Category: New Book Discussion

I will discussing the book, Close Enounters of the Heavenly Kind: Through Bumper Stickers. I will shae my feeling on why it got started, and my feelings as I wrote it.

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Why do I Need to Go to Church? I am a Good person.

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The year 2011 was a good year for me in selling my book. I sold over 300. In 2012 I will be digging in and trying to top that, plus hopefully have another book published. Stay tuned for updates on my first book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World,” and all future books.

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The book “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World,” reaches out to those who may be suffering from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, or hopelessness.

The book is on sale right now in the sites bookstore. It is normally $19.99 in the bookstores, but on this site it is only $15.99. The shipping has been cut in half as well. A total savings of over $6.00. Just click on the “Bookstore,” tab at the top of this page.

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I have another excerpt from the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” It answers the question as to do we need to go to church to be a Christian? Many people feel they can be good Christians and never step into a church. Others feel they have to have the fellowship each week to remain strong.

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Chapter 26

 

Are You Wrinkled with Burden?

Come to Church and Get a Faith-Lift

 

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:10

 

Do we need to go to church to be Christians? Not in the thinking of a many people. Do we need to go to church to grow and be strong Christians? In my thinking, yes—it is a must.

I find this second thought important in my own life. Where else can I sit and share my beliefs in God more than in God’s house. Those people who think the same way need me there to support them—and I need them to support me.

There are many times when we face sickness, sorrow or tragedy. People will pray for us, and we will pray for them. Jesus calls His children to a community where they gather and share together.

We know that we need to be with brothers and sisters in Christ if we are to grow in the Spirit. When we are with other Christians, we begin to feel more like loving one another, and feel free to share without fear. Christians who gather together learn that each member is a special present from God—someone with whom we can share and grow spiritually.

As the bumper sticker suggests: We can get a faith lift every time we come to church and share with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Spending each Sunday with people who love us and want to help us grow is one way to have many close encounters with God.

I have developed some close friendships with Christians from my home church and we keep in touch during the week. It helps me to stay on level with God and to be strong.

We can stay strong another way—as part of a Bible study during the week. Most churches have study groups that are a comfortable place to share and grow.

There is also an international Bible study group (Bible Study Fellowship—BSF) that I attend during the week. There are groups for just men and groups for just women. Some women’s groups meet during the day. Many meet on the same weeknight evening so both spouses can attend at the same time while their children are part of program geared to their age group.

There is a different study in each term of the seven-year cycle and you eventually get a great overview of the entire Bible. I have been blessed each year I’ve gone and have developed close friendships there. After the lecture over the passage we study during the week on our own, my small group of ten to twelve men meets. We share our hurts and needs at the end of each session. Some men would not open up in other settings, but they feel safe at BSF.

 

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must

believe that he exists and then he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

 

Further Adventures

  1. Visit your neighbors and talk to them about coming to church. I realize this may be a difficult assignment. It may be uncomfortable to speak up for the Lord, but just think if everyone in your neighborhood was a strong Christian. What if they all went to churches where they were growing in the Lord? What a glorious place to live. What a boost that would be. Isn’t it worth trying to tell your neighbors about your church, and more importantly about your Savior?
  2. Call a fellow Christian from your church and thank him or her for being there for you. Although they may not understand what you mean, they will be grateful for your thoughtfulness and glad they have contributed to your life. Your friendship may even grow stronger.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny that even every hair on your head is counted?

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I Need Help learning How to Pray

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Today I am going off the beaten path a little to discuss how to pray. I had a short page or two about in the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” I have some books I have read for a resource that will guide you in this subject.

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Where Do I Find Out How to Pray? 

            Prayer has to be the necessary foundation I talked about in the introduction for part one. With prayer you can talk to your heavenly Father, and He will guide you through your trials and daily routines.

            It seems like prayer is the easiest thing to set aside. You often think you don’t have time for it. In reality, prayer is the one thing you need to make time for. All other things should be after prayer.

            I have some books I have read that really have helped me understand prayer. They really taught me how to pray. Check these out and let me know if they have helped you. You can find my contact information in the appendix.

            The following books are all written by Stormie Omartian. You can find any of them by going to Amazon.com and putting in her name. These books were published by Harvest House Publishers:

Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On: Trusting God in the Tough Times. (Her first book; good background information on the life she had to go through to start leaning on prayer.)

The Power of a Praying Husband

The Power of a Praying Wife

The Power of a Praying Kid

The Power of a Praying Woman

The Power of Praying Through the Bible

Praying God’s Will for Your Life: Student’s Edition

The Prayer That Changes Everything (I highly recommend this one)

Break Through Prayer, Jim Cymbala, Zondervan,Grand Rapids,Michigan49530

When God Doesn’t Answer Your Prayer, Jerry Sittser, Zondervan,Grand Rapids,Michigan49530

Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? Philip Yancey, Zondervan,Grand Rapids,Michigan49530

Christian Prayer for Dummies, Richard J. Wagner, Wiley Publishing, Inc.,New York,New York10022 (for the beginner like me!)

 

 

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God Accepts Knee Mail

 * Got a lot of hits for Monday’s post. I want to thank you for supporting a fellow author. If you missed it, just go back one post and read the great interview of Tom Blubaugh, the author of “Night of the Cossack.”

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Time is running out in getting a copy of, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” There are only 6 days before Christmas. Hurry and order today, and it might still make it.

This book reaches out to those who may be suffering from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, or hopelessness.

There is a special sale going on now until the end of the year. There is a $6.00 savings of you order from this site.

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I have another excerpt from the book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” This one tells us that there are many types of technology that people use today to communicate, but the old fashion way of prayer, gets more results, and is much faster.

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Chapter 17

 

God Accepts Knee Mail

 

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.

He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:2

 

In this day of modern technology, we can “talk” with someone inAfricain an instant. We can send e-mails faster than we can even say, “snail mail.” Instant and text messaging through our computers or cell phones make it so we can talk back and forth as easily as if we were sitting in the same room conversing. Isn’t that amazing? What wonderful advancements the world has made!

You know what is coming next, don’t you? God can answer prayers that fast. You don’t even need a computer to do it, and it is like He is right in the room with you conversing. God is watching right now as you read this chapter. Think about it, He knows every hair on your head. (I know—for some of us that’s not hard.) He knows when you are sad. He knows when you are happy. He knows when you are in danger. Psalm 139 tells us He knows all about us.

If you question how He can know your own thoughts, it’s because God is all knowing—or omniscient, as the theologian would say. He knows the thoughts of nobodies like us who want to be somebodies. Each of us is just one person among millions and millions of people. Why would He care about you and me? Because He loves us so much He doesn’t want us to be alone. He wants us to love Him back and seek Him in times of trouble. That’s what your earthly father would do, wouldn’t he? (I realize that question assumes a healthy parent-child relationship, which isn’t the case for everyone.)

Yes, He even knows your inner thoughts—your very own personal thoughts. That can be a scary thought, but it shows us His tremendous love for us. He loves us so much that He listens to even you and me.

God is all-powerful—omnipotent in theological terms. You follow the weather report each day to see if you need an umbrella for the rain that God created. You look at the beautiful mountains, and know that they tremble before God. You see a crocus come up in the spring, and know that God designed it. You look at a newborn child and see God’s greatest work.

Yet, even though God is so powerful, He takes time to listen to you and me. He lowers Himself to your level and listens as you speak in His ear. He loves us so much He even came to show us His love in person. In human flesh. He sent His only Son for us so that we would have a person who will pass our hurts, fears, and shame on to the Father. That is why we always say, “In Jesus name,” at the end of all our prayers. We are going through Jesus to have God also feel our pain.

Have you had times when you thought no one cared? Did your spouse leave you? Did your child grow up and move away—emotionally, if not geographically? Has your brother or sister stopped talking to you? Did your dad or mom disown you?

God feels your pain. Everyone left His only Son when He needed them the most. They turned their backs on Him and let Him die on the cross because they feared for their own lives.

God feels your pain. David escaped angry King Saul by hiding in a cave. When David became king, he committed adultery and had a man killed, yet God (through Paul) called him a man after His own heart (see Acts13:22).

God feels your pain. Jonah tried to run from God and got as far as a whale’s stomach before God turned his pain into obedience.

God feels your pain. It hurts Him when people die in wars. He gives people choices and many leaders make painful, evil choices that hurt others.

Remember: God came down to this earth and felt pain. He cried. He worried. He knew fear. He knows (and understands) what we are going through. He has gone through it. So it makes sense to rely on someone with experience.

We probably wouldn’t hire someone to fix our toilet whose specialty is doing hair and makeup. Nor would we ask someone who has never been outside theUnited States(and is afraid of snakes and spiders) to lead us on a trek through a thick jungle. And we probably wouldn’t let a blind person show us how to climb the side of a rock cliff.

Rely on someone who knows you better than you do. Use someone who can change outcomes, before they happen. Count on someone who loves to make your life better than it is right now. Use God. Get on your knees and pray for God to direct you the rest of your life. God loves knee mail. He accepts it every day.

 

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear,

though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

and though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Psalm 46:1–3

Further Adventures

We all have friends we can turn to in order to share with them our deepest hurts and fears. They are a must on this tainted planet. However, when you leave them after a long talk, they are not with you anymore. You can’t talk to them without calling them or e-mailing them. You don’t have that problem with God. He is sitting right next to you as you read these lines. He will always be right there for you. You are never alone. Let Him hear your inner thoughts and rely on Him to show you the way.

 

Something to Ponder

Isn’t it funny that God can move mountains and calm the seas, but we still doubt He will help us in time of trouble?