Never Lose Hope: A Review

This is definitely one of the most gripping stories I have ever read. The author Pastor Jose Cortes tells his story of being imprisoned in Cuba for his faith and how he led many other prisoners to faith and acceptance of Jesus as their Savior while he was in prison. It was the birth of an underground church.
God gave him the words to speak.

I recommend this book highly and suggest you go to the following website and read the first chapter for free.

http://products.adventistbookcenter.com/search?w=never%20lose%20hope

I'll Push You: A Review

This is an amazing story by and about Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck; a journey of 500 miles, two best friends, and one wheelchair.
“I’ll push you.” The words came easily to Patrick but he had no idea of the struggle that lay ahead.

Meet Justin and Patrick. Born in the same hospital two days apart, they grew up together, faced life shoulder to shoulder, and were best man in each other’s weddings. It was the way things always were. It was the way things were always going to be: living their separate lives as though they were joined at the hip.

But then the unexpected struck; Justin was diagnosed with a progressive neuromuscular disease that robbed him of the use of his arms and legs. As Justin transitioned to life in a wheelchair, Patrick stayed by his side, and together they refused to give in to despair or physical limitations.

So, when Justin shared his dream of traveling the famous Camino de Santiago—a spiritual pilgrimage through the mountains and rough terrain of northern Spain, Patrick immediately volunteered to push Justin in his wheelchair. Their six-week, 500-mile trek, with its physical challenges, host of colorful characters, and deep inner battles, would prove to be the most difficult and important journey either man would ever take.

Full of love, humor and faith, I’ll Push You exemplifies what every friendship is meant to be. This epic travel adventure shows the incredible risk and reward that come with trusting someone else to have your back, no matter what.

Discover how friendship can push us past all limits…and help us become the best versions of ourselves.

Go to the following website for more information: www.ILLPUSHYOUBOOK.COM

The Watchers: A Review

The Watchers is the 2^nd book in the series entitled The Lost Treasures by Bradley Booth. The book is about the Jewish people at the end of their 70 years captivity.

All the Jews were talking about Jeremiah’s 70-year prophecy. Some thought it would be fulfilled; others thought that God had abandoned His people once and for all.

The Watchers follows Caleb, Tamzi, and their families, Allamu the blind beggar, and the old prophet Daniel, as before their very eyes the mighty kingdom of Babylon is overthrown by Cyrus and his Medo-Persian army. And now, Caleb and his Babylonian friend, Tamzi, discovered something important-something very important. Caleb was certain of that, but who could confirm his suspicions? Was this the beginning of the end for the Babylonian Jews or the sign of a new beginning? God would keep His promise-Caleb was sure of it!

Bradley Booth tells this story in a way that will appeal to Kids from 10-14 years of age and kids of all ages that love a well told story.

The book is available at http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/the-watchers.html

Romans Salvation for "ALL": A Review

This is a new title by George R Knight.  I have just finished reading it and I highly recommend it for everyone to read.

Here are a few highlights:

P 11 “Romans is the most influential document in Christian History. It stimulated not only the Protestant Reformation but many other revivals throughout history”

P 27 “While some people might question the relevance of such biblical books as Obadiah for living in today’s world, no one doubts the importance of Romans for their life. All of us are daily confronted by the problems of sin and guilt. And every Christian rejoices in the amazing grace of God who welcomes us in spite of ourselves.”

P 44 Speaking of God’s Grace, “The wonder of wonders is that the greatest blessing in the universe is absolutely free.”

P 65 “The good news is that Christ died for every human being who has ever lived. The bad news is that not all receive or accept God’s gracious gift.”

P 85 “Romans 8 is one of the most-loved chapters of the Bible…One student has pointed out that the chapter opens with ‘no condemnation’ and ends with no ‘no separation’ while in between it is characterized by ‘no defeat.’”

P 114 “As He hung on the cross Jesus prayed for those in the act of killing Him.

Here, I must say, is a challenge to the genuineness of our Christian love: Have we prayed for our enemies lately? If not, why not? Today-right now- is a perfect time to do something that’s not normal. It could change your life and theirs.

P 126 “…the apostle is out to win souls-not arguments. Thus, he concludes the most influential presentation of salvation in the history of Christianity with a prayer. Paul prays that ‘the God of hope’ will fill his Roman readers (and us) with joy and peace as they trust in Him.”

This just touches on a tiny bit of what the complete book presents so well. I encourage you to go to the following link and read the first chapter on line for free: http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/romans-salvation-for-all-bible-book-shelf-4q 2017.html

For Such a time: A Review

Authored by Ed Dickerson, For Such a Time, looks at 15 remarkable women and examines how the biblical authors intentionally shaped their narratives to show how their actions and outcomes parallel those of 15 well-known biblical heroes. Clearly these were not ordinary women. They did not fit the image of the “perfect woman.” They had little in common with the “ideal woman” pictured in Proverbs 31 but they did share one crucial characteristic with that woman and that is, initiative. These were women who did not hesitate to roll up their sleeves and plan an active role in shaping their destiny, even when it meant defying convention.

All of these 15 stories tell about women with different callings and they underline the lesson that God has a unique calling for each of us, and we should not concern ourselves too much with what God calls another to do or the expectations others have for us. When it comes to that, we would do well to remember what Jesus pointed out to Peter “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:22).

What was true for Peter is true for us. Man or woman, our calling is the same: to follow Him wherever He leads.

Click on the following link to bring up more information on this new book and for a link that you can click on to read the first chapter on line.

http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/for-such-a-time.html

A Nation in God's Hands: A Review

Author Jud Lake has just released this amazing new book- over 450 pages long- The full title is A Nation in God’s Hands Ellen White and the Civil War.

In the foreword written by George Knight he asks “How can such a small topic demand such a large book? The small topic is not the American Civil War, which has been the focus of more than sixty thousand books, pamphlets, and Internet resources. Rather, the smallness relates to Ellen White’s writings on the subject. Her works reflect only four visions and/or testimonies on the war; all were contained in thirty pages of her writings and all occurred during the first half of the war.

“…Jud Lake, in his comprehensive and fast-flowing treatment, indicates that her views, when seen against the backdrop of contemporary events, were both insightful and pertinent. Unfortunately, as historian Eric Anderson pointed out, both Ellen White’s critics and her followers have distorted her statements about the war. Her comments too often ‘have been wrested from any appropriate historical context and conscripted into the service of such polemical purposes as proving either that she was a ‘false prophet’ or a truly inspired one.’”

Jud Lake sets White’s war visions in their historical context and provides a theological interpretation of the war through her prophetic lens.  Extrapolating on this, the author notes the volume “is first and foremost a religious interpretation of the American Civil War.”

Lake is not unique in focusing on a religious interpretation. There are many volumes by leading historians on the topic and, as Lake demonstrates in his last chapter, “even Lincoln’s understanding of the significance of the war in his second inaugural address is a religious interpretation.”

Lake puts Ellen White’s statements regarding the Civil War and views them in their historical context. He writes to help us to understand Ellen White and her world.

George Knight finishes his foreword with these words, “Needless to say, I highly recommend this book not only to students of Adventism and Ellen White but also to Civil War buffs of all flavors.”

From the Introduction

Ellen White’s Civil War Visions:

Parkville vision January 12, 1861

Roosevelt vision August 3, 1861

Battle Creek vision of January 1862

Battle Creek vision of November 1862

For anyone who may not be acquainted with Ellen White. She was one of the prominent leaders in the formation of the Seventh-day Adventist church which was officially orgainized as a denomination in 1863. Seventh-day Adventists accept her as having exercised the prophetic gift during her lifetime and leadership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

In 1859 Ellen White declared, “When the laws of men conflict with the word and law of God, we are to obey the latter, whatever the consequences may be. The  law of our land requiring  us to deliver a slave to his master, we are not to obey; and we must abide the consequences of violating this law. The slave is not the propery of any man. God is the rightful master, and man has no right to take God’s workmanship into his hands and claim him as his own.” She respected the laws of government in general but condemned the Fugitive Slave Law in particular as a fundamental violation of moral principle.

Ellen White  addressed  slavery several times before the Civil War and condemned it in no uncertain terms. Her most significant discussion was a strong indictment of professed Christians who either supported or actually engaged in slavery,  Ellen White remained an abolitionist at heart for the rest of her life and believed that all human beings, regardless of color, are created equal before God and one in Christ.

Ellen White predicted that the war would be terrible and would  not be a short war. She did indicate that the North would win but not until God had allowed both the North and the South to be punished for the sin of Slavery.

When the United States first  entered the war the  “purpose” of the war was to save the Union. However until doing away with slavery became part of the purpose of the war there was  not good progress in winning the war.  There was a very much up and down progress of the war. This up-down pattern of the union battles would be directly related to God’s punishment on the North for compromising with the South in the sin of Slavery. Once God’s punishment ran its course and emancipation became a reality the pattern of battle outcomes would be decidedly in favor of the Union.

On January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln sat down to sign the most important document of his presidency- the final draft of the Emancipation Proclamation. As his bony fingers grasped the pen and dipped it into the inkwell, his hand and forearm trembled. “I could not for a moment control my arm,” he later recalled, “and a superstitious feeling came over me which made me hesitate.”

Dropping the pen, he pondered the occasion for a moment. “Was this all a mistake? Was the trembling a sign, yet another divine warning, this time that he had gone too far, had overreached himself, had taken a step which would only end in disaster?” Then it occurred to the president that for hours he had been shaking hands with hundreds  of visitors to the White house for the New Year’s Day reception. The tremor was not because of any doubt or hesitation on his part about the proclamation.

Turning to the secretary of state by his side, William Seward, Lincoln said, “I have been shaking hands since nine o’clock this morning and my right arm is almost paralyzed. IF my name ever goes into history it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it.

 Seward’s son, who was also present, heard the president say, “I never in my life felt more certain that I was doing the right than I do in signing this paper.” But Lincoln worried, “If my hand trembles when I sign the Proclamation, all who examine the document hereafter will say, ‘He hesitated.’” Nevertheless,” It is going to be done.” He declared and picked up the pen and “slowly and carefully” signed the Proclamation into history. Looking at those around him with a smile, the president laughed at his earlier apprehension and then quietly remarked, “That will do.”

January 31, 1865 the Thirteenth  Ammendment  was voted by Congress which abolished slavery officially when it was ratified Dec 6, 1865

Robert E Lee surrendered April 9, 1865 in quick succession the rest of the Confederate Generalsl surrendered.

Sometime before Abraham Lincoln’s 2^nd Inauguration he wrote a short “Meditation on the Divine Will.”

“The will of God prevails. In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be wrong. God cannot be for, and against the same thing at the same time.In the present civil war it is quite possible that God’s purpose is something different from the purpose of either party-and yet the human instrumentalities, working just as they do, are of the best adaptation to effect His purpose. I am almost ready to say this is probably true-that God wills this contest, and wills that it shall not end yet. By His mere quiet power, on the minds of the now contestants, He could have either saved or destroyed the Union without a  human contest. Yet the contest began. And having begun He could give the final victory to either side any day. Yet the contest proceeds.”

On your browser click on or type in the following link to bring up more information on this book and a link so you can read the entire first chapter on line.

http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/a-nation-in-gods-hands.html