The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life by Charles Stanley
I finished reading this book over the weekend. I have watched Dr. Stanley on television a few times, but I have never read any of his books. I was searching for a book on Spirit filled living and his came up in bookmooch. The book reads much the way he speaks.
The book gives a brief overview of what it means to live a Spirit filled life. It also provides some examples from Dr. Stanley’s life. Finally, it gives some details as to how to open yourself up to living the Spirit filled life.
This book was easy to read and understand. The book explains many of the scriptures that speak about Spirit filled living. It also uses stories and events from Dr. Stanley’s life to demonstrate the scripture meaning. There is also a chapter about Spiritual gifts.
The key is simply to recognize that all believers have the Holy Spirit living within them. Once you realize and understand and accept this, you will know what to look for and to listen for to be in obedience to the will of God.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking to initiate or to further their study of a Spirit filled life.
Up next:
Can God Bless America - by John MacArthur
December 31, 2007
December 21, 2007
New York, New York!
Our trip to New York was successful. We had a real nice time, it was a little cold and crowded, but it is after all New York at Christmas!
The street crossings are always fun. It is like when the quarterback says “hike” and each team plows into each other. If the Steelers can’t win this season, maybe they should practice crossing streets in New York for next season!
Cons – everywhere. Every street seems to have “vendors” wanting to sell you something. There was a lady on our bus who was looking at purses from one of these vendors. She asked the price and he said $250. She was quite shocked and then he changed the price to $125. She said she was thinking more like $25 and the deal was made. There was another street vendor selling movies. It was amazing, because she was selling movies on DVD that were not released on DVD yet, “Beowulf” for example.
There were also many “charities” setup on the streets collecting money for various things. Most of the charities I never heard of and simply looked like people with coffee cans collecting money!
Even the Salvation Army was in the New York spirit. They had several kettles set up in the touristy areas. They would announce they were having a “special” money marathon, saying they needed to collect $50 in 5 minutes. People would head over and start putting money in to meet the goal. Then when you walk down the street and around the corner you see another kettle person doing the same thing. This went on all day.
The people are fun too. There was always a long line for the women’s restroom. While at Rockefeller Plaza there was even a line for the men’s room. When we went to Bryant Park later that evening, one lady decided she wasn’t going to wait in line for the lady’s room and went into the men’s room where there was no line. The attendant wasn’t too happy about that and promptly removed her.
Finally, you can’t forget about the food vendors. Anything you want to eat can be purchased. If I didn’t have a 6-hour bus ride home, I would have probably tried something, but I didn’t want to chance it.
Overall, New York is an interesting city and is easy to get around (when there are no crowds). It also seemed relatively safe. Partly, I guess, because there were so many people around.
The street crossings are always fun. It is like when the quarterback says “hike” and each team plows into each other. If the Steelers can’t win this season, maybe they should practice crossing streets in New York for next season!
Cons – everywhere. Every street seems to have “vendors” wanting to sell you something. There was a lady on our bus who was looking at purses from one of these vendors. She asked the price and he said $250. She was quite shocked and then he changed the price to $125. She said she was thinking more like $25 and the deal was made. There was another street vendor selling movies. It was amazing, because she was selling movies on DVD that were not released on DVD yet, “Beowulf” for example.
There were also many “charities” setup on the streets collecting money for various things. Most of the charities I never heard of and simply looked like people with coffee cans collecting money!
Even the Salvation Army was in the New York spirit. They had several kettles set up in the touristy areas. They would announce they were having a “special” money marathon, saying they needed to collect $50 in 5 minutes. People would head over and start putting money in to meet the goal. Then when you walk down the street and around the corner you see another kettle person doing the same thing. This went on all day.
The people are fun too. There was always a long line for the women’s restroom. While at Rockefeller Plaza there was even a line for the men’s room. When we went to Bryant Park later that evening, one lady decided she wasn’t going to wait in line for the lady’s room and went into the men’s room where there was no line. The attendant wasn’t too happy about that and promptly removed her.
Finally, you can’t forget about the food vendors. Anything you want to eat can be purchased. If I didn’t have a 6-hour bus ride home, I would have probably tried something, but I didn’t want to chance it.
Overall, New York is an interesting city and is easy to get around (when there are no crowds). It also seemed relatively safe. Partly, I guess, because there were so many people around.
December 20, 2007
Busy Busy Busy
As many of my readers know, the month of December has been a busy month for me and I haven’t had much time to think here at Doe Valley, let alone actually post something to my blog.
Our accountant at work retired on December 3rd, so I have been filling in and keeping the “books” up to date. The new accountant is to start on December 27th, so that should take some of the workload off of me.
Stop back tomorrow for some thoughts on my recent trip to New York.
Our accountant at work retired on December 3rd, so I have been filling in and keeping the “books” up to date. The new accountant is to start on December 27th, so that should take some of the workload off of me.
Stop back tomorrow for some thoughts on my recent trip to New York.
December 14, 2007
Trouble at the North Pole
I received a troubling phone call from Santa Clause last night. He was very distressed over the things happening up there.
The government wants him to lose some weight. People want him to dye his hair so he doesn’t look so old. He isn't allowed to say "Ho, Ho, Ho" any more. And, of course, the lead paint toys from China aren’t helping matters.
But the biggest problem is with his elf’s. He couldn’t even describe it to me so he sent me this link of the video. Check it out for yourselves.
Bad Elf's
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1385975857
This is a large file and may take some time to load. (Adobe Flash Player is required to view the animation).
Enjoy
The government wants him to lose some weight. People want him to dye his hair so he doesn’t look so old. He isn't allowed to say "Ho, Ho, Ho" any more. And, of course, the lead paint toys from China aren’t helping matters.
But the biggest problem is with his elf’s. He couldn’t even describe it to me so he sent me this link of the video. Check it out for yourselves.
Bad Elf's
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1385975857
This is a large file and may take some time to load. (Adobe Flash Player is required to view the animation).
Enjoy
December 13, 2007
Will the next President be an average American?
Which of these Presidential candidates lives most like you (the average American)?
- Hillary Clinton – 5,152 sq ft house
- Mitt Romney – 6,430 sq ft
- Rudolph Giuliani – 7,272 sq ft house
- Fred Thompson – 6,952 sq ft house
Which of these Presidential candidates have a net worth similar to yours?
- John Edwards – $54.7 million
- John McCain - $40.4 million
- Mitt Romney - $202 million or maybe $250 million (he isn’t sure)
- Hillary Clinton - $34.9 million
Which of these Presidential candidates earned around the same amount as you in 2006?
- Hillary Clinton - $12.1 million
- Rudolph Giuliani - $17.0 million
- Mitt Romney - $37.6 million
- Fred Thompson - $9.4 million
One person not listed here (from the major contenders) is Barack Obama. His net worth is around $1.3 million and his 2006 income was $991,000. He purchased a home in 2006 for $1.65 million. Not exactly an average American, but closer to the average than the other choices.
*Source: Money Magazine January 2008.
December 10, 2007
Book Review
Follow Me by John MacArthur
This is a nice quick reading book (about 100 pages). This is a book for the “new” Christian or the “potential” Christian. The book is divided into 6 sections:
This is a nice quick reading book (about 100 pages). This is a book for the “new” Christian or the “potential” Christian. The book is divided into 6 sections:
- Who can be a disciple?
- Types of disciples
- Those who failed to follow
- The cost of following
- Promises to followers
- Reflections on following Christ.
The bulk of the book examines the types of disciples. Each type of disciple is described by a biblical character. The book briefly describes the personalities of people like, Peter, James, John, Mary, Simon and others to demonstrate how God uses different people to advance His kingdom.
One of the things that jumped out at me was the brief section on how to confront false teachers. Most people have had members of a cult knock on their door and want to tell you about their religion. MacArthur recommends to simply tell them you are not interested in hearing what they have to say and to let them know what Jesus said about people who teach false doctrines. You also should let them know that you would be happy to share the truth with them, but are not interested in their lies. (page 63).
Overall, I would recommend this book for the “new” or “potential” Christian.
December 03, 2007
The View
While I was away from the office over Thanksgiving, I had the “opportunity” to watch some TV shows around lunch time. One of which was “The View”.
What kind of view do you get on this show? Let’s take a look at the hosts:
Joy Behar – political leftist and other liberal opinions, bashes Catholics and men, and routinely calls people names, but when someone else calls her a name she is extremely offended.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck – she was not on the show due to maternity leave, she is the most conservative member of the group, she believes life has value and starts at conception. Several liberal people will not be a guest on the show if she is going to be there.
Barbara Walters – she has been around long enough that no comment is needed here.
Whoopi Goldberg – another liberal viewed host who doesn’t mind getting into arguments, especially with Hasselbeck.
Sherri Shepherd – she does not believe in evolution, but she isn’t sure if the world is flat. She seems loud and obnoxious; anytime there was food or alcohol on the show she acted like an animal.
Again the question is: what kind of view will you get? Mostly a liberal, leftist, pro-women position. Not the kind of view I am interested in and not the kind of view America needs.
What happened to the show’s theme of being a diverse group of women with a range of perspectives? I guess you only get the view the media wants to portray.
What kind of view do you get on this show? Let’s take a look at the hosts:
Joy Behar – political leftist and other liberal opinions, bashes Catholics and men, and routinely calls people names, but when someone else calls her a name she is extremely offended.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck – she was not on the show due to maternity leave, she is the most conservative member of the group, she believes life has value and starts at conception. Several liberal people will not be a guest on the show if she is going to be there.
Barbara Walters – she has been around long enough that no comment is needed here.
Whoopi Goldberg – another liberal viewed host who doesn’t mind getting into arguments, especially with Hasselbeck.
Sherri Shepherd – she does not believe in evolution, but she isn’t sure if the world is flat. She seems loud and obnoxious; anytime there was food or alcohol on the show she acted like an animal.
Again the question is: what kind of view will you get? Mostly a liberal, leftist, pro-women position. Not the kind of view I am interested in and not the kind of view America needs.
What happened to the show’s theme of being a diverse group of women with a range of perspectives? I guess you only get the view the media wants to portray.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)