Just wanted to write a quick note about the book I quoted from Sunday morning about our country’s founding fathers. The book was “Our Sacred Honor” by William Bennett. Good book, good guy, makes you appreciate the risk taken and price paid for our freedom. Buy it, check it out or you can borrow mine.

Your brother,

Here’s a couple of books by Philip Yancey I have referenced during messages recently, “Prayer” and “The Jesus I Never Knew.” Yancey has a style that is easy to understand and he offers some great insights for our walks with God. Buy’m, read’m, you will be glad you invested the time.

Marv Knox did a great job sharing with us on Sunday morning while I was on-call. Marv is the editor of the Baptist state newsletter called “The Baptist Standard.” His editorials alone are worth checking out the site. This week, there’s a great article about a pastor of a church nearby who is fasting and camping out in order to raise awareness and aid for the homeless. Here’s the site: www.baptiststandard.com. You can also sign up to have the Standard sent to your email address.

Your brother,

brad

There are some great English translations of the Bible out there and here’s a quick note about English translations of the Bible and recommended study Bibles.

I read from the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible on Sundays. It’s accurate and readable. It’s the one I read in my devotional time.

I also recommend the New American Standard Version (NASV). Another great translation, just doesn’t flow quite as well due to the translating team’s desire to keep a bit more of the ancient languages word order. The NASV is the Bible I recommend lining up next to the NIV for study.

Another thought on study time, scholars have tended to use the Revised Standard Version for years, probably a slight step-up from the NASV for study. If you can find it, the New Revised Standard Version is the latest update. I just bought one.

Finally, the Message is a wonderful translation. Peterson’s a pastor who went straight for the meaning. If you add the Message to the mix, especially in your devotional time, you will be able to dig deep into God’s Word.

Study Bibles? There was a time when I would buy one and read through the notes during a year or two. It’s like being in a Bible class in college. The one I use is the NIV Study Bible. The NIV Study Bible is kinda the swiss army knife of Study Bibles, it’s all there in one package. I have also recommended the Life Application Study Bible over the years. When you go shopping, pay attention to the writers and publishers of Study Bibles to know where their thoughts are coming from.

I just bought the new English Standard Version Study Bible. The new English Standard Version and Study Bible are being pushed by some well know conservatives and I thought I’d take a look. Give me a few months and I’ll let you know.

Keep digging in!

Your brother,

brad

Steven and Anne-Marie loaned me a book called “Jesus Freaks, Stories of those who stood for JESUS: the ultimate Jesus Freaks”, by dc Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs, published by Albury Publishing. They also have a website, www.persecution.com. It’s changing my prayer time and I’m asking God how I can make a difference. Check it out, sign up for the prayer emails, read the book, see where God leads you.

pastor brad

During our Summer of Service, I’ll continue to read and share portions of the story of Denver and Ron. Their story is in the book, same kind of different As Me. Tim Phillips loaned me his copy  to read and Teresa read it first. I started the book and then knew I needed to buy my own copy. Buy it, read it, let God use it to help us all grow in compassion.

blessings,

brad

Ok guys, here’s a good book, God in the Foxhole, by Charles W. Sasser.

A “collection of true personal accounts from generations of American soldiers whose faith has been born, reborn, tested, sustained, verified, or transformed under fire.”

It’s a worthwhile read!

brad

Here’s a follow up to my teaching time this morning:

We each live out a personal mission. One way or another, our decisions and actions follow the core desires of our hearts. The way we operate our lives range from a conscious decision arrived at though guidance from God with prayer and study and insight from wise-ones in our lives to the other end of the spectrum being a hodgepodge collection of spontaneous choices that will not bring a full, satisfied existence. Harry would call the later “willy-nilly”. Most of us are some where in the middle, experiencing true joy only occasionally with most of life lived in the gray clouds of mediocrity.

God calls us to follow him higher, into the shinning brightness of his joy and his mission for our lives. The mission of Live Oak Church is based on Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Matthew 22:37-40 and Matthew 28:18-20. Go ahead and study Mark 12:28-34 for additional insights. I’ll cover Matthew 28 and how God’s gifts us for our mission next week. The working statement of these verses is,

“To reach our communities for Jesus Christ through our ministries and lives and to equip believers to be devoted followers of Him.”

Here’s my challenge to you, study and pray about these scriptures and this statement. Re-write it into the words God gives you personally to help you hang on to it. It will make an eternal difference in your life.

Your brother,

brad

P.S.  I forgot to reference my three miracle stories this morning. The accounts come from the book “God in the Foxhole” by Charles W. Sasser.

This morning I talked about where I am personally in my understanding of the Book of Revelation. For your journey, read the book. Read it and get a feel for the entire book. Then, read and underline every insight about Jesus. Then, take a look at the introduction and study notes in your favorite study Bible. Mine is the NIV Study Bible. It’s like having a mini-intro course to the book. What do you think, what is God teaching you?

Then, dig into an in-depth commentary. Usually, I tend to alternate between the New International Commentary Series on the New Testament published by Eerdmans and the Word Bible Commentary Series published by Word. Robert H. Mounce’s Revised Commentary on the Book of Revelation is excellent.

One more thought, read a solid commentary from a writer who disagrees with your perspective. Use your God given brain and think through the ramifications of your conclusions. For me, my interpretation of the Book of Revelation now fits better with the whole of Scripture and gives me great encouragement to stay committed to God even in tough, difficult times. No compromise!

Let me know how your studies proceed at brad.kenney@liveoakchurchfm.com.

Your brother,

brad