Finding the Real Jesus - Lee Strobel

Finding the Real Jesus - 

A Guide for Curious Christians and Skeptical Seekers

by

Lee Strobel

Copyright © 2008 Lee Strobel

Publisher: Zondervan

111 Pages

ISBN: 978-0-310-28787-2

Completed: Monday, August 6, 2018

Wow! I can't even begin to describe this book, except to say, another great Lee Strobel read.

Strobel begins with all of the arguments against a real Jesus, and slowly begins to build his case until when you reach the end, he has completely won you over! I can't imagine this man not being one of the great soul-winners of our lifetime! His arguments are always factual. He leads you away from the many self-proclaimed "prophets and bishops" of our time who know so very little about the real Jesus. He shows you where those who argue away the real Jesus or his death and resurrection, have been led astray. And in this book, he even argues against many Christian colleges, universities and seminaries that are no longer teaching the scriptural Jesus and are sugar coating the scriptures to provide us with a 21st century Jesus who is forgiving without repentance.

I have found in Strobel a champion of the real Jesus. If you know Strobel's past, you will know that he was once a self-proclaimed atheist, and a journalist. So using his journalistic tools, he attempted to disprove Jesus was real. But what he managed to do, was to prove to himself that He is very real, and is much alive today!

This is an awesome book. Excellent for debate and group studies and private study. I highly recommend it.

I give this book Five Stars

And I give a big Thumbs Up

DISCLOSURE: This book was a private purchase and was under no obligation for review.

The Untold Story of the New Testament Church by Frank Viola

The Untold Story of the New Testament Church

by Frank Viola

Copyright © 2004 Frank Viola

Destiny Image Publishing

ISBN: 0-7684-2236-1

189 Pages

Completed 05/20/2018

This is a fantastic telling of the events of the New Testament Church in chronological order, instead of the layout of the written New Testament.

Find the correct layout, and suddenly the events of the New Testament Church following the death of Jesus, and the writing of the New Testament come to life. 

This book puts it all into the order it should be read in. With the background as to why each book was written. Paul's letter's suddenly come alive with their meaning! I've heard many a Christian state that Paul is so contradictory in his writings. Well, suddenly there is no contradiction if you understand to whom he was writing and why he was writing to them!

Learn how each of the Apostle's dies. Learn what the New Testament Church itself was like. How it nearly faced extinction thanks to Nero!

This has been one of the best Bible helps I have read in a L-O-N-G time!

This is an absolute must read for any New Testament scholar, whether that be a layman, or a minister!

I absolutely highly recommend this read!

I also give this a BIG thumbs up!

And FIVE stars!

And you can purchase the book below from Amazon.com, simply click the picture below.

DISCLAIMER: This book was a loan from a personal friend and was in now way under obligation for review.

Strengthening Your Grip by Charles Swindoll

Strengthening Your Grip

How to be Grounded in a Chaotic World

by Charles Swindoll

Copyright © Charles Swindoll

Worthy Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-936034-744

297 Pages

Completed: 03/23/2018

Just as the title insinuates, this is basically a "How-To" manual on how to stay grounded as a Christian in a secular world. A world that is fast becoming more and more secular.  Never has a time needed Christians to more firmly grounded in their faith and belief than now. To keep a "grip" on those truths and promises that God has made for us.

Swindoll, well known minister and teacher, leads into thought provoking spots and scenarios where we know we've all been before. And gives us a guide of how to stay true to our beliefs, even when the chaos is swirling all around us.

I absolutely adored this book. Written in such a way that it wasn't "preachy", but friendly. Like one good friend talking to another. Yu are instantly engaged and ready for more.

I took my time with this book, although a part of me wanted to rip right through it. I wanted to truly absorb this teaching. To make it "stick" with me for the long haul. Life is precious. Life is fun. And it's all too easy to be pulled into what is popular and everyone else is doing if we aren't careful. Swindoll offers you a life preserver to stay afloat for the long haul. Not only that, but he offers you hope and faith that can make this life so wonderful as we anticipate what is to come in the next if we but remain faithful.

I highly recommend this book for all.

I give this book a BIG thumbs up.

And I give it FIVE stars.

You can purchase the book below in various formats.

DISCLAIMER: This book was a personal purchase and therefore was under no obligation for review.

The Coming Apostasy - Hitchcock and Kinley

The Coming Apostasy

by

Mark Hitchcock and Jeff Kinley

Copyright ©2017 Mark Hitchcock & Jeff Kinley

Tyndale Publishers

ISBN: 978-1-4964-1407-6

When was the last time you heard a sermon that really hit you where it hurt?

Like most of us today, we've become desensitized to what the gospel really teaches us. We've had political and societal leaders convince us that it's okay to allow certain things to go on in our world. It's politically incorrect to stand up against the morals, or rather lack thereof, that we see in the world around us. And yet, where are our preachers? Where are those old fire and brimstone Bible thumpers who would shout the roof down when preaching? Where have they all gone?

There are a few around. There are a few good Christians still standing around. Or rather, mulling around. Not really saying much. Why is that? Fear of being turned on?

Celebrities in our country who stand up and proclaim their Christianity are turned on. Sports players are turned on when they are heard to say that they prayed, or trusted in God. Our teachers, the most precious aid in this world in helping to establish our children's morals and belief's, are not allowed to mention God in the classroom. The Pledge of Allegiance can no longer be said in the classrooms today because of the line "one nation under God".

When was the last time you heard a preacher stand up and actually preach against transgender individuals, homosexuals, or abortion? Few do.

This my friend, is called apostasy. And Hitchcock and Kinley are here to guide you through this maze of worldly teaching. The two team up to tear apart the current trend from teachers today. Ministers, laypersons, and politics.

Are today's ministers simply telling the people what they want to hear? Are the "skipping over" all that nasty, politically incorrect "stuff" we find in the Bible?

"The great apostasy is coming, but is it closer than we imagine?", states the back cover of this book.

There are difficult times coming, Hitchcock and Kinley can help keep you on the path that is straight and narrow that leads to Heaven. Don't be fooled. The path that leads to destruction is wide, and many can fit across it's width and length.

We must stand up for what we believe in. And we must face ridicule if it comes. Or even worse. But we must press on, telling the good news, but preaching against what is sending so many straight to the gates of Hell.

I believe every Christian should read this book.

I give this five stars.

A big thumbs up.

And my personal highly recommended award.

This book can be purchased here on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback. Or here on Tyndale.

****DISCLAIMER: This book was provided by Tyndale Publishing for review. The opinions above are solely those of the author of this blog.

A Letter to my Anxious Christian Friends - Gushee

A Letter to my Anxious Christian Friends

From Fear to Faith in Unsettled Times

by

David P. Gushee

© 2016 David P. Gushee

First Edition Published by

Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY

ISBN 9780664262686

The dedication page of this book sets the tone immediately with: "To every Christian who tries to love America".

If you are a Christian in America today, you know exactly where this book is headed. It is headed to the fall of a great nation, encouragement to the Saints of today, and the promise of a new world to come.

Gushee is new to me, as I haven't read any of his works before. But I am fully on board with his style. And mostly, his message.

This book couldn't have come at a better time in America's history. Our Country has been torn apart from the latest elections. Recessions. Depressions. Lack of moral fiber. Laws protecting the accused but not the victim in crimes.

All the while, Christians are faced with the ever increasing de-Christianization of America. We can't post the 10-Commandments. We can't say the Lord's Prayer in our schools. If we stand up for what we believe in, we're called fanatics. We're ostracized and put down.

So, how does the Christian today stay faithful, and keep his/her eye on the prize Christ set before us without losing the very essence of what Christ taught us?

Gushee brings things to a simple answer. It's always been simple. It's just not the easy road to follow.

But, then, we are told, "Wide is the gate, and narrow the road,". And we must stick to that narrow road that leads to our rewards. We cannot give in to the ways of the world. We must live in the world, but not of the world.

This is a must read for all Christian in America today. A very real eye opener. And a message that lets us know, we are not in this alone.

This book is available in print or Kindle.

I give this

Five Stars

and...

a big

Thumbs Up!

I also give this my

Highly Recommended Award.

DISCLAIMER: This book was provided by Amazon Vine  in exchange for an independent and non-biased review. You can find the book Here for purchase.

Currently Reading

Will The World End In 2012
Raymond C. Hundley, PH.D
Thomas Nelson Inc., 2010
ISBN 978-1-4002-0285-0

Be watching for my review on this book by Hundley which is 'A Christian Guide To The Question Everyone's Asking'.