Book Review: Living a Life of True Worship

Living a Life of True Worship by Kay Arthur, Bob & Diane Vereen Trade Paperback: 96 pages Publisher: Waterbrook Press First Released: 2002

Source: Bought through Half.com.

Book Description from Back Cover:
How Does One Worship a Holy God?

We all worship someone, something--and our worship takes many forms. But according to God, if our worship is to be true worship it must be His way. God said, "By those who come near Me, I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be honored."

How...when...where does man worship God in spirit and in truth? This is what you'll discover for yourself as you study and discuss what God says about all those who would come near to Him.


Review:
Living a Life of True Worship is a no homework, 6-week-long Bible study. It's designed for small groups to do together once a week in a 40 minute period. The Bible study pretty much let Scripture speak for itself and explored what the whole Bible taught on the subject. The lessons were about what worship actually is, the tabernacle/Old Testament worship and how Jesus fulfilled that in the New Testament, and then how to apply what we've learned so that--as followers of Jesus--we can worship God "in spirit and in truth."

The study had people read several verses (which were included in the book along with information about the context of the verses), mark/highlight certain words, then answer several questions about what was just read. Insight boxes were included with historical information that helped make a verse or point more understandable. This study also included line drawings of the layout of the tabernacle and its furniture (altars, lamp stand, etc.).

The questions were helpful in focusing attention on all the points that needed to be looked at. In case you missed a point, the "wrap up" section at the end of each week's lesson summarized what was learned that week.

I really enjoyed this study and learned some new things. Overall, I'd highly recommend this Bible study to all Christian believers as it really puts things into perspective.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Week One
OBSERVE
The first place the word worship is mentioned in the English Bible is in Genesis 22. Although the word appears only once in that chapter, you can learn some foundational truths about true worship by studying this passage.


Leader: Read aloud Genesis 22:1-10, which you see printed in the sidebar. Have the group say "God" aloud every time He is mentioned. Also have the group...

*draw a triangle around each occurrence of the word God (plus all pronouns that refer to Him).

*mark the word worship with a big W.


Genesis 22:1-10
Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you."

Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.

Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

INSIGHT: Worship is the Hebrew word shachah ("a" as in "father" and "ch" as in "Christ"). It means to prostrate oneself or to bow down. In the Old Testament, it is the common term used for coming before God in worship to honor Him. The English word means to look at someone's "worth-ship." To worship God is to respect and honor Him for who He is.

DISCUSS:
*What do you learn from marking the references to God?

*What did God instruct Abraham to do?

Book Review: The Feasts of the Lord

The Feasts of the Lord by Kevin Howard and Marvin Rosenthal Hardback: 224 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson First Released: 1997

Source: Bought from Books-A-Million.

Back Cover Description:
Israel's feasts are infinitely more important than just a series of cultural observances. These feasts are appointed by the Lord, and they are owned by the Lord. He calls them "my feasts." Together they form God's prophetic calendar, outlining the work of history's most important person...Jesus, the Messiah. As such, few themes are more timely or rewarding for God's people today.

The Feasts of the Lord covers all aspects of the biblical feasts--historical background, biblical observance, and prophetic significance. Yet, this book is not just another reference book on the feasts. It is written from the Hebrew Christian viewpoint, helping you to see the feasts through Jewish eyes.

The words of the Savior, His messianic claims, and Bible prophecy will all take on a rich, new relevance for you against the exciting backdrop of The Feasts of the Lord.


Review:
The Feasts of the Lord is an excellent and enlightening resource for Christians and Messianic Jews. It's written by a man who grew up in a conservative Jewish home and a minister who is deeply involved with the Jewish people. Both authors are Christians and show in this book how the Messiah has and will fulfill the seven Feasts of the Lord.

They explained the history of and Biblical commands given for each feast, what additional traditions were added to the feast and why, how the feast is celebrated in modern times, and how the Messiah has fulfilled or will fulfill the feast. (The information on the future fulfillment does, of course, require some speculation that might not turn out to be 100% correct, but it was interesting.)

The authors gave an overview of the Spring and Fall Feasts, then explained how the Jewish religious calendar works (including how they count days and months). Then they covered the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of First Fruits, the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Temples, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. In the next section, they described other Jewish holidays: Tisha B'Av, Hanukkah (the Feast of Dedication), Purim, and the Jubilee Year.

The book had many lovely, full-color inserts that illustrated the feast being observed, the layout of the temple so the descriptions of how the feasts were carried out in temple times could be easily followed, calendar information about when the feasts are observed, and so on.

The book was very, very interesting, enlightening, and easy to understand. I'd highly recommend it to all Christians, especially those interested in the Jewish background of the Bible as a means of better understanding some events in the Bible.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt from Chapter One
Men the world over observe holidays. There is not a nation anywhere, even among the most primitive of peoples, that does not have its unique days of special celebration. Holidays are often in memory of significant political events; sometimes they commemorate the birth dates of national heroes; and frequently, holidays are simply designed to observe religious beliefs and superstitions. Worldwide, thousands of holidays are observed annually.

In marked contrast, the eternal God instituted only seven holidays. And while it is not inappropriate for men to establish days of special celebration, their significance cannot be compared with the importance of the seven holidays instituted by God. These seven holidays are discussed throughout the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. However, only in one place, the twenty-third chapter of Leviticus, are all seven holidays listed in chronological sequence.

These seven holidays are called "the feasts of the Lord." That expression indicates that these holidays are God's holidays--they belong to Him--in contrast to man's holidays. There are, quite literally, "the feasts of the LORD" (Lev. 23:4). And only on His terms and at His invitation can men participate in them and enter into their benefits.

The Hebrew word translated "feasts" means appointed times. The idea is that the sequence and timing of each of these feasts have been carefully orchestrated by God himself. Each is part of a comprehensive whole. Collectively, they tell a story. These feasts are also called "holy convocations"; that is, they are intended to be times of meeting between God and man for "holy purposes." Since these seven feasts of the Lord are "appointed times" for "holy purposes," they carry with them great sacredness and solemnity.

March/April Book: The Ultimate Proof of Creation

The Ultimate Proof of Creation by Dr. Jason Lisle Trade Paperback: 256 pages Publisher: Master Books First Released: 2009

Source: My father gave me this book to read.

Back Cover Description:
It’s a bold title: The Ultimate Proof of Creation. But is there such a thing? There are many books that contain seemingly powerful arguments for biblical creation. But is there an ultimate proof of creation? There is an argument for creation that is powerful, conclusive, and has no true rebuttal. As such, it is an irrefutable argument – an “ultimate proof ” of the Christian worldview biblical creation. Master the method outlined in the following chapters, and you will be able to defend Christianity against all opposition.

* Learn how to apply the ultimate proof in dialogues with evolutionists, how to spot logical fallacies, and biblical examples of defending the faith
* Discover the nature of scientific evidence and its proper role in the origins debate
* Details how to address theistic evolution, “day age” creationism, and other compromised positions of biblical creationism
* An exceptional book for pastors, ministry leaders, seminary attendees, and students of religion and philosophy

This book is a complete guide to defending the Christian faith, emphasizing the defense of the Genesis account of creation, built on techniques that have been developed over many years and presentations. They are not difficult to apply when you learn how to do it properly. Ready to move beyond the circular arguments? It is time to get to the real heart of the issue and rationally resolve the origins debate. It is time to discover The Ultimate Proof of Creation.


Review:
The Ultimate Proof of Creation used the Bible as the ultimate standard, quoted Scripture, and used logic, so of course I liked it. The book mainly focused on using logic as the foundation in our discussions with unbelievers and even gave a two-chapter course in logic.

If this sounds intimidating, I'd encourage you to give it a try anyway though it might take some time to absorb all of the information. Dr. Jason Lisle gave plenty of practical examples of how to apply the lessons. The appendix was also full of real-life e-mails he's received and he walked the reader through how you could respond using the information in the book.

He also applied logic to some creationist arguments to show which ones were valid and to demonstrate how to create a sound argument for the Bible and for the Christianity. Though the book gave the ultimate proof, not everyone will be automatically persuaded by it (since some people are convinced by bad arguments and others won't be convinced by good arguments), so don't expect that. But it will help with anyone not already dead-set again Christianity.

I'd highly recommend this book to all Christians. The author stated that the book could also be read by non-Christians, but I'd recommend using the arguments in the book rather than handing the book them. Though "irrational" may be the correct logic terminology, most people reject the argument before they've had a chance to think it over when their not-clearly-thought-out position is proven logically unsound or invalid and promptly declared an irrational belief as Dr. Lisle sometimes did.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt from the Introduction
It's a bold title: The Ultimate Proof of Creation. But is there such a thing? There are many books that contain seemingly powerful arguments for biblical creation. And yet not everyone is convinced by such arguments. Evolutionists have their responses to such arguments, just as creationists have their responses to evolutionary arguments. But is there an argument that is so powerful that no refutation is possible? Is there an ultimate proof of creation?

If by "ultimate proof" we mean an argument that will persuade everyone, then the answer has to be no. The reason is simple: persuasion is subjective. Sometimes people are not persuaded even by a very good argument. Conversely, people are (unfortunately) often persuaded by very bad arguments. Generally speaking, most people are simply not very rational; they are not good, clear thinkers. Of course, this does not mean that people are unintelligent. But most of us are not as rigorously objective as we would like to think. We often believe things for psychological reasons, rather than logical reasons. Many people refuse to accept a very good argument simply because they do not want to believe its conclusion. For these reasons and others, it is impossible to construct an argument that will always persuade everyone.

However, if by an "ultimate proof" we mean an argument that is conclusive--one for which no rational refutation is possible--then I am convinced the answer is yes. There is an ultimate proof of creation. There is an argument that demonstrates that the Christian worldview must be true, and thus biblical creation must be true as well since it is an integral part of the Christian worldview. There is indeed an argument for creation that is powerful, conclusive, and has no true rebuttal. As such, it is an irrefutable argument--an "ultimate proof" of the Christian worldview.

The proof itself is quite simple. It can be stated in a single sentence. It can even be stated in many different ways. It can be used to show the truth of biblical creation, the Bible in general, the existence of God, or any foundational aspect of Christianity.

January Book: Believing God

Believing God by Beth Moore Hardback: 270 pages Publisher: Broadman & Holman Publishers First Released: 2004

Source: Bought from Half.com.

Why I Chose This Book:
I chose Believing God to be our January/February book club discussion book because it's God-focused, Scripture-based, and contains truths that can transform lives.

This book is easy to read and understand while still digging deep into the word. The author illustrates her points using accounts from the Bible as well as from her own life. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who feels like being a Christian hasn't changed them much, or who feel like they're stuck repeatedly falling into sin and can't get free, or those who are seeking the abundant life Christ came to give us.


Back Cover Description (slightly modified):
Do you believe God or merely believe in Him?

Do you take God at His word, believing what he has told us, or do you just believe in His existence and the salvation He offers?

What does it mean to believe God? Abraham and Moses believed God. This planted in them a seed of faith that grew into towering oaks of steadfast trust and belief. Hebrews 11 is full of other examples of bold belief. In Believing God, Beth Moore explores what it means to believe God and how this can transform our lives.


Excerpt from Chapter One
Is it working? Your belief system, that is. Is it really working? God's intention all along has been for the believer's life to work. From divine perspective toward terrestrial turf, God meant for His children to succeed. God stated unapologetically in Joshua 1:8 that conditions exist under which "then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success"� (NASB). Are our Christian lives successful? Are they achieving and experiencing what Scripture said they would? In a recent sermon my son-in-law preached, Curt told us the only way we were going to impact the world and the next generation is to prove that our faith in Christ is real and that it works. For countless Christians I'm convinced it's real. My concern is whether or not we have the fruit to suggest it works.

I fear the reality of most Christians differs dramatically from our theology. We bear little resemblance to a church causing the gates of hell to tremble. I squirm as I suggest that the gap between our theology and our reality is so wide we've set ourselves up for ridicule. The sad part of it is that some of us are working pretty hard at something that is hardly working. Why do we spend so much time and energy on spiritual exercises with few effects while the rest of the world sleeps in on Sundays? Why are some of us getting up before dawn to have a quiet time with effects drained to the dregs by noon? Why are we running out of ink in our highlighters marking Scriptures that rarely jump off the page and onto our pavement? Why are we doing everything we can to convince others to do something that hasn't worked terrifically well for us? Why won't some of us admit that for all practical purposes the present belief system of most Christians isn't working?

Certainly those of us who have accepted Christ as our Savior have received the automatic and glorious result of eternal salvation. However, the primary reason God left us on earth after our salvation was for our Christianity to "succeed"� right here on this turf. We're getting by but getting by, was never our destiny. We were meant to be profoundly effective. Why have we accepted average? Are the few effects most of us see and experience all Christianity has to offer? Is this it? All we can expect? If so, someone out there needs to feel sorry for us.

I'd volunteer except that I no longer buy it. Our status-quo system of contemporary Christianity isn't working, and I'm bucking it. Thankfully, so are a number of others. Some of us no longer want to play like the emperor has new clothes when he's walking around, as my grandmother would say, as naked as a jaybird. The church, comprised of all believers in Jesus Christ, is generally pretending she's cloaked with kingdom power and effectiveness while in reality she has exposed herself in powerlessness to the ridicule of the world. We can't blame the devil. For the most part we've dumbed-down New Testament Christianity and accepted our reality as theology rather than biblical theology as our reality. We've reversed the standard, walking by sight and not by faith. We want to be the best of what we see, but frankly what we see is far removed from God's best.


Read more from chapter one.

November Book: Fearless

Fearless by Max Lucado Hardback: 224 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson First Released: 2009 Author Website Author on Twitter

Source: review copy from the publisher

Why I Chose This Book:
I chose Fearless to be our November/December book club discussion book because it's God-focused, Scripture-focused, and deepens the reader's trust in God.

This excellent and timely book covers why we fear and how to be released from the fear of not mattering, of disappointing God, of running out of time, of not being able to protect your kids, of challenges that might overwhelm you, of worst-case scenarios happening, of violence, of not being able to provide for your family, of an unknown future, of death, that maybe God isn’t real after all, of global calamity, and of God doing something you don’t want him to. There's also a discussion guide at the back of the book.

With so many people telling us that we need to fear (not to mention give them money to make the fearsome thing go away), sometimes it's hard to keep our focus on Christ. As Christians, we know that we shouldn't worry, yet we often do. This book helps readers get their focus right and find lasting peace in the deep-down assurance that God really is in control, does care about us, and will fulfill his promises.

Even if you decide not to buy this book, please still take the time to read the first chapter. It's a good reminder even if you already know these truths, and it's vital for those who don't know but who want peace and assurance about the present and future.


A smaller booklet, "Imagine Your Life Without Fear" by Max Lucado, also came for review with the hardback book. It contains the first chapter of the Fearless book (which is an excellent chapter) plus a short, outreach chapter and a chapter containing Bible verses pertaining to all the fears covered in Fearless. If you can't afford to buy Fearless for all your friends, this booklet is an excellent alternative.


Back Cover Description:
Each sunrise seems to bring fresh reasons for fear.

They're talking layoffs at work, slowdowns in the economy, flare-ups in the Middle East, turnovers at headquarters, downturns in the housing market, upswings in global warming. The plague of our day, terrorism, begins with the word terror. Fear, it seems, has taken up a hundred-year lease on the building next door and set up shop. Oversized and rude, fear herds us into a prison of unlocked doors. Wouldn't it be great to walk out?

Imagine your life, wholly untouched by angst. What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? If you could hover a fear magnet over your heart and extract every last shaving of dread, insecurity, or doubt, what would remain? Envision a day, just one day, where you could trust more and fear less.

Can you imagine your life without fear?


Except from Chapter One:
[Max Lucado has been discussing Mathew 8:23-28, where Jesus is sleeping peacefully through a sudden storm that has hit the lake as he and his disciples are in a boat sailing to the other side.]

The question: "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" (Mark 4:38).

They do not ask about Jesus' strength: "Can you still the storm?" His knowledge: "Are you aware of the storm?" Or his know-how: "Do you have any experience with storms?" But rather, they raise doubts about Jesus' character: "Do you not care..."

Fear does this. Fear corrodes our confidence in God's goodness. We begin to wonder if love lives in heaven. If God can sleep in our storms, if his eyes stay shut when our eyes grow wide, if he permits storms after we get on his boat, does he care? Fear unleashes a swarm of doubts, anger-stirring doubts.

And it turns us into control freaks. "Do something about the storm!" is the implicit demand of the question. "Fix it or...or...or else!" Fear, at its center, is a perceived loss of control. When life spins wildly, we grab for a component of life we can manage: our diet, the tidiness of a house, the armrest of a plane, or, in many cases, people. The more insecure we feel, the meaner we become. We growl and bare our fangs. Why? Because we are bad? In part. But also because we feel cornered.

Read the first 35 pages.

September Book: Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow

Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow by Nancy Guthrie Hardback: 166 pages Publisher: Tyndale Publishers First Released: 2009

Source: copy from the publisher for a blog tour

Why I Chose This Book:
I chose Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow to be our September/October book club discussion book because it deepens the reader's understanding of the Bible and our view of God. It doesn't give easy, pat answers but digs deeper in search of truth and never denies your pain. This book focuses on Bible scripture and on Christ, and the insights she points out will bring comfort and healing to your deep sorrows.

This book was written by someone who knows deep sorrow (through the death of two children), but the book is for anyone who has ever struggled with disappointment, heart-break, or hurt of any sort.


For those interested in Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow, ChristFocus Book Club will hold a giveaway of the book on August 1-14, 2009. We will officially begin reading the book on September 1, 2009.


Back Cover Description:
In this paradigm-shifting book, Nancy Guthrie gently invites readers to lean in along with her to hear Jesus speak understanding and insight into the lingering questions we all have about the hurts of life: What was God’s involvement in this, and why did he let it happen? Why hasn’t God answered my prayers for a miracle? Can I expect God to protect me? Does God even care?

According to Nancy, these questions can either take us far from God or cause us to press into him more deeply as we search for and find the answers in His Word. It is as we hear Jesus speak into our confusion that we come to clarity about the promises of the gospel we may have misapplied and the purposes of God we may have misunderstood.

In Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow, Nancy shares the answers she has found as she has heard Jesus speaking promises ("My grace is all you need"), imperatives ("Be healed!"), and prayers ("Thy will be done") into the sorrow in her life.


Excepts from the Introduction:
It is found in John 6, where John records that many of Jesus’ followers had turned away and deserted him because some of his teachings were so hard for them to swallow. They were offended by what Jesus said, so they simply walked away from him. He didn’t meet their immediate expectations, and he seemed to ask of them more than they wanted to give. They were far more interested in what they could get from Jesus than in getting more of Jesus. And when Jesus made it clear that what he wanted to give them was more of himself, they simply weren’t interested any longer. At that point, as the throngs that had been following him began to slip away, Jesus turned to his twelve disciples and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”

I try to imagine the drama and emotion of that moment as Jesus said out loud what they were probably all thinking to themselves and as he called those closest to him to a decision. Simon Peter spoke up for the group, saying to Jesus, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life” (verse 68).

As my pastor read the Scripture, I could relate to those in the story who found some of Jesus’ words difficult to understand and accept, and simply walked away. Perhaps you can too, as you have struggled to reconcile your understanding of what you’ve read about in the Bible, and your expectations of how God cares for those he loves, with your own difficult reality.

[....]

Jesus said that we should listen closely to his words. “Pay close attention to what you hear,” he said. “The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them” (Mark 4:24-25).

And so I have to ask you, Do you want to listen closely to Jesus so that he will give you more understanding? Will you open your heart and mind to hear him speak into your sorrow? The words written on the pages of your Bible are not just detached religious dialogue that fails to intersect with your difficult reality. They are God’s personal message to you.

Read the full introduction.

July/August Book: Because He Loves Me

Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick Hardback: 217 pages Publisher: Crossway Books First Released: 2008

Source: Bought from Books-A-Million

Back Cover Description:
Believing that a heart-felt desire to live a godly life flows from recognizing how you've been loved and transformed through Christ, Fitzpatrick seeks to help you embrace and apply God's love in every area of your everyday life. When you do, she says, the truth found in Because He Loves Me will become not merely your entrance into Christianity but the ambience of your entire Christian life.


Simply speaking, love changes people. Christians, then, by definition, should exhibit the greatest transformation of all because, rightly understood and cherished, God’s love makes them increasingly more like the One who has lavished his love on them.

This truth is meant to tell believers who they are, their purpose and destiny, and how to faithfully persevere in their struggles against all opposition. But sometimes people lose sight of this. Because He Loves Me restores that vision, reminding Christians of their true identity as beloved children of God—adopted by the Father, espoused to the Son, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Christianity is not a self-improvement program but a transferring of identity and growth, accomplished in history through Christ and in our daily lives through his Spirit. This book explores and celebrates these truths in an unforgettable way. Study questions and invitations for deeper discovery conclude each chapter.


Excepts from the Introduction:
What I am saying is that once we’ve been saved, once we’ve understood and accepted the message of the gospel, the person and work of the Redeemer becomes secondary to what we’re focused on—living the Christian life. We love to remember him at Christmas and Easter. We adore him as the baby in the manger; we rejoice over the empty tomb. But aside from these two seasons, our attention is primarily focused on us, on our performance, on our spiritual growth. We know that the incarnation and resurrection are important truths to our initial salvation, but that’s pretty much where their impact ends.

Let me illustrate what I mean. If I asked you, “Where did the ongoing incarnation of Jesus Christ intersect with your life yesterday?” would you have an answer? We all know that the crucifixion is important for our initial salvation, but what did it mean to you this morning? Does Calvary inform and warm your heart when you’re waiting in line at the grocery store or hearing bad news from your doctor? Does his sinless life comfort you when you realize that you’ve just sinned in that same way again? In other words, is he significantly relevant to you in your daily walk with him?

....To put it another way, if I told you that this is a book about the gospel, would you automatically assume that it’s for unbelievers?

What I’ll be asking you to consider throughout this book may be summarized in one simple question: In your pursuit of godliness, have you left Jesus behind? Since this might be a new question for you, let me ask you a few more that will help clarify the answer.

-If I said that we're going to spend page after page considering God's love, would you feel the need to stifle a yawn? What does his transforming love mean to you today?

-Are you more focused on your performance for him or his for you?

-At the end of the day is there a rest in your soul because of him, or is there guilt and a determination that tomorrow you’re going to “do better”?

-Do you still feel the need to prove that you're not "all that bad”? Do you get angry when people criticize or ignore you?

-You know that Jesus is the Door. Do you see how he is your life? Could you tell me exactly how he has transformed your daily life?

As we work through the answers to these questions together, I want you to be encouraged. This is an endeavor that your Savior is passionate about. His great accomplishments, so personally costly to him, are not to be relegated to some introductory course that gets stored in the garage with old yearbooks. No, they’re to be constantly mused on and relentlessly rejoiced in by all who know them.

So let’s ask him to enlighten us now as we embark upon our journey back to Jerusalem, searching for the Beloved Son. ...he is joyfully and patiently waiting to reacquaint you with his love and to make his undiminished presence the most relevant aspect of your life. Let’s spend time thinking about our Savior and how what he has already done is meant to be the most significant characteristic of our faith and life for him.

Here's the first 38 pages of the book.


Why I Chose This Book:
This book focuses on Bible scripture and on Christ, and it can powerfully change your life. If you've been a Christian long, you may see that the first part of the book covers "the basics" which you think you know too well to bother reading again. But the author points out how the transforming power of Christ comes from the truths contained in those basics. The second part of the book discusses how to apply "the basics" to see God's transforming power work in your life.

This book is for anyone who wishes to get rid of some everyday bad habit, hurt, or sinful behavior but hasn't been successful. Basically, it's for any Christian who wants peace and victory in their lives instead of a nagging feeling of guilt and defeat.


For those interested in Because He Loves Me, ChristFocus Book Club is holding a giveaway of the book on June 1-14, 2009. See the giveaway blog entry for information on how to enter to win the book.

May/June Book: Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus

We've already got some exciting books in the line-up! Our May book is an incredibly interesting book that'll get you digging into the Bible:

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith by Ann Spangler, Lois Tverberg Hardback: 272 pages Publisher: Zondervan First Released: 2009

Source: Review copy from publisher

Back Cover Description:
A rare chance to know Jesus as his first disciples knew him.

What would it be like to journey back to the first century and sit at the feet of Rabbi Jesus as one of his Jewish disciples? How would your understanding of the gospel have been shaped by the customs, beliefs, and traditions of the Jewish culture in which you lived?

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus takes you on a fascinating tour of the Jewish world of Jesus, offering inspirational insights that can transform your faith. Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg paint powerful scenes from Jesus’ ministry, immersing you in the prayers, feasts, history, culture, and customs that shaped Jesus and those who followed him.

You will hear the parables as they must have sounded to first-century Jews, powerful and surprising. You will join the conversations that were already going on among the rabbis of his day. You will watch with new understanding as the events of his life unfold. And you will emerge with new excitement about the roots of your own Christian faith.

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus will change the way you read Scripture and deepen your understanding of the life of Jesus. It will also help you to adapt the rich prayers and customs you learn about to your own life, in ways that both respect and enrich your Christian faith.

By looking at the Jewishness of Jesus, Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg take you on a captivating journey into the heart of Judaism, one that is both balanced and insightful, helping you to better understand and appreciate your own faith.


Here's a link if you want to look inside the book.

I'm working on a ChristFocus Book Club discount deal for buying the book from Book-A-Million.

To join ChristFocus Book Club, follow @ChristFocus on twitter and start discussing the book using the hashtag #cfbc.

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July/August Book (tentative):

Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick Hardback: 217 pages Publisher: Crossway Books First Released: 2008

Here's a link for more information.

I'm working on a ChristFocus Book Club discount deal for buying the book from Book-A-Million.