Hey, don't feel bad, nobody told me either!

Well, this book was sure an eye-opener. "Nobody told me either!" is what I kept catching myself thinking as I read this  book. Oh sure I had most of the biology of sex and relationships down by late high school but the emotional and spiritual scars of fornication and adultery are still so shocking and sobering to hear.
This is a great book. This is a book I will have each of my own children read before they hit the "dating" years. This is a book that should be required reading in every middle school in the country. This is a book that every "dating" person of any age should read, reread and take on their date with them to be co-read by the couple. Sex outside of marriage is an extremely grievous condition to fall into. Pam lays out the truth in all its sad and gory detail in a modern, social networking format that is brilliant and will certainly keep the attention of any teenager. Using Facebook as the genre of writing is both brilliant and novel. Excellent job, Pam. I look forward to sharing this book's insights and inspirations toward godliness with as many who will listen.
A way I think the book could have been improved. Everything can be better, right? I wish Pam would explore and latch on to "courting" instead of "dating". Courting is a more Biblical, godly way to pursue marriage than dating which is quite worldly. Courting involves the whole family, commitments to all that Pam mentions in her book, but in the context of relationship for the sole purpose of marriage. She really needs to explore the purpose of her 'dating' advice at 16. I disagree wholeheartedly with that age.  I know she talks mostly to worldly people on school campuses who will continue to worldly date and "go steady" but standards are standards. Here is a better way. No "dating" or "courting" or whatever you want to call it until you can support a wife or are able and mature enough to be ready to marry. "Dating" is for spouse hunting not just something socially to do. Dating implies window shopping and try before you buy. Courting implies commitment with intention to marry. With that change of mindset everything changes with kids. I've rarely meet a teenager that is mature enough to be ready to marry and thus they should not be dating. This would improve this book greatly by adding a chapter on this topic: the better way. I know this sounds old fashioned and impossibly impractical in our modern age but I serve a God who is all that but provides the grace and strength to make all things possible.

You are a slave!

You are a slave! Many people in modern America don't like to think about slavery, much less being a slave. I mean the last slave in America was in the 1860s right? Wrong! Everyone you see today is still a slave, either a slave of sin or a slave of Christ.
Dr. MacArthur helps us unlock a word and certainly the divine, wonderful truth of the word in Greek, doulos, or slave. Lost in translation in all but a few translations over the centuries could this be a cover up for a conspiracy? Why would this word that is used at least 40 times in the Bible to describe Christians be translated on purpose as the word "servant" or "bondservant" instead of "slave"? Could it be theological? Political? Cultural? Could it be that Arminians and Pelagians, who hate the doctrines of grace supported by Calvinists, controlled Bible translating and didn't like the God centered, God controlling aspects of Christians described as slaves, deciding to use a more man-centric, man's 'free will' determined word like servant? This book clearly proves why 'slave' is the correct word and 'servant' is error.
What are the implications that the word Christian didn't mean "little Christ" like I was always taught but "Slaves of Christ"? The Bible paints this picture very clearly for us if we are willing to admit and believe that God has us as His slaves. Read this excellent book to find out how a simple little word can change your life.
The book is a great read especially with the thrill of a cover-up in the mix. Dr. MacArthur takes on the role of Sherlock Holmes as he discovers truth that has been hidden for a very long time. Anyone serious about a God-centric Gospel needs to read and understand the implications found in this study.

What is the Gospel? (And what it is NOT.)

I am pleased with this book. Simple to understand, great illustrations and a very clear, biblical presentation of the four essential points of the Gospel. I'll give you one hint: "God loves and has a wonderful plan for your life." is NOT one of the four and it NEVER was. I was deceived for almost 10 years with that one.
Gilbert breaks the Gospel down into the four key points of a proper, biblical Gospel presentation. These four points are: accountability, rebellion, solution and application. The points are clearly supported with scripture, which I really appreciate.
I was reminded once again as I read this book that God has two very distinct ways that He has dealt with man's rebellion against Him. Both involve death. Someone must die and be punished for each individual sinner is held accountable before God. Either Jesus Christ will die as a substitution for a sinner on the cross and then this applied when the person repents and trusts Christ or the sinner will die and face condemnation alone at the final judgment.
For a short book the Gospel was clear, the outline is helpful to remember and the scriptures are given as proper support. Faith and repentance are mentioned which is certainly not the norm in books about the Gospel. However, there is one area that I feel was left out. Actually a friend of mine who gave me the book to read helped me see this. I went back and scanned the book again to verify his complaint. How salvation is applied and the origin of faith and repentance are not clearly explained. God is the giver of salvation. But, what is most often overlooked in modern Gospel and witnessing presentations is that faith and repentance are also gifts from God and not within the sinner until God rebirths them upon regeneration. This order of salvation is critical and is the difference between a God exalting salvation where man is the total recipient of grace verses a semi man centered Gospel where God does a little bit by providing Jesus and man kicks in his personal faith to complete the transaction. The scriptures do not support the later.
I like the book but do have that one reservation.

Best Bible Highlighter

Originally submitted at AllBibles.com

My choice of Bible highlighter

By Steelsmitty from Brentwood, TN on 1/14/2011

5out of 5

Pros: Color Choices, No bleed through, Easy and quick, Bible page friendly
Best Uses: Devotions, Scripture memory, Sermons, Any highlighting needs

I've been consistently using the SAME Pentel Highlighter since the early 90s and it has NOT broken! Lead refills are easy to come by. This product has to be one of my favorite purchases I've ever made. It is in my top 5 products that I have ever owned for usefulness and longevity. You will never regret owning one.

(legalese)

A Wide margin Bible but print is too small

Originally submitted at AllBibles.com

Wide margin but small print

By Steelsmitty from Brentwood, TN on 1/14/2011

2out of 5

Pros: Wide margin for notes, Solidly Built, Excellent translation
Cons: Poor font size
Best Uses: Students, Devotional notes, Daily journal, Younger eyes, Sermon notes

An outstanding choice for sermon note taking or devotional notes.
The print is so small that only those with excellent vision will enjoy this bible.

(legalese)

Big Questions need Big Answers from the Bible

Impressive 13 lessons for ages 3 to 12

In Big Wave Discovery, Gospel Light creates a resource that interested me the moment I heard about the apologetics flavor it had. The 13 big questions really are questions that I've had kids ask me, and yes, even adults. Is God for real? Why do bad things happen? Is Jesus the only way to God? These questions really rattle the cage of our existence and the answers must be Biblical and they must be true.

As usual, Gospel Light takes a fun and yet solidly Biblical, bible centered and creative approach for your classes and lessons. The  included CD has the book's contents plus music and customizable files that make this resource significant, in other words, worth using and then easy to use. I think summer time midweek or even Sunday School could really benefit from this curriculum. Before you wear yourself out looking for those 4 or so lessons in between what you are teaching do yourself a favor and check this one out.

Big Books rescue big ministry problems

Big Book of message rescue

This book has rescued my on several occasions this AWANA TNT year already. Looking back I should have just picked 30 or so of the 52 available lessons on discipleship and had that as the basis of the teaching year. I love the simple format, the opening topic intro games or activities. The lesson content is solid and its indexed perfectly for quick finds by topic or scripture. These Big Books from Gospel Light are must haves for the leader's library but also the teacher's as well.