Grace Effect in the NFL

A few weeks ago, I wrote a review of The Grace Effect by Larry Taunton for the folks at Thomas Nelson Publishers.  You can find that post HERE.  Reading his book was the first time I had ever heard or read anything of Mr. Taunton, until today when a facebook friend posted an article written by for USAToday addressing the treatment Tim Tebow is undergoing at the hands of some football commentators.  I read the article and I think Taunton brilliantly addresses the "anti-Tebow bias". 

You can read the article in its entirety by going HERE.  However the last portion of the column is what resonated with me the greatest:

"Jake Plummer, the latest to take pot shots at the embattled Denver quarterback, might have been speaking for anti-Tebowites everywhere when he said in an interview on a Phoenix radio station that he would like Tebow more if he would "shut up" about his faith in Jesus Christ.

And with that little comment, the cat, as they say, was out of the bag.

Plummer said what the commentators wouldn't say. Their dislike for Tim Tebow is not, as they would have us believe, about his throwing motion or his completion percentage; it's all about his open professions of faith and his goody-two shoes image. When it comes right down to it, we don't want heroes who are truly good. We want them to fail the occasional drug test or start a bar fight from time to time. It makes us feel better about ourselves. Tebow, however, doesn't make us feel better about ourselves. People like him make us feel a little convicted about the things we say and do. So we find a reason to dislike them. Or, when Tebow says that glory goes to God and the credit for a victory goes to his teammates, coaches, and family, we are suspicious. An increasingly jaded culture, we don't believe that anyone can say such things and really mean them.

So we wait.

We wait for evidence that he really isn't that good. We hope to see him kick a player on the ground, drop an F-bomb on television, or Tweet pictures of his privates. In the meantime, we always have Penn State's Jerry Sandusky to make us feel better about ourselves."

But just maybe Tim Tebow is the NFL's grace effect - the phenomenon simply defined by Mr. Taunton in his book - "that life is demonstrably better where authentic Christianity flourishes". 

I hope you will pray for Tim Tebow.  After reading this article, I am sensing a greater urgency and need to pray for him regularly.  Pray for Tim's faithfulness and continued boldness in his walk with God.  Pray that this "uncomfortableness" those in the NFL are feeling with him will be the very thing God uses to draw them to Himself.

Blessings,
Jennifer

Fall in Review

This morning, I have the windows in my home up and there is a really nice, cool breeze blowing.  It is a nice 76 degrees in the house and I LOVE it!  In SW Florida, we don't get to experience the distinction between the seasons like in other places we have lived, so these cooler days help it to feel a little more like Fall.  We put the Christmas tree up this past weekend and I've been listening to Travis Cottrell's Ring The Bells Christmas cd.  It's my favorite one right now.  You should really check it out!

Also, don't forget to take a look at my Advent Readings post for this year.  You can find it HERE.  This time of year always seems to get a little "distracting" with shopping lists and parties to attend and overly busy schedules.  I think the enemy works overtime during the month of December to draw our hearts and minds away from true story of Christmas:  God made flesh and dwelling among us!
 
We've had a good time as a family these past few months.  Here's a little review with a lot of pictures:

Bentley (our 6 year old) started Kindergarten this school year and he is doing great.  We are so proud of him.  Both his general education teacher and his speech therapist have said he is the "star student" in their classes.  And he loves school!

In his first student led conference, he was able to show us around his classroom and tell us about how his days go.  Little sister liked sitting in "bubba's" desk in his classroom.

Bentley is doing really well with his reading.  He was standing over me the other evening as I was sending an email to someone reading it!

In October, our church has a Fall Festival held in the parking lot where nearly 600 people from the community come and enjoy games, pony rides and free food.  This year I went with the Sand Woman, Spiderman and the cutest little cowgirl ever seen!

JennaBeth (our 2 year old) has fallen in love with one of our youth girls, Darci (Daree as she calls her).  They were both dressed as cowgirls and JennaBeth just thought it was the coolest thing.  She says "daree" is her best friend!  She and Bentley both enjoyed hanging out with their friends.  Cecily was busy working the games the whole evening.

JennaBeth, Seth and Bentley enjoying hotdogs.

JennaBeth and Tabitha

Taylor, Bentley and JennaBeth

Taylor, JennaBeth and Jailyn

Morgan (a friend who lives next door to us) and JennaBeth

Anna (next door neighbor, Morgan's sister) and Bentley.

There were lots of pony rides:

and bounce houses:

and games with way too much candy (I'm still getting rid of that when no one's looking.  Shhhh...don't tell them!)...

Our family also took a trip to LegoLand Florida early in November.  I'll share about that tomorrow!

Blessings,
Jennifer

Face to Face

Featuring

Synopsis:
Set in the tumultuous world during Jesus' earthly life, here is a timeless story of suffering, longing, and healing. Conflicts arise between a young woman's devotion to God and the demon that holds her captive; between her attempts to free herself and the judgment and condemnation of others; between the rabbi named Jesus and the legalistic religious leaders; between the daily reality of Roman oppression and the Jewish hopes of a Deliverer-Messiah.
A vivid imagining of the account in Luke 13:10-17, where Jesus calls the bent-over woman to himself.

 Author Bio:
Catherine was born in Colorado and grew up as a pastor's daughter in seven towns up and down the state of California. She has loved to write since she was a child, having her first poem published in a national periodical at the age of twelve, and since then her byline has appeared in numerous periodicals and book compilations. She has a BA degree in English from Pasadena College. She served as a church musician for many years, as a private piano teacher, a public school substitute teacher and English reader, and freelance writer and editor. Cathy and her husband, Larry, have participated in and led volunteer short-term mission teams to Mexico, South Africa, Venezuela, Sicily & Rome, and Peru.
After living in Santa Rosa, California, for thirty years the Lawtons moved to Colorado, returning to Cathy's roots. Besides the publishing business, Cathy enjoys gardening and hiking in the Rocky Mountains. The Lawtons love spending time with their two grown children and their spouses, and their five beautiful grandchildren.
The author can be found on the internet at these places:
 http://cladach.com/Lawton.html ,
 http://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Lawton/e/B001K8YLA6 ,
 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cladach-Publishing-wwwcladachcom/10150101184295035


Purchasing Info:
Trade Paperback
192 pgs
$12.97
Available through most stores and online retailers.
You can purchase it now at:
Amazon.com
http://amzn.com/0967038685
Just-released: Amazon Kindle Version http://amzn.com/B006CUDMLQ
Or buy from the publisher on sale this week for $9.74 at
http://cladach.com/Face-to-Face.html

Chapter 1 can be read by going HERE

Blessings,
Jennifer

Advent 2011: Grace Upon Grace

I have lots of pictures and things to share with you about Fall and the Thanksgiving season around our place, but since today marks the beginning of the Advent season I wanted to get the Advent Readings posted for this year.  I am using the readings given in the promotional materials for the Common English Bible.  If you missed my original post introducing this new translation of the Bible, you can see it HERE.   

I will also be giving away another copy of the CEB, softcover edition, soon.  Keep checking back for your chance to win!  The winner of last week's giveaway was Marial Davenport who blogs over at Growing in Godliness.

Advent Readings for 2011

Nov. 27 -           Micah 5:2,   Isaiah 11:1-10/7:10-14 ,  9:6-7,  Jeremiah 33:14-16

Nov. 28 -           Matthew 1:18-24 and Luke 1:26-33                   

Nov. 29 -           Luke 2:1-5

Nov. 30              Luke 2:6-7                                                                                       

Dec. 1 -              Luke 2:8-9                                                                                       

Dec. 2 -              Luke 2:10-12                                                                                 

Dec. 3 -              Luke 2:13-14                                                                                 

Dec. 4 -              Luke 2:15-16,  Psalm 25:1-10/27:1-7,18-19,

Dec. 5 -              Luke 2:17-18                                                                                 

Dec. 6 -              Luke 2:19                                                                             

Dec. 7 -              Luke 2:20                                                                                                                

Dec. 8 -              Luke 2:21                                                                             

Dec. 9 -              Matthew 2:1-2                                                                              

Dec. 10              Matthew 2:3-6                                                                              

Dec. 11 -           Matthew 2:7-8,  1Thess. 3:9-13, Romans 15:4-13,  Matt. 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38

Dec. 12 -           Matthew 2:9                                                                                   

Dec. 13 -           Matthew 2:10-11                                                                        

Dec. 14 -           Matthew 2:12-15

Dec. 15 -           Galatians 4:4-5

Dec. 16 -           Ephesians 2:8-9                                                                          

Dec. 17 -           1 John 4:7-16                                                                               

Dec. 18 -           Ephesians 2:12-22 ,   Matt. 3:1-12,  Luke 21:25-36

Dec. 19 -           John 7:37-38 and 14:6

Dec. 20 -           Matthew 28:19-20

Dec. 21 -           John 8:12

Dec. 22 -           John 9:4-5 and Matthew 5:14-16

Dec. 23 -           Psalm 98:1-6

Dec. 24 -           John 1:1-3, 14 and Romans 6:23

Dec. 25             Psalm 100/Rev. 3:20-21

I hope you will join me in preparing your heart during this Christmas season by focusing on Immanuel, God with us! 

"The Word became flesh and made His home among us.  We have seen His glory, glory like that of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.  From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace."  John 1:14,16  CEB

Blessings,
Jennifer

Jesus + Nothing = EVERYTHING

*DON'T FORGET TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE TRANSLATION AND ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A SOFTCOVER COPY BY GOING HERE.

William Graham Tullian Tchividjian (pronounced cha-vi-jin) is a Florida native, the pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, a visiting professor of theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, and a grandson of Billy and Ruth Graham. A graduate of Columbia International University (philosophy) and Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Tullian is the author of Do I Know God? Finding Certainty in Life’s Most Important Relationship (Multnomah), Unfashionable: Making a Difference in the World by Being Different (Multnomah) and Surprised by Grace: God's Relentless Pursuit of Rebels (Crossway). Tullian is also a contributing editor to Leadership Journal. He speaks at conferences throughout the U.S. and his sermons are broadcast daily on the radio program Godward Living.  Some of his favorite authors are C.S. Lewis, J.I. Packer, Francis Schaeffer and Jonathan Edwards.

 The very generous folks at Crossway sent me a copy of Pastor Tullian's latest book Jesus + Nothing = Everything for the purpose of review.  In the book Tullian tells a little of his intense struggle to merge his five year old church plant, New City Church with Coral Ridge Presbyterian after being called as the Senior Pastor there.  In reference to this time (2009), Pastor Tullian says it was "the most difficult year of my life, the year God helped me rediscover the now-power of the gospel in the crucible of excruciating pain".  Not only was Pastor Tullian following in the footsteps of Coral Ridge's only Senior Pastor (Dr. D. James Kennedy) and merging two very different congregations, but his father Stephen was dying of cancer.  In God's bountiful grace toward Tullian during this time, He opened up the rich gospel truths in the book of Colossians which would serve as a healing balm to the wounds suffered in this most dark time of life.

In Jesus + Nothing = Everything, Pastor Tullian takes a look at the equation in reverse order beginning with the everything we all so deeply desire in our lives.  I believe that message is summed up beautifully in a quote from Pastor Tullian's invitation to his new congregation just one day after being formally installed as senior pastor of the newly combined church on May 10, 2009:

"I believe this one new church will thrive beyond anything we could ever ask or imagine if it's packed with gospel-intoxicated people:  people who understand that since Christ laid his life down for us, we must lay our lives down for others...A gospel-saturated church is a church filled with people who give everything they have because they understand that in Christ they already have everything they need."

Tullian spends the rest of the book sharing through his observations of truths in Colossians that "the gospel doesn't simply rescue us from the past and rescue us for the future; it also rescues us in the present" and "the power of the gospel is just as necessary and relevant after you become a Christian as it is before".  Throughout his powerful exposition of the book of Colossians, Pastor Tullian asks his reader some very probing questions such as:

• Are you experiencing any restlessness in your life anywhere?
• Where exactly am I experiencing agitation, impatience, unease, anxiety?  Why is it there?  What's that really all about?
•  What are you looking to (instead of Jesus) for meaning in life, for purpose, significance, security, direction, acceptance, approval?

He goes on to offer this exhortation:

"Identify where your restlessness is rooted - because that's where a confrontation with the gospel is needed."

A confrontation with the gospel is exactly what Tullian experienced and he offers his readers the same in Jesus + Nothing = Everything.  Crossway offers supplemental chapter videos from Pastor Tullian that can be found at www.crossway.org/jesusplusnothing.  Here is Tullian introducing the powerful equation in his book:

Jesus + Nothing = Everything: Intro from Crossway on Vimeo.


You can order Jesus + Nothing = Everything from Crossway by going HERE.

I encourage you to get a copy of this book.  All this world offers is a restlessness that is never really satisfied, but as Pastor Tullian reminds us in the closing of the book,

"The banner under which Christians live reads, 'It is finished.' "

Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving,

Common English Bible

A few weeks ago, our church had a missions emphasis weekend.  We had two missionary couples visiting with us; one couple who are presently serving in Gent, Belgium and another couple who had formerly served in China.  Gib Gerlach, who presently serves on staff with the International Mission Board, spoke in our services that particular Sunday night about he and his wife's time in China and his work now with the IMB.  Of all the things he shared about "going" on mission, whether it's 8,000 miles away or 80 feet into the yard next to yours, one thing he shared touched me deeply.

He shared that 2,500 people groups still do not have Bibles in their native languages.

That's 2,500 people groups who can't read God's word, because they don't have it translated into their own language!  And many who do have a Bible in their language can't read it, because of illiteracy.

We are so blessed in the Western world to have Bibles in many different translations.  I don't know for sure, but I'd be willing to bet that you have multiple copies of God's Word in your house.  I do in mine!  So, you might ask, "Why another version of the Bible when we already have so many?"  I ask that same question myself!  It is for that very reason that I was interested in being part of the "Thank You-Come Again- I Promise" Blog Tour for the Common English Bible.

Beginning this week, which happens to be National Bible Week, and over the course of the next three months, I will be taking a look at the Common English Bible.  I hope you will join me as I examine this new translation of the Bible.  Because God's Word is not to be treated lightly, I will be consulting with my husband (also Associate Pastor of our church) as well as the Senior Pastor and group of Elders as I look at this translation.  Besides the website for the CEB, here are several other places where you can learn more about this new translation:

• Twitter 

• Facebook Group Page 

• Facebook Bible Like Page

Common English Bible Translation Background:
Known for being "built on common ground", the CEB is a collaboration of 120 academic scholars and editors, 77 reading group leaders, and more than 500 average readers from around the world who joined together to clearly translate the Bible's original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages into 21st century English.  More than half-a-million copies of the Bible are currently in print.  It's also available online and in 20 digital formats.
"When we say 'built on common ground', we mean that the Common English Bible is the result of collaboration between opposites: scholars working with average readers; conservatives working with liberals; teens working with retirees; men working with women; many denominations and many ethnicities coming together around the common goal of creating a vibrant and clear translation for 21st century readers, with the ultimate objective of mutually accomplishing God's overall work in the world; in essence, helping Bible readers live on common ground, " says Paul Franklyn, PhD, associate publisher for the Common English Bible.
The CEB is written in contemporary idiom at the same reading level as the newspaper USA Today - using language that's comfortable and accessible for today's English readers.  It's available - with and without the Apocrypha - in multiple editions and bindings.
Combining scholarly accuracy with vivid language, the CEB is the work of 120 biblical scholars from 24 denominations in American, African, Asian, European, and Latino communities, representing such academic institutions as Asbury Theological Seminary, Azusa Pacific University, Bethel Seminary, Denver Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, Seattle Pacific University, Wheaton College, Yale University, and many others.
Additionally, more than 500 readers in 77 groups field tested the translation.  Every verse was read aloud in the reading groups, where potentially confusing passages were identified.  The translators considered the groups' responses and, where necessary, reworked those passages to clarify in modern English their meaning from the original languages.  In total, more than 700 people worked jointly to bring the Common English Bible to fruition; and because of the Internet and today's technology it was completed in less than four years.
The CEB is sponsored by the CEB Committee, an alliance of five publishers that serve the general market, as well as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (Chalice Press), Presbyterian Church (USA) (Westminister John Knox Press), Episcopal Church (Church Publishing, Inc.), United Church of Christ (The Pilgrim Press), and the United Methodist Church (Abingdon Press).

If  you are interested in the Common English Bible and would like a copy to examine for yourself, leave a comment to this post telling me what version of the Bible you are currently studying/reading from and I will pick a winner on Friday!  Be sure to leave me your email address so I can contact you if you win.  If you are chosen, you will be sent a softcover copy of the Common English Bible.  But don't fret if you don't win this week!  As part of this blog tour I will be giving away a softcover copy of the CEB EACH WEEK for the duration of the tour.  So, come back each week for your chance to win!

"Since childhood you have known the holy scriptures that help you to be wise in a way that leads to salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus.  Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good."  2 Timothy 3:15-17  (CEB)

Blessings,

Abundant Life Day Book

I received a copy of Abundant Life Day Book by Nancy Guthrie for the purpose of review from Tyndale.

Abundant Life Day Book is a collection of 365 readings by Guthrie designed to take you through the Bible, inviting you to savor the abundant goodness God intends for you to experience and enjoy through Christ.  Each day you'll be reminded of yet another way God has loved you and will still be loving you into eternity. 

Nancy teaches at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN; speaks at conferences around the country and internationally; and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Covenant Theological Seminary.  She and her husband, David, are the cohosts GriefShare, a video series used in more than 6,000 churches around the country.  They also host Respite Retreats for couples who have experienced the death of a child. 

Nancy is the author of numerous books including one I'm using this Advent Season, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus: Experiencing the Peace and Promise of Christmas.

You can connect with Nancy on FaceBook by going HERE and can read more about her at her personal website found at nancyguthrie.com.

The readings in the Abundant Life Day Book are written as if God is speaking directly to you each day.  For an example go HERE to read a few excerpts.  The scripture used in the readings are taken primarily from the New Living Translation of the Bible.  The book itself is small enough to be carried in a purse and is a beautiful black and lime green color scheme. 

If you are looking for a Christmas gift that will last the whole year long, the Abundant Life Day Book would be an excellent choice!  It can be ordered at Amazon.com by going HERE.

Blessings,