I highly recommend the book Experiencing the Spirit by Henry & Melvin Blackaby. The Blackabys' present an excellent theology of the Person of the Holy Spirit in an easy to read and understand manner. One does not have to be a seminary student in order to understand the Blackaby's well-explained and yet thorough doctrine of the Spirit. For one expecting to find mind-blowing illustrations of the "power" of the Holy Spirit, they may be "disappointed," as the book provides wonderful seemingly "everyday" stories/examples of the Holy Spirit's work in the lives of "regular" Christ-followers that are not sensationalized. An excellent book!
You can purchase this excellent book at Amazon.ca
Monday, April 06, 2009
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Two book reviews coming
Sometime in the next week, I will post reviews of two books that I have received as part of blog tours. Both books I am quite excited to read and review. I have just started into Henry & Melvin Blackaby's book, Experiencing the Spirit, and am already challenged by the question, "Do you really want to see the might power of God's Spirit moving in your life?" I know if a person answers in the affirmative, they are allowing God to do wonderful things in and through them... that don't always feel comfortable or look "normal." So while I want to answer this question positively... and in my heart I do so... I know that its not a question to be answered flippantly.
I have already started reading Rod Wilson's The Voice of Jesus also and it too is challenging in terms of discerning the voice of the Lord and acting upon His leading.
The other blog tour book is Randy Alcorn's The Treasure Principle. I've enjoyed a couple of other Randy Alcorn books so am looking forward to reviewing this work.
As part of the blog tour, the publisher sent me an additional copy of each book so if you would like to receive one, just email me about a good book you are reading and I'll be glad to send the requested book to you.
I have already started reading Rod Wilson's The Voice of Jesus also and it too is challenging in terms of discerning the voice of the Lord and acting upon His leading.
The other blog tour book is Randy Alcorn's The Treasure Principle. I've enjoyed a couple of other Randy Alcorn books so am looking forward to reviewing this work.
As part of the blog tour, the publisher sent me an additional copy of each book so if you would like to receive one, just email me about a good book you are reading and I'll be glad to send the requested book to you.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Reflections on "Expressions of Concern"
An interesting week as various parents have come to me with "expressions of concern"... no, that's not a euphemism for criticism as they really have been expressing concern about a couple of chapel messages in particular, and asking questions about what their child(ren) reported back to them. Through this I'm reflecting on a few ideas...
1) I am grateful that the parents are coming directly to me when they have concerns about what their son/daughter is learning in chapel. I am the one "responsible" for inviting the speakers we have in chapel and so I'm glad when there is concerns or criticism that the parent comes to me directly.
2) I am also grateful that students are talking about what they are hearing in chapel with their parents. This means a) they are listening and thinking about what they hear in chapel, b) they are talking to their parents about their day and c) they are talking about spiritual matters with their parents. Our mission at Prairie Christian Academy is to "partner with parents to educate students to think and act Christianly, constructively and critically in order to know Jesus Christ..." Apparently this is happening! Thanks be to God!
By the way, this is not an excuse for having "shoddy" chapel messages just so students can take feedback to their parents about "junk" they hear in chapel. In fact, from my perspective, both messages were in fact quite solid - practically challenging and biblically accurate. This leads to the third learning concept.
3) We do not all hear the same "material" when a person speaks. Each person has presuppositions and we hear things through a pre-existing grid that we may or may not be completely aware of. Even though a speaker may verbally say the content s/he means to communicate, it will be heard differently by each listener... and then interpreted differently by each hearer also. So as a speaker, one must regularly seek to repeat a point or concept with similar phrases in order for the intent of the message to be communicated.
4) And last but not least... anytime we are communicating the Word of God we must pray often that GOD will speak to people's hearts, speak His Truth to each heart, and that our human words will not get in the way of God's message.
1) I am grateful that the parents are coming directly to me when they have concerns about what their son/daughter is learning in chapel. I am the one "responsible" for inviting the speakers we have in chapel and so I'm glad when there is concerns or criticism that the parent comes to me directly.
2) I am also grateful that students are talking about what they are hearing in chapel with their parents. This means a) they are listening and thinking about what they hear in chapel, b) they are talking to their parents about their day and c) they are talking about spiritual matters with their parents. Our mission at Prairie Christian Academy is to "partner with parents to educate students to think and act Christianly, constructively and critically in order to know Jesus Christ..." Apparently this is happening! Thanks be to God!
By the way, this is not an excuse for having "shoddy" chapel messages just so students can take feedback to their parents about "junk" they hear in chapel. In fact, from my perspective, both messages were in fact quite solid - practically challenging and biblically accurate. This leads to the third learning concept.
3) We do not all hear the same "material" when a person speaks. Each person has presuppositions and we hear things through a pre-existing grid that we may or may not be completely aware of. Even though a speaker may verbally say the content s/he means to communicate, it will be heard differently by each listener... and then interpreted differently by each hearer also. So as a speaker, one must regularly seek to repeat a point or concept with similar phrases in order for the intent of the message to be communicated.
4) And last but not least... anytime we are communicating the Word of God we must pray often that GOD will speak to people's hearts, speak His Truth to each heart, and that our human words will not get in the way of God's message.
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