Martin Luther King Jr.-The pastor who had a daring dream: A Review

This book was first published in 1997 by the Scandinavia Publishing House in Denmark. This new edition of the book is published by Autumn House publications in England and is distributed in America by Pacific Press Publishing Association. It is part of the Heroes of Faith and Courage series.

Sharon Jones, the author of this 50-page book, tells the story of Martin Luther King Jr with illustrations by Andrea Jula.

I was in Memphis April 4, 1968 the day that Dr. King was assassinated. While at that time I knew very little of Dr King or the Civil Rights movement, I have been inspired since then and through the years by the story of Dr. King.

Martin Luther King Jr. led the non-violent Civil Rights Movement in America with such conviction that he became known as the drum major for his people. Those who followed him during his lifetime learned the same lesson we can learn from his legacy today-“the few” speaking God’s truth will always prevail against “the many” believing a lie.

Sharon Jones tells the story of Dr. King’s childhood and traces how he grew up in the segregated south.  His parents taught him that he was just as good as anyone else. Martin was a very intelligent person. He graduated from Morehouse College when he was 19. He then attended Crozer Theological Seminary and graduated with his master’s degree and subsequently earned his doctorate from Boston College.

Martin was a leader. He became a pastor at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery Alabama in 1954.  Rosa Parks was a faithful member of Dr. King’s church.

This book is written especially for young people. I believe it is important for young and old to remember how God has led in the past and this book is a great reminder of His leading in the Civil Rights movement. Dr King’s legacy of “Non iolent Resistance” is something that should be emulated today.

I would encourage you to pick up a book at your favorite store for young people in your sphere of influence or you can go on line to order a copy by clicking here.

Memorable Encounters: A Review

            There is a first encounter.

And the last one will come.

Between both we all have many more.

Some of them change the course of life.

But there is just one that can make it

Attractive and everlasting.

Now you can delight in learning

Through encounters of men and women

Who had the decisive one.

You can experience the same today.

I enjoyed this book by Roberto Badenas in which he describes in the 16 chapters encounters of people who met Jesus while He was here on earth. From John the Baptist by the river Jordan to Cleopas on the road to Emmaus, Nicodemus, who visited Jesus at night, the unnamed woman at the well at Samaria, and many more the author describes the life changing encounters these people had with Jesus.

The author states:

God does not evaluate us by what we are now, but by what we can become. He knows that the powers now dominating us are, in the end, alien to us. He knows that if we choose to let them go they will become nothing more than a foggy memory of our past existence.

In spite of what we have been taught, we do not need to be “good” in order to receive His grace. He accepts us as we are, but He loves us too much to leave us in our present condition. His eyes see beyond our painful present to a victorious future. And so He comes to lift us from the quagmire of our life. He extends to us His outstretched hand and His grace so that we can become “good.”

The author does a masterful job of describing the circumstances and the locations e.t.c., where these people encountered Jesus.

Look for this book at your favorite store or order on line by clicking here.

Anxious for Nothing-Finding Calm in a Chaotic World: A Review

This is one of the most recent titles from the pen of Max Lucado who is America’s bestselling inspirational author.
Lucado has a masterful way of putting words together and I enjoyed this book very much.

The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional. Anxiety and fear are cousins but not twins. Fear sees a threat. Anxiety imagines one. Fear screams, Get out! Anxiety ponders, What If?

Fear results in flight or fight. Anxiety creates doom and gloom. Fear is the pulse that pounds when you see a coiled rattlesnake in your front yard. Anxiety is the voice that tells you, Never, ever, for the rest of your life, walk barefooted through the grass. There might be a snake…somewhere.

Max Lucado asks:

Are you laughing less than you once did?

Do you see problems in every promise?

Would those who know you best describe you as increasingly negative and critical?

Do you assume that something bad is going to happen?

Do you dilute and downplay good news with doses of your version of reality?

Many days would you rather stay in bed than get up?

Do you magnify the negative and dismiss the positive?

Given the chance, would you avoid any interaction with humanity for the rest of your life?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, I have a friend for you to meet. Actually I have a scripture for you to read….

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. Philippians 4:4-8.

For some of God’s healing will include the help of therapy and/or medication. If that is the case, do not for a moment think that you are a second-class citizen of heaven. Ask God to lead you to a qualified counselor or physician who will provide the treatment you need

I highly recommend this book. I would encourage you to purchase one at your favorite book store or you can order it on line click here.

Refreshed Parables: A Review

This is the latest book written by Charles Mills, one of my favorite writers. In the gospels there are many parables (stories) that Jesus told to illustrate important spiritual truths

Charles Mills has picked out 25 of these and told a modern-day parable/story to illustrate the same spiritual lesson and then at the end of each modern-day parable is the parable from the Bible taken from the Easy English Clear Word Paraphrase so one can easily read the verses from the Bible which has the original parable. You can also look up the texts in whatever version of the Bible that you enjoy and use.

At the end of each chapter there is a fill-in-the-blank review page to help the reader grasp the lesson that the story is teaching.

I encourage you to click here and read the first chapter online from this new book.

John Byington: A Review

John Byington was the first president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He was the 2nd choice for the Committee charged with the task of finding and hiring a president for the organization when the church was officially formed in 1863. Their first choice was James White, but he turned them down, so they elected 65-year old John Byington, a farmer-preacher who served the Seventh-day Adventist Church well.

Prior to joining the Seventh-day Adventist Church, John Byington was a licensed Methodist minister who was a Circuit Riding Preacher for the Methodists from 1822-1852. When he became a Seventh-day Adventist, he continued his circuit riding preaching as a Seventh-day Adventist.

Byington served as President of the SDA Church from 1863-1865 and much of that time  he was traveling from church to church. So, in reality, between his 30 years as a Methodist Circuit riding preacher and his 35 years as an Adventist preacher, Byington preached for 65 years.

During all his years working for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Byington did not accept a regular salary but supported himself by his farm. He was also able to give funds for the support of the church and he and his wife often helped those in need.

While serving as a Methodist minister, he was very active in supporting abolitionist societies and also was strongly against Secret Societies like the Masons.

To a significant degree, Elder Byington remained a circuit riding preacher throughout his life. Unlike his Adventist ministerial colleagues, he did not receive a salary either from the Michigan conference or from the General Conference; he did not conduct evangelistic tent meetings to convert non-Adventists; he did not preach long doctrinal sermons or write book on theology. Instead he and Catharine (his wife) set out to cheer the discouraged, reconcile differences, urge repentance, and build faith and unity by holding revival, testimony, prayer, quarterly, social and business meetings; by preaching short homilies about heaven, grace, prayer, conversion, and perseverance and by visiting and praying with every family in every congregation in his vast parish. To prepare for this mission, John and Catharine began every year with fasting and prayer. Then they covered hundreds of back roads by horseback, buggy, sleigh and on foot and traversed muddy quagmires, snow-drifted fields, dusty paths, and rock strewn highways, facing carriage accidents, disease, and frequent opposition. Yet during his thirty-five year ministry, Elder Byington witnessed stronger congregations, faith healings, hundreds of baptisms, and a tightly unified, rapidly growing denomination.

Click here to read the first chapter of this inspiring autobiography on line for free and for information on ordering copies of this book.

Seekers: A Review

Seekers the most recent book by the popular author Bradley Booth is based on Matthew 13:44.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid and for joy over it goes and sells all that he has and buys the field.

              This parable illustrates the value of the heavenly treasure, and the effort that should be
              made  to secure it. The finder of the treasure in the field was ready to part with all that he
              had, ready to put forth untiring labor, in order to secure the hidden riches. So the finder of 
              heavenly treasure will count no labor too great and no sacrifice too dear, in order to gain
              the treasures of truth.

In the parable the field containing the treasure represents the Holy Scriptures. And the gospel is the treasure.

Bradley Booth enlarges on the parable Jesus told by telling a story of Micah and Koz and their father Harim and how they were working in a field for Master Shaphat, the richest landowner in the area and they discovered hidden riches; gold, silver and jewels. It was an accepted practice in Bible times that one who found treasures in a field could own them if they bought the field and became owners of the land.

The author tells a fascinating story of how the two brothers and their dad saved their money and eventually sold their house, their property and almost everything they owned to be able to buy the field.

They then legitimately owned the treasure as well. Booth has done excellent research in the history of the people who lived in this area where the story is set and creates a very fascinating story.

Of course, the real lesson in the story is we should be willing to give everything we have to gain the gospel treasure.

You can learn more about this new book and read the first chapter on line by clicking here.

The Hidden Power of Relentless Stewardship: A Review

Author Don Jernigan, PhD discusses 5 Keys to Developing a World-Class Organization:

            Compelling Mission

Here is the test to find out whether your mission on earth is finished. If you’re alive it isn’t.

            Powerful Vision

Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.

            Critical Values

If you think of vision and mission as an organization’s head and heart, then the values it holds are its soul.

            Healthy Culture

The only thing of real importance that leaders do is to create and manage culture.

            Outstanding Leadership

Our business in life is not to get ahead of other people, but to get ahead of ourselves.

Jernigan serves as president and CEO of Adventist Health System-the largest Protestant not-for-profit healthcare system in the United States, which comprises 44 hospitals with 77,000 employees serving over 4.7 million patients a year. He has also served as a naval officer, a university professor, and president of three hospitals.

Throughout this book Jernigan uses examples and anecdotes from his career to illustrate the 5 Keys to Developing a World Class Organization.

For more information about this book and to order your copy on line click here.