Category: Books

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Books Testimony

The Heavenly Man

Widespread news coverage of Christian beheadings at the hands of Isis has made most Americans aware of Christian persecution in Muslim countries. What many Americans do not know, is that the Christian Church in China is persecuted just as severely.

The Heavenly Man is the story of Brother Yun, a Chinese Christian persecuted by the Chinese government for his faith and witness of Jesus Christ. His story is one of unimaginable suffering, all the while staying faithful to Jesus Christ.

Brother Yun’s story forces me to face the fact that I do next to nothing for Jesus’s name. Sure I believe Jesus died and rose for my sins, but until recently I had never even read the Bible. Meanwhile, Christians in China cherish every Bible they can smuggle in, only to have them confiscated by the government if discovered.

I am convicted when Brother Yun describes North American churches as “spiritually asleep”. “Knowledge and obedience to God’s word are missing”. He goes on to say that the abundance of material possessions holds us down. To that, I say “AMEN”.

Jesus tells us “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” I sincerely pray for the blessing of persecution for the name of Jesus, and the strength to endure.

I highly recommend “The Heavenly Man” to every American Christian. It is a powerful testimony of what it means to take up our cross and follow Jesus.

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Bible Bible Prophesy Books End Times Evidence

The Bible

 

I’m simply amazed that many people who sincerely believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, have never read it. That’s like never reading a love letter sent from a spouse overseas, or a recipe when your creating a brand new dish. The Bible is God’s lover letter to mankind, with the “recipe” for how to find joy in this life and the next. Why in heaven’s name do so many people make no effort to read it.

When I decided to read the entire Bible, family and friends told me that the Bible is too hard to understand. Perhaps this explains why none of them have ever read it. Just what excuses do we come up with for not reading the Bible? Here are the most common answers given when asked.

  • It’s boring
  • I never get anything out of it
  • Too confusing
  • Makes me sleepy
  • Don’t know where to start
  • Don’t have the time

Examine your heart, do you really believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God? If so, what excuse can there possibly be for not reading it?

The Bible is accessible in many different formats. Take advantage of the internet and its wealth of knowledge and community Bible studies, as well as audiobooks. Stop surfing the web, wasting time on social media, and watching mindless television, and JUST READ IT!

 

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Books Recommended

The Great Divorce

The “Great Divorce”, written in 1945 by acclaimed apologist C. S. Lewis, is a fictional story about people in hell who are offered an opportunity to go to heaven, and the excuses they use not to.

While I believe the story is amusing, and gives us insight into some of the ways we separate ourselves from God, the story is based on a faulty premise – those in hell/purgatory get a second chance to choose God. The Bible teaches us this is simply not true, there is no second chance. Recalling the story of the rich man in hell calling out to Abraham to have Lazarus, who is in heaven, bring him a drink of water.

“And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.” LUKE 16:26

This is not the only place we’re told there is no second chance.

“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment”. HEBREWS 9:27

It’s comforting to believe we’ll have a second chance to save ourselves from hell, but even if there is, the gospel clearly teaches we aren’t capable of saving ourselves. Only the blood of Jesus can.

I hesitate to recommend this book fearing one might come away from it believing there will be a second chance after death. Since C. S. Lewis prefaces the book with a disclaimer that this book should not be taken as doctrine, I highly recommend it.

CS Lewis is a master at teaching through fiction, making it easier for many to read.  It’s quite an eye opener when you recognize yourself and others in some of the behaviors of the books characters. I think it’s worth a second and third reading. Remember to test all things against the scriptures.

“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” ACTS 17:11

Enjoy the book, and let us know which character(s) you recognize.

Review by: ceko