all good things must come to an end

The Dark Knight Rises

My Imaginary Jesus

previously published as Imaginary Jesus, My Imaginary Jesus: the spiritual adventures of one man searching for the real God is a funny and thought-provoking tale of one man on a spiritual adventure searching for the real God.

the author is Matt Mikalatos.

My Imaginary Jesus is a wonderful book.

it explores the mistakes we make and the issues we have with Jesus. we want Jesus to be just like us; believe what believe, behave how we behave, and have the same opinions we have on religious, social, and political issues.

part comedy/part autobiography/part theological treatise, My Imaginary Jesus is well written and a delight to read.

Matt challenges us on our spiritual journeys and adventures with God, following Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

like Night of The Living Dead Christian, Matt’s second book, My Imaginary Jesus is definitely worth reading.

*NOTE: Tyndale Publishing gave me a free copy of My Imaginary Jesus for a review posting on my blog. For more information check out the Tyndale Blog Network.

Empty Promises

Pete Wilson is the senior and founding pastor of Cross Point Church, located in Nashville, Tennessee.

his first book, Plan B, was a hit. his second book is Empty Promises.

empty promises are idols; things we look to for something only God can give us. it doesn’t have to be a golden calf or statue. most times it’s not, actually. money, possessions, status, our job, and many other things can be idols/empty promises in our lives.

early in the book Wilson establishes we’ll have idols in our lives. he quotes John Calvin who said: “The human heart is a perpetual factory of idols.”

no, “…the question we’re dealing with in [Empty Promises] is… Which idol is God’s biggest rival in your life?”

Wilson is very open, honest, and vulnerble in the book. it’s part theological reflection, part autobiography. Wilson shares stories from his own personal family life and his role as a pastor to illustrate the points being made.

Empty Promises asks a lot of great questions and provokes some wonderful thought.

it’s a great read.

“Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.”

The Avengers

Our Favorite Sins

author Todd D. Hunter is an Anglican Bishop and the founding pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church. he is also an adjunct professor at several seminaries. his latest book is Our Favorite Sins: The Sins We Commit & How You Can Quit.

the first comment i’d like to make is a superficial one: the book cover is great. i think the cover design is very clever and thought-provoking before you even read a single word in the book. very well done.

Our Favorite Sins deals with something we all face: temptation.

temptation is not the same as sin. being tempted is not a sin.

we seem to beat ourselves up about temptation, though. sometimes i think we see being temptated as sinful as giving in to said temptation.

Hunter writes with a pastors heart and scholars mind referencing the Bible and sharing stories. the book is also enhanced with research from the Barna Group.

Our Favorite Sins is well written and a treat to read.

i would reccomend this book to Christians of all stages on their walk with Christ. it may prevent some struggles for those who are starting a walk with Christ; and it may help those who have been Christians for years see something in a new light that is extremely helpful.

*Full Disclosure: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson through “Book Sneeze.” They give free books to bloggers for honest reviews.*

Punishment With A Capital P

there’s been some great debate stirred in Salvationist magazine and at salvationist.ca about capital punishment.

you can read a wonderfully written article by Dani Shaw by following this link: http://salvationist.ca/2012/01/an-eye-for-an-eye/. you should read it.

i’m with Mike Morris, George Clooney’s character from The Ides Of March. i would also add, paraphrasing the thought, “the body of Christ is supposed to be better than the individual.”

as Christians, we believe people, all people, whether they acknowledge it or not, are created in the image of God. the destruction of that image, be it capital punishment or murder or war, is sad. we live in a fallen world and these things happen. however, if we could control one of them, capital punishment, why not eliminate it?

most of the States in the USA still have capital punishment. in Canada, it seems there are those in conservative media and politics who would like to open the debate and bring it back situationally.

i’m baffled by Christians who quote the Old Testament to justify capital punishment. there are verses in the Old Testament that admonish the Israelites to refrain from wearing clothing from two types of material as well. will we start following this law? also, the Old Testament requires the stoning of homosexuals and adulterers. no sensible Christian wants to bring this law to our modern society. why keep capital punishment?

what about the Ten Commandments? “Thou shalt not kill.” unless… they’re convicted of killing.

Jesus seems to speak into this issue as well. the Sermon on the Mount is a good place to start. Christ was confronted in John 8 with an offense that called for stoning. his response speaks volumes. are we listening? 

I AM A FOLLOWER

I Am A Follower: The Way, The Truth, and The Life of Following Jesus is professor and author Leonard Sweet’s latest book. in small print in the botton left-hand corner of the page in bracketts are the words, “It’s never been about leading.”

this book is a wonderful must read for people who follow Jesus Christ and care about discipleship. if you care more about being a leader don’t read this book; it will offend and bother you.

the Church in North America is obsessed with leadership. conferences, seminars, books, sermons, and articles paint a ministry and mission picture that, sadly, Jesus may not even recognize.

I Am A Follower is full of wonderful stories and insights from Sweet. Sweet’s engagement with the life and ministry of Jesus and his embracement of Biblical texts is excellent.

this book engages readers to think about discipleship in the light of follwership of Jesus Christ. for Sweet, Jesus is the only leader. we as followers may still have influence and direction through ministry in the lives of others, but we’re always behind Jesus Christ in this work. Jesus Christ is our leader in all things we do.

Shane Claiborne calls Sweet “a theological poet.” i couldn’t agree more and i couldn’t reccomend this book more.

*Full Disclosure: I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson through “Book Sneeze.” They give free books to bloggers for honest reviews.*

A Prayer for Ash Wednesday

Gracious Savior, prostrate I fall at Your feet this day as Your Church once more enters the Lenten season to meditate upon Your passion, by which we have been eternally redeemed.

In spirit I appear before You in sackcloth and ashes in true repentance; let me receive Your full pardon. Do not let the pleasures of life, the worries of day, and the activities of my daily routine crowd You out of my heart and out of my thoughts. Draw me to Your wounded side, and cleanse me with Your most precious blood. Bring healing to my soul and peace to my mind. By Your grace, let me crucify my sinful affections, lusts, and desires. Make me more than a conqueror over every temptation.

I confess to You all my sins. Let none of them cling to me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Teach me to love You more and more. Give me grace to confess You as my Savior, who has redeemed me on Calvary, lifting me out of the darkness of sin to be Your own. Gracious Savior, let Your constraining love keep me and all God’s children steadfast to the end. Amen. (79)

Lutheran Book of Prayer, “Prayers for the Festivals & Times of the Church Year,” Ash Wednesday.

Shrove Tuesday AKA Pancake Day