Tag: God

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Top selling Books with Autographs Given Away Free.

5 Top Selling Books Given Away Free to Five Lucky People

I am going to try something totally different for the next few days. Starting now 12-11-09 until 12-14-09 I am going to give away five top selling books with the author’s autographs and personal notes in them. These will be excellent Charitmas presents or for yourself.

In the past I held a drawing to see who will get them. I am not doing that this time. These books will go to the first five people who sign up for my free newsletter.

I am going to describe each book to show you that they are not just any book, but top quality, and nationally known:

The Shack: Written by William Paul Young

Yes I said, The Shack. I met William Paul Young at a writer’s conference, and two other times after that. He not only wrote a personal to you the reader but he autographed it. I will be giving away two copies of this book. 

This book has sold over 7 million copies so far, and is still on the top selling list of many of the top selling lists.  This book started out as a book just written to his children and close friends. Some of those friends told him to send copies to some of the other friends on his list. He did and the rest is history. The book took off faster than Young and his partners could handle.

The book is about questioning God, and how to survive after you have lost a loved one. It has a very unusual approach as what God, the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit look and act like.

The Shack is a little cabin up by a lake, and the symbolism of the shack is that it has the door to your heart that you sometimes need to open to grow.

( I looked for the prices of  The Shack, in the stores, and the cheapist I could fine was $10.50 at Walmart. You can order it right off of this site by clicking the Amazon icon. It is only $6.00 here. Even with shipping it is cheaper than any store, and delivered right ot your door.  Great Christmas present.)

Three Cups of Tea: By David Oliver Relin.

Three Cups of Tea, is one of the top selling books for the last three years. It was number 1 on the New York Times best selling list for many months.

It is the story of Greg Mortenson, and his quest to build schools in Afghanistan. He felt that if the children had a proper education that there wouldn’t be many going into the Taliban terrorist camps as soldiers. He was doing this to promote peace one school at a time. The troubles and trail he went through to get this project started, and the burden of getting all the equipment need to the sites is well worth the read.

Not only did David autograph the book, he also wrote a personal note. I met him at a signing, and we had a nice conversation.

The Lord of the Films: by J. W. Braun.

This is the unofficial, official guide to the several movies about The Lord of the Rings. The author put in many hours of research, and study to give you everything about the background and making of the films.

It is autographed by J. W.  It is full of pictures from the sets during the film making, and statements by the actors, and producers. The forward is written by Clifford Broadway who played a soldier in the movies.

A must have for anyone who has followed these fun and exciting movies.

Creed of Old Montana: by Stephen Bly.

Stephan Bly has written over 100 books. He has won the prestigious Christy Award. It is even written in large print, so it will be easy on the eyes.

I met Stephan at a writer’s conference in Oregon. He is a great keynote speaker, and easy to sit and talk with.

Here is the exciting part. This will not be a drawing. These books will go to the first 5 people who sign up for my free newsletter. The first one to sign-up will have the choice of any of the five books, and then each one after that will choose.

To do this is very simple. Go over to the right sidebar, and click on the icon that speaks about signing up for the newsletter. Notice that it also says you will be able to download a free eBook, called, The Top 25 Ways to Survive in a Troubled World.

So, you will get a free book if you are one of the first five people to sign up; a free newsletter that has excerpts from my book, Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World. Plus excerpts from my latest book, Becoming Famous Before you are Famous, and a free eBook called, The Top 25 Ways to Survive in a Trouble World.

Becoming Famous before you are Famous, is in process. I am writing it with Michael Clark from Jacksonville, FL. It is like a manual on how to build a platform, and get known long before you even consider approaching a publisher or an agent. It will speak about Facebook Twitter, My Space, Friendster, Linkedin, etc. You will be able to read each chapter as it is first written, and will help by making suggestions on how to improve it. It will be “our,” book.

Take time to sign-up, and receive one of these wonderful books. There is no obligation to stay with the newsletter. There is an opt-out area at the bottom of each issue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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When There is a Test in School There is Prayer

As Long as There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer in Schools

 

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

 

I loved my job as a teacher. It was thrilling to see the fear on kids’ faces when I gave a surprise quiz. They looked like they had just been hit by lightning. They began to sweat and tremble. I had my red pen in hand as I handed out the tests. I wanted them to see the pen that was going to be marking all over their papers. I knew I had power, and I was enjoying it.

Of course, this is not true. I never surprised kids with tests. As a matter of fact, I told them way ahead of time when a test was coming. I even told them where to find the answers. Life is tough enough without trying to hide the answers to tests.

That is the way it for Christians. They know where to find the answers. God does not try to hide them. God has told us way ahead of time what the answers are. He has told us what is going to happen. All we need to do is have faith. We need to look forward to it happening.

You should be studying for the final test now. You can’t just cram for it at the last minute. You don’t know when the last minute is. It may be before you finish this page. The Bible has all the answers to any questions you may have about God.

We need to spend each day studying and preparing for that day. There is only one test you have to pass, but it is pass/fail. There are no average scores or not so good scores—you either pass or you fail.

Fear not, my friend, the only question on the test is: “Do you believe in Me?” Yes and no are the only choices. There are not hundreds of questions that take hours to answer. You just kneel down and pray, “Father forgive me and I believe in You.”

Then you are ready to go home to be with God, and you never have to take another test for eternity.

Is this a hard task for you? Do you have too many “toys”—or other things to distract you—on this earth? Would you rather not think about eternity just yet? Do you have plans for yourself that do not include God? Have tests always had you running in fear? Do you shiver and quake when the word “test” is mentioned? Do you not have time for prayer?

Read John 3:16, and know that God loves you more than words can describe. He loved you so much that He gave His only Son to die just for you.

Think of the test questions that Jesus had to go through. The Pharisees kept trying to trick Him with questions to show that He wasn’t really the Son of God. They wanted Him to fail the test.

“Should we pay taxes?” “Is it OK to heal on the Sabbath?” “Why do you protect a prostitute?” Even on the cross He was asked, “If you are God, why don’t you save me and yourself?”

Jesus was not afraid of questions. He knew that His heavenly Father was there for Him. He knew that all the questions led to the cross. They all had a purpose: to fulfill His prophecy.

Even though I am retired from teaching, I still try to learn. I read many books on Christian living. I read the Bible to keep growing. I am 68 years old and will never be too old to study for the final test. I am ready for it because I’ve done my homework. I found the right answers.

 

If … you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with

all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 4:29

 

Further adventures

How about you? Are you ready for the final test? Are you sure you’ll get the diploma of eternal life? Will you graduate into the heavenly kingdom? If not, crack open the Bible and get at that study. Confess your sins, and accept God’s gift of salvation. You are only a prayer away from God. He is waiting for you to pass the test and rely on Him for knowledge. Then you will be at the head of the class. The angels will be waiting for you to hand you your diploma, congratulating you with: “You passed the test!” You will be an honor student with eternity to enjoy your Savior.

 

Something to ponder

Isn’t it funny when you find something you thought you had lost only to realize it was there all the time?

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The Cross is Just a Piece of Wood From a Tree

One Cross + 3 Nails = 4 Given

 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever

believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

 

Have you ever thought about the cross? It was just a piece of wood. It came from an everyday tree. It was shaped for one purpose: death! Think about the cross you may be wearing, or the one you see during your church service. Have you ever really thought about the pain this one piece of wood caused?

History knows about the cross, and some people have despised it. The cross is worn by millions of people. It is often gold-plated and worn as jewelry—usually not to symbolize what it really means, or to show our faith. But the cross really means dying. A cross was used to punish the guilty. It displayed the offender in front of others so they would “learn a lesson” and not do the same thing. Bottom line: It was a torture device to show the power of the leaders during their time.

People try to ignore the significance of the cross, but they can’t. It is the piece of lumber that makes the biggest claim in the history of man. After all, when Jesus was here on earth, He hung on that cross, claiming to be the Savior for all mankind. He even had the nerve to claim He was God Himself!

Jesus was a carpenter and knew how hard it was to toil each day with his hands and a hammer. He had calluses on His hands even though those hands touched a blind man’s eyes and caused him to see. He used those same calloused hands when He touched a leper and he was healed. He knew what hard work was, and yet He had a tender touch that healed hundreds of people.

This is the God of love brought down to earth in the form of a man—a person with flesh and blood like you and me. Full of hurts. Full of sadness. Full of fear. Didn’t He cry out to God to “take this cup from Me”? Wasn’t He whipped, slapped and spat upon? Didn’t He slowly and painfully walk with that cross on His shoulders knowing that He would soon be hung on it and go through tremendous hurt and suffering? From the cross, didn’t He ask God why He had forsaken Him? Wouldn’t you have a little fear?

So we have the cross ready for the crucifixion. How about those nails? They weren’t tiny nails you’d use to build a birdhouse in the backyard. These were spikes—large nails about five inches long. They crushed the bones and caused pain that was beyond description.

Imagine your fear as they placed your left hand on that cross and get ready to pound that nail through your hand. The mallet comes down, and you scream in pain. But before you can catch your breath, they are nailing your right hand down.

Now that they have you securely part of the cross, they put your feet together, one on top of the other and slam another spike through both of them at once.

Do you feel the pain? Do you get the picture? Can you now relate to the sacrifice that Jesus had to go through so that you wouldn’t have to?

He was hurting, He was in great pain, and He cried out to God, just like you and I would, but He knew what He was doing had to be done for you and me.

He even had to look down and see the soldiers gambling for His clothes. That must have made Him feel even worse. They were at His feet, but they didn’t even know He was the Savior. He didn’t scold them. He didn’t cry out in anguish. He wanted them to know the One whose clothes they were throwing the dice for would come back to give them another chance.

Think of His arms spread out across the cross. Open arms. Arms that will hold you and show you love when we are in heaven.

Think even deeper about a mother watching her son die. Having Mary watch Him die had to cause Jesus another level of pain—perhaps even worse than any whippings or the nails driven through His hands and feet. He gave her one final look and then He said good-bye, handing her over to John’s care. Think of what Mary went through right at the moment He said, “It is finished.” Her son was dead, and she had to watch Him slowly fade away from her.

One final gesture. One more time of showing us how much He loved us. One last effort to tell us to seek Him so we can be with Him in heaven. After all, He died for us so we wouldn’t have to feel the pain. It is that simple. He went through all the torture, pain, aloneness, fear, for each one of us.

The next time you see a cross around someone’s neck or see one on top of a church, think of what Jesus went through so you can have eternal life. Try to see Him on that cross, with the crown of thorns on his head and the crimson blood flowing down His face. He is looking at you, and wants you to know that it is OK. He wants you to know that He did this for you, so that you will have eternal life. It should give you a much stronger feeling of what the cross stands for.

 

This is love: not that we loved God, but the he loves us and

sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4:10

 

Further adventures

Take time each day to thank God for sending His only Son to die for you on the cross. Start out every prayer time, or devotional time, praising God for what He has done for you. The whole meaning of Christianity started with the cross. Think about how the love Jesus flowed out for you through His blood on the cross.

 

Something to ponder

Isn’t it funny how some people wear the cross and never know what it means?

(Excerpt from: Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.)