A Pew Perspective

Monday Morning Devo - Fullfilling the Promise

2013-05-20T01:00:00.000-07:00

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished." Matthew 5:17-18, NASV

Sometimes people say Jesus set a whole new way of doing thing, and in some ways they're right, but really He came more to set things straight. Folks wanted a different messiah than what He really was. They wanted a warrior king who would get them out from under Rome's rule, not a man of peace.

It occurs to me maybe they weren't expecting God's Son, just another King David. Not that King David wasn't a great man--but he was just a man, not a god. And it occurs to me maybe we do the same thing--paint Jesus as the way we want Him to be. He's not a warrior king, but He's also not a milksop. He chased the money-hungry merchants out of the temple, confronted the religious leaders of the day, and went to the cross for the likes of you and me.

Lord, help me to recognize You for who You are--the Only Begotten Son of the One God. Help me see how You came to fulfill, not to abolish, the laws of God. Help me, Lord, when I'm tempted to see You as other than Who You are.

Saturday Morning Sermonette - Who's Leading?

2013-05-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? I think I'd like to be a violin, preferably a Stradivarius. And I'd want a master violinist--like say Itzhak Perlman--to weild the bow.Read more »

Author Interview - Roseanna White

2013-05-16T01:00:00.000-07:00

Roseanna White with her latest book, Ring of Secrets

Anne: Today's visit is with an inspirational and talented young woman, Roseanna White. She homeschools her children, edits books for Whitefire Publishing, and in her spare time--she writes dynamite books. Her most recent is Ring of Secrets, a spy story set during the American Revolution. (If you'd like to see a review of her book, click HERE).

Good morning, Roseanna. Tell us what inspired this delicious story?
Read more »

Book Review - RING OF SECRETS by Roseanna M White (Book One in the Culper Ring Series)

2013-05-15T01:00:00.000-07:00

Oh, I think I'm going to love this Culper Ring Series. Book 1, Ring of Secrets, held me enthralled the whole way through.

Winter Reeves hides a number of secrets. She's the daughter of patriot Colonel Reeves; she's not nearly as vapid as she appears; and, as the granddaughter of prominent loyalists in New York, she's privy to way too many stray words spoken by Brittish military officers.

Bennett Lane has a secret or two of his own. Not that he's a Yale professor--everyone knows that. Or that he's the heir to a wealthy Brittish Lord--that too is well known. And that he cannot put two logical words together in front of the fairer sex is his constant bane.

However, he must keep his real purpose in New York close to his vest. He tracks the patriots' movements and locates their hiding places and hidden messages.

He's discovered part of Winter's secret. In an unguarded moment her eyes revealed her intelligence and wit, and she has captivated him. More, his ineptitude in front of females seems to evaporate in her presence.

Oh, you have got to read this book. Click on one of these book sellers right now: Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, or Barnes and Nobel.

OR:
Leave your name and email in a comment below to be entered to win a copy of Ring of Secrets! You must respond by May 22 to be in the running--and please, only US and Canadian residents.

This Is My Story - What Now, Lord?

2013-05-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

Today I chatted on the phone with Lynn Kennedy from Alive in Christ Radio, potentially in regard to being interviewed on their program. Now there's another chat scheduled with Tony Merino, another person from the same station. Bottom line: I'm not sure.Read more »

Monday Morning Devo - This Little Light of Mine

2013-05-13T01:00:00.000-07:00

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16, NIV

I'm just one small person. How can anything I do make a difference?Read more »

Saturday Morning Sermonette - Drinking the Ocean

2013-05-11T01:00:00.000-07:00

Have I ever mentioned that I really love my Sunday Morning Bible Study? I love the Tuesday Morning Women's Group, too, but on Sunday morning, there is just one great Saturday Sermonette topic after another from various ones in the group.Read more »

Book Review - RARE EARTH by Davis Bunn

2013-05-10T01:00:00.000-07:00

Davis Bunn has produced another great Marc Royce thriller, this one set in Nairobi. Marc arrives there as Mount Elgon volcano is spewing smoke, ash, and lava, making breathing difficult and truck travel a crawl. Refugees flow faster than the lava, and there seems to be no end to the river of humans.Read more »

Book Review: Florian's Gate by Davis Bunn

2013-05-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

I have to give him this: that Davis Bunn knows how to write. His descriptions are vivid and put you right into the place and action. Fast paced and intriguing, particularly if you love antiques and history!
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Monday Morning Devo - Hide It Under a Bushel?

2013-05-06T01:00:00.000-07:00

"Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under a bushel, but on a lamp stand; and it gives light unto all that are in the house." Matthew 5:15, KJV2000

This reminds me of the song we used to teach the Sunday School kids, "This Little Light of Mine." Does your Christianity shine? Mine doesn't, at least not as much as I think it should. Better than it used to, maybe; but not as well as it should.Read more »

Saturday Sermonette - Nothing

2013-05-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

My favorite passage in the whole Bible is this:

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39, NKJVRead more »

Author Interview - Andrea Boeshaar

2013-05-02T01:00:00.000-07:00

Andrea and her family (she's the woman sitting on the love seat)

Anne: Our interview today is with an outstanding, best-selling author with more than a million copies of her books sold. Andrea Beoshaar's first book was published in 1994, and she has written thirty-one novels and novellas in addition to devotionals and articles. I am honored to have her here on this blog with us.

So, Andrea, tell us what inspired Broken Things.
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Book Review: BROKEN THINGS by Andrea Boeshaar

2013-05-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

Another great book. Andrea Boeshaar has done herself proud with this one. It's one of her older books, but still just wonderful. Have I ever mentioned I love being a book reviewer?Read more »

Monday Morning Devo - A City on a Hill

2013-04-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." Matthew 5:14 KJV 2000

Like it or lump it (as my mom used to say), we're examples to the kids around us, to our friends, to our relatives, and even to our enemies. Good or bad example? That's up to you.Read more »

Saturday Sermonette - Is that You, Lord?

2013-04-27T01:00:00.000-07:00

When you hear that voice in your head or heart, how can you tell if it's your own voice, the voice of God, or something else?
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Author Interview - June Foster

2013-04-25T01:00:00.000-07:00

June and her husband in front of their beloved motorhome.

Anne: Our interview today is with June Foster, author of four inspirational romances, including her most recent, Deliver Us.

Good morning, June! My first question, as always, is: What inspired this book (Deliver Us)?

June: Probably the same thing as the other ones. I have a passion for characters who deal with difficult issues but overcome them by God's power in their lives. Deliver Us has a strong pro-life theme which I stand behind.
Read more »

Book Review - DELIVER US by June Foster

2013-04-24T01:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you, June Foster, for another sweet love story with such a wonderful message.

What chance does a maintenance man with a rocky past have with a beautiful doctor?

Worse, what chance would he have if she finds out he was the one who... Oh, Lord, does he have to tell her that?Read more »

Author Interview - Ginny Yttrup

2013-04-23T01:00:00.000-07:00

Anne: I wish I could claim to have conducted this interview, but I can't. I am copying with permission from the blog Perspectives by Nancee.

Nancee: As you pour yourself out in your writing, how do you keep your well filled?Read more »

Monday Morning Devo - Salt of the Earth

2013-04-22T01:00:00.000-07:00

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot." Matthew 5:13, NIV

What if you put salt in your boiling potatoes, but when you ate them, they tasted like no salt had been near them? Pretty blah, huh?Read more »

Saturday Sermonette - His Strength in Our Weakness

2013-04-20T01:00:00.000-07:00

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." A part of Second Corinthians 12:9.

The book I reviewed yesterday, Invisible by Ginny Yttrup, set me to thinking. (If you want to read the review, click HERE.) The people in the book all had weaknesses--pretty major ones. Three of them had weaknesses that were life threatening. And yet--God met them in their weaknesses and gave them such blessings that they would never have received had they been strong.Read more »

Book Review - INVISIBLE by Ginny Yttrup

2013-04-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

I seldom give a solid five thumbs up for anything. Usually, the very best is 4.5 thumbs. This book by Ginny Yttrup, though--maybe it should be five wows plus. This is one of those books that will be a forever classic, one you'll remember all your lives.
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Book Review - TERRI by Sharon Srock, Book 2 in The Women of Valley View Series.

2013-04-17T01:00:00.000-07:00

Sharon Srock has produced an inspirational love story. At least that's my ever-so-humble opinion. Take a look and see what you think.Read more »

This is my story - Following God's Lead

2013-04-16T01:00:00.000-07:00

Almost two years ago, I paid a visit to my son's church in Ft. Jones, CA. Something had been weighing on my heart for a time. I'd been writing manuscripts for a Biblical fiction series, and although I'd been told several times the writing was good and the story seemed compelling, nothing was happening as far as finding a publisher.Read more »

Monday Morning Devo - Blessed are those who are Persecuted

2013-04-15T01:00:00.000-07:00

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10, NIVRead more »

Saturday Sermonette - Gesthemane Prayer

2013-04-13T01:00:00.000-07:00

When most of us think about Jesus's prayer in Gethsemane, we think about how He prayed so fervently for "this cup" to pass Him by, referring to the horrible pain and suffering that the next several hours would dish up to Him.Read more »