Rages to Riches to True Riches in Christ!

I love  it when I read  a good book that  makes  me  cry and laugh  at the same time. That is  just what this book did!  I was looking forward to reading this book a chapter  every day  for ten days but once I began it I could not put it down and read it very quickly!  This is an unusual memoir/autobiography by Greg  Hershberg about his his  life.  There is a lot about his father.  As you read you will understand  why the author didso  This  book is really impressive as it reveals the devotion and love Gregs father showed towards his wife, and the grace God gave  Greg. I liked  how it  shows  that riches  don't  make  one happy.  And that  faith  has to be  more than traditions.
Overall I was amazed and impressed by the love shared throughout this confusing life. I was  not  so sure  about  the fact that  he  and his wife  both  saw  Jesus in Israel but I over  looked this point because I had  to since I was falling  in love with this read. 
 I am a history lover so I really enjoyed  learning what it was like to grow up Jewish during the 1960s and 1970s.
This  book points to Jesus  and gives  him all the glory.  One cannot read this book and be unchanged. This book is another testimony to God's faithfulness.From the first chapter, I was grabbed by this heart-touching, convicting, motivating book. One can tell that the author  know his  topic , after all it is  a book about himself! It was easy to understand yet convicting. Needless to say, I do recommend this book for all audiences!



I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. 

My toddler Bible

This book has already become a favorite Sunday read for a little   beautiful curly bond three year old and her handsome 1 year old brother.  It is so cute to see them head of to church  taking turns to bring the special book with them.  lots of bright pages to engage  your children.   This wonderful collection of short Bible stories is a great way to begin teaching the scriptures.  When I first  gave this book to the children, the 3 year  took it to bed with her and ran to get the following day for church! Beautiful pictures and well-written for toddlers, preschool and kindergarten little ones..

Thanks Kregel for the book to review.

St. Patrick..... was a Baptist!

An interesting book I read is:

St Patrick: the true story of his life

St. Patrick.....
was a Baptist!

By Dr. W.R. Downing

St. Patrick’s personal history…
Patrick lived from about 387 to 461 A.D. He was born in Scotland at Old Kirkpatrick, near Dumbarton. At age sixteen he was captured by Irish marauders and taken to Ireland as a slave. It was during this time that he was converted. He escaped six years later and made his way home to Scotland, returning later to Ireland as a missionary. 



St. Patrick’s work in Ireland….
The ministry of Patrick in Ireland lasted over thirty years. During this time he personally baptized (immersed) over 120, 000 converts and established 365 churches. Bishops or elders were ordained over each independent assembly. 



St Patrick’s teaching….
The Christianity of Patrick was that of primitive Christianity which had flourished in ancient Britain from the Apostolic era (c. 63 A.D.). Patrick held tenaciously to New Testament doctrine and practice. He believed and preached salvation by grace alone. He practiced baptism by immersion and immersed only those who had professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He held to the simplicity of the New Testament pattern for churches in both government and practice. There was absolutely no hint of sacerdotalism in Patricks’ doctrine or practice. He taught that baptism was an ordinance, and that the Lord’s Supper was a memorial observance with believers partaking of both the bread and the wine.


St. Patrick’s Real Christianity….
Patrick was not a Roman Catholic. Christianity had come to Britain during the First century A.D. and remained after the New Testament pattern until Pope Gregory the Great sent his emissary, Austin, to Britain in 597 A.D. This was 136 years after Patrick’s death. Austin ‘’converted’’ enough Saxons to wage war against the native Briton Christians. Hundreds were killed, but Austin failed to subdue New Testament Christianity completely. Romanism did not become the official religion of Britain until the Synod of Whitby in 664 A.D.



St Patrick’s Day…
Although members of the Romish church, especially the Irish, and many others, both religious and even irreligious, traditionally celebrate this day, and are all quite ignorant of the historical facts, true believers can intelligentally acknowledge its significance and the man whose faith, teaching, and ministry it commemorates, for we have every reason to believe that…


St. Patrick was a Baptist!


W.R. Downing (pastor)
Sovereign Grace Baptist Church
P.I.R.S Publications
271 West Edmunson Ave
Morgan Hill, CA 95037

(This pamphlet was given out free to us at the Conference in Oklahoma; but it is also an excerpt from the wonderful book The New Testament Church by W.R. Downing. You can find that book on Lulu.com. Browse through W.R Downing's books to buy either the print or ebook/pdf copy of this good-sized, deep, extremely insightful history book! Enjoy.)

\

Wow!!!!! From the Dark to the Dawn: A Tale of Ancient Rome

From the Dark to the Dawn: A Tale of Ancient Rome

My praise for this book are not high enough . This is one christen teenagers fiction which is worth reading, Actually it is also good for adults  too. I was so impressed with the writing style of this thriller. This would be a great read for a home schooling family studying Rome. I highly recommenced it for boys. This will get your non reader to read! This is not your normal christen fiction  where God is just thrown in a few inappropriate  parts. The christen faith and lal that pertains to  God is the life of the story. One can not extract it from the book or there will be nothing to this read. It is not like other books where if you took God out you could have a fine book.  You feel that God is the authors life. Some day Lord willing I want to own all her books!

From the Dark to the Dawn

Decadent Rome, 61 Anno Domini. The masters of the universe have crushed the Iceni rebellion with an iron hand, slaughtering and enslaving her people.

For Philip, his existence as a captive means living to hatred. He despises his rich, young master, resenting his life of servitude and the wrestling feats Marcus forces him to perform. Bitterness engulfs his soul until he only lives for the day when he will crush the might of Rome.

Then Christianity enters the picture. Taught by a Jewish breadmaker to know the man called Christus, Philip begins the struggle to forgive and honor his master. But forgiveness is not easy towards one who lives for himself.

Marcus Virginius knows nothing but power and pleasure. Destined to a successful career serving Nero in the Praetorian Guard, he wants no part of Christianity. And he is determined to crush Philip’s newfound faith – no matter what it takes.

Join Philip and Marcus in their journey of redemption, faith, and forgiveness. Is love enough to conquer hate? And will the light of the gospel ever surmount the darkness of Rome?

Persecution abounds – will the two young men survive its terrors and live to experience the bright hope of a new dawn?
On From the Dark to the Dawn:

"Alicia Willis transports readers back to the troubled clash between the crushing might of Imperial Rome and the vengeful determination of the Celtic occupants of ancient Britain. From the Dark to the Dawn: A Tale of Ancient Rome will delight readers of historical fiction." 
Douglas Bond, author of Hostage Lands, Hand of Vengeance, and many other books of historical fiction and non-fiction.


Her other books can be found on amzon, good reads and http://www.aliciaannewillis.com/books.html

Look Inside the Time of Jesus A Lift-the-Flap Discovery Book

This is a perfect book for  3- 5 year old children!  Very engaging wit many lift the flap pictures. The colors with which this book is illustrated are bright and cheerful, perfect for little eyes. Your child will want to read this book over and over again, and it is a good idea for keeping your little one occupied during church!


The illustrations are cute and colorful, and the lift-the-flap appeal will draw young children to want to have this one read to them again and again. I like the way that the account of Jesus’ life is integrated with the scenes of life in that time so that kids are learning not only about the life of Christ but also a little about the time period and culture. Older children can read the book for themselves and can spend time reading the flaps and exploring a little more.

 I was given this book in exchange for my honest review by Kregel publications, but I have shared my own thoughts and opinions, I was not required to write a favorable review.

Signs from America's Past That Signal Our Nation's Future

The Coming Revolution Signs from America's Past That Signal Our Nation's Future

By Dr. Richard Lee
Published by Thomas Nelson

The Author, Dr. Lee is a Christian pastor and the book is written from a Christian perspective. The book was interesting in that it told much about American history and goes on to elaborate about the state of our country presently and the disparity between past and present founding principles. Our founding fathers were men of faith and moral character and our nation has transitioned into one with tremendous debt, lack of morality, violence and religious confusion.

The author touches on important things that are going on in our nation today. Although I felt a tinge of hopelessness and helplessness while reading this book, I came away in the end feeling hopeful because he ended the book with a section on "What You Can Do". I found this to be helpful in that he describes what he believes we can do to change the state of things in our nation.

Dr. Lee lists 10 things we can do to get involved. 

A 1767 reprint

The Charleston Baptist Catechism of 1767 adapted by the Charles association of Baptist Churches in Charleston S. C. in 1767

             

This is well worth owning and learning the doctrines by heart no matter what age the members of your household are, as the questions as well as answers are concise.

Each point has a brief well-worded explanation to the question with a few verses listed, being just the right amount to prove the answer is Biblical.

An example  is as follows 1) Who is the first and chiefest being .

A God is the first ( a) and chifest being( b).

a)     Isaiah 44:6 (b) Psalm 97:9

Starting with questions to do with God they follow with ones dealing with sin, how God saved us, sum of the ten commandments, Baptism, Lords Supper, what is prayer and concluding with the meaning of the Lords prayer.

Having each child memorize the 114 questions in the 19 pages of this booklet will change and challenge each one to think more about God as well as give an answer. Parents will impart  their young ones  a solid foundation, something  that is worth more then anything else they could bestow upon the.

This is a needed asset to the spiritual life for older children to use on their own, families to do together or younger children to memorize.  Order at http://www.biblicalandsouthernstudies.com/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=22&keyword=Catechism&searchby=description&offset=0&fs=1 for under $3!

 

Popular Huguenots Book

In the late seventeenth century, a Huguenot boy is taken in by a group of outlaws and spends several years smuggling salt for them before meeting the famous pastor, Claude Brousson, who informs him that his family escaped France and lives in England.

Ten-year-old Gaspard, accidentally separated from his parents, is raised by a group of outlaw salt runners who fear neither God nor man. . . . Through the providence of God, Gaspard's heart turns to Him in faith and after a series of adventures is able to flee France to the safer Protestant shores of England. Fine and absorbing reading. Deborah Alcock has wonderful vocabulary, is a marvelous story-teller, and brings out the amazing hand of God's almighty power in every chapter. Highly recommended.

A very interesting read.  The story never lags for interest, and children and adults will enjoy .It is factually correct and makes a good history lesson for children and adults on a portion of reformed Christian history that is not well known.

Civil war

CHARLIE COULSON

The Drummer Boy

A Christian Hero of the American War

by the late Dr. M. L. Rossvally,
Surgeon in the United States Army

The following story is a true account, taken from an old, out-of-print book called “Touching Incidents And Remarkable Answers To Prayer.” It was compiled by S.B. Shaw and published in 1894. Grab a cup of hot chocolate, gather the family together, and read this one out loud to everyone. We believe it will touch your hearts as much as it has touched ours. We serve a truly faithful God!

During the American Civil War, I was a surgeon in the Army. Following the battle at Gettysburg, there were hundreds of wounded soldiers needing immediate medical attention. Many were wounded so severely that a leg or an arm, or sometimes both, needed to be amputated.

One of the wounded was a boy, who had only been in the service for three months. Being too young to be a soldier, he enlisted as a drummer. My steward tried to give him chloroform before the amputation, but he turned his head away and refused it. He was told it was my order. He said, “Let me talk with the doctor.”

He laid his hand on mine, looked me in the face and said, “Doctor, one Sunday afternoon, when I was nine and a half years old, I gave my heart to Christ. I learned to trust Him then, and I've been trusting Him ever since. Iknow I can trust Him now. He is my strength. He will support me while you amputate my arm and leg.” I asked him if he would at least let me give him a little brandy. Again he looked at me and said, “Doctor, when I was about five years old, my mother knelt by my side with her arms around me and said: `Charlie, I am praying to Jesus that you will never take even one drink of alcohol. Your father died a drunkard, and I've asked God to use you to warn people against the dangers of drinking, and to encourage them to love and serve the Lord.' I am now 17 years old, and I have never had anything stronger than tea or coffee. There is a very good chance that I am about to die and to go into the presence of my God. Would you send me there with brandy on my breath?”

I will never forget the look that boy gave me. At that time I hated Jesus, but I respected that boy's loyalty to his Savior. And when I saw how he loved and trusted Him to the very end, something deeply touched my heart. I did for that boy what I had never done for any other soldier - I asked him if he wanted to see his chaplain.

A favorite book of mine!

Lordship of Christ

The Truth About the Lordship of Christ

By John MacArthur Published by Thomas Nelson

 

• The book is about  establishing the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It also part of a a three part “Truth” book series. Written by well-known author John MacArthur, The Lordship of Christ details the reasons why God deserves our all and what it means to live fully for Christ.

Not  a heavy read but good for young Christians or older ones who need refreshing! This is a book to encourage a deeper walk with Jesus Christ. Although a small book, I found it to be worth the read. I think this book would make a good gift for a new Christian friend, and for anyone unused to reading books on doctrine,  And lastly, although this book is addressed to a Christian, I do recommend it for anyone; it would therefore also be a good gift choice for your unsaved acquaintances as well. It explains very clearly salvation, and how God views sin, how we must repent in order to be saved, etc

This is a fairly easy read but packed with Bible based principles to live by. I found it both challenging and encouraging.  It is definitely worth the time to read if you are serious about following Jesus Christ and allowing Him to be Lord.

I know MacArthur is usually pretty good on with his writing so I wasn’t surprised when I agreed with just about everything he had to say in The Lordship of Christ.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.  If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  I John 4:7, 13, 15-16

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings... Philippians 3:7-10 

You cannot serve God freely and fully if you are a slave to people's opinions.

Don't seek the applause of men ~

seek the approval of GOD.”

Do I submit to the Lordship of Christ in my life?

How does that effect my thoughts, words and actions?

Is my will conformed to His?

How does that look in any given day?

Do I recognize that I am a slave to Christ?

Do I recognize that Jesus Christ bought me off slave market of sin…that I belong to Him?

Do I serve Him and submit to Him out of love and gratitude?

Am I conformed to God’s will, my will or the worlds?

Does Christ’s Lordship in my life effect what I read and listen to? 

Does it dictate how I spend my money and time?

Am I living for myself of for Christ?

Am I filled with the fullness of God or with myself?

Do I seek to glorify God with my life?

Is there any area of my life that is off limits to God?

Is there any area of my life that shouldn’t  be brought into submission to God’s will?

Is my disobedience to God evidence of my lack of trust in Him, reflective of my lack of a true knowledge of God?

The Trinitarian Devotion of John Owen

Very well written.     In this concise biography John Owen, author Sinclair Ferguson  has done a wonderful job of summarizing the life and works of this great  17th century preacher . Here was one who loved God with his mind and heart.. Writing a biography on John Owen is no easy task; a 'bite-size' one even less of an easy endeavor!  But, as one reads this book one gains a great amount of insight for such a small volume into the life and works of one of the  great Presbyterian preacher. The author covers, the history of this mans life 

. I also found myself wanting to read more from Owen .. But most assuredly, I finished the book thinking deeply about my own communion with our Triune God. This is the latest book in the series Long line of Godly men.   This volume by Dr. Sinclair Ferguson  highlight  Ow's faith and the triune God of  the Bible..

Read a sample!  http://www.ligonier.org/blog/trinitarian-devotion-john-owen-new-sinclair-ferguson-and-reformation-trust/
I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

Shocking facts about the New Apostolic Reformation

These are two books by the same author. I got to review the  second book and was blown away by the truths in it! This book opened my eye to  NAR group.  Geivett and Pivec state that the main function of the NAR apostle is to govern the church. I was blown away by the shocking beliefs of a group that think their miracles  are greater then Jesus, have re written the Bible and  go on treasure hunts  with clues to find people to heal.

Geivett and Pivec also denounce NAR prophets because they go too far by speaking not only words that strengthen, encourage, and comfort Christians, but also prophecies that include the revelation of spiritual gifts and guidance for major life decision   

I learned these facts about  NAR

The New Apostolic Reformation

It is also the fastest growing segment, the only segment of Christianity currently growing faster than the world population and faster than Islam.The NAR represents the most radical change in the way of doing church since the Protestant Reformation

. Prophets are prominent in the Bible, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament.  See what the Bible really says vs. the NAR group.Many people will not recognize this movement by its formal name -- the "New Apostolic Reformation" -- including even many of the movement's participants. This book will warn you to know when you see a person in this group.  The New Apostolic Reformation is made up of hundreds of churches and organizations that are led by apostles and prophets who share a distinct theology. Many of these churches and organizations have joined "apostolic networks." These apostolic networks are made up of, in some cases, hundreds of churches and organizations that submit to the leadership of a single apostle, such as Harvest International Ministry--a network of over 12,000 churches and organizations under NAR apostle Ché Ahn.

NAR leaders teach that God began restoring the office of prophet to the church in the 1980s and the office of apostle in the 1990s  For more information do read this book! I learned so much from it!!!!!!!!!!!

Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

For preachers

Thought I would review this book and see if it would make a great gift for a preacher friend of  mines wedding! This is indeed a textbook for helping one preach.


"committing his sermon to God, desiring His Spirit to move in [the congregation's] hearts... when Sunday morning arrived, he confidently stood and sought to deliver his message with the authority of God. Yet, when the service concluded and the congregation left the building... It seemed that each week was a repeat of the same." 

This book is different it will give one the in site  on how to reach the people. This book comprises four parts where Overstreet will:

1) Identify the Issues Facing Persuasive Preaching;
2) What is the Biblical Basis of Persuasive Preaching;
3) How to Structure Persuasive Messages;
4) How to Apply Persuasion?
This book is provided to me courtesy of Weaver Book Company and Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.. The challenge of Biblical persuasion is how to move people from a modernist mindset toward biblical truth. This book can help!

It ill defiantly become a gift  some day for a friend of  mine! They can learn a lot!

I received this book for free from Weaver Book Company via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and are my honest review of the book.