Book Review: To Be Perfectly Honest, by Phil Callaway

Author and speaker, Phil Callaway, took on a challenge few of us would have the courage to tackle: telling the honest truth in all circumstances for an entire year. In his humorous and witty style, Callaway sets out on his year-long journey determined to take on the behemoth of veracity, only to discover it’s not as easy as he thought it would be.

“To Be Perfectly Honest” is a 365-day journal of Callaway’s hits and near-misses in his battle to speak the truth. Rather than simply being truthful about others’ failings or flaws, he quickly finds out that the person he needs to be the most honest with is himself.  As he progresses through his truth project, it becomes evident to him that an honest answer can cultivate a myriad of unexpected responses:

Some people would prefer to hear a lie; the truth can hurt others as well as yourself; it can be viewed as sarcastic, critical, or judgmental; it could re-open old wounds, or actually heal them; and depending upon the recipient of the truth, it may reveal a different side of one's character that's not often seen.

Phil Callaway’s wit and style of humor propels his readers through the book. Whether it’s his imagined or actual encounters with his new-found approach to complete honesty, there’s no shortage of laughter over his antics. But he also reveals a more poignant side of himself that will cause his readers to react with empathy and compassion. As he recalls his visits with his ailing mother, the trials of his close friends, his brief missionary trip where he rocked a small crippled child in his arms and wept, and his wayward, drug-addicted brother, Callaway has the ability to make his readers weep with him.

Perhaps the most profound conclusion Phil Callaway discovered is that the challenge of being totally honest in every circumstance is something a struggling Christian is incapable of fulfilling without God’s help. He ends his year-long journal with the understanding that being honest or dishonest is less about him and how others receive him, and more about how God views his own flaws and weaknesses. And with this new revelation, Callaway is determined “to extend the discipline on this truth vow another fifty years.”

I encourage everyone who has ever struggled to answer the hard questions with open honesty, or thought it would be a snap to do so, to read “To Be Perfectly Honest”. Perhaps it’s time we all took our own 365-day truth challenge. Like Phil Callaway discovered at the end of his journey, we may see it as a soul-searching, life-changing approach to a closer and better relationship with the God Who finds our little white lies, fibs, and whoppers a great offense.

"To be perfectly honest," you won't be disappointed with this book.

(Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.  Please visit their website and rank my review.  Thank you!)

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/7694

Would-Be Gods

I am one of those who writes my thoughts or others’ quotes on scraps of paper and then tucks them into my Bible.  Usually, these tidbits of wisdom or inspiration are put there because I think that, someday, I will have a use for them.

However, more often than not, they  are forgotten.  That is, until I get motivated to sort through the stack of sermon notes, clippings, sweet intimacies scrawled on Post-Its that are written to me from my grandchildren, and the bits and pieces of paper that are probably the only thing holding my Bible together.  The added challenge is the cover on my Bible and all of its zippered pockets and nooks and crannies that afford all kinds of additional places to secret away these things.  But when I do sort through them, I often discover a treasure trove of wisdom that can be applied to things I write here on the blog.

When I sat down today to study and read, one such item was found.  It was written on a Guest Check that came from our little pizzaria my husband and I operated several years ago.  The author of the quote is unknown to me because I failed to acknowledge him.  But as I read it and then re-read it, it dawned on me how true the words were, and not only from a historical viewpoint.  No, these words probably ring more true for the last century than the list of men from the past who were named, and maybe even more so now.

This is what I found:

“History is crowded with men who would be gods
(Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Maharishi Mehesh Yogi),
but only One God Who would be man - Jesus Christ.”

It must have struck me how many more names could have been added to the list, because I included a few more off the top of my head: Muhammad, Joseph Smith, Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, Mao Tse Tung, Kim Il Sung, Mary Baker Eddy (and lets not forget the long succession of Catholic Popes).  And if we had the time to sit and jot more down, the list would be an endless parade of men (and women) who viewed themselves as some sort of god to be believed, worshiped, and elevated above the only God that deserves these actions.

Each one, in his or her own right, was a sort of antichrist that brought false gospels and/or wrought death and destruction through war, despotism, and a narcissistic, sociopath, ideological, or philosophical mindset.  It has been documented that more Christians have been slaughtered in the last century through the self-serving efforts of men and women like these than all the other centuries combined since Christ’s crucifixion.  You would think we would have learned by now.

But so goes the fallen world.  There is no shortage of sin, evil, and wickedness.  As those listed in the quote died and met the God they had rejected, another one took their place.  This could not be more evident as we now watch the Arab world unravel in living color on our television sets.  It causes some of us to wonder if our own would-be god, President Barrack Hussein Obama, and the rest of the world leaders really know if the ones they are supporting will not be as bad, or worse, than the ones they are helping to depose.  Only time will tell, but my pessimism is haunting me because, after all, we discovered that someone worse is possible in the last election.

But the most disturbing power position we can find the would-be god is in the church, and there is definitely no shortage of them there.  The person who wrote the above quote knew it then, and we know it now, even if we are not willing to admit it.  They are tireless in their attempts to overthrow the sovereignty of God, His divine nature, His Word, His will, His purpose , and His perfect justice.  Whatever He has erected, they are viciously trying to tear down.

In essence, these men and women who profess to know Him hate the fact that God holds dominion over them.  They would prefer it be the other way around, as is evident in the emergent, progressive, and universalist doctrine they espouse in their books, their speeches, and behind the pulpit where they "tickle" the ears and pervert the Word of God to suit themselves and their listeners.  Just as there is always another apostate standing in line to take over the damning work of the one before him, there is also an endless line of sinners willing to listen to and believe them.  The likes of Warren, Bell, Osteen, Copeland, Hinn, McClaren, Mayer, Oprah, ad-nauseum, are another endless parade of would-be gods lining up to become the next-great-mega-church-book-selling-apostate leading multitudes of hungry and deceived souls blithely into Hell.  And Satan, the first would-be god, could not be happier to have their assistance.

Those in the past who “would be gods”, who thought they could force themselves upon the world and hold it subject to themselves and their twisted philosophies, found out rather quickly that the “only One Who would be man” whom they met after death had other things in mind.  The terror they inflicted upon the world and the lies they conceived to deceive others was nothing compared to what awaited them - and it will last an eternity.

But there is always a solution to every problem, and there is a solution for these "would-be gods" to avoid a pretty miserable eternity.  The answer lies within the One Whose kingdom is in their cross hairs.  His Name is Jesus Christ.  Try as hard as they might to ignore or avoid Him now, they will meet Him one day - in peace or on the battle field.  And we,  His children, know Who it is that is victorious.

As my good friend, Andy, reminded me the other day in one of his recent blog posts, we also bear a heavy responsibility.  We are commanded to "be prepared in season and out of season"  (2Tim 4:1-3) when we are faced with the job of trying to sort out the true shepherds from those who would-be.  It is becoming a daunting task because of the number of them who have infiltrated the church and an even bigger challenge trying to separate them out from the true shepherds.  But while we are at it, we are also commanded to "reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching."  As much as we would like to smack them up the side of the head to try and knock some sense into them, our response should be  gentle and "seasoned with salt" (the Word of God) and our anger held in check.

The Apostle Paul's words to the Colossians are those we should all bury deeply in our hearts so that when we are faced with the "would-be gods," in or outside the church, we are prepared to answer their destructive messages and actions. 

"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."  Colossians 4:5-6 - ESV

That's pretty sound advice.  Study the Word of God.  Know it better than you know yourself.  Apply it when we find ourselves in the company of unbelievers or those being led astray by wolves.  My experience has proven that it's difficult, if not impossible, to argue with the LORD'S own words.  He always wins.

Maybe if we take Paul's words to heart, the next time we meet one of the ever-growing number of "would-be gods" we will know better how to respond.  At least, with the LORD'S help, that's what I am planning for my next encounter.

Thanks for the reminder, Andy.

 

 

"And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.  And he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here...' "  Mark 16:5-6, ESV 

 

 

He is risen, indeed!

 

 

The Heart's Mainspring

(While I'm working on a couple of new blog posts, I thought I'd re-share this one that I wrote in May 2009.  My heart needs "serviced" now and then to keep it in proper working order.  Re-reading this has given me the "tune-up" that I needed.  I hope it also blesses you!...Karen)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 139:23, 24

I have an old clock that sits on a table by my bed.  Each night I wind it and it appears to tick away with a steady rhythm, marking each second, minute and hour as they pass.   I like the old clock and I want to rely on its internal workings to faithfully provide me with the correct time of day.  But when my attention is turned from it, the clock stutters and misses a beat. And with each missed beat in its rhythm, it slows down and goes its own way, losing time.   Its alarm goes off at will and refuses to follow the commands it has been given.  Often it stops completely until I give it a little shake, fiddle with the settings on its back, and set it aright on the table.

Within the workings of this old clock is a mainspring that needs repair or replacement in order to change its behavior and put it back into its correct working order.  My feeble attempts to repair it are in vain, for I am not equipped with the knowledge and skill it takes to fix what ails it.   I am able to take it apart; the tools necessary for that job are elementary. I  could carefully remove each part, laying them gently aside, cautious not to lose any of the clock’s necessary pieces.   But my ability to mend it and put it back together into a re-made, whole, well-running and obedient clock is non-existent.  The result, I am sure, would render far more erratic behavior then what it originally displayed, or at the very worse, a completely unusable and unserviceable clock.

The attention my clock needs requires a master craftsman’s touch, one trained in the methods and mechanics, with the proper tools at his disposal and the knowledge to mend the clock’s inconsistent behavior. Because there is something broken or worn out within its workings, my clock needs to be in capable hands that love the work they are trained to perform.  It requires the skill and wisdom that far surpasses my own limited understanding to return its condition back to what it was meant to be.  And because I know my own limitations, I would readily hand it over to the craftsman to repair it before attempting to do it on my own and possibly make matters worse.  I cannot save the clock.  It needs a master’s touch.

Why is it, then, when it comes to our own heart’s mainsprings, we rush in our attempts to self-repair them instead of giving them over to the Master Craftsman, Jesus Christ, to lovingly put back into order?  Our hearts are much like the heart of the clock I own.  They are inconsistent in their behavior.  They skip over seconds of our lives that could bring us closer to saving grace and redemption.  Their alarm goes off when He draws close to them, giving us a false sense of warning and dread that there may be work we need to first perform, some deed or ceremony that is required.  We try to clean the workings of our hearts, attacking them with a feverishness that belies our ability to thoroughly cleanse them of our sinfulness and unworthiness.  We pull them apart, scattering their pieces into a jumbled mess, unsure which part fits where, losing pieces, or ending up with the proverbial extra screw lying solitary and forgotten.  Our pride causes us to refuse the proffered hand of guidance and help. We arrogantly think we can fix without assistance what lies broken and damaged within our hearts, only to make matters worse and ending up with a heart unfit for service to ourselves, let alone our Savior.

Our hearts require the gentle and loving touch of the Master that created them.  It is His practiced eye alone that can search out their internal workings, looking for any “offensive” parts that need removed and repaired or replaced.   Jesus Christ changes and mends the inner heart of man much like the watch repairer lovingly repairs the mainsprings of a clock, in order that the rhythm of the heart will match His own, testing the cadence and gently restoring its “anxious thoughts."  And when it is left to Jesus to make the heart new again, it remains faithful to Him for it knows the perfection and wisdom of its Master’s touch.

So, I will gladly and gratefully hand over my heart to the Master Craftsman, Jesus Christ. Only He is able to repair its mainspring, for He is the One Who created it and intimately knows the order of each part.  I can rest in the knowledge that He will renew it in His own image, and that for all eternity it will be in union with His own heart, marking perfect time until everlasting peace and joy are once again restored.

A Missionary in the Blogosphere

I  have often thought that if I had my life to live over again and knowing what I know now - that is Jesus Christ - I would probably have liked to be a missionary in Africa.

Perhaps because of my music background, I have always felt a close connection with the people of Africa and the vitality of their praise and worship that comes from them, especially in song.  They abandon all self-consciousness, much like David did as he returned the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.  The natural rhythm and harmony they have been gifted with pours out of them as they raise their voices to the Lord, even in the face of severe persecution.  Something stirs deep within me when I hear them sing and listen to the almost-perfect cadence of praise expressed in their own language.  And I cannot get enough of it.

But since I spent half my life running from the One Whom they are singing about, I can only create romantic (and unrealistic) visions of what it would have been like to live amongst them.  In a sense, their voices that are reaching out from videos and music CD’s are witnessing to me and to my heart.  Because of faithful men and women chosen by God who were able to do what I was not, they are a reminder of how far-reaching the Word of God and His Gospel truly is.

Okay.  Enough with the “what ifs” and on to what the Lord has enabled me to do:  be a blog missionary.  I know the title may strike some of you as odd.  It may even elicit a chuckle from a few (and if you do, don't feel bad because, at first, I did, too).  But to all you Christian bloggers out there, take a moment to consider how vast your mission field is………..(I'll give you a little time to think about it)..........

Pretty big, huh? 

In fact, it's the whole world.  Anyone anywhere in the world with a computer and an internet connection has the capability of inadvertently or intentionally landing on your web page through a multitude of means and reading the words you have posted there.  Are you beginning to get the picture and see the possibilities, yet?

I know some of you reading this may say, “But, wait a minute!  We can’t hide behind a computer screen and the ethernet.  There must be physical, face-to-face contact and interaction in our witness!”  For the most part, that goes without saying.  However (and here comes the caveat), we should be using every avenue available to us to get the LORD Jesus Christ’s message of hope and salvation out to a world dead in sin.  What better way is there to do that while we are here on our blogs?

It took me a while to realize that my blog was smack dab in the middle of a huge mission field and that there was a harvest ripe for the picking.  That I even began this blog over two years ago is testament to the Lord placing me here.  As I have worked to keep it up and going, He has quietly brought a daily parade of visitors from every imaginable corner of the earth.  (The visitor counter I installed on the blog has been a valuable tool in recognizing this, so if you don't have one, get one.)

My visitor’s religious or non-religious persuasions crazily vary from one end of the spectrum to the other, often causing me to wonder why they landed on such an obvious Christian blog.  But, how they came and why they are here is not for me to question.  What they find here is what is vitally important.  After all, there is no such thing as “chance”, it’s my belief they are here for a reason, and my posts better reflect what God wants them to see.

I have a renewed purpose here on the blog.  It has always been about serving and glorifying God the LORD Jesus Christ.  But, now, my service has a whole new meaning.  There is a lost world looking for answers and He is sending a few of them here to my mission field to get them.

I may not be able to be in Africa, but God is sending Africa to me.  And the music is beautiful.

* * * *

The Gospel simply put:

Because man has been at enmity with Him since Adam’s fall in the Garden of Eden, God the Father stepped out of eternity, laying aside his robe and crown, and into the world as a human.  God required a sacrifice be made to atone for the sins brought upon all of  mankind through Adam’s disobedience and this man, Jesus Christ, God the Son, became the sacrificial Lamb who would be punished for those sins.  Yours and mine.  He was beaten and scourged, spat upon and reviled, then nailed to a cross.  He died.  But, three days later, He rose back to life, defeating death and, after presenting Himself as a testimony of His Divine act to the Apostles and over 500 others, He  returned to His throne.  By doing so, He has provided sinful man a way back to God the Father and eternal life. 

You, too, can have the salvation Jesus Christ secured for us by repenting of your sins and placing your faith and trust in Him as your Savior and your God.

To Him be the glory and the praise, both now and forevermore.

Book Review: Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life, By Nick Vujicic

We’ve all heard the saying, “God doesn’t make junk.”  Nick Vujicic is a living example of this truth in his book “Life Without Limits.”

Born into this world with no arms or legs, Nick tells the story of defying all the odds against a full and satisfying life that lay before him.  With the help of a large family and circle of friends who saw beyond his physical limitations and encouraged him to be what others said he could never be, Nick charged forward with gusto into the life God had given him.

The challenges Nick faced often threatened to overcome and defeat him.  But as each obstacle reared up before him, Nick found a way over, under, or through it.  He recognized that, in spite of not having limbs, God had given him other attributes to help him succeed.  His determination, a winning smile and sense of humor, and a heart of compassion filled with a desire to help others overshadowed his disabilities.   But it was and remains his faith in a God Who is incapable of making mistakes and has a purpose for each of His children that propelled Nick to success.

Nick reminds us that there is nothing we cannot do as long as we trust our Creator.  As he poignantly demonstrates throughout the book, if God had given him the limbs of an ordinary man, his testimony wouldn’t be valid, and his work to glorify God would have less of an impact.  His story is also a reminder that every life has importance and value to the world and a purpose for being.

Although the reader may find himself doing so, Life Without Limbs should never be read with sympathy over Nick’s plight.  Although he went through times of self-pity, despair, and hopelessness, Nick took the negative aspects of his life and turned them into positives.  The book should be viewed as an example that physical or emotional disabilities can be overcome by fostering a healthy attitude, surrounding yourself with others of like-mind, and using the gifts God has given us for His purpose and glory.  Nick encourages his readers to bravely face their challenges and meet them head-on with determination and faith.

By soaring above what is perceived by others as a limited life, Nick inspires his readers to take wing and join him in showing the world that our successes are only limited by our misconceptions of whom and what we are.  After all, what we may see as a mistake or “junk,” God sees as perfection. 

One day, God will give Nick the arms and legs he can now only dream about.  But until then, Nick is using what He has given Him, and using it well.

(Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. Please visit their website and rank my review. Thank you!)

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/6361/bmc:1