"Questions Jesus Asks" Book Review

     Questions Jesus Asks: Where Divinity Meets Humanity by Israel Wayne is a great read for anyone looking to know more about what it means to be a Christian.  Israel has a relaxed style to his writing that makes it easy to read, yet he has a deep knowledge of the topics he is writing about and that is clear in this book.  There are 20 chapters to this book, each based on a question that Jesus asked in the Bible.  Did Jesus ask questions because he didn’t know the answers?  Well, Israel gives an in-depth discussion on that right at the introduction.

     Each chapter starts with a short, personal story that helps put what he is about to discuss in a modern perspective.    Though Jesus lived over 2,000 years ago, His words still apply to us today.  Often when we read the Bible we wonder how it relates to our 21^st Century lives.  That’s what this book does so well – relates the Bible and Jesus to us today. 

So many times I read a study on the Bible and it is just the author’s opinion about some Bible verses.  This book is NOT like that.  Israel takes the Bible verses, helps us to understand the historical context, and then provides multiple views of it supported by additional Bible verses, historical information, and the words of other great writers. 

Reading this book helped answer many questions I had.  I would have found this book interesting, and perhaps life-changing, even if I had read it when I was not a Christian.  It is not written in a holier-than-thou way, it is written in a simple and honest way that invites the reader to think more deeply about the questions being asked. 

Because of the clear way that Israel approaches these sometimes difficult subjects, I think this would make a great Bible study with your children.  Each chapter is short (most less than 10 pages) so you could read one chapter each morning with your children.  I imagine that these readings will often lead to deeper discussions. 

Subjects covered are: Christology, Virgin Birth, Family, Discipleship, Money, Healing, Counseling, Fear, Demonology, Servanthood, Government, Forgiveness, Apologetics, Lordship, Prayer, Suffering, Love, Persecution, Hell, and Resurrection.  

Israel did a great job of adding in the wisdom of so many others, and the many footnotes provide lots of ideas for additional reading on each subject.  I already have a list of other books I want to read based on these footnotes.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  This book was already on my list to purchase, and my review above is what I would have written however I came to own this book.  

Valentine's Day Art

We did it!  We made art for her daddy for Valentine's Day. It's messy, so far from perfect, but I'm learning to enjoy to imperfections of life. And we spent less than $10.

I used a canvas from Hobby Lobby that I got with a 40% off coupon and red washable tempura paint. Before we started I filled the kitchen sink with warm, soapy water so I could clean Gretchen up quickly.  We washed after her hand and each foot so she wouldn't touch anything with red paint. I'm happy to report that it worked perfectly and we got paint only on the canvas. The "L" and "E" I painted with my finger (couldn't find a paint brush!) and the writing at the top I did with a Stampin' Up marker I already had.

My wish for you today is that you find joy in the messiness of life, knowing that its what's in your heart that matters so much more than perfection.

Elephants Everywhere

Elephants are special to me.  They remind me that we find what we look for.

It started many years ago when I was shopping with a friend.  We took a break in an antiques shop and as we were sitting and chatting, we both began to notice all of the elephants in the room.  Not the figurative kind, though I am sure there were those too; but all the statues and jewelry and linens that had elephants.  As we looked around, one of us wondered aloud, "Have there always been so many elephants around?  Or am I just noticing them?"  Who knows, but once you start to notice them, you will see them EVERYWHERE!  And I do.  I see elephants as I am shopping, surfing the web, watching TV - once you begin to look for something you will see it everywhere you go.

And this is not just true of elephants.  This is true of most things.  Start looking for blessings and you will find them.  Look for bad things, you'll find those too.  The lesson for me, and I hope for you now too, is that if you will look for the good in life, you will find it.  Stop wasting your time looking for bad - people treating you poorly, misfortune, whatever you define as bad for you - and start looking for the good in life.  Because it's there, I promise.

I learned this lesson in the darkest part of my life and it pulled me out of that despair.  Even in the darkest times I have had since I learned this I have been able to find blessings.

My wish for you today is that you will start looking for the blessings in your life.