roybauer

Book Review: Tea With Hezbollah by Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis

// February 1st, 2010 // No Comments » // Book Reviews

Tea With Hezbollah, by Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis, was a book (non-fiction)that stretched me to the limits. The authors set out on a journey to find the “Good Samaritan” talked about by Jesus, in His famous parable. They traveled through the Middle East interviewing Muslim leaders from Hezbollah, Hamas and others, asking hard questions about Jesus’ teachings concerning loving our enemies.

I’ve traveled through Israel and I’ve had conversations with Christians, Jews and Arabs, both living in Israel and Palestine, so this book was fascinating to me. I’ve walked places where Jesus walked and sat on the hillside where Jesus gave the famous “Sermon on the Mount.” His teachings concerning loving our neighbors as ourselves and loving our enemies was just as revolutionary then as it is now. But it is just as hard. Imagine, in Jesus’ time, Samaritans were looked at by the Jews much the same way Muslims are looked at by Christians today. Are we, as believers in Christ, capable of loving our enemies? Tea with Hezbollah posed that same question to the Muslim leaders, and the answers were eye opening.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who can read with their eyes opened. What I mean is that you have to be willing to learn what people are thinking, whether or not you agree with them. Just because you hear them out doesn’t mean you are condoning what they do.

–royb

Click here to buy this book at Random House.

In the honor of full disclosure, I was given a copy of this book by the Publisher, WaterBrook Multnomah, to read and review.

Summary:

Is it really possible to love one’s enemies?
That’s the question that sparked a fascinating and, at times, terrifying journey into the heart of the Middle East during the summer of 2008. It was a trip that began in Egypt, passed beneath the steel and glass high rises of Saudi Arabia, then wound through the bullet- pocked alleyways of Beirut and dusty streets of Damascus, before ending at the cradle of the world’s three major religions: Jerusalem.

Tea with Hezbollah combines nail-biting narrative with the texture of rich historical background, as readers join novelist Ted Dekker and his co-author and Middle East expert, Carl Medearis, on a hair-raising journey. They are with them in every rocky cab ride, late-night border crossing, and back-room conversation as they sit down one-on-one with some of the most notorious leaders of the Arab world. These candid discussions with leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, with muftis, sheikhs, and ayatollahs, with Osama bin Laden’s brothers, reveal these men to be real people with emotions, fears, and hopes of their own. Along the way, Dekker and Medearis discover surprising answers and even more surprising questions that they could not have anticipated—questions that lead straight to the heart of Middle Eastern conflict.
Through powerful narrative Tea With Hezbollah will draw the West into a completely fresh understanding of those we call our enemies and the teaching that dares us to love them. A must read for all who see the looming threat rising in the Middle East.

Author Bios:

Ted Dekker is the author of many nationally bestselling novels, including Bone Man’s Daughters, The Circle Trilogy, Thr3e, and House, which was coauthored by Frank Peretti. His unique style of storytelling has captured the attention of millions worldwide. Visit him at TedDekker.com.

Carl Medearis is the founder and president of International Initiatives, LLC, an organization that promotes cultural, educational, and commercial exchange between the East and the West. He is an advisor on Arab affairs to the members of the U.S. Congress and leaders in international business.

Book Review: Primal by Mark Batterson

// February 1st, 2010 // No Comments » // Book Reviews

I’ve read Mark Batterson’s other two books, and his newest book, Primal, is a masterpiece as well. Batterson has a remarkable way of communicating a deep truth in a way that we can all identify.

His passion is infectious and his insight is incredible. In Primal, Mark Batterson takes us on a journey back to the beginning of the Christian Faith:

Over the last two thousand years, Christianity has evolved in lots of ways. We’ve come out of the catacombs and built majestic cathedrals with all the bells and steeples. Theologians have given us creeds and canons. Churches have added pews and pulpits, hymnals and organs, committees and liturgies. And the IRS has given us 501(c)(3) status. And there is nothing inherently wrong with any of those things. But none of those things is primal. And almost like the Roman effect of building things on top of things, I wonder if the accumulated layers of Christian traditions and institutions have unintentionally obscured what lies beneath.

…When all of the superficialities are stripped away, what is
the primal essence of Christianity?

In the pages that follow, I want to descend that flight of stairs with you. I want
us to go underground. I want us to go back in time. Think of it as a quest for the
lost soul of Christianity. And by the time you reach the last page, I hope you will
have done more than rediscover Christianity in its most primal form. I hope you will
have gone back to the primal faith you once had. Or more accurately, the primal faith
that once had you.

Mark Batterson challenges us to get back to the roots of our faith. What is it that Christianity is all about? What do we really believe and why? What are we passionate about?

This book will absolutely challenge you to evaluate your faith, and will ultimately help facilitate a revolution in your life.

–royb

You can buy it here, at Amazon.com.

Book Review: Angels by Dr. David Jeremiah

// February 1st, 2010 // No Comments » // Book Reviews

What are angels? What is their role in God’s plan? Are they present? Do they appear? Do they give us personal insight about our work, our worship?

Many contemporary beliefs about angels are based on misconception and myth. Dr. David Jeremiah uses scripture to unveil the remarkable truth about these agents of heaven, and their role and work in our world—and lives.

More than 60,000 units of this powerful book have sold in two past editions. This repackage of the original 1996 paperback will surely capture the attention of readers of all ages who seek a broad and thorough survey of scripture that clearly separates fact from fiction as it relates to angels. The book will appeal to the thousands who follow Dr. Jeremiah’s books, and radio and TV broadcasts.

Relevant, little known biblical facts help readers sharpen their knowledge and sensitivities toward the spiritual reality of angels. Dr. Jeremiah’s enlightening findings are supported with illustrations and insights from Billy Graham, Corrie ten Boom, C.S. Lewis, and more.

Dr. David Jeremiah is senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in San Diego, and founder of Turning Point Radio and TV Ministries. His radio program is carried on over 2,500 stations worldwide, while the TV broadcast is received by 500 million homes via cable and satellite. The recipient of numerous awards for broadcast excellence, his books have garnered Gold Medallion awards and become bestsellers with The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and the New York Times. He is a sought-after conference speaker by organizations nationwide.

I have a copy of the book to give away. Leave a comment saying why you would like to read it and I’ll pick one to receive the book –Good Luck.

Click here to purchase this book at Random House.

royb

In honor of full disclosure, I received this book free from Random House to review.

PRIMAL by Mark Batterson

// December 16th, 2009 // No Comments » // Book Reviews, Uncategorized

I have received a copy of the book Primal, by Mark Batterson, and am in the process of reading it. If it is anything like his last two, In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day and Wild Goose Chase, I’ll have a lot to talk about. Give me a couple of more days to finish it and put my thoughts together then I’ll post the review and a link to Amazon so you can get your own copy.

royb

Book Review: Thirsty, by Tracey Bateman & Touched by a Vampire, by Beth Felker Jones

// December 16th, 2009 // No Comments » // Book Reviews

There’s no place like home, they say.
“Hello, I’m Nina Parker…and I’m an alcoholic.”
For Nina, it’s not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier–and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone–or something–igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.
Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates an unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?
As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina’s feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfold to its startling, unforgettable end.

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780307457158

EXAMINING TWILIGHT THROUGH A BIBLICAL LENS
People around the world are asking the same question, enraptured with Edward and Bella’s forbidden romance in the Twilight Saga, a four-book serial phenomenon written by Stephenie Meyer. The bestsellers tell the story of a regular girl’s relationship with a vampire who has chosen to follow his “good” side. But the Saga isn’t just another fantasy–it’s teaching girls about love, sex, and purpose. With 48 million copies in print and a succession of upcoming blockbuster films, now is the time to ask the important question: Can vampires teach us about God’s plan for love?
Touched by a Vampire is the first book to investigate the themes of the Twilight Saga from a Biblical perspective. Some Christian readers have praised moral principles illustrated in the story, such as premarital sexual abstinence, which align with Meyer’s Mormon beliefs. But ultimately, Beth Felker Jones examines whether the story’s redemptive qualities outshine its darkness.
Cautionary, thoughtful, and challenging, Touched by a Vampire is written for Twilight fans, parents, teachers, and pop culture enthusiasts. It includes an overview of the series for those unfamiliar with the storyline and a discussion guide for small groups.

You Can Buy it Here

Global Warming Proponents: Money-Hungry, Narcissists

// December 5th, 2009 // No Comments » // society in general

Have you been following the debacle that is Global Warming? In the late 70’s, scientists scared the world into believing we had Global Cooling, and since, we have been told by scientists and scam-artists liberals like Al Gore that we are ruining the earth and it is heating up.

Well, it appears that they –global warming scientists and liberals– are starting to be exposed for what they really are: money-hungry narcissists. This whole Global Warming ruse is nothing but a ploy to force taxes and carbon-emission credits (Cap-and-Trade) on the world, forcing them to fork out trillions of dollars to line the pockets of these scum scam-artists.

The sad part? The mainstream media (MSM) has yet to catch on and MSNBC just, as of the last couple days, started reporting on this falacy. CNN has yet to catch on and it seems they will fight to the bitter end to support the liberals and their lackeys.

Read for yourself. I’ve listed a few of the Climategate articles. There are none from CNN, ABC, CBS, or MSNBC, not because I didn’t look, but because there weren’t any.

Copenhagen will fail – and quite right too

UN panel promises to investigate leaked ‘climategate’ e-mails (This one cracks me up. You have a corrupt Entity investigating it’s own cash-cow. Yeah, that’s going to end up with something useful. But hey, at least they used the word ‘Climategate’ –giving it validity.)

Climategate: the final nail in the coffin of ‘Anthropogenic Global Warming’? (I had to look up the word Anthropogenic too.)

Why You Should Be Hot and Bothered About ‘Climate-gate’

Americans Skeptical of Science Behind Global Warming

After reading all of the above, take a look at Al Gore’s website. It will make you want to laugh, at the audacity, and puke at the same time.

AlGore.com

royb

Features of a Banana Republic

// December 4th, 2009 // No Comments » // society in general

Read these and tell me what current administration and country this reminds you of.

1. A collusion between the overweening state and certain favored monopolistic concerns, whereby the profits can be privatized and the debts socialized.
2. Devalued paper currency in the international community.
3. Kleptocracy– those in positions of influence use their time in office to maximize their own gains, always ensuring that any shortfall is made up by those unfortunates whose daily life involves earning money rather than making it.
4. There must be no principle of accountability within the government so that the political corruption by which the Banana Republic operates is left unchecked. The members of the national legislature will be (a) largely for sale and (b) consulted only for ceremonial and rubber-stamp purposes some time after all the truly important decisions have already been made elsewhere.
5. “a money class fleeces the banking system while the very trunk of the national tree is permitted to rot and crash”

This was taken from Wikipedia. You can find it by clicking here.

^royb

Book Review: Shadow Government by Grant R. Jeffrey

// October 26th, 2009 // No Comments » // Book Reviews

I don’t even know where to begin except to say, “Wow, I didn’t know that.” Shadow Government, by Grant R. Jeffrey, is a book that will have you calling all of your friends to let them know what you are reading. Also, you will call your spouse and tell them to make sure they are careful when emailing, calling, texting, or simply talking on the phone –because you never know who is listening.

Shadow Government takes you deep into the world of surveillance cameras, financial transactions and RFID chips hidden in the stuff you buy –so companies can track who bought it and what was bought. Sound like something out of a movie? That’s what I thought too, but boy was I naive.

Grant R. Jeffrey not only details –and I do mean details— how phones, security cameras and computers are used to track us, but what the implications are for the future. I can safely say I have altered how and what I say online since reading this book.

For example:

“Most people are not aware that a microscopic RFID chip hidden in an article of clothing, a book, or any other consumer product can enable the retailer, the product’s manufacturer, and even an intelligence or police agency to track the product and you, the purchaser. If you buy a product with an embedded RFID chip, you can be tracked from the store’s checkout counter, where your identity is recorded from your credit or debit card.” (page 37)

“At the time of this writing, more than one and a half billion RFID chips are inserted in products each year, and there is no legal requirement for companies to inform consumers that a product contains an embedded RFID chip.” (page 39)

This book needs to be read; not because it will scare anyone in thinking they are being watched 24/7 –which isn’t far from the truth some places on earth—but because understanding where technology is today will help all of us make smart choices about how we communicate and how we purchase goods and services.

Also, after reading this book, it will be easier to understand how the Anti-Christ can one day police an entire planet at one time. That got your attention didn’t it?

You can purchase this book at Random House by clicking here.

royb

Book Review: Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur

// October 26th, 2009 // 2 Comments » // Book Reviews

I’ve seen legalism in churches. I’ve seen people so caught up in the little, trivial things that they can’t see how it is affecting them and those around them. I know of a lady who wouldn’t sing worship songs because they were on the “wall” and not being read out of a hymnal. I’m not joking. What does this have to do with a book review? Everything.

The main character in Wisdom Hunter, by Randall Arthur, is a pastor who is very legalistic –and runs his church and family that way. And because of this, he finds himself alone, searching for answers –answers to questions he thought he’d figured out long ago.

Pastor Jason Faircloth sets out on a search for not only his lost family, but for his very soul. His travels, which span the globe, takes him to places most of us can only dream about. But through it all, Jason realizes that God has not only “not” forgotten him, but that his faith is being restored; a real faith, not one based on rules and regulations, but a faith based on the love of Christ and Him crucified.

I’ll have to admit, I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book. But about two-thirds of the way through, I was reading as fast as I could just so I could see how it ended –and I was not disappointed. The author does an excellent job of allowing us to see the inner thoughts and ramblings of a man who, in his late forties, has to start over, not only with his life but also with his faith. We are luckily let in on this roller coaster of a ride, both spiritually and emotionally.

I highly recommend this book for everyone. Whether you like drama, suspense, or love stories, this book is for you.

You Can Buy Wisdom Hunter Here (Random House)

royb

I Just Want To Go on the Record…

// September 24th, 2009 // No Comments » // society in general

I just want to go on the record…saying that obama and his administration will do their best to shut down the Conservative Movement. Beck, Rush, the Tea-Party movement, you will most likely see it being forced underground –either completely or to some degree, in the coming months.

They would have done it already if it weren’t for that freakin Constitution thing getting in the way. You know, 1st Amendment rights and all. However, Constitution or not, they will try to shut down the opposition any way possible.

And I contend, that if they force the Conservative Voices underground, the movement will explode –exponentially. Americans will not be forced to shut-up.

Obama, here is a clue: If you want to end the millions of angry voices, start doing what’s best for America, not the unions and not your power-hungry, liberal idealogs.

royb