Book Review: Vintage Jesus

The book, Vintage Jesus, co-authored by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears is an arrangement of theological questions.  Each chapter, is thus, systematically answered through various means: biblical affirmation, biblical doctrine, and Godly theology.  The title Vintage Jesus is intriguing, because vintage is somewhat of a common word but when linked with the name "Jesus" it is very fitting.  Vintage is defined as:  a season's yield of grapes or wine from a vineyard, the act or time of harvesting grapes or making wine, a period of origin or manufacture, a collection of contemporaneous and similar persons or things, and length of existence.

The word usage of vintage is fitting for twofold reasons.  First, because of the connection that can be made of a vineyard.  Strong imagery spoken by Jesus that was recorded in the Gospel of John.  John 15 opens:  I [Jesus] am the true vine and my Father is the vinedresser.  Also throughout the New Testament authors explicitly write about the harvest or a plentiful harvest.

 

Second, the connection of an originator or a length of existence.  John 1:1-5 states plainly:  In the beginning was the Word [Jesus] and the Word was with God and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him and without Him was not any thing made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of the men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  Jesus was not only the creator but also existed before time itself began. 

This book will help shape a godly theology; granted, nothing should replace the written word of God which is ultimately what should do the shaping.  Driscoll and Breshears give some very raw answers to some very common yet misunderstood questions.  The authors systematically point the reader to how the old testament prophecies were fulfilled in the human Jesus Christ.  Also, a common misconception of how human was Jesus.  All the chapters that the book deals with are riddle with incorrect world-views.   The authors are quite thorough in their arguments and do an excellent job at link every topic back to one central theme:  "it is all about Jesus and to His glory".  Summarizing their book with the question of 'What will Jesus do upon His return?'.  This question is skewed with many beliefs and answers, but rest assured Jesus will return and He will bring His glorifying retribution and ratify His bride!

Book Review: The Screwtape Letters

The Screwtape Letters first appeared not as a book but as newspaper articles in London's Guardian during World War II. It was first published in book format in Europe in 1942 and the succeeding year in America. The book was dedicated to his great friend and fellow writer J.R.R Tolkien.


C.S (Clive Staples) Lewis, is arguably the most brilliant writer of the recent era.  His composition, The Screwtape Letters, contain some very profound and thought provoking dialogue between Screwtape and Wormwood.  The very essence of the this book is the actual spiritual warfare that does exist within a realm that is unseen but yet the affects are very authentic.  Lewis' use of satire exhibits a wit that surpasses a host of readers. 

The dialogue between Screwtape and nephew Wormwood are as letters from Screwtape to Wormwood.  Screwtape is introduced as a superior demon to Wormwood, who is in training and is assigned to a human who is referred to as the Patient.  Screwtape makes reference to Satan in multiple letters as Our Father Below and thus referrers to God as the Enemy.  Lewis uses these two characters to pose moral questions of:  good vs evil, temptations, repentance, and grace.  Lewis tries to get his audience to think about the influences within ones life and community.  The book makes mention of conflicts that arise after the Patient is converted to Christianity.  Not only do devils disapprove of conversion but are just as tactical in making converts miserable and convincing their conversion to Christianity for gain.  In letter 23, Screwtape comments:  ..."we do want, and want very much, to make men treat Christianity as means; preferably, of course, as a means to their own advancement, but,failing that, as a means to anything-even to social justice". 

Lewis uses humility, pride, war (more than likely because of the presence of WWII), and sexuality (not just sensuality but also gender difference) to bring to light some of the ways that Satan can and does manipulate Christians.  Screwtape makes multiple mentions of the Patients peevish nature and instructs Wormwood to capitalize.  One of the most subtle ways that Satan temps believers is lowering God's Standard and living by a double standard.  In letter10, Screwtape addresses this very issue:  "He can be made to take a positive pleasure in the perception that the two sides of his life are inconsistent, This is done by exploiting his vanity, He can be taught to enjoy kneeling beside the grocer on Sunday just because he remembers that the grocer could not possibly understand the urbane and mocking world which he inhibited on Saturday evening; and contrariwise, to enjoy the bawdy and blasphemy over the coffee with these admirable friends all the more because he is aware of a 'deeper', 'spiritual' world within him which they cannot understand.  You see the idea-the worldly friends touch him on one side and the grocer on the other, and he is the complete, balanced, complex man who sees round them all.  Thus, while being permanently treacherous to at least two sets of people, he will feel, instead of shame, a continual undercurrent of self-satisfaction." 

C.S. Lewis uses beautiful imagery to display how well the Enemy, in this case-Satan, knows humanity and how to exploit the sinfulness and depravity of man. Likewise, Satan knows the Word of God far better than anyone and does exploit it to his own purposes.  The Screwtape Letters needs to be in every Christian's library, it correctly helps develop biblical theology and thinking also showing some of the wares of which the devil uses.

Book Review: Don't Call It a Comeback

This book is a unique juxtaposition of multiple writers and multiple subject matters.  The writers, propose why it is important not to prorogue from our faith in Christ in order to reach the lost and needy.

The book begins by showing how to win the souls of the "Next Generation".  We live in a post-modern relativistic society and to reach the lost we have to preach the Gospel like we actually mean it.  The onset of the exert is rich with application for passionately winning souls to Christ. 

The book continues by joining the importance of the inerrancy of Scripture and how we respond to the authenticity of the God-breathed canon of which we use today.  Conjugate the absolute validity of Scripture with the Gospel (Jesus' substitutionary death on the cross and encompassing resurrection) the "New Birth":  a new way of thinking will begin to take fruition.  The book further expounds with the ideal of a 'new way of thinking' with exerts on the doctrines of justification and sanctification; lead the reader to the point that the canon of Scripture points to Jesus as being The Only Way (John 14:6). 

The book is a three part series of an assembly of writings and as the parts take form in a sort of introductory, foundation (that is not up for debate), and application, part three is where the 'rubber meets the road' so to speak.  The final section is the application of the theology that builds off the foundation of the previous section.  The section points us in the direction of being intentional about one's faith in all areas of life.  So many Christians have fallen by the way-side and into world thinking by not taking stands for what is right and wrong.  Christians in North America have become pacifist and allowed the post-modern theology to set up a strong hold.  The book counters the world views with how to love a lost and dying world.  Areas of concern are as follows:  Social Justice, Homosexuality, Abortion, Gender Confusion, The Local Church, Worship, and Missions.

 

Christians have willingly jettisoned the responsibility of what God has called us to be, and thus the political realm has received it with arms-wide-open.  The context of this book is rich fodder for believers to discover or rediscover what we are lacking or just simply do not known.  So to be dejected by what we are deficient in, is no longer (nor ever has been) debatable.  The intention of the book is to help a new generation of Christians to take delight in the important aspects of faith and constitution.

Book Review: The Masculine Mandate

What does it really mean to be a man?  Is it just to be masculine?  Is it to have big muscles, athletic, and have a great looking car?  Is it to hit the bar every Friday night to drink and watch a ballgame?  Is it to work hard at the job I hate during the week and then work hard at the things I love during the weekend?  Is it to provide financially and physically for family?  Is it to have a good reputation within the community? 

So what really does it mean to be a man?

Within the pages of the this book, we can find answers to the riddles of what exactly it is to be a man.  We cannot answer the question if we are defining it through the skewed and distorted perception of what our culture and world say what a man should be.  We have to look into the question through the perception of something more concrete yet alien to our culture and world; we need something with more substance and more tangible truth:  God the creator and His Word.

The author brings to light many truths about what it is to be a man and a strong "proactive" leader of his house.  An emphasis on "proactive" leader because passive leader is oxymoronic especially dealing with men and their wives and children.  God has a calling for all men and that is to be the leader of their household.  Men cannot be passive in life especially when it comes to the well being (spiritually, emotionally or physically) or their families. 

Throughout this book a glaring theme reciprocates:  that all men must live proactive intentional lives to guard their families from the all competing forces.  As men we bear the image of God, in that we are given the responsibilities of headship within the institution of the family.  We must stand together(as men of faith) and firm on foundational truths and not succumb to the whims of false doctrine and the ideology of this world.

One of America's Gems

Golf may not be your cup of tea or may really not be interesting to you, but if you like history you may enjoy the historicity and traditions that enrich this age old sport.  I write this on the eve of arguably one of the best sporting events in our nation:  The Masters.  This year marks the 76th Masters event. 

Golf or a form of the game has been played for centuries.  The Scots take the honors of being the inventors of the modern game of golf as we know it.  According to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews that is located in Fife Scotland, the game of golf that is played over 18 holes is undoubtedly a Scottish invention.  The first documented mention of golf came in 1457, when a prohibition of the game was issued by King James II of Scotland because it distracted military responsibilities.  Two other bans were issued by the Scottish Parliament in 1471 and 1491 because it was unprofitable.  Later in 1744 rules were inscribed for the Company of Gentlemen Golfers, which changed its name to The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which played at Leith Links. 

Golf in the United States was first seen in 1779 in which the Royal Gazette of New York published an advertisement for golf clubs and golf balls.  Also, an annual general meeting of a golf club in Savannah, Georgia was printed in the Savannah Gazette in 1796.  Golf never really gained any traction until the late 19th century, when delegates from numerous golf clubs met in New York in 1894.  Later this group would form what is today known as the United States Golf Association (USGA).  By 1932 the USGA had affiliated itself with over 1100 golf clubs.  In 1922, Walter Hagen became the first US born player to win the British Open which would give way to American dominance within the sport.  Such a rich history of the sport of golf and for American golf a lot of the history can be found in Augusta, Georgia. 

If you were to ask me what I would imagine the pathway to Heaven to be like, I would show you this picture.  BUT of course that is my limited human imagination speaking.  If we can imagine what Heaven or the pathway to the gates would look like then it is probably infinitely more glorious.  This image is of Magnolia Lane leading up to the Clubhouse of Augusta National.  The interesting thing of this course is that it was a fruit plantation, and later during WWII it was used for cattle grazing for food supply, for two years.  Golfing legend Bobby Jones and co-founder Clifford Roberts formally opened the course in 1933.  To this day the course is highly restricted and does not allow for women to golf. 

Each year in April, Augusta National host the Masters Tournament which is the first of 4 major championships on the yearly schedule for PGA.  The traditions begin with the Par-3 contest which is held on the 9-hole Par-3 course also on the grounds at Augusta National.  The contest is held on the Wednesday before the first round, and has a tally of 73 holes-in-one since 1960 and has a record of 5 in 2002.  Since the contest's conception in 1960, no player that has won the contest has gone on to be crowned that year's Masters Champion.  During player's practice rounds, there has been a tradition of skipping their tee shots on the water onto the par-3 16th hole green.  And the tradition of the Green Jacket, that is award to the winner of the tournament.

Along with the many traditions, the privileged who golf at this course get to view and enjoy scenery of all the holes.  The most famous of holes that are played on the PGA tour are what's known as Ahem Corner:  11th White Dogwood, 12th Golden Bell, and 13th Azalea. 

So as you can see golf is rich in history and tradition.  And all is exhibited in the Masters Tournament at Augusta National.  Tune in this weekend and truly become part of one of America's Gems.

Not All Multi Vitamins Are Created Equal

As it turns out, most people do not supplement daily with a multi vitamin/mineral compound.  Also as it turns out, the vast majority of people do not have a well balanced diet mixed with protein, fibrous carbs, grains, and unsaturated fats.  Most people tend to be to busy to think about what they eat or drink and thus eat about 2 to 3 meals.  These meals are typically loaded with saturated fats and carbs that spike their metabolisms and leave their energy crashing within hours.  With this unstable diet, essential vitamins and minerals are severely lacking.  With the lack of these components, diseases can set in, immune systems do not function properly, and vital organs of the body lack essential nourishment.



Vitamins are very essential in that they are excellent antioxidants.  Antioxidants are obviously oxidizers.  When the body is stressed, exposed to environmental obstructions (such as smoke and smog), and exertion through sports and exercise the body creates free radicals which are free roaming unstable oxygen molecules.  These free radicals wreak havoc on a persons immune system and can cause a wide range of cancers. 



A person can walk into any supermarket and find a wide range of Multi Vitamins supplements that range from a few bucks to upwards of 50 dollars.  In most cases, "you get what you pay for" is true; granted using a cheaper supplement is better than nothing at all but without correcting diet and severely revamping your lifestyle then those cheaper versions will not help much in the long-run.  The key ingredients are not always the most important.

When choosing a multi vitamin supplement, a very important factor that most people do not realize is the  other ingredients listed along side or beneath the Nutrition Facts box.  Why, is this so important?  Those ingredients are the binding or filling ingredients and the majority of multi vitamins contain a calcium product.  So, why is that so bad?  It is not that it is bad, but if you want the most out of your vitamin supplementation then that added calcium in a hindrance to the body's absorption of all the other vitamins. 

Calcium is essential and is in every multi vitamin/mineral supplement on the market.  But our bodies absorb vitamins and minerals differently and each vitamin and mineral has its own absorption rate.  Calcium, on the other hand is the mineral that is the very first to be absorbed.  So, if your supplement includes calcium as a binding ingredient then your supplement cannot properly absorb all the other ingredients before it passes through the digestive system. 

In summary, choose a multi vitamin/mineral supplement that does not include calcium as an "other ingredient".  For example,  Advocare's:  CorePlex is excellent choice for those needing a great multi vitamin/mineral supplement.  Be Sure to check those other ingredients to be sure that you are get the most of you supplementation.

Book Review: When March Went Mad

When March Went Mad is highly entertaining for those who love the ins and outs of college basketball.  Seth Davis establishes his book with the vast impact of the match-up of Larry Bird and Earvin Johnson on March 26, 1979. 

Both Bird and Johnson were standouts in High School and led their teams to multiple win seasons.  Johnson lead his team to a Michigan State High School Championship, his senior year. 

Larry bird had his sights on Kentucky coming out of high school but never received an offer then coach Bobby Knight of Indiana Hoosiers made an offer to the standout.  Larry,  reluctantly chose to attend Indiana because of the peer pressure .  Later, Knight admitted his faults by not reaching out to Larry, and after 2 months Larry dropped out and went back home to French Lick, In.  His mother being furious with his decision, didn't speak to him.  He went to live with his Grandmother while attending a small junior college in a neighboring town.  He soon dropped out because he wasn't going to classes and the competition was just too weak.  When Bill Hodges, a recruiter from Indiana State University, found Larry he was working for the city riding a garbage truck.  In time and persuasion, Hodges was able to get Bird to commit to the Sycamores.  Larry led the Sycamores to the NIT tournament during the 1977-78 season but was ousted in the first round.  The next year proving to be a different story.  Bird was drafted by the Boston Celtics in  the 1978 NBA Draft but because of rules at that time he elected to play his senior year at Indiana State if Bob King agreed to keep the media at bay.  Bob told Larry He would do everything he could do to honor his request.  Before the 1978-79 season began coach King developed a aneurysm in his brain and had emergency surgery.  This left the coaching reins to Bill Hodges, who was recommended by King.  Hodges who was an assistant at Tennessee Tech University took the assistant coaching gig with the Sycamores and became their top recruiter and King's top recommendation.  He honored the Bird-King agreement with media but because of the season the Sycamores were exhibiting that was becoming very hard to live up to.  By the end of the season he had to give in and Bird had to speak to the media.  In part, because some of the sports periodicals that were putting out some bogus articles and fabricating stories.  Bird did a very good job of dispelling the fabrications and stayed focused on the task at hand:  Winning.  And, winning they did just that.  By the end of the regular season the Sycamore were undefeated and ranked #1 in the basketball polls, but not without criticism from commentators such as Billy Packer.  Packer's argument was that ISU's resume just wasn't a proven one.  Their schedule was weak and this was part because they were members of the Missouri Valley Conference, hardly the power conference of the ACC or the Big Ten's caliber.  Nonetheless, the Sycamores were #1 in the polls. 

Earvin Johnson hailing from East Lansing, Michigan was heavily recruited by the University of Michigan and Michigan State University.  Johnson was almost certainly going to chose Michigan because he was good friends with current players and he wanted to play for a winner.  Michigan lost to Indiana in the 1976 Men's NCAA Championship.  Michigan State, on the other hand, did not have a winning culture.  The Spartans had not won a conference title since 1967 and hadn't made a deep run in the tournament since 1957.  Also, the Spartans fired their head coach, Gus Ganakas, in 1976 after violating NCAA rules.  As a Result, Michigan State hired Jud Heathcote, head coach of the University of Montana.  For a high Blue chip recruit such as Johnson, would help bring the stability and build a better culture Michigan State desperately coveted.  Just like Larry Bird, Johnson dealt with peer pressure.  So after a hard fought battle Johnson chose the to stay at home and play for the Spartans.  Right out of the gate Johnson made his presence felt, he led the Spartans to the Elite Eight in 1978.  The Spartans heading into the 1978-79 season had higher expectations and wanted to build upon their recent fortunes.  As the season progressed the Spartans suffered some growing pains and had a lot disparity.  Heading into the 1979 NCAA Tournament their record was 25 and 6.

The Sycamores secured the #1 seed in the Midwest bracket and cruised their way to victory over the Gobblers of Virginia Tech (later in 1982 the school changed the mascot to the hokies) 93 to 72.  Spartans on the other hand received the #2 seed in the Mideast bracket and played their first round game against Lamar University in Murfreesboro, TN.  Lamar proved to be unmatched against the Spartans and lost 95 to 64.  Michigan State's next opponent: Coach Dale Brown's LSU Tigers, were almost as equally unmatched losing by 16, 87 to 71.  The Larry Bird led Sycamores dispersed David Bliss' Oklahoma Sooners 93 to 72.  ISU's next opponent didn't go out without a fight.  Teammate Bob Heaton sank his 3rd game-winning shot of the season with 2 second remaining to win by 2, 73 to 71.  They, as a result advanced to the Final Four for the first time ever.  Michigan State, meanwhile had a premonition of them riding the plane back home to East Lansing after their Matchup with Digger Phelp's Notre Dame Fighting Irish.  On contrary, Heathcote's masterful 3-2 defense proved to much for the bigs of Notre Dame and trumped them 80 to 68.  For the first time since 1957 the Spartans found themselves within reach of a national title.  The Spartans faced the Ivy League Pennsylvania Quakers and the Sycamores squared-off against the DePaul Blue Demons of Chicago.  Coached by Ray Meyer, the Blue Demons scrapped their way to near victory but came up short.  Down by one DePaul's Mark Aguirre heaved a desperation fall-away shot from the corner and missed badly.  The Sycamores sealed the deal with a free throw with 4 seconds remaining to win 76 to 74.  Pre game the Quakers Down played the athleticism of the Spartans.  Jud using this as fuel to stoke his team, instrusted them to perform their acrobatic dunks during warm ups.  By the intermission the Spartans had consumed the Quakers with a 50 to 17 lead.  The second half was all but a technicality with Spartans punishing the Quaker 101 to 67.

According to the Neilson rating, the 1979 Men's NCAA Championship game received a rating of 24.1 making it the most watched basketball game in history even until this day.  This can be attributed to the basketball Icons of Larry Bird and Earvin Johnson, but the story was well sold by the NBC Sports producers of this time. 

Grab a copy of this book and read the rest of the this story and learn of the histories between Bird and Johnson and what became of their teams afterwards.  What a great book that goes into detail of the lives of these two iconic basketball giants, not just for Larry Bird and Magic Johnson fans but for basketball fans in general.