miracles then and now

A lot of people believe in miracles. Some people see miracles all over the place: a parking space opens up just as they’re ready to leave the Wal-Mart parking lot after circling around 3 times. Some people see miracles when a loved one is healed of cancer. For others the miracle moment is the dream job, or the perfect baby 10 fingers and 10 toes, after years of trying to start a family. For others it’s the miracles of Jesus, 2000 years ago. And even then it’s hard to say if they really believe in them. For some people that Jesus kind of miracles still happen today, but for others, those miracles died out years ago.

The miracle that God has in store for you today may just be understanding that those miracles of long ago might just have some bearing on your current reality. Find Your Miracle: How the Miracles of Jesus Can Change Your Life Today (WaterBrook, 2016) is Kerry and Christ Shook’s picture of that ‘miracle map’ that gets you from point A to Point B—in other words a connection between the Jesus miracles of those long ago moments to “our needs today for revelation, transformation, and restoration.”

The book covers 9 familiar biblical miracles as performed by Jesus and recorded in the Gospels, and applies them to life circumstances such as when you’re stuck, overwhelmed or discouraged, afraid, hurting or longing for something new. And somehow this new ‘take’ seems to work. At least most of the time.

It was easy for me to get caught up in the miracle, and in the telling of the story and how it applies, but forget that I should be seeking Jesus rather than the miracle. That fact is mentioned, it’s pointed out, but I would have liked to see it accented a little more heavily.  We live in a world that doesn’t always want to see Jesus as the source. We live in a world that doesn’t want to conform to God's laws. We don’t want to do the work, just reap the reward.

I’m glad I got the book, and there is definitely good material here for someone trying to understand why we have to read about Jesus making a mud plaster out of spit and dust and using it to bring sight to the blind.

I received a copy of this book as part of WaterBrook’s blogging for books program. I was not required to write a positive review.

4/5

is your dream the same as God's

Do you have a dream? Of course you do. We all do? The real question is do you know what your dream is? And when we ask the question that may, the answers may be different. Philip Wagner, in his book Unlock Your Dream: Discover the Adventure You Were Created For (WaterBrook, 2016) offers some suggestions for answering that question.

            Like many of the books I buy or request for review, I found the title to be compelling. The brief synopsis of the book piqued my interest, I mean, who doesn’t want to discover and reach God's dreams for our lives. Almost everybody I know wants to achieve his or her full potential. The idea of being empowered and equipped to soar to new heights, to realize our dreams, and to live a life full of joy and expectation for an adventuresome future sounds almost too good to be true. 

Unfortunately this book didn’t quite take me to those dizzying heights. It’s an easy read, there are lots of good examples of making sweet lemonade out of the sour lemons that sometimes show up in all of our lives, but as a life-changer, for me, it didn’t quite work.

Each chapter offers examples of ways that dreams work—or don’t. Most of them are examples from the author’s personal experiences, or experiences of those with whom he has worked in the context of his ministry (long term pastor of Oasis Church in Los Angeles).  One of the highlights of each chapter is the conclusion: dream locks, dream keys, and scripture key. Basically a few sentences that describe some of the things that keep us from achieving our dreams, some effective countermeasures to those negatives, and then a scripture verse to back up the countermeasure.

This book is going to be a delight for a large number of readers, (my guess is that the 20th-80th percentile). Those at the top end of the spectrum will be happy and content already and so won’t really be motivated by, or need the motivation provided by this book.  Those on the bottom edge will probably not be able to see past their own hopelessness and disillusionment, and won’t be able to take hope in the fact that God really does have a plan for them. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Blogging for Books, book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

3/5

A Dog's Purpose

         I know some of you have dogs. They quickly become a part of our lives, our families and our hearts. The movie "A Dog's Purpose"  looks like it's going to show how we quickly become a part of our dog's heart too. Based on the beloved bestselling novel by W. Bruce Cameron, A DOG’S PURPOSE, is a sweet and lovable family film that shares the soulful and surprising story of one devoted dog (voiced by Josh Gad) who finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he teaches to laugh and love.  Told from the perspective of “everybody’s best friend” the film highlights the importance of familial bonds, and the unconditional love we have for our best friends. The movie stars Dennis Quaid, Britt Robertson, K.J. Apa, and John Ortiz.

   Watch the trailer here

  And there's a fun part too. Does your dog have a purpose? If you're in his or her life, he or she does. 
So have fun, and Celebrate Your Dog’s Purpose!!! The movie’s website is creating a fun and wonderful collage from families who upload photos of their beloved dogs. We invite you to celebrate your dog’s purpose by uploading your furry friend's picture and telling the world how your dog enriches the lives around you. 

   Go here to upload your Dog Purpose photo and story

          There is also information about the film’s wonderful partnership with the non-profit Best Friends Animal Society, and photos of dogs available for adoption (Warning: you may not be able to resist! )

     Remember the movie opens JANUARY 27