BOOK REVIEW: The Celebrate Recovery NIV Bible

BOOK REVIEW: The Celebrate Recovery NIV Bible

The Celebrate Recovery NIV Bible by John Baker, I chose to review because I have just recently gotten involved in trying to get a network started here in my own town. We are a small community, and while there are a lot of temporary help measures available, there is little long term solutions in our particular county. The Network I mentioned is trying to do something about that. In our last meeting, Celebrate Recovery came up, and thus my review of this Bible. Needless to say, I personally am not into "theme" bibles. This one comes with some big clout - John Baker, Rick Warren, Saddleback church; some pretty big names. Some may want to get this bible for that reason and if that's good enough for you, go for it. However, if you are working with addicts or want to give someone who is an addict something to help them, then this bible has some excellent resources. If you combine this with the Celebrate Recovery material (www.celebraterecovery.com) then it definitely will give you an edge. I found the helps written simply, yet in depth enough to help someone with serious study to see God's will.  I thought the testimonials of people who had changed their lives a plus!

 All in all this is an excellent help if you are trying to help someone, and an excellent gift to give someone who needs and is looking for help.  However, nothing will replace experience and knowing God's word for yourself. This is a resource for the arsenal, and a good sword in the battle for the Spirit. 

HOW TO PICK UP A STRIPPER AND OTHER ACTS OF KINDNESS ..a book review

 HOW TO PICK UP A STRIPPER AND OTHER ACTS OF KINDNESS
By: TODD & Erin Stevens

This is a tricky book as is obvious by the title. That's designed by the authors to raise eyebrows, but it makes a point. In serving Christ, would you teach a stripper about the Lord? Not condemn - teach. Jesus did. Would, you go to the street or even the jail if an opportunity to teach a drug user came available?  That is what this book is about, teaching people where they are and as they are, not just when or if they come to your meeting. I laud the authors for their challenge and concept with this. That said, don't expect a lot of specific in depth collegiate level teaching. That's not what this book is about. This book is about what it says it is,reaching people where they are. How to reach out to people in need, how to speak to them about faith, and show them Christ in you.

This is a good book for modern outreach, small groups, discussion groups. It will challenge you to think practically and definitely out of the box. My advice - get it!  But not if you're not going take its challenge seriously. With the lauds, I would like to suggest to the authors to write a sequel that goes a little more in depth. My rating for this book is a 5, with a potential to be a 10. I enjoyed it's challenge, and I hope you do too!

Feeelwings

Wise People Consider Other People’s Feelings when they speak. James says, “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” (Jas 3:17)   We often react to what people say and not how they feel — or when we invalidate someone else’s feelings because we don’t feel that way ourselves.

We pay too much attention to someone’s words and not enough attention to the emotions behind the words. An example of this is when people say stuff when they’re angry that they don’t even mean. Even to the point of using words they don’t even intend to use.  We exaggerate things. This is where it gets tricky, because you need to look behind the words at the emotion. People don’t always say what they mean, but they always feel what they feel. Thus the tragedy of communication, and being closer to someone doesn't help.  Wisdom in a relationship, often demands that you stop focusing on what just ticks you off, and you start being considerate of what is being said and how. Then we have to learn to be mindful of the feelings and emotions swirling around both of those.  Unfortunately, it is the unkind person are those who need your kindness the most. When people are rude and unkind, they are screaming to the world, “I’m in pain!” whether they realize it or not.

We have a tendency to invalidate any feelings that we don’t feel ourselves as irrevelent.  This is when you believe something is dumb or irrational or illogical because it’s not what you would feel or say and you dismiss it. Can one person be cold and another be warm at the same time? Yes. So why try to argue people out of what they feel? It’s real to them, even if it isn't to you. It is simply rude and inconsiderate on our part to invalidate someone else’s feelings because we don’t feel it. We minimize the other person and are no longer their friend, but their judge.  If someone says “I feel ugly,” don’t dismiss it and say, “You’re not ugly!” That doesn’t help. What you need to do ask is, “Why would you feel that? What would make you say that?” because you need to look beyond the words and get to the real issue.

Feelings are neither right nor wrong. They’re just what they are. We shouldn’t have to defend our feelings but at the same time that doesn't give us the right to feel that I can infringe on or invalidate another because of my own feelings. That is why James states, “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (Jas 3:17). It is with God' eyes, feelings, and voice that we can stop minimizing other people’s feelings. You will let them feel tired when they say they're tired and not try to talk them out of it. You will let a person feel depressed when they say they're  depressed and not try to talk them out of it. Wise people are considerate of other people’s feelings.

What habits do you need to change or adopt to become more considerate of others feelings and not just their words?

Jim

Pain and Pandora

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

 (Col. 3:12, 13)

Many of us have that has done some hurtful thing to us or to somebody that we love.  We hold on to hurt like badges at times, often making them vendettas, grudges or even worse things. Resentments like these tear you up from the inside out. They rob us of joy and appreciation of life. It is also a sad thing when believers tell themselves, “I know the Christian thing to do is to forgive, so I will. I will forgive him as soon as he gives me an apology.”  The problem with this is that we are clouding the issue with a lie. The truth is, that person may never ask you for forgiveness or say they are sorry, because they may not even realize what they have done. So we end up stewing over something that the other person has either long ago forgotten, or doesn't even realize. And we are the one that suffers, and if we aren't careful that suffering can be eternal.

Jesus, even dying on the cross shows us that things like this can be let go. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Paul echoes this in Col.3:12,13 "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. These verses are not a bad one to memorize and carry with you throughout the day, because we will have plenty of chances to use them. It is also interesting that Paul's choice of words here with regard to "bearing with" means “to bear with, to endure, to be tolerant.” Basically it means to cut people some slack. Jesus reiterated this, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” Matthew 5:7. One of the ways you receive mercy, is by being merciful.

What hurt are you still holding onto? Be aware that hurts like these open a plethora of Pandora boxes with regard to things we will justify because of them.  Drug abuse, marriage troubles, job issues, family troubles and more. Things like this don't cause just me to suffer, everyone I'm connected to will hurt because of me to some degree or another.

What do you need to do today so that your hurt does not turn into resentment? Are you letting God have your life and heart, or just telling yourself this wile secretly worshipping pain and resentments?

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Jim

THRIVE - by Casting Crowns

Here in this worn and weary land

Where many a dream has died

Like a tree planted by the water

We never will run dry

So living water flowing through

God, we thirst for more of You

Fill our hearts and flood our souls with one desire

Just to know You and to make You known

We lift Your name on high

Shine like the sun, make darkness run and hide

We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives

Its time for us to more than just survive

We were made to thrive

Into Your word, were digging deep

To know our Fathers heart

Into the world, were reaching out

To show them who You are

Joy unspeakable, faith unsinkable

Love unstoppable, anything is possible

We Were Made To Thrive

by Casting Crowns

'We’ve kind of had this Celtic feel with a couple of songs in the past like ‘Praise You with the Dance’ and ‘Spirit Wind’ so it’s always been a little part of us and we just thought with this big, fun worship song, that we’d just make it a big camp song. It’s kind of natural, but the idea of ‘Thrive’ came out of our student ministry. For years I’ve been using the idea of Psalm One in showing them what a believer looks like... If you’re not getting into the word for God to define Himself to you, you will define God with what makes sense to you and what makes sense to us is, ‘I better do good or I’m in big trouble’ and ‘He’s going to stick with me for so long, but I’m going to blow it.’ That’s not the picture that the Bible has. God didn’t put you here just so you could survive through hard times. He put you here to thrive, to dig in and to reach out and this record is an effort to draw a picture of what a believer, a follower of Jesus, would look like if they dug into their roots and understood God and themselves more.” ~Mark Hall

© 2013 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI) All rights on behalf of Sony/ATV Tree Publishing administered by Sony/ATV. / My Refuge Music (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) / Songs for Emily Music Publishing (ASCAP)

Hand In Hand With Jesus

"Once from my poor sin sick soul, Christ did every burden roll.."  "Hand in Hand with Jesus" was composed by Leonard D. Huffstutler. Born in 1887, at Liberty, Alabama, he was raised on a farm in Texas where as a boy he learned to sing gospel songs from his mother.  What is unique about this particular song, is that it uses a phrase that we do not often hear today, "sin sick."  Good people, especially people who have faith don't often think of ourselves like this. We are struggling, needy, addicted, whatever phraseology we can find that will do anything in its power to try to convince someone that everything is somehow ok.  We don't like to think of ourselves as wretched, miserable, spiritually naked, blind like a person covered in sores, or on the doorstep of death. Because when we realize that this is indeed our condition, there is only one source from which the healing will come - God! But we say "YES! That's the point!" If it is, then why don't we speak truthfully about the fact that our souls are like the poor beggar on the street hoping someone will have pity? Why don't we speak about ourselves as "sin sick," a state of one who has a terminal disease who may die at any moment?

We...and we alone are responsible for the condition of our souls. When we are physically as sick as we have described above we spend so much time in doctors offices that we know them on a first name basis. We know their staff and nurses. Yet, how intimately do we know God? How intimately do we know the people of HIS House? Why isn't it a priority to try,  not just to save myself, but all those around me that are in the same sad state that I am? It is because the evil one has deceived me into thinking I'm "ok." I don't have to talk to God or get to know God deeply because I've obeyed the gospel and I'm forgiven. I don't have to be around God's people or God's house as much because in the words of the Pharisee, "I'm not like that publican."  What he didn't understand, was that he was in a more wretched condition than even the publican.

Rom.12 - Paul reminds us that the main thing that we give God is ourselves.  The person as we are, and what we allow God to guide us to become. In the same vein, what we offer God's house is not the "duties" we can perform, it is the person we become through God.  God's house is the gathering of His people and His kingdom is not a building - it is our hearts! Do you want to "spread the borders of God's Kingdom?" Then quit thinking geographically and start opening your heart. When you do, you will find a lot of sin sick souls just like yourself, trying to get to know their doctor by His name and who want to help the ones in the waiting room hurt a little less.

Jim