This statement from R.C. Sproul’s book entitled The Holiness of God, was written 25 years ago, but still aptly describes the condition of evangelicalism today. Sproul asserts that the majority reader “salutes the holiness of God and protests loudly that it believes in God’s sovereignty, [but] still entertains delusions about our ability to incline ourselves to God, to make ‘decisions’ to be born again.” Thumbing through the pages of this book will leave a person in the deep end of thought, treading over hard questions, and forcing the reader to tear the veil of inaccurate perspectives to see God for who He is: Holy.

As Sproul comments, “The task that is given to mankind in creation is to bear witness to the holiness of God, to be His image bearer. We are made to mirror and reflect the holiness of God. We are made to be His ambassadors.” If you have an interest in setting aside a superficial understanding of who you are, and who God is, consider picking up The Holiness of God, a book that has graced Christian bookshelves for the last 2 1/2 decades. No matter your stage in life, today you can more accurately reflect God’s holiness by his grace and become His ambassador to the world. (Ben Graham)

 

Click here to find this book.

For many years, Ron Blue has been helping Christians get their finances in order and to live a Kingdom-focused life. In this book, he and his daughter, Karen Guess, lay out a simple framework for managing finances.

They begin by pointing out how money and life are tied together and just as importantly, God and money are linked:

1. His wisdom applies to your money.
2. His work in your heart is tied to your financial struggles and victories.
3. His Word applies to every part of your life, including money.
4. His “why” can inform your “how,” transforming your money story.

We all have a pie–a pool of money–to start with. We begin with our income and savings no matter how great or small, and then there is our debt, and spending habits. While all of our “pies” are of differing sizes, the principles of management are the same. That is why it seems strange that we might know one person with very little who is very content and one with great wealth who never seems to have enough. Each of us is  going to be more like one of these two and the question is are we living content or always running short.

The book weaves very practical advice with some great stories to connect with the reader and helps us divide that pie into inequal pieces, the largest being live and the others falling into place based on this one.

The pieces are:

• Live: Spend less than you can because every success in your financial life depends upon this habit.
• Give: Give generously because giving breaks the power of money.
• Owe Debt: Avoid debt because debt always mortgages the future.
• Owe Taxes: Pay taxes with gratitude because they indicate God’s provision.
• Grow: Set long-term goals because there is always a trade-off between short-term and long-term.

 

In my opinion, the sense of smell is one of the most powerful of our five basic human senses.  Even the smallest scent can transport the mind back in time, flooding a person with emotional memories of past joy and even sorrow. But have you also noticed that you can often tell where a person has been just by their aroma?  Subway is one of those restaurants where you can’t help but walk away with their signature smell.  After leaving, we become a walking advertisement for Subway’s fresh bread until the smell slowly fades away.  Sometimes this is annoying, especially when you’re around a Subway-hater. 

 

Whether you are an elder, an aspiring elder, or among the sheep, this book is for you.  Consider cracking open the cover of this book to explore practical guidance for elders and insight that helps church members better understand and support their spiritual leaders.  IBC has recently experienced change in church polity and with any change comes confusion.  May the fog of confusion lift as you page through Rinne’s biblical commentary on the topic of church elders. (Reviewed by Ben Graham)

 

For more information or to purchase, 

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