G. Campbell Morgan

I DID see Jesus today. He was dressed in rags, smelled like cheap wine, and was asking for handouts.

Thanks David for keeping the important things in perspective.

I’ve had this book on my shelf for some time now, and it was only of recent that I picked it up and re-read it again. Vernon M. Whaley is the Director of The Center for Worship at Liberty University. He writes with authority on what has been a tricky, and sometimes contentious issue. How should we worship? What is the basis for us as created individuals to ascribe worship? Whaley answers these by systematically taking us from ‘the truth that God is the ultimate creator, and it concludes with the hallelujah chorus of the saints in Revelation.’ I suspect the Whaley could have written this with a textbook approach, however he gives it much more character by engaging the reader in a narrative; one that is easy to read, at times humorous, yet always pointing to the practical.

What I enjoyed most about this book is not that we are called to worship just in the here and now, but instead this mortal life lays the foundation for eternal worship. This is a good treatise through each of the books of the Bible, a journey of the spiritual calling for each Christian. Called to Worship sits among the finest of contemporary treatments on this all important subject.

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

I remember reading something by H. Norman Wright early on in our marriage about using creativity to enhance the romance and relationship with your spouse. I have just recently found it again, and would love to share it here, as it helped keep me grounded, and gave me some insights into this wonderful woman that I married.

1. The element of the unexpected. Anything that is repeated month after month, year after year, can easily become humdrum.

2. The element of dating. Laugh and enjoy each other and be a little crazy.

3. The element of the impractical. Impractical romantic events can create moments to remember.

4. The element of creativity. Discover what delights your partner and then make those delights happen in creative ways.

5. The element of the daily. Romance involves daily acts of care, concern, love, listening and giving each other your personal attention.

6. The element of commitment. If commitment to each other is at the heart of your marriage, romance will thrive.

Christianity Today has a brief article on two knew publications bearing his name. One theme appears throughout the transcripts;

John Stott’s enormous influence on evangelicalism, in England, America, and around the globe, was possible because he prayerfully discerned what God wanted him to do (and not to do), and then he focused on those things (and disciplined himself not to do many other good things).

I look forward to reading the new biography of the man, John Stott.

More information on John Stott Ministries can be found at their website – -JohnStott.org

“The world seduces us with an artificial urgency that requires us to respond without listening to what is most deeply true. In Sabbath time, we cultivate a sense of eternity where we truly rest, and feel how all things can wait, and turn them gently in the hand until we feel their shape, and know the truth of them.” – Wayne Muller

Most authors would be hard pressed to write a book about the absence of fear, yet Lucado is not most authors. Fearless starts by setting the scene of what fear is, and giving the reader a clear picture of how Jesus sees fear. The story of the storm on Galilee is examined showing that Jesus takes our fears seriously, yet He wants to be the one that helps walk us through them.

Lucado doesn’t write off fears as something ‘all in the head’. Instead he lists 13 fears common to all, whether they take the form of lingering doubts or months of sleepless nights. Through it all though, he points us back to Jesus.

The book is an easy read, set out in short, succinct chapters and ends with a study guide. Lucado gives us the confidence that through Christ we can overcome our fears. In Fearless he doesn’t give a simple formula for success, but does instead give us hope to trust more.

www.TheFearlesBook.com

www.MaxLucado.com/TownHall

www.ThomasNelson.com/Fearless

www.twitter.com/maxlucado

In the meantime there’s a few places that you can visit to help you out;

• Lifehacker.com have posted a lot – including how to prep your machine for the install.
• Apple’s own website
• Australian CNet already have a video review of the system

Being a dad of three and with all of my children under the age of six I was pleased to review The Read and Share Toddler Bible published by Tommy Nelson. The book presented well with engaging illustrations and short stories. Each story is about 4-5 pages, written in simple and clear language.

The Read and Share Toddler Bible is illustrated with bright, clear and engaging drawings. These will capture the attention of any toddler and provide some good points for discussion aside from the text. Another unique feature about this book are the ‘parent tips’ at the end of each story. These provide the adult with additional information or an activity for follow up; something that is missing from many other young Bibles.

The book covers 40 stories but also comes with an hour long DVD. The animated feature is a beautiful addition to the book. Divided into 14 mini-stories they cover some highlights of the stories in the book. Each episode is about 3 minutes long and is able to be accessed with ease through the DVD menu or by simply fast forwarding.

While aimed obviously at a toddler age group, my daughter (who is six) has been able to sit down, and even with her beginning reading skills, decipher the stories and read it on her own. The Read and Share Toddler Bible is a highly recommended book for parents and their young children and is available at Amazon  and local Christian bookstores.

Sungha plays ‘Beatles Medley’ arranged by Tommy Emmanuel.

Here’s the original story.

Here’s a humorous follow up from the Daily Telegraph.

We all know that this past week saw a memorial service held for Michael Jackson. A way in which to honour his life and to remember the music and the difference he made in people’s lives. When Michael died so did a great musician, and a humanitarian who gave millions to different charities around the world. Though God was mentioned, and though there were speeches by different people including Rev Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King Jr III and Lionel Richie sang ‘Jesus is Love’ it was by no means a Christian service. Indeed, his brother Jermaine is a practising Muslim, although claims are that the family was raised as Christians. It was, perhaps, spiritual if anything, and my hope is that the brief glimpses of Christ that were mentioned stirred hearts.

I didn’t watch the service live. It was broadcast at some unearthly hour here in Australia, but replayed again later that night. On and off I saw the final 30 minutes or so, starting with Brooke Shields and finishing with Paris’ emotional cry. As a finale for the service, the artists and contributors to the event sang “We are the World” and on the screen behind them, every known religious symbol was displayed uniting the performers and the people of the world. I agree, we are a mixed bag of races, creeds and religions; and we should love and accept each other regardless. But to me, what become apparent was that people are finding their spirituality in other things beside Christ. We still have a long way to go both in loving people and sharing the Gospel of Christ.

We can pretend that singing the praises of a dead person and his hopeful song will unite us. But it will fail miserably until we understand that the Christ of the Cross is the only person that will fulfill the depraved spiritual condition of each and every human heart.   

I wonder as you peruse the following titles you can see where my frustration was springing from. It started to grow when I saw “Becoming A Leader” by Myles Munroe. Next I found the latest from the Osteen’s. Joel’s books “Your Best Life Now” and “Become a Better You” and Victoria’s offering of “Love Your Life” seemed eerily similar in their content. Joseph Prince has written “Destined to Reign” with the by-line ‘The secret to effortless success, wholeness and victorious living’. Of course, what’s a catalogue without Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life”? I also remember seeing in past publications Joyce Myer’s “How To Succeed at Being Yourself” and Brian Houston’s “You Need More Money”. I wasn’t sure whether I was looking at a Christian bookstore catalogue or Dr Phil’s upcoming writing projects. I could go on, listing book after book and title after title that sought to entice my dollars and my low self-esteem.

Apparently if you’re not triumphing over finances and debt, walking in divine health or being promoted you’re a failure. Oops. I mean…you’re not living the victorious way God intended you to and therefore aren’t a partaker in the here and now glory of God’s plan.

These books and these authors have repackaged the gospel (and relined their pockets in the process) to such a point that it’s hardly identifiable. For many of them, today’s ‘successful’ modern pastor isn’t a pastor, but instead a skilled Life Coach, bringing people a message of optimism and that God is a source of personal well being; much like a cash cow or magic genie. The emerging mainstream gospel is about making people comfortable, bolstering a hope and expectancy of promotion, increase and blessing, rarely is it about the Christ and His Cross.

What’s so dangerous about a gospel of comfort? If we really are sincere about the Christian faith, why should we be wary of such things? Because living a cushy comfortable life in the suburbs, with our heads in the garden, our bodies in the pews on Sunday and working hard for that promotion during the week is not the gospel. Quite simply, the gospel of Jesus Christ is a rock of offense.

The gospel of life principles that Myer, Osteen and others promote is not the be all and end all of the Cross. If we were to seriously understand the implications of the Cross we would start to realise that our rewards and glory are not about us in this life, but are instead reflected through our salvation in the atoning work of Jesus Christ for all eternity. By willing ourselves a positive attitude and success mentality in this life where we are on top of everything and blinded to the reality of hardships we preach our resurrection, not Christ’s. We become the revived life, where our dreams and desires are primary, when they should be secondary.

If we experience any hardships then it is immediately supposed that there is sin, or lack of faith or…. the list continues on. I can’t understand how that mentality of the gospel is reconciled with the poor or the orphaned or those in third world countries that are forced into their squalid conditions due to the greed and mismanagement of richer countries. It’s a gospel that is well suited to the middle working class, but outside of that demographic it starts to become a house of straw.

For Christians our primary desire in this life should be that of God’s; to go and plant the flag of the gospel from where they sit to the furthest most parts of the earth. Having a comfortable house, working towards the top spot of the corporation and having the victory over finances isn’t the primary gospel commission. If it is, then Christianity becomes about us and not about Jesus.

Instead of some positive pop psychology we should perhaps pick up some other books that focus on Christ and not ourselves. Titles like “It’s a Wonderful (Imperfect) Life by Joan C Webb, “The Hole in the Gospel” by Richard Stearns, “A Simple Christianity” by John MacArthur or even “The Heavenly Man” by Brother Yun (someone should really tell him about these life principles of prosperity).

Or, if it all gets too much perhaps “Lord, Save Us From Your Followers” might be the best book of all.