:00

God Will Meet Me There

2009-03-11T00:25:00.002-05:00

God Will Meet Me There

Matthew 26:32

But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.

It was a difficult night. Jesus had His last meal with His disciples. Now they were making their way to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus would have an opportunity to pray. And now He tells His disciples, His friends, “You will all fall away.” It was not just Jesus speaking, it was also
the prophets. They knew it was true, but they did not think it would be them.

But in the midst of this conversation, Jesus speaks words that are not from the prophets, but from Jesus alone, “But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Jesus will get there first. He will prepare the way. He will be gone, they will see Him crucified, they know where His tomb lies. Yet He promised to go before them to Galilee.

We each will experience dark times. It might be spiritual – when God seems far away. Or perhaps it is a physical illness – when God seems so distant. Or maybe is a loss of a loved one or something of value – and we feel so alone. Yet, when I go through bad times, when we go through dark times, maybe we can still hear Jesus speaking, “...I will go before you...” And I will look forward to meeting Him there.

God of Life

2009-03-05T20:19:00.003-05:00

God of Life

Earlier today, I was given a quote from a Jewish song or hymn:

       God of life, God of life,
            Let me live, let me live.
        Though I tremble in your sight,
            Like sand I am sifted
        Through your hands, through your hands
            Till I finally come to realize,
        I have been living my whole life,
            To be just who I am.

I like these words, but I cannot find a source.

Yours because His,

Pastor Patrick

Microlending 101

2009-02-18T15:35:00.002-05:00

Microlending for Fun or Profit

I have heard of microlending as a way to help the poor around the world, but not on how to participate. The attached article includes two links to organizations that are making loans to those in need. My wife and I will talk about making some investments - may your family would like to invest as well.

CBS on Microlending

Lost

2009-02-18T13:37:00.011-05:00

Lost?

It looked strange. Well, not if it had been the middle of the summer, but it's February. It would not have looked strange if had been October or November. I don't think this is what scripture means by walking on the water. It did look strange. Odd, indeed.

What it was was a gaggle of geese on the pond. And that normally would not have been a problem, but in February the pond was frozen. Not just some ice, but a lot of ice. Enough that the geese were walking on the pond, …, the ice. And as confusing as it sounded to me, those geese looked confused as well.

During the late Spring, Summer, and Fall, there are always geese on the pond. But as the days grow longer and the snow begins to fly, the geese disappear. And they don't return till March or April. Except that these geese were there.Those geese did not look happy.

They waddled (do geese waddle?) around the ice as if they really expected to find water. This was not home. This was not what they expected to find.

Those geese reminded me of a couple of spiritual issues:

We all started out lost. We all ended up someplace that we did not expect to be – perhaps it was our family, our job, our home. But we were lost. I remember when I first started seminary in a community just North of Chicago. My wife of five days and I had flown to O'Hare airport and were taking a bus to our new home. As we climbed on the bus, my wife's first comment was, “I've come to one of those places where the sun never shines.” She was lost.

But we all were also spiritually lost at one time. We found ourselves, much as did those geese, in a spiritual place where the Son never shines. When we finally meet the “light of the world” we begin to see the world as God sees it. We begin to see ourselves as God sees us – broken, confused, and lost. And He has found us allowing us to come home.
We were lost, but we also live in a world that is mostly lost. We live in world that has not recognized that it, like those geese, lives in a world that is far different that God intended for them. It would seem to me that, as best we are able, we should allow the church to be the open pond in the midst of a frozen wasteland. The church will be a place where the cold can get warm, a place where the thirsty can be refreshed.

What does your church offer to the world in which it finds itself? What does my church offer to the world in which it finds itself? Can we offer some relief from the world which sometimes seems cold and unfriendly. I pray that we can find ways to offer God's grace to those who need it most – those who live in this broken world of ours.

Yours because His,

Pastor Patrick

God is ...

2009-01-27T01:08:00.002-05:00

Psalm 18:1-2

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock,
my fortress
and my deliverer;

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and
the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.

Psalm 23:1

The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want.

Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation
— whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life
— of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

A Quote for the day

2009-01-26T00:08:00.003-05:00

"You can safely assume you have created God in your own image when it turns out he hates all the same people you do."

Ann Lamott, Bird by Bird (New York: Anchor, 1994), 22. Quoted in Ed Cyzewski, Coffeehouse Theology: Reflecting on God in Everyday Life (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2008), 42.

Bible Software Suggestions

2009-01-11T00:42:00.002-05:00

My favorite Bible Software program is the LOGOS Bible Software based on Libronix. Over the last few months they have released two titles that represent the Wesleyan theological position:

The Eerdmans Wesleyan Bible Commentary (7 Volumes)

Wesleyan Bible Commentary Series

They will not be published until enough orders have been received to support their initial development. If you use LOGOS or have considered using it, I would recommend adding these two titles to your collection. Even if you are not of the Wesleyan persuasion, I would encourage you to add these to your library - they will provide the voices from the Wesleyan perspective, rather than repeating the straw men that are too often portrayed by opposing camps. They may even add to your own understanding of the scripture.

Yours because His,

Floyd Johnson

Wesley's Covenant Prayer

2009-01-08T01:30:00.000-05:00

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine.

So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.

(as used in the Book of Offices of the British Methodist Church, 1936)

The Last Lecture

2008-04-09T22:02:00.003-05:00

The Last Lecture

If you have not seen Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture, now is the time to do so. You will find a video of the 2 hour presentation here:

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

Randy is a 47 year old Computer Science Professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Recently diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, he was asked to contribute a lecture to the "Last Lecture" series held on the CMU campus. His lecture, not at all "geekish", has touched the hearts of millions - as a former CS professor, I too was moved by his story and his dreams.

Along with seeing The Last Lecture I would draw your attention to ABC News Primetime (10 PM EDT/9 PM CDT) show on Wednesday, April 9, 2008. Diane Sawyer will profile Randy Pausch' life, family, and colleagues.

Yours because His,

Pastor Patrick

Broken or Happy

2007-11-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

I just finished watching one more rerun of The Parent Trap for the upteenth time. And something caught my eye - the last two images at the end of the film are not of Haley Mills or of any of the other characters, but of two cross stitched banners. The first says "Bless Our Broken Home". As it fades out, a new banner appears, "Bless Our Happy Home".

I suppose that it might seem easy to say that we each have one or the other. In fact, the film might seem to hint that the core family had moved from the first to the second. It might seem that some would argue if we have not put the "broken" family away and become a "happy" family, then something is wrong.

But, it would seem to me, that the real truth lies in recognizing that the healthiest home is really both, rather than one or the other. After all, Scripture teaches that we are broken people and broken people live in broken homes. However, with God's grace, we can be happy even as we are broken.

My prayer is that I would continue to be happy with my family, even as I learn to place my brokenness in the hands of Jesus. May the same be true for you.

Yours because His,

Pastor Patrick

2007-11-07T16:09:00.000-05:00

May I Never Forget
by
Floyd H. Johnson

I know not when Christ was born;
But I will celebrate it as best I can.

Though there may always will be trees and gifts,
I hope to always remember a Bethlehem manger.
Where the Son of God was born a while ago.

There were angels and shepherds and kings,
But first there was the Savior asleep in the manger.

Christmas is busy, let me never forget that night,
When the world would be forever be changed.

Christmas is busy, but let me ne'er forget that night,
When I would be forever changed.

Written in response to Lesson 5 of Beth Moore's book Jesus: 90 Days with the One and Only.

2007-11-06T09:35:00.000-05:00

The Leaf
by
Floyd H. Johnson

Today a leaf danced across my path.
It did a little jig as it moved along the ground,
urged along by unseen hands.

Dry and tender, it waltzed in step with the trees
who clapped their hands to the tune of some
silent melody.

I moved on, perhaps never again to see that sight,
though leaves will dance and waltz tomorrow.

A Demanding Week

2007-11-04T23:30:00.001-05:00

This past week was tough. And I only have our local Christian radio station (http://www.fln.org) to blame . You see, on Tuesday morning I turned on the radio and was listening to the Morning Show, as it is called. The music was great, the interviews were okay, but then came that moment that would change my life forever. The announcers told the world, and me, that day had been proclaimed "Practice Winter Snuggling Night".

I, liked that idea, called my wife and told her what I had heard. And sure enough we practiced snuggling that evening.

But the silly radio station could not stop when they were ahead. Because now it was Thursday morning and again I was enjoying the music and commentary. And again, the announcer decided to tell the world and me that Thursday was "National Husband Make Dinner Night".

Now this was too much. I mean, I don't mind buying my wife candy on Valentine's Day. I even enjoy buying flowers for her on Mother's day. And getting a small gift for her on her birthday - I'll even do that. But when the local radio station combines snuggling on the day before Halloween and making dinner on the day after Halloween, it really is too much.

Now, I did snuggle. I did make dinner (Meatloaf, Alfredo Noodles, and Green Peas). But, come on now, I have been married for almost 34 years. Why is the local Christian station choosing to pick on me?

Or maybe I should ask, did you get to snuggle this past week? Did you make dinner for your wife this week? If not, it is not too late. Why not do it this next week?

Yours because His,

Pastor Patrick

You Alone by Floyd H. Johnson

2007-11-01T11:52:00.001-05:00

You alone are God,
There is none besides.
      You alone can save,
      All others leave me lost.
You alone give life,
All else leaves me dead.
      You alone show grace,
      All others condemn.
You alone I will worship,
You alone will I serve.

Written in response to Lesson 4 of Beth Moore's Jesus: 90 Days With The One and Only.

Pastor Patrick - Never On A Sunday

Star Trek Volume 1 : A Review

The Encounter : A Review

Spontaneous : A Review

Letters From A Skeptic : A Review

Free Books for Your Kindle

Read Your Kindle For FREE

Having spent a chunk of change on a Kindle,I was excited to find that there are lots of FREE books available. Over the last year or two I have found a number of sources for FREE book - most of which are relatively new books, not reproduced public domain works.

Here is that list:

Steve Jobs : A Review

The Dog That Talked To God : A Review

The Silence of Our Friends : A Review

Then Sings My Soul - Book 3 : A Review

Chain Reaction : A Review

The Corruptible : A Review

The Corruptible:

A Ray Quinn Mystery

A Review

The Second Messiah : A Review

A Marriage Carol : A Review

The Big Book of American Trivia : A Review

Tall: Great American Folktales : A Review

The Last Plea Bargain : A Review

Free Life Application Study Bible

At The Throne Of Grace : A Review

Against Calvinism : A Review

Sherlock Homes: Year One (Volume 1) : A Review

For Calvinism : A Review

Paper Angels

Technology For Beginning Readers

Jacob T. Marley : A Review

It Couldnt Just Happen : A Review

Accused : A Review

Accused

Janice Cantore

Pastor's Handbook : A Review

Going Deep : A Review

Confirmation : A Review

Expanded Bible : A Review

Digital Disciple : A Review

Christmas Stories : A Review

A Heart for Freedom : A Review

Moses Standing Before the Burning Bush

Realms of Thereunder

Kisses From KatieA Review

The ChairbyJames RubartA Review

Code Word:GeronimobyCaptain Dale Dye and Julia Dewey DyeA Review

The Guardian : A Review

God's Love Letters To You : A Review

Cooking the Books : A Review

Rocketeer Adventures Volume 1 - A Review

A "Down and Dirty" Guide to Theology

Walking Into Walls - A Review

Lethal Remedy - A Review

Water's Edge: A Review

Photo Book

Desert Gift - A Review

A Review: Sword of the Lord:The Roots of Fundamentalism In An American Family

The Reason Why - A Review

Tyndale Book Club

Life Promises for Success

Being in the Presence of Jesus

A Reflection On I John 1:1

first things firstbyKurt and Brenda WarnerA Review

Code Triage - A Review

I finally finished "Rooms: A Novel" by James L. Rubart. If you liked "Shack" or "Pilgrims Progress" you will like "Rooms". Themes that it addresses for those of us who are Christians are choices and their consequences, God's grace, trusting God, and spiritual warfare.

I received a free copy of the book from the publisher to read on my Kindle app for the PC. Thank you B & H Books.

Some things never die --

Raggedy Ann turns 95! - Local News - Rochester, NY - News - msnbc.com

Bring the Rain

New Word - Massefer

Saying Goodbye

Trapped?

Personal Statement of Faith

Let's Talk About Sin

Crackers and Juice

The Tree

The Mug

New Word - "Conbaffled"

New Word - "Whitetified"

Having spent a chunk of change on a Kindle,
I was excited to find that there are lots of FREE books available. Over the last year or two I have found a number of sources for FREE book - most of which are relatively new books, not reproduced public domain works.