Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me;
words penned by John Newton so long ago. Yet everyone is still trying
to define the word grace. Joe
Coffey and Bob Bevington step beyond defining grace by showing
what grace looks like. Red
Like Blood, Confrontations With Grace is aptly titled.
AMAZING GRACE; TWO PERSPECTIVES
Red
Like Blood, Confrontations With Grace is a book about grace from
the perspective of two very different men. One man is a pastor and
the other man is not unlike all of us, a sinner.
Joe Coffey and Bob Bevington
each share their view of grace from stories of their own personal
lives and from stories of many people they have encountered. These
stories combine to form a message that true grace will confront
brokenness, heartache, and despair.
WHAT IT DOES FOR ME
Maybe the best way to understand true grace is to see it in
action. The manner and perspectives presented in Red
Like Blood, Confrontations With Grace do precisely that. Seeing
grace in action through the words of two men from very different life
experiences is inspiring. The material is presented in a
conversation-like manner and is very readable and easy to understand.
Seeing grace confront brokenness in their words makes the meaning of
grace easier to grasp.
I found myself relating to many of the stories shared by authors
Joe Coffey and Bob Bevington.
I have been in the position time and again to confront brokenness and
sin with grace. Many times I had to put the book down and ask God to
forgive me for blowing it when I had opportunities to extend grace.
Grace should be a natural extension from me for being one who has
received so much grace.
I RECOMMEND IT
Red
Like Blood, Confrontations With Grace is raw and sometimes
brutal, but it's real. It's real-life situations where only true
grace could prevail to overcome what may have turned into disastrous
endings. If you are ready to have a confrontation with grace, then
read this book. I recommend it. Then do it, extend grace.
I
received this book free from Cross
Focus Media,LLC. I was not required to write a positive review.
The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in
accordance with the Federal
Trade Commission's 16 CFR, part 255: "Guides
Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Friday, July 19, 2013
Did The Devil Make Me Do It Review
Did the devil make me do it? Where did
the devil come from? What is he like and what does he do? What about
demons? What did Jesus do? What should we do?
These are some of the questions asked
in the book Did The Devil make Me Do It by Mike McKinley, the
pastor of Guilford Baptist Church in Sterling, Virginia.
WHAT'S THIS DEVIL STUFF ALL ABOUT?
Who exactly is the devil and what
exactly is he up to in the world in which we live? Did The Devil
Make Me Do It addresses many questions and concerns about the
existence of the devil and the demons.
Author Mike McKinley packs a large
amount of information about the devil into the 78 pages of the book.
A specific question heads each of the five chapters and within the
chapters are more questions pertaining to the topic.
MY THOUGHTS
I like the question-answer format of
the book. It helps in making this a very easy book to read. The
information presented is easy to understand. The author answers each
question from Scripture rather than giving just an opinion.
Did The Devil Make Me Do It is
packed with biblical information concerning the devil. The
information the author presents is basic and to the mature Christian
would be common knowledge. To a new babe in Christ this information
is absolutely vital, not to scare but to prepare and equip them for
their walk with Christ.
CONCLUSION
The title Did The Devil Make Me Do
It is catchy. Mike McKinley concludes the book with an answer to
that very question. I won't spoil it with the answer here.
We should be fully equipped as
witnesses for Jesus Christ. This includes being able to answer
questions about the devil and the realm of evil influence. This
booklet could be useful as a tool for sharing the gospel.
I
received this book free from Cross
Focused Reviews
as part of their book review program. The opinions I have expressed
are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal
Trade Commission's 16 CFR, part 255: "Guides
Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Thursday, May 30, 2013
THE SIN OF FORGIVENESS by Edward F Mrkvicka, Jr.: A Book Review
Can forgiveness be placed in the
category of being sin? Really? If so, how can it become sin? When can
it become sin? Edward F
Mrkvicka, Jr. provides answers to these questions in his book The
Sin of Forgiveness.
WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?
The
Sin of Forgiveness is about conditional and unconditional
forgiveness. It is about forgiveness as the world understands it and
forgiveness as the Bible commands and demands it.
Edward
F Mrkvicka, Jr. makes a strong case for forgiveness falling into
the realm of becoming sin. He ties forgiveness directly to another
biblical term and command, the command of repentance. The author
gives extensive scripture to make the case against secular
forgiveness and for true biblical forgiveness.
THE SCANDALIZING TRUTH ABOUT FORGIVENESS
The title of this book is scandalizing
immediately compelling one to question how anyone can consider the
act of forgiveness being a sin. The introduction opens with a
separation between divine forgiveness and secular forgiveness. Edward
F Mrkvicka, Jr. methodically steps from chapter to chapter, from
context to the lies about forgiveness, to "I'm sorry" not
being being good enough, to unconditional forgiveness, to the if, the
when, and the how of forgiveness. He makes a very compelling case for
forgiveness becoming something God did not intend it to be.
The title of this book, The
Sin of Forgiveness, grabs my attention instantly. I would never
conceive the thought of forgiveness being sinful, or wrong, until
reading this book.
Edward
F Mrkvicka, Jr. says the book is not asking one to believe
something "new", but something old and true. He makes a
compelling and thought-provoking case of unconditional forgiveness
without true repentance being sinful. He does an outstanding job of
backing every concept he presents with scripture placed in its
rightful context.
THE END OF THE MATTER
This is a book well worth reading.
Forgiveness is a subject the Christian, the Christ-follower, at every
level, newborn or mature in Christ, must understand and implement.
Not only are we to forgive, but our own forgiveness hangs in the
balance. Eternity hangs in the balance.
The
Sin of Forgiveness presents important aspects which one should
consider when studying true biblical forgiveness, even though they
may be viewed controversial by many. I recommend this book to anyone
serious about understanding one of the most fundamental doctrines of
Christianity.
I
received this book free from Cross
Focused Reviews as part of their book review program. The
opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in
accordance with the Federal
Trade Commission's 16 CFR, part 255: "Guides
Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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