The WordCaster

Ravi Zacharias has brought together Christian apologists to give us a contemporary primer on issues confronting believers today, and how we are to defend the faith to which we have been called. Each subject is approached with a scholarly eye, but is written in the language of the day for the experienced layman, or new believer.

Get it, read it, absorb it, and use it. Don’t let it become just one more resource that fails its purpose for lack of use. I appreciate Thomas nelson giving me a gratis copy to read. It will continue to be a valuable resource for years to come.

In typical John MacArthur fashion, he hits us head on with the Jesus of the New Testament that was focused on completing the most unique mission ever undertaken. While being the Christ of love, He is also the Christ of great strength. We can see the singleness of purpose that we are to emulate as we take the gospel into a hostile world.

MacArthur mines the scriptures to relay not only what God’s word reveals to us about Jesus that is not typically portrayed in Sunday School Bible stories, but also how this should impact our life. A great read for anyone wanting to better understand the God-man and how we are to be transformed into His image. I appreciate Thomas Nelson sending me this one gratis to read.

Any book with “manifesto” in the title had better be unique; after all, the word means a declaration of principles. For born again believers Christ is to be the essence of our manifesto – our all in all. However, the church today has fallen swiftly away from Christ and into the mainstream consumerism mania that permeates our “me” generation.

Sweet and Viola draw a line in the proverbial sand, and act as a voice of two crying out in the wilderness calling the church back to its’ first love – Jesus Christ. The devotional style composition makes it a great “guide” for those who want to receive what is said and take some time asking God how it may apply to their life.

I appreciate Thomas Nelson giving me the opportunity to read Jesus Manifesto in exchange for writing this review.

I heard Andy Andrews speak at a motivational seminar about fifteen years ago and thought it would be interesting to read one of his books. He was a good story teller back then so I thought it may translate over into his writing. This is a World War II era historical fiction.  The characters are well developed and the antagonists and protagonists are all in place. The glaring flaw is that the ending is too predictable.

He does write a good story. It is an enjoyable read, but what with such a predictable ending I found myself rushing through it in order to finish what I had started, not discover how the story is brought together for a clever and unforeseen ending. As this was a gratis book received from Thomas Nelson in exchange for writing a review, I suffered no buyer’s remorse.

Read my most recent article in the Athens (Georgia) Banner-Herald here.

This is not a question just being asked by fringe kooks that wear tin foil hats. It is a question being asked by ordinary folk, including evangelical Christians. The biggest challenge is sifting through all of the various theories and determining if there is any basis of fact. Hundley has done this for us. Not only does he cover the major rumors that are floating around in the tabloids and on late night talk radio, but he provides cogent discussions for those possibilities that have substance.

I was surprised to know there are scientific facts to back up some claims. He also confirmed that others are to be dismissed as the nonsense they appeared to be. However, the most important thing Hundley does is tell us how to be prepared for the certainty that whether it is tomorrow, 2012, or 2032 this world will one day end for each of us.

Thomas Nelson provided this book for me to review, gratis, but my rating and review of it is not affected by this fact.

Miller’s biography of our much revered Paul reads as swift as Larkin’s big brown mare that carried the patriot on his infamous ride. It was an excellent read with anecdotal insights gleaned from Revere’s writings and those of his contemporaries.

While most have heard of the midnight ride made famous in verse, it is Revere’s roles as husband, father, soldier and entrepreneur that helped me to sense the humanness of this oft overlooked Revolutionary War leader. Miller’s biographical narrative is separated into vignettes of chapters; each providing not only the facts, but the motivations that spurred Revere to act. We see Revere as the eager apprentice in his father’s silversmith; the smitten young lover as he courts his first wife; the grieving father as he buries his child; the struggling provider as his income dwindles; and the fearless patriot as he is captured by his country’s enemy.

Reading this biography reminded me of the cost of freedom, and the blessings we enjoy today because of those who, against all odds, were willing to unselfishly risk themselves and their fortunes to achieve it…certainly a timely reminder for me as I consider the winds of change blowing throughout our nation.

In the spirit of full disclosure, this book was provided to me gratis by Thomas Nelson for my review.

Read my most recent article in the Athens (Georgia) Banner-Herald here.

Speaker Pelosi  is trying to strong arm enough House members to vote for Obamacare.  It looks as if it will come down to the wire. Obamacare is not what the majority of the American people want; however, the President, the Speaker, and the Senate Majority Leader believe themselves so superior to the people of this country that they are willing to commit political suicide in order to have their way.  In fact, it won’t be Obama that suffers the immediate impact, but it will be Pelosi and Reid.  If this bill is passed it will set up the mother of all backlashes at the polls in November.  The Republican surge in 1994 will look anemic compared to the changing seats in 2010.

In order to move the legislation forward, the Senate version of the bill must be voted on by the House.  If approved, it will be signed into law by the President.  Do not be naive enough to think that once it is signed into law there will be any sort of reconciliation process.  The reconciliation rhetoric will immediately be replaced by more “hard pivot” rhetoric on jobs creation.  The massive takeover of our nations health care will begin.  Your tax dollars will be used to fund the murdering of babies by the hundreds of thousands.  Planned Parenthood clinics will be funded.  Taxes will be assessed to pay for abortion coverage in insurance policies.  Physicians and other health care workers will be mandated to perform abortions, even though it may be morally abhorrent to them…unless they are willing to leave their chosen profession.

Time is short.  God can still intervene.  I pray He does.

  Read my most recently published article in the Athens (Georgia) Banner-Herald op/ed page here.