Wednesday Book Reviews

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Deep in the HeartDeep in the Heart by Staci Stallings
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good Christian romance novel. Many of the characters experience the transformational power of Christ in their lives, which make the story an uplifting one. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars is that I thought it took too long for the protagonist/antagonist conflict to fully develop. The characters were believable and the story line was well written. If you know someone who is searching for something to fill the emptiness inside of them, toss ’em a copy of this book. You and they will find it a good read.

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Tough Faith: Trusting God in Troubled TimesTough Faith: Trusting God in Troubled Times by Janet Parshall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An excellent book that unapologetically deals the issues of our day. Moving past the nominal expression of so-called Christianity in our time, the authors give a compelling case for what true belief in Christ looks like. The manner in which they write is not abrasive and it is laid out in a manner that is easy to follow. I recommend this as a good read

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The 180 project

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Ta Ethne is in the process of developing our newest resource, tentatively named the 180 project. This resource will focus on the concept of repentance. Plans are being drawn up for a book, study guide and supplemental lessons. Also being developed is a seminar/conference on this concept as well. The premise for all of these resources is built on the biblical definition of repentance. Repentance is much more than feeling remorse or sorrow over an action. It is much more than just stopping sinful behaviors. It includes replacing those behaviors with godly actions. Simply to stop doing wrong is only a 90 degree change. Replacing, for example, foul language with edifying language is a 180 degree shift.
Pray for us to finish the current project on Jude and to begin work on this exciting new venture.

Weekly Photo Challenge — Change

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Why a picture of a diaper? Because my wife started a business manufacturing custom cloth diapers (www.damorydiapers.com) after a failed adoption. We thought we were adopting a little girl at birth, but a changed mind by the mom led to our disappointment. An even bigger change occurred when, 11 months later, we were contacted about adopting the same little girl — this time successfully. So change happened twice, a new business and a new daughter. Funny how life’s only constant is change.

Blue Alien Diaper

Wednesday Book Reviews

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Becoming the Bride of Christ: A Personal Journey Volume OneBecoming the Bride of Christ: A Personal Journey Volume One by Marilynn Dawson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Part of a multi-volume work, this is a well written personal account of the author’s spiritual journey. What is nice is how she has interwoven it with a study guide to help others on their journey as well. The understanding of what it means to be a part of Christ’s Bride is a welcome addition to the many books being written in Christianity today. It is hard to write a review of just one volume (which is why this is copied for each volume in the series) so this covers the work as a whole. It would be a good gift to give to anyone who has thought their life of service for God was over. It speaks to those of us who are surprised to find God still wanting and willing to use us despite our flaws and failures. The book magnifies God’s grace and power

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Out of the Shadows (Nick Barrett Mysteries, #1)Out of the Shadows by Sigmund Brouwer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The details in the setting were very well done; one felt like they were walking down the same streets, entering the same rooms as the character. The story line was compelling and hooked me from the very beginning. I liked the twists and turns – usually I figure out plot quickly in books of this genre, but this one had just enough to keep me off-balance and eagerly anticipating the next chapter.
A very good read, well worth your time

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Book Distributors Wanted

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Want to help Ta Ethne distribute resources? We are looking for partners to help us do just that. We can have our books drop shipped to your location for you to distribute. The program works like this – you order the amount of books desired from us at a discounted price, usually $5 USD per book. These books are delivered to you and you can distribute them to churches, individuals, retailers, etc.. We do allow you to re-sale the books as long as you do not charge more than $10 USD for them. The goal isn’t to turn a profit, but to distribute the resources. That said, a small amount of of earnings for your time and expense is allowable. All 5 of our books are available under this program, Is Jesus Enough?, both English and Chinese versions, A Heart Hungry to Worship,40 Days of Praise: A Hymn Devotional, and The Quest: Changing a Church’s DNA from missions-minded to missions-active
Contact us at taethne@outlook.com for more information on our distribution program.

Wednesday Book Reviews – 5-star Day

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These Are The GenerationsThese Are The Generations by Eric Foley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Simply amazing. The story is both warming and frightening, inspiring and challenging. To understand what the central characters are going through is impossible in the West unless one has traveled to countries that repress Christianity. I have and can vouch that stories like these are not uncommon. What is uncommon, is the magnitude of faith demonstrated. Pastor Foley is to be commended for relating this account as well as for his work on behalf of persecuted and forgotten Christians across the globe.

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Today's Gospel: Authentic or Synthetic?Today’s Gospel: Authentic or Synthetic? by Walter J. Chantry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It was startling to think that this was first written in 1970. It is so relevant and fresh that it could have been penned today. Although written as a book, it could have very well been a series of sermons. It is one of the best expositions of Mark chapter 10 that I have read. If you like David Platt’s Radical, you might be surprised to read this book and see the same things being said thirty years earlier. I heartily recommend this as a good read

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The Irresistibleness of Grace

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Many objections have been voiced to me over my belief of irresistible grace. As I listen to the objections, I now realize that there is a complete misunderstanding on the part of my readers who object. Their arguments seem to go along the lines of “so, you believe God will drag some people kicking and screaming into heaven?” What they fail to see is the foolishness of their understanding of grace.
Grace is given to those who do not deserve it, in fact it is given to those who deserve the opposite. The Bible describes mankind as spiritually dead, blind to His glory and light. When God brings salvation to a human soul they are enlightened and see God in His glory for the first time. Their natural response is to gravitate to His glorious light. They are drawn as irresistibly to it as a moth is drawn to a light or a dog to bacon.
It isn’t that they are trying to resist and failing against their will – it is that they are so attracted to the holy pureness and love of God that they run to Him in response to His bringing of new life.
Perhaps it is because of a faulty understanding of salvation that people get confused. Humans do not decide to become “saved”. They are dead, spiritually. Dead people cannot respond to anything. I worked for some years at a funeral home. I took care of many dead people. None of them responded to any stimulus. They showed no initiative. In fact, they just laid there, staring unblinkingly at nothing. That is how the Bible describes people spiritually. Unresponsive, uncaring, unfeeling people who cannot come to God for salvation. So God comes to them and gives them a new heart. He “quickens” or makes the soul come alive. As this new life is imparted, the soul sees its Creator and responds in faith to the One who has just resurrected it. We respond just as Lazarus did. Laying in the tomb, cold, unfeeling, dead, Lazarus heard His Lord call him to life and the response was instantaneous. This is irresistible grace. This is why Scripture says we are saved by grace, through faith — not by faith through grace. Grace come first.

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Ta Ethne is considering a relocation this summer to better serve Christian leaders. Since a majority of our efforts are focused overseas, it seems prudent to locate somewhere closer to an international airport than where we currently are in Montana. We are looking at the Mid-West or Southeast primarily. Another consideration is the desire to plant a church which has, as one of its core foundations, a mission-focus. By developing disciples with a Christian worldview and hands-on mission and ministry opportunities, we can better serve our brothers and sisters in the global Kingdom for many years to come. So many opportunities for us to help minister arrive weekly that we simply cannot meet them all without expanding.
Would you partner in prayer with us as we seek a new location to base Ta Ethne out of? Perhaps you know of an area that would be ideal or a group of people who are ready to commit to developing a deep relationship with believers overseas. Maybe you know of churches who would desire us to help teach and train their members and partner with us.
Keep us in prayer as we seek the new direction God would have us go in 2013 and thank you for being part of this exciting expansion of services!