Along with your Bible, you probably find yourself reading other books on various subjects.  I would like to share three of my recent "brain munchies."  Perhaps these may assist you, if you are looking for books on these subjects.

First, Called to be Free:  A Biblical Approach to Addiction Recovery and Scriptural Wellness by Jeff Lane.  Jeff is my friend.  His book is founded on Biblical understanding and personal experience.  Please make this a part of your library if you find yourself needing assistance in addiction recovery or you would like to grow in your personal understanding of this issue.

Second, Saving Souls in the 21st Century:  An Easy to use Workbook in Personal Evangelism, Answering the Most Asked Questions by People who are Seeking Jesus by James E. Sanderson III.  I have used this material to teach and reteach Christians on understanding Scripture and the various subjects within the Christian movement as God wants it to be understood.  It has also been a "super-great" tool in evangelizing.  I recommend getting the video that goes along with it to teach the material.  Those who have studied this material, along with their Bible, find it very illuminating and helpful.

Third, As in all the Churches:  A Close Look at the Call for Full Female Participation and Leadership in the Church by John A. Fewkes.  One of the challenges for any congregation is making sure that worldly influence does not supersede God's instruction.  One way we do this is in properly understanding context of Scripture with its original intent.  As women in our society are seeking equal rights, what does God say in relation to women's role in the church.  Mr. Fewkes gives a very scholarly understanding concerning this issue.  Those who have given their endorsement include:  Everett Ferguson, Distinguished Scholar in Residence at Abilene Christian University; Jack Cottrell, Professor of Theology, (ret.); F. LaGard Smith, Compiler and Narrator of The Daily Bible; Brian Davis, World Bible School, Executive Vice President. 

I would like to offer this encouragement to keep each other in prayer.

1.  Continue to pray for each other.  Everyone struggles with so many things and we need each other's continued encouragement.  "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working" (James 5:16).

2.  Pray to stay united as one under Christ.  For it is only in Christ and His message that people can be one with God and remain one with God.  "I do not ask  for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in your, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me" (John 17:20-21).

3.  Pray that people work toward God's common goal.  He has a great love for His imperfect church made up by very broken and sometimes wishy-washy people.  "And they devoted themselves to the apostle's' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42).

4.  Pray for each other by name and pray for those who are struggling in their obedient faith.  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).

5.  Pray for godly wisdom in our thoughts, behaviors, and endeavors.  Remember that Jesus is God, sadly, not everyone chooses Him.  But don't devour one another with suspicion, frustration, and condemnation.  "For you were called to freedom, brothers.  Only do not use our freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  For the whole law is fulfilled in one word:  'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  But if you bite and devour one another, watch out  that you are not consumed by one another" (Galatians 5:13-15).

​            Can a person leave the covenant of Christ after becoming a baptized believer in Christ?  Scripture does not teach that specifically.  If after falling away, does he need to be baptized into Christ again? No (Acts 8:13, 22-24).  It is baptism into Christ for the forgiveness of sins that begins the covenant with Christ – that tipping point from outside Christ to inside Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:16; John 3:3-5; Acts 2:38, 41, 47; 22:16; Romans 6:2-4; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 Peter 3:21).  However, after becoming a Christian, a person’s walk will dictate if he continues obedience in Christ.  Those who walk in obedience; though, not sinless, will be eternally saved through the blood of Christ (John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:4, 23; Galatians 5:22-26; Hebrews 11:13; 1 John 1:7,9; 5:16-17). Those who walk in disobedience, even though in covenant relationship with Christ, will also be lost along with all who never chose to be in a covenant relationship with Christ (John 3:16, 36; Romans 5; 6:23; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 John 1:5-6, 8; 3:7-9; 5:16-17).  But anyone who is a Christian, that has led an unrepentant life, can repent and live a lifestyle of repentance.  He does not need to be baptized again, he needs to repent (and all this word in Scripture entails) and pray (Acts 8:22-24).

I just finished a book entitled, The Suicide of the Black-American Culture by Gerald P. Jackson.  It was written to black Americans who need a spiritual remedy for the self-destructive elements that they find themselves in within the black-American culture.  It is heartfelt, well-written, and personal.  I would recommend it to anyone who seeks to understand what happens when people don't put God first in their lives.

​As I am Caucasian, I found this book helpful in creating understanding.  Yet, Gerald would caution me that this does not give me the right or privilege to speak for black-Americans or offer any specific internal advice.  That being said, Gerald does offer explanation that makes sense.  His teaching is biblically based and is relevant to the black-American people. Personally, I believe that I have grown spiritually in my own walk because of Gerald's presentation of the message of Christ and what Christ can do for all who choose to follow Him regardless of what culture they were born into.

Gerald and I are spiritual brothers in Christ.  I thank God for his insight.

​The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves
​www.thelordshumbled.com

      There is no one who can claim to be an expert on all things​ dealing with eggs, animals, grain, or nature.  But anyone can be "expert" on admiring God's splendor in His creation.  What a spectacular show the sun gives as it slides down over the horizon!  How breathtaking is the night sky as the stars share their brilliance and numerous constellations!  How gratifying it is knowing that God is superior to all the things that He fashioned!  When a person truly reflects on these and other things, it only becomes natural to praise God.  But for those who disregard the obvious, this statement rings accurate, "Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."
​

www.thelordshumbled.com
John A. Reeves

Many citizens, in the United States, are very concerned about the “welfare” system because it seems to encourage dependency.  So, people who are able to better themselves tend to become more reliant on government rather than being productive with quality work.  The concern for the nation is that people are taking advantage of “handouts” rather than working for a living.  I have actually met people who truly enjoy living on-the-streets without a care in the world except where they will find their next meal.  With these people it is hard to forget the passage that Paul wrote to Christian brethren, “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command:  If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.  For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.  Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12).  

Yet, there are those who are truly in need.  And God loves people who take care of those who can’t make it easily without help.  “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?  Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:14-17; cf. Exodus 23:3, 6, 11; Leviticus 23:22; Deuteronomy 24:14; 1 Samuel 2:7; Proverbs 19:17; Luke 7:22; Galatians 2:10). 

But the reality is, people tend to feel uncomfortable around others who are not similar to them.  This can include, but not limited to, the poor – even poor Christians.  Part of the reason for this aversion to developing close relationships with the downtrodden is because people tend to forget what makes a person a focus of God.  It’s not their intelligent quotient, good looks, finances, family relations, or education; rather, it is their soul that can be saved through the saving blood of Christ.  Hmm?  I wonder why Paul had to write, “Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited” (Romans 12:16).  Take a permanent stance to associate with all people – even the lowly.  Do it for the sake of Christ.                               

John A. Reeves
www.thelordshumbled.com

The concept of “one another” in Scripture is very important for Christians.  It strikes the very heart and nature of any Christian because all of us must work on these very things.  We are not, to use an old phrase, “an island to ourselves”.  Some of the areas that these “one another” passages deal with are:  ministering to problems of other church members, loving others, creating of unity, servant attitude, and evangelism (by how we treat each other; cf. John 13:34-35).  Every member, in the Lord’s church, is in need of these things and the Lord expects/demands us to do them – from the heart (cf. 1 Peter 1:22).  For those who truly work on this, I know that you will please the Lord and your spiritual life will be healthier and selfless.  Remember, Jesus said to love “one another” as “I [Jesus] have loved you” (John 13:34).

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves