Featured Sponsor: The Gates of Hell

Note: Book Signing Announcement!  WaldenBooks in Lufkin Texas will be hosting a book signing event for “The Gates of Hell,” with author R.A. Perry, December 6th, 2008, from 1P.M. to 2 P.M..  Please Join Reverend Perry for this special event and invite a friend!  These books make great gifts. For more information, please visit raperry.com or email the author at perry.warren@sbcglobal.net

The Gates of Hell is a new novel that has just been released by an Apostolic Pastor. Reverend R.A. Perry has written multiple articles that have been printed around the world. The Gates of Hell is the first book in a trilogy. Reverend Perry is currently working on the second installment of the “Thy Kingdom Gone” trilogy.

The Gates of Hell is a spellbinding adventure/apocalyptic novel where two Jewish hero’s work hard to uncover the truth behind the strange disappearances. It begins immediately after the rapture of the church. Deric, a Jewish Archaeologist is briefly stranded in the tunnel beneath the wailing wall in Jerusalem. After he escapes the Stygian darkness he is met with violence and a vicious conspiracy.

Vicki, a beautiful Jewish woman has her Apostolic preacher husband ripped from her grip. Realizing that the most likely scenario is the catching away of the bride, she returns to Israel just in front of the conspirators, to restore her faith.

The story take these heroins across the globe, finally landing in Babylon and then Israel.

Two major sub-plots are that the Jews use the modern apostles writings and views of Christ to have their eyes opened. While the discovery of easy believism is the fuel behind the villains influence, the crew of hero’s discover the meta-physical properties of salvation.

You can order a copy of this new book by contacting the author directly at perry.warren@sbcglobal.net

The book can also be ordered online by clicking here.

Book Review: The Shack

We first wrote about this book a few months ago. You can read the original story here. Popular Apostolic author, JR Ensey, has now reviewed the book on his blog.

The Shack
By William P. Young

Strangely, the book at the top of the current best-selling Christian book list is a blasphemous allegory—The Shack. Young couches his low view of Scripture in a story that centers around an individual named Mack and his conversations with each member of the Trinity. The Shack is apparently where his daughter was killed. Upon going there, he encounters God the Father—a large and loving black woman who goes by the name of “Papa.” Jesus is portrayed as a Middle Eastern workman, and the Holy Ghost is an Asian girl. They all discuss a wide range of topics, all without acknowledging the authority of the Scriptures. The author observes that “nobody [wants] God in a box, just in a book, especially an expensive one bound in leather with gilt edges, or was that ‘guilt’ edges?” He subliminally promotes emerging church philosophies, all safely ensconced in the embrace of an allegory.

Does Young encourage us to create God in our own image? Make Him whatever we can imagine Him to be? If so, it seems that many have taken his cue. The book is not worth one’s time or money. My advice is to avoid it.

Book Review: Historical Drift

HISTORICAL DRIFT: Must my church die?
By Arnold L. Cook

All readers of this review are familiar with changing values and shifting paradigms. Cook tells us how to detect, diagnose and reverse the negative trends that are active in American Christianity, even in the Apostolic movement. If you are concerned about slippage on the basic issues of doctrine, faith and practice, then this book will be a godsend.

 

The author is not a prophet of doom and gloom. He fits in the category of one who sees a problem without being problem-oriented, who shakes himself and says, “Let’s adjust our thinking, get together and do something about this.” The key is leadership. One of his statements is profound and insightful: “Organizations don’t drift; only their leaders.”

 

Our hope is in finding and developing leaders for the future who can stand against the tide of cultural accommodation and continue to sincerely uphold the principles of truth and righteousness that identify the true Apostolic believer.

While the author is not Apostolic himself, the book was deemed important enough that the Texas District wisely made it required reading for all ordination candidates. Our church does not have to die. It does not have to walk the path of other religious organizations. But those are empty words unless we rise up and with one voice say, “Not on my watch! I am not ready to sacrifice this generation on the altar of cultural accommodation!”

Historical Drift is available from advanceministries.org at the discounted price of $18.95.

Guest Contribution
JR Ensey Blog 

Unique New Book Offers Real Stories of Those Changed by Abortion

Their stories draw you in, and their voices speak of familiar expectations, confusion, and grief. They are husbands and boyfriends, parents and grandparents, friends — and each has wrestled with the difficult decision to end a pregnancy. But ultimately, the real people who share their abortion experiences in Michaelene Fredenburg’s new book Changed: Making Sense of Your Own or a Loved One’s Abortion Experience offer readers the hope that comes with the kind of frank, compassionate, and open dialogue people should have about this most sensitive of topics.

Changed: Making Sense of Your Own or a Loved One’s Abortion Experience, is designed as a handbook for beginning healing. The first half of the book, titled “Voices”, features the true stories of those whose lives have been touched by abortion. For the men and women who have experienced abortion, the stories communicate that they are not alone. For those who haven’t had an abortion, these stories are an invitation to listen and empathize with experiences and emotions that are rarely talked about. The remainder of the book, “Healing Pathways”, is dedicated to equipping readers with therapeutic tools to begin to explore the range of emotions and reactions many feel after an abortion experience.

More than one out of every three women will have had an abortion by age 45. Partners, family members, and friends can also be affected by a loved one’s decision to abort. It is rare not to know someone who has been touched by abortion.

That realization compelled Michaelene to launch a unique nationwide outreach, Abortion Changes You(TM), that aims to help not only those who’ve had an abortion, but also those who love them. The outreach uses dynamic resources, including the book Changed (www.changedbook.com), an interactive Web site (www.AbortionChangesYou.com), various multimedia tools and resources (available at www.AbortionChangesYouResources.com), and connections to local counseling resources, including after abortion healing resources.

www.changedbook.com

Christian Newswire

New Book sent to UPCI Ministers

A new book entitled “Turning The World Upside Down” recently began to arrive in the mail boxes of ministers of the United Pentecostal Church International.  The 125 page book is a collaborative effort of ten leaders within the UPCI designed to share their insights about how to achieve the lofty goals of the Global Impact Initiative.

The General Superintendent of the UPCI, Rev. Kenneth Haney, is the predominant editor of this book. He not only chose the contributors and their subjects, he also wrote the opening chapter of the book.

Other contributors include: Robin Johnston, David Bernard, Jerry Jones, Jerry Dillon, Randy Keyes, Carlton Coon Sr, Bruce Howell, Paul Mooney, and Jack Cunningham.

New Book provides advice on building Worship Centers

When faced with constructing or renewing their worship space, congregations are often overwhelmed with choices and unsure of the best way to proceed. A new book published by Concordia University Press helps alleviate such concerns.

In Shaping Worship Space: How Christians Shelter and Adorn Their Liturgies, co-authors E.J. Potente and Dr. David Zersen offer theological discussions on the influences of Christian architecture, as well as practical advice for congregations that are planning to construct or renew their worship space. By examining the historical experiences of Christian people, the authors consider how and why Christian worship spaces have evolved and the relevance such influences have on today’s churches. Also serving as a worship space planning guide, the authors provide practical advice based on generations of experience. Each chapter concludes with thought-provoking study questions. In addition, a comprehensive strategic plan guides readers through the process of designing a beautiful, meaningful and functional place of worship.

Click here to read the article. 

 

2008 CT Book Awards

For two decades, the annual Christianity Today Book Awards have recognized outstanding volumes that shed light on people, events, and ideas that shape evangelical life, thought, and mission. This year, 49 publishers nominated 359 titles published in 2007. Christianity Today editors selected the top books in each category, and then panels of judges—one panel per category—voted. In the end, we chose 10 winners and also recognized 11 awards of merit.
 
An online link to the awards is available here.

New “Confidence in the Bible” Book

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIFORNIA (ANS) — A growing chasm between people’s faith and their lifestyle choices is the motivation of a new book intended to build confidence in the Bible.

“The disparity between what people say they believe and how they live has grown greater almost every year,” says Dr. Harold J. Sala, author, speaker, and radio commentator.

Dr. Sala’s new book, “Why You Can Have Confidence in the Bible” (Harvest House), combats cafeteria-style Christianity by methodically building a case for the uniqueness and authority of God’s Word.

Sala quotes researcher George Barna’s finding that 93 % of Americans own Bibles, yet less than half actually read it. While many hold a passing admiration and even reverence for the book, they never pick it up.

Click here to read the entire article about the book.

Click here to go to the “Confidence in the Bible” website to see excerpts from the book or to purchase the book.