Book Review: "STORM - Hearing Jesus for The Times We Live In"

As I do this review, I am reminded that I have not read any books by Jim Cymbala in over a decade - I guess I could say I forgot how good he really is as a Bible teacher.  He teaches a lot on prayer, and this book is no exception. In "Storm" you will learn a lot about prayer and a lot about revival.  He also points out how we have gotten away from the ways of the early church, and that much of what we call church today has no resemblance to the true Church. He discusses the many problems we have in the modern day churches, and how we need to get back to simple Bible believing and get away from all these "new things" that we think we need to do to have a successful church or to be a successful Christian. He also takes a break from teaching in 4 chapters spaced throughout the "Storm" to have some people share their testimony, I think they are included to show real life examples of prayer and the mighty power of God.  

I am very impressed with this short book (only 182 pages), and I am sure it will be a blessing to many.  Since reading this book, it has inspired me to listen to many of his sermons on line, especially one life-changing audio sermon, "My House Shall be Called a House of Prayer."  Also, this book has inspired my prayer life, which was definitely in need of something to spark it.  While I gave the book 4 stars (actually 4.5), as to its impact on my prayer life, it is beyond even 5 stars!  Read it, it's not deep, it's an easy read. Maybe it will be a life changer for you, or at least remind you how important prayer is in our lives, and that we serve an awesome God!

Note: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and the words expressed here are my own.

Bonus video:

Please spend 50 minutes to listen to this powerful message.
If you can't access it from here go to: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U79YOKje2zU

God Given Resolutions as you enter the New Year!

“God Given Resolutions”
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
they are the sons of God" - Romans 8:14

Many people make a New Year's Resolution to loss weight, exercise more, read the Bible more, pray more, etc.  Although these are good, when next year rolls around you know what, people will once again be making resolutions to loss weight, exercise more, read the Bible more, pray more, etc.  A lot of people will be making the same resolutions they did last year this year (and likely next year). Why? Because they didn’t keep it. 

Thus, comes the question of why didn’t they keep it?

I think the answer can be found primarily in three areas. 
We either are (1) not taking our resolution seriously, (2) are having a problem with a lack of discipline, (3) it may be that your resolution wasn’t a God given resolution - one led by the Spirit.

Though I’m not against New Year resolutions, I do believe God would prefer us to live in a “God Given Resolution.” By that I mean that we should resolve to live our best for God everyday. Don’t wait for the new year (Jan. 1st) to make changes, make them as soon as God speaks to your heart! As matter of fact, some of you may need to let go of YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION and pick up on GOD'S RESOLUTION for you, it might be quite different than YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION.

Also, as the year goes on, constantly be letting God work new changes in you, then when next January 1 rolls around, you will either have no new resolutions to make or you’ll have one that just happens to fall on January 1.

Good bye New Year's Resolutions, hello to God's Resolutions!

Book Review of "The American Church – A Baby Church"

In the forward of this book, Steven Ritland put it so well when he said, "Some assertions may be a little extreme, but please don’t let that lead you to reject the book’s overall message, which I believe is that Christ’s body needs a transformation; it needs to return to the Word of God and obey what God commands." So, I encourage you don't put this book down before hearing the author's heart of this vital subject, "The American Church - A Baby Church." While you may not agree with all that he says, I believe there are enough nuggets of truth that makes this book worth its reading. It is a relatively small book at 134 pages so it should be an easy and quick read. So there's not much of a risk of your time, and there are surely at least a few nuggets in there for YOU! I gave it 3 stars but I really hope you will read it, as there are some 5 star nuggets among these pages. The book title alone might offend some for calling the American church a "baby church," but I have to say we are a baby church in many of the ways he discusses in this book. He brings out a point that shows our infancy/baby traits (immaturity spiritually) one trait per chapter.

Starting with chapter 1 he deals with our over dependence on others, be it our church groups, ministers, etc. While we do receive from each other, we do need to stand up and stop weighing down others. All babies are to grow in maturity. In Chapter 2, he discusses our self-centeredness as babies! Babies are occupied with themselves. They have a “me” problem. Solution: As you grow up, you will become less and less self-centered and more and more other-centered. He then goes on to discuss 8 other areas of immaturity in the American Church (thus covering a total of 10 areas) of "baby traits." Like I said, you may not agree with all he says, I didn't, but by the time I flipped the last page of this book, I could honestly say it was worth my time and I received some good from reading it. We certainly do have a problem we all need to face...the American Church is an immature baby church. What are you going to do about it? Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review blogger's program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Racial remarks as new Miss. America crowned. Racism is not only wrong it is sin!!!

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3:28

I didn't watch it Sunday night, but I found out this morning that Nina Davuluri just won Miss America 2014. She is the first Indian (India origin) American to be chosen as Miss America. Nina was BORN in Syracuse, New York. Nina was born to Telugu parents. Her mother, Sheila Ranjani, and father, Davuluri Koteshwara Choudhary, both were originally from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India.

This racism and uncalled for remarks are just the sign of a fallen people who do not know God.  Racism will be with us until Jesus comes back.  But it shouldn't be named among any who call themselves Christian.  I am Italian in origin, my great grandparents came here from Italy. Is that going to be held against me?  I hope not! What origin are you? If you're an American (except native American Indian) then you too have origins in other than America. Do you want that held against you? Of course not!

When we discriminate against a person on the basis of any non-character trait we are wrong! A person's level of education; genealogical background; economic category; or skin color -- these are non-character traits, and when we make judgments about people based on things like this, we have sinned.

 "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him." Romans 10:12

Back when Romans was written (and before) the Jew and the Greek didn't associate with each other, but God tells the Christians at Rome that he makes no such distinction. God is rich to ALL who call upon Him - Jew, Greek, Italian, German, Indian, Syrian, Arab, etc. 

Now back to  our opening passage in Galatians,  "...ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Gal. 3:28

Also James 2:1-13 is a very relevant passage against racism.  Well worth reading.Among the great words of this passage it says in verse 9, "But if ye have respect to persons (partiality), ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors."

 

We need to get this clear as this passage and others indicate, racism is SIN!

In this world I don't see racism ever going away, but among us who call ourselves Christians may it not be named.  To this extent I pray!  AMEN!

For more Bible verses against racism please go to: http://www.openbible.info/topics/racism

The American Church Can Choose Humility or Humiliation

It really only goes one of these two ways for America (or any other country as well).

AMERICA you had such good roots and were a Godly country for many years.  Choice time Humility or Humiliation.  For entire article go here: The American Church Can Choose Humility or Humiliation