The Bible Says

Kitale Kenya Missions Trip Update (4/29/2013)

Greetings in the love of Christ,

It is with deep sorrow in my heart that I must inform you that the missions trip to Kitale Kenya has been postponed indefinitely. One reason being that the two individuals who were going to accompany me have both decided not to go - and due to health reasons I can not travel that far alone. It is sad, but it is reality and I can accept reality for what it is. God's will be done. There is nothing more really to write other than as the esteemed CBS news anchor, Walter Cronkite, used to close his nightly news broadcasts with, "And that's the way it is" with the days date. Perhaps in the future the Lord will open the door again providing someone to go along with the financial resources necessary, but not now. Not yet. Thank you to all who have prayed concerning the trip. The LORD has answered your prayers. Just not in the way you or I might have wanted for now. But the answer from the Lord is ALWAYS the good and right one and in him and his will I am content.

Grace and peace to you.

In HIS grip,

Harold
John 3:30

Missions Trip To Kenya in September 2013 (Update 4/16/201)

Greetings to you my dear followers, friends and loyal and faithful supporters,

Our God being willing and all going well, I will be leading a missions trip and hopefully a team to Africa to lead a Pastors Conference in Kitale Kenya for pastors from Kitale and other parts of Kenya. The team and I will also be conducting night time crusades to preach the gospel to the lost!

Pray my friends and brethren and loyal followers. My heart is broken for the pastors and church leaders as well as for the lost in Kitale. The Lord himself told his disciples when teaching them, " The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few." (Matthew 9:37) May the Lord raise up laborers for his vineyard who are willing to be faithful to Him and His Holy calling and do as he commands and go where he leads! Kitale Missions Trip:

The plan is to depart from JFK on Wednesday September 4th and return on the 18th of September- As of right now only I am the only person who is committed to going. As I can not travel alone due to health reasons I must have at least one other person accompany me on the trip or I do not believe I can go. If you or someone you know is skilled in preaching, teaching or leading worship and would like to go on this missions trip to teach the pastors and church leaders in Kenya the Word of God and about worship - including music - reach out to me and let me know of your interest in going). All of us who go are responsible to secure our own funding for the trip unless otherwise arranged.

The team and I will be staying at Mid Africa Hotel in Kitale.

From September 9th to the 13th we will be leading a Bible teaching conference with pastors and church leaders from Kitale and other parts of Kenya Africa attending.

Saturday September 14th will be a day of prayer, worship, praise and sharing communion together: worshiping and praising God for who He is and for all he accomplished during the conference.

We will be conducting 1 or 2 evangelistic crusades to be held outdoors at night (Hundreds and potentially thousands of people will attend according to the church leaders)

For more information or to register for the conference contact me for the details , Harold Cameron, E Mail: haroldcameron@haroldcameron.org or by phone at (267) 357-1292.

Needs:

Prayer! PRAYER! And Prayer! Prayer is the most vital/essential thing I need for without prayer and the power of God being upon me and the team and with us I can not and will not accomplish anything. I desire and desperately need Intercessory Prayer Partners to pray for me that our awesome and amazing God will receive all the honor and glory as a result of making this trip to Africa.

For at least one other person to accompany me on the missions trip.

A music - worship leader to go with us would be awesome!

Bibles - The pastors and Bible teachers desperately need Bibles

Roundtrip airfare to and from JFK airport for me and whoever else will go.

A quality projector for the pastor who would like a good one to use during the conference and then keep for his own use after we leave.

After care and follow up - based on what the church leaders need which will be determined during the visit there.

Estimated Amount of Support Needed To Be Raised: $4,000 per person (All support raised will be used for the missions trip)

Plans for raising support: Join with our brothers and sisters in Kitale Kenyar praying and asking the Lord for an abundant and total provision for the trip. This we have already begun to do in faith.

I am available to speak in churches as the Lord opens doors and provides opportunities for sharing the burden and vision of the trip. I am seeking first and foremost from the church members prayer support and financial support only if they feel led to do so. But most importantly and primarily I will be going to share the vision and seek prayer partners to lift us up in prayer. I long for the accomplishment of what we have referred to as my burden for the trip and so much more.

I am not going to box God in regarding what HE wants to do while I am in Kenya. It is my hearts desire that at the end of each day and at the end of the trip that all I come in contact with would have seen Christ in me, heard His Word from me in all its truth and power, and be led in some way to follow the Lord whether more intimately and faithfully as one of his followers or to turn to him and follow him as their Lord and Savior. If all I meet and talk with do not see Jesus Christ as a result of our time together than I will have failed them and our Lord and His will for our lives).

Please pray that I will NOT fail them or our Lord as I minister to them. My going as a brother in Christ, united in Spirit and purpose with those who accompany me as well as the brothers and sisters in Kenya regarding this missions trip and that the total amount of support needed will be raised to go. I desire to not be a burden on any church or its members in regards to our support for this trip as I do fully trust God and believe in his mighty and miraculous provision for me to go. Praise the Lord!

To Donate: For those people who the Lord leads to donate and want to partner with me and assist with the expenses of the trip, all tax-deductible donations can be sent to the following church, which is also supporting me in the missions efforts. When you send a check or money order please write on it that the money is for the "Kenya Missons Trip" and it will be credited to that account.

The church information is as follows:

Faith Family Fellowship
6 Avenue G
Matamoras, PA 18336

I will keep you updated as to the developments concerning the Kenya Missions Trip as needed. If you wish to communicate with me directly about the missions trip please email me at haroldcameron@haroldcameron.org or call me at (267) 357-1292.

Itinerary and plans subject to change. Please check back for updates.

Help Please - Handle With Prayer!

My dear friends,

Due to most unfortunate circumstances in our lives, my sons' fiance, her 4 year old son and I are being forced to move from where we are living to another place by no later than April 3rd. My son's fiance and her 4 year old son has to move to wherever she is going. I am moving from where we live in Springbrook Township to Pittston PA. We are alone in all of this and have no one humanly to help us as what has happened to my beloved son Daniel (who has been a helper and friend to me in more ways than I can express these past years) is and will be unavailable to help. I personally have no vehicle, no boxes, and almost no money now...until the 3rd which is when I receive my disability check. I desperately need human help. The LORD is sustaining me through this incredibly horrible and tragic time but I am only holding on by a slim thread right now...and that thread my brothers and sisters is the "God" thread. Were it not for his supernatural and sustaining grace, love and mercy in light of what has happened I would not be able to cope. That is not a lie or exaggeration in any way. 

 

If you or anyone you know can help us in any way at all, we need all of the help we can get at this time. Most importantly we all need much prayer during this time of transition in our lives.

 

Thank you in advance for your consideration and response.

 

I am gratefully and humbly yours,

 

Harold 
John 3:30
Email: haroldcameron@haroldcameron.org
(267) 357-1292

I Don't Know But I Know Who Does - God

This week the proverbial walls of our lives as a family came crashing in around us, the foundation was shaken, the waters of chaos, pain and confusion rolled over us like the waves of a destructive emotional and physical tsunami. Were it not for the lavish love, the great grace and magnificent mercy of our Lord we would have all been utterly undone and unable to cope with what happened. And it only because of our God and through him I am holding it together right now. But our God is greater than any heartache we may face, any trial we may endure, any loss we may grieve. And HE is.  And yes, we do hurt, we do suffer and I grieve bitterly "watering my bed with tears day and night" and crying out to my God, Lord and Savior for help. But no matter how "spiritual" we may be we are still human are we not? We bleed if you cut us with a knife, we weep for the pain we feel when we lose someone or something we dearly love even if for a time or season, we battle the demons of doubut, guilt and shame as though they were our own personally to battle - taking possession of them and owning them...even when we need not do so. This is the most extremely hard and sometimes  difficult part of life we all do face.

So, for now and for the days and weeks that lie ahead I do not know what I will be doing, where I will be going or even staying from night to night...and living now after the 3rd. I think I know where I MIGHT BE living but I am not yet sure and do not know for a certainty.  I really don't. Yes, I may not be certain about such things in life but I know who does know amd HE is my hope.

And I am not alone in this struggle either. There are at least 4 other people who are walking through uncertain waters and uncharted terriory as we each sort through and come to terms with the most unfortunate chain of events that has happened. Unfortunately I can not share the particular details of what has happened at this time, but what I have shared is sufficient I hope for you to PRAY! PRAY AND PRAY! I desperately need the wisdom of God and self-control emotionally as this is a very emotionally charged situation and time and it is very easy for me "in the flesh" to go all over the place emotionally. But MY GOD is greater and HE is my deliverer and rock, my shield, my buckler and all I have need of.

If you write me and I do not rspond it may because I do not have access to my computer, however, I will respond back to you just as soon as I humanly can.  if you call me and receive my voice mail please leave me a message and I will return your call as quickly as possible. Again, what I ask of you the most is for prayer.

God bless you!

In HIS Grip,

Harold
John 3:30
Email: haroldcameron@haroldcameron.org
Cell: (267) 357-1292

Steubenville Ohio - A Terrible Tragedy And An Indicator Of Just How Far We Have Fallen As A People And Nation

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" Isaiah 5:20

I watched the 20/20 show last night on ABC about the rape of 16 year old "Jane Doe" in Steubenville Ohio by the 2 high school football "star" players and I experienced so many different emotions as a Christian and human being I can not even begin to share them all with you.

If you have followed the news or watched the show last night and heard what the one rapist, Ma'lik Richmond, aged 16 said when interviewed and also what the other students said and did the night of the rape as well as afterwards, you should have been absolutely and totally undone in repentance, brokenness and heartbreak before a HOLY God that such a thing could happen in our world today let alone in our country.

I feel we should have repented in "dust and ashes" before God, tearing our clothes in grief and absolute horror, beating on our breasts before God that with all of his blessings on our country, with more so called "Christian" churches in our country than any other country in the world as well as the preaching and teaching of the gospel via radio, TV and the Internet long before the Steubenville incident ever occurred, but even more so, that such an abominable and indescribable thing could ever happen in America. But it did. And a whole lot of other abominable and evil things have happened recently and are happening right now all across our country.

HELLO! IS ANYONE AT HOME? ARE ANY OF OUR SPIRITUAL LEADER'S AWAKE? DO OUR SPIRITUAL LEADERS IN AMERICA SEE WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY AND CARE ENOUGH TO RESPOND BIBLICALLY? Or are they just too busy right now advancing their own spiritual kingdoms writing numerous best selling books, appearing on late night TV talk shows as well as daytime TV talk and news shows, being featured on the cover of the leading magazines in our nation and seeking their own personal and family success, fame, prosperity and well-being while providing some "sermonettes for Christianettes" to make it appear they are doing something "Christian" and spiritual to justify their existence? You be the judge!

And it breaks my heart beyond words to express because I fear that an entire generation of young people in our country are lost...and may be forever lost...unless Christ's true church, his holy bride, his holy and glorious people REPENT, cry out to God for his great mercy, and start to live like REAL Christians. It is time to stop playing Church and Churchianity. It is time to REPENT and REPENT now lest even far worse befalls us as a nation. And unless we repent it surely will AND those who do not repent and follow Christ will ultimately perish for all eternity in their sin and because of their sin - FOREVER - in the Lake of Fire.  (Read Revelation Chapter 21 and 21:8).

Here is what disturbs me terribly about what I heard and saw in the interview:

• The absolute and utter wickedness and depravity of the teens involved and that NO ONE, NOT ONE, called the police from their cell phones but rather used their cell phones to take pictures and then post them on the Internet along with degrading and vile posts and tweets that no person should ever post about another person online - let alone teens.
• That pretty much all the teens involved saw nothing wrong with the rape. Why, you would think according to the words of some teens involved that what happened to the totally drunk young girl who was defenseless and incapable of defending or helping herself was even rape at all - (though anyone with any sense of moral decency and common sense would surely know) AND according to the law in Ohio it was. And in case you did not know this adults...teens getting drunk and having sex with one another- whether consensual or not - is now pretty "normal" for teens these days, at least according to one of the rapists interviewed. HUH? This is the "new normal" for our children and teens today?
• Where were the morally responsible parents and adults while the young girl was being raped by the star football players in their city? With so many TEENS involved, 3 different homes, and at least one or two adults knowing what was happening...why did no parents or adults not investigate what was going on and intervene? You do not want to know my opinion as to where I think the parents were that night, but I can pretty much tell you where there heads were - up and deeply planted in a very dark place that I would not want to stick my head.
• And then there is the issue of a possible attempt to cover the crime up by certain adults who did know something was terribly wrong...after all...they would not want to ruin the "careers' or "futures" of their star football players - and oh yeah I forgot, their "lives" as well, and the lives of their parents who probably were banking on their children's futures when they became star players for the NFL one day. Imagine all that money, fame, power, mansions, limo's, sex, and booze parties...what a terrible thing to lose I guess.

Enough! You get the point I am sure. So my question to the spiritual leaders in our country as well as to "Christians," parents and adults; in light of what happened in Steubenville and is happening all across our country, where do we go from here spiritually? Not politically or socially as people as we do not need political, social or moral reformation alone. Reformation won't and does not truly change the person inside. No, what is needed is a full-scale "transformation" of people as a result of Biblical evangelism and preaching and teaching from the pulpits in our churches all across America.

What are needed and needed NOW are real "walke-talkie Christians;" Christians who walk the walk and talk the talk of God, his Son Jesus Christ and the Word of God. Anyone want to raise their hand and respond to the call of God and repent, turn to God and His son Jesus Christ in faith and start living the "normal Christian Life?"

My hand is raised, my heart is broken and I am willing. And I am no one special or a "spiritual giant" or anything like that. I am just an ordinary sinful man God has saved by his grace and called to serve him and his son Jesus Christ and eternal life as well as to serve and minister to the needs of others. Nothing more and nothing less.

So what about it American "Christians?" Are you ready to start living as Christ lived and loving as he loved doing the will of your Heavenly Father from your heart? Praise God if you are! If you are I encourage you to "just do it" (From NIKE), and tell your pastor along with your brothers and sisters in Christ what you have decided and that you want to be a part of a Biblical Christian movement to impact the people living in America for Christ starting NOW! And RIGHT NOW!

You can share your decison, opinions or thoughts with me if you like at haroldcameron@haroldcameron.org. I look forward to hearing from you and will respond to you as promptly as I can.

My First Unmedicated Good Night's Sleep In Years - Praise God! Praise God!

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."  (Psalm 4:8).

"Proverbs 3:23 states "If you preserve sound judgment & discernment ...when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet."

Psalms 127:2 "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat, for he grants sleep to those he loves."

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trust in you."

For years I have experienced a profound and life alterning insomnia - ever since I developed the 2 brain tumors (a Meningioma and Acoustic Neuroma)- and have needed medication to help me sleep every night. I have not battled with any fears, safety concerns or anything like that which has kept me up at night. No, not at all for ever since I have been saved the LORD overall has given me His peace that passes all understanding and have wanted to sleep without having to take any sleep inducing addictive and life affecting medications (and yes, the medications for sleep do have side effects).

To be clear and honest with you there have been many nights I have battled with depression, anxiety and irrational thoughts because of the guilt and shame from the haunting memories of my wicked, sinful past and my health condition but I have ALWAYS cried out to the LORD concerning my struggles and thoughts and he has ALWAYS helped me by one means or another. He has NEVER, EVER failed me once. He has either helped me as a result of personal prayer, others praying for me, a brother in Christ calling me or my calling him for Biblical encouragement and prayer, as well as the medications I was taking at the time (which by the way I am now off 10 of them I was taking with God's and my doctor's help), or He helped me as a result of a combination of one or more of the things I did. Whatever it was that was troubling my mind and vexing my soul I was able to deal with one way or another and resolve thus leaving me to want to sleep but I just could not get to sleep and stay asleep.

Again, I have prayed, others have prayed and I have done just about eveything I could think of to try and help me sleep at night including the taking of supplements (Melatonin and 5-Htp). But to no avail. That is until last night!

Praise the LORD he has heard my prayers and the prayers of others and has done a new and marvelous thing in my life. He allowed me to sleep a full night last night without any medication. Do you know how aweosome that is? I weep for joy and gratitude to my Lord as I write this post for the joy of knowing that the LORD has heard our prayers and has answered with a sound and good night's sleep for me.

I am reminded once again just how absolutely wicked and unworthy I am in and of myself to receive such a blessing from God when I consider Him and all his grace, love, mercy and goodness toward me...but because of GOD, the LORD, and WHO HE IS and WHAT HE HAS DONE; God the Father sees me as his beloved child, loving me, and delighting in blessing with me with all good things through and because of Jesus Christ His Son and my Lord and Savior. Halleluiah! In a loud voice they were saying, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12)

And he desires to do the same for you my dear friends. And you are my friends. I love you! And I appreciate you all who have followed my journey these past years reading my blog posts, praying for me, encouraging and comforting me and most of all blessing me. I can not thank God or you enough BUT I DO THANK MY GOD and I DO THANK YOU for you and for what he has done.

Halleluiah! What a God and Savior we serve!

And so, how can I pray for you, minister to you or help you? Email me at haroldcameron@haroldcameron.org or call me at (267) 357-1292. It would be my great privilege to help you in any way that I possibly can.

My Very First Easter Story Sticker Book (My Thoughts About The Book)

"Here is a story and activity book containing a complete retelling of the Easter story presented in a simple manner for young children to grasp. The stickers are used first to complete the illustrations in the main story. Then there are extra activities on each page alongside the story--counting, naming, identifying--with stickers for each. All of the stickers are found in the center of the book where they are grouped and numbered according to activity to make it easy for young children to find the right sticker." (Kregel Publications Website)

About the Author: Lois Rock has established an international reputation as a children's writer. Specializing in Bible stories, prayer books, and information books, her books have been translated into over thirty languages with sales approaching four million copies.

About the Illustrator: Alex Ayliffe's characteristic paper collage illustrations won her the Sainsbury's Best Book for Babies award in 2000.

My thoughts about the book: Though My Very First Easter Story Sticker Book is a delightfully written and beautifully illustrated easy to read and understand story sticker book of the final days of Christ from the time of the Passover Feast to his crucifixion on the cross and resurrection from the dead, as I read the story in the book, I realized it is not totally accurate in what is written in it.

As nicely as the book is written and as beautifully as it is illustrated, I have to look seriously at the issue of the inaccuracy of the story as it is written in the book. It may seem like a small thing to many Christian parents who read the book and I suppose for some Christians it just might very well be; however, when we tell our children something and they believe us and what we have told them...if what we shared with them is not true when they learn of it then they question everything else that we have told them. Has the author really told our children "the Gospel" truth in her book? You be the judge.

My opinion based on the Gospel accounts is that there are glaring inaccuracies in the story. On the page where the story of Christ's crucifixion on the cross is written about it states that "in the evening, a few of Jesus friends came and took the body to a tomb. The stone door was rolled into place. The sky was getting dark. This must be the end, they wept." We read in the account found in Matthew 27:45-50 that Christ was still hanging on the cross "from the sixth hour until the ninth hour." It is written that "darkness came over all the land." About the ninth hour when Christ will still on the cross and it had been dark over all the land for three hours, he "cried out again in a loud voice" and then "gave up his spirit." (Matthew 27:50). According to the Scripture Christ died sometime "about" the ninth hour. No where does it state in the Gospel accounts that anyone wept. It was after his death Jesus body was then taken to the tomb. And on the next page, page 5 in the book, it is written "The next day, the friends simply wept." That is not recorded any place in the Gospel accounts either. Although we might assume this to be true, if we are going to teach our children the Word of God and concerning the life, death, burial and resurrection of Christ we need to be Biblically accurate in our telling of it.

Finally, in the Easter prayer on the last page of the book it is written, "In the Easter garden we know that God above brings us ALL to heaven through Jesus and his love." What the Word of actually God states is that God brings all to Heaven who "confess with your (their) mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your (their) heart that God raised him from the dead, you (they) will be saved." (Romans 10:9). And it is through salvation that we are granted the privilege and right to enter Heaven. Maybe the author means all who believe this Biblical truth shall go to Heaven but the poem is ambiguous at the least and possibly even deceptive at the worst if it is actually advocating a doctrine known as "Universalism," (a belief that ultimately that because God is love and is a good God everyone somehow gets to go to Heaven). As what is meant in the poem is not clearly stated every Christian parent who reads the book and poem with their child or children will have to decide and then share what they feel is Biblically right and important with their child or children in regards to what a person must do to go to Heaven when they die.

I believe that Christian parents should think very carefully before purchasing and sharing the My Very First Easter Story Sticker Book with their child or children, reading it with them or to them. However, if Christian parents do purchase this book they need to point out the errors in the book as well as explain just how someone gets to go to Heaven when they die so there will be no confusion in the mind of their child or children concerning this eternally important matter.

To learn more about the My Very First Easter Story Sticker Book visit the Kregel Publications website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Kregel Publications for the purpose of reviewing it. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

My email address is haroldcameron@haroldcameron.org.

Christian Dating Sites And Other Dating Websites - Please Be Wise And Careful

Someone I know personally and care about went on one of those "Christian" Dating sites to try and meet Christian men for friendship and possibly to date. Well, she met a man and all went very well for a time. He had a good Christian testimony to share, a picture of his handsome self and seemed to be good possibility for her to consider getting to know better. That is until she received a very peculiar email from him...

He supposedly was a business man who travels abroad frequently to purchase gold, silver and other precious metals (hundreds of thousands of dollars worth). So, he would have a good amount of money obviously to travel and to make his purchases. And wouldn't you know it he got to "AFRICA" (note the country as AFRICA is a country that seems to invent more scams than God has mountains and oceans) but I am getting a bit ahead of myself...he got to Africa to do his business and did not have enough money to finish his business and get back to the states. He asked this very low income wage earning Christian woman who is a dear and wonderful Christian to wire him a significant amount of money to his attorney in AFRICA so he could complete his business and return to the states.  After his arrival to the states he would meet her and they could go out on a date. And of course, he would pay her back the money he borrowed. When she asked me to help her with the transaction on line I prayed about it and told her "NO, the Holy Spirit would not allow me to help you" as this man was surely a scammer preying on her; an unsuspecting, innocent and vulnerable women. So she did not send him the money he asked but did send him an appropriate assertive email asking him as a "Christian" man how he could treat her so badly. After her email he  stopped writing her or having any further contact with her. And that hurt her. More than she let on to be sure; however it just hurt her to think someone would use "Christianity" to play with her emotions and break her heart.

This is absolute wickedness and is terrible beyond my words to express  because of the hurt she felt. But her experience made me wonder  how many other women he has scammed or is now scamming with his evil practices? And interestingly enough after this all happened her account was hacked. Hmmm. Wonder how they got the information to hack her account as she surely did not provide it to him.  Makes we wonder. If you go online and register with any dating websites or other such sites Please do not:

• Give anyone you do not know personally your personal or private information.
• EVER, NO NEVER, send anyone money who asks you to do so from those sites. They are a scammer and will rip you off and possibly steal your identity.
• Go on a date or travel to meet anyone that you connect with on such sites unless you go with someone you know such as another couple. Don't trust anyone because in the world of the Internet people can be whoever and whatever they want to be and not be at all who they are presenting themselves to be.

Remember these things..."if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," and "better safe than sorry" when dealing with people on the Internet you really do not know. Heed the words of Proverbs 27:12, "A prudent man (or woman) foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself (or herself); but the simple pass on, and are punished."

I hope what I have written helps you and keeps you from being scammed, from having your identity stolen or from being kidnapped, raped and, or worse even killed. If you have any questions or concerns about a website please email me at haroldcameron@haroldcameron.org.

Devote Yourself to the Public Reading of Scripture - (My Thoughts About This Book & Most Important Matter)

“The Transforming Power of the Well-Spoken Word”

"How would your church be transformed if reading Scripture was a highlight of your services? Increasing the quantity and quality of Scripture-reading in your communal worship is a powerful way to reach the hearts of your congregation.

Grounded in both solid theology and communication theory, Devote Yourself to the Public Reading of Scripture will teach readers how to present Scripture in a compelling way. The book's comprehensive approach includes everything from simple delivery skills to the history of public reading, how to build a culture that values public reading, group reading, and how to prepare yourself spiritually, mentally, and emotionally for public reading.

The included DVD offers instruction, demonstration of the concepts and sample readings by Dr. Arthurs.” (From the Kregel Publications Website)

About the Author: “Jeffrey D. Arthurs (PhD, Purdue University) is associate professor of preaching and communication and dean of the chapel at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, S. Hamilton, Mass. He is an active scholar, regularly presenting papers at conferences and writing articles for several leading periodicals.” (From the Kregel Publishers Website).

My thoughts about the book: The well-prepared for, intentional and prominent public reading of Scripture in our churches in America for far too many churches has become a thing of the past; it being remembered as being a part of “the good old days” or “glory days” of the church. Tragically, it is one of the many things that have changed in the church by process of elimination with dire spiritual consequences. We have replaced the edification, encouragement, reproofs and rebukes of the reading of God’s Word with entertaining music and well planned, timed and staged theatrical presentations that include a “sermonette for Christianettes” that entertains and delights the crowds and keeps them coming back in large numbers for more (but is not leading to the conviction of sin, convincing of righteousness and repentance that results in transformed lives) as only the public reading of the Word of God and Biblical preaching can and will do. Woe! Woe, to the churches in America that has grievously sinned against God and His holy people and has done this.

Dr. Arthurs does an outstanding job of addressing the issue of the absolute necessity and importance of public reading of Scripture in our churches in his book. In his book he informs us why we should do it from a solidly Biblical position (citing Scripture from both the Old and New Testaments as well as referring to both ancient church tradition and that of the Reformation Services and Puritan Services in America); and how we should do it even providing some “sample scripts” for us to read. The book also comes with a DVD with very helpful tutorials concerning the public reading of Scripture in church.

If you are concerned about the glory of God, the exalting of his Holy Word and the fact that our churches in America return to its Biblical roots functioning again as New Testament Christ honoring churches should, then you will want to read this book. Then hopefully as a result you will take a very important and necessary step toward achieving that goal – and that is the public reading of Scripture in your church (if that is not being done) as well as in all of our “Christian” churches across America. May God have mercy and help us to do His will in regards to this matter.

To learn more about the book, Devote Yourself to the Public Reading of Scripture by Jeffrey D. Arthurs visit the Kregel Publications Website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Kregel Publications for the purpose of reviewing it. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

To order a copy of Devote Yourself to the Public Reading of Scripture by Jeffrey D. Arthurs click on the following link:

My email address is HaroldCameron@HaroldCameron.Org

The Romance of Grace by Jim McNeely III (For Cross Focused Reviews)

“What if God sees us the way a man sees a woman he is infatuated with, and His main question is not how to make us moral but rather how to get us to fall in love with Him? In The Romance of Grace, Jim McNeely explores Bible passages that tell us what God really wants for us and what His love means. This is the love of a God who chose to give His life for ours, even carefully retaining His scars into the throne room of heaven and telling us in His very body, "I have gone to great lengths and great costs to say that I forsook all comforts for the love of you." Join Jim in his exploration of life in God's unconditional, redeeming, amazing grace..” (From Jim McNeely III Blog, www.thereforenow.com)

About the Author:
Jim McNeely III is a teaching pastor and elder at Dakota Creek Christian Center in Blaine, Washington, where he lives with his wife, Betty, and their four sons. Formerly president of New Century Data, with Clients such as Lockheed Martin and American Airlines, he now works as a programmer and database administrator in the health care industry.

My Thoughts About the Book:  If you are longing to dive into the ocean of God’s grace, no longer being content to merely stand on the shore and watch others enjoy their grace-washed lives, then the book The Romance of Grace by Jim McNeely will help surely bless and edify you. Yes, if you have grown sick and tired of your same old “Christian religion” and the legalistic keeping of religious disciplines, trying to always DO better and BE better, you need to read this book and then dive headlong into the pure and unending ocean of God’s grace and enjoy the romance of grace and your relationship with God. Author McNeeley in his book reveals just how you can do that in your life if you truly want to.

With numerous scripture references and golden nuggets of Biblical insight and truth pastor and author McNeely guides you carefully along the shoreline of the ocean of God’s grace encouraging that if you will only believe the Word of God as he shares it with you, allow Christ to live in you and through you experiencing as an undeserving recipient all of his grace and divine favor, at some point you will just throw off everything that has hindered you and jump all in too. And when you finally do I can absolutely assure you that you will LOVE it. The water is more than “fine” but you personally have to take the plunge before you can ever experience just how good and sweet grace really is. Another aspect of the book I like is that it allows you to interact with the insights of the book by considering and responding to a few questions at the end of each chapter.

So my friends, have you ever stopped to consider that your grace based relationship with God and his son Jesus Christ is like a “romance?” Have you felt or are you now feeling that you desperately want and need more in your relationship with Christ because the same old same old is just not working? Do you long to experience and enjoy more grace and be free of the bondage engendering law and law practices that keep you spiritually entangled and not enjoying the grace, freedom and abundant life that Christ so freely offers? Then buy The Romance of Grace and prayerfully and thoughtfully (with Bible and heart both open) read it, meditate on what you read and ask God to help you receive and apply the truth to your life. If you do I promise you, you will never feel or be the same again.

To learn more about the book, The Romance of Grace by Jim McNeely III, visit his blog. (www.thereforenow.com)

Material Disclosure: I received the book at no cost from the Cross Focused Reviews for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

To purchase a copy of The Romance of Grace by Jim McNeely III click on the link below


My email address is haroldcameron@haroldcameron.org.