Patmos by C. Baxter Kruger Patmos by C. Baxter Kruger is a fanciful tale of a meeting between Aidan and the Apostle John. The writing style is solid, conversational, and helps to make an easy read. The tales that are told during the imaginary conversation between Aidan and John draw the reader in. Except for a lull portion in the middle of the adventure, the relationship between these two people drive the plot along. The best part of this book... Read more
Vote Your Conscience by Brian Kaylor Vote Your Conscience by Brian Kaylor is a book that encourages people to not let party trump principles. This book was written as a guide for the 2016 election. The main thrust book is to encourage Christian to vote their conscience, and not just follow party politics. The audience in general, is the voter, but specifically, Kaylor addresses the Christian evangelical voter. Kaylor addresses the moral dilemma of choosing between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.... Read more
Genesis 18:1-33 Prayer and God’s Blessing We can respond to the promise of God’s blessing by FEAR or FAITH. Two blessings were about to happen. Two prayers were about to be answered. God was going to provide a son as promised. God was going to save a son as promised. One promise was for Sarah. Another promise was for Abraham. Sarah was praying to have a family. Her prayer (or lack of it being answered) was the reason she dismissed... Read more
The Atonement of God by J.D. Myers The Atonement of God by J.D. Myers is a book that shows how to build your theology on the crucivision of God. Myers promotes a non-violent view of the atonement. He promotes a form of the Christus Victor view. He analyzes the penal substitution, the moral influence, and the ransom views of the atonement. He rejects all three and then promotes his own view. In summary, Myers contends that God did not kill... Read more
We Need Fewer Superstars and More Servants September 11, 2016 Luke 11:27-28 Today is the fifteenth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center Towers, the Pentagon. People have spent time today reflecting on that day. Personally, I was teaching in school when I heard that the first plane hit the tower. I was puzzled, but then we all went into a room and watched as the second plane hit. Reflecting on that day, I saw the nation... Read more
Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer is the fourth book in the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works series created by the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Society. contains two parts. Both parts extend his continuing thought about Christ in the midst of the church community. Early in the book, Bonhoeffer defines the purpose of discipleship (40): “Discipleship is joy.” In Part One (which is untitled although Bonhoeffer elsewhere called it “Discipleship in the Synoptics”), Bonhoeffer introduces the idea of discipleship as costly grace... Read more
Revelation 14:14-20 The Two Great Harvests We are nearing the end of summer. The fall is the time of the harvest. Farmers who have spent the entire summer preparing their crops get to harvest their crops for their benefit. Here in Revelation 14, we are nearing the “fall season” of the book. The seal, thunder, and trumpet judgments have all occurred. God has been working in the lives of people to protect the saints and to prepare the world for... Read more
Revelation 14:6-13 Seven Messages of Hope for Today When we look around the world today, we might not see much hope for us. What we see in Revelation 14 can speak to us today. Just as then, we need to hear about hope. This chapter presents seven messages of hope for us today. THE ETERNAL GOSPEL “Then I saw another angel flying high overhead, having the eternal gospel to announce to the inhabitants of the earth—to every nation, tribe, language,... Read more
Genesis 14:17-24 Giving and God’s Blessing We live in a nation known for the freedom that it offers. We have freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, and others. However, the one freedom that very few Americans are experiencing today is the freedom from debt. Americans are drowning in a sea of debt. Many have become slaves to the lenders in today’s economy. As we read in Proverbs, “The rich rules over the poor,... Read more
Unchurching by Richard Jacobson Unchurching by Richard Jacobson defines the purpose of the book with the subtitle: “Christianity without Churchanity.” He opens with the appropriate quote from Richard Halverson, former chaplain of the United States Senate (10): In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centering on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece, where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome, where it became an institution. Next, it moved to Europe,... Read more
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