as i travel thru ThisPilgrimLand

Book Review: Eric Powell’s “Chimichanga”

Remember when comic books were written for kids?  Cartoons with no animation and printed on paper were a staple of the American life at one time.  Still, many adults in the U.S. may skip the business or arts and lifestyle portion of their newspaper, but they make sure to read the comics or “funny papers.”  I still have old clippings from the daily newspapers that my grandmother would clip and give to me if she thought it fit my life or taught me an important life lesson.

Then came what is known as the graphic novel.  Huge comic books, securely and neatly bound and packaged.  Big comic books that are thick and robust and tell an ever longer story than before made the graphic novels appealing.  They were a kid’s dream.  The problem now though is that if you go to graphic novel section of your local bookstore (yes, some bookstores still remain) as a parent, you are going to be hard pressed to find one of these glorified comic books that would be safe for a child to read.  That’s just a fact.  Many are filled with profanity, nudity, sex, violence, and enough blood to satisfy the most ravenous tick.

Now though, there is a new graphic novel from Eric Powell titled Chimichanga that a parent could feel comfortable sharing with a child who is over 10 or 11 years old.

Chimichanga, the title character, is a furry monster that LuLu, the little girl with a beard who is part of the local circus freak show happens upon.  The two become quick friends and form a very unique bond.  Chimichanga becomes a very unique and popular attraction for the circus and many financial woes are set to be solved with the help of Lulu and her new friend.

Tucked in this story is a very in depth social commentary regarding pharmaceutical companies and greed.  If one does not want their child to think critically about the science and economics of medicine in American culture, keep this book from them.  Powell expertly crafts the tale of exploitation and greed that has been told in numerous times in “adult” documentaries, but packages it in a very child friendly way.

If you are looking for a graphic novel that you would not be afraid for your child to find, Chimichanga would fit that description.

Chimichanga will be available for purchase August 31, 2011.  You can pre-order Chimichanga at the link below.

Book Review: Tracy Sumner’s “Kid’s Bible Handbook”

Nothing replaces the reading of scripture.  That goes for children and adults alike.  However, often we can supplement our study with many writings.  Some of these good and some bad.  For a child, Tracy M. Sumner’s upcoming book from Barbrour Publishing, Kid’s Bible Handbook would be an excellent resource for a parent of Christian teacher to add to a child’s scriptural studies.

With children between the ages of 8 and 12 particularly in mind, Sumner provides a resource that is not only bright in color, but also as bright in theological depth and glorification of God and His Son Jesus Christ.  Breaking down the scriptures book by book Sumner has penned a resource for children and adults both to be able to add to their depth of Biblical knowledge.

Sumner provides no opinion or doctrine in this book.  Rather, Sumner lays the facts surrounding the Bible out in a fast paced way that will grab a child’s attention.  The reader of this book is provided an important history of how the Bible came to be and is provided with a chronological recounting of all the different translations of this Holy Book.

The child who reads this book will walk away with an understanding of the importance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In Sumner’s discussion of the book of Romans, the reader finds:

“It seems like a pretty hopeless situation, but in chapter 3, Paul begins to explain why there is still hope. It’s almost as if Paul were saying, “Here’s the bad news, but stay with me while I tell you the Good News!” Sure, everyone sins and falls shorts of God’s standard (3:23), but God Himself has lovingly provided the way for people to overcome that sin and have peace with Him: “Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins” (3:24).  Paul wanted the Christians in Rome to understand that it wasn’t about being a better person or about making an effort to follow God’s rules. It’s not that it wasn’t a good idea to do those things, but they would never be enough to get a person into heaven. Salvation comes through one simple thing:  trusting in Jesus Christ, who died as a sacrifice for our sins.” (p. 105)

Sumner misses no chance to discuss the preeminence of Christ in the Bible and in the life of the Christian.  This book proclaims the good good news of Jesus Christ.  I cannot wait to hand this book over to my children.  I cannot give a better recommendation or approval for this book than that.

Sumner’s Kid’s Bible Handbook will be available September 1, 2011.  Do yourself and your children a favor and pre-order this book or grab a copy after it becomes available.

BOOK REVIEW: Margaret Wills’ “Pressing Into Thin Places”

Who is Margaret Wills and why should you care about her and her spiritual life?  That was the question I was left asking after I finishing her short collection of essays and poems entitled Pressing Into Thin Places: Encouraging the Heart Towards God.  Upon completing this read, I do not have the answer to that question still.

This reader’s interest was tweaked to read this book when I saw the title.  As I hear more and more commands to “press deeper” when listening to the communication coming from many charismatic circles, I hoped to find more about what this phrase means.  Instead, what was found was a discussion of spiritual, not necessarily always Christian, talk from a person who I know nothing about and who the book takes little time to introduce.

This book became laborious to read about half way through as there is no real structure to the book.  It can remind one of a fifth graders personal journal and perhaps the blame for this lies on the editors of the book and not the author.

I would not recommend this book.

Ignoble

Below is a video of a preacher from South Carolina named Perry Noble.  Much has been said among discernment minded individuals the past two or three weeks about this video.  Chris Roseborough of The Museum of Idolatry has even deemed this the “2011 Sheep-Beating Incident.” 

While it is shocking to hear a preacher, one posing as a shepherd and who should be caring for Christ’s flock, verbally abusing Christians in this manner, there is something even more shocking in this video as well.  I had heard the audio of this incident several times before, but it was not until I saw this video that a portion other than Noble telling people they “suck” jumped out at me.

At the 2:47 mark of this video (found below), Noble makes it clear that children under 12 years of age are not allowed in the worship service of his church.  Yes, you read that sentence correctly.  A child under 12 cannot attend the worship service at this church.  What kind of man-made law and blasphemy is this?

Is this a Christian church?  I think not.  Noble’s law stands in direct conflict with the very spirit of Christ and in His holy word we have seen this same incident be played out and smashed by our Holy Lord Jesus Christ.   It is in Matthew 19 where Christ is healing people and a group of children are brought to Christ for His touch and prayer.  Christ’s disciples attempt to prevent these children from “bothering” Christ.  Christ’s response is such: “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:14). 

While Noble denies the children from hearing his lessons based on the fact that they are, his words, “PG-13,” he stands in direct opposition of Jesus Christ and God’s Word.  However, based upon the false teaching I have heard being taught from Noble’s platform, it is possibly more than likely for the best that children are not allowed to be subjected to Noble’s philosophy. 

Perry Noble Tells Church Members: “You Officially Suck as a Human Being” If You Don’t Like the Music from FBCJax Watchdog on Vimeo.

For Such a Time as This

As each day of my life passes I find myself more and more in awe of the might, power, and wisdom of the Lord God.  He has set forth statutes and provisions in this world that fulfill His plans for His church and people in ways that, when acknowledged, make His glory shine brighter in the eyes of His children.  Despite the chaos, uncertainty, and fear-mongering in the world His followers reside, He gives us glimpses of His majesty through the confirmation of His Holy Word often.

For this believer, one such gift has been the understanding He has provided me in knowing and understanding that His church that He has established through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son will always be recognizable.  God’s Word, the Bible, is implicit regarding the leadership of His church and leaves room only for the fool to argue.  As I reflect on this manner, it is obvious that these guidelines were given to man by God for such a time just as this.

As New York state has recently legalized homosexual marriage and as last week’s news regarding the state of California beginning to teach school children lesbian/gay history in their textbooks, many believers have allowed panic to overtake them.  Perhaps this makes some sense.  For many this is evidence of the dissolve of some faux-utopian society that they have been led to believe the United States of America is.  A quick look back at the long history of this country though should tell us otherwise.  Since its onset, this country has been plagued by the common plague of all humanity.  This plague is sin.  For the faithful Christian, current events highlighting the sinfulness and self-servitude of man should come as no surprise.  In fact, God’s Word tells us it should be expected.

As has been an underground and mostly fringe theme, surely more self-proclaimed Christian churches will continue to follow the suit of culture and begin affirming more openly practicing homosexuals into roles of church leadership.  Just as the Catholic church has for centuries ignored the Bible’s instruction for shepherds through their law of celibacy, now the American Protestant church will begin ignoring God’s word with more frequency in this matter.  It’s already begun. 

Yet, for this Christian, I see this time, this tumultuous and uncertain time,

How does this glorify a holy and righteous God? Is God anywhere to be found in this image?

as a moment that God may be glorified above all.  There is no need to wage a culture war of protest and demonstration.  There is no need to curse or berate those who are openly and gladly sinful.  No, for the Christian, God’s glory should be shining more brightly than ever before in our eyes and His church filled with His children should be even easier to recognize for those seeking Christ’s body.

Truly God is great.  He has given us this time to be able to more adeptly and easily recognize His church that He established.  Yes, that church is recognizable in the gospel that is spoken from that church, but now, as compromise of God’s Word rules in many churches, we can more easily see if a group of people is indeed a part of the body of Christ.  What a gift He has given us.

This is not limited to homosexual leadership in churches.  This encompasses all the New Testament scripture that provides us instruction on how to make Christ’s church recognizable to those seeking His refuge and edification.  Surely God is great.  I pray that you too will see that this time of history, though scary and uncertain, is not a time for Christians to run and hide or to use God’s word to abuse and hurt others.  Rather, this is a time for us to see God’s Word fulfilling itself and sustaining the faith that you have. 

For such a time as this God has provided us His Holy Bible.  For such a time as this are we to see His glory being played out in the world around us and in our individual lives.  For such a time as this, Christ died for the sins of all mankind.

This Event is Supported By…. (we’d really rather not say)

As discussed on this website previously, the alarm bells have began to ring regarding the American Family Association and their yoking with the cult of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR).  This marriage is set to be consummated at Rick Perry’s “The Response” prayer rally in Houston, TX.  What has truly been strange about this event is the other union it has caused.  Both the world and the discerning of the Christian church have raised their rally flags in opposition against this event.  Stranger still is the fact that both sides against this event hold up the NAR and it’s spiritually corrupt friends, associates, and teachings in general as the primary reason that people should be concerned about this event.

While many have challenged scripturally and asked for responses from the American Family Association (AFA), the sponsor of this event, about their feelings about the teachings of the NAR, silence has ruled.  However, it seems as if in this instance silence speaks louder than words and action act as punctuation.

The the website for the event, a site where people must go to preregister for the event (link purposefully excluded here) has gone under a change as of yesterday.  Up until yesterday, a link boasting of the endorsers of this event was easily accessed and clicked.  On this part of the site you could read where NAR cohorts such as C. Peter Wagner, Mike Bickle, and Cindy Jacobs were willing to support the event(SEE IMAGE AT BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE FOR FULL LIST OF ENDORSERS).  That is until someone, most likely an individual inside AFA, removed the page.

An image from AFA's Facebook page

Why would a Christian organization known for its role in America’s “culture wars,” remove a list of names of those who endorse an event they sponsor?  Why would an organization that just as recently as this past Thursday applauded Rick Perry for standing up for “God” (see image) due to the heat he has taken about his alliances then turn around and do the opposite as what they deem Rick Perry’s heroic actions?  More than likely we may never know the answer but Christians everywhere can possibly hope that AFA is sending a message to the NAR at this time and distancing themselves.  Only time will tell.

Below is an image from their website promoting “The Response” showing who AFA has aligned with.

From the Spanish portion of the AFA promotion for "The Response." Image captured 7/16/11 after the endorsers page was removed from the English language portion of the promotion.

Satisfied (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

More is better. Greed is good. These are two thoughts that the world and the great Deceiver has been able to plant into the minds of mankind.  I look around myself and I find that I am surrounded by people who would run over, betray, or hurt me if it meant that they would be able to gain more riches or reputation in this world. 

I listen to the words coming from preachers and read the books coming from our spiritual publishers today and find time after time that many of the lessons and books written center around this theme of MORE.  More attendance, more tithing, more sermons on DVD, more PowerPoint themes, more intimacy with God, more sex with your spouse, more organization and government, more, more more is the theme.  When is more less though?

I can recall in my life when I thought that I wanted to have everything.  Granted that I continue to battle an affinity for technological breakthroughs, or as my wife calls them “toys,” I have found that in my life with Christ as my anchor that I am Read more »