Experience the First Testament in a new way

             For the sake of transparency, let me say that I love the Old Testament. (Don't get me wrong the New Testament ties with the Old for my favorite). But as much as I appreciate and enjoy reading the OT, there are times when things don't make sense.  Yes I have a concordance; I read the commentaries; different translations, and even paraphrases, are often helpful; but still, sometimes I just don't get it.
            Why? Because quite often, even after traveling to the Holy Land, I don't understand the culture. I often don't even understand the local culture of the 21st century, so there's no way I can pretend to understand the culture in which Jesus grew up and ministered 2000 years ago.  I want to understand it though, so when I was browsing a list of books for review, I was drawn in by the title of Lois Tverberg's new book,  Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus: How a Jewish Perspective Can Transform Your Understanding (Baker Books, 2017).

         And before I go any further, let me say that I was not disappointed. Tverberg has spent time in the Holy Land, studying the language, getting to know the people, and learning about the culture. She is able to help the reader see how things make sense when we learn to read them with middle-eastern eyes. Not everyone in the world thinks the way the typical westerner might. Reading this book helps me remember that, and gives me insight into how the people reading the scrolls might have interpreted them. Much differently than I do, because they had the oral history to help them put things in context. And many people had memorized the Torah (books of the Law). They had studied the teachings of the rabbis, and they knew the scriptures.  I have trouble remembering any passage longer than John 11:35 (Jesus wept.)
              And then we remember the familiar saying "It's Greek to me!".  Greeks and Hebrews had entirely different ways of ordering things, and looking at the world.  While reading the chapter " Greek Brain, Hebrew Brain' I was reminded of this difference, and was able to remember that there were a couple of different worldviews in play.
             Jesus knew Scripture, he used it, quoted it, applied it, and invites us to do the same. And with His help, it's so much easier.
              All in all I found this to be a very enjoyable, informative book, written in an easy to understand manner. Highly recommended for anyone who struggles with making sense out of some of those passages that need the background information that may or may not be included in your study Bible
5/5

Raising Passionate Jesus Followers--my thoughts

        My son is a young adult, so I missed out on many of the stages that the Comers write about in Raising Passionate Jesus Followers: the Power of Intentional Parenting (Zondervan, 2018). But I have to admit, that I didn't find anything new or earth-shattering in any of the chapters. Yes there was some good advice in places, but all of that advice can certainly be found in any number of other places. And since I remember doing some of the things that were recommended, I guess I found that advice in other places. Or perhaps it was common sense. Read the bible to your kids; take them to church; at different ages, they have different needs and should be dealt with according to what level of maturity they have; all your kids are different and need to be treated as individuals. WOW! What a surprise.

        My first concern about what I was reading came early on, in the forward written by Emerson Eggerichs.  A pastor was so impressed with how well his parents had done parenting him that he invited them to teach a parenting class which he attended. I love my parents too. That doesn't make them experts.

      I'm used to reading books that suggest that this is what worked for the author in his context, but it often comes with the caveat that this is what he did, and that it might not, probably won't, work for someone else. This book seemed to be more along the lines of the authors saying "this is what works..."

      I received a copy of this book in exchange for the review.

     3/5

POPE: The most Powerful Man in History premiers Sunday, Mar 11 on CNN

Depending on any number of variables, the Pope is either the best loved, or most reviled man in the world. As spiritual Leader for over 1 billion Roman Catholics, he holds an incredible amount of power. The person sitting on the Papal throne has not always been as popular as the incumbent Pope Francis, and over the years there have been abuses of power, but the Pope speaks to the masses, to the elite of the world, and to Presidents and Kings.

Starting Sunday, March 11, 10:00 pm ET/PT a docuseries about this powerful personage premiers on CNN. POPE: The Most Powerful Man in History which takes a closer look at early Christianity, and what it actually means to be Pope. The series explores some of the most impactful moments in history including schisms within the Catholic Church, the creation, commission, and cost of some of the world’s most iconic and beloved religious works of art during the Renaissance, and the Reformation that paved the way for reflection and reform.

And to make this series even more interesting, at least for those of us who like to travel, there is a contest starting this week with the prize being a trip to Rome, a trip which includes a visit to the Vatican, where much of the intrigue of the Papacy happens, and where priceless works of art are on display.

Synopsis:  POPE: The Most Powerful Man in History explores the truth about the one world leader who is neither politician nor general – but commands the attention of both. For more than 2000 years, the head of the Roman Catholic Church has wielded unimaginable influence – shaping the world and our daily lives in surprising ways. Now, combining never-before-seen footage, exclusive interviews, and dramatic recreations, this upcoming six-part television series focuses on the men who have held this unique and complicated position, and reveals the unexpected true stories from the Vatican’s past.  The series also delves into the important historical moments that forever changed the Catholic Church – from the foundations of the Reformation to the origins of a new religious order within Catholicism – the Jesuits.  The series premieres on Sunday, March 11 on CNN.

Click here for a brieftrailer

Read the PRESS RELEASE and enter to win the trip of a lifetime:

LOS ANGELES - March 2, 2018 –  History buffs, travel enthusiasts, and anyone who has ever dreamed of visiting (or revisiting) one of the most iconic cities in the world will have a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Rome.  Inspired by the upcoming television premiere of Pope: The Most Powerful Man In History, contestants can vie for the opportunity to win by visiting the website:  www.myvaticanvacation.com.  Giveaway begins March 8 and ends on April 15.

The winner of the giveaway will receive the following:

·         Airfare and five nights of hotel accommodations for two in Rome.

·         A $500 gift card.

·         A rare and private tour of The Vatican. 

The Vatican is home to some of the greatest works of art including The Pieta, Raphael’s Transfiguration, Leonardo Da Vinci’s St. Jerome In The Wilderness, the statue of Apollo Belvedere, and a painting of The Last Judgement by Michelangelo, located inside The Sistine Chapel.  The Sistine Chapel is famous throughout the world as the location where The College of Cardinals from The Roman Catholic Church, meet when a new Pope has to be elected.

Narrated by Liam Neeson, Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History, is a six-part CNN Original Series that explores how 12 apostles became 1.2 billion Catholics today, linking recent news events surrounding the Vatican with their unexpected origins. 

“Ever since a man, claiming to be the Son of God, was nailed to a wooden cross over 2000 years ago, the Catholic religion has had a huge and profound influence and impact on our society," said Neeson. "As an amateur scholar myself, I was delighted to learn more about this by narrating a series that sheds a detailed light on how the Popes, past and present, and the Catholic Church came to be a prevailing force through fair means and foul, and along the way inspired some of the world’s greatest works of art.” 

The series’ debut episode, “The Rise of the Pope,” examines the origins of the papacy and how Catholicism, against all odds, spread throughout Europe.  Pope: The Most Powerful Man in History, will premiere Sunday, March 11 on CNN.

The Rescue; Seven People, Seven Amazing Stories...

Many of us have been convinced that there were no options, but then got a good night’s sleep, and woke up feeling refreshed, and able to face another day.  That is many, or even most of us. But some people really do fall into a seemingly bottomless pit, and not see a way out—there are no good night’s sleeps. But then just when it seems that there are no options, Jesus shows up, and life turns the corner.  Sometimes when Jesus is all that you have, you finally realize that Jesus is all you really need.

And in The Rescue: Seven People, Seven Amazing Stories (Jim Cymbala with Ann Spangler, Zondervan, 2017) we meet some people whose lives had taken the turn for the worse, and they thought there was no hope, UNTIL they had their own personal encounter with the Living Lord.

For many people miracles are those things that happened back in New Testament times, when Jesus healed the lame, fed the multitudes, and caused the blind to see, but in this book the Doubting Thomases among us see that miracles still do happen.

I enjoyed reading the stories, and the fact that there are names and pictures of the people involved makes this a little more enjoyable, but in many ways the stories are like those in a Guideposts magazine, or in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book.

Still, I’ll give it a C+/B-

The Cross and Christian Ministry

Don Carson is a prolific writer; I like some of his work, the rest of it, not so much. This book,  "The Cross and Christian Ministry (Baker Books, 1993)  falls into the latter category. I found it stilted, and difficult to read, but, having said that, when I read a passage over and over, I can't fault the teaching. It is important to focus on the cross: in preaching, in leadership, in our faith walk, and in life in general.
I believe that if I happened to be a member of the target audience to whom the series of lectures was first presented, it might have been less cumbersome. And like many things, what comes across well in one format, doesn't always work well in another. (I've enjoyed a lot of books, but when I went to see the movie based on the book, I was disappointed). 
3/5

how the church should be talking about sex

           “Prior to marriage, the enemy does everything in his power to drive us together. And after marriage, the enemy does everything in his power to drive us apart” (advice given to the author prior to her wedding). And therein lies one of the mysteries of sexual attraction. There’s a lot more to it, or in God's plan there should be, than just physical activity. I’m not quite sure what I was expecting when I asked for a copy of Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot (Baker Books,2018), but my expectations were exceeded.

                I almost think I expected a lot of heavy-duty, hard-to-understand, theological reading that would make the most devoted seminary student cringe. And at the same time, I know that far too often, preachers are reluctant to talk about ‘all things sexual’ for fear of offending someone. (i.e. cause people to cut back on their tithes and offerings). I felt that I needed to get someone’s take on how Jesus talked about sex, and not just listen to the voices that want to denounce the LGBQT movement, while ignoring infidelity, adultery, fornication, and all the other sexual sins that are out there.

                So, I was surprised when I started reading, to find that Mo Isom has found a way to write about these topics in ways that are totally understandable, and totally in context with the scriptures that she used to make certain points. If we think that it’s just the world that needs to have these conversations, and hear these truths, we need to step back for a minute and look at how the church, in her quest to make everyone feel welcome, has forgotten some of these truths, and how she needs to hear them again. Perhaps hear them in new ways, and definitely hear them in ways other than “don’t do this.”  We need to be reminded that God isn’t trying to deprive us of joy by saying that sex outside of its intended purpose is wrong, but rather that He’s saying that He has something better in store for us than promiscuous, outside-of-marriage, sexual relations which cheapen our worth in our own eyes, rather than glorify God.

                But beyond telling Biblical truths in readable, relatable, understandable language, Mo takes this discussion one step further. She is telling her story, sharing her pain, and above all, how once God got hold of her, her journey, her path to recovery. 

                I’ve read the Biblical book “The Song of Solomon” and several commentaries about it, and the book is so full of metaphors and literary expressions that I still haven’t been able to uncover the book’s message: the beauty of sex as God designed it.  I’ve read other books about the biblical expression of sex, written by ‘experts’ in their field, and get lost in their lengthy detailed expositions. So, it’s a delight to read a book that is actually written in such a way that it is meant to be read by the majority of the readers in the world who don’t have advanced degrees in linguistics, sociology, and theology.

I wholeheartedly endorse this book!

5/5