Christianity, Cults and Religions

When confronted with opposing viewpoints and the religious and cult disciples showing up at our doors, this pamphlet is very helpful with information on religions and cults, many of which I was unaware. It is especially detailed about the Mormons and the Jehovah’s witnesses, supplying charts with information on each religions founders, writings, and their belief of Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit. Often if we are not prepared, we can be swayed to believe in ideas that are contradictory to our belief in Christianity. It is unwise to challenge missionaries who come to your door without knowing the nuances of their religion. The authorities of these religious groups are too often not God the Father, but merely frail humans. We understand our own beliefs as followers of Jesus, before we engage others. If we expect to share the love of Jesus, we must be equipped to point out false doctrine. Rose Publishing provided me with a free copy of this resource for an unbiased review. 

Thankful Heart in a World of Hurt by Joni

In her pamphlet Joni Eareckson Tada tries to show those suffering in a world of hurt, how to have a thankful heart. She says people in pain often make a choice to give up, focus on their problems, or get bitter. This book enriches my teaching of the book of Ruth, Naomi returns to Bethlehem after losing two sons and her husband, ask her friends to call her Mara which means “bitter.” Joni suggests the alternative of giving a sacrifice of thanks. A sign was outside a church: “Can’t sleep, try counting your blessings.” This is the wonderful advice Joni shares as one who has suffered tragedy. She says gratitude leads to joy and gives Jesus as an example to teach us how to respond to suffering. Quotes by several famous authors are included. Joni inspires us to redefine our happiness. We can learn contentment from the teachings of the Apostle Paul. This little booklet is a wonderful treasure of bible verses to help us cope with the trials in our life. Rose gave this pdf for an unbiased review.

Gaining a Hopeful Spirit

Joni never fails to encourage me through her writing. After her rehabilitation she founded Joni and Friends in 1979 to provide Christ-centered programs to special needs families. Sometimes a small amount of hope in the right person can do a world of good. God does not waste any opportunities to receive glory from the trials of our lives. Jeremiah 29:11:‘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.’ Christian faith is built on the hope that God can do the impossible. While I had literally given up hope, the husband and parents of a friend of mine who was on life support continued to plead with God. The mother called me with a praise report that her daughter was breathing on her own without the tube down her throat. Praise God, He is the God of miracle. Joni provides excellent advice and many wonderful scriptures to instill hope in us. Rose Publishing gifted me this resource for an honest review.

Codependency by JUNE HUNT

Codependency came to be a buzzword when I was in college. Usually we think of people with drug or alcohol addictions but it can take many forms. I myself have been an enabler when I allowed my husband to continually choose drinking and playing softball over time with his children. Allowing the destructive behavior to continue because I was afraid of losing my husband, however it eventually destroyed my marriage. A lesson learned: Don’t fear losing the love of others when you allow them to suffer the consequences of their negative actions. Through Christ we can carry all our burdens and lay them at the foot of the Cross. Once we depend on God instead of another person, “You’ll learn never to settle for what looks good, but always to choose what is best.” Recently getting a manicure a stranger shared with me her concern for her ungrateful and rebellious teenager. She was working two jobs to provide this child with his own car; paying for his insurance and the gas. This poor mother felt she had no recourse. If she had encouraged the son to acquire employment to pay for the insurance and gas maybe she could give up one of her jobs. Sometimes we have to step back to see what is happening in our own relationships. Rose publishers gave me this pdf for a fair review. 

ANGER: Aim it in the Right Directiion

Today is a good day to review Anger-Aim it in the Right Direction. After 15 years on a prescription medicine to help me sleep the new specialist wants me to try something new for two weeks. Taking the medicine two hours before bedtime, I climbed into bed at the appointed time and attached my cursed CPAC machine.  After an hour and a half of tossing and turning, I went to read a book and returned at 2:30 am. Talking to the PA on the phone was frustrating and made me angry. By the time I finished I’m sure I will be reported as an angry patient. She was not concerned that I lay awake until 2:30 and felt 4 hours was enough. Joni says some call anger “black energy that demands immediate release and relief.” She includes stories of misdirected anger and includes example of her own anger.  I agree that God is more interested in purifying our heart and conforming us into the image of Christ than my sleep issue or traffic.  Yes, I will repent before God and ask forgiveness for my outburst. Joni gives good advice for our dealing with anger and how sin corrupts our soul and causes us to turn away from our Creator. Thank you, Lord for loving me warts and all. This pamphlet was given to me for my honest review.

100 Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus PPT

This PowerPoint program shows 100 prophecies fulfilled by Jesus. It is always amazing to me the timing of God. Just yesterday in Sunday bible study we went over about 30 prophecies of Jesus from the bible study participants guide of Ruth The Redeemed.  I had mentioned to my ladies that there was a list with 100 prophecies and here it comes in my email. During Easter season, I concentrated on the last week that Jesus was on the earth. I always point out various prophecies that Jesus fulfilled on the cross. This PowerPoint is incredibily thorough. The menu slide covers four groups of prophecies fulfilled by Jesus birth, Jesus death and resurrection, Jesus life and ministry, and Jesus titles and attributes. The format for the slides is simple but effective; each grouping is color-coded and easily recognized. The menu slide has links to take you immediately to the group to be taught. This PowerPoint contains 210 slides. Old Testament scriptures are used to validate each prophecy. Each corresponding prophecy title and number is proven using another slide with the New Testament scripture fulfillment. There were a few prophecies that were new to me even though I have taught it for six years. This is an excellent tool for Bible Study teachers. Rose Publishing gave me this resource for a fair and honest review.

Forgiveness of Jesus Participant's Guide

Deeper Connections video of the Forgiveness of Jesus is similar in format to the Miracles of Jesus.

The participant’s guide (and a Bible) is all group members need for a complete group-study experience. In the 144 page Participant’s guide provides space for taking notes filling in key thoughts and comments. The poignant illustration of the father running with his robe tucked at his waist was a startling discovery for me. The father took the shame of the son so those in the village would not reach his son to ostracize him. A black and white photo of a shattered clay pot gives a visual for the Jewish custom of shunning the son who had gone to live with the Gentiles. The guide includes addition scriptures, historical or cultural information, quotes, and photos. The video guide is for the six sessions and includes discussion questions to use in group study. The application lessons are clear and pertinent for our life. Personal studies allow group members to dig still deeper into the Word on their own between meetings. Rose Publishing allowed me to preview this guide for my review.

Forgiveness of Jesus: video package

Deeper Connections video of the Forgiveness of Jesus is similar in format to the Miracles of Jesus. I enjoy the opening video showing the Sea of Galilee from atop a mountain as Margaret Feinberg point to Capernaum, Tiberius, and the Jordan River. She shows what was once desert is now lush green farmland belonging to Israel after the 6-day War. Matt Williams reveals insight to the story of the Prodigal Son from the perspective of the first century culture. I never knew about the village’s ability to prevent the son from returning by shattering a pot at his feet. Matt proposes that this could be the reason for the father running to meet his son before the villagers show up. The father tucking his garment in his belt and baring his legs in order to run (in public) took the shame upon himself to welcome his son home. What a beautiful picture of God’s redeeming love for us! In the 144 page Participant’s Guide a picture of the shattered pot give a visual for those watching the video. The video guide for all six sessions includes spaces for taking notes and discussion questions to use in group study. The application lessons are clear and pertinent for our life. Rose publishing gave me the pdf for an honest review.

Critical Spirit; Confronting the Heart of a Critic

This information on critical spirit is based on the characters in the book of Job in the bible. Many people do not realize that Job’s attitude was not always pleasing to God. In fact he accused God of being unfair. I loved it when God addresses Job in chapter 38 "Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” June Hunt share characteristics of a Critical Spirit; and what better examples to use than Job’s “friends.” She shares causes for the Critical Spirit and Steps to Solution. Especially useful to me was how to respond to who is criticizing you. I found that I need to be humble and listen carefully because God may be using that person as holy sandpaper to soften my edges. “Release you reputation to God and ask Him to help you with your relationships.” This was such a profound statement for me. Being a school teacher, a teaching director of women’s bible study, and the head of major committees at my church, I am often corrected or offered opinions, confronted and criticized. Andrew Murray on humility “to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised” also echoes June’s statement. Proverbs 27:6 also says to trust wounds from a friend. This booklet has shown me how to approach those who hurt me and also to apologize to those on the receiving end of my Critical Spirit. She shares ways on how to encourage a caring spirit in ourselves. What a treasure trove of pertinent verses on the power of the tongue. A very useful resource. Rose Publishing gave this to me for a fair review.

Dealing with Anger

My cousin died yesterday after more than month in rehab. For some reason there is unbidden feelings toward friends and family that were clearly absent during her last two years of pain and suffering.  As I review this book, I am dealing with some residual anger from former situations. There is good advice and confident help available in this resource by June Hunt. Wonderful scriptures especially from Proverbs were brought to my memory. I needed to remember that God is faithful and He will strengthen his children in times of sorrow and pain.  The first session offers the different types of anger from simmering indignation to blazing rage. The reflection pages were healing to me. It is good to face the realization of how we ourselves deal with anger. This book has much information for the facilitator of the small group study. 2 Timothy 2:15 prefaces the suggestions for leaders, from encouraging participation to dealing with difficulties. The last three sessions are biblical solutions for anger. This is a much needed resource for Christians who try to stuff their emotions while creating a façade in church. Rose Publishing provided me with this resource for an honest review.

Deluxe Bible Maps Then and Now PowerPoint presentation

Deluxe Bible Maps Then and Now includes not only the PowerPoint presentation but reproducible class resources. The handouts are a small screen shot of each slide with lines for note taking. But my favorites are the worksheets which are invaluable when teaching especially in the Old Testament times of the Judges. The sheet of fascinating facts gives us clues to the then and now possible location of the Tower of Babel and the Garden of Eden, Noah’s ark, and where Samson pulled down the towers of the Philistine temple. A nice printable table of all the Prophets when and where they served and a very detailed table of the Judges, what their name means, scripture reference, the tribe they were from, the enemy, years of oppressions and years of peace. This snap shot of information will save me countless hours when teaching the Old Testament books. Our study next year is the Return to Jerusalem and this resource will be great for our teacher. Probably the most concise and compact details of Jesus life on earth is included. I really like being able to put this much information into the hands of my ladies. Finally an understandable and complete resource for all three journeys of Paul is available in this kit. This PPT and resources were given to me by Rose Publishing for my honest opinion.