Renegade Gospel & It's Not What You Think

The Renegade Gospel:  The Rebel Jesus

Just look at the picture...  Renegade Gospel...  The Rebel Jesus...  If you don't know who Jesus is, this book will be a great read for you!  If you know who Jesus is... this book is probably not for you. 

I expected this to be an awesome book.  With the words.... renegade and rebel, I'm thinking this is going to be a radical new look at our beloved Jesus.  I was disappointed.  

There were a few nuggets of nice, but not the greatness that I was expecting.  

"Christians have done more to destroy the image and message of Jesus than all the atheists and agnostics combined!"  Isn't that just absolutely the truth.

"Jesus did not come to start a religion.  I doubt that he ever said to himself, "Okay, now I am going to begin something called Christianity." Instead, the rebel Jesus came with a renegade gospel to start a revolution that would be propelled by a countercultural community of people on Planet Earth.  And you and I are invited to be a part."  Some great stuff!!!!

So... okay... reading the book was not a waste of time.  With the name, though, Mike, you could have done some really great things...  in my opinion you did some okay things here, and let me down.

As far as the 6 week study that goes along with this book... skip that.  It was horrible.  The audience was very small, you could see one of the people reading their "fed" question off the cue card in their hand.  If you read the book, you don't need the videos, it's the same information.  

  

It's Not What You Think:  

Why Christianity is About So Much More Than Going to Heaven When You Die

I started this book the very day I finished Renegade Gospel.  My initial inclination was not to read it, as I'm not a huge fan of Jefferson Bethke.  But since it came in October's faithbox, it didn't cost me anything extra.  Mr. Bethke's daily devotional that came in the faithbox was pretty good.  So... why not.  I picked it up and began to read.  

faithbox  is a monthly subscription of "stuff" that comes in a box.  If you like getting stuff in the mail, and like surprises... then faithbox is for you!

Ok... back to the book.  It's Not What You Think... starts out great.  I'm thinking to myself at the beginning that this book should have had the title Renegade Gospel.  Because out of the box it's great.  Then in the first 2-4 chapters, we have a roller coaster, that was impossible to follow.  I was so confused by these few chapters that I almost put the book down, and I just don't do that.  Then, I'm not sure, if Mr. Bethke finds his rhythm or if I figure out how to follow, but it turns out to be a really good book.  

Jefferson Bethke gives us his personal take on love, our bodies, neighbors, the future, rest (sabbath), worship, the kingdom, our brokenness and communion.  I found his thoughts very insightful and right on track!!!  Along the way, he opens up to us, and really lets us see who he is, where he came from, where he's going.  A lot of people have a truly hard time doing this.   

Jefferson your book was amazing and I would recommend it to anyone that asked!

One quote that I just have to share:  "One way I heard a pastor say it that helps me, is that the Bible is descriptive not prescriptive.  It's mainly about how God relates to a broken and rebellious human race, and in the midst of that narrative he gives some precepts and ways to live."

Random Little Tidbits 11-7-2015

"Life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it" ~ Charles Swindoll

TidBit 1:  Is a post I made on FaceBook on 11-6-2015

When you disagree with something I believe, that does not automatically make me wrong. What you should do is try to see why I think what I do. Maybe there's an adjustment in thinking that should be made. But it could be its needed in your thinking and how will you know if you just automatically think I'm wrong.

TidBit 2:  Get Healthy... for you and your loved ones. 

I've been overweight a good portion of my life.  I am miserable.  I somehow managed to lose a lot of weight when I was having my babies, but then about two years ago, I quit smoking.  And no matter what you think you're not doing, the weight went back on.  

I was miserable, sick all the time, no energy, lots of naps, depressed, didn't want to go anywhere, just MISERABLE...

And now, I have a hernia... Doctor's don't want to fix it, cause they know it won't heal right.  I've had it since my appendectomy.  Which healed wrong.  Doctor's say; "it would be better for you to lose the weight before we fix it".  As if I haven't tried...  I've been going to the gym for over a year now, I wind up not feeling any better, and miss a few days.  I get hurt, and miss a few days.  Talked my husband into going with me, and actually GAINED weight... and he was working me so hard it's not funny.  So, I ask the Doctor, "how... how do I lose weight... I've tried everything I know, and a dozen others... and my husband verified this...  and the Doctor seriously... looked me straight in the face and said "well science would beg to differ"...  I understand science...  I understand the concept of calories eaten versus calories burned...  THAT didn't work for me!!!!  "well what about liquid calories?"...  Hahahaha....  "I didn't think that water had any calories in it?" I say to him, before I get up and walk out.  WHAT an "asshole"...

Needless to say, I have a new doctor now...  He says "six weeks, you try to loose weight, if you loose weight we will wait six more weeks and look at it, if you're are not losing weight, six more weeks, and we fix your hernia regardless"

OKAY!!!!   SIX weeks later, I have lost 21 lbs.  

Here's how:

1.  I got me a nutritionist that put me on a plan.  She is a friend so she didn't charge me anything.  Talked to me about "target heart rate"....  Apparently I'd been working out too hard.   She put me on an exercise plan.  On a diet plan that did not work for me, but I did take from her plan, that I should not eat a lot of "grain" in the evenings.  I can eat grain, but not for dinner.  And she gave me a low expected loss rate of two pounds per week. 

2.  Then I come across The Daniel Plan, a book by Rick Warren, Daniel Amen, and Mark Hyman.  I read this book.  And loved it.  I have not implemented the 40 day Challenge yet.  But I have incorporated their 5 areas into my life.  I eat whole and natural foods any and every opportunity I have.  I eat a LOT more fruits and vegetables.   And (BIG AND) have eliminated almost all intake of sugar.

3.  I work out, at least one time per day, 4-5 days a week, at the gym.  Supposed to be 5, yes I know, but sometimes life happens.  10 min walk, 10 min bike, 10 min walk and 10 min bike.  THAT's it, so far.  And these are at rates that stay within 2 bpm of my target heart rate.  WHICH means you need a machine that measures bpm... or a fitbit...

4.  Praying God's Words by Beth Moore, I take this to the gym with me, and read the Overcoming Food Strongholds section while I am working out.  That's chapter 8.  

5.  I take Beta Plus, which contains enzymes that replace the function of my gall bladder, as well as the multi-vitamin Alive for Women, in addition to Fish Oil for the Omega 3's.  

6.  I read the Bible, every single day.  Even if it's just a reading plan, that talks about the Bible and then gives you just one verse to read.  I still do it EVERY day.  I have kids, and am not a morning person, so a "routine" hasn't happened yet, but I'm working on it. 

I wrote these down, not in order of importance, but in the order in which I implemented them in my routine.  Above everything else, God is the one that is helping me lose the weight.  It's for His glory that He is performing this miracle in my body.  Praise be to the Father!

I shared with you what I do, that does not mean it will work for you, but it is working for me.  There are many many many diets and exercise programs out there.  This is because none of us are alike, but we all want to share what we have found out.  I won't lie and tell you I don't have a long hard road ahead, losing the first 15% of what I need to was hard, but I feel tons better not carrying that weight around.  I have more energy.  I can't wait for the other 85% to go, and anticipate the greatness in the Lord that I will feel when that happens.  I would recommend to each and everyone struggling with weight... Ask God to help you, Ask Him to show you the plan, parts of plans, or many plans that you need to succeed in this.  AND thank HIM in advance!!!!  He will come through for you. 

   

TidBit 3:  Saved Memes

I have to admit that C.S. Lewis is rapidly becoming my favorite author.  I meet with a friend on Tuesday evenings, in sort of a "book club", in so much as a club can consist of two people.  And although I had read Screwtape Letters before, we are reading it for this months book selection.  And I'm loving every second of it.  

Tipi, has gone so far as to tell me that Lewis's Lion, Witch and Wardrobe series is all about Christ.  So now, I'm on a hunt for more information.  That possible connection had never occurred to me.  I will keep you informed... as always!


Shabbat Shalom!

God Loves Me (And You)!

God absolutely LOVES me (and you) and to Him be the glory when He shows it.  

Not sure if this is a testimonial or an answered prayer.  BUT definitely needs to be shared.  

A friend of mine, LuAnn and I, have been doing a Bible study together for almost a year.  It is called The Handbook for Christianity by Bill Bright.  If you don't think you are mature in the Word yet, this is a good starting place.  A couple months ago we were in step four, five, maybe six (of 10 steps) and the study said that you really need to have a good concordance, and a topical dictionary.  My friend, showed me the one she had, Ken Anderson's Where To Find It in the Bible: The Ultimate A to Z resource.  Fully illustrated and over 3700 contemporary topics. (pictured above) She purchased this book at Fred's, quite some time before this day.  

So, you know me, Amazon here I go.  I found and ordered the book, for $5...  what a deal.  LOL.  I eagerly await the arrival...

Notice it says "Little"... this book is all of 2" x 3", if that...  and note it says Hundreds of Contemporary Topics... (not over 3700). 

So back to Amazon I go, and yes I truly ordered the wrong one.  

Being more careful, I look again.  And there are no new books of the title listed at the top... but there are some used ones, ranged from $10-$18... Ok, I order the higher priced one, it said it was in better condition, so a few extra bucks is ok.  Again, I eagerly await the arrival...

This one, also says "Hundreds", brand new was only $5.99, and was no bigger than a normal sized paperback book.  I contacted the third party seller, went through a little bit of effort and frustration and over two weeks to get a refund.  

So, I say to myself, not really, just a small thought in my head, "God, if you want me to have this book, your going to need to find a different way to get it to me."  AND truly it was a small thought, not really a prayer, not really a request, just a statement, and I thought no more about it. 

Fast forward, ONE month.  On Tuesday this week, I have a thought, it's been a while since I've been to the book seller's place.  We have a used book store across from the train station in Van Buren, that I just love to go to, and spend hours in his basement, going through books.  Well it's been a few months since I've been there.  I check times and think to myself, I will go tomorrow after working out.  

And, truly I think nothing more of it.  The next day came, I got done at the gym, decided to go get my haircut, and colored, and forgot completely about the bookseller.  

Here, comes LuAnn, who had no intention of going to the bookseller on Wednesday, and had no clue about the issues I'd had trying to obtain a copy of the book like hers.  Says it just hit her that she needed to go to the bookseller that day.  And on a shelf with very very brown dull drab books, this very WHITE book sat in the middle, as if saying to her "Take this to Janice"  of course that's exactly what she did. 

SO, there are several points I want to make here!  

God loves you!

God will show off for you!

God wants you to bring him the little things, as well as the big things!  

When you don't do what He's put in your mind to do, He will find someone else to do it.

I can not begin to tell you how much I felt loved sitting in the pew on Wednesday night with that book in my hand.  Knowing without a doubt, God loves me.  Knowing without a doubt, that he will for me. 

You might think I'm crazy for going on and on about something as trivial as a book, but I'm not.  It's not about the book.  It's about the things that God does for us EVERY single day in our lives, most of the time we wouldn't see it.  Open your eyes, and see.  He will show you too!!!!!

Random Little Tidbits 10-26-2015

I have decided that I shall have a tidbit corner.  Little bits and pieces of stuff that I have accumulated from here or there.  There's always some good stuff I want to remember here and there.  And I think they should be shared.  

TidBit 1:  Is a post I made on FaceBook on 10-25-2015

Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

I have many times heard how this is a new commandment that Jesus gave us in the New Covenant. I would like to take a moment to address this falsity. The wording above from the NIV states that there is no commandment greater than these.

Today, most people feel that God of the Old Covenant was filled with justice, and punishment, hate, and anger. This is simply NOT true. God gave us the commandments (ALL of them, not just 10) as a guide to the redeemed on how to live.

One of those, was listed in Leviticus 19:34 "But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God."

That, folks, says the exact same thing. Your neighbor today is a stranger to you. The strangers in Leviticus time were the people from neighboring countries. In Leviticus, you had family, and strangers (neighbors). And you were to love both (ALL) the same.

So the 'love your neighbor as yourself' is not new... but IS one of the two greatest commandments, and proves that God in the Old Testament is more than Law, he is LOVE!!!!

TidBit 2:   Was found in Renegade Gospel by Mike Slaughter

Martin Luther King wrote the following, chillingly prophetic words from a Birmingham jail cell:

"If today's church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century.  Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust."

TidBit 3:  Saved Memes

The Sower's Creed

“Today I sow for a Great Awakening. 

Today, I stake everything on the promise of 

the Word of God. 

I depend entirely on the power of the 

Holy Spirit. 

I have the same mind in me that was in 

Christ Jesus.

Because Jesus is good news and 

Jesus is in me I am good news. 

Today, I will sow the extravagance of the

 Gospel everywhere I go and 

into everyone I meet. 

Today, I will love others as 

Jesus has loved me. 

Today, I will remember that the tiniest 

seeds become the tallest trees; 

that the seeds sown today 

become the shade of tomorrow; 

that the faith of right now 

becomes the future of the 

everlasting Kingdom. 

Today, I sow for a Great Awakening.”

I thought it poignant to share this, Pastor listed it in service this morning.  As I'm calling myself His gardner, it's fitting for me, and you!!!

J.D. Walt in “The Sower’s Creed” on the back cover of “Seedbed Sower’s Almanac” for the 

growing season of our Lord 2015-2016.  As listed on the website:  Generosity Monk

Eve ~ Wm. Paul Young

Eve by Wm. Paul Young

Now here comes another book by Wm. Paul Young.  His newest release, Eve.  This book is destined to be as controversial as The Shack (Also by Wm. Paul Young).   And I just have to say that I love reading stuff that is controversial.

From right out in chapter one, Eve makes you think.  The story, of course, is fiction.  Know this going in, it's FICTION!!! And it's full of scripture, folklore, and mythology.  Like I said, it's going to make you think.

A very unique witnessing of the creation story, with plot twists, and roller coasters, intrigue, deception, and love.  Darkness and Light come together in this tale, into a thing of beauty.

If you've ever heard the rumors of Adam's first wife... or wondered in Ezekial, what is the Lilith? Well this story gives you a new look at this.  It will make you go "hmmm"? "OH NO" and "Oh, I can't believe he's going there".   I absolutely loved how Young, took this Jewish folktale and wove it into something beautiful here.

There was a time or two, that I didn't like this book, and the direction it was taking.  But in the end it came back to where it was supposed to be.  I was in suspense through the whole book, worried towards the end if Young was going to wrap it up too fast like he did in The Shack.  But all in all the landing was smooth and perfect.

I would have to recommend that you find the back story on Lilith before you read this book.  Without the back story I would have thought Young was just reaching beyond what he should have.  I found a compilation of the whole Lilith story in Secrets from the Lost Bible by Hanson.

I absolutely loved this book, and the fact that it makes you think! So many things today, just don't make you think.  I love Young's ability to weave a tale that isn't inaccurate, but plausible, and yet know that it's all fiction.

Who is John? John the Apostle? John the Immerser? John of the Revelation?  Too many Johns to choose from.  Don't miss the answer, cause I absolutely did the first time through!

In the end, I must say, that I recommend this book highly! I loved reading it, and will read it many many many more times in my lifetime.  Thou I can not recommend it for anyone that is not firm in the Word of God and secure in their relationship with HIM.

War Room

If you have not watched this movie yet... WHAT are you waiting for?  This movie is said to have the potential to change a nation.  And I think whomever said that was right.  For this to happen though, people have to watch it...  LISTEN to it... Understand it... and Apply it!!!!

This is the best Christian film I've seen in a long long time.

Priscilla Shrirer, (you may know her form Armor of God, God is Able and many other Bible studies) does an excellent job in this movie, of portraying "OUR" struggles in day to day life.  "OUR" struggles in our marriages.  "OUR" struggles in our walk of Faith.

This movie had me in tears, mad at the world, laughing my butt off, and jumping for joy... the whole gambit of emotions... AND a practical application of how to walk in Jesus!

All of us have needed a Ms. Clara a time or two.  GO WATCH THIS MOVIE!!!!

I really could go on and on about the movie...  But I do have to say you should read the book too.  In the movie one of the characters is portrayed as a jerk, whereas in the book you see inside and realize they are confused and messed up too.

There's a 5 week Bible study too for those of you that would want to dive deeper into the message.