Author: Marius Sodonis
Follower of Jesus Christ, Professional Acrobat-in Training, and friend. I like to cook and I love to eat.
Corona virus and Christ
By John Piper
Piper offers the readers of his book exactly what they need to hear…not that Covid-19 will disappear tomorrow, but that there is a God who is greater than this pandemic, and that He is in control and wills good out of seemingly meaningless pain.
Piper writes a valuable book because he emphasizes God’s character. You will be remiss to find a page without reference to God and his nature and will find comparatively less mention about you or I. This is as it should be.
Piper is not blind to the present realities of our world. He acknowledges the storms, but reminds us that to walk above them – to stay on top of the water as Peter failed to do – we must keep our eyes on Christ.
Francis Chan on Dating and Marriage
It is easy to be overwhelmed when thinking about dating and marriage. Indeed, there are so many questions to ask. What is most important?
Francis Chan shares with us what the Scriptures say is the most important thing we should focus on when we are investing our lives in another person.
Why Does God Allow Evil?
If God is all-powerful, He can stop evil.
If God is all-good, wouldn’t He want to stop evil?
Evil exists.
Thus an all-powerful and all-good God must not exist.
This debate has existed for centuries. If we are honest, it is a really important one. If God really is not good, we need to know this.
So, is it true? Does the presence of evil in the world preclude the existence of the kind and loving God described in the Bible?
Dr. Sean Mcdowell answers this question in brief.
The Meaning of Marriage
by
Timothy Keller
Marriage is perhaps the most profound institution that exists. Even when compared to the government or the church, it is one of the most powerful and one of the most complex. It is also easily one of the most important. Indeed, without it, I would not be writing these words, and you would not be here.
It is clear that something is wrong with our culture’s perception of marriage. Since 1960, the divorce rate in America has almost doubled. Today it is around 50%. That means one out of every two marriages do not continue. Especially in light of Jesus’ words on marriage in Matthew 19 “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate,” it is okay to admit, something is seriously wrong.
This, however, is an uplifting book. Keller has not lost hope for marriage. He does describe and challenge many popular cultural views of marriage, but he is also intentional in helping us understand what the Bible says about what marriage is – its meaning and purpose – and what a healthy marriage might look like.
As Paul (and your parents) might point out, marriage is a mystery, but that does not mean that God has not offered us, in His Word, practical wisdom to navigate the complexities of commitment.
Born Again
by
Charles Colson
Born Again is the story of a man reaching the very top of the world, only to realize that there is nothing there.
Charles Colson documents the key moments of his life in this powerful autobiography, Born Again. He gives a closer look into his childhood, his rise to fame, and his time as Special Counsel to President Richard Nixon. In this book, you will get to read about the Watergate Scandal from the inside, from the eyes of Colson.
I sincerely wish that every young man or woman who wants to be successful – every young man or woman who wants to do something BIG with their life – will read this book. If that sounds like you, read this book and put yourself in his shoes. Colson walks his readers through the deepest parts of his life and explains his thoughts along the way. He shows you how to make mistakes – sometimes egregious ones – and still embrace forgiveness and grace at the foot of the Cross.
Don’t get me wrong; for most of his life, Colson scoffed at Christianity. A man of his caliber? He didn’t need God! That’s what he thought. Why did he change his mind? I’ll stop there. I once wrote and presented a speech for several audiences about this book. I wish I could have shared it with so many more. That is why I encourage you to read it. Colson has a powerful story. I hope it encourages you and gives you life, just like it did for me.
More Details:
Find out more about Charles Colson by checking out his ministry, “The Colson Center for Christian Worldview” at https://www.colsoncenter.org/
Learn more about Prison Fellowship ministries at https://www.prisonfellowship.org/
You can also check out their podcast: “Breakpoint” at https://www.breakpoint.org/
About Charles Colson
As special council to President Richard Nixon during his term, Charles (Chuck) Colson garnered a lot of fame. This was particularly true during the Watergate scandal when he was investigated along with the rest of Nixon’s staff for attempting to sabotage the reelection. He was criticized by the Wall Street Journal during the investigation as “Nixon’s Hatchet Man” and was eventually convicted and sentenced to time in prison for conspiring in the Watergate Scandal.
Full ride ROTC scholarship to Brown university, American attorney with a degree from George Washington University, Top of his class in the U.S. Military, and Special Counsel to the President of the United States. This is who Colson WAS.
Yet, even before he was convicted, Colson was changing. He had everything, and yet he admitted in his autobiography, Born Again, he felt like he had nothing. As he left the court after his sentence, he was recorded saying “I have committed my life to Jesus Christ and I can work for him in prison as well as out.”
Colson has since founded Prison Fellowship Ministries, the world’s largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners, crime victims, and their families.
Truly, it could be said that even when he was behind bars, he was more free than he had ever been.
12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You
by
Tony Reinke
The iPhone was first released in 2007. Four years later, 52 percent of American adults ages 18-29 owned a smartphone. Four years after that, in 2015, 86 percent owned a smartphone. Regardless of your opinion on these digital devices – whether they are good or bad overall – one thing is clear: they are everywhere. We ought to know how to use them well.
This is the topic of Reinke’s book, 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You. He does not argue that smartphones are inherently bad or that we should get rid of them. He even includes a bit by pastor John Piper who was overjoyed at how digital devices have been able to enhance his ministry. Reinke wants the readers of his book to know that phones are a tool. They can be used for good but also for ill.
While phones can increase productivity, some studies have linked increased screen time to a rise in anxiety, sleeplessness, and even depression. Our phones are not purely good. Their tremendous computing power and seemingly limitless functionality (There really is an app for everything) gives them persuasive power over our thoughts, our actions, and our time.
It is a powerful book, a bit startling, and sometimes convicting, but very important for understanding how to live wisely in an era that is dominated by the internet.
8 Great Smarts
by
Kathy Koch, PhD
“Smart is a power word. Everyone wants to be smart…if some children believe others are smart and they’re not, they can give up…This is also true of adults. Language is powerful. Words matter.”
In her book, 8 Great Smarts, Dr. Kathy Koch challenges the popular notion that some people are intelligent and others, unintelligent. Everyone is smart, she explains. The question, then, is not “if?” but “How are they smart?” or “How are we smart?” individuals who are thought of as unintelligent often simply haven’t been given the opportunity to explore their design. Without the ability to discover, nurture, and respond to different talents and experiences, they will not be able to fully develop into the individuals God has made them to be.
Character is just as important if not more so than the smarts. It is best developed alongside them. Any talent or ability can be used for good purposes or for ill ones. The Bible provides us with wisdom for discerning the difference. In this book, Dr. Koch helps us understand how both interact.
8 Great Smarts is both for parents who want to raise their children well and for teens and adults who want to grow in understanding how God has made them.
Nature or Nurture? The answer is a resounding “Yes!”