BiblicalInsights.net

      I just posted a new book review on my website.  The book is Beyond the Sunset by Perry Cotham.  Cotham does an excellent job treating the subject of eschatology.  In this book, he refutes: atheism, materialism, Darwinian evolution, Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses, premillennialism, Zionism, Catholicism, Calvinism, spiritism, soul-sleeping, reincarnation, annihilationism, and those who reject an intermediate state of the dead.  He affirms: theism, the dualistic nature of man (man is comprised of body and soul), life after death, the resurrection of the dead, the final Judgment of all people, the Second Coming of Christ, the immortality of the soul, eternal punishment and eternal life.  You will  want to read this review and then purchase the book!  Check under: Book Reviews.

     Bible reading connects us to God’s thoughts, wisdom and instruction in righteousness.  Here are some facts about Bible reading gleaned from an article that appeared in Christianity Today, Spring, 2009, pp. r-7, r-9.  According to a National Study of Christian Attitudes and Behavior conducted by Christianity Today International and Zondervan in 2006:
     –95 percent of all people who label themselves as Christians have a Bible in their home.
     –Those defined as “active Christians” have, on average, six Bibles in their homes.
     –67 percent of “active Christians” use the King James Version.
     –39 percent use the New International Version.
     –29 percent use the New King James Version.
     –29 Percent use the Living Bible (correspondents could check more than one option).
     –25 percent of “active Christians” have purchased a new Bible in the last 12 months.
     –57 percent of the respondents to this study claim to read the Bible.
     –63 percent of professing Christians claim to read the Bible.
     –98 percent of “active Christians” said they read the Bible.
     –18 percent of the total respondents who read their Bibles do so every day.
     –Another 19 percent read the Bible two or three times a week.
     –39 percent who claim to read the Bible do so once a month.
     –35 percent of “active Christians” who read their Bibles do so every day.
     How about you?  Our congregation conducts a Bible reading program every other year.  In 2010, we will have another Bible reading program.  Why not join us and read the Bible through in the New Year?  Here are some facts to motivate you.
     –The Bible is the only book that is inspired by God (II Tim. 3:16,17).
     –The Bible is the only book that contains the wisdom of God (I Cor. 2:12-16; Rom. 11:32-36).
     –The Bible is the only book that contains the truth about God and from God (John 17:17).
     –The Bible is the only book that can make you wise unto salvation (II Tim. 3:15).
     –The Bible is the only book that is eternal (I Pet. 1:21-25).
     95 percent of people professing to be Christians have a Bible but only 35 percent read it every day!  Become a daily Bible reader and discover what you have been missing.

     Allison Bottke has written a good book on setting boundaries with adult children.  The book deals with adult children who are not being responsible for their own lives.  She uses an acrostic to present her message:  S-A-N-I-T-Y.  Some of the main thoughts she presents are as follows:
     S-     STOP.  Stop your own negative behavior. 
              1.  Enabling behavior.
              2.  Ignoring your own personal problems.
              3.  Being alone in your pain.
              4.  The flow of money.
     A-     ASSEMBLE.  Assemble a support group.
              1.  Self-help support groups.
              2.  Professionally run support groups.
              3.  Online support groups.
              4.  Codependent support groups.
              5.  Six-step SANITY support groups.
     N-     NIP.  Nip excuses in the bud.
              1.  I’m just too tired.
              2.  But mom, things are different today.
              3.  You just don’t understand.
              4.  I’ll start Monday.
              5.  It’s not my fault.
     I-     IMPLEMENT.  Implement rules and boundaries.
              1.  We are responsible to each other and to ourselves.
              2.  Responsibility and accountability are important.
              3.  You reap what you sow. 
     T-     TRUST.  Trust your instincts.
              1.  Trust whenever your gut tells you something is wrong.
              2.  Trust whenever your spiritual perceptions are alerted.
              3.  Don’t fail to listen to your conscience.
     Y-     YIELD.  Yield everything to God.
               1.  God is in control.
               2.  God is present with us.
               3.  Trust God and His Word.  God has answers.
               4.  God is greater than any enemy who would destroy us.
   (see the book by Allison Bottke, Setting Boundaries With Your Adult Children).  The message of this book may help you manage irresponsible adult children in a scriptural manner.