daddy4ms

Who is your favorite author?  There are many great authors out there.  I will be sharing over the next several months authors who have helped me grow in grace and the gospel.  I will try and include images of some of my favorite books by them. These will be shared in alphabetical order. Author: Michael Horton

Christmas has come and gone.  So, every year after Christmas I share new books that I received as gifts.  I love to read and appreciate the gift of books.  So, here is today's New Book Friday:

As I have continued to read Gospel Powered Parenting by William Farley, I have struggled.  Chapter 3 was difficult.  I would probably not recommend this book to parents because of this chapter.  Chapters 4-5 seemed to help a little, but something is missing.  I am going to finish the book, but won't recommend it to others.  His understanding of fear, holiness, and grace are much different from mine and more importantly my understanding of the Bible.  With that said, I believe fear, holiness, and grace are biblical.  However, I would see a different definition in Scripture than Farley. These chapters heap condemnation on parents if they don't measure up.  But then he says something that makes me question my strong feelings.  This book has confused me more than any other book I have read because of how it mixes law and gospel.  Most books I disagree with are heavy on law and moralism only.  This one blends law and gospel which makes...

Jefferson Bethke has written an excellent book on the differences between religion and a relationship with Jesus.  I am sharing more quotes from the book today: Many Christians don't really care about God; they just want to use him to get what they truly want--status, a nice job, a car, forgiveness--you name it. . . .We have elevated the gifts above the Giver.  Thankfulness is the quickest path to joy. He owes us nothing, but he gives us everything. It is clear in Scripture that he is not the source of evil, nor did he cause it, but he promises he can use it. . . .Suffering is never from God, but he can redeem it. Again, when you are suffering, God is not punishing you. I am so sure of this because God promised that he has already laid all punishment on Jesus on our behalf. When I'm struggling, one of the most encouraging things is to just have my friends and family be there for me. Their simple presence--saying nothing, simply sitting there with me--a...

Over the last week, I have been sharing quotes from Gospel by J.D. Greear.  Here are some more quotes about transformation. The power for transformation comes from the gospel. We are changed not by being told what we need to do for God, but by hearing the news about what God has done for us. Gospel change is the Spirit of God using the story of God to make the beauty of God come alive in our hearts. Awe combined with intimacy is the essence of Christian worship. . .Really seeing those three things, God's awesome size, His untouchable holiness, and His tender mercy, is how we will change too. The way we will stop sinning is not by being told over and over, "Stop sinning!" but by seeing the majesty and glory of God in our hearts. Before Christianity tells you to do anything, it calls you to sit in wonder and amazement at what God has done for you.          

"Grace From Beginning to End" was afternoon session with two speakers J.D. Greear & Scotty Smith. J.D. Greear spoke first on "Recovering the Power that Makes Christianity Revolutionary" Author of several books and lead pastor in North Carolina. What does gospel mean? How does it change us? Genesis 3-conditions sin left us in: spiritually dead & naked Human heart became an idol factory.   God's law on our hearts makes us respond in one of two ways: when law no longer present, we go back to old way of doing things or spiritually snap (I can't do this!).   Good works are done for self-justification. Every religion in world teaches "I obey therefore I am accepted." Christianity teaches "I am accepted so I obey." Three things the gospel does that religion cannot do    1. Gospel reveals to us God is more glorious than our idols (2 Corin. 3:18)    2. Gospel overwhelms us with grace (1 John 4:1...

How would you answer this question?  Before you begin lecturing me about ignoring sin, let me say that I am not interested in explaining away sin, but instead wondering if we focus too much on it. I have been on a journey these last few months trying to understand why much of our belief about God or the Christian life focuses on the negative.  Is this what God's Word teaches?  I hope to be able to answer this question soon. One book I am reading right now is called The Gospel of Yes by Mike Glenn.  As I was reading this week, several of his quotes from Chapter 2 spoke to my journey and questions I have been pondering.  Here are some of those quotes: "One generation after another has been trapped in the habit of no."  "But the no of God is also positive. Like the banks of a river, our given limits increase our power by focusing our potential." "The Ten Commandments, those great "Thou shalt nots," are gifts of grace and mercy. God offers th...

I have begun reading a book called Red Letter Revolution by Shane Claiborne & Tony Campolo.  I will be writing a review once I complete the book so I don't want to say much at this time.  While I don't agree with them on a few things, their dialogue has forced me to better understand what I believe and why.  Here are a few quotes that I have appreciated: "Over the past few decades our Christianity has become obsessed with what Christians believe rather than how Christians live. We talk a lot about doctrines but little about practice." "We choose the American dream instead of the gospel dream." "it is pretentious to think we can be Christian without the church." "We need to be part of repairing what's broken rather than jumping ship." "For me, I did not choose Jesus because I was scared to death of hell. Nor did I choose Jesus because I wanted mansions in heaven and streets of gold. I chose Jesus because he's wo...