Book Review: Empty Promises by @PWilson, compliments of @GrafMartin
I was fortunate enough to read Pastor Pete Wilson’s latest book, Empty Promises. It’s a great book on how we deal with things in life that truly do not fulfill our needs and desires.
God reminds us that we should not live for the approval of other people. Often that’s all we do: strive to gain approval of others. The freedom this provides is beyond description.
Many of us have read Psalm 46:10, where the writer advises us to be still. Pete shares with us that Be still has a Hebrew meaning: Let go. Can you truly let go? Can you trust God and not rely so much on yourself and others?
I love the quote Pastor Wilson shares about money and peace. They cannot co-exist.
Religion always tends to complicate what God has made simple. We are always trying to add to something, to make it better.
We buy cars, and then we want to accessorize them to “make them better.”
We want to buy add-ons for our cell plans, to “make them better.”
We want to “super size” our value meals, to “make them better.”
We chase what is deceptively good, not necessarily what is bad. We chase and long after things that will not satisfy us in the long run. That 42″ TV in your living room? It’s nice, but not as nice as your neighbour’s tv. (neighbor for my American brethren.) This is what idolatry is all about. You seek and seek and seek and never get the satisfaction.
This book will walk you through the steps to see what you are idolizing, and guide you to let go.
“Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson”.
My New Ministry Role
Howdy.
Effective May 1st, which is also my Mom’s birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!), I am the new Director of Outreach for New Creation Church in Toronto.
This ministry role will stretch me, and for that I am thankful.
God, my family, my careers (Yes, I’ve had a few), church roles, and all the people I’ve met throughout my travels have had a part in me being able to take on this role.
I thank the following people (and apologies if I don’t mention you by name…you’re included in my heart!):
- My wife Jennifer and my awesome daughters
- The love and support of my entire family
- My friends all across the globe
- Pastors Dan and Barb Taylor, formerly with New Life in Momence, IL
- The No B.S. Bible Study group, from Naperville Presbyterian. That group, along with Pastor Mike Marcey impacted me to walk this path
- Pastor Joel Lindman at Bell Creek Community in Livonia, Michigan. Joel left a corporate career and became a pastor. This provided my inspiration
- Pastor Darrell Edgar at Ambassador Community in Windsor, and the entire congregation. Your faith in me to be your elder humbles me to this day
- Pastor Corey Parish, formerly at Amherstburg Community (Now at New Sudbury Pentecostal.) Your fellowship after my health scare in 2009 gave me renewed hope. Plus the coffee discussions were awesome!
- Pastors Barry and Lynda Antle at A.C.C. Your welcoming and caring spirit, and support during the time between there and our move to Toronto was a blessing
- Amherstburg Community Church. If there’s a template on how love should look like in a church, ACC has mastered it! Love you all
- the bridge in Markham. When we moved from a town of 22,000 to an area with 6 million people, your love and the way you serve our community, while letting me serve along side will bless me forever
- Pastor Trevor Moss @ the bridge. Thank you for Soul Care, and for letting me grow through your teaching
- Pastor Brian Childs. How do two guys from Detroit get to serve God in the GTA? Also, why can’t we get a Coney Dog in Toronto? Thank you Brian for your continued guidance
- Pastor Moses, Pastor Harry and my new family at New Creation Church. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve along side you.
I’m sure there’s hundreds more that I can thank, and I will as time proceeds.
The journey continues.
Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version (NIV)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Tangled earphones and seeking Help
During one of my morning commutes on the subway, there was a young woman that was wrestling with her handbag, coffee mug, and a pair of tangled earphones. She was standing and trying to do three things at once:
1. Hold coffee without spilling. Thankfully she didn’t spill it all over me 
2. Hold handbag without dropping it on the floor
3. Retrieve tangled earphones out of handbag
After a minute of watching her struggle with this exercise, I offered to hold something while she attempted to get the tangled earphones out of her bag. She shook her head in a firm, disapproving ‘NO’ fashion.
After fumbling for what felt like an eternity, she finally was able to get the tangled earphones out of her bag.
Of course she then had to untangle the earphones.
How often do we try to solve problems on our own, turning down a helping hand?
Proverbs 13:10 tells us:
Where there is strife, there is pride,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Book Review: The Ben Ripple, by Lisa Elliott, compliments of @GrafMartin
As someone that has experienced a variety of losses, the subtitle of this book “Choosing to LIVE through LOSS with PURPOSE” grabbed my attention.
The Ben Ripple chronicles Ben Elliott’s battle with Leukemia, and the open and transparency of Ben’s Mom Lisa Elliott provided, via a Facebook group.
The raw emotions and roller coaster experiences that Lisa wrote in this book make you feel like a part of the family.
Being a part of Care ministry at my church, real life experiences that Lisa describes are helpful for those dealing with losses.
I highly recommend this book, and remind everyone to cherish every moment of your lives, and the relationships you have.
Book has been provided courtesy of Word Alive Press and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available now from your favourite bookseller.
Happy Easter
Howdy.
Apologies for not updating this blog more often. Life’s been interesting.
I’ve been journalling (is that a word?) and listening for His guidance.
I should be able to announce something next week. Huge. Thankful. Humbled.
Have a blessed Easter.
Having a bad day?
Are you having a bad day today? Work causing you grief? Trouble at home? Bills higher than your bank balance?
Go for a walk. Preferably where there’s other people.
If you live in a large metropolitan area like I do (or even a small one), you’ll likely encounter one or more of these types of individuals:
Someone dealing with a mental illness
A blind person trying to navigate through a cross walk, across a road filled with potholes
A disabled person that is charging their scooter, so they can make it home
Someone with prosthetic limbs
Someone that’s going through a divorce, or the death of a loved one
Someone that’s just lost their job
Someone dealing with health issues; either themselves or a loved one
Someone that’s misunderstood
Are you still having that bad of a day?
If you can walk, talk, speak, hear, stand up, sit down without assistance, have a job, have people that love you, then my friend, every day is a good day.
Hope
Hope is defined by Webster’s: “to cherish a desire with anticipation”
Too often, our use of hope is more like wish. “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow”, or “I hope I get that promotion.”
The Bible, depending on what translation you use, has over 120 mentions of the word hope. The Bible’s usage of hope is more of a strong anticipation of what will occur, and not the wishy-washy hope that we use today.
When I hear or read of hope, I have vivid memories of President Bill Clinton’s 1992 Presidential campaign, where he often closed his speeches with “I still believe in a place called Hope.” Too many of us have lost hope, due to the economic struggles, job losses, foreclosures, visits from the repo man, illnesses, and the like. We wish things were better, but we need to start hoping that things will get better.
I purposely have avoided the current U.S. Presidential campaign, because if I wanted to watch mud flying, I would visit a farm. The rhetoric is not going to solve anything. We the People have to stop wishing, and start hoping for the best.
I feel we have become prisoners of our lack of hope. We’re paralyzed by the evening newscasts, the doom and gloom of the markets (financial and jobs), and two income households still cannot meet the needs. Some say we are rapidly approaching a crisis situation. I say we’re already there. People are mortgaged to the hills, and a layoff away from losing all their worldly possessions. Healthcare costs continue (and will continue) to rise, so don’t even think about getting sick.
Divorce rates continue to climb, and what used to be taboo is now accepted publicly, and highlighted on your nightly entertainment shows. Bombastic presentation of court room dramas have taken over cable news channels, and the only word that comes to mind is nauseating.
If you watch this crap, I highly recommend you stop. You’re not doing anything but killing all of the hope genes in your head. Quit worshiping these fake Hollywoodesque people. Read a book. Go for a walk. Talk to your spouse / mate. Hang out with your children, your friends, your family. You’ll be a better person if you do.
Note: I’m not saying you should not enjoy well-made shows or movies. I am saying don’t make actor x your be all and end all.
Getting back to hope: do I have hope?
Yes, through the One that was sent, to provide salvation and hope for our souls.
While there are things, opportunities, toys, and other things that I would like to have, I don’t hope to have them. I wish to have them, but my hope is that I will one day be face to face with my Lord and savior, and He will say “Well done.” My hope and understanding is not that the “well done” will be based on my efforts, works, holding doors open for others, tithes and offerings, donations to the red kettle, but for trusting Him for all the provisions I need, and for those acts of kindness and generosity that I have never shared with anyone.
In 2012 and beyond, our hope must be with the one who was sent.
My hope and prayers are for you to know your savior, and to let the guidance of the Holy Spirit be in you and with you all of your days.
Blessings!
Book Review: I Am A Follower by @LenSweet, compliments of @BookSneeze
What do you think of, when you hear the word leadership? My inbox receives a variety of leadership-based e-mails, and there are a ton of leadership writers, speakers, “experts”, etc. What’s ironic is that when the world needs leadership more than ever, there seems to be mass confusion, governments falling, financial stress everywhere, job losses, and so forth. Makes me wonder if anyone is actually listening and learning from the leadership folks.
When I first started reading I Am A Follower, I noticed how the leadership movement was being picked apart for its flaws. We all have flaws. Only one individual that’s ever walked on this planet is perfect.
Jesus.
We are called to follow Jesus. Not like a little child follows their parents (and then wanders off to check out some toy or shiny object), but to truly follow Christ. To learn what He was like, how He saw things, how He reacted to situations.
When I’ve faced struggles and challenges in my life, I thankfully sought His grace and presence. I sought guidance on how to deal with the situation. Yes, I’ve asked for help to “get out” of the situation, but I realize that He can use these challenges as a training ground, for me to become closer to Him, and to be more like Him.
“Follow me.” Two words, that have Kingdom impact.
Dr. Sweet’s book is a must have in your collection. I hope it blesses you as much as it has me.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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.”
Book Review: Real Marriage by @PastorMark, compliments of @GrafMartin
I’m not the first person to review Real Marriage, and likely won’t be the last. There have been a lot of interesting reviews of this book, and some concern over the “controversial” topics that Pastor Mark discusses in the book.
Marriage doesn’t come with an instruction manual. While I suppose you could look to your parents as a guide, you didn’t marry one of your parents. You married someone outside of your family circle (I hope!) Different DNA, different upbringing, differing values, different take on some things (or maybe everything.)
People fumble their way through the early years of marriage, and with society basically endorsing non-married couples, our world will only suffer as we proceed through this thing called life.
The Driscolls do a good job providing insight into their marriage, the rocky moments, and the continued lessons they have encountered.
I recommend this book for all couples, married, and yet-to-be married; not as a roadmap, but as for exposure into challenges you may face.
I’d rather you read it from a couple like the Driscolls, than from some magazine rack at the checkout counter.
“Advanced Reader’s Copy of the book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson”.
Book Review: the voice New Testament, compliments of @GrafMartin
I have a lot of Bibles. From NIV, to KJV, to The Message, to NRSV, and probably a few other versions. When you’re a Seminary student, you tend to have different translations, just to help along your study path.
the voice New Testament version is an interesting read, in that it’s written like a play. Don’t worry, the Gospels are there, but they’re written much like a story book, than the traditional Bible format.
For those that are looking to read the New Testament for the first time, or for those of us that have had our noses in the Books for some time, this is a good addition to your collection.
“New Testament has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson”.
Elsewhere
