The "Love Challenge" The February Scripture Memorization Challenge

Hello all! I am taking up a Bible memory challenge, and I want to encourage you to do the same!

You can learn more about it here:

http://dea-frommyhearttoyours.blogspot.com/2009/01/do-you-really-know-what-love-is-take.html

I'm copying and pasting her directions on here, so you can get a general idea what the challenge is about.

Here is what you do:

1.Place a copy of the above heart picture along with a link back to this post onto your blog. (right click the heart, and hit the save picture button) Include a description of this challenge and let people know you are participating. Encourage them to participate as well. Feel free to copy any information from my post to place on your blog.
Note: the heart picture is NOT a button. It is only a picture, therefore it will NOT link back to my blog when you click on it. (Sorry, don't know how to do that) By the way, you do not need to have a blog to participate.

2.Leave a message on my blog or email me to let me know you are participating. I will put up a list February 1st of the names and or blog sites of those who are participating in the challenge so that we can spur one another on!

3.Check my blog throughout the month of February as I (Lord willing) go over the 15 truths that describe love in I Corinthians 13:4-8a.

4. Start memorizing! (She is memorizing in NASB, I will be doing NKJV)

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails.

(If you want even more of a challenge memorize verses 1-3 as well!)

I would enjoy hearing updates throughout the month of how your memorizing is going, what you are learning, and how God is working these truths into your everyday lives. Although this is completely optional , it would be a huge encouragement to all of us who are participating. Let me know if you do post an update so that I can include a link to it each Monday throughout the month of February.

That's what you have to do! Dea and I have been encouraging each other to memorize Scripture in the last several months. She is working on memorizing the book of 1 Peter, and I'm working on the book of Philippians. Scripture memory is something I used to do when I was younger, in my AWANA days, but I'm sad to say that for past several years I haven't been memorizing anything. I've really enjoyed the challenge of working with Dea to memorize! It's a lot of fun, and it helps to have someone to be accountable to! I hope to finish Philippians this year, maybe in April. :-) I'm working on chapter 2 right now.

So, I'd encourage all of you to take up this "Love Challenge" and even take it a step further and start memorizing a book of the Bible! Get someone else to do it with you, it will keep you on track and make it fun too! :-) (a word to guys, taking a "love challenge" is NOT girly! It's Scripture, so it applies to all! :-))

Have a great day!

Praying for Others--The Dad :-)

Hello again! Here's is the article written by Dad. :-) I've been waiting until I finished my post on Spiritual Disciplines, because I thought this corresponded well with it. I hope you enjoy it!

Praying for Others

by Charles (aka "The Dad")

Over the years I have been introduced to many formulas or tools to help improve my prayer life. A lot has helped me since my Roman Catholic days of praying through a rosary. Above all, a thorough knowledge of what the Scripture says about prayer has been life changing.

The acronym A.C.T.S. was my initial introduction as a true believer that taught me to pray (Adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication).

The Lord’s prayer (sometimes called the disciple’s prayer) has also been useful not only as a prayer but especially as a pattern for prayer.

However, something that has helped me tremendously over the years to give me some satisfaction that I was praying for others in some systematic way on a regular basis (and not just when I thought about it) started with a lesson in the Daily Bread devotional guide.

The lesson was from a parent to a child using the hand as an object lesson in prayer. The thumb represented missionaries because it was so far away from the fingers. The index or pointing finger represented leaders who point the way, like kings, presidents, and various rulers. The middle finger represented our spiritual leaders because it was the tallest and they carry the largest load of responsibility for the Lord’s work. The weak or ring finger represented the sick and the helpless. Finally, the baby finger represented the little ones: the babies and the unborn.

Thus began an adventure which I passed on to my family over the years as we expanded this ‘formula’ and developed a weekly prayer list that looks like this:

Monday -pray for the Missionaries
Tuesday – pray for those that Tackle leadership issues (president, governor, mayor)
Wednesday – pray for the Warriors--pastors, Christian leaders, biblical counselors and Christian radio programs
Thursday – pray for The sick, the orphans [fatherless], the widows, the prisoners, the persecuted church
Friday – pray for Friends who are expecting, the unborn (the abortion issue), and mothers with little ones,
Saturday – pray for the Salvation of friends, co-workers, students, neighbors, family, and those associated with the church. Pray also for the Spiritual growth of Christians we know.
Sunday – pray for the Servicemen, the church Services, and the Schools. (includes teachers, Public, Private, Home Schoolers, College Students, and Christian Colleges)

This is something we do primarily as a family as we drive but is also encouraged in personal prayer time when we are not traveling together.

"Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you"

I Samuel. 12:23

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life--Donald Whitney Part 4

Hello all! I'm finally going to do a book review! I'm continuing on with the Spiritual Disciplines book that I started last year. :-) This chapter is on prayer and once I finish the summary, I will be posting an article by Dad on prayer. You will notice a difference in this review from the previous three on the book. It should be shorter and more summarized. (I hope! :-) ) I also hope to get another book review done this week, if time and personal motivation permits! :-)

Title: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Author: Donald S. Whitney
Published: 1991 by NavPress
Background Information: Donald Whitney is the associate professor of spiritual formation at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminar in Kansas City Missouri. He is the best-selling author of Simplify Your Spiritual Life, Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, and How Can I be Sure I'm a Christian? (all that was taken from the back the book)

Since 2005, Don Whitney has been Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also serves as Senior Associate Dean. Before that, he held a similar position (the first such position in the six Southern Baptist seminaries) at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, for ten years. He is the founder and president of The Center for Biblical Spirituality. (all of that was taken from the website mentioned below)You can learn more about Donald Whitney and his resources at: http://biblicalspirituality.org/

Spiritual Disciplines, Chapter 4, entitled "Prayer...For the Purpose of Godliness"
Bold emphasis is my own.

The chapter begins with the following quote:

"We Protestants are an undisciplined people. Therein lies the reason for much of the dearth of spiritual insights and serious lack of moral power. --Albert Edward Day, quoted in Ronald Klug, How to Keep a Spiritual Journal" (p. 65)

Whitney begins by using an illustration on how people try very hard to hear messages from space, he then writes, "What great lengths people will go to searching for a faint message from space when God has spoken so clearly through His Son and His Word!" (p. 65) He continues to write about how God has not only spoken to us through His written Word, but that "He will hear every prayer of His children, even when our prayers are weaker than a snowflake" (p. 66)

Whitney quotes Carl Lundquist on prayer, and Whitney then writes: "If Lundquist is right, as I believe he is, then one of the main reasons for a lack of Godliness is prayerlessness." (p. 66)

Whitney finishes the chapter by explaining each of these three points. 1. Prayer is Expected, 2. Prayer is Learned, and 3. Prayer is Answered. He gives several Scriptures to back up these points and quotes several people, primarily Puritans, on the subject of prayer.

Here are some highlights for you.

Whitney writes about how lack of prayer is often a lack of discipline, but also he says,
"Often we do not pray because we doubt that anything will actually happen if we pray. Of course, we don't admit this publicly. But if we felt certain of visible results within sixty seconds of every prayer there would be holes in the knees of every pair of Christian-owned pants in the world! Obviously the Bible never promises this, even though God does promise to answer prayer. Prayer involves communication in the spiritual realm. Many prayers are answered in ways that cannot be seen in the material realm. Many prayers are answered in ways different from what we asked. For a variety of reasons, after we open our eyes we do not always see tangible evidence of our prayers. When we are not vigilant, this tempts us to doubt the power of God through prayer." (p. 69)

He also makes the point of that when we sense a lack of nearness to God, this also discourages us from praying. (side note, there's a great song, called "When God is Near" :-) On a CD called "Soldiers of Christ, available through Majesty Music)

He also says: "When there is little awareness of real need there is little real prayer. Some circumstances drive us to our knees. But there are periods when life seems quite manageable. Although Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5), this truth hits home more forcefully at some times than at others. In pride and self-sufficiency we may live for days as though prayer were needed only when something comes along that's too big for us to handle on our own. Until we see the danger and foolishness of this attitude, God's expectation for us to pray may seem irrelevant." (p. 69-70)

Under his heading, "Prayer is Learned" Whitney gives several ways of how prayer is learned.
First prayer is learned, by praying! He gives the illustration of learning a foreign language, and the best way to learn another language is to actually speak it.

Another way to learn how to pray is by meditating on Scriptures. Whitney writes:
"This is one of the most compelling concepts on prayer I've ever learned. Meditation is the missing link between Bible intake and prayer. The two are often disjointed when they should be united. We read the Bible, close it, and then try to shift gears into prayer. But many times it seems as if the gears between the two won't mesh. In fact, after some forward progress in our time in the Word, shifting to prayer sometimes is like suddenly moving back into neutral or even reverse. Instead there should be a smooth , almost unnoticeable transition between Scripture input and prayer output so that we move even closer to God in those moments. This happens when there is the link of meditation in between." (p. 71)

Whitney then includes several great quotes on meditation and prayer. He uses Richard Baxter, John Owen, William Bates, William Bridge, Peter Toon, and he includes a lengthy article on George Muller. I'm including just one part of what Muller wrote:

"Now what is food for the inner man? Not prayer, but the Word of God; and here again, not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water passes through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it and applying it to our hearts." (p. 76)

Whitney then gives a couple of other suggestions on how to learn how to pray. One is praying with others, he uses the disciples and Jesus as an example. Another way is reading about prayer. He points out that reading about prayer can't be the only thing you do. "But reading about prayer in addition to praying can be a valuable way to learn." (p. 77)

Finally in his last point on "Prayer is Answered" I will use his quote from Spurgeon to summarize this section.

"I cannot imagine any one of you tantalizing your child by exciting in him a desire that you did not intend to gratify. It were a very ungenerous thing to offer alms to the poor, and then when they hold out their hand for it, to mock their poverty with a denial. It were a cruel addition to the miseries of the sick if they were taken to the hospital and there left to die untended and uncared for. Where Gods leads you to pray, He means you to receive." (p. 79)

Whitney then closes is chapter by asking his readers some questions:

"Since prayer is expected, will you pray?" (p. 80)

"Since prayer is learned, will you learn to pray?" (p. 80)

"Since prayer is answered, will you persistently pray?" (p. 81)

Whitney again quotes Muller:

"The great fault of the children of God is, they do not continue in prayer; they do not go on praying; they do not persevere. If they desire anything for God's glory, they should pray until they get it. Oh, how good, and kind, and gracious, and condescending is the One with Whom we have to do! He has given me, unworthy as I am, immeasurably above all I had asked or thought!" (p. 81)

Whitney writes: "Don't let the Enemy tempt you to become silently cynical about God's willingness and ability to answer. Let a love for God cause you to prevail in prayer to Him who loves you, even when His judgements are unsearchable and His ways past tracing out (Romans 11:33)." (p. 81)

Whitney closes the chapter with this challenge: "Would you be like Christ? Then do as He did--discipline yourself to be a person of prayer." (p. 82)

I hope you were challenged by this chapter! Again, there is always a lot a leave out, and I hope the summaries make you want to buy the book!

God in the Manger--John MacArthur

Hello all! I am not exactly doing a book review today, more of a book recommendation. :-) Since today is Christmas, I wanted to make you aware of a really good book to read that reminds us what Christmas is all about! (well, obviously the Bible would also be a good book to read :-) ) I read this myself a couple of years ago, and as a family we have gone through it for family devotions, I think it was last year. I'm having trouble remembering now. :-) I didn't re-read it this year, which is why I'm not going into much depth. But I still wanted to have at least one book mentioned for the month of December! :-)

Title: "God in the Manger: The Miraculous Birth of Christ"
Author: John MacArthur
Publisher: by W Publishing Group in 2001
Background Information: First of all, I feel a little strange commenting much on this, since it seems like everyone knows who John MacArthur is! :-) Quoting from the back of the book: "He is the Pastor-Teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and President of the Master's College and Seminary. The author of numerous best-selling books, his popular expository style of teaching can be heard daily on his internationally syndicated radio broadcast, Grace to You. He edited the MacArthur Study Bible, which won the Gold Medallion Award and has sold more than 312,000 copies."

On a more personal note, of most of the solid radio preachers out there, I am most familiar with John MacArthur's teaching. Dad has been getting his tapes and cds for years. I have lots of memories on going on vacations and listening to John MacArthur. :-) (not that I've always appreciated that when I was young, but I enjoy him much more now than I did when I was twelve! :)) I've also have read the most by him than any other pastoral author. So, he is kind of a favorite of mine. :-) One of these days I hope to do some more reviews of John MacArthur's books, but today it is this one. :-) So, if you've never read or listed to John MacArthur, I highly recommend him! You can learn more at: http://www.gty.org/

God in the Manger: The Miraculous Birth of Christ...(emphasis my own)

The book has 11 chapters and a total of 155 pages, which does not include the study guide in the back. The book delves into some of these topics: the virgin birth, Jesus' family Tree, a humble birth in Bethlehem, the testimony of the Shepherds, Simeon's eyes of faith, and the superiority of Jesus Christ, and more.
MacArthur has about three pages in the introduction, and I decided to include part of it for you:

"Most people celebrate Christmas; but so few men and women understand what and whom it really commemorates. They probably have heard that it marks the birth of a great teacher from centuries ago; that they should emulate Him by promoting peace, good will, and charity during the Christmas season; and that they should strive to make the holiday less materialistic and more family oriented. But so many people, even Christians never pause to fully consider the One who is at the center of the holiday. And so few ever truly grasp the historical and theological significance of what occurred that first Christmas.

Christmas commemorates a divine event and a divine person--the miraculous birth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Unlike most of our holidays, Christmas is not a celebration of an event strictly from human history that commemorates a human achievement or recognizes a national milestone. An authentic celebration of Christmas honors the most wonderful of divine accomplishments. It recognizes that the eternal, sovereign God came to earth as a human being to live a righteous life among His people and then to die as a perfect sacrifice to deliver from the wrath of God all who repent and believe." (p. vii-viii)

Moving on, I am going to mention a few things that I find interesting or think you might interesting from the book. Again, I'm not going into a lot of depth here and I won't really be doing the book the justice it deserves, hopefully it will still be helpful and informative though!

Chapter two is about Jesus' family tree, MacArthur does a great job explaining genealogies and the differences between Luke's genealogy and Matthew's. He explains how Luke's account starts from the present to the past and Matthew's goes from the past to the present. MacArthur thinks that Luke's account is more dramatic and Matthew's is more predictable. He says about Luke's:

"By starting at the present and working back to the past, the beloved physician turned historian and theologian offers us a sense of wonder and excitement as we try to anticipate how far back his genealogy of Jesus will take us." (p. 19) On Matthew's genealogy he writes:

"Matthew's goal in his list was to satisfy the Jew's concern about Messiah's legality. Judaism began with Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel. Therefore, it was only necessary to prove Messiah's credentials to the Jews by tracing His line from Abraham, through David, right down to Jesus." (p. 19) MacArthur also explains some of the differences between the two lists, he writes:

"In Matthew, the genealogy is paternal, going through Jesus' earthly father, Joseph; and Joseph's father, Jacob; back to David. In Luke, the genealogy is maternal, going through Jesus' mother, Mary; and Mary's father, Heli; back to David." (p 20) MacArthur writes several more interesting things, and concludes the chapter by saying:

"The family tree of Jesus Christ consists of far more than two lists of ancient Hebrew names. It is also much more than boring paternal and maternal lists of Jesus' earthly ancestors. It is a wonderful testimony to God's grace and to His Son's earthly ministry. Jesus was born the friend of sinners, as He stated in his admonishment to the Jewish leaders: " 'I have not come call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance' " (Luke 5:32). The Messiah presented in the genealogies is truly the Lord of grace." (p. 24)

In chapter eight, MacArthur titles the chapter: "The News Travels Fast" He goes into some length about the wise men/Magi in some depth and explains some of the various myths about them. MacArthur writes:
"However, the only credible facts we know about those men are the few details Matthew provided. He did not choose to tell us their precise number, names, means of transportation, or the specific areas they were from. Matthew's original audience would have known the wise men were from the East, because people generally knew such Magi made up the priestly-political class of the Parthians--who resided east of Palestine." (p. 101)

MacArthur writes much more in the chapter, about Herod's response, more about the Star, etc. He concludes the chapter by saying:

"The Magi believed in God's Son, the King of kings, when they heard about Him. Such people today might have little divine light initially, but because they realize it is His light, they respond to the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 3:6), repent, believe, obey, worship, and live." (p. 108)

Finally, in chapter 11, titled "The Superiority of Jesus Christ" MacArthur goes into some depth about Hebrews 1. He concludes the chapter, and the book by writing:

"I believe an analysis of Hebrews 1:1-14 is a fitting capstone to a book on the birth of Christ. It ensures that when you consider the baby in the Bethlehem shelter, you don't merely see an adorable child who grew up to be a good teacher an compassionate healer. The passage points you beyond that and to an accurate understanding of the person and work of Christ. The writer, through careful, Spirit-inspired argumentation, declares irrefutably that the Child born to Mary was indeed God in the manger. He truly was the Son of God, miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit yet born naturally to a woman in Israel. And without doubt He was the Lord and Savior who lived a perfect life and died as a perfect sacrifice so that all who believe in Him might have eternal life." (p. 155)

If you haven't read the book, make it a 2009 goal to do so, if you know of someone who would benefit from it, consider buying it for them, and if you have read it, I'd love to hear some of YOUR favorite parts of the book!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

~Amanda~

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life--Donald Whitney Part 3

Hello all! Here is chapter 3 and part 3 in "Spiritual Disciplines."

Title: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Author: Donald S. Whitney
Published: 1991 by NavPress
Background Information: Donald Whitney is the associate professor of spiritual formation at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminar in Kansas City Missouri. He is the best-selling author of Simplify Your Spiritual Life, Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, and How Can I be Sure I'm a Christian? (all that was taken from the back the book)

Since 2005, Don Whitney has been Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also serves as Senior Associate Dean. Before that, he held a similar position (the first such position in the six Southern Baptist seminaries) at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, for ten years. He is the founder and president of The Center for Biblical Spirituality. (all of that was taken from the website mentioned below)
You can learn more about Donald Whitney and his resources at: http://biblicalspirituality.org/

Spiritual Disciplines, Chapter 3, entitled "Bible Intake (Part 2)...For the Purpose of Godliness"

Bold emphasis is my own. Also, I mostly included the heading of each section in the book, if you want more detail, email me, and I will give some more.

Chapter 3 starts out with an illustration of two brothers walking on their father's "extensive, wooded acreage when they cam upon a young tree heavy with fruit." (p. 41) Both of the brothers enjoyed as much fruit as they wanted. On the way back, one brother gathered up as much fruit as he could and took it with him, the second brother, took the entire tree and planted it on his own land. This tree grew and this brother was able to have fruit whenever he wanted, unlike his brother.

Don Whitney writes: "The Bible is like the fruit-bearing tree in this story. Merely hearing the Word of God is to be like the first brother. You may gather much fruit from the encounter and even bring home enough to feed on for a few days, but in the long run it doesn't compare with having your own tree. Through the Disciplines of reading and studying, we make the tree our own and enjoy its fruit. Among the Spiritual Disciplines we also find the tools of memorization, meditation, and application, which bountifully increase our harvest of fruit from the tree." (p. 41)

He then begins writing on the importance of memorizing God's Word. He begins by writing about how many Christians today think of "memorizing God's Word as something tantamount to modern-day martyrdom" (p. 41) He suggests some reasons why people think this way is possibly because they associate it with school, and memorizing in school was work and it "was uninteresting and of limited value" (p. 42) Another excuse is having a bad memory. He points out that if he offered you one thousand dollars for every verse you could memorize in the next seven days, your ability toward memorizing Scripture would probably change. :-)

He then lists several sub-points/arguments/reasons for memorizing, and goes into about a paragraph explaining each. I will just give you the headings, not the explanation.

Memorization Supplies Spiritual Power
Memorization Strengthens Your Faith
Memorization and Witnessing and Counseling
A Means of God's Guidance
Memorization Stimulates Meditation
You Can Memorize Scripture (in this paragraph he gives an illustration of a truck driver who would memorize a verse a day, after three years, he memorized a thousand verses! Whitney challenges us to: "If he could memorize over three hundred verses a year while driving, surely we can find ways to memorize a few." (p. 45) )

Next he gives some practical help in getting started in memorizing. He suggests:

Have a Plan
Write Out the Verses
Draw Picture Reminders
Memorize the Verses Word-Perfectly
Find a Method of Accountability
Review and Meditate Every Day

His second topic deals with meditating on God's Word.

He writes: "The kind of meditation encouraged in the Bible differs from other kinds of meditation in several ways. While some advocate a kind of meditation in which you do your best to empty your mind, Christian meditation involves filling your mind with God and truth." (p. 47)

He goes on to define meditation as "deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture for the purposes of understanding, application, and prayer. Meditation goes beyond hearing, reading, studying, and even memorization as a means of taking in God's Word." (p. 48)

He then gives an analogy of tea. "Hearing God's Word is like one dip of the tea bag into the cup. Some of the tea's flavor is absorbed by the water, but not as much as would occur with a more through soaking of the bag. In this analogy, reading, studying, and memorizing God's Word are represented by additional plunges of the tea bag into the cup. The more frequently the tea enters the water, the more effect it has. Meditation, however, is like immersing the bag completely and letting it steep until all the rich tea flavor has been extracted and the hot water is thoroughly tinctured reddish brown." (p. 48)

He uses Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:1-3 to write some more on meditation. He also quotes the Puritan pastor, Thomas Watson: "The reason we come away so cold from reading the word is, because we do not warm ourselves at the fire of meditation." (p. 49) He then continues to write at length on the importance of meditation in our day. After that, he gives some practical suggestions on meditation, they are:

Select an Appropriate Passage
Repeat It in Different ways, example:

"I am the resurrection and the life."
"I am the resurrection and the life."
"I am the resurrection and the life."
"I am the resurrection and the life."
"I am the resurrection and the life."
"I am the resurrection and the life."
"I am the resurrection and the life."

He says, "Of course, the point is not simply to repeat vainly each word of the verse until they've all been emphasized. The purpose is to think deeply upon the light (truth) that flashes into your mind each time the verse is turned. It's simple but effective." (p. 53)

Rewrite It in Your Own Words
Look for Applications of the Text
Pray Through the Text
Don't Rush--Take Time!

He writes: "Read less (if necessary) in order to meditate more. Although many Christians need to find the time to increase their Bible reading, there may be some who are spending all the time they can or should reading the Bible. If you could not possibly add more time to your devotional schedule for meditating on your Scripture reading, read less in order to have some unhurried time for meditation." (p. 55)

His third topic deals with applying God's Word.

He gives some more reasons/applications for this:

The Value of Applying God's Word, he writes:
"But if we do not apply the truth as we meet it, we delude ourselves by thinking we have gained practical value, regardless of how wonderful the experience of discovering the truth has been. The one who "will be blessed in what he does" is the one who does what Scripture says." (p. 57)

Expect to Discover an Application, he quotes Thomas Watson again:

"Take every word as spoken to yourselves. When the word thunders against sin, think thus: "God means my sins;" when it presseth any duty, "God intends me in this." Many put off Scripture from themselves, as if it only concerned those who lived in the time when it was written; but if you intend to profit by the word, bring it home to yourselves: a medicine will do no good, unless it be applied." (p. 57)

Understand the Text, he make several points on the importance of this, a few are:

"A misunderstanding about the meaning of a verse leads to misguided applications of it." (p. 58)

"We must understand how a passage applied when it was first given before we can understand how it applies now." (p. 58) He also writes: "I still maintain that much of Scripture is plain and straightforward in its meaning. Our problem continues to be more of a lack of action that comprehension. The words of Scripture must be understood to be applied, but until we apply them, we don't really understand them." (p. 59)

Meditate to Discern Application, he writes:

"The way to determine how any scripture applies to the concrete situation of life is to meditate on that scripture" (p. 60)

Ask Application-Oriented Questions of the Text

He writes that doing this is one of the best ways to meditate, here are the examples he gives of questions:

Does this text reveal something I should believe about God?
Does this text reveal something I should praise or thank or trust God for?
Does this text reveal something I should pray about for myself or others?
Does this text reveal something I should have a new attitude about?
Does this text reveal something I should make a decision about?
Does this text reveal something I should believe about God?
Does this text reveal something I should do for the sake of Christ, others or myself? (p. 60)

Respond Specifically, he writes:

"An encounter with God through His Word should result in at least one specific response. In other words, after you have concluded your time of Bible intake, you should be able to name at least one definite response you have made or will make to what you have encountered." (p. 60)
He concludes this section on application by writing:

"If we will begin to discipline ourselves to determine at least one specific response to the text before walking away from it, we will much more rapidly grow in grace. Without this kind of application we aren't doers of God's Word." (p. 61)

He then ends his chapter by asking us three questions:

"Will you begin a plan of memorizing God's Word?"

"Will you cultivate the Discipline of meditating on God's Word?"

"Will you prove yourself an "applier" of the Word?"

He quotes J.I. Packer:

"If I were the devil, one of my first aims would be to stop folk from digging into the Bible. Knowing that it is the Word of God, teaching men to know and love and serve the God of the Word, I should do all I could to surround it with the spiritual equivalent of pits, thorn hedges, and man traps, to frighten people off...At all costs I should want to keep them from using their minds in a disciplined way to get the measure of its message." (p. 63)

Whitney closes by saying: "Despite the difficulty and spiritual opposition, are you willing, at all costs, to begin using your mind "in a discipline way" to feed on the Word of God "for the purpose of godliness"?" (p. 63)

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life--Donald Whitney Part 2

Hello all! Here is part 2 of Spiritual Disciplines, I'm covering chapter 2 today. I will probably do a portion of the Voice of the Martyr's book in my next post. :-) Be sure to read the previous posts on Spiritual Disciplines, before reading this one!

Title: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Author: Donald S. Whitney
Published: 1991 by NavPress
Background Information: Donald Whitney is the associate professor of spiritual formation at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminar in Kansas City Missouri. He is the best-selling author of Simplify Your Spiritual Life, Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, and How Can I be Sure I'm a Christian? (all that was taken from the back the book)
Since 2005, Don Whitney has been Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also serves as Senior Associate Dean. Before that, he held a similar position (the first such position in the six Southern Baptist seminaries) at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, for ten years. He is the founder and president of The Center for Biblical Spirituality. (all of that was taken from the website mentioned below) You can learn more about Donald Whitney and his resources at: http://biblicalspirituality.org/

Spiritual Disciplines, Chapter 2, entitled "Bible Intake (Part1)...For the Purpose of Godliness" (all bold emphasis is my own)

In chapter two, the author starts out by telling us about a mission trip he took to East Africa in 1989. He tells us how he's been overseas enough to know that: "many customs I have come to identify with Christianity will clash at some points with the culture of our hosts." (p. 27) However, he writes about this particular experience how he was unprepared for how the professing Christians acted there. He writes: "Theological understanding was a scarce as water, the disease of doctrinal error as common as malaria." (p. 27) The reason for this, we learn, is that no one had a Bible! He writes: "not the pastor, not a deacon, no one. The pastor had only half-a-dozen sermons, all half-baked over the coals of a few Bible-story recollections. Every sixth week came the sermon." (p. 27) Occasionally a missionary came and presented some Scripture. The author and the others who were on the mission trip all pitched in to purchase Bibles and they led Bible studies.

He then writes: "Most of us shake our heads in pity at such sad conditions. It's hard to imagine that many of us have more Bibles in our homes than entire churches have in some Third-World situations. But it's one thing to be unfamiliar with Scripture when you don't own a Bible; it's another thing when you have a bookshelf full." (p. 28)

He goes on to tell us that "No Spiritual Discipline is more important than the intake of God's Word" (p. 28). He writes some more about the importance of Bible intake and then says: "My pastoral experience bears witness to the validity of surveys that frequently reveal that great numbers of professing Christians know little more about the Bible than Third-World Christians who possess not even a shred of Scripture." (p. 28)

He again writes how Bible intake is the most important discipline, and he says that it is also the most "broad." He then writes: "Let's examine the "colleges," or subdisciplines, of Bible intake, proceeding from the least to the most difficult (p. 29).

The easiest discipline he writes, is hearing God's Word. He quotes Luke 11: 38 and Romans 10:17 to emphasize this. He says that: "There are other ways we may discipline ourselves to hear God's Word in addition to the most important way, which is hearing it preached as part of a local church ministry. (I say this realizing that some do not have the opportunity to hear God's Word through the ministry of a local church.)" (p. 30)

He suggests other ways to hear God's word is through radio and tapes. (or using the Internet, downloading ipod sermons, mp3, etc. This book was written in the early 1990s, so there are many other ways to be able to "hear God's Word" today than there were then)

He continues on writing about how it is important to for us to hear God's Word, and says: "If someone says, " I don't need to go to church to worship God; I can worship Him on the golf course or at the lake just as well, if not better than in church," we may agree that God can be worshipped there. But the ongoing worship of God cannot be separated from the Word of God. We are to discipline ourselves to go and hear the Word of God." (p. 30-31) He then writes briefly about how we should "prepare" ourselves to hear the Word of God. He gives a good example of this, he writes:

"For a while a congregation of Korean Christians used our church building for their midweek service. I was impressed by the way they entered the worship center. Whether they were first to arrive or came in after the service had already started, they immediately bowed in prayer for several moments before arranging their belongings, unbuttoning their coat, or acknowledging the presence of anyone else. This served as an effective reminder to their own hearts and to everyone else of their main purpose for that time." (p. 31)

He concludes this section by saying: "So hearing the Word of God is not merely passive listening, it is a Discipline to be cultivated." (p. 31)

His second section of Bible Intake deals with Bible Reading. He starts out by emphasizing the importance of reading the Bible. He writes: "How often should we read it? British preacher John Blanchard, in his book How to Enjoy Your Bible, writes,

Surely we only have to be realistic and honest with ourselves to know how regularly we need to turn to the Bible. How often do we face problems, temptation, and pressure? Every day! Then how often do we need instruction, guidance and greater encouragement? Every day! To catch all these felt needs up into an even greater issue, how often to we need to see God's face, hear his voice, feel his touch, know his power? The answer to all these questions is the same: every day! As the American evangelist D.L. Moody put it, "A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough for the next six months, or take sufficient air into his lungs at one time to sustain life for a week. We must draw upon God's boundless store of grace from day to day as we need it." " (p. 33)

Don Whitney then gives us three practical suggestions for Bible reading.

1. Find the time (he then gives us several examples of how the Bible can be read in a year and ways to do that. If you are interested in the details of what he said, email me, and I'll post them) He suggests to do your Bible reading the same time every day, and not just before you go to bed. That way, you will be able to retain more and he says "you probably do very little evil in your sleep." (p. 34) :-)

2. Find a Bible-reading plan. He gives suggestions of finding a plan at a Christian bookstore, ask your local church for a plan, and he says that "reading three chapters every day and five on Sundays will take you through the Bible in a year's time." (p. 34) He also gives some more suggestions, and again, if you want the details, email me. :-)

3. "Find at least one word, phrase, or verse to meditate on each time you read." (p. 34) He will get more into meditation in another chapter, but he does say that "you may close your Bible and not be able to remember a single thing you've read. And if that happens your Bible reading is not likely to change you." (p. 34)

He also gives another great example from a book called The Wonder of the Word of God, by an evangelist, Robert L. Sumner.

In this book, a man's face was badly damaged by an explosion, he lost his eyesight and the use of his hands. This man had just become a Christian and was disappointed that he could no longer read the Bible. "Then he heard about a lady in England who read braille with her lips. Hoping to do the same, he sent for some books of the Bible in braille. But he discovered that the nerve endings in his lips had been too badly damaged to distinguish the characters. One day, as he brought one of the braille pages to his lips, his tongue happened to touch a few of the raised characters and he could feel them." (p. 35) This man was able to read the Bible with his tongue! When the book "The Wonder of the Word of God" was written, this man had read the Bible through four times!

Don Whitney concludes: "If he can do that, can you discipline yourself to read the Bible?" (p. 35)

His third part in Bible intake deals with, studying God's Word. He uses Ezra, Paul, and the Bereans as examples of who studied the Word of God. He tells us if "Paul needed it, surely you and and I need it and should discipline ourselves to do it." (p. 36) He then says:

"Then why don't we? Why do so many Christians neglect the study of God's Word? R. C. Sproul said it painfully well: "Here then, is the real problem of our negligence. We fail in our duty to study God's Word not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy."" (p. 36)

Whitney then tells us that the main difference between Bible reading and Bible study "is simply a pencil and a piece of paper." (p. 37) He gives some suggestions to write down observations, record questions that come to your mind, look up cross-references, find key words and look them up in a concordance, outline chapters and books. He concludes:
"Don't let a feeling of inadequacy keep you from the delight of learning the Bible on your own." (p. 37)

He ends the chapter with a few more applications, he asks two questions:

"If your growth in Godliness were measured by the quality of your Bible intake, what would be the result?" (p. 37)

and is final application question is:

"What is one thing you can do to improve your intake of God's Word?" (p. 38)

He concludes with a quote from a booklet called "Reading the Bible, by a Welsh pastor, named Geoffrey Thomas.

"Do not expect to master the Bible in a day, or a month, or a year. Rather expect often to be puzzled by it's contents. It is not all equally clear. Great men of God often feel like absolute novices when they read the Word. The apostle Peter said that there were some things hard to understand in the epistles of Paul (2 Peter 3:16). I am glad he wrote those words because I have felt that often. So do not expect always to get an emotional charge or a feeling of quiet peace when you read the Bible. By the grace of God you may expect that to be a frequent experience, but often you will get no emotional response at all. Let the Word break over you heart and mind again and again as the years go by, and imperceptibly there will come great changes in your attitude and outlook and conduct. You will probably be the last to recognize these. Often you will feel very, very, small, because increasingly the God of the Bible will become to you wonderfully great. So go on reading it until you can read no longer, and then you will not need the Bible any more, because when your eyes close for the last time in death, and never again read the Word of God in Scripture you will open them to the Word of God in the flesh, that same Jesus of the Bible whom you have known for so long, standing before you to take you for ever to His eternal home." (p. 39)

Hope you enjoyed this second portion! Feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts, or how you apply some of the things he wrote about. Have a great day!

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life--Donald Whitney Part 1

Hello all! Here is chapter 1 of the book! Hope you enjoy it!

Title: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Author: Donald S. Whitney
Published: 1991 by NavPress
Background Information: I learned a few new things, and thus a couple of corrections about Donald Whitney since yesterday. Since 2005, Don Whitney has been Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also serves as Senior Associate Dean. Before that, he held a similar position (the first such position in the six Southern Baptist seminaries) at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, for ten years. He is the founder and president of The Center for Biblical Spirituality. He is the author of several books, some of which are: Simplify Your Spiritual Life, Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, and How Can I be Sure I'm a Christian?
You can learn more about Donald Whitney and his resources at: http://biblicalspirituality.org/

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life...

Emphasis is my own.

The book, Spiritual Disciplines, covers the following topics: The purpose of spiritual disciplines, Bible intake, prayer, worship, evangelism, serving, stewardship, fasting, silence and solitude, journaling, learning and perseverance in the disciplines.

The basis of the book is centered around I Timothy 4: 7--"Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness." (NASB)

Chapter 1, entitled "The Spiritual Disciplines....For the Purpose of Godliness"

Spiritual Disciplines according to Donald Whitney are: "Those personal and corporate disciplines that promote spiritual growth. They are the habits of devotion and experiential Christianity that have been practiced by people of God since biblical times." (p. 17) (he covers the ones I just mentioned, Bible intake, worship, etc.)

Chapter 1 begins with the following quote:

"Ours is an undisciplined age. The old disciplines are breaking down...Above all, the discipline of divine grace is derided as legalism or is entirely unknown to a generation that is largely illiterate in the Scriptures. We need the rugged strength of Christian character that can come only from discipline.--V. Raymond Edman, "The Disciplines of Life" " (p. 15)

After the quote, Donald Whitney, begins his chapter by saying "Discipline without direction is drudgery." (p. 15) He then illustrates this point by giving an illustration about a six-year old boy who is taking music lessons. Every day after school this boy practices his music and watches his friends play across the street. Whitney goes on with the illustration, to have us imagine that this boy is later visited by an angel. (okay, that's a little weird in my opinion, but that's what he said!) So, this angel shows the boy, someone in Carnegie Hall, this guitar virtuoso is giving a beautiful concert, the boy is amazed by what he hears, the angel then tells him, that this virtuoso, will be him years later, but first he must practice. This boy now has a purpose in practicing!

Whitney goes on to use this illustration to point out that many believers feel the same way this boy does when it comes to practicing disciplines in the Christian life.

Whitney writes: "First we must understand what we shall become. It is said of God's elect in Romans 8: 29, "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son." God's eternal plan ensures that every Christian will ultimately conform to Christlikeness. We will be changed "when he appears" so that "we shall be like him" (1 John 3:2). This is no vision; this is you, Christian, in a few years." (p. 16)

In the meantime, until Christ comes, he tells us, that we "aren't merely to wait for holiness, we're to pursue it." (p. 16)

He also says: "I will emphasize that Godliness is the goal of the Disciplines, and when we remember this, the Spiritual Disciplines become a delight instead of drudgery." (p. 17)

He then begins his section on how the Spiritual Disciplines are the means to godliness. He tells us which disciplines this book will cover, and reminds us that whatever the discipline is, the most important feature is, its purpose. He also says:

"Godly people are disciplined people. It has always been so. Call to mind some heroes of church history---Augustine, Marti Luther, John Calvin, John Bunyan, Susanna Wesley, George Whitefield, Lady Huntingdon, Jonathan and Sarah Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, George Muller--they were all disciplined people" (p. 17)

He then writes that God uses three "...primary catalysts for changing us and conforming us to Christlikeness..." (p. 17)

One is people, this can include, friends, parents, family, church family, co-workers, enemies, etc.
Second is circumstances, this can include, he says, physical conditions, financial pressures, etc.
This is what he writes about the third one: "Then there is the catalyst of the Spiritual Disciplines. This catalyst differs from the first two in that when He uses the Disciplines, God works from the inside out. When He changes us through people and circumstances, the process work from the outside in." (p. 18) He then goes on some more about how we don't have much choice about people and circumstances, but we can decide whether or not we will read our Bible etc.

He writes some more about how we must view the Spiritual Disciplines as exercise and he uses two Bible stories to illustrate the point. (Luke 18:35-43 and Luke 19:1-10)
He then says: "Think of the Spiritual Disciplines as ways we can place ourselves in the path of God's grace and seek Him much as Bartimaeous and Zacchaeus placed themselves in Jesus' path and sought Him." (p. 19)

He writes some more and summarizing quickly, he talks about how God expects us to do the Spiritual Disciplines, the danger of neglecting them, the freedom in embracing the Spiritual Disciplines, and how there is an invitation to all Christians to enjoy the Spiritual Disciplines.

Okay, almost done here, I will leave you with two more thoughts/quotes from the book...

Whitney writes: "Consider the people who will work hard at learning to play an instrument, knowing that it takes years to acquire the skills, who will practice hard to lower their golf score or to improve their sports performance, knowing it takes years to become proficient..." He then goes on to give more examples and then says: "These same people will give up quickly when they find the Spiritual Disciplines don't come easily, as though becoming like Jesus was not supposed to take much effort." (p. 21)

He then concludes chapter 1 by saying:

"Discipline without direction is drudgery. But the Spiritual Disciplines are never drudgery as long as we practice them with the goal of Godliness in mind. If your picture of a disciplined Christian is one of a grim, tight-lipped, joyless half-robot, then you've missed the point. Jesus was the most discipline Man who ever lived and yet the most joyful and passionately alive. He is our Example of discipline. Let us follow Him to joy through the Spiritual Disciplines." (p. 24)

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! It's a great book, and very convicting! The next part deals with Bible Intake, I will cover that this week or next week. I haven't decided yet! :-)
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this first part though!

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life--Donald Whitney (Preview)

Hello all! Well, here is a partial review! I am still working on the next Narnia book, but in the mean time, I thought I'd do this as a "filler." :-) I got this book at the New Attitude conference I attended in May. (I'm sure you're getting tired of hearing about that... :-) )
Our Pastor, who took a group of us down there, and informed us that we all had to buy some books. :-) So, being the picky person that I am about how I spend my money, it took me awhile to determine what to get. I finally made a decision and one of the books I came away with was this one! I highly recommend it! I read it in June, and I'm looking forward to doing several posts about it! :-)

Title: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Author: Donald S. Whitney
Published: 1991 by NavPress
Background Information: Donald Whitney is the associate professor of spiritual formation at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminar in Kansas City Missouri. He is the best-selling author of Simplify Your Spiritual Life, Ten Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, and How Can I be Sure I'm a Christian? (all that was taken from the back the book)

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life...

Emphasis is my own.

The foreword is written by J.I. Packer, he has several interesting things to say, and I'll just quote a few of them. His suggestion in reading the book is:

"....I can go on record as urging all Christians to read what Don Whitney has written; indeed, to read it three times over, with a month's interval (certainly not less, and ideally, I think, not more) between each reading. This will not only make the book sink in, but will also give you a realistic picture of your seriousness, or lack of it, as Jesus' disciple." (p. 9)

Packer writes some more and then concludes with:

"If then, as a Christian you want to be really real with your God, moving beyond the stage of playing games with yourself and Him, this book provides practical help." (p. 10)

In the Acknowledgments, Whitney thanks some contemporary people, but he also says:

"Thanks to the Puritans. Today they are often maligned by Christians and non Christians alike, who often know little or nothing about them. Our stereotyped perceptions of them reveal a lack of awareness of their profound contribution to spirituality and Godly living. They are spiritual giants on whose shoulders I stand. Thanks to Jonathan Edwards, C.H. Spurgeon, and Martyn Lloyd Jones. My life and ministry are immeasurably because of theirs." (p. 11)

I thought that was neat! :-)

Well, I was planning on reviewing chapter 1 today, but I think I will hold off for another day. Maybe tomorrow or another day this week! I won't be posting the whole book in consecutive order, but will be doing it sporadically for the most part.

Have a great day!

The Passion of Jesus Christ--John Piper

Hello all! Here is my review/summary of John Piper's book.

Title: The Passion of Jesus Christ: Fifty Reasons Why He Came to Die
Author: John Piper
Published: by Crossway Book in 2004

Background Information: John Piper is the Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. He has written numerous books and you can listen and learn more about him by checking out his website at: http://www.desiringgod.org/
I am mostly familiar with John Piper through his sermon messages, I have read, I think, one other book by him besides this one. This book I'm reviewing has 122 pages, it would be a great book to supplement your daily devotions, use as a supplement to family devotions, or just to read. :-) The chapters are short, two pages, that answer the question of "Why Christ Suffered and Died."

The Passion of Jesus Christ: Fifty Reasons Why He Came to Die...

His introduction is titled "The Christ, The Crucifixion, and the Concentration Camps." Main points/titles from the Introduction are: God Meant it for Good, What Does the Word Passion Mean?, How was the Passion of Jesus Unique? His Passion Was Vindicated by the Resurrection, and The Passion of Christ and the Passion of Auschwitz. He writes a few answers/paragraphs on each of those points.

I am including all 50 reasons, which are the titles for each of the chapters. Each chapter deals with each if the reasons in more depth. At the end, I will give a few quotes/points that I liked from reading it.

1. To Absorb the Wrath of God
2. To Please His Heavenly Father
3. To Learn Obedience and Be Perfected
4. To Achieve His Own Resurrection from the Dead
5. To Show the Wealth of God's Love and Grace for Sinners
6. To Show His Own Love for Us
7. To Cancel the Legal Demands of the Law Against Us
8. To Become a Ransom for Many
9. For the Forgiveness of Our Sins
10. To Provide the Basis for Our Justification
11. To Complete the Obedience That Becomes Our Righteousness
12. To Take Away Our Condemnation
13. To Abolish Circumcision and All Rituals as the Basis of Salvation
14. To Bring Us to Faith and Keep Us Faithful
15. To Make Us Holy, Blameless, and Perfect
16. To Give Us a Clear Conscience
17. To Obtain for Us All Things That Are Good for Us
18. To Heal Us from Moral and Physical Sickness
19. To Give Eternal Life to All Who Believe on Him
20. To Deliver Us from the Present Evil Age
21. To Reconcile Us to God
22. To Bring Us to God
23. So That We Might Belong to Him
24. To Give Us Confident Access to the Holiest Place
25. To Become for Us the Place Where We Meet God
26. To Bring the Old Testament Priesthood to an End and Become the Eternal High Priest
27. To Become a Sympathetic and Helpful Priest
28. To Free Us from the Futility of Our Ancestry
29. To Free us from the Slavery of Sin
30. That We Might Die to Sin and Live to Righteousness
31. So That We Would Die to the Law and Bear Fruit for God
32. To Enable Us to Live for Christ and Not Ourselves
33. To Make His Cross the Ground of All Our Boasting
34. To Enable Us to Live by Faith in Him
35. To Give Marriage Its Deepest Meaning
36. To Create a People Passionate for Good Works
37. To Call Us to Follow His Example of Lowliness and Costly Love
38. To Create a Band of Crucified Followers
39. To Free Us from Bondage to the Fear of Death
40. So That We would Be with Him Immediately After Death
41. To Secure Our Resurrection from the Dead
42. To Disarm the Rulers and Authorities
43. To Unleash the Power of God in the Gospel
44. To Destroy the Hostility Between Races
45. To Ransom People from Every Tribe and Language and People and Nation
46. To Gather All His Sheep from Around the World
47. To Rescue Us from Final Judgement
48. To Gain His Joy and Ours
49. So That He would Be Crowned with Glory and Honor
50. To Show That the Worst Evil Is Meant by God for Good

All emphasis below are my own.

In Chapter 16, dealing with the issue of conscience he writes:

"So here we are in the modern age--the age of science, Internet, organ transplants, instant messaging, cell phones--and our problem is fundamentally the same as always: Our conscience condemns us. We don't feel good enough to come to God. And no matter how distorted our consciences are, this much is true: We are not good enough to come to him."

At the end of the same chapter he writes:

"The only answer in these modern times, as in all other times, is the blood of Christ. When our conscience rises up and condemns us, where will we turn? We turn to Christ. We turn to the suffering and death of Christ--the blood of Christ. This is the only cleansing agent in the universe that can give the conscience relief in life and peace in death." (p. 51)

In chapter 20, dealing with " to deliver us from the present evil age" he writes:

"The resounding cry of freedom in the Bible is, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Romans 12: 2) In other words, be free! Don't be duped by the gurus of the age. They are here today and gone tomorrow. One enslaving fad follows another. Thirty years from now today's tattoos will not be marks of freedom, but indelible reminders of conformity." He also writes:

"Don't follow a defeated foe. Follow Christ. It is costly. You will be an exile is this age. But you will be free." (p. 59)

In chapter 33, he deals with "To make His Cross the Ground of All Our Boasting" he writes:

"We are not as Christ-centered and cross-cherishing as we should be, because we do not ponder the truth that everything good, and everything bad that God turns for good, was purchased by the sufferings of Christ." He concludes:

"Being dead to the world means that every legitimate pleasure in the world becomes a blood-bought evidence of Christ's love and an occasion of boasting in the cross. When our hearts run back along the beam of blessing to the source in the cross, then the worldliness of the blessing is dead, and Christ crucified is everything." (p. 85)

In chapter 42 when he writes about "To Disarm the Rulers and Authorities" he is referring to demonic powers, Satan, etc. in that chapter, not earthly governments. (just thought I should clarify that) At the end of the chapter he writes:

"Let us then turn away from the temptations of the devil. His promises are lies, and his power is stripped." (p 103).

And finally, in chapter 50 when he writes about "To show that the worst evil is meant by God for good" he says:

"But the most astonishing thing is that evil and suffering were Christ's appointed way of victory over evil and suffering. Every act of treachery and brutality against Jesus was sinful and evil. But God was in it." He concludes:

"Is not then the passion of Jesus Christ meant by God to show the world that there is no sin and no evil too great that God, in Christ, cannot bring from it everlasting righteousness and joy? The very suffering that we caused became the hope of our salvation."Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:24)" (p. 119)

Hope that was helpful to you! There was a lot more I could of pulled out, but I resisted the temptation to drag out the post! :-) I enjoyed the book a lot, and would recommend it to anyone. Any comments? Which of the chapter points stands out to you the most? Do you want me to discuss/pull any more quotes out of the book from any particular chapter?
Have a great day!

Culture Shift--R. Albert Mohler Jr.

Hello! Today I am breaking my trend and I am not reviewing a fiction book! (and it's not girly either :-) ) I do take my poll results and email suggestions seriously, and here is a response to my readers who want something not so girly and one email suggested I do more theology or missionary biographies. Here's the first in more "serious" books to come. :-)

Title: Culture Shift: Engaging Current Issues with Timeless Truth
Author: Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr.
Al Mohler is the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, he lives in Louisville, Kentucky. He has contributed in other books, although this is the first time I've read anything written by him. You can learn more about him by visiting his website and blog at: http://www.albertmohler.com/
Published: Multnomah, copyright 2008

Background Information: I first heard about this book at the New Attitude conference I attended in May. (it was my first exposure to Na and I attended with several other youth from our church) During the conference they advertised this book, my interest was peaked, unfortunately by the time I got to the bookstore, they had sold out of the books and I wasn't able to look at it.
Happily though, my Pastor has a copy and let me borrow it. :-) My first response the book when I saw it was..."It's small!" I was expecting a thick book and was surprised that it only had 160 pages. Anyway, despite my initial reaction, the book is a good read. :-)

One other note: I will not be reviewing this in the same way I review fiction books--hope you enjoy the change!

Culture Shift...

The book deals with many of the current issues of our day. John Piper, C. J. Mahaney, and others offer their recommendations for the book.

Some of the chapters deal with: Christian morality in public law, the culture of offendedness, terrorism, an exit strategy from the public schools, science, the question of "are we raising a nation of wimps?" abortion, and more. The book has a total of 20 chapters and even though it is small it deals with each issue in a "heavier" way than the average book I read. The book is for the "older reader" and so I wouldn't really recommend it for children, however I think teens/youth could read it. It's a great book to learn more about the issues of our day.

I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first half. Specifically his section on public schools and the need for Christian parents to develop an "exit strategy" to leave the public school system. I also appreciated the chapters where he dealt with abortion. It was interesting to learn some debates going on in the "left side" concerning abortion. And finally, I enjoyed his section on tsunamis, and the Christian response to them.

He also talks about St. Augustine and goes into some detail about the "City of God and the City of Man." (whatever I knew about Augustine and his teachings on this I forgot, so it was interesting to be reminded/learn something new)

Here are some quotes/points that I liked and thought I'd include for your review.

"We love our neighbor because we first love God. In his sovereignty, our Creator has put within this cultural context in order that we may display His glory by preaching the gospel, confronting persons with God's truth, and serving as agents of salt and light in a dark and fallen world. In other words, love of God leads us to love our neighbor, and love of neighbor requires our participation in the culture and in the political process" (emphasis added p. 2).

In his chapter on offendedness he writes about how the definition of the word "offend" has changed. He says:
"Today, desperate straits are no longer required in order for an individual or group to claim the emotional status of offendedness. All that is required is often the vaguest notion of emotional distaste at what another has said, done, proposed, or presented. This shift in the meaning of the word and in its cultural usage is subtle but extremely significant. It also leads to inevitable conflict" (p. 31, emphasis added). He goes on to talk more about Christians and their response to offenses and the cultures response to offenses. He concludes his chapter by saying: "There simply is no right not to be offended, and we should be offended by the very notion that such a right could exist" (p. 36, emphasis added).

In his chapter on tsunamis and the Christian response he concludes by saying:
"Finally, Christians must respond to a crisis like this by weeping with those who weep, praying with fervent faithfulness, offering concrete assistance in Christ's name, and most importantly, by bearing bold witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ--the only way to bring life out of death" (p. 127 emphasis added).

I hope this has given you a small "taste" of the book! I know it's different than what I've done previously, let me know if you like the detailed summaries or just the overview. Or if you like a mixture!

Also, if you've read the book, feel free to start some discussions. I'd love to hear your thoughts, favorite part or quote of the book, what you agree or disagree with, or... anything! Have a great day!

One more thing, you can read more about "Culture Shifts" at the following place:

http://www.challies.com/archives/book-reviews/culture-shift-by-dr-albert-mohler-1.php

Discussion Questions on Stepping Heavenward

Hi again! I wanted to get some feedback from those of you who have read "Stepping Heavenward." Since it is one of my favorite books, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!
Do you have a favorite part or quote in the book?
What do you like or dislike about the book?
Do you disagree with anything in there?
Any other thoughts?
I'd love to hear what you have to say!

Stepping Heavenward--Elizabeth Prentiss Part 4

Title: Stepping Heavenward
Author: Elizabeth Prentiss
Published: Originally published: in 1869. It has been republished several times over the years. The particular book I'm reviewing is a paperback that was published in 2001 by Solid Ground Christian Books. (I know that Lamplighter has also published Stepping Heavenward in a hardback book)
Background Information: See previous posts entitled "Stepping Heavenward"

In an attempt to shorten these posts and get on to another book, I am just going to briefly summarize the rest of the story. (also, this way I can attempt not to spoil the entire book for you if you haven't read it! :-) ) Hopefully I've given you enough detail about the story to make you want to read it yourself! :-)

Katy takes the Sunday School class and also ends up going with her mother to visit the poor. Later Katy goes to visit her Aunt in New York. Here she meets her future husband. (a Dr. Ernest Elliot) Katy initially doesn't like him and tells her Aunt that she would never marry a doctor, and that he is too serious and old! :-) Her Aunt informs her that he is only 7 to 8 years older than herself and that "you were made for each other. He would tone you down and keep you straight, and you would stimulate him and keep him awake" (p 76). Katy responds by saying she doesn't want to be toned down or kept straight. :-)

After a time, and some misunderstandings, Katy does come to love the doctor and they marry. The rest of the story continues on with her married life. The Doctor and Katy go through some of the normal and not so normal trials of married life. Shortly after their marriage the Doctor's mother dies, his family has lost some money, and as a results his father and older sister come to live with Katy and the Doctor.

This provides many trials for Katy, however, by the end she realizes how God used the entire situation for good. The Doctor and Katy have several children, and go through the pain of watching their oldest child die at a young age. (he dies just before his 6th birthday)

The story records how Katy grows in her spiritual life, how people minister to her and help her along the way, and how she helps others as well. (we also learn more about Amelia and Charley--who don't have an ideal marriage. Amelia becomes ill and dies young, leaving her husband with 3 girls. Charley's Uncle ends up taking care of the girls)

By the end of her journal, Katy is very ill and doesn't know how much longer she will live. Here are a few of the last line she writes in her journal.

"But I wish, oh, how earnestly, that whether I go or stay, I could inspire some lives with the joy that is now mine. For many years I have been rich in faith; rich in an unfaltering confidence that I was beloved of my God and Savior. But something was missing; I was always groping for a mysterious grace the lack of which made me often sorrowful in the very midst of my most sacred joy, imperfect when I most longed for perfection. It was that personal love of Christ of which my precious mother so often spoke to me, which she often urged me to seek upon my knees. If I had known then, as I know now, what this priceless treasure could be to a sinful human soul, I would have sold all that I had to buy the field in which it lay hidden. But not till I was shut up to prayer and to the study of God's word by the loss of earthly joys, sickness destroying the flavor of them all, did I begin to penetrate the mystery that is learned under the cross. And wondrous as it is, how simple is this mystery! To love Christ, and to know that I love Him - this is all!" (p 271)

This story is an excellent one and ultimately shows how God worked in one woman's life to bring her from an unhappy girl to a woman who loved Christ. It's a great story and definitely one that I'd consider a "classic."

See the next post for some discussion questions! Have a great day!

Stepping Heavenward--Elizabeth Prentiss Part 3

Here is the chapter 4 review!

Title: Stepping Heavenward
Author: Elizabeth Prentiss
Published: Originally published: in 1869. It has been republished several times over the years. The particular book I'm reviewing is a paperback that was published in 2001 by Solid Ground Christian Books. (I know that Lamplighter has also published Stepping Heavenward in a hardback book)
Background Information: See previous posts entitled "Stepping Heavenward"

Stepping Heavenward...

Shortly after Charley and Katy become engaged, Katy comes down with a serious cold. Charley is somewhat surprised with her tendency toward coughing and worries that she might be prone to consumption (consumption was very common back in those days and generally it was associated with coughing along with other nasty things that we won't get into here :-) ) Charley doesn't like to here Katy cough, because it reminds him of his mother who died of consumption. Katy gets worse and worries that she may die, Charley tells her he has to stay away until she gets better, Katy also wonders if they were married, if Charley would leave if she has a cough.

Katy soon comes to the conclusion that she must break off their engagement, so as to not have Charley "suffer" with her poor health. She comes to think of her self-sacrifice as "beautiful" and soon writes a note to tell Charley the engagement is off.

Charley writes a note back and thanks her for bringing the engagement to the end and tells her when watching his mother die he "vowed never to marry a consumptive woman" towards the end he writes; "I hope the consolations of religion will now be yours. Your notes, the lock of your hair, etc. I return with this. I will not reproach you for the pain you have cost me; I know it is not your fault that your health has become so frail" (p 35).

Katy is insulted by the reply and informs him in another note that "the scales have fallen from my eyes." Katy consulted with the doctors and they told her that the sickness is not "alarming" and she will soon recover. She tells him that she gave him the opportunity to break off the engagement not thinking he would take her up on it, but continue to support her. She ends by saying: "I thought I loved a man, and could lean on him when strength failed me. I know now that I loved a mere creature of my imagination" She returns his letters and ring and says "and find, if you can, a woman who will never be sick, never out of spirits, and who never will die. "

He replies saying--"Thank God it is not Kate Mortimer. I want an angel for my wife, not a vixen" (p 35).

Katy then tells her mother about the letters, the broken engagement, etc. Her mother says "God has heard my prayers! He is reserving better things for my precious child!"
The whole experience also has resulted in drawing Katy closer to God.

Later Amelia comes to visit Katy and reproaches her for breaking off the engagement before she consulted with the doctors. Katy attempt to make it clear that she is still glad it is off, since she knows Charley's true character. Amelia also tells Katy that Charley's uncle is going to make Charley his heir and Charley will become rich.

Less than a month after Katy and Charley's engagement is broken, Charley becomes engaged to Amelia. Katy is still upset by the news, however, she gets over it and finds herself wanting to find true happiness. Soon after the news of the engagement she goes to see her pastor, Dr. Cabot. Katy explains her frustrations to him, and he tells her that while everything she is explaining to him is true, that God loves her. Katy has trouble believing him that God does love her, he tells her to go home and say to herself: "I am a wayward foolish child. But He loves me! I have disobeyed and grieved Him ten thousand times over. But He loves me! I have lost faith in some of my dearest friends and am very desolate. But He loves me! I do not love Him, I am very angry with Him! But He loves me!" (p 39).

Katy goes home thinking of this and kneels down to pray. She writes: "all my wasted, childish, wicked life came and stared me in the face. I looked at it and said with tears of joy, "But He loves me!" Never in my life did I feel so rested, so quieted, so sorrowful, and yet so satisfied" (p 39).

The next several pages Katy writes about how her mother is glad that she finally has peace. She writes about more visits with Dr. Cabot and how he helps her. Dr. Cabot also tells Katy that she should try to talk to her mother about some of her concerns. Katy has a hard time explaining why she can't talk to her mother and says--"But we girls can't talk to our mothers about any of our sacred feelings, and we hate to have them talk to us." Dr. Cabot feels that something is wrong somewhere and says "A young girl's mother is her natural refuge in every perplexity." (p 42). He also encourages/reminds Katy that she is still a baby in Christ and encourages her to do things for God's glory.

Katy later discusses with him that she is troubled by the fact she doesn't know the exact moment when she became a "real Christian." He encourages her not to worry about the moment but says: "The question is not, do you remember, my child, when you entered this world, and how! It is simply this, are you now alive and an inhabitant thereof?" (p 42). (to clarify--Dr.Cabot is referring to the world of being a Christian)

Several more pages go on about how Katy is getting on in her "new" life. She still feels frustrated at times, and especially when her mother talks to her about her "disorderly" habits. Katy then goes again to see Dr. Cabot, but ends up talking to his wife instead. Katy tells her how she wants to do some really "good" for Christ, but can't think of how or what do. Mrs. Cabot encourages her to do her "daily duties" for Him, and that will make Him happy. Katy is surprised by this thought and asks "And do you really think that God notices such little things?" (p 47) Mrs. Cabot says:

"If there is any one truth I would gladly impress on the mind of a young Christian, it is just this, that God notices the most trivial act, accepts the poorest, most threadbare little service, listens to the coldest, feeblest petition, and gathers up with parental fondness all our fragmentary desires and attempts at good works. Oh, if we could only begin to conceive how He loves us, what different creatures we would be!" (p 47)

Katy goes home feeling "inspired by her enthusiasm" even though she isn't quite sure exactly what she means. Katy starts changing some of her habits, and her mother is surprised to see how nicely Katy is keeping things. Katy also muses that if God notices every little thing she does to please Him, that He must also notice every cross word we speak, every shrug of the shoulders, every ungracious look, and that they displease Him. And my list of such offenses is as long as my life!" (p 47).

Katy writes about how one day she feels cheerful and the next she writes how she is missing Amelia's friendship. Her mother encourages her and tells her that she has been living a long time for herself and that now she must live for others. She encourages Katy to take a Sunday School class and go with her to visit poor people. Katy is not very excited about the idea--she feels her time is fully occupied with books, music and drawing, and she hates a sickroom. :-) However, she decides that she will take a Sunday School.

More to follow later!

Stepping Heavenward--Elizabeth Prentiss Part 2

Chapters 2 and 3 are here for you to read. Eventually I will start summarizing more chapters in shorter amounts, however, for the first few chapters, I want to go into more detail. :-)

Title: Stepping Heavenward
Author: Elizabeth Prentiss Published:
Originally published: in 1869. It has been republished several times over the years. The particular book I'm reviewing is a paperback that was published in 2001 by Solid Ground Christian Books. (I know that Lamplighter has also published Stepping Heavenward in a hardback book)
Background Information: See first two posts entitled "Stepping Heavenward"

Stepping Heavenward...

In June, Katy writes about how her Pastor--Dr. Cabot preaches specifically to the young people. He talks to those who--knew they did not love God, those who knew they did love God, and those who did not know what to think. Dr. Cabot feels that most of his listeners were in the third category and were not sure if they did love their Master. Katy feels she is in this category and decides to go to a class he is starting on Saturday afternoons.

She goes to the meeting (Amelia also goes), the pastor is glad to see her and asks her a few questions. He uses the example of her mother to help her see if she loves God.
After some discussion on trying to help them see if they love God, Amelia says--"Couldn't we obey Him from fear?" The pastor says "Yes; and so you might obey your mother from fear, but only for a season. If you had no real love for her, you would gradually cease to dread her displeasure; whereas it is in the very nature of love to grow stronger and more influential every hour" (p. 15).

Amelia then says--"You mean, then, that if we want to know whether we love God, we must find out whether we are obeying Him?" (p 15). The pastor says that is exactly what he means and point them to John 14:21. He invites them to come back again if they have more questions.

Amelia and Katy leave and Amelia claims that she understood everything that Dr. Cabot says. Katy still feels like she is "in a fog" but is determined that she will pray more regularly.

Due to the summer months, Katy stops going to see Dr. Cabot and even avoids him when he comes to see her. Amelia later tells Katy that she had another talk with Dr. Cabot and has become a Christian...she claims that "it is ever so easy to be a Christian!" (p. 17). Katy is frustrated that it can be so easy for her and writes--"Well, if I am destined to be miserable, I must try to bear it."

In October, school begins again and Katy writes about her studies and other things. She has more discussions with her mother and writes--"Well, I shall be young but once, and while I am, do let me have a good time!" (p. 18). In late October, her father has an accident and as a result dies from it. This is a obviously a shock for the family and Katy becomes a very serious as a result. Katy gets frustrated with people offering "comfort" and observes how well her mother holds up during the entire process. Katy's mother also mentions to her at one point that she must control herself more and not allow such "passions of grief."
Her mother also mentions that she spends too much time "brooding over my sorrow."

Her mother tells her "What you need is such a living, personal love to Christ as shall make the thought of being where He is so delightful as to fill your mind with that single thought!" (p 22) Katy wonders what "personal love to Christ" is. By January, just before her 17th birthday the family is forced to move into a smaller house. Katy's mother hopes that doing this will be able to help get James (Katy's brother) through college.

By June Katy's school days are over and that she is pleased that she can "draw and practice to her heart's content" (p 25). Her mother points out that she will not find her heart's content in these activities.

Katy's friend Amelia is now good friends with Jenny Underhill--Katy find this somewhat trying but does find Jenny to be "quite nice." Jenny lends her books to her and Katy writes that "I wish I liked more solid reading; but I don't. And I wish I was not so fond of novels; but I am" (p 25). Jenny also shows Amelia and Katy a picture of her brother Charley. Jenny tells Katy that she would like her brother because "he is exactly like the heroes" Katy admires in books. Katy is doubtful and writes that "Very few like me" Amelia says that is because Katy says "just what you think." :-) Katy is eventually introduced to Charley, and to her surprise, he likes her! She soon finds herself liking him. Amelia, Jenny, and Katy soon decide to get together to discuss books...with Charley "directing" the readings. Katy forgets to tell her mother about it and when they are getting together to meet and Katy's house, her mother finds out--and isn't happy about the arrangement.

Katy and her mother have some discussions about Charley. Katy's mother is surprised at Katy's affection toward Charley--and that she has not been consulted at all. Katy's mother soon meets with Charley and they argue about the whole matter. Soon, Charley's uncle and sister try to convince Katy's mother that it would be good for Charley to "settle down."

Katy's mother agrees that Charley and Katy can have a year's probation. Charley is allowed to spend one evening with Katy every two weeks, and Katy's mother will always be present. They are not allowed to be seen together in public or correspond. After a year, if they still want to, they are allowed to be engaged. Charley finds these constraints rather annoying.

Katy's mother still tries to convince Katy that this is not the best young man for her and says that a marriage with him would not make her happy. Katy is shocked to think about marriage...she writes "I felt a chill creep over me. All I had wanted was to have Charley come here every day, take me out now and then, and care for nobody else" (p 31).

Her mother says "Yes, marriage!...For what is the meaning of an engagement if marriage is not to follow?" She goes on about how Charley cannot be good for her and says "You are captivated by what girls of your age call beauty, regular features, a fair complexion and soft eyes. His flatteries delude, and his professions of affection gratify you. You do not see that he is shallow, and conceited, and selfish and--" (p 31)

Katy interrupts and is upset with her mother's assessment. Finally, the year's probation is up--and despite her mother's warnings Katy and Charley are engaged.

Don't you find it interesting that even a book written in 1869, the character does not think about marriage while she is "courting" a young man? (Her mother has to point it out to her!) She primarily just wants to have fun and have his primary attention directed toward her. Doesn't this type of relationship sound familiar to us readers today?

More to follow in another post!

Stepping Heavenward--Elizabeth Prentiss Part 1

Hello all! At last I am getting to reviewing Stepping Heavenward! However, this is just chapter 1! I am going to have to find a way to stop writing to so much. :-)

Title: Stepping Heavenward

Author: Elizabeth Prentiss Published:

Originally published: in 1869. It has been republished several times over the years. The particular book I'm reviewing is a paperback that was published in 2001 by Solid Ground Christian Books. (I know that Lamplighter has also published Stepping Heavenward in a hardback book)

Background Information: See first post entitled "Stepping Heavenward"

Stepping Heavenward...

As mentioned in my first post, the book starts out with Katy saying "How dreadfully old I am getting! Sixteen!" Her first diary entry begins January 15, 1831. She discusses how she was going to get up early, but it seemed so cold and felt so warm in bed, she stayed in bed and "made ever so many good resolutions." She wants to begin her journal--she has done several in the past, but always got tired of them. She resolves to please her mother, be more self-denying and thinks how everyone will be surprised to see her improved. :-) However, she takes so long thinking about this, that it causes her to stay in bed a little too long, and she has to rush around to get ready for the day. She is then late for breakfast and prayers. Her mother makes a point of mentioning her tardiness, causing Katy to "flare up." In a hurry to get to school she insists that she doesn't need her overshoes (a bigger shoe/boot like thing that is worn over regular shoes to protect from the cold or wet weather)

Katy has a good day at school and gets a present from her friend Amelia. The gift is a hair net and Katy writes--"Nets are just coming into fashion." She is excited to get one because it will save her time and she won't have to comb her hair--just twist and squeeze and be done. :-)

When she gets home her mother has, what I would call a "discussion" with her. Her mother tells Katy of her faults and that her character will be "essentially formed" by the time she is 20. Katy's shocked to think she has only four years to improve herself. Her mother also says--"I hope you really are a child of God, and are trying to please Him. And it is my daily prayer that you may become a lovely, loving, useful woman." (p.3)
The discussion goes on longer and Katy leaves upset and angry with the whole conversation.

When she gets to her room she sees a note and a Bible from her mother, on her desk. In the note her mother asks her to read "A few verses, to carefully read and ponder, instead of a chapter or two for mere form's sake" (p.4). Katy then randomly opens her Bible up to Matthew 24:42--"Watch, therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming." Katy writes--"I felt a real repugnance to be always on the watch, thinking I might die at any moment. I am sure I am not fit to die. Besides I want to have a good time, with nothing to worry me. I hope I shall live ever so long. Perhaps in the course of forty or fifty years I may get tired of this world and want to leave it. And I hope by that time I shall be a great deal better than I am now, and fit to go to heaven" (p. 4).

Katy then writes a note to her mother and goes down to dinner, she spends the rest of her evening enjoyably and her friend Amelia is at dinner too.

Katy's writing in her diary is somewhat sporadic and several days later she writes and mentions a cold she has. (due to the fact that she didn't wear her overshoes...)
She is sick for awhile and says--"I do wonder if I shall ever really learn that Mother knows more than I do!" (p 6)

In February she writes how she feels out of sorts and that she prays to God to "make me better, and why doesn't He?" Later her health returns and she feels grateful that God has made her well, and wishes that she loved Him better.

Katy writes for awhile about a variety of things, her interests--which involve reading, drawing, singing, and playing the piano. She watches her mother help a neighbor with a sick child--sadly the child dies. She records arguments with her mother and brother.

In May she writes how she is going to practice self-denial by sharing her friend Amelia with a classmate. This goes over well with Amelia and Katy ends up getting jealous.
She has a discussion about it with her mother and her mother tries to make her see how God is willing to help her. Katy's mother also says--"I do wish I could make you love to pray, my darling child" (p 12). Katy records how she finds praying to be hard work and wishes there was an easier way of "growing good" she also wishes that God would send her a sweet temper, like he sent bread and meat to Elijah. She writes--"I don't believe Elijah had to kneel down and pray for them like I do" (p 12).

More to follow in another post!