John MacArthur's book The Truth About Forgiveness is a real look at sin. It explains how people are taking less and less responsibility for their sins and instead declaring themself faultless for things like drinking, shopping, stealing, molesting. They call their behaviors "addictions" and turn themselves in the victims, rather than the perpetrators. MacArthur explains the truth of the situation - humans are sinful and just running from facing their sins. He touches on why the self-esteem cult of psychology doesn't help anyone, but all this denial of responsibility just makes us sicker and sicker.
This book is a good wake up call for believers. Once MacArthur addresses the subject of sin, he then explains that this is the reason we need a savior - enter Jesus Christ. MacArthur tells readers about forgiveness, confession of sin and God's amazing grace. This book is mainly about sin, forgiveness, grace and the gospel. All key elements all Christians could benefit from considering. This book is full of truth. I did find this book a shorter read that most of MacArthur's other works and also a bit easier/lighter/not as deep. Still a great book and I would highly recommend it.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
Empty Promises by Pete Wilson
Sadly, Pete Wilson's book Empty Promises is full of empty promises and filled with mixed and confused theology and questionable teachings that are not grounded in scripture. Anyone who seeks solid doctrine and theology will have trouble with a book that quotes authors from many conflicting theologies and denominations.
Wilson's book is full of conflicting theologies as he quotes from Calvinists and Arminians alike, seemingly not noticing or being aware of the fact that these guys teach opposite core theologies (something all pastors with any formal training should know). He quotes Calvinists like John Calvin, Timothy "Tim" Keller and John Piper VERSUS C.S. Lewis (Anglican/Catholic/mystic), Lewis Smedes (who reaches man deserves salvation and isn't such a bad sinner), Dallas Willard, Henry Nouwen (Anglican), Max Lucado (Church of Christ), John Ortberg, A.W. Tozer, N.T. Wright (Anglican), and Richard J. Foster (Quaker). How do you have 3 guys who teach the opposite of all the other guys and who would say the other guys are not biblical? How do you have quotes from at least 5 different denominations: Reformed, Anglicans, Catholics, Church of Christ and Quakers?
Rick Warren's forward. 1st sentence of the book: "Mother Teresa once observed that in India people are starving physically, but in American people are starving spiritually" (But people in India are more lost spiritually under the Hindu religion than America because at least we have Christianity.)
The good parts are: Wilson writes, "The question isn't "Do we worship" but "Who or what do we worship?" "Idolatry is when I look to something that does not have God's power to give me what only God has the power to give." He also touches on the fact that while some people claim that God is #1 in their lives, their lives prove that He really is not.
As you might expect from an author who doesn't hold to a solid core theology, this book is shallow and unbiblical and full of self-help. This entire book is 9 chapters full of examples of people who seek happiness in material and emotional things and only 2 chapters about instead putting God first. And the solution? Solitude, fasting and prayer. I hope most readers will realize the emptiness in such a works-based religion. On pg 19, Wilson teaches that we are to "invite God to help me know me." What happened to us humans knowing God? God's purpose is not to teach us about ourselves! How self-centered can we get? Who are we humans to insist that the almighty God is to serve us?
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
Wilson's book is full of conflicting theologies as he quotes from Calvinists and Arminians alike, seemingly not noticing or being aware of the fact that these guys teach opposite core theologies (something all pastors with any formal training should know). He quotes Calvinists like John Calvin, Timothy "Tim" Keller and John Piper VERSUS C.S. Lewis (Anglican/Catholic/mystic), Lewis Smedes (who reaches man deserves salvation and isn't such a bad sinner), Dallas Willard, Henry Nouwen (Anglican), Max Lucado (Church of Christ), John Ortberg, A.W. Tozer, N.T. Wright (Anglican), and Richard J. Foster (Quaker). How do you have 3 guys who teach the opposite of all the other guys and who would say the other guys are not biblical? How do you have quotes from at least 5 different denominations: Reformed, Anglicans, Catholics, Church of Christ and Quakers?
Rick Warren's forward. 1st sentence of the book: "Mother Teresa once observed that in India people are starving physically, but in American people are starving spiritually" (But people in India are more lost spiritually under the Hindu religion than America because at least we have Christianity.)
The good parts are: Wilson writes, "The question isn't "Do we worship" but "Who or what do we worship?" "Idolatry is when I look to something that does not have God's power to give me what only God has the power to give." He also touches on the fact that while some people claim that God is #1 in their lives, their lives prove that He really is not.
As you might expect from an author who doesn't hold to a solid core theology, this book is shallow and unbiblical and full of self-help. This entire book is 9 chapters full of examples of people who seek happiness in material and emotional things and only 2 chapters about instead putting God first. And the solution? Solitude, fasting and prayer. I hope most readers will realize the emptiness in such a works-based religion. On pg 19, Wilson teaches that we are to "invite God to help me know me." What happened to us humans knowing God? God's purpose is not to teach us about ourselves! How self-centered can we get? Who are we humans to insist that the almighty God is to serve us?
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
Apocalyptic Tremors by C.R. Chapman
Apocalyptic Tremors by C.R. Chapman was a disappointment to me and I do not think most readers will get a lot from it. I liked the general idea of the book: Chapman holds to a post-trib view of the rapture and believes the millenium happens after the trib. Chapman does explain in 20 points why the pre-trib view does not make sense when held up against all the biblical verses that tell believers that THEY will go through the trib. I liked all of this.
However, outside of this general outline, the rest of the book was really really weak. Chapman was raised with the pre-trib view and it shows. Nearly this whole book still holds to all the tenants of a pre-trib view, except the author has now moved the rapture to the end of the trib. But everything else is the same: temple must be rebuilt, etc. Chapman made statements about how the two witnesses had to come: Elijah has to come AGAIN because John the Baptist only fulfilled part of the Elijah prophecy. Essentially, Chapman didn't really give any clues as to who she thinks anyone is: no answer to the beasts, antichrist or two witnesses.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
However, outside of this general outline, the rest of the book was really really weak. Chapman was raised with the pre-trib view and it shows. Nearly this whole book still holds to all the tenants of a pre-trib view, except the author has now moved the rapture to the end of the trib. But everything else is the same: temple must be rebuilt, etc. Chapman made statements about how the two witnesses had to come: Elijah has to come AGAIN because John the Baptist only fulfilled part of the Elijah prophecy. Essentially, Chapman didn't really give any clues as to who she thinks anyone is: no answer to the beasts, antichrist or two witnesses.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
Simple Secrets to a Happy Life by Luci Swindoll
This book was so disappointing! It should be called "Things my mother taught me" or "Good manners" or "Tips and Habits" or something. The book is nearly void of God and is all about how to live happy, orderly and with others. Maybe this should be called "Good housekeeping."
I was disappointed by all the parts that had nothing to do with God, Jesus, and Christianity. For example: Be on time, be organized, never sign something unless you are sure, make something with your hands, do all your work before you play, draw pictures, be proactive about your health, value the things you own, outside of God focus on whats important now, write down things, be sad, build a library, have fun conversations, think before you speak, thank others, learn a new skill, cook for yourself and more!
The parts that did include some lip service to Christianity was very shallow: Take Jesus with you today, treat others with kindness, read your bible everyday. Ummm... and that's about it! Barely anything at all to do with God in this whole book of 50 tips.
One part was just plain weird: teacher took a dead duck home to study because she loved ducks. Luci writes, "Don't you just love that?" Uhh... I can't say I do and I'm not just being negative, but yuk!
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
I was disappointed by all the parts that had nothing to do with God, Jesus, and Christianity. For example: Be on time, be organized, never sign something unless you are sure, make something with your hands, do all your work before you play, draw pictures, be proactive about your health, value the things you own, outside of God focus on whats important now, write down things, be sad, build a library, have fun conversations, think before you speak, thank others, learn a new skill, cook for yourself and more!
The parts that did include some lip service to Christianity was very shallow: Take Jesus with you today, treat others with kindness, read your bible everyday. Ummm... and that's about it! Barely anything at all to do with God in this whole book of 50 tips.
One part was just plain weird: teacher took a dead duck home to study because she loved ducks. Luci writes, "Don't you just love that?" Uhh... I can't say I do and I'm not just being negative, but yuk!
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
Great Day Every Day by Max Lucado
I'm sure Max Lucado's intention in this book was to life people up and make them feel good. This book is about having a positive outlook on life and turning a bad day into a good day. The problem I had with this book was that in seeking to make people feel better, Lucado's words can be easily read as false assurance and a license to sin because you already have your ticket to heaven.
Example: "As you lust, gloat, covet, or judge, Jesus stands before the tribunal of heaven and points to the blood-streaked cross. “I’ve already made provision. I’ve taken away the sins of the world.” What a gift he has given you. You’ve won the greatest lottery in the history of humanity, and you didn’t even pay for the ticket! Your soul is secure, your salvation guaranteed."
My favorite part of the book was in Ch 4, when Lucado interprets Matthew 18:23–25: "Tell me, how do you plan to pay God for your 4.3 million sin increments? Your payout is unachievable. Unreachable. You’re swimming in a Pacific Ocean of debt." This is like our debt of sin. There is nothing we of ourselves could ever do to pay for our own sins. This is why we need Jesus Christ. But then I didn't like how Lucado goes back into this idea of Jesus forgiving anyone and everyone because it sounds like easy believism and a false assurance of salvation and a license to sin: "God pardons the zillion sins of selfish humanity. Forgives sixty million sin-filled days." Lucado uses this to give a blanket statement that we must forgive everyone always. Yes, we must. But we must also not forget Mt 18 and 1 Cor 5, where it tells us to expel the wicked brother. We can forgive, but still hold others accountable until they repent. I wish Lucado made this clear instead of always going for the feel good stuff.
I also noticed Lucado teaches of a temporary state of Paradise, before man goes to heaven. Outside of Abraham's Bosom and Purgatory, I hadn't been aware of any Christian teachings on temporary places prior to our eternal states in heaven or hell. I understand Lucado is a Church of Christ pastor, so maybe this is one of their teachings? Lucado wrote: "[The thief on the cross] hears the official language of Christ: grace. Undeserved. Unexpected. Grace. “Today you will join me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Paradise. The intermediate heaven. The home of the righteous until the return of Christ. The Tree of Life is there. Saints are there. God is there."
This book was positive and light easy reading. It was not deep at all - it was shallow. More like a short story devotional, encouraging readers to stay positive throughout each day and that this will make an overall positive life. I wouldn't recommend this book. There was nothing much to it. Kinda fluffy, feel good stuff and not all that biblically accurate. Lucado's statements are so wishy-washy that they can easily be misinterpreted into an incorrect view of scripture. Lucado does not make his statements clear because that would "not make readers feel so good". So Lucado focuses only on the positive stuff. If you're bored, I guess you could read this, but I would warn readers to discern very carefully.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
Example: "As you lust, gloat, covet, or judge, Jesus stands before the tribunal of heaven and points to the blood-streaked cross. “I’ve already made provision. I’ve taken away the sins of the world.” What a gift he has given you. You’ve won the greatest lottery in the history of humanity, and you didn’t even pay for the ticket! Your soul is secure, your salvation guaranteed."
My favorite part of the book was in Ch 4, when Lucado interprets Matthew 18:23–25: "Tell me, how do you plan to pay God for your 4.3 million sin increments? Your payout is unachievable. Unreachable. You’re swimming in a Pacific Ocean of debt." This is like our debt of sin. There is nothing we of ourselves could ever do to pay for our own sins. This is why we need Jesus Christ. But then I didn't like how Lucado goes back into this idea of Jesus forgiving anyone and everyone because it sounds like easy believism and a false assurance of salvation and a license to sin: "God pardons the zillion sins of selfish humanity. Forgives sixty million sin-filled days." Lucado uses this to give a blanket statement that we must forgive everyone always. Yes, we must. But we must also not forget Mt 18 and 1 Cor 5, where it tells us to expel the wicked brother. We can forgive, but still hold others accountable until they repent. I wish Lucado made this clear instead of always going for the feel good stuff.
I also noticed Lucado teaches of a temporary state of Paradise, before man goes to heaven. Outside of Abraham's Bosom and Purgatory, I hadn't been aware of any Christian teachings on temporary places prior to our eternal states in heaven or hell. I understand Lucado is a Church of Christ pastor, so maybe this is one of their teachings? Lucado wrote: "[The thief on the cross] hears the official language of Christ: grace. Undeserved. Unexpected. Grace. “Today you will join me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Paradise. The intermediate heaven. The home of the righteous until the return of Christ. The Tree of Life is there. Saints are there. God is there."
This book was positive and light easy reading. It was not deep at all - it was shallow. More like a short story devotional, encouraging readers to stay positive throughout each day and that this will make an overall positive life. I wouldn't recommend this book. There was nothing much to it. Kinda fluffy, feel good stuff and not all that biblically accurate. Lucado's statements are so wishy-washy that they can easily be misinterpreted into an incorrect view of scripture. Lucado does not make his statements clear because that would "not make readers feel so good". So Lucado focuses only on the positive stuff. If you're bored, I guess you could read this, but I would warn readers to discern very carefully.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
1000 Days: The Ministry of Christ by Jonathan Falwell
Jonathan Falwell's book 1000 Days: The Ministry of Christ is an excellent read. It is captivating, orderly and flows well. It makes a lot of sense without being difficult to comprehend and it has challenging, thoughtful relevant questions at the end of each chapter. I was not expecting much from this author, having heard a lot of criticisms of Jonathan's famous father, Jerry Falwell, but the son has done an excellent job with this book.
Although this book isn't about anything really new, it is very relevant and a challenge to most Christians. We can all benefit from this idea: We must live like Jesus Christ. Jonathan takes readers through key passages to point how Christ-like behavior. My favorite part of this book was Jonathan's interpretation of the Beatitudes and have not heard it ever put quite like this: The beatitudes have to do with the gospel and salvation! The poor are the spiritually poor who are without Christ. The mourners are those broken over their lost state and their sinful condition. Meek is for submission to God and God's will - or dying to self. I think this part of the book in Chapter 4 was beautiful and outstanding.
I love this book because it is a challenge for Christians to clean up their act and live Christ-like lives. Jesus didn't come to demonstrate a Christian life for 3 1/2 years for us to ignore his example. We aren't supposed to just get our ticket to heaven and ignore the example He left us. I was impressed with Jonathan's grasp on the scriptures and his sticking to a biblical interpretation. I was looked for some sort of error or him going off the straight and narrow path, but I could find nothing wrong with this book. I highly recommend it.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
Although this book isn't about anything really new, it is very relevant and a challenge to most Christians. We can all benefit from this idea: We must live like Jesus Christ. Jonathan takes readers through key passages to point how Christ-like behavior. My favorite part of this book was Jonathan's interpretation of the Beatitudes and have not heard it ever put quite like this: The beatitudes have to do with the gospel and salvation! The poor are the spiritually poor who are without Christ. The mourners are those broken over their lost state and their sinful condition. Meek is for submission to God and God's will - or dying to self. I think this part of the book in Chapter 4 was beautiful and outstanding.
I love this book because it is a challenge for Christians to clean up their act and live Christ-like lives. Jesus didn't come to demonstrate a Christian life for 3 1/2 years for us to ignore his example. We aren't supposed to just get our ticket to heaven and ignore the example He left us. I was impressed with Jonathan's grasp on the scriptures and his sticking to a biblical interpretation. I was looked for some sort of error or him going off the straight and narrow path, but I could find nothing wrong with this book. I highly recommend it.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
God Loves Broken People by Sheila Walsh
I wish I had had this book years ago. Although there is a lot of controversy around Sheila Walsh's teachings and some people have rated this book low, it is quite profound and I found this book to be pretty biblical. Years ago, I had struggled with how a loving God could allow suffering and perhaps even cause suffering. Sheila addresses this very question. And while I ran to read shallow books with weak answers (like Harold Kushner's When Bad Things Happen to Good People) or Philip Yancy, I couldn't find any real answers. For a time, I was angry at God and couldn't understand how to reconcile the two: God and suffering. I heard all the typical answers and none seemed to fit. God uses all the bad circumstances for good just didn't add up to me. The end should not justify the means.
Sheila does an incredible job of making intense suffering fit into God's will and plan for our lives. In fact, she turns suffering into something that we might even seek out or wish for because some of the blessings that come from it are just so profound and great. I did not find this book to be shallow or lacking in answers. Some of the examples might have been weak, but the overall story was amazing, beautiful and very very glorifying to God. I felt like this book gave REAL ANSWERS for suffering. I think all Christians can benefit from reading this book.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
Sheila does an incredible job of making intense suffering fit into God's will and plan for our lives. In fact, she turns suffering into something that we might even seek out or wish for because some of the blessings that come from it are just so profound and great. I did not find this book to be shallow or lacking in answers. Some of the examples might have been weak, but the overall story was amazing, beautiful and very very glorifying to God. I felt like this book gave REAL ANSWERS for suffering. I think all Christians can benefit from reading this book.
Disclaimer: I gave my honest review. I received this book from the publisher but a positive review was not required
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