Free PDF and Review: The Secret of Power in Prayer by Charles Spurgeon

Charles H. Spurgeon. The Secret of Power in Prayer.  Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, July 17th 2016. 22 pp.

5 out of 5

Free: Chapel Library

Purchase: Amazon (99 cents for Kindle)

This booklet is based upon a sermon delivered by the Prince of Preacher, Charles Spurgeon on the topic of prayer.  I was looking for a short devotional work to encourage my prayer life and this certainly encouraged me to appreciate the privilege of praying to God.  This work is based upon the verse John 15:7.  John 15:7 in the NASB states, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”  Although Spurgeon preached this message back in 1888 it is relevant even for today, which is a testimony of Spurgeon’s faithful preaching of the Bible, which of course is always relevant for our spiritual life.

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Caterpillar Homeschool Lesson 3: Caterpillars’ Survival and Transformation

This is part of my series of lesson plans I am doing where I’m teaching my daughters life science and also the wonder of God’s creation.  This is for kids ages 4-5.

Purpose: In this lesson we will learn about the caterpillar’s survival and also transformation.

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Review: Batman/The Shadow: The Murder Geniuses

This volume comes out today!

Scott Snyder and Steve Orlando.  Batman/The Shadow: The Murder Geniuses. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, November 28, 2017. 168 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is probably my favorite comic in 2017!  I love Batman and I just found out about the Shadow this year; now the two superheroes are together in a story told by a team that include Scott Snyder, a writer who have written some of my favorite Batman stories.

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Guest Review: The World Is Christ’s – A Critique of Two-Kingdoms Theology

This is a guest post by our Twitter friend @SolaChristos.  While I am critical of much of today’s Evangelicalism in politics nevertheless I believe there are those who subscribe to Radical Two Kingdom Theology (“Escondido Theology”) that limit the Lordship of God.  Here’s a review of a book critiquing Escondido Theology.

Willem J Ouweneel. The World Is Christ’s – A Critique of Two-Kingdoms Theology. Publisher is Ezra Press. August 18, 2017. 399pp

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Why Should You Care About This Book?

In the preface of the book, Dr. Ouwneel lays the groundwork for why an analysis of Two-Kingdoms theology is needed:

‘…there are questions such as: Must I, as a Christian, send my child to a Christian school, or is that not necessary, or is it even undesirable? I am a Christian and a politician; should my Christian convictions direct how I vote on bills, and should I even publicly explain my Christian convictions, or is that in fact biblically wrong? Can I, as a Christian, shop at stores that support anti-biblical actions? Should Christian work for a more Christian character of society, or would that be a basic error? Are there Christian ways of doing science, the arts, psychology, economics, or politics? Or is that just as silly as asking whether there is such a thing as Christian plumbing? By the way, does my church have any say in issues like these? Formally or morally?

Not so long ago, for many Christians the answers to these questions were relatively easy and self evident. They firmly believed that Jesus was Lord over all of their lives, and everything in life was ‘religious’, that is, involved their relationship with God…

Today, this picture has changed drastically. The revision began with Presbyterian theologian Meredith Kline, and other Presbyterian theologians at Westminster Seminary California (Escondido,CA) followed in his wake such as Michael Horton, Darryl Hart, and David VanDrunen…’

The truth of Scripture is a complex interwoven garment that will fray in many places if a single thread is removed. Ouweneel documents the overall damage to the garment and how many threads are affected by Two-Kingdoms theology.

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Apologetics Sermon Illustration #44: Bible Contradiction and Thanksgiving Story

GO TO PART 43

Point: Sometimes when one engage in apologetics the issue of alleged Bible contradiction comes up and the example given of a Bible contradiction really isn’t a Bible contradiction but an instance where one account gives lesser detail than another account.  Think for instance of those who raise the question “How many men were possessed with demons at the country of the Gadarenes?”  Are there examples we can give in other areas outside of the Bible of how such a tactic to claim there’s a Bible contradiction is problematic?

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Reviews: Historical Fiction Comic Books/Graphic Novels read in 2017 Part 2

A long holiday weekend!  Here’s this weekend’s light reading weekend reviews…because Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading.

To check out part one of historical fiction comics I reviewed this year click here.  Since I read more than I can review there’s also a part three I’ll post sometime in December.

Code Word: Geronimo

Dale A. Dye. Code Word: Geronimo.  San Diego, CA: IDW Publishing, September 20^th, 2011. 88 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

The subtitle of this graphic novel is “The True Story of the Raid Against Osama Bin Laden.”  This is a comic book telling of the hunt for Osama Bin Laden.  The publisher IDW Publishing brought together a very interesting and talented team to tell this story.  For instance this work is written by a former US Marine Captain Dale Dye.  Dye’s biographical background is rather remarkable with his beginning as an enlisted Marine who rose quickly to the rank of Master Sergeant within thirteen years and later became a commissioned officer.  He is a veteran of both Vietnam and Beirut.  I think no doubt his military background helped with the story; I have seen some other military historical theme graphic novels that has less attention to details in its accuracy both in terms of the writing and the artwork than this particular work.  This is also probably the only comic book that I have seen the creators include someone with a PhD.  Julia Dye is mentioned on the cover as having a PhD and her creator biography in the last page mentioned she has a doctorate in anthropology in human conflict and her career specialization is keeping “the Entertainment Industry honest…and helps Hollywood directors capture the realities of warfare.”

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Caterpillar Homeschool Lesson 2: Caterpillars’ Body and Growth

I thought I share my series of lesson plans I am doing where I’m teaching my daughters life science and also the wonder of God’s creation.  This is for kids ages 4-5.

Purpose: In this lesson we will learn the growth of a caterpillar from hatching to molting, movement, feeding and parts of a caterpillar’s body.

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Christmas Recommended Books on Presuppositional Apologetics for 2017

This is our blog’s eighth year in which we post our recommendations of books as Christmas gifts on the subject of Presuppositional apologetics or the Christian worldview.

Below are links to the recommendations from previous years, and if you are new to the whole thing with Presuppositional apologetics and want something introductory I highly recommend the listing from 2014 which we highlighted in bold:

• Christmas wish list in Presuppositional Christian Apologetics (2010)
• Christmas Gift Book Lists on Christian Worldview and Apologetics Discipleship 2011 (2011)
• More Christmas Gift Book Lists on Christian Worldview and Apologetics Discipleship (2012)
• More Christmas wish list in Presuppositional Christian Apologetics (2013) (2013)
• Christmas Recommended Books on Presuppositional Apologetics for 2014
• Christmas Recommended Books on Presuppositional Apologetics for 2015
• Christmas Recommended Books on Presuppositional Apologetics for 2016

This year list’s of recommended books on Presuppositional apologetics is divided into introductory and intermediate level. Each work will have a link to my fuller review and also links to where one can purchase the book.

Here’s this year’s recommendations:

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Thanksgiving and the dramatic video of North Korean defector

I know there are many great spiritual things I am thankful for.  But I’m also thankful to God’s common grace in other things as well such as the relative freedom the United States have compared to other parts of the world.

I watched many times this video of the fleeing North Korean defector for the last twenty four hours.  I watched it because it was quite dramatic.  And since this is near Thanksgiving it left me grateful for God’s grace and mercy that I’m in a country where I’m not on the run away from a tyrant that’s out of control.

I don’t want to get too personal but both my parents have fled communism under some very dramatic circumstances.  This made me think about how evil communism is and also thankful to God that my life is so much better because of my mom and my father fleeing two different communist nations.

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Third Week of October 2017: Presuppositional Apologetics’ Links

Here are the links related to Presuppositional apologetics gathered between November 15th-21, 2017.

1.) Discussion Guide: The Ultimate Proof of Creation Chapter 5

2.) Presuppositionalism101: Another Update

3.) Congress, Atheism, and Reason

4.) Secular deontology

5.) All My Reviews of Christian Answers to Hard Questions Series (10 Booklet Set)

6.) Logic: The Importance of Definitions

7.) Mind-games

 

Missed the last round up?  Check out the re-blogged post from a friend OR that of Another REBLOG HERE

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All My Reviews of Christian Answers to Hard Questions Series (10 Booklet Set)

The publisher Presbyterian and Reformed has done a church a great service with their 10 booklet series titled “Christian Answers to Hard Questions.”  I finally finished all ten and have reviewed them.  Links to the review of each is provided below.

By the way the publisher has made them available as a complete set for ten dollars.  Check it out here.

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Review: Christian Interpretations of Genesis 1

Vern Poythress. Christian Interpretations of Genesis 1.  Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, September 20^th, 2013. 32 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

This is another work in the “Christian Answers to Hard Questions” series published by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing.  Here the author Vern Poythress looks at how Christians should interpret the first chapter of Genesis.  Although the author is a New Testament professor I think Poythress is more than capable to write on this subject given his expertise in hermeneutics, linguistics, science and theology.

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The Lord is My Shepherd

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Purpose: Today we shall see the three seasons in our lives in which Christ is our shepherd so that we would trust in Him and have Him as our Shepherd today.

The Lord is my shepherd during ordinary times (v.1-3)

The Lord is my shepherd during difficult times (v.4-5)

The Lord is my shepherd for eternity (v.6)

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Quick Devotional from 2 Corinthians 5:11 (Observation from the Greek)

This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading a few days ago, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.

Our text is 2 Corinthians 5:11.  Here’s my translation:

Εἰδότες οὖν τὸν φόβον τοῦ κυρίου ἀνθρώπους πείθομεν
Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord we persuade men

θεῷ δὲ πεφανερώμεθα
and we are manifested to God

ἐλπίζω δὲ ‹+ καὶ ἐν ταῖς συνειδήσεσιν ὑμῶν +› πεφανερῶσθαι”
And I hope also in your conscience to be manifested

Here’s some observation:

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Review: Was Jesus Really Born of a Virgin?

Brandon D. Crowe. Was Jesus Really Born of a Virgin?  Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, August 16^th, 2013. 32 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Westminster | Amazon

This booklet is part of the series “Christian Answers to Hard Questions” published by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing.  As the title for this particular work suggests this booklet looks at the question “Was Jesus Really Born of a Virgin?”  The author Brandon D. Crowe who presently serves as an Associate Professor of New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary.  Crowe has written this helpful resource that is accessible for the layman.

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