tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8041730948378044442024-03-12T23:40:53.933-04:00MissionsOutlookThe light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5, ESVWenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.comBlogger428125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-40480896232305844422013-12-16T10:29:00.000-05:002013-12-16T10:30:34.602-05:00Colombia Prayer Request #LMCO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #333332;"><span style="line-height: 23px;">College represents a major period of growth and transition for most young adults in the U.S. and abroad. In Colombia, it may mean even more for some: a transition from death to life, from darkness to light. In Colombia, IMB missionaries are reaching college students with the gospel. Please pray for this work, as the task of carrying the gospel to the lost is not over and will not be over until Christ comes back. Also, consider giving to the <a href="http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/default.asp">Lottie Moon Christmas Offering</a>, where 100% of the funds raised goes directly to missions--not a cent goes towards administrative costs.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: blue;">CAFE (COLOMBIAS FORGOTTEN ETHNOS) PEOPLES (cah-FAY) </span></b><span style="color: #333332;">Each Friday afternoon, a small group of young women in their late teens to early 20s meet in the upstairs room of the student center. They listen to a teaching time and then discuss the topic and share their own struggles and experiences. The topic of these Friday afternoon conversations is that of dating, in which themes such as sexuality, self-esteem, and practical dating practices are discussed. This has been an excellent opportunity to talk openly about such topics among mostly non-Christian students. These discussions have, in turn, led to spiritual conversations and opportunities to talk about the need to heal past relational hurts--including that of families. Pray that God will continue to work through these afternoon talk times and that, ultimately, they will lead to the salvation of these college-age young women.</span></span></span></blockquote>
Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-19793674683408577612013-12-10T20:38:00.003-05:002013-12-10T20:38:39.966-05:00Pray for #Colombia (#LMCO)Be sure to lift up the indigenous peoples of Colombia in your prayers. And while you are at it, consider giving to the <a href="http://www.imb.org/main/lottie-moon/default.asp?cid=lmcop">Lottie Moon Christmas Offering</a>. 100% of funds raised go directly to the missionaries.<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>AR OF COLOMBIA (ahr)</b> - Education is important to the indigenous communities. It is also something that is often controlled by the religious leaders of the community or traditional religious groups. There are believers in the Ar community of "Pal," and one of their hearts' desires is to see their children educated. They have no school and do not want to send their children to a different village to school where the local religious leaders will do incantations and rituals over their children. Pray as a community development project is being developed to respond to this specific need, and ask God to provide people willing to go and teach. Pray that the Lord will use this project to bring this group of children and their families to a saving knowledge of Himself.</span></blockquote>
Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-76083512293239277122013-11-25T23:15:00.000-05:002013-11-25T23:15:46.554-05:00Messiah: Origin<i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310431611/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=mission082-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0310431611&adid=1TWSDAYNYVWQNGB12YZZ&">Messiah: Origin</a></i>. Matt Dorff (Adapter). Kai Carpenter (Illustrator). Mark Avey (Translator). Grand Rapids, MI: Zonderva. 2013. 176 pp. $19.99.<br />
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Just in time for the Christmas season comes <i>Messiah: Origin</i> from Zondervan. Merging scripture with a comic book-style format, the birth and early life of Christ makes this the first book in what promises to be a serial graphic adaptation of a Gospel harmony, though I am unaware of how many more volumes the authors intend to produce. The book features a fresh translation of the Bible text set in a backdrop of artful illustrations. Unlike other Bible-turned-comic-book products, <i>Messiah: Origin</i> does not deviate from the text of the Bible or abridge the text. In that aspect it is more like the <i>Gospel of John</i> film, whereas its illustrations are more worthy of a comparison with Mel Gibson's high quality production <i>The Passion of the Christ</i>. Because of duplication between the Gospel narratives, it is not a full harmony of the Gospels, but it does combine them into one unified story.</div>
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The book's arrangement of the biblical material is excellent. It's begins with the prologue from the Gospel of John and then moves into the birth announcements and infancy narratives of John the Baptist and Jesus. Of special note is the placement of the Magi's visit after the temple dedication. While it is popular to portray the shepherds in the Magi visiting Jesus on the night he was born, a closer look at the narratives would suggest that the Magi came at some point after Jesus was dedicated in the temple, which was 40 days after he was born. The fact that the authors got this right makes the book a welcome addition to this season of Advent.</div>
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The illustrations are top notch and generally flow out of the passage instead of distracting from it. The depiction of Angels is interesting, but without any authoritative drawings, that aspect is open to artistic license. My one real criticism stems from the translation, not the art. At one point a term usually translated as baby is rendered "fetus." (Later he is referred to a baby.) Although the term "fetus" may be scientifically accurate, it is a bit of a loaded term in American society, and I would rather we use the term "baby" when referring to the unborn instead of "fetus."</div>
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I plan on sharing this book with visitors to my home this Christmas season as a discussion starter about not only the events of Jesus birth, but their significance as well. Although there are more volumes to come, this one can function nicely as a standalone book.</div>
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I received this book from the publisher for the purposes of review. The opinions expressed on my own.</div>
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Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-86992786478423603622013-11-24T21:36:00.003-05:002013-11-24T21:36:27.955-05:00A Baptist's Old Testament Bible Survey<div>
<i>What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Jesus' Bible</i>. Edited by Jason S. Derouchie. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications. 2013. 496 pp. $45.99.<br />
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<b>What Sets This Book Apart</b></div>
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There are four main characteristics that set this Old Testament survey apart from other volumes:</div>
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The first and most obvious distinction is that the book follows the order of the Jewish canon. Whereas Jews and Christians both accept the same books in the Old Testament, they arrange them in a different order. DeRouchie follows the order that would have been the most common in Jesus' day, commonly identified by three main sections, the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. Although the order of the books is not divinely inspired, the Jewish division of the canon offers some helpful insight as to the purposes of these books.</div>
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The second most obvious distinction is the book's high-quality visuals. Full-color photographs adorn many pages throughout. The book also includes useful maps and charts. I especially liked the charts from the chapter on the Psalms. These images help reinforce each chapter's content and aid in comprehension.<br />
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Third, the Old Testament is presented in a well-rounded way. By this I mean that the authors are committed to the authority and truthfulness of the Old Testament and the purposes of each book are clearly presented and explained, not only in light of the original audience, but the Old Testament messianic expectation as well. Most Old Testament surveys do not emphasize the messianic link nearly as much as this one does.</div>
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Fourthly, although Kregel doesn't highlight this in their advertising, <i>What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About </i>is a Baptist's Bible survey. That's not to say that people from other denominations or faith traditions won't appreciate or benefit from this survey. It is very "evangelical," though mildly Calvinistic. However, it is endorsed by a "who's who" of modern Baptistdom, including a number of Southern Baptists. Jason S. DeRouchie (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the main editor of this book and associate professor of Old Testament at Bethlehem College and Seminary (John Piper and Bethlehem Baptist Church).</div>
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Although I think the book's subtitle (A Survey of Jesus' Bible) more clearly presents the book's purpose, What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared about is a new favorite on my shelf.</div>
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I received this book from the publisher for the purposes of review. The opinions expressed on my own.</div>
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Side note: I took an Old Testament survey course this semester in seminary and I found this book to be much more enjoyable than my class textbook, and not just because I didn't have any homework from it. It really is a gem.<br />
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Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-80755354638674820182013-11-21T18:05:00.000-05:002013-11-21T18:05:00.337-05:00One God in American Culture: From Captain Kirk to Captain America<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The 2011 Blockbuster hit, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Avengers</i>, caused a little controversy when Captain America says, “There’s only one God, ma’am, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t dress like that.” This line comes when a character suggests the Captain sit out a fight between Thor and Loki, Nordic gods revealed to be powerful beings from another dimension.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In today’s America, such a statement is indeed scandalous. It is the height of arrogance, it is supposed, to assert any kind of transcendent truth claim about spiritual things, especially concerning God. Yet in Captain America’s 1940s, it was rather unremarkable for someone to make such a claim. Even near the end of the 1960s the rather progressive and somewhat liberal television show <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Trek </i>makes a similar statement:<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Mankind has no need for gods. We find the one quite adequate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In that story, Captain Kirk happens upon the god Apollo, revealed to be a powerful space being who visited earth thousands of years ago and was worshipped by the Greeks. When Apollo demands Kirk’s devotion, he rebuffs him with the statement above. It was likely more of a reflection of the 1960s culture than the personal convictions of the network or William Shatner.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Culture changes. The Roman Empire was largely opposed to Christianity until the conversion of Constantine in the fourth century. With the fall of Rome came new opposition in some areas where it had been embraced. Times change, but the Church should not change, at least, not where it concerns the gospel. Whether the culture loves us, hates us, or something in between, we should always be prepared to testify of the gospel of God’s grace.</div>
Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-7535989531010330002013-11-20T17:55:00.000-05:002013-11-20T17:55:00.215-05:00Thanksgiving and the Spiritual Effects on Colonizers and Natives<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the United States Thanksgiving Day approaches. Here we celebrate the blessings that God has brought us around a table full of food with our closest family and friends by our side. Even though many thanksgiving feasts were celebrated in the Americas, the American holiday has as its traditional base a celebration of the English pilgrims together with the indigenous peoples of the northeastern United States. Historians know that if it were not for the goodwill of the indigenous peoples, the pilgrims would have died that first winter in Massachusetts colony. The indigenous peoples demonstrated the virtues of love, grace, and goodness that the Christian pilgrims professed. Even though the pilgrims and the natives had a good relationship in that time, a few years later European sicknesses, mutual misunderstandings, and the arrival of more English colonists would result in the extermination of the majority of the indigenous peoples through war and illness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The plight of the indigenous peoples in the coming years has been ignored for hundreds of years and many people today want to change the holiday, Thanksgiving, into a day of mourning for the native peoples. I, for my part, remember Thanksgiving Day as an example of what could have been—mutual friendship between two different peoples. As a Christian, I know that the plight of the Native Americans is even greater because the great majority of them did not know the gospel and the actions of the English colonists have resulted in distrust of the message of the Bible that those first pilgrims believed. The great loss of souls is the greatest tragedy of this story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In 1599, decades before the first voyage of the pilgrims, the second edition of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Treatises </i>was published in London. In a sad passage, Cipriano de Valera, a displaced Spaniard, considered the spiritual consequences of the conquest of Latin America on the souls of his countrymen.</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The discovery of the Indies may, if it is well considered, have done more evil than good to the souls of the Spaniards who went there. Bishop Casaos</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=804173094837804444#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, who was an eyewitness and Spaniard by birth, wrote a book about the cruelties that the Spanish did to the poor Indians. It would have pleased God if those who have gone there would have had more zeal to teach and increase the holy catholic faith contained in the Holy Scriptures than to enrich themselves and, to enrich themselves, kill and rob indiscriminately left and right</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=804173094837804444#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (as they say) those simple people who had rational souls like us and for whom Jesus Christ died. The Indians said (as Augustine de Zárate tells it in his history of Peru</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=804173094837804444#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">), complaining that the Spanish took their idols and gave them idols, or images, from Spain (the crosses and Virgin Mary’s, etc.) for them to worship. They said that the Spanish took from them many women, saying that the law of Jesus Christ did not permit but one woman only and that they took them for themselves. Would that they had taught them to worship God in Spirit and in truth as he says he wants to be worshiped. Regarding idols, or images, not even the thought of them should they have mentioned, since God prohibits them in the second commandment of his holy Law</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=804173094837804444#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[4]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, and especially since the Indians were so given to idolatry. If the law of Jesus Christ does not permit more than one woman according to the first institution of marriage</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=804173094837804444#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[5]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, why did our Spanish have many whores and mistresses? What manner of teaching was this? If the blind leads the blind, both fall in the pit</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=804173094837804444#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[6]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. This is what has happened to our Spanish brothers and their Indians. May God send them better teachers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(de Valera, Cipriano. Dos Tratados. 2nd Ed. 1599. English translation mine)</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We should remember that the colonists—Spaniards, English, or any other nation—like the Native Americans, suffered ill spiritual effects from their participation in the destruction of the Native Americans.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=804173094837804444#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bartolomé de las Casas (1474-1566). He published a number of works describing the barbarous treatment of the American native groups by the Spanish, the most famous of which is his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Brevísima Relación de la Destrucción de las Indias [A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies]</i>, published in 1552.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=804173094837804444#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here I use “indiscriminately left and right” as the closest English idiomatic equivalent for the Spanish phrase “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">de diestro y a siniestro</i>.” Literally rendered it says “right and sinister,” which substitutes the word “sinister” for “left” to emphasize the immoral actions of the Spanish. One might also say, “kill and rob both left and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wrong</i>,” to capture the same effect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=804173094837804444#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Augustine de Zarate (1514-1560). He published his <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Historia del Descubrimiento y Conquista de la Provincia del Perú [A History of the Discovery and Conquest of the Province of Peru] </i>in 1555. It was later translated into English in 1581.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=804173094837804444#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[4]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text">“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.</span> <span class="text">You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"> your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,</span> <span class="text">but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:4-6, English Standard Version)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=804173094837804444#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[5]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text">“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”</span> (Genesis 2:24; cf. Matthew 19:4-6)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=804173094837804444#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[6]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Matthew 15:14.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-50473190239643592052013-11-17T22:17:00.004-05:002013-11-17T22:17:55.316-05:00Reading Philippians in light of its historical context: Rome<i>Embracing Shared Ministry: Power and Status in the Early Church and Why It Matters Today</i>. By Joseph H. Hellerman. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications. 2013. 320 pp. (List price $17.99)<br />
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Joseph Hellerman offers profound insight into power and authority in first-century Roman society and the early church. He also offers some obligatory thoughts on their use in the church today. By far, the most important parts of this book are the first two sections dealing with Roman culture and the historical context of Paul's letter to the Philippians, a full 200 pages' worth.<br />
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When it comes to biblical interpretation, context is king. Understanding a biblical passage in light of its textual, historical, and cultural context is vital to achieving a personal understanding of the passage and correctly applying it to oneself and one's congregation. Hellerman's meticulous survey of power and authority, and specifically the honor culture, of Roman society in the first third of the book is solid gold. It squarely places the letter to the Philippians in context and provides detailed descriptions of Roman society that will help shed light on other passages and books in the New Testament. His descriptions of Roman parties and clothing as status symbols, drawn directly from first-hand accounts, will certainly color my reading of Paul's admonition to put off the old self and put on the new as well as James's admonition to not show partiality in the gathering of the church.<br />
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Further, his exegesis of key passages in Philippians in light of this historical context indirectly teaches how to apply historical and cultural context to our Bible reading, and directly expounds the Scriptures.<br />
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His last section on the church today left me a little disappointed, so I am basing my four-star review on the first two thirds of the book. This section did not have enough positive examples of church leadership to counteract the plethora of negative ones he gave. Additionally, he does not build strong link between this section and the first two, which seems to be a common problem for those of us with teaching ministries. It is necessary to highlight these links so others can arrive at the same conclusions.<br />
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Overall, I was blessed by the book, and plan on referencing it again and again for the historical perspective on Roman society.<br />
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I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purposes of review.Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-42900117403272258782013-11-14T17:00:00.000-05:002013-11-14T17:00:03.691-05:00From the Author of The Pilgrim's Progress<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://christianaudio.com/grace-abounding-to-the-chief-of-sinners-john-dunyan">Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners</a></i>. By John Bunyan. Audiobook by christianaudio. Read by Simon Vance. 2013.</div>
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Next to the Bible, John Bunyan’s classic <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Pilgrim’s Progress </i>is probably one of the most widely read books of all time. Generations have been encouraged by this allegory of the Christian life, but few know much about its author. Bunyan was a Baptist minister in the 1600s who spent much time in prison for operating outside the authority of the state-supported Church of England. During this his imprisonments he wrote <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Pilgrim’s Progress</i>. Sometime before, in 1666, he wrote an autobiographical account of his journey to faith, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bunyun’s autobiography touches on his life both before and after placing his faith in Christ, and he gives an explanation as to how he came into the ministry and ended up in prison for preaching the Word. Much of what he writes centers on his struggle to accept Christ, believing that his sins committed after coming to a knowledge of Christ were unforgiveable. He hoped that his struggle, as well as his ultimate rest in Christ, would be an encouragement to others who may have similar worries about becoming a Christian.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Reading a book written three hundred fifty years ago would pose some challenges because of archaic spelling and language, but listening to it read by Simon Vance eliminates or reduces most of these. The spoken word is much more intelligible, and gives a more contemporary feel to the book than you get from just reading it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Christians should become familiar with the lives of faithful believers from times past. Bunyan’s autobiography is a rich resource giving insight not only into the events of his life, but also his thought processes and inner struggles as well. A welcome insight into the man who wrote <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Pilgrim’s Progress</i>.<br />
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Disclosure of material connection: I received a review copy of this work from the publisher.</div>
Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-31089014953714305152013-10-20T23:23:00.000-04:002013-10-20T23:23:05.059-04:00Book Review: Boot Camp<div>
<span id="btAsinTitle" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Boot Camp: Equipping Men with Integrity for Spiritual Warfare (The IMAGE Series). By Jason Hardin. DeWard Publishing Company: Chillicothe, Ohio. 2009. 240 pp.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Every once in a while I pick up a book that has an appealing cover, a good title, and a basic premise that resonates with me. Boot Camp is one of those books. Unfortunately, what comes after the cover left me deeply unsatisfied. I wish I could keep a bunch of positive praise on this book, and my negative reaction to it is not because of heresy or false teaching, but rather with the way the book is written. I can't believe I'm writing this, but the author uses too much Scripture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I submit for you a photo of two pages in this book that are fairly representative of the amount of Scripture he includes with his writing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I admit that I've highlighted a quote from Isaac Watts, but it is still something that he has quoted and is not original to him. My main contention with the author is that I question whether or not he actually has anything worth saying on the subject. I estimate that at least 25% of the book is nothing but reprinted Scripture. There are many books available that list Scripture for various topics. The point of those books is to aggregate many Bible verses for quick and easy reference. There are other books available that speak to the issues that particularly apply to men. This book seems like an attempt to merge the two. Just as many people are not ready for Westerns with aliens, I am not ready for this kind of book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I believe that everything we say should be heavily influenced by the Bible. But I think we would all feel a little cheated if our pastor came week after week and did nothing but read straight from the Bible during his sermon. At some point you would ask yourself, does the pastor have anything valuable to say? As I read through Boot Camp, I kept asking myself that question again and again. Does the author have anything to say? What is the point of writing a book if you have nothing original to say?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was greatly excited about reading this book, but it this point I would recommend finding something else to read. Check out Every Man's Battle. Pick up The Character of Leadership. This one is not worth your time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I received this book from the publisher for the purpose of review. The opinions expressed are (obviously) my own.</span><br />
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Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-6230986262291127972013-10-07T23:24:00.003-04:002013-10-07T23:24:25.969-04:00Book review: Bake through the Bible<div class="s2">
<i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>Bake through the Bible: 20 Fun Cooking Activities to Explore the Bible Story with Young Children.</i> By Susie Bentley-Taylor & Bekah Moore. The Good Book Company. pp. 64<a href="tel:256.%202013" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors="true">. 2013</a>. (List Price $14.99 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1909559008/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1909559008&linkCode=as2&tag=mission082-20">Paperback</a>)</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This eye-catching, easy-to-follow cookbook helps parents teach Bible stories in a refreshingly fun way. Each recipe includes the Bible story illustrated in a summarized version with review questions. Pictures illustrate each step. Children as young as 2 might enjoy making the recipes, but the book is really targeted at an audience ages 3 to 6.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a preschool teacher, I loved the visual, hands-on approach to learning. I'm familiar with most types of Christian teaching materials on the market, but this book is unique because it pairs important Bible truths with entertaining cooking projects.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My favorite recipe was "Dirty and Clean Heart Cookies" to go along with the change in Saul from Acts 22. The cookies are chocolate-filled on one side (dirty heart) and jelly-filled on the other side (clean heart). Illustrating the gospel in ways that children will remember and understand is always a difficult but essential challenge. This recipe tackles the subject in a concrete manner. I haven't found any curriculum that present the story so creatively, even in a craft project.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The recipes produce small amounts of food (5 wraps, 10 cookies), which is perfect for a parent at home. Classroom teachers will have to double or triple all the recipes. The use of British English Pose problems for American readers, but the words are always followed by the American English equivalent, and all the recipes have both metric and standard measurements. Overall, I highly recommend this creative cookbook to anyone who wants to teach Bible stories and cook with a young child.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s3" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Disclosure of material connection: I received this book from the publisher for the purpose of review. The opinions expressed are my own.</span></span></div>
Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-5196104152468567852013-10-02T22:19:00.000-04:002013-10-02T22:19:11.836-04:00Who will you worship?<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">"Then get rid of the foreign gods that are among you and offer your hearts to the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, the God of Israel." Joshua 24:23</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The end of Joshua clearly anticipates the tragic events of the book of Judges. Here Joshua calls the Israelites to covenant faithfulness with God. After sternly warning them and challenging them to follow his example, he finds their profession of faith to be a testimony against them rather than a sign of faith. They promised not to worship other gods, but their shelves are lined with household idols. It's like a person on a diet stocking the pantry with Oreo cookies. If you are really going to worship God, then get rid of the idols.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Note also that Joshua calls them to "offer their hearts to the Lord." The first and most important sacrifice of God's people is a sacrifice of submission, of a heart that bows and bends to the will of the Almighty. We need both. Leave and cleave. Repent and believe. Joshua's call is a call to faithfulness, a call all God's people, both then and now, must answer.</span></div>
Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-88860390687143834032013-09-07T09:11:00.003-04:002013-09-07T09:11:31.373-04:00Pray for Colombia's College Students<div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">College was a big transition time for me. I learned many new things to prepare me for a career, I don't deeper into the Bible, and my life was totally changed when I married my sweetheart, Hannah. I owe much to older believers who invested in me during that time. In Colombia, missionaries are investing in college students with the gospel. Pray with me that this semester would be fruitful and that thegospel would advance.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><span style="color: blue;">CAFE (COLOMBIAS FORGOTTEN ETHNOS) PEOPLES (cah-FAY )</span> </b>"The ministry with indigenous university students is beginning a new semester," writes Team CAFE. "Each semester brings with it new opportunities to share God's love and His message of salvation with new students and with students who have known us for several semesters. Please pray that the peace of God will be evident not only in the student center building, but also in the lives of each of the members of our team who will be ministering to the students. Pray for us to have discernment regarding the hearts and needs of these students and the wisdom to know how best to share the Gospel message and minister to their needs. We ask you to pray specifically for the new team members who will be joining our team this semester. May they adapt quickly to the ministry and be readily accepted by the students."</span></blockquote>
Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-14623223520372237032013-09-02T12:26:00.000-04:002013-09-02T12:26:39.508-04:00Jesus on Every Page<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.0078125);"><i style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Jesus on Every Page: 10 Simple Ways to Seek and Find Christ in the Old Testament.</i> By David Murray. Thomas Nelson: Nashville. pp. <a href="tel:256.%202013" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors="true">256. 2013</a>. (List Price $16.99 <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400205344/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=mission082-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1400205344&adid=10EQB2WGZJB310XPXNYR&">Paperback</a> | $9.99 <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B7QRAMM/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=mission082-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00B7QRAMM&adid=0H4QYXPNK6C069H7PKDN&">Kindle</a>)</span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Old Testament is like a deep overgrown jungle to many Christians today. It has been little explored but for a river that cuts through the landscape and has been traveled by all who pass by there. The vast interior remains an impenetrable darkness that few have traveled and most are unwilling to explore. It seems distant, foreign, and opposed to the "civilized" society that represents our familiarity with the New Testament.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Recently, however, more and more books are appearing that seek to map out and connect the Old Testament with the New. Creation with New Creation. Promised Land with Promised One. King David with King Jesus. <i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.0078125);">Jesus on Every Page</i> is one of those books.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />The book is split into two parts: the first serving as an argument for looking for Jesus on every page of the Old Testament, and the second seeking to give a methodology for doing so. The writers of the New Testament believed Jesus could be found there, so David Murray tries to show us how.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Murray presents various ways of looking at the Old Testament and seeing Jesus there. He begins with Jesus' involvement in the creation and from there moves on to character studies, theophanies (appearances of Christ in human form), the law, history, the prophets, pictures and symbols, covenants, and finishes it out with Proverbs and Psalms.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Throughout the book Murray keeps his language simple and avoids using big theological terms when possible, and clearly defines them when he does. His observations do not necessarily spring from a detailed exposition of the text, but from a thoughtful outworking of the interconnectivity between the Testaments. For instance, in talking about creation, he says, "He made the angel that He knew would encourage Him in the desperate straits Gethsemane. When these angels came to Him, He knew them; He recognized them; He made them for this very purpose, to assist Him in His great work of redemption" (p.48).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Although I agree with most of what they has to say, I do believe he occasionally oversteps the bounds of what can be shown and proven from the Bible. For instance he says, "When David committed adultery and murder, he confessed, 'Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight.' His crimes were all the harder for him to bear because he committed them against his Savior, the Son of God, the coming Messiah whom he loved and trusted" (p.63). Although King David may have had this understanding, I do not see it conclusively from Psalm 51, and Murray doesn't bother to defend his assertion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Likewise he also interprets the order of creation in a way that seems foreign to the context of Genesis. He says, "… Moses was using the creation account to explain to Israel, the first readers of this book, how God redeemed them from Egypt and took them to the border of the promised land. He took them from virtual nonexistence in Egypt and gave them life. He took them from darkness to light. He found them formless and empty and shaped them and filled them as a nation. Genesis 1-2 gave Israel more insight into the kind of Redeemer that God was and what the redemption from Egypt was like" (p.49). While I realize that Genesis was written to the newly liberated Israelites, I don't see the creation account as a kind of metaphorical description of their exodus from Egypt, but rather a description of creation itself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />In short, I applaud David Murray for his book. Jesus is indeed on every page of the Old Testament. We would do better to study this more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book from the publisher for the purposes of review. The opinions expressed are my own.</span><br />
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Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-79248352626022057502013-08-19T22:18:00.000-04:002013-08-19T22:18:27.850-04:00Book Review: Judges for You<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>Judges for You.</i> By Timothy Keller. The Good Book Company. pp. 224. (List Price $22.99 <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/190876290X/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=mission082-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=190876290X&adid=03AHD0G4SR1Y37TDMQ66&">Hardcover</a> | $9.99 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EE8RYHG/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=mission082-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00EE8RYHG&adid=1G7DJWYS4FC076F8EBEV">Kindle</a>)</span><br />
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Every once in a while I come across a book that really impresses me. <i>Judges for You </i>is one of those books. As a seminary student and small group leader, I've found that narrative sections of Scripture, and the Old Testament in particular, are difficult for many people to understand. Perhaps in some places and some times it was expected that everyone would have a basic understanding of what happened in the Bible. I do not live in those places nor those times, so any resource that can help introduce and explain these sections of scripture are very valuable to me.<br />
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The book of Judges is a greatly misunderstood book. It is somewhat depressing and contains passages that no children should be exposed to. All in all it is a dark time Israel's history. Explaining the purpose of the book, or merely seeking to understand one of the many episodes contained in it, is quite the task given the sensibilities and expectations of modern audiences. However, it, like all of the instruments, is an important part of God's story, and points forward to the Gospel.<br />
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I for many positive things about Tim Keller and his books. This is my first experience with him, and if this book is representative of his normal output, I will definitely be investing in his earlier work, <i>Galatians for You</i>, which is from the same series. It is kind of like a commentary that anyone can read: he doesn't get lost in the details but carefully explains the central point of each passage and carries readers to practical application rooted in the Gospel by showing how these passages point forwards to the work of Christ. Is a great example of how to teach these Old Testament narratives. As a matter of fact, I am planning on using a similar style when I teach and preach from the Old Testament.<br />
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Just one example of how Keller shows the link in the foreshadowing between these passages in the life of Christ:<br />
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"First, both Samson and Jesus were betrayed by someone who acted as a friend – Delilah, and Judas… Both were handed over to the Gentile oppressors. Both were tortured and chained, and put on public display to be mocked. Both were asked to perform (though Jesus, unlike Samson, refused). Both died with arms outstretched... Samson prefigures Jesus triumph, at the cost of his own death, over Satan. As Samson killed many as he died, so it took the death of Jesus to 'kill' Satan – the unseen power of idolatry, and the power of death itself."</blockquote>
I highly recommend this book.<br />
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I received this book from the publisher for purposes of review. The opinions expressed are my own. </div>
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Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-50350845768203629552013-08-03T13:50:00.000-04:002013-08-03T13:53:28.973-04:00Book Review: Interpreting the Pauline Letters<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.0078125);"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 20px;"><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Interpreting the Pauline Letters: An Exegetical Handbook (Handbooks for New Testament Exegesis)</i><span style="background-color: white;">. By John D. Harvey. Kregel Publications: Grand Rapids, Michigan. pp. <a href="tel:211.%202012">211. 2012</a>. (List Price $22.99</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0825427673/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=mission082-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0825427673&adid=0YX30JEW5AJ4PDTAY3ZS&" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; color: blue; line-height: 20px;">Paperback</a><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">)</span></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">This first volume of the </span><i style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.0078125);">Handbooks for New Testament Exegesis</i><span style="background-color: white;"> series by series editor John D. Harvey, is a useful introduction to the writings of Paul. This series is intended for seminary students and pastors who are already familiar with New Testament Greek, although most of the book would be useful for people who have yet to take a class on the language.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Harvey is well qualified to write on this subject, and has written much on both New Testament Greek and Paul. As such this resource is a welcome addition to my shelf and a guide for both understanding and working through the Pauline epistles. His introductory chapters on genre and historical background give the reader a basic understanding of how Paul's letters and letters of his day are both similar and different, and Harvey masterfully traces out a timeline of Paul's life, first using only the letters themselves, and then adding in the details found in the book of Acts. This timeline works like a Holmesian deduction and is quite interesting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">His chapter on Paul's theology seems brief compared to the massive volumes available on the subject today. However, this book is intended to aid in interpretation, and a full theology of Paul is beyond its scope. He does point out some of the major themes which will surely aid the reader in developing a basic framework for reading and understanding Paul's writings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The last few chapters of the book get into the details of interpreting and communicating specific passages in Paul's letters. This section is where a knowledge of Greek is helpful, and in the last chapter, essential. I recognize the Greek can be a put off for some people, but the section on preparing a sermon is very helpful, especially for young seminarians.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In all I would recommend the book mostly for its introductory materials. The last third of the book will not be as useful for those without any Greek training.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I received this book from the publisher for the purposes of review. The opinions expressed are my own.</span></div>
Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-6931173239500886532013-07-27T07:30:00.000-04:002013-07-27T07:30:21.109-04:00Pray for a mission team in Colombia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Short-term mission trips come in all shapes and sizes. Not all trips produce long-term results, but one of the most effective types of trips is one that aims to provide training to local believers. Please pray with me this week for a missions team coming from Texas to do some training of Colombian leaders.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Urban Cluster Colombia | </b>Be in prayer June 28-July 6 for the one-on-one mentor training that FBC Euless, TX will lead for 25 national Baptist leaders in the city of Bogotá. We invite you to pray specifically for: Safe travel, health and protection for the coaches, translators, participants and coordinators in the workshop, a nurturing relational environment in which spiritual concepts are modeled and translated into faith-based obedience, practical, God-breathed applications that each participant will take with them and apply in their life and areas of ministry, and a time of spiritual renewal for each person participating in the workshop.</span></blockquote>
Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-33856318554177227002013-07-22T07:25:00.004-04:002013-07-22T07:25:51.689-04:00Violence Escalates in Colombia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Christians are to seek the welfare of the cities and countries in which they live. Sometimes this is not easy, especially when the goals and values of those countries or cities are opposed to a Christian worldview. It may also be difficult when the country itself is split between warring factions. Right now the Colombian government is carrying on negotiations with a leftist guerrilla force that has long opposed the national government. This force is responsible for the deaths of 19 military members over the weekend, as <a href="http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_topstories/~3/BNjGvCWPsi8/index.html">CNN reports</a>.<br />
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This guerrilla force is usually hidden in the Amazon rainforest, and occasionally has conflicts with civilians and natives in that region. Please pray for peace and Colombia, and the advancement of the Gospel in regions controlled by this guerrilla force. Pray also that the guerrillas themselves would embrace a different cause and be converted by the gospel.</div>
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Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-75885012908298291492013-07-17T18:21:00.000-04:002013-07-17T18:21:20.291-04:00A Prayer for the Colombia Amazon Team<br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This fall we are planning on beginning a new Bible study that will take participants through the entire Old Testament over the span of two classes. Understanding the story of the Bible is important for developing a biblical worldview. Today's prayer request from Colombia focuses on storying, the practice of telling Bible stories as a means of discipleship. Please pray for believers in this region of the world.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">AMAZON PEOPLES IN COLOMBIA (AM-uh-zahn) - "Thank you for praying for the 'Story Together' conference. Four stories of the Bible were told in three different tribal languages. It was an exciting time, especially since there were some participants present who were not believers. It was a joy to see how well some of the participants could tell the story in their mother tongue! Several of the participants have expressed a desire to work on more stories in their language. Pray for our Colombia Amazon Team as we work with these people to get more stories of the Bible into their mother tongue."</span></blockquote>
Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-64571864129654639392013-07-16T10:01:00.001-04:002013-07-16T10:01:38.716-04:00Book Review: The Christian Parenting Handbook<i>The Christian Parenting Handbook: 50 Heart-Based Strategies for All the Stages of Your Child's Life</i>. By Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, R.N. Thomas Nelson: Nashville, Tennessee. pp. 240. 2013. (List Price $16.99 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400205190/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1400205190&linkCode=as2&tag=mission082-20">Paperback </a>| <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A0VPAUE/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=mission082-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00A0VPAUE&adid=0S2JQFK8BVTA4FNNM0EK&">Kindle</a>)<br />
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Reviewed by my wife Hannah.<br />
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If you’re overwhelmed trying to choose a Christian parenting book from all the options available, try starting with this small book. Short chapters and practical examples make it easy to pick up and set down if you only have a few minutes to read at a time. Unlike other books about raising children, I didn’t have to sift through statistics on teen pregnancy or an explanation of child development. The authors stuck to the main point of the book: developing a biblical parenting philosophy.<br />
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Besides its conciseness, I also liked how the advice is relevant for any age group, from toddlers to teens. Most chapters present a basic principle, like firmness instead of harshness, and then elaborate on how to use the principle in specific situations. I would recommend it for parents who want to raise responsible, Godly children.<br />
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I did not appreciate how the authors pull Bible verses out of context to support their points. The book doesn’t take time to explain to understand the verses outside of a narrow focus on parenting. New Christians may especially have difficulty understanding what they read in the Bible after reading this book because the Bible isn’t a collection of verses about parenting and other topics.<br />
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Even though I don't like the authors' use of Scripture, I would still recommend this book because it teaches Biblical thinking about parenting in an easy-to-read format.<br />
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I received this book from the publisher for the purposes of review. The opinions expressed are my own. Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-8815607553037606872013-07-11T22:35:00.000-04:002013-07-11T22:35:58.213-04:00A $0.99 Spending Splurge (Join me!)<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kTUYyl3WvgU/Ud9qsuDZsHI/AAAAAAAACFQ/CTecm-pVfFs/s1600/through_eyes_spurgeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kTUYyl3WvgU/Ud9qsuDZsHI/AAAAAAAACFQ/CTecm-pVfFs/s320/through_eyes_spurgeon.jpg" width="210" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1;">I</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;"> like to read. I also like to collect books. Sometimes, though, my collecting gets ahead of my reading by… oh… twenty books or so. It’s not that I don’t intend to read the books that I buy, it’s just that I find other things come up and my rate of book accrual outpaces my rate of book reading.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Normally my wife isn’t too bothered by this. In fact, she’s pretty accommodating of my penchant for purchasing books. However, we’re entering into a season where money is going to be tight because my employer is furloughing employees for a little over two weeks over the course of the summer and early fall. This means that I need to rein in my spending and get to work reading the books I already have. But what if I want to splurge, just a little?</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, I’ve found the solution, at least for today: The Kindle version of </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AMNRQL6/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=mission082-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B00AMNRQL6&adid=088J73N68VWFNNNQP95T&" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Through the Eyes of Spurgeon</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is on sale for $0.99 on Amazon! I’ve already picked up my copy and it’s been downloaded to my reading device. At such a low price, you can get one too. The book (252 pages in print) is divided up into topics, so finding a specific quote is easy to do.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Take a chance and buy it for $0.99, or if you are hesitant, click the link above and check out the table of contents. There’s something for everybody. Besides, it’s summer. Splurge a little!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-57333478257746379322013-07-08T22:50:00.001-04:002013-07-08T22:50:49.189-04:00Book Review: Did the Devil Make Me Do It?<br />
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<span class="s2"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline;">Did the Devil Make Me Do It?</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> (<i>Questions Christians Ask</i>). By Mike McKinley. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-align: left;">The Good Book Company.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> pp. 80. 2013. (List Price $7.99 <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1908762306/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=mission082-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1908762306&adid=17E1P6940K13BG159TCM&">P</a></span></span><span style="text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1908762306/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=mission082-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1908762306&adid=17E1P6940K13BG159TCM&">aperback</a></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); vertical-align: baseline;">)</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 out of 5 stars</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_577827856"></span><span id="goog_577827857"></span>The <i>Questions Christians Ask </i>series is pretty straightforward: it seeks to answer questions that Christians are asking. In my ministry context I frequetly get questions related to the Devil:</div>
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<li><i>Does he really exist? How did he come to be?</i></li>
<li><i>Can he read our thoughts? Should I not pray audibly so he won't know what I'm worried about?</i></li>
<li><i>Can he make me sin? Can I be possessed?</i></li>
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Sometimes the answer is simple and quick. Other times I have to do some Bible study. Now I can offer them this book.</div>
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From the beginning, McKinley bases his assertions on the Bible and is hesitant to say anything that he can't back up with the Word of God. He says, "It is not normally wise to speculate when dealing with a subject that inspires this much imagination and superstition." <span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">Too many people make claims based on their or others' experiences as though they carry the weight of authority that rightly belongs only to the Bible. Here the author lets the reader know right away that the rest of the book will be focusing on what <i>the Bible </i>says, not what <i>the author </i>claims to have experienced.</span></div>
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An example of the author's committment to avoid speculation comes from his answer to the question of Satan's origins. Although many (myself included) would look to Isaiah 14, a passage addressed to an early king that uses symbolic language that could be seen as a reference to Satan's self-corruption. McKinley has his doubts that the passage really speaks to Satan's fall from grace, and I respect his decision not to speculate here.</div>
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In all, the book is an excellent introduction to this topic and will likely satisfy a new believer's honest questions. I highly recommend it.</div>
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<i>I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.</i></div>
Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-14340849784133747182013-07-08T14:04:00.001-04:002013-07-08T14:05:01.887-04:00Prayer Request from Colombia<div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I remember reading in a Colombian newspaper that thieves had dressed up as nuns and would talk to people on the street about God while their partners would pick the pockets of their unsuspecting victims. If you can't trust a nun, who can you trust? Today's prayer request is somewhat related to that newspaper article. How can you share the gospel with people who think you are out to rob them?</span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div><br></div><i>PA OF COLOMBIA (pah) - One of the strong cultural barriers to the advancement of the Gospel among the Pa people is the lack of trust. No one trusts anyone else. They don't trust politicians, neighbors, or even most family members. One of the greatest needs at this time in church planting among the Pa people is that of leadership, but what can be done if the believers do not trust one another? The Gospel needs to impact this area of their culture so that this people group, numbering more than 50,000, can hear the Good News. Pray that God will give wisdom to national missionaries H and D in dealing with this cultural issue. Ask Him to break down this cultural barrier.</i></span><div><i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; "><div class="separator" style="clear: both; "><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PJh45VrQbTY/Udr_N7nVQOI/AAAAAAAACEo/TaBNKl0HQOM/s640/blogger-image--157810711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PJh45VrQbTY/Udr_N7nVQOI/AAAAAAAACEo/TaBNKl0HQOM/s640/blogger-image--157810711.jpg"></a></div></i></div>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-59238366742797202122013-07-01T16:43:00.000-04:002013-07-01T16:43:01.947-04:00Anselm of Canterbury (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)<div class="s2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-style: italic; line-height: 14px; vertical-align: baseline;">Anselm of Canterbury (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)</span><span style="line-height: 14px; vertical-align: baseline;">. By Simonetta Carr. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Reformation Heritage Books. pp. 64. 2013. (List Price $18.00 </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601782411/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1601782411&linkCode=as2&tag=mission082-20" style="background-color: white; color: blue; line-height: 14px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Hardcover</span></a><span style="line-height: 14px; vertical-align: baseline;">)</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4.5 Stars out of 5</td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Simonetta Carr's history series, <i>Christian Biographies for Young Readers</i>, is primarily about telling a story. To capture the attention of children aged 7 to 12 with the written word requires a compelling story, and this entry in the series is compelling.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s2">Anselm’s story is fascinating both because of the details of his life</span><span class="s2">, from early childhood conflicts with his father to his years as an archbishop in conflict with the King of England. Anselm lived during </span><span class="s2">the </span><span class="s2">M</span><span class="s2">iddle </span><span class="s2">A</span><span class="s2">ges, a time that is usually associated with spiritual darkness and superstition, </span><span class="s2">yet he stands out as a reminder that God has always had faithful followers throughout the history of the Church. </span><span class="s2">It is refreshing to learn about </span><span class="s2">an often-neglected period of history, and given my lack of prior knowledge, a children’s book is an encouraging way for parents and kids to learn something new.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Prior to reading this book, all I knew about Anselm of Canterbury was that he lived in England, and that’s only because I know where Canterbury is. Yet that's not where he grew up, and his experiences as a young man, and later as a monk and bishop, touch on themes that most kids can identify with. The illustrations help carry the story along and stimulate the desire to keep reading almost as much as the story itself.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s2">The target audience of this book is children aged 7 to 12, although the younger side of that range may appreciate mommy or daddy reading it to them instead of doing it by themselves. Even as an adult</span><span class="s2">, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and wanted to know more after I was done. I recommend it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="s2">I received this book in exchange for a candid review. The opinions expressed are my own.</span></span></div>
Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-31610297617852371392013-05-28T16:30:00.000-04:002013-05-28T16:30:00.942-04:00Colombia Prayer Request: H People<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">God calls us to pray, not only for ourselves and for people and things that are of our immediate concern, but also for things that will advance His kingdom and show His glory. Specifically, we can pray for mission work taking the gospel to new places and new people, some of whom have never heard it before. With that in mind, I´d like to share a prayer request coming from southern Colombia: </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YnhGje2iVTM/TX4qrfogBLI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/3R2vFSpuzYM/s1600/colombia_pray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YnhGje2iVTM/TX4qrfogBLI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/3R2vFSpuzYM/s200/colombia_pray.jpg" width="163" /></a></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">WUPG Southern Colombia Team-Please join Ed and Pam Engle in praying for the H people. Specifically, pray that their efforts to get materials in the H language will be successful. Also, pray that God would give them contacts among this people group enabling them to plant the Word of God among the H people with these materials.</span></blockquote>
Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-804173094837804444.post-67333374373104873572013-05-25T22:08:00.001-04:002013-05-25T22:08:38.610-04:00Predicando a mi mismo<p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2">No soy pastor. Aunque me han invitado a predicar algunas veces, no he sido llamado por una iglesia para servir en esa capacidad. </span><span class="s2">De vez en cuando me pregunto si Dios me llamará a llevar ese papel, pero todavía no tengo ninguna impresión clara de ir en busca de un </span><span class="s2">pastorado</span><span class="s2">.</span></span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yo he bromeado con mi esposa de que no me gustaría ser pastor porque tendría que predicarme un sermón todo el tiempo. La predicación no es mera instrucción en cuanto a las doctrinas de nuestra fe, sino una llamada a la acción basado en las verdades de las Escrituras y en especial el evangelio. Sin aplicación un sermón no es nada.</span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Para el pastor, es difícil predicar semana tras semana porque tiene que analizar su propia vida con su Biblia abierta y muchas veces encontramos que no estamos poniendo en práctica lo que estamos por llamar a otros a poner en práctica.</span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Considera la carta de Santiago. Estos son mis pensamientos al estudiarla:</span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border-color: black; margin-left: 0px; "><tbody><tr style="vertical-align: top; "><td class="s2" style="word-wrap: break-word; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 239px; "><p class="s4" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "><span class="s3" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Santiago</span></p></div></td><td class="s2" style="word-wrap: break-word; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 239px; "><p class="s4" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "><span class="s3" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yo</span></p></div></td></tr><tr style="vertical-align: top; "><td class="s2" style="word-wrap: break-word; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 239px; "><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2">“…</span><span class="s2">considérense muy dichosos cuando estén pasando por diversas pruebas</span><span class="s2">” (1:2)</span></span></p></div></td><td class="s2" style="word-wrap: break-word; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 239px; "><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="s2" style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">¿Me quejo de las pequeñas molestias que encuentro diariamente?</span></p></div></td></tr><tr style="vertical-align: top; "><td class="s2" style="word-wrap: break-word; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 239px; "><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2">“</span><span class="s2">Si alguno de ustedes requiere de sabiduría, pídasela a Dios</span><span class="s2">…” (1:5)</span></span></p></div></td><td class="s2" style="word-wrap: break-word; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 239px; "><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="s2" style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">¿Cuántas decisiones tomo sin pedirle a Dios sabiduría?</span></p></div></td></tr><tr style="vertical-align: top; "><td class="s2" style="word-wrap: break-word; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 239px; "><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2">“</span><span class="s2">Toda buena dádiva y todo don perfecto descienden de lo alto, del Padre de las luces</span><span class="s2">…” (1:17)</span></span></p></div></td><td class="s2" style="word-wrap: break-word; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 239px; "><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="s2" style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">¿Me felicito por algo bueno que yo he conseguido como si lo hice yo sólo?</span></p></div></td></tr><tr style="vertical-align: top; "><td class="s2" style="word-wrap: break-word; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 239px; "><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2">“</span><span class="s2">ustedes deben estar dispuestos a oír, pero ser lentos para hablar y para enojarse</span><span class="s2">…” (1:19)</span></span></p></div></td><td class="s2" style="word-wrap: break-word; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 239px; "><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="s2" style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">¿Hago muchos esfuerzos por ser escuchado? ¿Busco primero oír lo que otros están diciendo para mejor entenderles y ayudarles?</span></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2">En verdad no puedo contestar estas preguntas tal como yo quiero. Al leer la Biblia es muy fácil dejar que mi vieja naturaleza me domine y evitar considerar estas realidades. Pero cuando estoy preparando un mensaje para predicar, </span><span class="s2">no puedo hacerlo. Tengo que enfrentar mis propias iniquidades e insuficiencias. </span><span class="s2">¿Cómo puedo llamar a la gente a considerarse muy dichosa cuando esté pasando por diversas pruebas cuando me quejo de las pequeñas molestias que encuentro diariamente?</span><span class="s2">Así que tengo que aplicar el mensaje a mi vida antes de que yo pueda llamar a la gente a hacerlo también.</span></span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yo sé que nosotros debemos de aplicar estas verdades a nosotros mismos cuando las encontramos en la Biblia si seamos pastores o no. Es el acto de enseñar a otros que me acuerda mucho de la hipocresía en mi vida. Es por eso que el pastor (y nosotros también) tiene que explicarnos como estos mandatos relacionan con la gracia que Dios nos ofrece en el evangelio. Es el evangelio, que es la “ley de libertad”, que nos da la gracia para servirle a Dios aun siendo inadecuados por el pecado que nos acecha. Todos debemos de tener el perdón y capacitación que Dios nos da a través de la fe en Cristo para nuestra salvación cuando leemos y aplicamos estas palabras de Santiago:</span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p class="s2" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2">Pero pongan en práctica la palabra, y no se limiten sólo a oírla, pues se estarán engañando ustedes mismos. El que oye la palabra pero no la pone en práctica es como el que se mira a sí</span><span class="s2">mismo en un espejo: se ve a sí mismo, pero en cuanto se va, se olvida de cómo es. En cambio, el que fija la mirada en la ley perfecta, que es la ley de la libertad, y no se aparta de ella ni se contenta sólo con oírla y olvidarla, sino que la </span><span class="s2">practica</span><span class="s2">, será dichoso en todo lo que haga.</span><span class="s2"> (Santiago 1:22-25)</span></span></p>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0