Peace Be with You

After I finished this book I found myself asking one question. That question is, Is America Christian in name only? The views that were presented caused me to question some of my own beliefs about dealing with those who have wronged me, hurt me, or despitefully used me. I found that if I am going to represent Christ I must be like him. This means that I must learn to overcome evil with good and leave getting even to God. One of the interviews that David Carlson presented really brought this idea of being Christ like means that we must respond to evil like Christ did and our heavenly father did at Calvary with forgiveness and restoration. I would recommend this book to anyone who maybe questioning “Why do we as American Christians feel we have the duty to destroy those who attack us?”

MAX ON LIFE

I finished reading Max Lucado’s book Max On Life, I would say that his answer’s to many of life’s hard questions were well thought out and scripturally based. The biggest struggle that I had with this book was after a few chapters the answer he gave seem to be repeated over and over. I understand that the Bible does hold the answers to all of life’s struggles. But it seemed that he used the same scripture to answer all the questions. So for me by time I reached the end of the book I found that I somewhat bored. I would recommend this book for anyone who may be struggling at some point in their life and are look for answers. I do think that this book would be a better reference book that you would turn to when you are looking for a place to start when looking for answers to life’s hard questions. Because I do think if you read this book straight through you’ll find that many of the chapters will sound very much alike. Over all I would give this book 3 stars.

The Final Summit

Just finished reading “The Final Summit” to be honest it was not what I had expected. I even considered not finishing it. However the story line kept pulling me back. I just had to find out what the answer for humanity’s redemption was. This book is a great book for the history buff. I thought it was great how the Mr. Andrews used some well known individuals from history. It was also interesting how he was able to incorporate the very personalities and even a few well known quotes into the story line. I would call this book a spiritual allegory and mystery novel. I would recommend this book. I did find this book an enjoyable book. I give this book 4 stars.

The Sacred Meal

I just finished reading The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher and Phyllis Tickle. I picked this book up because I have become very weary of “modern Christianity”. I have found that I am searching for the roots of my faith. I really enjoyed this book. I found the idea that no matter where we find ourselves in our Christian walk. Whether you are a Roman Catholic or you are a Holy Roller Pentecostal. We all share one common thing; we all celebrate the Sacred Meal. It is at this time we all stop and remember what Christ did for us and the promises that he made to us. I also like the fact that Gallagher reminded us that it is at communion God will at times put us face to face with the very people that we don’t want to have contact with, as if God is saying, “I made peace with you through the blood of my son, now you make peace with them at my table.” I also liked the fact that Gallagher did not get bogged down in the theological arguments about the bread and the wine becoming the body and blood of Christ. But she focused on the miracle that happens in us when we allow God to heal and restore use threw the work of the Cross. I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a refreshing and thought provoking discussion of Communion.

Being renewed in the Presents of God

Today I was given the privilege to attend a worship service with a newly ordained Pastor and Friend that I work with at the prison. The presents of God was so real and powerful this morning you could not help feeling the healing and strengthening that comes from being in God's presents. I know that I had a God encounter of the real kind. As I lay on the floor under the power of the Spirit in the presents of God, I felt like Isaiah when he said, “Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isa 6:5-8 NIV. I too found my spirit crying God here am I send me. I found that my hunger for the holiness of God is burning hotter than ever. This raises the question for me, “when will we as God’s people slow down and get our eyes off what man says and look totally in the face of Jesus? I am beginning to think that much of the Church is afraid to have an Isaiah encounter with God, because he just might call us to do something great for him which would require us to move out of our comfort zone. So my challenge to you this week is ask God to move you out of your comfort zone and do something great for his kingdom.

The First of Many: I found myself standing a large Christian book store a few days ago, as I stood there I began to wonder what ever happened to personal Holiness. I was not looking for the legalistic type of holiness that has all the rules. “Don’t drink, smoke or chew or go with girls that do.” But a holiness that is driven by a passionate love for God and Christ, I think that somewhere we as God’s people have became so worried about offending someone that does not know about the love of Christ, we have forgotten that we have been called to personal holiness. So I am going to begin to look at the scriptures to see what they say about personal holiness. I am also going to take a look a historical holiness. I also would like all that might read this to understand that I have a core belief that if God will change the heart of an individual their lives will begin to reflect the holiness of God, motivated by love and not a list of rules created by some super saint somewhere.