Plan B: What Do You Do When God Doesn't Show Up the Way You Thought He Would? (Paperback)
I received this book as part of Thomas Nelson’s BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.
Author Wilson’s style is engaging and down to earth. His weaving of biblical scenarios, personal experience, and the experiences of others who have experienced God’s Plan B brought to mind experiences in my own life and that of others. It was a refreshing reminder of God’s sovereignty and providence.
What we call Plan B is really Plan A discovered to us in accord with God’s timetable. Our struggle occurs as we labor to make peace with the plan. We are like Job wrestling with events, wanting to argue with God, convinced we know better. At such moments, we need a friend to come alongside and remind us to “…let the peace of God rule in our hearts…” so that we might come to know the will of God as “…good, acceptable, and perfect…”.
Wilson has done us a service crafting this anecdotal reminder, undergirded with biblical example. I highly recommend this one.
Pearcey Report
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The End of the World?
Book Review: Will the World End in 2012? by Raymond C. Hundley, Ph.D.
Yeow!
In fact, double Yeow!!
Reading Will The World End In 2012 was an interesting and somewhat enlightening experience til I came across the author’s reference to Mr. Van Impe as a “respected Bible teacher”. What? How often must a man be wrong before he loses the title “respected Bible teacher”, at least in the area of eschatology? Mr. Van Impe may have much of the Bible committed to memory (a fact which makes me somewhat envious ), but his interpretations are way out in left field. Seems he turned right at third base!
Dr. Hundley reviews ten end time scenarios. Some I had never heard of, so the exposure was helpful, especially the chapter on CERN, the super collider. The remainder I had heard of and had dismissed as of little value.
I must admit, I am one of the blogger reviewers, receiving the book, Gratis, and am also a Christian persuaded by the scriptures that this old planet will continue, “…world without end…”, or eon after eon until such time as The Creator determines to destroy it (if ever?).
I would not recommend this book.
Yeow!
In fact, double Yeow!!
Reading Will The World End In 2012 was an interesting and somewhat enlightening experience til I came across the author’s reference to Mr. Van Impe as a “respected Bible teacher”. What? How often must a man be wrong before he loses the title “respected Bible teacher”, at least in the area of eschatology? Mr. Van Impe may have much of the Bible committed to memory (a fact which makes me somewhat envious ), but his interpretations are way out in left field. Seems he turned right at third base!
Dr. Hundley reviews ten end time scenarios. Some I had never heard of, so the exposure was helpful, especially the chapter on CERN, the super collider. The remainder I had heard of and had dismissed as of little value.
I must admit, I am one of the blogger reviewers, receiving the book, Gratis, and am also a Christian persuaded by the scriptures that this old planet will continue, “…world without end…”, or eon after eon until such time as The Creator determines to destroy it (if ever?).
I would not recommend this book.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Theology & Politics
Theology-crippling or freeing!
As one who has traversed the theological landscape from Classical Arminianism to Classical Reformed over the past 50+ years I consider myself as one informed, though, by no means, an expert/authority.
After close on to 50+ years of evangelical reading/thinking I find myself further removed than my position in 1964!
Where, at the moment, does that leave me?
In left field, our outside the ballpark?
The latter position is my bottom-line supposition.
While, at the moment, historically, I can appreciate the advances of The Church, my suspicion is, we have lost the bubble.
Today, we are more closely aligned with corporate America than the suggestions within the Bible.
Theocracy?
Biblical Anarchy?
The two poles!
The former, IMHO, represents the plan of God for spiritual infants.
The latter for biblically informed and equipped NC believers
I can hear the disclaimers…it won’t work, etc.
Well, irrespective of one’s theological perspective…
It may well work….
As one who has traversed the theological landscape from Classical Arminianism to Classical Reformed over the past 50+ years I consider myself as one informed, though, by no means, an expert/authority.
After close on to 50+ years of evangelical reading/thinking I find myself further removed than my position in 1964!
Where, at the moment, does that leave me?
In left field, our outside the ballpark?
The latter position is my bottom-line supposition.
While, at the moment, historically, I can appreciate the advances of The Church, my suspicion is, we have lost the bubble.
Today, we are more closely aligned with corporate America than the suggestions within the Bible.
Theocracy?
Biblical Anarchy?
The two poles!
The former, IMHO, represents the plan of God for spiritual infants.
The latter for biblically informed and equipped NC believers
I can hear the disclaimers…it won’t work, etc.
Well, irrespective of one’s theological perspective…
It may well work….
Lordship and Free Grace
Personally, my battle with this issue came well before the Hodges-MacArthur encounter back in the 90s.
I came to saving faith in Christ’s finished work while an incarcerated teen in the 50s.
Jesus was presented to me, in His gospel, as God and Savior; as one who objectively procured my salvation aside from any action on my part.
I was dead in trespasses and sin. Unable to respond. Spiritually dead.
Jesus was proclaimed to me as Savior, one who had paid the price of my transgressions without any action on my part.
The fruit of His work was presented to me as a gift.
Concurrent with this objective propositional presentation, I was privileged to see these truths lived out in the life of one Jim Larsen, chief/senior counselor on The Victory Farm in Ortonville, MN in the 1950s.
Unfortunately, no data is available on the web regarding this ministry.
My spiritual eyes were opened. I not only understood, but willingly accepted the offer. (Acts 16:14).
Quite honestly, I went to bed one evening, hating God; and awoke next morning, believing.
I believed; I trusted in what was proffered.
In retrospect, my belief and trust were one in the same!
At that moment, in the economy of God, I passed from death to life: from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light all during which I was a passive recipient.
Since that day, it has been one battle after another.
I am not what I once was, nor am I what I hope to be:
But what I am, I am by grace, and when I se Him face to face
I shall be like Him, perfectly.
Such is the awesome power of Grace.
I came to saving faith in Christ’s finished work while an incarcerated teen in the 50s.
Jesus was presented to me, in His gospel, as God and Savior; as one who objectively procured my salvation aside from any action on my part.
I was dead in trespasses and sin. Unable to respond. Spiritually dead.
Jesus was proclaimed to me as Savior, one who had paid the price of my transgressions without any action on my part.
The fruit of His work was presented to me as a gift.
Concurrent with this objective propositional presentation, I was privileged to see these truths lived out in the life of one Jim Larsen, chief/senior counselor on The Victory Farm in Ortonville, MN in the 1950s.
Unfortunately, no data is available on the web regarding this ministry.
My spiritual eyes were opened. I not only understood, but willingly accepted the offer. (Acts 16:14).
Quite honestly, I went to bed one evening, hating God; and awoke next morning, believing.
I believed; I trusted in what was proffered.
In retrospect, my belief and trust were one in the same!
At that moment, in the economy of God, I passed from death to life: from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light all during which I was a passive recipient.
Since that day, it has been one battle after another.
I am not what I once was, nor am I what I hope to be:
But what I am, I am by grace, and when I se Him face to face
I shall be like Him, perfectly.
Such is the awesome power of Grace.
New Covenant Thoughts
A New Covenant Perspective.
For quite some time, now, I have been wrestling with my understanding of The New Covenant.
For some. The New Covenant is reserved for Israel, later.
For some, it is the Old Covenant under a new administration.
For others, it is New, but….?
As I have wrestled with the issue, it seems to me the Old Covenant represented God’s dealing with “infants”, whereas the New represents His relationship with spiritual adults.
Under the Old Covenant, God dealt with His people via detailed and explicit rules.
Under the New, God deals with us as Adults: few rules and ample latitude.
Just as Jesus said in The Sermon on the Mount, “…but, I say unto you…”, so too in the New Covenant does the Lord Jesus raise the bar of conduct so as to address “attitude” vs conduct: the heart vs. the external behavior.
Somehow, IMHO, the New Covenant is the ideal arena in which the saints, living as Salt and Light, can have a Leavening influence.
The Lord Jesus does not describe for us what the “loaf” will look like, having been “leavened”!
He only assures us, the lump will be leavened!
On our part, we earnestly desire to describe/prescribe what the loaf will look like!
On His part, he only assures us the lump will be leavened!
And all glory will accrue to Him!
Hallelujah
‘Nuff said
For quite some time, now, I have been wrestling with my understanding of The New Covenant.
For some. The New Covenant is reserved for Israel, later.
For some, it is the Old Covenant under a new administration.
For others, it is New, but….?
As I have wrestled with the issue, it seems to me the Old Covenant represented God’s dealing with “infants”, whereas the New represents His relationship with spiritual adults.
Under the Old Covenant, God dealt with His people via detailed and explicit rules.
Under the New, God deals with us as Adults: few rules and ample latitude.
Just as Jesus said in The Sermon on the Mount, “…but, I say unto you…”, so too in the New Covenant does the Lord Jesus raise the bar of conduct so as to address “attitude” vs conduct: the heart vs. the external behavior.
Somehow, IMHO, the New Covenant is the ideal arena in which the saints, living as Salt and Light, can have a Leavening influence.
The Lord Jesus does not describe for us what the “loaf” will look like, having been “leavened”!
He only assures us, the lump will be leavened!
On our part, we earnestly desire to describe/prescribe what the loaf will look like!
On His part, he only assures us the lump will be leavened!
And all glory will accrue to Him!
Hallelujah
‘Nuff said
Saturday, April 3, 2010
A Century Turns
A Century Turns: New Hopes, New Fears, by William Bennett. Thomas Nelson.
I am reviewing the book as a participant in the publisher’s blogger review program. This is my first venture into the history genre, generally opting for theology, culture, etc.
The book is extremely well written, holding one’s attention throughout. Having lived through the era, it served well in terms of maintaining a sense of chronology. I have not read the previous two volumes, but do intend to add them to my library given the accuracy of their chronology.
Born in a Democratic state (MN) and initially nursed at that udder, the book was a helpful reminder of the numerous issues, incidents, promises and political personalities which drove me from my roots. (Another reason the first two volumes will be helpful!)
My initial take on the book is it is simply a condensed re-telling of the neocon propaganda promulgated during the time frame chronicled. Mr. Bennett is a significant figure in that circle (made readily apparent throughout the narrative in the endnotes—in fact, I began to wonder just who was being promoted?).
The glossing over of the administration’s errors (WMD, our government’s involvement in Iraq’s use of chemical weapons against the Kurds, our encouragement of Iraq’s war against Iran after our humiliation in the hostage incident, the ad hominem attack on Joe Wilson and the Valerie Plame affair, etc…the list goes on!) was simply a rehash of what I observed as those particular events unfolded.
FWIW, IMHO, Mr. Bennett confuses Nationalism and Patriotism. But, I would defend to the death his right to his opinion. My suspicion being, he would not hold the same conviction, given his observation relative to the Dixie Chicks. We seem to be in a new era where dissenting opinion is immediately categorized as either hate speech or unpatriotic.
Yet, I would recommend one buy the book.
Read it.
Then read something by Mark Twain relative to our nation’s demonstrable aspirations following the Spanish-American War up to our current AfPak adventure.
One final surprise, but given Mr. Bennett’s neocon persuasion and commitment to large government I should not have been, is the complete absence of any reference to the role of Ron Paul in the 2008 debates! Telling, to be sure.
I am reviewing the book as a participant in the publisher’s blogger review program. This is my first venture into the history genre, generally opting for theology, culture, etc.
The book is extremely well written, holding one’s attention throughout. Having lived through the era, it served well in terms of maintaining a sense of chronology. I have not read the previous two volumes, but do intend to add them to my library given the accuracy of their chronology.
Born in a Democratic state (MN) and initially nursed at that udder, the book was a helpful reminder of the numerous issues, incidents, promises and political personalities which drove me from my roots. (Another reason the first two volumes will be helpful!)
My initial take on the book is it is simply a condensed re-telling of the neocon propaganda promulgated during the time frame chronicled. Mr. Bennett is a significant figure in that circle (made readily apparent throughout the narrative in the endnotes—in fact, I began to wonder just who was being promoted?).
The glossing over of the administration’s errors (WMD, our government’s involvement in Iraq’s use of chemical weapons against the Kurds, our encouragement of Iraq’s war against Iran after our humiliation in the hostage incident, the ad hominem attack on Joe Wilson and the Valerie Plame affair, etc…the list goes on!) was simply a rehash of what I observed as those particular events unfolded.
FWIW, IMHO, Mr. Bennett confuses Nationalism and Patriotism. But, I would defend to the death his right to his opinion. My suspicion being, he would not hold the same conviction, given his observation relative to the Dixie Chicks. We seem to be in a new era where dissenting opinion is immediately categorized as either hate speech or unpatriotic.
Yet, I would recommend one buy the book.
Read it.
Then read something by Mark Twain relative to our nation’s demonstrable aspirations following the Spanish-American War up to our current AfPak adventure.
One final surprise, but given Mr. Bennett’s neocon persuasion and commitment to large government I should not have been, is the complete absence of any reference to the role of Ron Paul in the 2008 debates! Telling, to be sure.
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