The concept of the book is a blending of all the Scriptures concerning the life of Christ. It is part Bible, part commentary with an interesting twist. MacArthur has compiled relating Scriptures chronologically to tell the Gospel story with blended strokes. The short chapters are arranged by events in the life of Christ and pull from every book of the Bible that tells that portion of the story or contains supporting material. It layers the four Gospels on top on each other to see a more complete picture.

This book will be a regularly used tool in my study library. Any time I am preaching or teaching from a specific event in the life of Christ, I will certainly use this study tool to understand the event from the viewpoint of each Scripture in which it is told.

I would highly recommend this book to any preacher, Bible teacher, or anyone who wants a fresh, Bible-based look at the life of Jesus Christ. Thank you, Mr. MacArthur for creating this wonderful tool!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

How old are you? I am 10, 307 today. Tomorrow I will be 10, 308. I’m not the oldest person alive, I’m simply changing how I measure the length of my life. We measure our lives in years but the Scriptures clearly teach the wisdom in numbering our days.

This is the powerful practice that author Robert D. Smith conveys in 20,000 Days and Counting. I have read many books on purpose, goal-setting, and time-management but the impact of this concise book was much deeper than others. It is written so that it will take the average person about an hour to read but you will want to read it twice and slow down to let every sentence sink in.

The chapter titled Motivation is a Myth (just one page) is worth the price of this book.

I would highly recommend this book, especially if you find yourself in a rut. You will be encouraged to remember how short and fragile life is and how important it is to employ every day for the purpose God has intended for your life.

Today is a gift. Make sure you celebrate it by doing something important and worth-while.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Wallace Henley has worked for more than three decades in the fields of journalism, government, and the church. His experience and unique insight shine through in this work. This is not a book of doom and gloom, but of hope for the citizens of God’s unshakeable kingdom.

Mr. Henley discusses the causes and effects of a shaken world, the need for a stable people and a stable church, and outlines a strategic, Biblical plan for obtaining and keeping stability in six spheres of life; person, church, family, education, governance, and business/marketplace.

This is by far one of the best books I read in 2012 and I would highly recommend it for every Christian leader whether you be in the sphere of the church, the family, or business. I would also highly recommend this book for anyone who may struggle with anxiety or fear due to current events. There is a place of stability and hope!

Buy a copy here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This book is really about the empowerment of God’s grace. We tend to think of grace only in relation to our sin but grace is meant for so much more. Grace is not only the power to overcome sin but it is the power to live an overcoming life as a warrior for the Kingdom of God.

One of the highlights of the book is the chapter on humility. We often think of pride as the opposite of humility but as the author points out, Habakkuk 2:4 portrays pride and faith as opposites. “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by faith.” This should show us how God links faith and humility. Some hide their pride and disbelief behind a shadow false humility.

A perfect example is the ten spies of the promised land. “If the ten spies had humbly relied on God’s promises, they would have moved out and conquered the land. They would have submitted to the Word of the Lord rather than their limited strength and human reasoning, and they they would have been submitted to one another – under the same mission.”

True humility is absolute obedience and dependance on God.

For me, the whole book was worth these few paragraphs at the end.

Sadly, I have witnessed our spiritual (scriptural) foundations shifting to accommodate the trends of the times. It’s gotten so out of control that minister of a large church can stand before his congregation, declare he’s a homosexual, and receive a standing ovation. Another can declare it’s no longer God’s will to heal, and his people believe him instead of God’s Word. Another can author a book declaring that all humanity is going to eventually enter heaven – that no person will burn in eternal fire – and he remains a ‘rock star’ in Christendom. Another can challenge the virgin birth and the return of Jesus Christ and still be celebrated as a leader of the Christian faith. More and more sad scenarios such as these play our among “Christians” each day.

Some recent surveys may help us understand these ludicrous shifts. According to one national survey, only 46 percent of ‘born-again Christians’ believe in absolute moral truth. More than 50 percent of ‘evangelical Christians” believe people can attain heaven through avenues other than the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Only 40 percent of ‘born-again Christians’ believe Satan is a real force. How can this be? The answer is found in Paul’s words to Timothy: “They will not endure sound doctrine” – we are not remaining relentless in truth.

More and more we are hearing and declaring a non transformational gospel. Its core message is unfaithful to the core doctrine of God’s Word, as in “Jesus died for our sins to get us to heaven, but we are human, and God understands our different vices and sexual preferences.” A popular teaching of late in the removal of the need for repentance from sin. Multitudes of believers are gleefully told that there’s no need to embrace godly sorrow over disobedience or to confess it to God because sin has already been covered by grace. I’ve heard men and women who embrace this teach boast of how simple, fresh, and liberating the message is. But if simple, fresh, and liberating war the real indicators of truth, then any doctrine that gratifies the flesh would be truth! If it’s an accurate teaching that Christians no longer need to repent, then Jesus Christ was way off base when he told five of the seven churches to “repent” in the book of Revelation.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from bloggingforbooks.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Spiritually speaking, Christ is the mirror which we look into to see ourselves as we really are. In order for us to see the truth our gaze must rest steadily upon Him. Note His perfect righteousness and the beauty of His holiness. Let your gaze rest steadily upon the mirror of His glory.

How quickly we forget our appearance when we take our eyes off of the mirror. Often, we think ourselves something that we are not; for better or for worse. This is the result of the stealing glances we make at our image in the mirror.

James 1:23-34 “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”

If we are ever going to be made like Him, we must allow our gaze to rest on the mirror of His glory. Stop stealing glances at Christ. Keep your eyes on Him. Be changed.

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Bob Goff has lived on of the most interesting lives that I have ever read about. It certainly hasn’t been an accident that he has experience some adventures that most will never know. He has opened his home to a stranger to make a wedding proposal. He has flown to far away lands with his children to meet foreign dignitaries. He has been instrumental in the liberty of children caught in the terrible bonds of slavery.

All because of love.

Mr. Goff has had an interesting life and lived to tell about it because he has acted on love when others would chose to play it safe. He has taken risks that most would not be comfortable with and as a result, he has created beautiful memories with important life lessons.

In Love Does he shares some of these lessons. The chapters are short, easy to read, and very interesting. While I do not agree with all of Mr. Goff’s theology, I did find a lot wonderful little nuggets in this book and I would recommend it to anyone who would like to live life with a little more adventure.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

How does this happen? You have a wonderful time of prayer in the morning before beginning your day. You worship, repent, and cast your cares on the Lord. But somewhere between morning prayer and evening time the presence of God is forgotten for the present circumstances.

Sound familiar?

It is something I find myself resisting everyday. I don’t want to come to the end of a day, whether it was a good day or a bad day, and realize that I have been so busy that I was completely disconnected from Him. How do I avoid that?

I want to invite Him in to every situation, every interaction. I want to turn every problem into a prayer and every opportunity into a prayer. Regardless of how big or small the problem or the opportunity may seem to me, I want Jesus to be a part of it.

Be aware of His presence today. Invite Him in.

photo credit: nualabugeye via photo pin cc

Every life makes a mark on the lives of others. Some lives mark many other lives, some lives mark few. What is even more important than the number of lives marked by yours is the type of mark you leave. Some people mark others with their own personal mark, leaving an impression that lasts a lifetime and seldom much more. Some people mark others with the mark of Christ, hiding behind the cross as the love of Jesus shines through them. They are often forgotten in death and even overlooked in life, but the mark that they leave last for an eternity.

What mark will you make on others? Your mark or His?

He must increase, but I must decrease.

photo credit: Twistiti via photo pin cc

Teaching and training are, and always had been, important keys to revival. However, these important aspects are often overlooked or given a back seat to the charismatic sermon or new program. Why? Because teaching and training are difficult and time-consuming. It takes hours of hard work and dedication; not to mention patience.

“Disciples [deep people] are not manufactured wholesale. They are produced on by one, because someone has taken the pains to discipline, to instruct, and enlighten, to nurture and train one that is younger.” – Oswald Chambers

When we look at the ministry of Jesus Christ on this earth, we see that Jesus method was teaching and training. For many months, the Lords’s disciples watched Him, listened to Him, and tried to emulate Him. It took time and effort and a handful of failures, but eventually the Word, the Gospel, the message of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit finally reached the core of their souls, and were changed to change the world.

In Going Deep, Gordon MacDonald explores how the Church might go about developing deep people today. This book is a follow-up to his story of a New England congregation struggling with unity, Who Stole My Church. In this sequel, the author picks the story back up, focusing this time on cultivation: how to develop new generations of deepening people who will rise to positions of influence in and beyond their congregation and do it in ways that fit the changing realities of our time.

In his celebrated style, Gordon transports the reader to a fictional setting, telling a story that is full of lessons in leadership. He identifies modern challenges to developing people of depth and offers timeless insight on how to cultivate spiritual maturity and exhibit life-altering faith.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in fulfilling 2 Timothy 2:2. “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.combook review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

During the tour of the castle, our tour guide mentioned in passing the three ways a person became a slave:

1. Crimes committed
2. Debt that could not be paid
3. Born into it

We fit all three conditions of slavery to sin.

1. We have committed crimes. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
2. We all have a debt that we cannot pay. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
3. We were all born into sin. “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5).

We are all slaves to sin and unrighteousness. But this was not God’s plan for us. He desires for us to enjoy the pleasure of freedom. He will set us free by taking us captive in His mercy.

We have committed crimes. But He cleared our record.

“Blotting out the handwriting of the ordinances that was against us… and took it our of the way, nailing it to His cross” (Col. 2:14).

We all have a debt that we cannot pay. But He paid it for us.

“Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold…but with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

We were all born into sin. But we can be born again.

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

Once I was “free” in shackles of sin:
Free to be tempted, bound to give in;
Free to be captive to any desire;
Free to eternally burn in hell fire.
But Jesus bought me, now I’m a “slave,”
Bound by commands, free to obey;
Captive by beauty, free to adore,
Sentenced to sit at His feet evermore!
-Unknown