Help for the Hungry Soul

Help for the Hungry Soul ~ Eight Encouragements to Grow Your Appetite for God's Word by Kristen Wetherell provides believers with that gentle nudge to open up and stay in God's Word. Sustenance is essential to our spiritual lives. The Word of God is the food that we eat as we grow in maturity, moving from milk to solid food. Some of us have a diminished appetite for God's Word, pushing our meals away, taking small, careless bites to satiate our curiosity.We can, however, increase our spiritual hunger. Our longing for God's Word increases as we enjoy its sweetness. There are resources available to us if we are hungry.

Wetherell's book provides the reader with morsels of God's Word to nourish our starving souls. What is your current appetite for the Bible? The eight encouraging chapters include:

1. Know Your Hungry Heart

2. Plead for a Holy Hunger

3. Don't Miss Jesus

4. Remember the Privilege

5. Feast with Your Church

6. Feed Yourself Creatively

7. Trust God's Nourishing Work

8. Embrace Your Hunger

Chapter 1 helps you know yourself better in order to discern how you might grow. In Chapter 2 we are reminded that God is the initiator of the impossible (Luke 1:37). We read in Chapter 3 that Jesus revealed everything about himself through the wonder of his Word. The whole Bible points to Jesus, for he is the point of the whole Bible. As we read Chapter 4, we realize what a gift God's Word is. A great deal of progress has been made in the literary world thanks to Johannes Gutenberg. What if God had not spoken? We are reminded of the importance of reading God's Word in Chapter 5. Many of us know what we should do, but choose to put other worldly things ahead of reading God's Word. Both individually and corporetely, we are challenged in Chapter 6 to dive into God's Word. We are living in a fast-paced world, with many responsibilities, commitments, and many things requiring our attention at any given time. Chapter 7 asks, Is it worth it to commit to scripture? As you engage in God's Word, more is taking place than you can see. Where do we go from here, Wetherell asks in Chapter 8. Especially in times of difficulty, how do we continue to pursue that which seems unfinished and imperfect in this life, namely the satisfying of our deepest hunger in Jesus and his nourishing word?

There is an encouraging testimony at the end of each chapter.

This is a book I highly recommend.

Last Chance Academy

I just got through reading Last Chance Academy by Debbi Michiko Florence. It's been a difficult time for Megumi, or Meg for short, since she lost her mother. As a result of her father's traveling for work, Meg does not get to spend much time with him. Because of her distaste for Aunt Vivian's house and her slipping grades, her father has decided Meg should transfer to a boarding school. This is Leland Chase Academy also known as Last Chance Academy. A total of 35 students in grades 6-12 attend the school.

One day, strange envelopes appear underneath the bedroom doors of her classmates. The invitation has not been received by everyone at the Academy. Meg is looking forward to this scavenger hunt since it promises a prize that is so valuable to her. In order to prevent her family from falling apart, she will do whatever it takes to win the prize, even if it means losing her friends. To move forward, the students must solve clues left by the Mastermind. In order to solve each clue, Meg realizes that she will need the help of her classmates.

She loves the idea of the scavenger hunt because her mother had done it with her when she was alive. Meg had a slight advantage over her classmates because of this. The Mastermind has such intimate knowledge of each student that it is freakishly scary.

To solve the last clue of the scavenger hunt, all four 7th year students will have to work together. Even after her best friend cast her aside after her mother died, Meg will learn she can trust others and have true friends. It was set up for only one individual to win, but now there were four. To outwit the Mastermind, what would the students do.

Christian Ethics

 

Christian Ethics – Living a Life That Is Pleasing to God by Wayne Grudem is an in-depth exploration answering the question, "What does the whole Bible teach us about which acts, attitudes, and personal character traits receive God's approval, and which do not?" The book is broken down into seven parts and forty-two chapters.

Part 1: Introduction

Part 2: Protecting God's Honor

Part 3: Protecting Human Authority

Part 4: Protecting Human Life

Part 5: Protecting Marriage

Part 6: Protecting Property

Part 7: Protecting Purity of Heart

According to the author, studying ethical topics in a focused manner is more beneficial than simply reading through the Bible or studying individual passages. This book aims to improve understanding of ethics. Secondly, it transforms instinctive convictions into informed ethical convictions. As a third goal, the author aims to help Christians improve their ethical convictions from imprecise to accurate. Lastly, Christians with an incorrect understanding of biblical morals may learn to understand biblical ethical convictions.

In studying Christian ethics we should examine it with prayer, humility, reason, help from others, by collecting and understanding all relevant passages of scripture on a topic, and through rejoicing and praise. Studying ethics in parts allows for a structured and comprehensive understanding of complex moral principles. Breaking down ethical topics into manageable sections enables individuals to focus on specific areas, leading to deeper insights and more meaningful applications in daily life. Additionally, this methodical approach ensures that each aspect of ethical teaching is thoroughly explored and understood in the context of the broader biblical narrative.

Grudem states: "...the only satisfactory and ultimate basis for ethical standards is the eternal, unchanging moral character of God. Before anything else existed, God existed. He is."

There is no way to cover everything within this 1323 page book so I will highlight some of the subjects throughout the book.

Chapter 26 of the book asks, Why should we take care of our bodies? How should we think about sleep, vaccinations, organic foods, tattoos, and circumcision? Firstly, our bodies are not evil and are gifts from God. All changed as a result of the Fall. Death entered the world because of sin, but Christians have the joy of a resurrected body someday. We are fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator. As a result, we should care for our bodies and treat them as temples of the Holy Spirit. Every day, we should practice healthy habits, exercise, and sleep well. On vaccines the author says, "Vaccines are also part of 'nature' because they are made from products developed from nature. The whole world belongs to God, including all the ingredients for vaccines that he placed in the earth." I love what the author says about organic foods. Choice is up to each individual but it is not okay to "...assume that foods found in a 'natural state' unaffected by fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or genetic modifications, are more spiritual, more Christian, or more pleasing to God than foods that have been modified with modern agricultural research tools and methods." The only thing that I will say about circumcision is that it is no longer commanded by the New Covenant. You will find questions for personal application at the end of each chapter. There will be a list of any specific terms used within the chapter. The chapter concludes with a bibliography, other works, a literary memory passage, and a hymn.

The book also covers topics such as homosexuality and transgenderism, capital punishment, leadership in marriage, war, aging and death, alcohol and drugs, and poverty and wealth.

In terms of Christian ethics, this book is highly recommended for all Christians who are striving to live a life that is pleasing to God.