While I’d heard of “the code,” it’s even more complicated than I realized.

This week I finished reading The Baseball Codes: Beanballs, Sign Stealing, and Bench-Clearing Brawls: The Unwritten Rules of America’s Pastime by Jason Turbow and Michael Duca.

As a lifelong baseball fan I found it valuable to understand how the game of baseball is actually played by major league players.

Personally I would be annoyed having so many unwritten rules to try to understand, maintain and pass on to the next generation.

Each rookie class was expected to learn, know, and follow the code; no questions asked.

Unfortunately, players don’t always remember the code in the midst of the game.

Respect The Code

The book is filled with insightful illustrations of the code and how the code is maintained and broken. The code says that code-breaking demands retribution.  If, there is no retribution that’s also a code-breaking offense.

For example, the written rules have no “mercy” rule, but the code does.  The code demands that when your team is ahead by seven runs in the eighth inning, it’s a code-breaker to swing at a three balls-no strikes pitch because the pitcher has to throw a good pitch or walk the batter and prolong the game.

The code expects the batter to be merciful.  If the batter swings it’s considered “rubbing it in.”

My favorite example from the book features former Minnesota Twin Torii Hunter made the mistake of swinging on a 3-0 pitch late in the game with a big lead against the Boston Red Sox.

After the game, Twins’ manager, Ron Gardenhire, brought Hunter — like a parent leading a child back to the store from which he stole — to the Red Sox clubhouse, to apologize in person to the team’s manager, Terry Francona.

Gardenhire said that he wanted Francona “to know we didn’t give a sign for him to swing away, that Torii just made a mistake…I thought that it was good for Torii to explain it to him, so I took him over.”

Gardy was also trying to prevent retribution that would likely escalate and lead to unnecessary bad blood between the two teams.  Why would there be bad blood?  Because there was an offense.  The code was broken.  Gardy was trying to smooth things over.  (See Chapters 7 and 9)

Here is the list of the chapters to give you a greater sense of what the code entails:

1. Know When To Steal `Em
2. Running Into The Catcher
3. Tag Appropriately
4. Intimidation
5. On Being Intimidated
6. Slide Into Bases Properly
7. Don’t Show Players Up
8. Responding To Records
9. Gamesmanship
10. Mound Conference Etiquette
11. Retaliation
12. The Wars
13. Hitters
14. Off The Field
15. Sign Stealing
16. Don’t Peek
17. Sign Stealing (Stadiums)
18. If You’re Not Cheating, You’re Not Trying
19. Caught Brown-Handed
20. Don’t Talk About A No-Hitter In Progress
21. Protect Yourself And Each Other
22. Everybody Joins A Fight
23. The Clubhouse Police

Conclusion: I enjoyed reading The Baseball Codes, though the language can be raw as the authors explain the multifaceted “code” in great detail. Herein lies one of the flaws of the book, the book drags as times.  More than a few couple times I skipped ahead.  Too often, in my opinion, the authors gave us several examples to illustrate part of the code when the best two or three would have been sufficient.

I feel most grateful to those readers – you know who you are – who subscribe to mysilentscream.com.

I often see errors – or my dear wife Amy points them out to me – that are caught after I “publish”.  You subscribers overlook my errors that are silently corrected in a subsequent edit so no one else has to tolerate them.

FYI – Before I hit “Publish” I realized that I misspelled “misspelled.” =D

My humble thanks to all of you readers!

Note – With all due respect to Gus Dallas and WestBow Press A Division of Thomas Nelson, if I am ever published, I hope no one writes a review of my work like I have written this one.

As I read through Gus Dallas’ book Proverbs: “Reconstructed” more than a few times I wondered why Dallas made some of the decisions he made, or why an editor let it go to print.

The chapters/sections are organized by 370 categories. Many of the categories are duplicated using a “Good” heading and a “Bad” heading. No explanation is given in the brief two-page preface for these distinctions. Nor does the preface explain whether or not all of the Proverbs have been categorized.

Ah, yes, the categories. I have a copy of Proverbs: “Reconstructed” in epub format. I was looking forward to using the links to study the categories and topics listed in the “Contents” section of Proverbs: “Reconstructed” that are particularly relevant to me.

Unfortunately – though there are many proverbs relevant to marriage – marriage and divorce are not listed, but Bear, Meddles, Shepard (sic) and Thorns are.

Jesus and Christian are listed, though the Proverbs were written before the birth of Christ or the church.

Conclusion:

Proverbs is a relevant and practical guide to life, but this book does not offer enough help to understand and apply the proverbs in order to recommend it.

I am an expert on the subject of typos having made many. Just in case someone at WestBow Press reads my review here are the other errors I noticed.

Words are simply misspelled:

Knowledge
Good
“For the LORD gives wisdom; from fis mouth come knowledge and understanding”
“fis” replaced his

Keys are hit twice thus misspelling words:

Mouth
Bad
“A fool’s lips enter into contention, Aand his mouth calls for blows.”
“Aand” replaced and

Wife
Good
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, Bbut she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.
“Bbut” replaced but

Words are misspelled because an adjacent key was struck:

Pride
Bad
He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but hw who trusts in the lord”
“hw” replaced he

Words are misspelled because a letter is missing:

Righteous
Good
“The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, ut the mouth…”
“ut” replaced but

Trouble
Good
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue eeps his soul from trouble.
“eeps” replaced keeps

Ways (Darkness-Paths)
Bad
“When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, iscretion will preserve you.”
“iscreation” replaced discretion

Words are misspelled because a letter was struck on the way to the space bar:

Witness
Bad
Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to thebman according to his work.”
“thebman” replaced “the man”

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. 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.”

“To Be Perfectly Honest” is formatted as a year-long diary, with 365 entries chronicling the author’s year of trying to tell the truth.

I found “To Be Perfectly Honest” to be very good at exposing weaknesses in our lives; in MY life.

Though I was taught better, I grew up an insecure liar. As an adult I am committed to telling the truth, but I am amazed how often “little white lies” creep out unexpectedly when talking to a stranger in the phone who is not giving me the customer service I think I want and deserve.

Reading this book gave me a greater appreciation of honesty and the challenges of choosing to be honest.

Phil’s story is one that I think you will enjoy reading, relate to, and learn a lot about honesty along the way. You may not like this book if you do not have a sense of humor (and seriousness) when looking at how people in the church act.

Summary:

This book will challenge most readers morally and leave others uncomfortably asking questions about their integrity and character.

Some readers will easily be able to sit down and read this book in one sitting, but others might find the day-by-day diary format tedious.

The book has a study guide which in my opinion offers the greatest value thus making the book useful for personal reflection or group conversation and confession.

I enjoyed this book. “To Be Perfectly Honest” I’d give this book a 3 1/2 out of 5.

Here are my favorite insights:

“The truth is, being right is nice – but it’s all a little pointless without good relationships.”

“I’m good at compassion…(but) when “someone enjoys tremendous success…I know I should celebrate. But envy is always around the corner.”

“I am so often a phony…I’ve been too full of myself to allow God to fill me.”

Quoting George Verwer, “I am a sinner, who’s growing stronger through the years, who crawls back to the cross when he sins and finds God still loves him and will still use him…That’s grace, isn’t it.”

“The Bible teaches that through Jesus’ life and death, we are forgiven…It has nothing to do with our performance…I am not accepted because I’m so wonderful, but because he is.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah as part of their book review bloggers program. 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.”

A Shot Of Faith is not a light afternoon read, a relaxing bedside read before lights out at the end of a long day, this book is thought provoking and challenging.

Challenging intellectually stimulating atheists is not for the light at heart. Stokes takes us through three eddies of philosophical influence as he wades into their water.

Stokes argues that “there are three concepts — rationality, design, and absolute standards — connected through the notion of proper function.”

A rational belief is one that is formed by a cognitive faculty that is functioning properly (in the appropriate environment).

The proper function of something depends on how it was intended to function, on what it was designed to do.

The design is the standard by which we measure whether something is functioning properly.

Stokes argues that “either there’s no such thing as rationality (or irrationality) or else atheism is irrational. But atheists will heartily agree that there is such a thing as irrationality; they point to us as examples of it.”

Whether Stokes arguments are an intellectually satisfying “shot of faith” or an unsatisfying circular reasoning depends largely on how the reader responds to one of Stokes statements: “Rationality and irrationality require a divine designer.”

If you accept his statement as valid then you’ll agree, “if the atheist is right, and there’s no divine designer, then there’s no such thing as rationality (or irrationality, and so belief in God isn’t irrational). If the atheist is wrong, on the other hand, and there is a divine designer, then the atheist is irrational…”

While I enjoyed much of Stokes book I wasn’t always convinced by his reasoning.

What I did agree with is that the “atheists are damaged goods. Of course, all of us are damaged goods. Sin has caused some degree of irrationality in us all. And given the extent of the damage, it’s no wonder atheists don’t believe. The real wonder is why anyone believes. The explanation, of course, is that God has begun to repair humanity, at an unimaginable cost to himself. And this is really good news.”

This book is well-referenced and well-researched, but as an added value it needed a study guide to continue the dialogue with Christians, Atheists and anyone else.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah as part of their book review bloggers program. 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.”

Different translations use different styles of translating the original languages into English.

The NASB, ESV and others use a more literal word for word translation.
The NRSV, NIV, and others have a more phrase for phrase translation.
The NCV, NLT and others are increasingly thought for thought translations.
The Message and The Voice are both paraphrases; their translators are retelling and explaining the text while seeking to clarify the meaning of the text. 1

Thomas Nelson’s web site promotes The Voice™ Bible translation as “a faithful dynamic translation of the Scriptures done as a collage of compelling narratives, poetry, song, truth, and wisdom…The Voice uniquely represents collaboration among scholars, pastors, writers, musicians, poets, and other artists, giving great attention to the beauty of the narrative. The heart of The Voice is retelling the story of the Bible in a form as fluid as modern literary works yet remaining painstakingly true to the original manuscripts.” 2

I was excited when I first read The Voice Bible translation.
It is unique in it’s translation of the text.
It is unique in it’s layout of the text.
It is unique in the manner in which it offers additional help to readers of the text.

Features include:

The Voice New Testament includes introductions for each biblical book.  Each introduction is one to two pages that summarizes the content of the book, identifying the author, the context, and insights about the literary language.

Three features immediately set The Voice apart.

1.  “In-text commentary notes include cultural, historical, theological, and devotional thoughts” are printed in a different and larger font that is easy to distinguish them from the Bible text.

2.  The Voice New Testament contains a unique screenplay “format, ideal for public readings and group studies.”

From John 18:

Jesus: Whom are you looking for?
Judas’s Entourage: 5Jesus the Nazarene.
Jesus: I am the One.

Judas, the betrayer, stood with the military force. 6As Jesus spoke “I am the One,” the forces fell back on the ground. 7Jesus asked them a second time:
Jesus: Whom are you searching for?
Judas’s Entourage: Jesus the Nazarene.
Jesus: 8I have already said that I am the One. If you are looking for Me, then let these men go free.

The third feature has prompted the most concern and even criticism.  “Italicized information added to help contemporary readers understand what the original readers would have known intuitively.”

While the translators made many informed choices I agreed with, the translators have added words and phrases, and sometimes entire sentences, that they suggest “the original readers would have known intuitively.” I do not agree with all of their choices and explanations of the meaning of the text.

I recommend, and have purchased several copies of The Voice New Testament knowing full well the inherent limitations of a paraphrase.

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. 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.”

1 – The Message seems to have a more Calvinist perspective while The Voice seems to lean toward a more Arminianism perspective.

2 – You can read The Voice here.

It’s a captivating subtitle: What God Did To Win Your Heart.

Lucado’s challenge is to personalize the life and death of Christ.  
Lucado explains that Jesus’ proclamation “I did it just for you.” is his resounding, enduring and personalized message.

Lucado makes the case that the trial, judgment, and execution was not happenstance.  “Knowing his last deeds would be forever pondered, don’t you think he chose them carefully? Deliberately? Of course he did. There were no accidents that day.”

Proclaiming to the end, “I did it for you. I did it all for you.”

He Chose the Nails, like all the other books I’ve read by Max Lucado is accessible, pastoral and offers relevant application for daily life.

I enjoyed He Chose the Nails. I think you will too.  Here are some highlights:

1. You Did This for Me?

2. “I Will Bear Your Dark Side”
God’s Promise in the Soldiers’ Spit
“The sinless One took on the face of a sinner so that we sinners could take on the face of a saint.”

3. “I Loved You Enough to Become One of You”
God’s Promise in the Crown of Thorns
“…want to know the coolest thing about the One who gave up the crown of heaven for a crown of thorns? He did it for you. Just for you.”

4. “I Forgive You”
God’s Promise in the Nails
“And as the hands of Jesus opened for the nail, the doors of heaven opened for you.”

5. “I Will Speak to You in Your Language”
God’s Promise Through the Sign
“It’s one thing to miss a message from your wife about cleaning up a room. It’s something else entirely to miss one from God about the destiny of your life.”

6. “I Will Let You Choose”
God’s Promise Through the Two Crosses
As Jesus hung on the cross he hung near two men, “And when one prayed, Jesus loved him enough to save him. And when the other mocked, Jesus loved him enough to let him. He allowed him the choice. He does the same for you.”

7. “I Will Not Abandon You”
God’s Promise in the Path
Beware of two lies that drive you from Jesus, “Pride says, ‘You’re too good for him.’ Shame says, ‘You’re too bad for him.’ Pride drives you away. Shame keeps you away.”

8. “I Will Give You My Robe”
God’s Promise in the Garment
“He did that (and that, and that, and that…) just for you.”

9. “I Invite You into My Presence”
God’s Promise Through the Torn Flesh
“Don’t trust your conscience. Trust the cross. The blood has been spilt and the veil has been split. You are welcome in God’s presence.”

10. “I Understand Your Pain”
God’s Promise in the Wine-Soaked Sponge
“A drowning sailor doesn’t call on another drowning sailor for help. A prisoner doesn’t beg another prisoner to set him free…Jesus’ message…is this: I am that person. Trust me.”

11. “I Have Redeemed You, and I Will Keep You”
God’s Promise in the Blood and Water
“When you and I stand in heaven to receive our prize, only one will know all of our sins, but he won’t embarrass you—he has already forgiven them.”

12. “I Will Love You Forever”
God’s Promise in the Cross
“When asked to describe the width of his love, he stretched one hand to the right and the other to the left and had them nailed in that position so you would know he died loving you.”

13. “I Can Turn Your Tragedy into Triumph”
God’s Promise in the Burial Clothing
“The Bible says that ‘in everything God works for the good of those who love him.’…do this simple exercise. Remove the word everything, and replace it with the symbol of your tragedy.”

14. “I Have Won the Victory”
God’s Promise in the Empty Tomb
God’s promises through Jesus extend through his birth, his ministry, his execution, and his movement that continues to this day.

15. What Will You Leave at the Cross?
“Do yourself a favor; take your anxious moments to the cross. Leave them there with your bad moments and your mad moments… and your final moments.”

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. 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.”

I was not disappointed.

Morley has a great reputation, and based on my experiences he certainly knows what he’s talking about.

Whether I would choose to refer to his “7 Primal Needs” as primal not I did agree with him that they were of import.

Man Alive: Transforming Your 7 Primal Needs into a Powerful Spiritual Life is based on his decades of discipling and mentoring men.

Readers Will Welcome:

Relevant discussion questions after each chapter intended to keep you thinking.

Each chapter has quick and easy steps with fast facts.
Clearly one of the values of Man Alive lies in its potential as a discussion starter, which is explicit in the design of the book. Relevance is assured as each chapter has some real-life examples.

I highly recommend this book to men who want to deepen and enrich their lives and contribute meaningfully in the lives of important men in their lives.

Here are Morley’s “7 Primal Needs”:

1. Powerful,Transformed You

2. Every Man Has a Story
The primal need: To not feel like I am in this alone.

3. A Father in Relentless Pursuit
The primal need: To believe — really believe — that God knows, loves, and cares about me personally.

4. Created for a Life of Purpose
The primal need: To believe my life has a purpose — that my life is not random.

5. Breaking the Cycle
The primal need: To break free from the destructive behaviors that keep dragging me down.

6. SoulMaking
The primal need: To satisfy my soul’s thirst for transcendence, awe, and communion.

7. To Love and Be Loved
The primal need: To love and be loved without reservation.

8. How a Man Makes His Mark
The primal need: To make a contribution and leave the world a better place.

A visit to manalivebook.com will also yield some helpful bonus content.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah as part of their book review bloggers program. 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.”

I spend my life encouraging others to live their life well.  Mysilentscream.com exists — through stories, some tips, and some Scriptures — to inspire you to live well. 

As I’m nearing fifty I’m looking for “older” people to inspire me to live the rest of my life well too.  Billy Graham’s book Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well seemed like a good fit.

Billy Graham’s book is honest, vulnerable, and inspiring.

“All my life, he wrote, “I was taught how to die as a Christian, but no one ever taught me how I ought to live in the years before I die. I wish they had because I am an old man now, and believe me, it’s not easy.

Whoever first said it was right: old age is not for sissies. Get any group of older people together, and I can almost guarantee what their favorite topic of conversation will be: their latest aches and pains.

I will soon celebrate my ninety-third birthday, and I know it won’t be long before God calls me home to Heaven. More than ever I look forward to that day—not just because of the wonders I know Heaven holds in store for me and for every believer but because I know that finally all the burdens and sorrows that press down upon me at this stage of my life will be over. During the last year the physical ailments common to old age really have taken their toll on me.

I also look forward to that day because I will be reunited with Ruth, my beloved wife and best friend for almost sixty-four years, who went home in 2007 to be with the Lord she loved and served so faithfully. Although I rejoice that her struggles with weakness and pain have all come to an end, I still feel as if a part of me has been ripped out, and I miss her far more than I ever could have imagined.”

Here are some highlights from each of the chapters:

Chapter 1: Running Toward Home
How can we “prepare for the unexpected twists and turns of growing older?
God has given us the answers we need, if we will only discover them and apply them to our lives.”

Chapter 2: Don’t Retire from Life
“Let’s remember that many generations before us have been where we are today without the conveniences we enjoy…Instead of being frustrated by technologies, let’s be thankful for the time they give us to concentrate on His blessings.”

Chapter 3: The Impact of Hope
“One day you may not be able to do everything you once did or everything you would like to do. Instead of feeling guilty or frustrated or resentful, however, thank God that you can still do some things—and make it your goal to do them faithfully and do them well.”

Chapter 4: Consider the Golden Years
“Having your house in order is one of the most important things parents can do for their children. Give them the peace of mind that you have your piece of mind and have taken care of the business that has come about from your lifetime of labor. More than anything else, let them know where you stand with the Lord Jesus Christ, for this will be your lasting legacy.”

Chapter 5: Fading Strength but Standing Strong
“How do we overcome the perils that steal our zest for life? Let the promises of God’s Word, the Bible, uphold you every day. Turn constantly to Him in prayer, confident not only that He hears you but that even now Jesus is interceding for you. Focus your thoughts on Christ, and maintain your connection with other believers who can encourage and help you.”

Chapter 6: Death’s Destination
“While many older folks are not able to care for themselves, many are still capable and can care for others in various ways. We often find that our own loads are not as heavy when we begin helping others. Our choices determine our destiny. When we make choices with the Lord Jesus at the center, life’s journey can be purposeful and filled with hope…”

Chapter 7: Influencing the Impressionable
“Forgiveness is one of the most beautiful words in the human vocabulary and is best illustrated by God’s forgiveness of sin. When God’s people practice forgiveness with their fellow man, sweetness replaces harshness.”

Chapter 8: A Foundation That Lasts
“The elderly should take heart in the biographies that fill the pages of Scripture and the foundations that have been laid by those who have lived before us. The Bible does not diminish old age but teaches its values and virtues. We would do well to emulate the wisdom of those who responsibly passed on the building blocks of God’s truth.”

Chapter 9: Roots Strengthen in Time
Strengthening our spiritual roots begins with God’s Word. Many have said that when they were young, they were too busy to read the Bible and memorize Scripture. Before they realized it, they had grown old and could not commit Bible verses to memory because their memories failed them. That may be true for some, but not for everyone. Many of us remember what we want to remember.” One eighty-eight year old lady was quoted as saying, “It’s going to help me keep my mind fresh and young!”

Chapter 10: Then and Now
“When life’s burdens press upon you or its pressures seem almost more than you can bear, turn your heart toward your Heavenly home: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”…When your hopes and dreams fall apart or people disappoint you or turn against you, turn your heart toward your Heavenly home. And when the infirmities and struggles of old age threaten to overwhelm you, turn your heart toward your Heavenly home…This is certainly what Christ did—before He departed His earthly life…”

This may not be a book for you — or the stage of life you’re in — but, I absolutely loved it.

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. 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.”

Fortunately, we fought those fears back down.

The food from the shrimp trucks were my favorite meals I had on our vacation and among the most reasonably priced meals we ate.

Our two favorite shrimp truck meals were on Oahu.

We ate at Giovanni’s shrimp truck on Oahu’s North Shore.  On the main street in the surf-town of Halei’wa we found a couple of shrimp trucks parked in the shade.  We had read enough reviews of restaurants including shrimp truck reviews to know that Giovanni’s would be safe and delicious, and they were. 

Additionally, they invite their customers to sign their truck.  Since our Hawaiian trip was our 25th wedding anniversary trip I looked for a prominent place to add our mark.  Having cleared it with the owners I climbed into the hood of the truck and there centered right above the windshield is our mark commemorating our anniversary.

Less sentimental but more palatable was our stop at Fumi’s Shrimp Farm shrimp truck.  There we had the best tasting shrimp I have ever had ever, ever, ever, had.

The shrimp were properly prepared and seasoned, but undoubtedly they tasted so wonderful in part because they were raised within a hundred yards of the skillet.

To make it more special for Amy and I both truck had cooks willing to prepare Amy’s shrimp with vegetable oil instead of butter to accommodate her lactose intolerance.

1 – NDDIC and Discovery Communications’ How Stuff Works explain that harmful bacteria are the most common cause of foodborne illnesses.

Billy Graham has offered wise quote-worthy advise on these and many subjects for generations.

This book — Billy Graham in Quotes – provides sound bites with wisdom for the ages. Franklin Graham, Billy’s son, and Donna Lee Toney have collected thousands of quotes gathered into 107 categories (listed below) that will delight, motivate and enrich readers.

Here are ten quotes that I valued. You may value others. I loved this collection of wise words and sage suggestions, and I think that you will too.

Anxiety:

“Though we have less to worry about than previous generations, we have more worry. Though we have it easier than our forefathers, we have more uneasiness. Though we have less real cause for anxiety than our predecessors, we are inwardly more anxious.”

Commitment:

“Jesus didn’t use subtlety or gimmicks to gain followers. Rather, He honestly laid before them the tough demands of discipleship—total commitment and total involvement.”

“Commitment means burning all bridges behind you.”

Hope:

“Faith points us beyond our problems to the hope we have in Christ.”

“Our world today desperately hungers for hope, and yet uncounted people have almost given up. There is despair and hopelessness on every hand. Let us be faithful in proclaiming the hope that is in Jesus!”

Love:

“When Christ’s love fills our hearts, it puts selfishness on the run.”

“God is sending forth His message of love, but you must tune in. You must be willing to listen and to receive His message and then to obey it.”

“God’s love is unchangeable; He knows exactly what we are and loves us anyway.”

Marriage:

“Nothing brings more joy than a good marriage, and nothing brings more misery than a bad marriage.”

“Gardens don’t grow by themselves; they need to be tended and cultivated and weeded. The same is true of a marriage.”

107 categories

Abortion, Addiction, Age, America, Angels, Anger, Anxiety, the Bible, the Blood, Character, Children, Choice, Christianity, Church, Comfort, Commitment, Compromise, Conforming, Conscience, Conversion, Convictions, Creation, the Cross, Death, Deception, Decision, the Devil/Satan, Disappointment, Discipleship and Discipline, Encouragement, End Times, Eternity, Evangelism, Evil Faith, Family, Followers, Forgiveness, Glorifying God, God, God’s Will, the Gospel, Grace, Greed, Grief, Happiness, the Heart, Heaven, Hell, Holiness, the Holy Spirit, Home, Hope, Human Nature, Imagination, Entertainment, and Fun, Influence, Integrity, Jesus, Joy, Judgment, Knowledge, Life, Living the Christian Life, Loneliness, Love, Lust, Marriage, Money, Morals, Parents, Patience, Peace, People, Persecution, Pleasure, Prayer, Preaching, Pride, Race, Religion, Repentance, the Resurrection, Right and Wrong, Salvation, Service, Sin, Society, the Soul, Speech, Strength, Success, Suffering, Surrender, Temptation, Testimony, Thankfulness, Time, Truth, War, Witnessing, the Word of God, Work, the World, World Evangelism, Worry, Worship, Young People

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. 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.”