Re: What are you reading currently?
 

I have heard (or read) that if I harbor unforgiveness, it is like me drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

Recent reads:

Playing from the Second Chair by Rick Clendenen, copyright 2008

God's Plan for the Future by Lehman Strauss, copyright 1965
I think I read this many years before but I'm not sure. That's what happens when you get old. Probably by next year I will be able to hide my own Easter Eggs.

Revivals of the Old Testament, by C.E. Autrey, copyright 1960.
I had read this back when it was new but had to sell all of my books 40 some hears ago when I was in a financial bind. I recently found a used copy. There's some pretty good stuff in it.

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

Yep!

Said I had more to say about The Shack. Here's something:

In the book, we have "God" going to extraordinary lengths to help one particular fellow who's having a hard time. He's depressed. Can't seem to recover, after a horrible tragedy. This singling someone out for a miracle reminds me of the "real" God's behavior in the "real" world, as some claim. There are millions of unlucky folks in situations like Mack's who never hear a peep from God, and some live out their lives in darkness, some end their own lives. But once in a while, we are expected to believe, God reaches out, maybe sends an angel, maybe a vision, maybe a "healing", and that lucky one lives to tell of God's wonderful mercy. "Isn't God good?" we hear, and we must agree! OK, sure, God is good to a select few (apparently). Those that God is "especially fond of", I guess (a recurring theme of the book, but God is especially fond of everyone -- in the book's universe).

And yet, we are expected to believe that God is no respecter of persons (and the book reminds us of this). I guess the rest of those folks are just supposed to kind of absorb some of the wonderfulness of those lucky ones' miracles, and climb out of the darkness themselves. Or they are reprimanded, told they must just trust God (as we are told in the book, many times).

No excuses. God's healing power is available to all. Just have to reach out and accept it.

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

I'm reading,

Is God A Trinity by David Kemball-Cook

and

When Ye Pray by Joy Haney

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

I'm currently reading

Houses That Changed the World by Wolfgang Simson

Other books I've read recently are

Pagan Christiany by Frank Viola
Biblical Church by Beresford Job
The Naked Church by wayne Jacobsen

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I am just finishing "Reimagining Church" by Frank Viola

It is a good book. The first chapter or so is worth skipping, as it is very trinitarian, but the rest of the book is quite good. Especially Part Two:

Ch 8 - Reimagining Leadership
Ch 9 - Reimagining Oversight
Ch 10 - Reimagining Decision-Making
Ch 11 - Reimagining Spiritual Covering
Ch 12 - Reimagining Authority and Submission
Ch 13 - Reimagining Denominational Covering
Ch 14 - Reimagining the Apostolic Tradition

Good stuff.

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

I just ordered that book. I am looking forward to reading it.

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Where can this book be obtained ?

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earlier today I finished reading "In the Name of Jesus" by David Bernard, copyright 1992

And I recently re-read "The Glorious Revival Under King Hezekiah" by Wilbur M. Smith, copyright 1937

1937? that was the year I was born

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

I ordered it online: http://www.reimaginingchurch.org

But you can get it a little cheaper from Amazon.com

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That is a very good book. It was one of the first I read after getting saved, and I still have it, and look over it at times.

I have a few others of hers too:

"Those Bloomin' Kids!: Good Kids Don't Just Happen"
"The Radiant Woman"
"Gold Tried in the Fire"
and "A Call to Holiness"

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The Naked Church, by Wayne Jacobsen

I highly recommend it. You can download it in PDF for FREE from his website. http://www.lifestream.org

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

Just finished reading:

The Old and New Tabernacle Compared by Eld. G.T. Haywood
Apostles, Prophets and Governments -Are They in the Church Today? by Gordon Lindsay

These are both small books (more like booklets) and neither one shows a copyright date.

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

I Kings, Proverbs, and the Gospel of John. :)



Also various things over here....
http://www.apostolic.net/biblicalstudies/

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I am reading exploring the NT.a new testament survey.

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Try God Calling, edited by A.J. Russel. The same publisher of My Utmost Fo His Highest if you're familiar.

It teaches you the things God is looking for in a believer

It's a classic christian book and a daily devotional

http://www.twolisteners.org/

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

Try God Calling, edited by A.J. Russel. The same publisher of My Utmost Fo His Highest if you're familiar.

It teaches you the things God is looking for in a believer

It's a classic christian book and a daily devotional

http://www.twolisteners.org/ gives free subscription for daily devotions try it.

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

Timmy,

I recommend Phillip Yancy's books to you, he deals with the depths of the very proposition that you set forth in this post.

In a fallen world we are all products of all kinds of extenuating circumstances that are complicated by our heritage, temperament and culture. Each of our lives are puzzles or test that we are given the task of figuring out, God has a purpose far greater than our current circumstances and therefore he has given us the responsibility to work them out. It is comforting if we can find a close connection to the Lord in our circumstances, some seem not to be able to find this connection. Tough circumstances make some better and some bitter, I don't have an answer as to the reasons why.

I believe this life is harder by design than most folks are willing to admit, and somehow we each have to find a way to walk thru it. It is infinitely more bearable when we are convinced that it is purposeful to equip us for the life to come.

Just maybe books like "The Shack" are simply God's way of saying, "I know you don't understand, but you just can't see the completed universe that I am still working on." Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you..." This seems to indicate that this place is so grand that it takes even God a long time to complete it. Make no mistake about it, God has not relegated His creation to destruction, only to redemption.

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

I've read a couple of Yancy's books and can agree that he looks at things a little different than some "religious" folks. He seems to be more "level headed" than you might expect from a "church" guy.

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

I have recently read the following:

The Israeli/Arab Conflict and the Bible by Wilbur M. Smith, copyright 1967

Satan in the Sanctuary by Thomas McCall and Zola Levitt, copyright 1973

Five-Fold Ministry and Spiritual Insights by Lee Stoneking, copyright 2003

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

I think I have a book or two by Yancey. I'll check.

Several years back, I read Lee Strobel's The Case for Faith. This was before I fully left the AG (et al) faith, but was will into my "questioning" phase. I think Strobel did a somewhat better job than many at handling the usual questions (why is there suffering, a loving God wouldn't send people to hell, etc.), but still lacking. Why does God allow suffering, e.g.? Because God's way smarter than we are, and we can't possibly understand the big picture like He does. Mmmmkay. But it doesn't really answer the question! Essentially, it's an admission that we cannot answer it. Doesn't help me much, but in preaching-to-the-choir mode, it's probably fine. His books have a lot of fans among evangelicals, I'm sure.

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

I read 'Case for Christ' a year ago. Somebody recommended it to me. It was a good read. I haven't read any of his other books though.

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Yancy is much less religious in his writing.
I don't believe God has created a place as tradition has defined as hell, nor will He send His creation there.

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Want to recommend a specific one?

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"The Success Principles" by Jack Canfield, and for fun, "Heat Lightning" by Jack Sandford.

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Sure, I would recommend "Soul Survivor", How my faith survived the Church.

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Just started reading The Witness by Dee Henderson.

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I've read most of Dee's books, she does good.

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I picked up a copy of that at Half Price Books a few weeks ago but haven't read it. Several months ago I got a copy of his book on prayer there but I haven't read it yet. I have hundreds of books. Some I've read once. A few I've read more than once. Most I've skimmed a chapter of two and set aside for later.

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

Finally started reading 'The Oneness of God' from David K. Bernard.


Also got to watch a debate of his on youtube. Very impressive. He's a great debater, but i was also impressed with the respect he afforded the other fellow and I feel he has a lot of compassion.

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This book was really good. I can't remember who recommended to me that I try some of her books. I'll have to get to the public library now and check out more of them. I found the one I was reading at a yard sale for 25 cents and couldn't pass it up. I'll donate it to the church library now that I'm finished with it. They don't have any of her books yet.

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Just finished : "Full Throttle" the story of Bennie DeMerchant, UPC missionary to Brazil. Using floatplane along the Amazon.

Just started : "Practical Holiness" part 2 by David Barnard.

Continue : "In My Fathers House" teachers handbook for Home Bible Study.

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"In Jesus' Name" by David Reed. Interesting book. Very well researched and well written and at least so far not a polemic.

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Learned Potimism by Martin Seligman

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This morning I finished "Shoutin' on the Hills."
It is a biography of Sis. Carrie Eastridge (1893-1981) written by her daughter Nona Freeman.

Sis. Carrie Eastridge left her husband of 24 years after he put her through a life of embarrassment and heartbreak by his infidelity. As a single Mom she was a successful Apostle, church planter, pastor, home missionary (among the American Indians) and foreign missionary (in Aftrica). There were numerous miracles and healings in her ministry but she was often in bad health and physically infirm. Her last public sermon was preached just 10 days before her death.

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

I have got to comment on 'Shoutin' on the Hills.' My mom finished reading this book shortly after Christmas 2007. She came into truth in Indianapolis in 1944 at Calvary Tabernacle. The pastor was Ray Huxtra. Mom continued at Calvary and sat under Pastor Urshan 12 years until my father's work moved her to PA where she found a church and remained faithful and involved. Mom's parents and siblings were all saved eventually as well as my dad and my brothers and sisters. Though some have turned back, others have not and there are grandchildren involved in ministry as a result of mom's admirable sacrifices and passionate walk with God. She was a soulwinner and encourager to the pastor and saints alike. In Jan. 2008 we took her to the ER due to a fall. She took my hand and said, "You know I just finished that book 'Shoutin on the Hills?'" I replied that I knew she'd been reading it. She said with happy tears, "pretty soon I'm going to be shoutin' on the hills."
I resisted that suggestion, but less than a half hour later she suffered a massive stroke and 6 weeks and another massive stroke later she passed from this life. We played an old Nathan and Jean Urshan recording of 'Shouting on the Hills of Glory" at her funeral. On mom's tombstone there is a beautiful picture of a silver haired mother in Zion and the words are engraved 'Shoutin on the Hills.'

Re: What are you reading currently?
 

I recently read “Beloved Wide Spot” by Nona Freeman, copyright 1989. The book tells the story of their pastoring in Rosepine, LA where they served for almost 7 years until they left in March 1948 as missionaries to South Africa. When they came to Rosepine, Bug was 23 and Nona was 24. Bug’s real name was Elpho Letris Freeman but he earned the name of Bug because of the strange way he crawled as a baby. Bug and Nona were married in 1937 and started preaching a couple of years later. They evangelized and pastored in the U.S. including the 7 years in Rosepine. Then they served in Africa for 41 years. Bug died in 1999 and Nona is still traveling around preaching even though she is 92 years old.

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I'm reading 'A Palm and a Willow' by Rex Johnson. Sound, inspired and Biblical. Good reading for those who have lost someone close, or have gone through a time when they didn't understand God's purpose.

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I'm reading "Our Daily Meds" by Melody Peterson and "Stories and Recipes of the Great Depression" by Rita Van Amber.

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"A Scandalous Freedom: The Radical Nature of the Gospel" by Steve Brown.

one of the best books i've ever read.