Book Review: 90 days in John 14-17, Romans, James by Keller and Allberry

This is an excellent Bible study resource. I will give you some brief points as to why:
1-A habit can be formed in 30 days. If you stick to this book, you will be in the habit of daily reading your Bible.

2-Each day in this book takes a close look at Scripture. It helps you break it down piece by piece to really ponder what the writer is actually saying.

3-There is practical application daily as to how to live out this Scripture or how you are to be challenged by it.

4-The daily work includes space where you can write notes about what you are learning and studying. It is really helpful in using the Inductive method of study.

5-The daily work is not too hard for the beginners of Bible study but is enriching enough for a more experienced student as well.

6-The structure of this book is a hard back cover. It is durable and well made.

7-The book includes a built in ribbon bookmark which is helpful to keep your page marked.

8-Because this is not a dated study plan, there is no pressure if you miss a day. It is easy to just pick back up and start again when you can.

I do recommend this book for anyone desiring to study the Bible. Personally, my church is going through the book of Romans this year and I have found the section on Romans to be quite helpful for that. I am thankful for good tools like this that help you faithfully and correctly study the Bible.

You can get a copy of this book from Amazon here.

I received a copy of this book at no charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

When the Savior of the World Weeps; Take Notice

                                                           "Jesus Wept." ~John 11:35

I have recently been walking around in the valley of the shadow of death. After death hits you in the face, it brings with it a deep pain that grief ushers unexpectedly into your life. It is something I want to get rid of quickly. I am tired of crying. It is not a place that anyone would chose to walk, yet there was One who did. And when this One was confronted with the death of His friend and the surrounding peoples sorrow; He wept.

Jesus wept.

The Creator. The King of the Universe. The Savior of the world; wept. 

There are not many recorded scenes of His tears in the cannon of Scripture and If the Savior of the world weeps, I want to know more. 

In this culture, the ones who weep are looked at as weak. Yet this One is the Savior. He wept. He is not weak. He could demolish the entire world with just one word. He is all consuming power. He wept. Was death too much for him? Why did He weep?

When you look at the entire context of the surrounding text you learn that Jesus already planned to resurrect Lazarus from the dead. He knew the outcome would be life, yet He still wept. He took in the sorrow of the people mourning because of death, death entered in because of the sin of Adam and Eve. He came to make all things right again. He came to defeat death on the last day. He knew the grand plan of the eternal calendar, yet, He wept. He had compassion for the people He loved and He walked with them in their sorrows as He still does with us.

As you think of the resurrection of Christ, remember His great love for His friend Lazarus who also experienced the resurrection from the dead. It wasn't the final resurrection like Jesus would soon experience because Lazarus would die again but that moment gave them and us hope. It was a foreshadowing of what was to come. It was a visual reminder to look to Jesus. He has promised a final resurrection and restoration for us all who find ourselves rested in Him.

Comfort in the Midst of Chaos: When a Teacher Shows Christian Love

Comfort in the Midst of Chaos: When a Teacher Shows Christian Love: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this everyone will know that you...

Book Review: Pursuing Health in an Anxious Age by Cutillo

This book is an excellent read. It was challenging and word centered in every way. I was especially touched because this book came to me in a timely manner. I am a patient who has been disappointed with health care for a very long time. I suffer continually with no cure in sight for my suffering. I baffle the doctors. They cannot figure out what is causing my problems so we are both exasperated over it.

However, this book helped me see that I am looking at medicine and its practice in the wrong way. I have been looking at it to save me while I am in this temporary body but with all the knowledge that we possess today, some things are not knowable or fixable with our complicated bodies. This should not astound us. God is an amazing Creator. He made us wonderfully complex. Some things just cannot be known.

By helping increase my understanding of doctors and their medical training has helped me understand where some of the flaws come in. Learning about the way they are taught to disconnect with the patient on a deeper level helps me to not be as angry. Any sick person just wants the doctor to listen, be kind, be honest, and try. The best thing that could be said to me is, "I know this is very difficult for you and your life and I see your pain is very real, however, we just do not know what the cause it yet." Doctors must learn to connect with both the body and soul of a patient to help the healing process.

Another thing I loved about this book was the discussion of technology. Technology brings wonderful resources and cures of many kinds but they are not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. They do not work on all people and this is where my thinking goes astray. I think if I go to the medical professional they can understand my body and do something to fix it. As our bodies decay little by little there are, at times, no real fixes.

After reading I can be thankful for medicines and technologies available but I never want them to take the place of God in my life. I have also learned that God is doing something in the sick persons life. It is an opportunity to let God enter into our suffering. It is a place of growth in grace as we sit and ponder His suffering and His love. And ultimately our final resurrection.

The author also wrote about learning our limits in our bodies, embracing the process of growing older, and the need for health care that extends evenly to all people. He wrote about the importance of our bodies and what the Bible says about that. Overall this book was informative and helpful. It is a good read to understand the balance of the medical field and right theology.

I received a copy of this book at no charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

You can get a copy of this book on Amazon.com here.

Book Review: A Spectacle of Glory by Tada

This devotional book is brilliant. It is a devotional with minimal words on each page yet packs a Christ directed punch. I found myself continually worshiping God as I read words that helped me to look to Christ in my daily life; no matter the situation.

This book is a very easy devotional that take little time to do daily. It gives you a Scripture to look up and then works through practical application. It is a great gift or personal devotional for daily reading. It will encourage any weary heart or add more joy to a happy heart.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher at no charge for the purpose of an honest review.

You can get a copy of this book on Amazon.com here.

Book Review: Martin Luther: Christian Biographies for Young Readers by Carr

These biographies are wonderfully done. I have had the opportunity to review two prior to this one and as usual, they do not disappoint! They are filled with just enough information to promote a good biography sketch for the young reader. It is information that would also hold the reader's interest.

Not only is the information written well enough to hold the reader's interest, the pictures are magnificently done. They are a joy to look at and help the young reader understand the content. Another thing I enjoyed about this book is that it included some fun, random facts in the back for the reader to enjoy.

Here is a video for you to enjoy to learn more about these great books.



I received a copy of this book from the publisher free of charge for the purpose of an honest review.

You can purchase this book through Amazon.com here.

Book Review: Parenting by Tripp

If you want a book on parenting that will inspire your heart toward worship; this is it. As parents, we often lose sight of who we are and the importance of the gospel; it is a sort of amnesia. This amnesia hits you in the most mundane of times which includes the ins and outs of parenting.

Tripp helps you in very practical ways by giving 14 gospel principles that will help you be on the right track in parenting. It is convicting, informative and helpful. I find myself being a better gospel centered parent because of reading this. It is a great tool for your parenting tool box. All people would benefit from reading this.

I received a copy of this book free of charge from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.

You can get a copy of this book from Amazon.com here.