Author: pastorjonathan

Christian,Husband, Dad, Pastor, Mentor, Volunteer.

The Butterfly Effect By Andy Andrews (Review)

On By pastorjonathanIn booksLeave a comment

The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters by Andy Andrews is an inspirational book about how every life and every person makes a difference in generations to come.  The book is a small hardback that is perfect for laying out on the coffee table or end table as a discussion piece. The story only takes about ten or fifteen minutes to read and each page is filled with inspiring art work.

The story line of the book is similarly inspiring as the author sets out to prove that our lives and our actions make a difference.  The story is a great motivational story and I could see it given as a graduation speech or a  plea for someone who thinks their life doesn’t matter.  Over all I think it will make a great gift book or conversation piece in someone’s living room.

If you are looking for a great gift book for a graduating senior or someone else taking huge life steps, this book is for you.  I also highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great, easy to read conversational book about how our live influence others.  The retail price is $14.95 (Hardcover), and is available at a discount at  Amazon.com for $10.17. I gave it four stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of the BookSneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Intercessors Arise by Debbie Przybylski (Review)

On By pastorjonathanIn books, Prayer, spiritual disciplinesLeave a comment

Intercessors Arise: Personal Prayer That Changes the World By Debbie Przybylski was an engaging and challenging book.  That said, I still have mixed thoughts about the book.  On the one hand I was challenged and motivated towards prayer like I never have been before.  I really appreciated most of what the author had to say in leading the reader towards a deeper prayer life.  On the other hand, the author and I part ways on a few theological elements of prayer.  The sentence that probably best summarizes our differing theologies would be… “It’s time to release God on earth through our prayers” (pg 15).  My understanding is that God is already actively at work and we should join what He is doing by engaging in prayer.  Perhaps it is just a subtle difference (as the author really puts God forward as the initiator through most of the book), but it is one that made me uncomfortable giving a full and complete endorsement of the book.

Beyond the subtle difference, the book is full of great wisdom and insights on becoming a prayer warrior.  Indeed as I shared in the first paragraph, God used this book to stir in me a passion for Him through prayer that I have not felt in a long time.  I often found myself on my knees crying out for God to move.

The book is very practical and application oriented. I would highly recommend it to discerning readers, maybe not so much for new or immature believers.  The retail price is $12.99 (Paperback), and is available at a discount at  Amazon.com for $11.04. I gave it four stars

If you are looking for other great resources on prayer I have found that Grudem’s Systematic Theology has several good chapters on prayer, also John Piper’s Desiring God has a great chapter on Prayer.  If you are looking for a great beginners resource on prayer check out R. C. Sproul’s The Prayer of the Lord.  I wrote a review for it a few weeks back you can find it here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What Is the Bible basically about?

On By pastorjonathanIn discipleship, Ministry, student ministry, VideoLeave a comment

Thought Provoking…

“Mentor Like Jesus” by Regi Campbell (Review)

On By pastorjonathanIn books, discipleship, leadershipLeave a comment

I ordered my copy of Mentor Like Jesus last week, got it by Thursday and read it by Sunday afternoon.  It was thought provoking and kept me engaged all the way through.  I was blessed by the book and some of the key principles and plan on reading it again slower in order to harvest all that it has to offer.

The author, Regi Campbell writes with a simplistic and straight forward fashion.  In essence the book is his story on how he fell into group mentoring, the lessons he learned along the way, and how similar it really was to how Jesus mentored the disciples.  The book also has a co-author named Richard Chancy who had been through one of Regi’s mentoring groups.  At the end of each chapter Richard shares the perspective of the guys who were being mentored.

Overall I really liked this book.  Some of the principles were common, but others stood out as brilliant insights into the world of mentoring.  Probably the biggest key I took away was that mentoring in group dynamic can be beneficial to those being mentored as well as to the one mentoring.

If you are looking for a good book on mentorship, this book is for you.  I highly recommend it to anyone looking to begin a mentor group.  The retail price is $16.99 (Hardcover), I got my copy for just under $12 at  Amazon.com.  I gave it five stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Dads, Daughters and Date Days

On By pastorjonathanIn About Jonathan, dating, Family, Manhood, parenting, WomanhoodLeave a comment

Right around 5-years ago I became a dad.  The nurse handed me this precious little baby girl and I knew that it would all be different from that day forward.  My life had changed and all the sudden I felt the pressure to not to drop the ball.

Now She is almost 5-years-old and smarter than I ever imagined a 5-year-old being.  She knows me well.  To be honest, sometimes its uncomfortable.  She doesn’t come with a filter.  In fact that’s what a lot of parenting is… introducing a filter.

Just being gut level honest… It’s not easy to introduce a filter and help your kids process life.  Most of the time the easy thing to do is to go cut the grass (because its over due and you wonder what your neighbors are thinking about your un-kept yard), or read a book (because you need some quiet time after they have tugged on our arm and said, “Dad” a million times in a row just to get you to look at their newest drawing and act like its the best thing since Michael Angelo), or Watch TV while your kid takes an hour long bath and shrivels up like a prune (because you’ve had a long day dealing with other peoples problems… not to mention your own).  Its actually quite easy to just show up, give out a hug, maybe play a token game or two with your kid, talk to your wife, go to bed and do it all over again tomorrow without ever really parenting.

To be completely honest.  I don’t always succeed at taking advantage of all the “dad” moments that I could.  But I know I need to.  I know that I love my kids (no matter how many times they say “dad” in a row while I’m trying to figure out the algebra problems I’ve created  in the check book). I know that they need me.  I know that I don’t want to wake up 20 years from now living with regrets on how I wasted these formable years because someone else said, “that’s normal” or “that really never messed up my kid.” (After all they aren’t accountable for how I raise my kids).

So we have set some things in place in my family in order to capitalize on these younger years with my daughter.  I tuck her in bed most nights and read 1 or 2 stories to her from her Jesus Story Book Bible .  We also pray together.

On some Sunday afternoons we are more intentional.  We have this 105 picture set of pictures describing events in the Bible.  She picks out several pictures and I walk her through the story and how it relates to Jesus and obedience to God.  She looks forward to our time on Sundays and its often in this context that we process how the stories tell us about who God is and how we can relate to Him through our decisions.

My favorite part of the week is taking her out for breakfast once a week before school, we call it a Father-Daughter date.  The regular scheduled time gives me a solid hour of quality time with her.  We do everything from eating pancakes, talking about our her week, sharing ideas on how to color a picture, reading books, to picking up a small gift or surprise for my wife and her mom.  Its often in the context of this date that I get opportunities to share about Jesus with folks we meet there.

Its the date days that I really think my daughter gets to see the fullest picture of her dad.  There is no topic off limits and she often brings up some great questions.  We process life together and I intentionally help unmask the world around her through the lens of scripture. Sometimes we talk to people, sometimes we pray with people, and sometimes we just enjoy pancakes and a good story.

You see, here is what I know.  My daughter reads my actions better than my intentions. So it makes sense that I would be intentional about my actions.  I say that church is a family event, yet when we get there I am pulled a million different places (as I should be) because I’m on staff at the church.  So we arrive together and leave together on purpose (even though it would be more convenient not to).  I say I love her, so I am intentional about spending quality and quantity one-on-one time despite having a hectic and busy schedule.  I say I love Jesus, so I intentionally help her process her world through the lens of scripture.

I want her to know me.  I want her to know that I love her.  I want her to know that I am proud of her.  I want her to know that as a father I will do what is best for her.  Its really not about my good intentions, its about intentionally being a dad. I hope one day she looks back on her childhood and treasures the times we talked over pancakes as much as I do.

What about you?  What are some of the things that you are intentional about with your children?

 

Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges (a Reveiw)

On By pastorjonathanIn booksLeave a comment

I intentionally took a while to read Transforming Grace so I wouldn’t pass over anything too lightly.  There is a danger in reading a book like Transforming Grace, in that experienced Christians feel that they are beyond the meat of the message.  There may be a sense of, “been there, done that.” And to be honest the book doesn’t set out with any new truths (given the nature of the book, I wouldn’t expect it too). But there is a great value for mature Christians in reading Transforming Grace.  While the truths are not new, they are still truths.  While Jerry may belabor a few points, they are worth belaboring.

In Transforming Grace: Living Confidently in God’s Unfailing Love Jerry does an excellent job in cutting the meat and  doctrine of transforming grace into palatable and bite sized portions while maintaining an emphasis on the work of Christ.  It’s a great read for new believers.  Mr. Bridges has a knack for taking difficult topics and presenting them in an easy to understand fashion.  Transforming Grace is also a great read for mature believers as well.  The doctrine of grace is one that should never get old or tired.  None of us are past grace.  All of us have a proclivity to default to a works based system of favor with God.  Believers come into a right relationship with God by faith, through the work of Christ, which is undeserved on our part, and indeed a gift of God’s grace.

There is also a companion Discussion Guide for Transforming Grace.  It takes one or two chapters at a time and provides details and discussion points.  The Discussion Guide seems like it would work well in a small group Bible study or book club.  Reader’s interested in the topic of transforming grace may also want to check out John Piper’s book Future Grace.

If you are looking to learn more about God’s grace in the life of a believer, this book is for you.  I highly recommend this book to believers new and old.  The retail price is $14.99 (Paperback), and is available at a discount at  Amazon.com for $10.19.  The Study Guide is also available on Amazon.com for $9.99. I gave it five stars.

The Fruitful Life by Jerry Bridges (a Review)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Philippians 3: Flushed Away

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

What is the one thing that we all come across on a regular basis, but have absolutely no desire to keep. We don’t collect it. We don’t save it up. In fact we have devised creative ways to remove the stuff as far from us as possible as soon as possible. We actually have invented devices and systems to remove this stuff from our house, usually at the push of a button (sometimes 2 buttons on the nicer Eco friendly models). Give up?

It’s “poo!” yes there are other names, but we won’t get into that here. You may find yourself asking… What’s the big deal? Answer: Paul said in Philippians 1:8 that he has suffered the loss of lots of things, but compared to knowing Christ, he counts it all as “poo.” granted your version may say, “rubbish” or even “dung,” but those are just fancier ways of saying the same thing.

The point: You don’t miss your “rubbish!” And Paul is saying He didn’t miss the stuff, power, or popularity he had before risking it all to follow Christ. Not in the slightest.

You see… Stuff, power, popularity… All temporary. Even if I live to 120 years of age, most of the stuff I cling to will be sold at a yard sale for a couple of dollars. Compared to knowing Christ it’s nothing, it’s worse than nothing, it’s something that I can’t get rid of fast enough.

Application: how worried are you about stuff? Does that fancy truck, car, or boat really compare to knowing Christ? Are you over concerned about office politics? Do these things really deserve the amount of affection we give to them? Is it wrong to have stuff… No! Have stuff! But don’t treat it as though it’s anything more than it really is… It’s just stuff and it will pass away like your rubbish is flushed away. We don’t live for stuff, we have been raised to a new life in Christ.

Phillipians 2: others first

On By pastorjonathanIn DevotionalLeave a comment

As I was reading chapter 2 this week, verse 3 kept jumping out at me. The apostle Paul writes, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

The weight of this command is found in the verses following where Paul challenges believers to be like Jesus in that He forwent the privileges of heaven to becomes a servant who was obedient even to the point of death. This worked out well, but don’t be mistaken… the suffering wasn’t the purpose, it was the means by which the purpose would be fulfilled… people would come to glorify God (vs11).

So it is when we must put away rivalry and conceit and serve others. We must not see ourselves as in competition with other believers or even better than others. We should put the needs of others ahead of our own… We play for the same team.

What can you do today to put the needs of others ahead of your own?

Do you struggle with an argumentative spirit and feel like you always need to win or get the last word in? How does that effect your ability to put others ahead of yourself?

Philippians 1: Living Worthily of The Gospel

On By pastorjonathanIn Devotional, Kingdom of GodLeave a comment

There is plenty to consider in Philippians chapter 1.  The apostle Paul is penning a letter from prison.  He has every reason and opportunity to be discouraged by present circumstances.  Yet this first chapter reads as a proclamation of the advance of the gospel despite Paul’s personal circumstances.  He rejoices not in his present situation, but in the fact that the Kingdom is advancing.  People are hearing the gospel!  Even while reflecting on his own potential death He muses that he has nothing to lose and everything to gain.  Then he charges the readers with these word…  “let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27 a).  Some versions may say, “conversation” instead of, “manner of life.”  The idea is that of being a “citizen” worthily of the gospel.

In other words Paul is calling on believers to live up to their present reality and not just to their visibility.  If we profess that we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light… we should live like those who are citizens of the kingdom of light.  A transition has taken place.  We were once enemies of God and lived for ourselves, but then the gospel changed everything.  We are not ambassadors of the gospel to those who live as we once lived.

The temptation is to tuck tail and run at the first sign of difficulty or persecution, but running from persecution isn’t a right representation of the Love of God for sinners.  Jesus suffered on the cross and even gave His life to bring us to God.  Being a citizen of the gospel or having conversation worthy or living in a manner worthy of the gospel is to represent the good news even through present sufferings.  The power to live through voluntary suffering comes not from within our own heart, but on the author and perfecter of our faith… Jesus.  That is why Paul could say, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

“Lead Like Ike,” By Geoff Loftus (Review)

On By pastorjonathanIn books, leadershipLeave a comment

To be honest, when I first saw this book I thought it would be corny.  I really enjoy history and like reading about World War II.  I also enjoy reading about leadership and business.  I was just a little uncertain on how well it would all blend in one book.  I was glad that I got passed my initial reaction and and picked up Lead Like Ike: Ten Business Strategies from the CEO of D-Day, it turned out to be one of the most fascinating books I’ve ever read!

In Lead Like Ike Geoff Loftus does a masterful job at walking the reader through the leadership and  decision making process of then General Eisenhower.  He does so in such a way that reveal ten characteristics of leadership that transcend application to military service.  I really liked the break out points that Loftus makes in the book helping to illustrate how these strategies apply to leadership in the business world.  He is even careful to provide short gut check moments along the way that call the reader to reflection.

I really appreciate the skill and demeanor with which this book was written.  Loftus does a great job in painting a picture of Eisenhower and the times that he lived.  He examines Eisenhower’s shortcomings as well as successes in such a way that help you appreciate the man and the environment in which he made gut wrenching decisions.  Through it all he is able to draw ten practical leadership strategies that were forged in Eisenhower’s life that have practical value to leaders in general.

If you are looking for a great book on leadership, this book is for you.  I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in biography, military history, leadership, business.  The retail price is $24.99 (Hardcover), and is available at a discount at  Amazon.com for $17.99. I gave it five stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of the BookSneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”