God especially helps those who can’t help themselves (see Romans 5:8 & Ephesians 2:1-4) – David P. Craig
Helping Those Who Hurt
“Those who listen most and speak the least will be the most help to sufferers.” – David Murray
How God Uses Our Brokenness
“If my life is broken when given to Jesus, it is because pieces will feed a multitude, while a loaf will only feed a lad.” – Ruth Stull (Missionary in Peru)
God’s Plan For Our Life
No matter what you are going through, it’s Gods way (whether we understand it or not) of making you more like Jesus. – David P. Craig
Managing Your Time Wisely
The best way to spend your time is on things that will continue when you are gone. – David P. Craig
How God Scrutinizes Our Paths – Chuck Swindoll
A Great Illustration of Psalm 139:1-2 By Chuck Swindoll (The Mystery of God’s Will)
“For Christmas one year we bought our children what was called ‘Ant City.’ This consisted of clear plastic plates on either side, filled with sand and ants. From our vantage point outside and above, we could see what these busy little creatures were doing underground. We watched as they tunneled their way around, leaving a maze of trails.
In a similar fashion, God scrutinizes our paths. From where we are, tunneling along, all we see is the sand immediately ahead, behind, and beside us. But from His vantage point, He can see exactly where we’ve been and precisely where we’re going. ‘He is intimately acquainted with all my ways.‘”
Book Review: Christians Get Depressed Too by David Murray
Overcoming Depression 101
David Murray admits that his book is not an exhaustive treatment on the subject of depression, but to be seen as an introduction to depression. If it were a class it would be Depression 101.
As a pastor and life coach I have helped people with depression, and have personally battled depression my whole life. One of the things I really like about this book, is that it is short, sweet, and to the point. People who are battling depression don’t feel like reading a long treatise on depression.
In six short chapters Murray carefully and concisely writes about the (1) Crisis, (2) Complexity, (3) Condition, (4) Causes, (5) Cures, and those who (6) Care for those who are depressed. In each chapter Murray writes in a balanced manner, avoids extremes, and gives good sound biblical advice, ways to identify causes and cures of depression, through the practical use of various illustrations, examples, and solutions to help in the battle with depression.
I think one of the most helpful Chapters is Chapter 5 were he gives the 5 Keys to developing a balanced lifestyle in reducing the stress and anxiety that often leads to depression: Routine, Relaxation, Recreation, Rest, and Reprioritization. I recommend this book for those who struggle with depression, and to understand those you care for who battle with depression. It is clear, concise, and communicates well the essence of where depression comes from, how to deal with it, and where to find hope for overcoming depression.
Book Review: Exegetical Guide to The Greek New Testament – Colossians and Philemon by Murray J. Harris
As a senior pastor who has been preaching for twenty years on a weekly basis this series is a welcome contribution for the preacher or teacher of God’s Word. As I have preached through Colossians verse by verse this past year I have continually been helped and my people have been helped through the exegetical insights of Murray in this excellent commentary. For those who have had a year of more of Greek it will help bring to memory much that has been forgotten.
The Guide assumes the following:
1) You have completed an introductory New Testament Greek Course
2) You have learned the meanings of words occurring in the New Testament more than 25 times
3) You have been introduced to New Testament Textual Criticism
4) You own or have access to a copy of The Greek New Testament, fourth rev. ed. B. Aland, K. Aland, J. Karavidopoulos, C.M, Martini and B.M. Metzger (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, New York: United Bible Societies, 1993)
The stated purpose of this book (and the commentaries in this series) is “to close that gap between stranded student (or former student) and daunting text and to bridge that gulf between morphological analysis and exegesis.”
I found this commentary to be particularly helpful in helping me understand Paul’s logic, grammar, argumentation, and insights into the author’s original intentions in brining out the “big picture” of Colossians – The Supremacy of Christ Sufficient for All things. Along with a good devotional like Sam Storms, “The Hope of Glory”; a good English and Greek Based Commentary like Douglas Moo’s, or F. F. Bruce; and an application based commentary like David E. Garland’s – you should be set to study and teach Colossians with great effectiveness.
“God Made You” – A Good Word from Jerry Bridges
Here is a great quote related to Psalm 139:14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” – by Jerry Bridges from his Book Trusting God in Chapter 11:
“David praised God, not because he was handsome, but because God made him. We need to dwell on that thought. The eternal God who is infinite in His wisdom and perfect in His love personally made you and me. He gave you the body, the mental abilities, and the basic personality you have because that is the way He wanted you to be just that way because He loves you and wants to glorify Himself through you.”
Book Review: Honest to God by Bill Hybels
Great Guide for Head, Heart and Hands Christianity
One of the things I have been convinced of about Christianity for a long time is that people have strengths primarily in either their intellect, or are action oriented, but few are able to balance their Christian lives in the area of their mind, emotions, and activity for the sake of Christ.
I read this book over twenty years ago, and re-read it again in my forties – and after being a pastor and life-coach for the past twenty plus years – I still think this is the best introduction to living a balanced Christian life available. I think the reason Bill Hybels will finish well (and we can finish well) is because of the responsibility he takes in seriously working out (not “for” – Philippians 2:12-13) his salvation with the help of the Holy Spirit by God’s grace. In this book Bill Hybels gives the practical ways that he, and we can balance our lives through various spiritual disciplines.
Bill Hybels gets a lot of flack from a lot of people in the Christian community for a lot of reasons (I think mainly, because a lot of pastors are jealous of him) – but I think he has proven over many years of ministry that he is teachable, and humble, and by God’s grace will finish well.
In this book Hybels gives practical ways to balance the head, heart, and hands aspects of living out the Christian life. I think the most helpful chapters are:
Chapter 2 – He talks about how to pray, journal, and evaluate your life in the light of God’s Word strategically and intentionally.
Chapter 8 – On how to deal biblically and authentically with the emotions – the heart.
Chapter 13 – In this chapter Hybels writes about the importance of keeping physically fit and how the body is God’s temple.
My only regret (at the writing of this review, June 2011) is that this book is out of print. I sure hope and pray that it will be revised in the near future, so other believers can learn how to practically balance their head, heart, and hands for the glory of God.
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