Book Review

The Jesus Inquest by Charles Foster

You may have heard people arguing the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you have, you have probably heard some very interesting and intelligent statements. And, then again, you might have heard some really dumb ones. Charles Foster is a barrister, the British version of an American lawyer. From the way he has written this book, I would say that he must be an excellent barrister.

In the very beginning of the book, he tells you that he will give the arguments concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ from both sides. He calls them X and Y. Being the brilliant barrister that he is, he amasses every conceivable fact possible for both the prosecution as well as the defense. Being a former pastor, I thought that I had heard every argument. How wrong I was!

In each chapter, the prosecution against the resurrection would go first. He was so good at presenting facts and arguments, that I was not quite sure how good his defense was. However, when it came time for the defense to offer a rebuttal, he was equal to the task if not greater.

I like chapters seven and eight the best. Chapters one through six were evenly argued. But, in seven and eight, the defense absolutely destroyed the prosecution and laid out the believer’s case for the resurrection in no uncertain terms. Even this former pastor learned several things. This book will be on the front of my bookshelf. I will refer to those chapters again and again.

Booksneeze has supplied me with a copy of this book in return for my review.

AN ISSUE OF A GOD KIND--The START Treaty

Oh, yeah.  This is a good one.  The United States is entering into a treaty with a country that is known for it's strong-arm tactics, it's ability to change it's mind to fit it's own ends and for their human rights violations.  That's just like our police departments making a peace treaty with the local Mafia.  Really!?  Like they're going to keep their promises.  You know....cross their hearts and swear to.........whoever or whatever they serve and give each other a pinky shake just to make sure that we know they will keep their word.  Hey, how about this.  One of our own politicians said that even with the reduction of nuclear warheads from 2,200 to 1,550, we would still have enough warheads to blow somebody to kingdom come.  Oh, now that's a comfort isn't it.  But, wait a minute.  If we have 1,550 and they have 1,550......hm-m-m-m ya reckon they could blow us to kingdom come?  Uh-oh, I just had a thought.  (I know, that's an amazing stretch of the imagination.)  Does this country have ties to a couple of other countries who are developing nuclear power?  Ooops.  We don't have a treaty with them yet, do we?  Let's suppose we sign one with these other two somewhere down the road.  After all, we are an equal opportunity.....yada, yada, yada.  So, if we have a 1,550 treaty with three different countries that would like to have our wealth then we would have 1,550 to use against them and there would be 4,650 pointed at us.  Has there been a recall on America's brains, yet?
The recall doesn't need to be on their brains, ladies and gentlemen.  There needs to be a recall on their hearts. America has AN ISSUE OF A GOD KIND.  In God's Word, the book of 1 Kings, there is an instance of the kingdom of Judah making a treaty with a nation that did not serve God.  They did it in order to be safe from the kingdom of Israel.  What happened to living for God and prayer?  Leviticus 26:7-8, And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.  And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.  And, I've got a better one than that.  Paul, the greatest soul-winner besides Jesus Christ, wrote to the Ephesians in chapter six, verse twelve--For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  I've got a real shocker for you, saints.  It is not ONLY the sinner that has AN ISSUE OF A GOD KIND, it is those who call themselves by His name, 2 Chron 7:14.  (Hey!  Blow the dust off your Bible and look that one up for yourself.  It'll do you good no matter how long it takes you to find 2 Chronicles.  Hint:  It's in the Old Testament.)  Let me give you a news flash, Mr and Ms Christian, it doesn't matter who is in office.....IT ONLY MATTERS WHO IS ON THEIR KNEES OBEYING THE WORD OF GOD.  Two years ago, I set myself to pray and seek the face of God for our Congress.  It didn't take me but a couple of weeks before I sensed in my spirit that I had finally joined thousands of God-fearing, on fire people who knew the real value of 2 Chron 7:14 as well as James 5:16.  Prayer changed a congress!!!!!  Exodus 23 and 33 promise an angel will fight for God's people who are moved by God's purpose.  The treaty that needs to be made is the one between prayer warriors and the God that answers 2 Chron 7:14.  Congress and treaties have never shown themselves faithful and have never had the power to bring peace and protection.  But, Jehovah Tsaba, the Lord of hosts, stands ready, willing and able to enforce His Word through the power of the shed blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.  I say, let's chase our enemies through the power of prayer and living a Godly life.  God's people should be so vibrant and forceful in their prayer lives, that the moment we wake up and begin calling on His name, the devil goes into spasms and starts throwing up in anticipation of what he knows that the child of God is going to start praying.
Pass this on and send me your comments.

AN ISSUE OF A GOD KIND--Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Now, you may think that this bill was about Christians.  The way most Christians live, they don't want anyone to ask them whether they are a Christian and they sure enough don't want to tell anyone that they serve the Lord.   And, by the way they live their lives, whether on the job, the market place, or the home you still couldn't tell if they were Christians or not.  The real shame about 'closet' Christians is that people who are hurting way down inside are the same way.  They try to hide it because some will tend to think they are weak.  The 'hurting' are the ones that need to be able to see the real Jesus coming out from our hearts.  Everyone of us who claim the name of Jesus need to pray every morning---God, be real in me today and bring me into contact with someone that I can show the real Jesus to.

The Congress voted to repeal the "Don't ask, don't tell" law.  Folks this is not an issue for our Congress to decide or not.  This is an "Issue of a God kind." Psalm 139:13-16 tells us that God knows who and what we are from the very moment of conception.  (Look out abortion folks, the Word of God stands against you, too.)  The book of Genesis talks about God making humans as 'male and female.'  He didn't make them 'male with a few hang-ups,' or 'females with an attitude.'  The issue is not with our government or with any part of society.  It is an issue between an individual and an Almighty God that that individual will have to resolve either on this side or on the other side of eternity.

Does God hate and abhor those with issues with Him?  Absolutely not.  And, Mr. or Ms. Christian if you look down upon others with disdain, you have issues with an Almighty God, too.  God loves that person(s) so much that He sent His Son to die in their place.  You need to display His agape love to them. 

In summary, I say that it is the Christians that should repeal their own personal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law and come out of their closet.  What do you say?

Mary, Did You Know

This past Sunday, my Pastor used the words of the song, "Mary, Did You Know?" to illustrate some things in his sermon.  She knew that He was the Son of God and that He would come into this world to do great things.  However, the angel never spelled out the things that He would do.  There are no scriptures in the Old Testament that told her that He would:  walk on water, heal the sick, calm storms, cast out demons, raise the dead, or in general, bring the great deliverance that He brought to the entire world.  What she did know, was that He was God's anointed child and God had a special purpose for Him.  That was first and foremost in her mind as she raised and taught her God-given Son.
Psalm 139:13--For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. Vs 16--Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them. The very moment any child is conceived, and as their DNA is being formed, God writes a complete description of him in His book.  AND THEN, He begins forming a plan for his life.  Just like He did for you, and just like He did for your children.  God has a plan for us, even when we blow it and go some other way.  He is constantly trying to get us to follow a path that He knows is best suited for us.  We all remember the scripture that reminds us that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours--Is 55:9.  The best example is Moses.  After he killed an Egyptian and ran away from his people, God met him on the backside of a desert and told him (in essence), "You're still my man and I still have a plan."
Now, let's get down to business.  If Psalm 139 is true, and I believe it is with all my heart, then every person on the face of this earth has a God-plan for their lives.  That includes your children, your step-children and the people you are angry at.  God's heart is to bring them into His perfect plan of blessing.  God has a job for them to do that He is trying to groom them for.  We, therefore, as parents and guardians, should seek to be vessels of God to help Him form His perfect will for their lives. 
The all-important question is, "Parent, do YOU know?"  How do you know what God's plan is for that child He has placed in your keeping.  Mary had no idea that Jesus would go on to do the mighty works that He was God-ordained to do.  We need to consider our actions.  Have I turned this child in the direction that God wants him to go?  Or, have I yelled, beat and abused His handiwork in such a manner that this child might not ever respond to God's prompting?  The next time your anger or jealousy prompts you to action, remember one more scripture--Mt 25:40--Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.  Let us be careful to mold and not to mar.  Let me ask it one more time, "Parent, do you know?"
Pass this on, please.