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Predictive prophecy’s value

Posted on February 26, 2019February 26, 2019 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Only God can accurately predict the future. This is because He plans it, He enacts it, and He sustains it. He is the author of it.

Man can guess what the future holds, He might be half right sometimes. He may be wrong many times. “I have made peace for our time” said UK Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in 1938. He was wrong on that one. WWII broke out soon after.

God promised that there will be wars and rumors of wars. He was right. (Matthew 24:6).

US President Lyndon Johnson declared a war on poverty, and he said he wanted change from that and he aimed to get it. He was wrong.

Jesus said that the poor you will always have among you, and He was right. (John 12:8).

Man gets it wrong because despite being the foremost creature in the Garden, having dominion over all the other animals and creatures, man is depraved and has only evil intentions all the time. Sin clouds our thinking. Plus, we are a creature, formed and made. God is not. God is I AM. He always was and always will be. He is outside of time and thus, He makes the future.

Predictive prophecy proves that God is God and He is sovereign over all events of the earth and universe. He says as much in this passage from Isaiah, when he challenges the false ‘gods’ to do as he does.

Present your case, says the Lord.
Set forth your arguments, says Jacob’s King.
Tell us, you idols,
what is going to happen.
Tell us what the former things were,
so that we may consider them
and know their final outcome.
Or declare to us the things to come,
tell us what the future holds,
so we may know that you are gods.
Do something, whether good or bad,
so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.
(Isaiah 41:22-23)

As a people, we are grateful for the LORD’S having given us insight into His ways, His character, and His plans. Prophecy is wonderful. Study it with all diligence and love, it is a gift from the Maker of History to the people living it.
idolaters

discernment, theology

Angus Buchan: Follow up to discernment article 7 years later

Posted on February 25, 2019February 25, 2019 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

When I was publishing a newspaper, and writing and editing for it, I’d publish articles covering needed construction of a municipal building, a child in need, a family who was burned out, a criminal on the loose. You know, all the sorts of things a newspaper publishes.

Once, someone asked me to do a follow up on one of the articles. “Whatever happened?” they asked. Did they catch the guy…did the family ever get a home again…did the building ever get fixed?

I thought then as now, that following up is a good idea. Especially in Christian realms, we grow in knowledge, insight, learning and sanctification. We are not the same now as we were then. Things don’t remain static.

I’ve been writing on this site for ten years. Things have changed. I’ve reviewed movies, bands, books, and ministries. People have apostasized or have grown in wisdom and stature. How is it going with some of these? How about a follow-up?

ANGUS BUCHAN

Seven years ago I reviewed the ministry of a man named Angus Buchan. Sadly, American evangelicalism has exported charismaticism, kingdom gospel, health/wealth gospel and other nasty and false doctrines to Africa, India, Asia and everywhere, thanks to global media. In 2006 a movie was released called Faith Like Potatoes, based on the life of South African Farmer Angus Buchan. The movie focused on Buchan’s long-sought after success via a personal miracle of God intervening in his life. The movie also brought notice of his name and his ministry to those outside of South Africa.

Buchan continued in his joy of the ‘miracle’ by beginning to preach. Some of what he says is good. Some of what he says is not. Buchan then began combining charismaticism and health-wealth, and then added political promises that he claimed that God was making to and about South Africa as a nation. National ease and political stability as well as individual prosperity and miracles permeated his speeches.

He was successful, he filled stadiums, one after another.

I wrote about him twice in 2012. One was an essay reviewing the movie and the other was an examination of his ministry.

Seven years later, today, Mr Buchan is still filling stadiums. He is still speaking of miracles, prosperity, and salvation for nation South Africa. He has additionally partnered with more full-blown charismatics and heretics.

I recently came across this 2018 assessment of Mr Buchan’s ministry from a graduate from The Master’s Seminary, who is pastoring and preaching in a church in South Africa. I don’t want to underestimate how popular Buchan is and how his preaching has affected many millions of men. In SA, Buchan is HUGE. The entire global church should concern us

I thought this assessment from pastor Tim Cantrell of Antioch Bible Church near Johannesburg, South Africa was gracious and fair. I agree with both the positives and the negatives stated about Mr Buchan. They align almost exactly with what I had written in 2012. Which sadly means that Mr Buchan has not course-corrected. He has unfortunately brought disrepute onto the name of Jesus, all the while seeking to honor it. This is what zeal without knowledge does.

Please see the video, it’s good. You’ll see Pastor Cantrell employ discernment on behalf of his flock, with graciousness and humility. You’ll see him compare what Buchan says to the Bible. It’s a good lesson all around.

I also came across this amateur Youtube short of a South African layman who has concerns with Mr Buchan. In this shorter video than the one above, Brother Louis compares a short segment of one of Mr Buchan’s speeches to the Bible. In the speech, Buchan taught that the more important moment in Jesus’s life came in Gethsemane, not the cross, where in Gethsemane Jesus said ‘It is finished’. Jesus did not say that in Gethsemane, and in fact, the teaching and Buchan’s story behind it, is another gospel. Watch this short video to see how.

For someone who is preaching something falsely, there are only two ways to go. Either the Spirit in them course corrects them and they begin preaching rightly (like Apollos, he accepted correction. Acts 18:25-27). If one is unstable and twists the Bible’s words without correction, it will be to their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:16). You trajectory up, or you trajectory down.

Perhaps Mr Buchan will swing up at some point. The Lord may graciously open his eyes to the more correct teaching and he may hopefully abandon the miracle-seeking, different gospel. But so far, Mr Buchan is seen to be heading on a downward slope with no slowing.

And that is the follow-up to 2012’s essays on Mr Angus Buchan.

poetry, theology

Kay Cude poetry: God’s Draw

Posted on February 24, 2019February 24, 2019 by elizabethprata

Poetry by Kay Cude. Kay Cude is a Texas poet. Used with permission.

The following is the Artist’s Statement.

The credit for the direction of my thoughts and words is not mine. I account it to the merciful pricking of my spirit as well as the instruction available to all of the redeemed through God’s great men of sound Biblical doctrine, unshakable faith, and enduring conviction, past and present.

We know that the redeemed of God through Christ are the beloved, but our hope, desire, and urge to live for His Glory while living in Satan’s economy (which is temporary) is oftentimes exhausting. This war, now heightened and intensified during these end of days, will continue up to the moment we see Christ Jesus face-to-Face. Until then, some of us may wander towards (or in) “a” wilderness that is connected to our trials. Some of us will encounter despondency, loss, or worse. Yet we know and believe that God and Christ are faithful to rescue the redeemed out of those wilderness episodes.

I am so grateful He has purposed them to be instruction that opens our eyes and ears and leads us to repentance and/or greater understanding. It is from there that we can gain purposeful insight and maturity in Him. Surely all of the redeemed agree; for we know that we cannot live without God, nor do we wish to. We need and desire our Saviour to work in our hearts, life-experiences, and circumstances hour-by-hour and day-by-day. This sentiment is deeply indwelt truth that resides within the very core of the spirits of “we,” the redeemed of Christ.

Finally, when any of us go through “wanderings,” and when we “bump” into the profoundly lost or into fellow brethren who are also in the distress of wandering, we want the evidence of God’s drawing us back to Him through instruction, repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation to be the hope and evidence of God’s grace and mercy to rescue “whosoever” to repentance that lead to salvation, or to the redeemed’s restoration to fellowship with the Father and the Son.

May the Lord our God use all “wanderings” as a powerful testimony of how great is the draw of God and how profound Christ’s rescue, for the lost and for the saved.

WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS

encouragement, theology

Falling overboard…will he remember me? A Sailing Story

Posted on February 23, 2019May 20, 2024 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

I lived aboard a sailing yacht for two years and sailed up and down the Eastern Seaboard. Here is our boat.

china doll — At anchor in the Chesapeake

china doll2 — Upping anchor at dawn in a Georgia river

Looks peaceful, doesn’t it? Many days, it was.

But the sea can a capricious enchantress, and sometimes it kicked up wildly.

Sailing south of the FL keys. HUGE wave, photo doesn’t do it justice.

If we made an overnight offshore passage, it meant that when one of us was at the wheel, the other was resting or sleeping below. We did not have an automatic pilot (a yacht’s gizmo for cruise control). One of us just stood there in two hour shifts, hands on the wheel at all times. If the wind changed, we left the wheel and went forward to deal with changing the sails to adjust.

That was the most dangerous thing we had to do in the whole cruise. Leaving the cockpit and walking forward, at night, alone, with one of us sleeping below. You could easily get knocked overboard and the boat would sail on without you. Cries for help would be meager and immediately drowned out by the swish of the boat, the knocking of the sails and lines and anchor chain, the waves lashing against the boat, and the wind. When there is a storm the last thing the place is, is quiet. A human voice cannot compete.

My fear of falling overboard was palpable and never left me. Just thinking for a moment of the stern of the yacht sailing on and me in the cold, cold water probably to die, was a specter in front of my eyes all the time.

The way that small boat sailors dealt with that was to install jack lines. These are:

a rope or wire strung from a ship’s bow to stern to which a safety harness can be clipped, allowing a crew member to move about the deck safely when there is risk of falling or being swept overboard. At sea, falling overboard is one of the leading causes of death in boating; fastening oneself to the ship with a safety harness reduces this risk.

Many men in small yacht sailing avoid jack lines, something to do with machismo, I suppose. I’m glad my husband didn’t feel that way. He installed and actually used jack lines whenever we made an offshore passage. Insisted on it, actually.

I watched the PBS show Carrier, about sailors on a US Navy Carrier, and in one episode, a sailor fell off the ship. He was not found.

I often think about how hard it would be to spot a tiny dark head in the swishing ocean. What insignificance we would feel being a tiny bundle of flesh in the mighty and expansive sea.

God is like that ocean. Sometimes we might feel tiny and insignificant in the face of His majesty and power. He created the universe with a word, flooded the entire earth with His power, named all the billions of stars. Does He remember me, a small package of flesh yawping and lumbering about on the earth? Does He recall my name, see this forgiven sinner in the vast ocean of humanity?

Yes.

Yes, He remembers you (and me). (See Genesis 21:14-17). There is no fear that one lone person will get lost in the shuffle. He formed our soul, wrote our names in His Book since before the foundation of the world, anticipated us through His sovereign plan, formed us in the womb, and guarded us until the appointed day of salvation. Then-

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one. (John 10:28-30)

Moreover, his Son died for us, for each tiny bundle of flesh bouncing around in this world of sin and death and activity and humanity. Jesus died for us, each of us, the elect. We will not get lost in the shuffle. He will remember me.

encouragement, theology

Where everybody Knows Your Name

Posted on February 22, 2019February 22, 2019 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

In the 1980s, the Cheers television show dominated the comedic airwaves. It was hilarious and maintained its high-ratings almost throughout its historically long run, 11 years, from 1982 to 1993. Thus, its weekly entry into American living rooms meant that the theme song was destined to become entrenched into the psyche of the viewer for decades afterwards. “Where everybody knows your name” was the theme song and it goes a little something like this –

The lyrics say:Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got.

Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn’t you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,

and they’re always glad you came.

As the song played, I used to admire each attractive painting of each tinted character, and I’d yearn for the bonhomie the show promoted. Yes, I want to be where everybody knows my name. Yes, I want to be in a place where I am recognized, and loved for who I am. Yes, I want to be where they’re always glad I came. Is there such a place? Yes, and it’s not in a bar.

The place where everybody knows your name is heaven. And for each person either the homecoming is either joyful or fearful. There are books kept, and your name is in those books. Your deeds are kept in the books. And He knows your name – and He knows your deeds.

“And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” (Revelation 20:12)

“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)

On the one hand, your homecoming may be brief. They will know your name but if your name is not found written, you will be thrown into torment, receiving your wish to be forever separated from Jesus. On this earth, when the person in authority opens your file, and stares at you, it is a heart-stopping moment. Have you ever been to the principal’s office? And he opens your file? It makes your toes curl. Have you ever been to the doctor’s office? And he opens your file? It makes your stomach drop. Have you ever been to court? And he opens your file? It makes your heart beat faster. This will be like that but infinitely worse.

On the other hand…

“He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angel.” (Revelation 3:5)

On the other hand, if you believe, confess, and repent, when they open the book and find your name in it, Jesus will confess your name to the Father and to the angels. You will be admitted permanent entry into the most glorious place possible…the place where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.

*This essay was published on The End Time in March 2010.

theology, writing

The Writer’s Responsibility

Posted on February 21, 2019 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Christian books, pamphlets, blogs, letters, reviews, essays…it’s all so much. It is so easy nowadays to start a blog and begin writing. I’ve mentioned before about authorial skill, ministerial calling, and tone. But now let’s speak of the responsibility writers have.

What is the responsibility of a writer, his or her ethics, so to speak? All people are accountable in their work, career, or hobby. Writers write with their audience in mind. They write to persuade, inform, or entertain. This three-fold purpose is universal. EB White eloquently opined on a writer’s responsibility from the secular side, in his piece from 1969. I recommend it. Here is one quote:

A writer must reflect and interpret his society, his world; he must also provide inspiration and guidance and challenge. Much writing today strikes me as deprecating, destructive, and angry. There are good reasons for anger, and I have nothing against anger. But I think some writers have lost their sense of proportion, their sense of humor, and their sense of appreciation

Add to that, Christian writers write for the glory of God and to share edifying content to the transforming mind. Christian writers have a responsibility to be clear, straightforward, and to keep God’s glory in front at all times.We know that teachers of the Word have a responsibility, one that is so weighty that the Bible advises that “not many” should be a teacher. (James 3:1). Writers teach, especially if they have a public platform. By default, unless you’re writing in a lockable diary, your writing is public and someone will be learning from it. If not the words, the example you (I) set. Christian writers are by default, teachers.

Derek J. Brown, a graduate of The Master’s Seminary and now a pastor, wrote in 2012’s essay “Clarity: The Responsibility of Every Christian Writer“,

I am also convinced that Christians have the responsibility—if we are going to write about Biblical truth and important theological issues—to cherish clarity above all other literary qualities.

As I look back over past entries, some of what I have written causes me to grimace. In several posts, clarity was sacrificed for cleverness; precise statements gave way to long, cumbersome sentences; and healthy content was smothered under a thick layer of syrupy rhetoric.

download

I hope that what I have written does not cause anyone to grimace for the reasons stated above. I know that my theology has improved since I started this blog ten years ago, and I’d grimace over older essays that I wrote in zeal without knowledge. But I hope that I have not written cleverly for the sake of being clever. I hope I have not covered up any pointing to the Lord for the sake of syrupy rhetoric.

Derek Brown goes on in convicting manner,

What this does mean is that we should labor, every time we write, to make sure that what we write is clear, and that our communication has not been hindered by silly word games. Practically, this will mean carefully choosing words that enable learning instead of words that only show off our extensive vocabulary. It will mean spending more time over fewer entries to ensure that what we post falls under the category of quality rather than mere quantity. And it will even mean that we are willing to risk being regarded as unsophisticated and unscholarly by some of our readers because we desire their spiritual good far more than we covet their admiration.

The reader’s understanding of an important point should be the first motive of the writer. I hope I never set clarity adrift for the sake of words that display the authors’ skill.

It’s easy to use big words and make much of your vocabulary. It’s hard to use fewer words, and clearer words, because that means one is squashing one’s pride and removing ego from the piece, on behalf of the more important sake of the reader’s understanding and ultimately, God’s glory.

When you choose to spend your limited time reading any material, but especially blog posts, think about if the writer has carried through his first responsibility: clarity. See if you can intuit what should be his/her motivation; glorifying God. In sum: ask yourself, Does this piece clearly make a point that helps my understanding of Jesus, and does it glorify God- or does it glorify the author?

“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

verse

encouragement, theology

Fasting: What it is and what it isn’t

Posted on February 20, 2019 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Spiritual disciplines. We all know that they are. Reading the Bible. Praying. Giving. Attending church. Doing good works.

Fasting.

Fasting isn’t talked about much and when it is, it’s sort of either glossed over or it’s folded in as part of the latest diet-fad-plan.

What IS the spiritual discipline of fasting, then?

Jesus said that we will be fasting as part of the spiritual life. In Matthew 6:16-18 He said what to do and what not to do when we do it.

And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

If you haven’t thought of fasting like this, please do: It’s possible to fast in hypocrisy.

Just as with anything we do for the Lord, it’s possible to mix in personal motives that outweigh or outbalance why we’re doing it for Him, making it a hypocritical exercise. That’s why it’s important to know what fasting is and why we do it.

fasting final

These books above are just a very few of the books that pop up when searching for “fasting”. You can fast for breakthrough, to get an edge, to lose weight, to formulate atomic power with God, to feed your soul, to spark an awakening, to receive rewards, to cause a miracle, to start a revival…

Those are a few of the subtitles to the books that came up on my search for ‘fasting.’ If you’re new to the faith or unfamiliar with the discipline, the dangers are real in that you might accidentally absorb the simply wrong or even heretical, written by heretics. They look good, they may sound good to the newbie, but they would steer you in the wrong direction.

Solid ministries that teach rightly would be John MacArthur at Grace to You, RC Sproul at Ligonier, CARM.org, Monergism, and more.

Here is a John MacArthur sermon about Fasting without Hypocrisy. The sermon begins this way:

Now fasting is a very popular phenomenon today, but that is not to be confused with what the Bible is teaching us about fasting.

What DOES the Bible teach us about fasting? It is not to lose weight. It is not something to do for medical purposes, though your doctor may recommend fasting before taking certain tests. But that is not spiritual fasting. Spiritual fasting is not to “get” something. It is not to empty one’s self in order to receive a revelation or to go mystical via dreams or visions in an altered state.

Biblical fasting has variously been defined as-

Abstaining from food or drink in order to focus on prayer and seeking God’s will.
Abstaining from food for spiritual purposes.
Abstaining from food for the purpose of focusing on God

John Piper said, “Fasting is a temporary renunciation of something that is in itself good, like food, in order to intensify our expression of need for something greater — namely, God and his work in our lives.”

The Bible never deals with fasting on a physical level. John MacArthur

Examples of fasts in the Bible:

Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness prior to beginning His public ministry. He was there to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1, Luke 4:1-2, Mark 1:13).

Nehemiah fasted in spiritual grief when he heard the state of Jerusalem. He fasted to confess the sins of Israel and gain permission to rebuild. (Nehemiah 1:4).

David fasted when his enemies were treating him unjustly (Psalm 35:13).

The Ninevites fasted after they heard Jonah’s proclamation (Jonah 3:5) and all of them from greatest to least, fasted in repentance and humility, wearing sackcloth.

Acts 13:2 recounts the members of the early church ministering accompanied by fasting, to seek confirmation of elder appointments. (see Acts 14:23 also).

Paul fasted for three days after encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9:9).

Fasting is always combined with prayer. Paul fasted often. (2 Corinthians 11:27). He could have been thinking of fasting in this verse:

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:27).

So it seems from these examples and of course many others not listed here, that fasting is a regular spiritual activity for the Christian. One can fast for guidance, to gain spiritual strength, for clarity on a situation, to commune with God, to rectify a situation, to dispel self-sufficiency, to renew zeal (Mark 2:18-20), and other spiritual reasons, fasting is something that any Christian can and probably should do. Jesus seemed to say that it would be a regular activity, and gave directions for its proper implementation, though He did not command it. (Matthew 6:16-18).

I’ve fasted several times. I fasted for 3 days when I discovered a previous pastor had plagiarized all his sermons from other people and pretended they were his own. I needed God’s guidance to determine what I should do and how to approach the situation, or with whom.

I fasted prior to approaching a Ladies’ Minister who loved Beth Moore with my concerns about Beth Moore.

I fasted when our elders were planning and planting our new church.

I fasted on behalf of lifting a person to the Lord who was in a bad way.

All those were accompanied by prayer, too.

How do you deal with fasting? Have you done it? Do you enjoy it?

John MacArthur ends his sermon linked above this way:

God has given us every good thing to enjoy. Beloved enjoy it. But when you’re in a spiritual struggle and you’re consumed with the things of God, know this, that it’s right to abstain from those things to continue your concentration and your focus on that which is spiritual and divine. God help us to be more sensitive so that fasting in its truest sense can be a part of our lives.

encouragement, theology

“Dear Woman Feeling Called to Ministry…” By Ayanna Thomas

Posted on February 19, 2019 by elizabethprata

I like what Ayanna Thomas has to say. She makes sense, is humble, insightful, and joyous. Here is the start of her Instagram piece today: Read the rest here.

ayanna

“I know how you feel. You see so many women around you “stepping into their calling.” And you feel this urge to do something too. You scroll your feeds, wishing you could just launch your blog, start a local women’s group, deliver talks at conferences, like everyone else. It feels like you’ll never be able to walk in the gift(s) God has given you and you aren’t really even sure if you’re convinced of what that looks like.”

“But let me encourage you with something…“

Read the rest of her encouraging comment, then browse her Instagram account, lots of good stuff!

book review, theology

Book Review Shots: Disciplines of a Godly Woman; Can I have Joy in my Life?; Amy Carmichael; The Machine Stops

Posted on February 18, 2019February 18, 2019 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Crime novel writer James Patterson issues books in a series called “BookShots.” These are novellas, short books he writes in beteeen the longer ones. I like the idea.

I’ve been participating in Tim Challies’ annual Christian Reading Challenge. I’m keeping up pretty well, and enjoying the structure it provides so I do not lapse into total couch potato with brain of mush.

Here are a few of my Book ReviewShots, short reviews of the books I’ve recently read.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Disciplines of a Godly Woman, by Barbara Hughes

I do not recommend this book.

I like the topic, and there were a few good nuggets in it, but overall it was simply a rehash of normal things any women has already heard, if she has been saved for any length of time. Few new insights.

Issues I had with the book were:

–LOTS of anecdotes. The book would be half as long if Mrs Hughes cut the personal anecdotes and stories that supposedly cemented her point and just stuck to the Bible. Anecdotes the author thinks makes her case, don’t always connect with every reader, but the Bible unfailingly does.

–Some misused scripture, or relying on a traditional view of famous verses rather than teaching their real meaning. (Mt 18:20, Jeremiah 29:11)

–Quoting doubtful characters, i.e. William Barclay, a confirmed universalist who denied the Trinity; Watchman Nee, a mystic whose views on sanctification, the Holy Spirit, hermeneutics, baptism, the church and sin contain significant error; Christy the missionary written about by Catherine Marshall, who was a social justice warrior missionary who gravitated to Quakerism; Win Arn, church growth guru who partnered with C Peter Wagner, demon delivery guru for one of his books, and more. Her Resources page also contains iffy books.

In the book was the following statement- “Apostle Andrew became the patron saint of three diverse countries.” As if that helps his stature! But it lessens the author’s though, for promoting Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic “tradition”. There is no such thing as a “patron saint” of a nation. Statements like these should never be included in a book aimed at evangelical women.

I found this book hard to get through and problematic to pass on.

Better books are:

Praying the Bible by Don Whitney
The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges
The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment by Tim Challies
Twelve Extraordinary Women: How God Shaped Women of the Bible, and What He Wants to Do with You by John F. MacArthur
Susie: The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon, wife of Charles H. Spurgeon by Ray Rhodes Jr.
The Pursuit of God, by A. W. Tozer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amy Carmichael: Beauty for Ashes, by Iain Murray

A short book and an easy read. Murray seems a bit glowing over Amy, but then again, what Amy did was amazing. He didn’t gloss over some of her known issues, however, such as her subjective approach to interpreting the Bible, or her (often misunderstood, according to Murray) imperiousness. Thus, I believe this to be a fair assessment of her life. It isn’t deep, since the book is short, but it’s a good introduction to a remarkable woman’s life lived for Christ. It contains a lengthy bibliography if one wants further info on Amy’s life and work in India.

Kay Cude poetry: Treasured Memories

Posted on February 17, 2019 by elizabethprata

To all the mothers out there reminiscing over the time that has passed and your sons and daughters are now older, perhaps having left the nest, flying off to new skies and making nests of their own. The sweet time of little hugs and recious moments fly by. Cherish them.

Kay Cude did just that, revising a poem she had written long ago as she remembered just such a moment treasured in her heart.

Artist’s statement:

I had written this poem for my son many years ago to recount our sweet time together when he was a two-year old.

SWEET MEMORIES TENDERED FROM LONG-AGO

Kay Cude is a Texas poet.
Used with Permission.