Book Review: I Saul

Book Review: I Saul by Jerry Jenkins and James MacDonald

 

I received a copy of the book I Saul from Worthy Publishing in exchange for a review of this book. This review is my honest opinion.

I am not a fan of fiction. Fiction is to unreal to me. So I was a little nervous and excited at the same time about reading this book. Especially with the authors trying to bring the past of history and the present of fiction together. This book had a lot to live up to.  After all it was written by two of my favorite people. Jerry Jenkins and Pastor James MacDonald.

I had nothing to worry about. This book gave me great hope for fiction books. I was swept away in this book. I actually felt as if I was literally visiting Texas and walking with Paul without ever leaving the comfort of my home.

The main characters in the book is Augie Knox. Augie is a professor at a Seminary. And, there is  Luke the trusted friend and companion of Paul. It is through Luke that we learn about Paul and get to visit Rome.

Though the character of Augie is fiction. He could be the person sitting next to you at church or the neighbor that lives next door. He is a loving son. He loves the Lord and tries to help others who are  in need. He loves and cherishes the lady he is engage to. He is a good friend and protector.  If I had a man in mind to marry Augie would be the perfect example.

The other main character is Luke who we are all familiar with. Luke is not a fictional character. Luke lived and really was a part of the life of the Apostle Paul. Luke is very caring and patient. He was truly a servant to Paul. He writes down whatever Paul ask him to write. Luke is to be commended because he never grows tired of Paul and I believe he suffered along with Paul as Paul was in chains for the gospel

In this book the parchment of The Apostle Paul is found by someone and manages to get into the wrong hands. The person tries to make a profit of the parchment. Augie, his fiance Sofia and his friend Roger relentlessly try to and fights to prevent the parchment from being exploited for gain.

This is a great book and I highly recommend it. In I Saul fiction and non-fiction meets and it was so real.

Were We Worth Jesus Dying For

Glimpses of Grace

We're We Worth Dying For?

Once when my granddaughter was about 2 or 3 years old I took her for an outing. Out of nowhere comes this speeding maniac. With quick reflexes I yanked my granddaughter up and literally threw her in the opposite direction in a grasses area. I actually put myself in harms way for her. We both ended up being okay. But, was my granddaughter worth me risking my life for? ABSOLUTELY!!!

Were we worth Jesus dying for? I think I heard John the Baptist say " I am unworthy to untie the straps of your sandal." Were we worth Jesus dying for. Be quiet and listen closely. Can't you hear Paul saying "I am the chief of sinners." Were we worth dying for? Shh! Be quiet. Now can you hear Peter saying "depart from me Lord for I am a sinful man." Were we worth Jesus dying for? Can't you hear King David saying "against you and you alone have I sinned." Were we worth dying for? Do you hear Charlotte Elliott saying so softly "just as I am without one plea, but that thou blood was shed for me, and that thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb of God I come." Oh praise be to God I can hear the host of Heaven saying "Worthy is the Lamb." What are you saying now. I'm saying "who am I Jesus that you would love me and call me by name. I not worthy of it, but please don't withdraw your hands from me because I would be undone."

Jesus didn’t go to the cross because we were “worth it”. Jesus went to the cross because He was worth it. He was the only one worthy to be slain for our sins. We were and are great sinners in need of a great Savior. Our worth is not in who we are but in Whose we are. We were adopted into the family of God. The worth we have is what God has given to us. Were we worth dying for ABSOLUTELY NOT. Because of who He is God loves us. He values us. What an honor to serve the Living God. Is Jesus worth living for? ABSOLUTELY!!! Now listen closely can't you hear them saying "these who turned the world upside down is now here." Oh Beloved of God, Go now and do it for Jesus! I know what you are thinking and you are absolutely righty unbelievers are not worthy of being saved and neither were we. But, Jesus has a message worthy of being told. He is infamous for saving the greatest of sinner. Oh yes, He is now inhabiting our praise because He can hear us now as we say in unison "How Great, How Great Is Our God!."

Give praise to the only God. He is our Savior. Glory, majesty, power and authority belong to him. Give praise to him through Jesus Christ our Lord. Give praise to the One who was before all time, who now is, and who will be forever. Amen. Jude 1:25 (NIRV)

Jesus I Tried

Jesus I Tried

Have you even tried to share it? Let's be real for a second. Where people will spend eternity is on the line. They must know! How can they know if we refuse to open our mouths and share it with them. Are you afraid of offending them with the gospel? Are you afraid that you are not worthy of sharing the gospel. If these are your thoughts, you are correct. The gospel does offends because it shows us that without Jesus we are pretty pathetic people. As for being unworthy of sharing the gospel, you are correct again. We are unworthy of sharing the gospel, but we have a gospel that is worthy of sharing. Share it today. When you stand before Jesus you will be able to look Him in the eyes and say "Jesus I tried."

Crumpled Or Crease You Are Still Valued By God

Crumpled Or Crease You Are Still Valued By God

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked. “Who would like this $20 bill?”

Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you - but first, let me do this.” 

He proceeded to crumple the 20 dollar note up. He then asked. “Who still wants it?” Still the hands were up in the air.

“Well,” he replied, “what if I do this?” He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now, who still wants it?”

Still the hands went into the air.

“My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. 

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who love you. The worth of our lives comes, not in what we do or who we know, but by …WHO WE ARE

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)

God Is Not Dead

"Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god." Daniel 3:25 (NLT)

God Is Not Dead

People have been concerned about you. They have been asking if someone in your life has died. Is this true? When is the funeral? If a love one of yours has died you need to get your black dress or suit cleaned. You say no one has died? Well you may not not be aware of it but, for quite sometime your conversations and facial expressions have shown the disappointments, stress and worries of your current situation? Oh, I get it. You are living like God has died. Or at least that He has taken ill and died in your life. I'm a living witness that it is not easy to walk around smiling and happy when things are difficult in your life. But, unfortunately we always have a skeptical audience. You've guessed it, its the world. How we speak and live is a reflection of what we say we believe. The world does not realize that we are humans. We have struggles, hurts and pain just like everyone else. Life is not a walk in the park for anyone. Neither is it a bed of roses. It was not one for Jesus either. But, Jesus tells us that, He he has overcome the world. God's word also tells us "greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world." We are more than conquerors through Jesus. God has not left you. Jesus tells us that He will never leave or forsake us. When Jesus promises us something it is like money that can be taken to the bank.

In the midst of your trials remember the story of the three Hebrew boys. They were literally in a fiery furnace because they would not bow to a false god. When the haters and the King looked into the fire get a load of what the king said: "Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god." Beloved of God they were not in the fire worried and wringing their hands or crying out. But, did you catch it?  They were walking around in the fire. You too can walk around confident in your fiery trials. Why? I'm glad you asked. Because, Jesus is walking with you in your trials. Wow!!! Isn't that good news. It's gets even better. When these young men came out of the fire they were not even burned nor, we're their clothes singed. God protected them and brought them safely out of the fire. He will do the same for you. So my brothers and sisters put away your mourning face because He is going to turn your mourning into dancing. God is not dead, He is walking with you in your fiery trials. Run and tell them God is not dead!!!  His Spirit is living in you. No, He is not dead!!! May your life reflect the power of the resurrection.

Where Are You Headed?

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 (NIV)


Albert Einstein once lost his ticket while boarding a train. The conductor said "Relax, Dr. Einstein, we all know who you are." Einstein replied, "It's not that I don't know who I am, I know exactly who I am, I'm looking for my ticket becaue I don't know where I'm going." Can you honestly say that you know where you are going? Is it heaven? If not study the book of John, it will show you the way to heaven. It will point you to Jesus, He is the only entrance into Heaven. It you do know where you are going, will you please point someone who is lost, to Christ? Continue to stay in His word and stay on your knees.



Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.~Jesus Christ

Make Your Reservation For Heaven

I made my reservation for heaven. It was made through Jesus Christ. Where is your reservation

for eternity and who did you make it through?