Thursday, September 19, 2013

Red Like Grace: A Review

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."

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."