REVIEW: Influencing Like Jesus by Michael Zigarelli

Lately, I have been trying to "improve my serve" so to speak, looking into ways that I can be a better teacher, mentor, person. This set me on a quest for knowledge and I didn't want to approach things the old standard way. I've seen too many books out there that treat teaching the gospel like selling the latest "Bando buy it now for only $19.95" commercial. I wanted something genuine, that helped me to think.

Enter Michael Zigarelli's book "Influencing Like Jesus" that was recommended to me. So I did the cautious thing and went to Amazon to check it out. I wanted to see what others had said about it, and if I could to get a sneak peek inside. I found that I was able to download a sample, so I did. I liked what I saw, but initially thought that this was sort of the "same ol'" that I have heard. So, I bought the book - the actual book not a digital copy.

Now, I'm a slow reader because I like to process what I read. I like to catch the snipits and dwell on them, think about them, and study them along with the Bible if they are a spiritually oriented book as this one is. And I have been processing.

• Much of what he has written, I already "know" and a lot of it I have done. What I found intriguing was the genuineness behind the book and the encouragement I felt to do and be what he was recommending.
  
• Another thing that stood out to me in the book was the parallels to biblical examples to what he was citing. This - struck home with me!
  
• The more I read, the more intrigued I became. I also now have the workbook, and find it equally stimulating.
  
• Each section offers opportunity for reflection and discussion (especially if you are in a small group) and a worksheet - which I loved and have implemented.

My overall opinion on this book if you have not gathered by now, is good. I heartily recommend it to those trying to teach others the gospel or to lead group studies within their congregations. I believe you can be bettered by reading it. Its intriguing and not some boring "sales manual" type of book. It is engaging and I recommend it for your own library and personal development. You won't be sorry.

Mixing Myth and Scripture - Getting the Facts Straight

I've been searching for a topic to write on and this one happened to pop out. In a new discovery reported by DISCOVERY today, there is a title "Slaves Didn't Build Pyramids: Egypt." (http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/pyramids-tombs-giza-egypt.html)

The article states, "The mud-brick tombs were uncovered last week in the backyard of the Giza pyramids, stretching beyond a burial site first discovered in the 1990s and dating to the 4th Dynasty (2575 B.C. to 2467 B.C.), when the great pyramids were built on the fringes of present-day Cairo.

The ancient Greek historian Herodotus once described the pyramid builders as slaves, creating what Egyptologists say is a myth later propagated by Hollywood films.

Graves of the pyramid builders were first discovered in the area in 1990 when a tourist on horseback stumbled over a wall that later proved to be a tomb. Egypt's archaeology chief Zahi Hawass said that discovery and the latest finds last week show that the workers were paid laborers, rather than the slaves of popular imagination.

Hawass told reporters at the site that the find, first announced on Sunday, sheds more light on the lifestyle and origins of the pyramid builders. Most importantly, he said the workers were not recruited from slaves commonly found across Egypt during pharaonic times."

This is interesting and I do not dispute the findings. What is interesting to me is how people in general assume things, and the assumptions become scripture. People have assumed, probably because of Herodotus and Cecil B. DeMills, that because the movies show the Jews in bondage, that they must have been the pyramid builders of the past. Yet, the scripture does not mention anything about them building the pyramids (Ex.2:23; 6:5,6,9; 13:3,14; 20:2). It simply says that they were in bondage or slavery and that they made mud-bricks. It is also interesting that the Jews dwelt in Goshen in the northeastern delta extending from Succoth to Piramesse. Cairo is is along the Nile immediately south of the point where the river leaves its desert-bound valley and branches into the low-lying delta region with the city itself residing on the east bank.

Something to notice in the Discovery Article above, is that it does not deny that there were slaves during the times of the Pharoahs. So, both this article, with the scripture have shown us that the Bible accord is still correct, and the assumptions of man have been burst again. So, the next time we tell the story of the Exodus, let's not paint things into the picture that aren't there. As well, let's not jump on some discovery bandwagon and shout the Bible is wrong, without investigating what it DOES say first!

Resolutions

RESOLUTIONS – Is Reading the Bible One of Yours?

Started thinking about New Year’s resolutions yet? Something that we resolve many times is that I want to be a “better Christian.” Yet, do we spend the time doing the things that help facilitate being a better Christian? Have you ever read the Bible through? Have you ever spent time just studying some of what the Bible says, in depth – just you and God?

· Nothing will foster interest in the Bible more than reading it. It is exciting, stimulating and challenging, nourishing the soul as nothing else can! (John 8:31f; 10:10; 15:1-8,10) To live it, we must read it. Make your aim to spend quality time in God’s Word each day this year!

· The Bereans in Acts really something. Receiving the message they examined the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true (Acts 17:11). Their desire for truth reflected a genuine interest on their part in God’s Word and what God had to say on a subject! We should not simply pass over those hard to understand passages. We should study them out! Dust off the dictionaries and look up those obscure words. Make comparisons of translations. Ask questions—lots of questions. Most importantly, pray that God will give you wisdom and spiritual insight so that you might see wonderful things in His word (Psalm 119:18). The deeper we dig the more engrossed we become and the more interested we are.

· Reading the Bible through is certainly a worthwhile goal. As we’ve seen in our study of the Post Exile return and rebuilding of the Temple, the manner in which the books are arranged can be confusing. One way to see the biblical story unfold is to read The Bible in Chronological Order. If you need help with this, get with me and I can get you recommendations on Daily Reading Lists, or Chronological Bibles that can help with understanding.

· Application of the Bible to our lives is our primary reason for reading. It is much better to read, study and apply one verse than to skim through chapter after chapter for the umpteenth time. The Word of God serves as the lamp to our feet and light to our path. (Psalm 119:105.) Each time we open our Bibles, we should be asking: What has God revealed about Himself in this text? What does God require of me? We should read the Bible with keen interest and a firm resolve to live into God’s will!

Let one of your resolutions this year be to become a diligent reader of God’s word. You won’t be sorry that you did (2 Tim.2:15).

Jim

Fishing

I live in an area where fishing is a key sport. We have both Salt Water as well as Fresh Water fishing, and even tournaments - you should see the beach when that happens. You would think you were stuck in LA Traffic at rush hour.

Jesus invited the disciples to "come and I will make you fishers of men." An interesting concept. We love to fish for fish, but mention becoming a fisher of men to someone, and instead of flocking to the beachheads, people scatter like a bear has just dropped into the middle of a picnic. Why?

I think people are afraid to commit for fear of failure. And here I speak of myself. I find myself, telling myself that I need to do this, and then the other side of me finding reasons why I shouldn't, or reasons to put it off. So, how do I commit? The same as with any kind of fishing - you never will catch a fish until you cast the net or the line to do so.

This brings me to the second reason that we do not want to do this, and that is what do we do with them once the net or line has brought them in. In real fishing we know we have to clean and dress the fish, to prepare it for cooking and the table. But what do we do with the "spiritual fish" that our nets have brought in? This is where things gets complicated. I actually have to engage the individual(s). But with what? Evidently they are interested in the Message, or they wouldn't have come into the cast net or have taken the line. Jesus gives us some insight on this in Matt.9:35-37.

• Once teaching has caught the interest of someone and their interest is piqued, then vs.35 shows us that continued teaching is required. Explanations of things such as salvation, the kingdom of God, fidelity to the Lord are needed things.
• Vs.35 also shows us that Healing is a needed thing. Jesus healed physical ailments, and most certainly this behooves us to be aware of the physical needs of those we teach, and to do what we can to help them. Yet, healing also has a spiritual side. When we encounter people with further teaching, many discover that they need spiritual healing of one sort or another. Many will discover that their hearts are "cut" (Acts 2:37) and that they need the healing of Christ's blood (Acts 2:38). Others, will discover that old scars and wounds have reopened (1 Jn.1:9) and that they need the healing balm of forgiveness.

Why then are we afraid to engage people to "fish for men" when we already know of the salvation of Christ, and of the Forgiveness he gives in Grace as we continue to walk with Him?
Perhaps we are not convinced that we are truly saved or forgiven? Perhaps we are not appreciative of the grace that has been given to us? Perhaps, we just don't want to?

To my knowledge, discipleship and helping to aid into the effort to generate disciples is not an optional thing (2 Tim.2:2). We go fishing because we want to, we enjoy it, and we like the rewards. Spiritual fishing is equally enjoyable once you know how, and the rewards are far better. So, let's get the tackle and nets ready. Its time to go fishing!

Hustle and Bustle - and then Quiet Meditations

Just got back from Texas to see my Mom. She had a stay in the hospital that concerned us, but she's doing ok - at least for the moment.

During our travel, Ann and I decided to take in some narrative readings of Beach Road by James Patterson and Peter De Jonge and Entombed by Linda Fairstein. Both of these books are good as far as plot is concerned and definitely have you going. Beach Road definitely catches you off with a lot or suspense and a twist at the end that leaves you stunned. Entombed is a Poe thriller and fascinating. However, as good as the content and plot, I have to give these a definite BAD-R rating because of the language. It was a turn off to us and disappointing that people feel that they have to use this type of language to form "authenticity." Yes, I am not naive to the fact that in the real world this is how people talk. But, I wonder if authors have considered that people might talk this way because they convey the image?

Naturally, in traveling you have to take breaks - so we decided to frequent bookstores and WalMarts. Here we discovered another book that we have just started The Shack by William Young. Jury's still out on this one, but I will let you know more as we get through it.

Outside of this, visiting Mom in the hospital, and trying to recover from road driving, I spent the week reflecting a lot. And, I made a discovery -- not so much of things I don't or didn't know, but of things I already know. When times and people get critical ...

1. Consider it a time of self reflection - Am I right? This is a biggie, because human instinct is that you are right no matter what. Its hard to fight this instinct, and consider that if someone is being critical to you, or about you - then you may NOT be right. Now, please don't misunderstand, I am not talking about "abusive" situations. I'm talking about where someone has been critical of you and you don't feel that you did anything to be criticized about. Perhaps before letting loose our mouths and saying things that we shouldn't or may regret later, we should step back and reflect on what is being said by them to see if indeed it may be warranted. Not saying that it won't hurt - but it still may be worth considering. 2 Cor. 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
   
2. Consider it a time for Searching The Scriptures! - This (even though we boast a lot about "the Bible Says") is not something that we like to do. It is something that we like to think that we know already! However, my discovery is that my "wisdom" is much lacking in a lot of things. It is a humbling thing to ask the question and to then search out the answer to "What does GOD say?" After all, He is the final "say so" on things isn't He? Why then shouldn't I want to KNOW what God says about something, or to find out? Is it because I am afraid that it might trespass on some dogma or preconceived notion that I have, or that it might rock my "I'm right" boat? John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
   
3. Consider it a time for Quiet Actions! - Do what is right, no matter what! But - we don't have to have the trumpets blaring, the crowds gazing, and the fireworks flying to do this. It is what we like, but it is NOT necessary. One of the greatest examples to me about this in the Bible is Priscilla and Aquilla. In a day of bombings, violence and assassinations, the one thing that we DO NOT need, is people verbally assassinating one another. No matter WHAT religion they are. The key component of the scripture and of the character of God, and I don't care how you slice it - if you're out there being critical (me included!) you're not exemplifying that very well. Act 18:26 He began to speak freely (fearlessly and boldly) in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him with them and expounded to him the way of God more definitely and accurately.
   

Guess I've got some things to work on then, because as I reflected on these things, I found that I am lacking in some areas and can behave better in others. I hope that this helps you to do the same.

Jim

First Jesus-era house discovered in Nazareth - Yahoo! News

First Jesus-era house discovered in Nazareth - Yahoo! News

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First Jesus-era house discovered in Nazareth - Yahoo! News

First Jesus-era house discovered in Nazareth - Yahoo! News

Posted using ShareThis