Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 16

New Documentary Highlights Bravery in “Finding Noah” Quest

I was both delighted and honored to be able to participate in an early viewing of FINDING NOAH, a new documentary set to hit theaters for one night only on October 8, 2015. Readers should note that this is a Fathom Event, which means it will only be shown in select cinemas nationwide. You can go here to order tickets and find the nearest theater to your location: http://www.findingnoah.com/tickets.

Check out the #FindingNoah movie here. #FlyBy
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FINDING NOAH – About the Documentary
For over 2,000 years, man has been searching for the final resting place of Noah’s Ark.  Though there have been many attempts, few have been able to fully explore the one place specifically noted in the Bible: Mount Ararat.  Located in Eastern Turkey, Agri Dagh or “The Painful Mountain” is the tallest mountain in the region and lies in the very center of a centuries old, geo-politically unstable hot spot.  With constant threats of deadly rock slides, hidden crevasses, and glacial ice falls, the Kurdish Rebel held mountain poses great risk to any explorer, let alone those performing a thorough scientific investigation.  

Join director/producer Brent Baum and the FINDING NOAH film crew as they follow an expedition of intrepid explorers on a perilous trek up to Mt. Ararat’s desolate summit.  There, using state of the art technology and real-time satellite imagery, this team of archeologists, scientists and professional mountaineers will begin a grid work of exploration unlike any before, hoping to finally resolve the age-old question:  did Noah and his Ark actually exist?  

Shot in never-before filmed locations in the harshest of conditions, this unprecedented feature-length documentary shows just how far men are willing to go to discover the truth.  Narrated by Academy Award nominee Gary Sinise, FINDING NOAH is more than a quest for answers, it is a testament of the human spirit, where belief and the need for exploration transcend risk and limitation.

Genre: Documentary

Rating: NR

Runtime: 116 minutes

Release Date in Theaters (ONE NIGHT ONLY): October 8th

FINDING NOAH – My Review

After reviewing the documentary on Exodus earlier this year, it only seemed fitting to do the same with FINDING NOAH. Set on Mount Ararat, the Biblical location of Noah’s Ark, this documentary shows the extreme bravery and perseverance of a group of men determined to locate Noah’s Ark.

The only problem? At 17,000 feet in Turkey, Mount Ararat has a constant ice cap and a small window of time for explorers to make the harrowing, dangerous, and difficult trip to the top to locate the Ark. In addition, the location is prone to warring factions. This makes even receiving permission from the Turkish government to make the trek questionable.

Can you imagine not only the thrill of discovering Noah’s Ark, but also the impact it would have on our world? This question played over and over in my mind as I watched this fascinating film.

You’ll be inspired not only by the bravery of these men, but also the beautiful landscape and stirring sound score. I highly recommend this documentary for families and those particularly interested in Biblical archaeology. You can learn more about the documentary at http://www.findingnoah.com.

The post New Documentary Highlights Bravery in “Finding Noah” Quest appeared first on Cathy Bryant.

Spotlight: “Hollywood Worldviews” – Daring Way to Impact Lives

Totally absorbed by a fascinating presentation on Hollywood worldviews, I listened as the presenter used a few words to describe two very different movies. He then asked which of the two we would choose to watch based on the descriptions.

Just to show you how impactful this exercise was, let’s repeat it here. (This is based on my remembrance of the event, so the words I use may or may not line up exactly with the speaker’s actual presentation. But the gist of the exercise is the same.)

Movie A

Bad language

Sex

Violence

Movie B

Animated children’s movie

No bad language, sex or violence

So, which movie would you choose?

After this presentation, the speaker called for a show of hands between movie A and movie B. Since the audience was predominantly made up of Christians, the overwhelming majority chose movie B. No surprise, right?

What qualifications do you use to determine the movies you watch?
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Hollywood Worldviews in Movies

If you–like the majority of those listening in on this presentation that day–picked movie B, you would view the Walt Disney animated film Pocohontas. While at first glance, this movie seems like your average, run-of-the-mill children’s cartoon, it is actually a treatise of the New Age religion, which is based on Eastern mysticism.

Not only does the movie subtly try to impose its worldview on unsuspecting and defenseless children–which is unconscionable in my opinion–it also bears very little resemblance to the true historical story of Pocohontas.

If you picked movie A, you would view Schindler’s List, the true story of a man by the name of Oskar Schindler who saved more than 1,100 Jewish lives during the Holocaust. The film is a moving tribute to one person’s courage and faith in unarguably one of the darkest periods of human history.

If you picked movie B instead, not only would you have missed a triumph of a story, you would have also missed one of the most historically significant films of all time and a winner of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director (Steven Spielberg).

The point the speaker was making is this: rather than viewing films based on their rating, it is much more important to view films based on their message. (Now that being said, he obviously wasn’t advocating allowing children to consume films that aren’t age-appropriate.)

During the course of the presentation, the speaker recommended a book entitled Hollywood Worldviews: Watching Films with Wisdom and Discernment. I referenced this book in a previous post on the subtle messages behind Hollywood movies. I’ve since read the book and feel like it is one many of you might enjoy, not only for watching with discernment, but also as a means of using films as common ground with non-believers to sort out biblical truths from the enemy’s lies.

Consider carefully the message behind the movies you watch.
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Hollywood Worldviews – My Review

Honestly, when I read chapter one of the book (on sex, violence, and profanity), I found myself a little put off as the author discussed the sex, violence, and yes, even profane language in the Bible, as a way of delivering this message: We often use sex, violence, and profanity as the measuring stick for watching movies when the Bible contains the same.

The author does make a distinction between overly gratuitous use of these three. He certainly doesn’t suggest that we intentionally seek out movies with sex, violence, and profanity, but posits that in determining which films we watch, we should first look at the overall message of the movie. During the last chapter the author recognizes we each have tendencies that might prohibit us from watching certain movies–yet another point for discernment as shown in the quote below.

“As viewers, we must be sensitive to our own weaknesses and negative propensities. One person’s sense of exploitation may simply illustrate his own prudery, while another person’s tolerance may actually be her own indulgence in besetting sin. So we must be careful to draw personal lines that we will not cross, based upon what particular things affect us negatively when we are exposed to them in movies.” -Brian Godawa

Thankfully, since I had gone through the exercise at the start of this post, I recognized the tendency in myself to judge movies with wrong standards. I continued to read to get to the meat of this book, and I’m so glad I did.

With surgical-like precision, Brian Godawa guides readers through popular movies of our time, pointing out the truths and lies found in each. With obvious intellect, insight, wisdom, and discernment, he points out the skewed and deceptive worldviews which have become so prevalent in our society (largely because of the underlying messages of movies we watch without engaging our brains).

With each worldview addressed–existentialism, post-modernism, romanticism, monism, evolution, humanism, and neo-paganism–he lists movies that carry the message of that particular worldview. In addition, Brian Godawa talks about how Christianity, Christ, and faith are often portrayed in movies, with varying degrees of truth and accuracy.

What false notions have you picked up from the movies you watch?
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My absolute favorite part of the book happen at the end of each chapter. The author suggests a movie or movies to watch with others for the point of dissecting them to separate the truths from the lies. I can see this being a useful exercise for church life groups, for families with teens and young adults, and also as a means of sharing our faith with non-believers. He cites the example of the apostle Paul, who interacted with the thinkers/philosophers of his day to shine the truth of Christ into their thought processes.

I highly recommend this thought-provoking and practice-challenging book for all who want to engage our culture for the purpose of making an eternal impact in human lives.

“As Christians, we do not walk away from an unbeliever because he or she cusses or lives in open rebellion against God; we interact with that person in order to find common ground in our humanity and eventually offer redemption for sin. It is the same with the arts. Because all truth is ultimately God’s truth, we can find what we think is true in a movie and dissect what we think is false. Sometimes the false or the evil becomes too much, and we walk out of the theater or fast-forward the video. This is inevitable. But our goal should be to interact with society with a view toward reform, not to retreat from society, for retreat leads to spiritual and social defeat.” -Brian Godawa

“Hollywood Worldviews” by Brian Godawa – About the Book

Do you watch movies with your eyes open? You buy your tickets and concessions, and you walk into the theater. Celluloid images flash at twenty-four frames per second, and the hypnotic sequence of moving pictures coaxes you to suspend disbelief and be entertained by the implausible. Unfortunately, many often suspend their beliefs as well, succumbing to subtle lessons in how to behave, think and even perceive reality. Do you find yourself hoping that a sister will succeed in seducing her sibling’s husband, that a thief will get away with his crime, that a serial killer will escape judgment? Do you, too, laugh at the bumbling priest and seethe at the intolerant and abusive evangelist? Do you embrace worldviews that infect your faith and then wonder, after your head is clear, whether your faith can survive the infection? In this thoroughly revised and updated edition of his popular book, Brian Godawa guides you through the place of redemption in film, the tricks screenwriters use to communicate their messages, and the mental and spiritual discipline required for watching movies. Hollywood Worldviews helps you enter a dialogue with Hollywood that leads to a happier ending, one that keeps you aware of your culture and awake to your faith.

PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle |

Brian Godawa is the screenwriter for the award-winning feature film, To End All Wars, starring Kiefer Sutherland. It was awarded the Commander in Chief Medal of Service, Honor and Pride by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, won the first Heartland Film Festival by storm, and showcased the 2003 Cannes Film Festival Cinema for Peace.

Most recently, he wrote and directed the documentary Wall of Separation for PBS, Lines That Divide: The Great Stem Cell Debate for CBC Network, and School’s Out: Political Correctness Vs. Academic Freedom for Boulevard Pictures. He also adapted to film the bestselling supernatural novel The Visitation by best-selling author Frank Peretti for Ralph Winter (X-Men, Wolverine).

Mr. Godawa’s scripts have won multiple awards in such screenplay competitions as Carl Sautter, The Nicholl Fellowship, Austin Heart of Film, Fade-In, Worldfest, Writer’s Network, Chesterfield Writer’s Film Project, Columbus Discovery Awards and Reader’s Digest Screenplay Competition.

He gives lectures at high schools and colleges on screenwriting, as well as the art of watching and writing movies. He has had his articles on movies and philosophy published in magazines around the world, most recently winning First Place from the EPA for his article on the philosophy of The Matrix.

His popular book, Hollywood Worldviews: Watching Films with Wisdom and Discernment (InterVarsity Press) is used as a textbook in schools around the country. His book Word Pictures: Knowing God Through Story and Imagination (IVP) addresses the power of image and story in the pages of the Bible to transform the Christian life. His new novel series, the saga Chronicles of the Nephilim is an imaginative retelling of the primeval history of Genesis, the secret plan of the fallen Watchers, and the War of the Seed of the Serpent with the Seed of Eve.

His main website is www.godawa.com.

His novel website is www.ChroniclesoftheNephilim.com

Details on his books, articles and seminars can be found at www.hollywoodworldviews.com

Check out this #BookReview of “Hollywood Worldviews.”
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Chit-Chat Fodder: What movies have you watched that turned out to be different than you expected based on the overall theme/message of the movie? The one that comes to mind for me is Million Dollar Baby with Clint Eastwood and Hilary Swank. I enjoyed the story until the end when it became clear the film espoused euthanasia.

The post Spotlight: “Hollywood Worldviews” – Daring Way to Impact Lives appeared first on Cathy Bryant.

How Can We Know Jesus’ Claims Are True?

All across America, men and women who were raised in the church have recanted their faith in Christ.

I see it all around me–in the media, in our churches, in our families.

When it comes to defending our faith, it all comes down to this question: How can we know Jesus’ claims are true?

Please see the end of this post for a giveaway of Crossroads, the latest Miller’s Creek novel and story about how a soldier wages war for the soul of a prodigal.

Because of my concern for loved ones who have turned away from their faith, I’ve been on a quest for well over a year now to better be able to understand and articulate my faith in Christ as the Son of God and my Savior with whom I have a personal relationship.

Though my upbringing in the church did a great job of growing my faith and my walk with Christ, it did very little to prepare me for the crisis that now faces us. Maybe it’s because at the time, in my little back-roads Bible-belt town, it seemed preposterous that we’d ever see the day when we would be challenged and attacked for our faith.

I’ve already written posts on two of the books I’ve studied–Finding Truth by Nancy Pearcey and The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel–both books I highly recommend. But of all the books I’ve read on the topic of defending our faith so far, I must confess that I find The Case for Christ (also by Lee Strobel) to be the most compelling for those who question the historical accuracy, identity, life, death, resurrection, and deity of Christ.

This post is my overview and review of this book.

How Can We Know Jesus’ Claims Are True? About the Book

A SEASONED JOURNALIST CHASES DOWN THE BIGGEST STORY IN HISTORY – Is there credible evidence that Jesus of Nazareth really is the Son of God? Retracing his own spiritual journey from atheism to faith, Lee Strobel, former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune, cross-examines a dozen experts with doctorates who are specialists in the areas of old manuscripts, textual criticism, and biblical studies. Strobel challenges them with questions like: How reliable is the New Testament? Does evidence for Jesus exist outside the Bible? Is there any reason to believe the resurrection was an actual event? Strobel’s tough, point-blank questions make this bestselling book read like a captivating, fast-paced novel. But it is not fiction. It is a riveting quest for the truth about history s most compelling figure. What will your verdict be in The Case for Christ?

“Lee Strobel probes with bulldog-like tenacity the evidence for the truth of biblical Christianity.”  Bruce M. Metzger, PhD, Professor of New Testament, Emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary

The Case For Christ – My Overview and Review

Lee Strobel was an investigative reporter and legal editor for the Chicago Tribune, as well as an attorney. Outside of his profession, he was a skeptic and atheist, who launched into an investigation of Jesus. Here is the conclusion he reached in his investigation, as stated in The Case For Christ:

Frankly, I had wanted to believe that the deification of Jesus was the result of legendary development in which well-meaning but misguided people slowly turned a wise sage into the mythological Son of God. That seemed safe and reassuring; after all, a roving apocalyptic preacher from the first century could make no demands on me. But while I went into my investigative thinking that this legendary explanation was intuitively obvious, I emerged convinced it was totally without basis….In light of the convincing facts I had learned during my investigation, in the face of this overwhelming avalanche of evidence in the case for Christ, the great irony was this: it would require much more faith for me to maintain my atheism than to trust in Jesus of Nazareth!

Drawing on his legal and journalistic background, Mr. Strobel interviewed experts in order to answer the following questions for writing this book:

Can the biographies of Jesus be trusted? (The Eyewitness Evidence)
Do the biographies of Jesus stand up to scrutiny? (Testing the Eyewitness Evidence)
Were Jesus’ biographies reliably preserved for us? (The Documentary Evidence)
Is there credible evidence for Jesus outside his biographies? (The Corroborating Evidence)
Does archaeology confirm or contradict Jesus’ biographies? (The Scientific Evidence)
Is the Jesus of history the same as the Jesus of faith? (The Rebuttal Evidence)
Was Jesus really convinced that He was the Son of God? (The Identity Evidence)
Was Jesus crazy when He claimed to be the Son of God? (The Psychological Evidence)
Did Jesus fulfill the attributes of God? (The Profile Evidence)
Did Jesus–and Jesus alone–match the identity of the Messiah? (The Fingerprint Evidence)
Was Jesus’ death a sham and His resurrection a hoax? (The Medical Evidence)
Was Jesus’ body really absent from His tomb? (The Evidence of the Missing Body)
Was Jesus seen alive after His death on the cross? (The Evidence of Appearances)
Are there any supporting facts that point to the resurrection? (The Circumstantial Evidence)
What does the evidence establish–and what does it mean today? (The Verdict of History)

As you can tell by scanning these questions, the author thoroughly investigated every detail of Jesus’ life. During the interviews, he presented opposing views and tough questions, not leaving a stone unturned in his investigation.

I particularly enjoyed how Strobel began each chapter (and investigative question) with an actual modern-day case that related to the type of evidence he sought with each question. He also did a great job of listing the qualifications of each person interviewed during the course of the book.

My own faith in Christ has been bolstered by reading this book, and I intend to pass it along to someone who once professed belief in Christ, but has since changed their mind and life direction. I believe that this book contains many of the answers that younger generations seek in their own questions about Christ.

I highly recommend The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel both for seekers and current believers. For seekers it provides much-needed proof and answers. For believers, it gives both assurance and practical ways in which to answer those who challenge our faith. Read this book. You won’t be sorry.

GIVEAWAY – Crossroads

Since the topic of Crossroads (the latest Miller’s Creek novel) deals with defending and sharing our faith in Christ, I’m giving away three print copies of the book via an Amazon giveaway.

Christian Contemporary Texas Romance (4.8 stars on Amazon)

A bitter single mom denies God’s existence until… What will it take to bring her back around?

After a devastating divorce, a bitter single mom and atheist starts her own real estate company in the nostalgic and picturesque town of Miller’s Creek, Texas. Then her young daughter’s disturbing symptoms lead doctors to discover that her leukemia has relapsed. With her new life now turned upside down, Mara Hedwig struggles to keep her business afloat. And her daughter’s worsening condition forces her to rethink her beliefs about Carter Callahan and his God. Will Mara make the return to Christian faith in the face of life’s greatest challenge?

An ex-military operative struggles with the return to civilian life while coping with his rebellious teen-aged daughter. During a house-search, Carter meets Mara, a headstrong Realtor who wants nothing to do with his God. But when Mara’s little girl is diagnosed with leukemia, the clock begins ticking for him to convince Mara to return to a life of faith. Just as he seems to be making headway, circumstances beyond his control throw his efforts into a tailspin. Can Carter learn to rest in the sovereignty of God?

Enter the Amazon giveaway of CROSSROADS here.

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God’s Unfathomable Peace in the Midst of the Pieces

When a storm approaches you do all you can to prepare.

Then the maelstrom hits, sirens screeching, alarms clanging, gale-force winds, pounding rain, wave upon wave of sorrow, leaving in its wake a path of destruction in every direction. And you realize that all your preparations were worthless and of no use.

Once the storm blows past, you sit amidst the broken pieces of shattered lives and wonder how anything can possibly ever be the same.

God’s Unfathomable Peace

That is where I find myself at the writing of this post. Yet surprisingly, in spite of the storm, I am also overcome by a pervading peace–a peace I cannot explain or comprehend, a peace that can only come from the One who made me and knows me better than I know myself. (I also recognize and praise God for the hundreds of praying brothers and sisters lifting me to God’s throne of grace. What a blessing to be part of His family.)

And in this peace I can’t understand, my heart cries out for those who have rejected this peace, those who refuse it at their own peril. How I yearn for them to experience this same peace, to know the Giver of this gift of grace. How I pray the shards of broken lives, hopes, and dreams will lead to the Prince of Peace.

Only He can bring great good out of the most difficult of storms.

Even in the midst of the pieces.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. ~Isaiah 26:3

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ~John 14:27

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. ~Philippians 4:9

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ~Colossians 3:15

The LORD lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace. ~Numbers 6:26

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WARNING: This Inspiring True Story Will Take You “Captive”

Ever since writing Crossroads, my heart is naturally drawn to a story about sharing our faith. In addition, as I plan the seventh Miller’s Creek novel with a theme of freedom, the title of this book caught my attention.

Below you’ll find information about the book Captive (now a major motion picture from Paramount), my review, and a giveaway of the book.

#Giveaway CAPTIVE #FollowYourPurpose #FlyBy
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About the Book – Captive

Now a stirring movie from Paramount Pictures—starring Kate Mara (House of Cards and Fantastic Four) and David Oyelowo (Selma)—this inspirational, news-making life story of the young female hostage who in 2005 single-handedly talked the infamous Atlanta courthouse killer, Brian Nichols, into surrendering peacefully by gaining his confidence through her prayers and personal faith and by reading passages to him from the Christian blockbuster A Purpose Driven Life.

In March 2005, Ashley Smith made headlines around the globe when she miraculously talked her way out of the hands of alleged courthouse killer Brian Nichols after he took her hostage for seven hours in her suburban Atlanta apartment. In this moving, inspirational account, Ashley shares the details of her traumatic ordeal and expands on how her faith and the bestselling book The Purpose-Driven Life helped her survive and bring the killer’s murderous rampage to a peaceful end.

Like her captor, Smith too has faced darkness and despair. Seeking a new life, she moved to Atlanta, got a job, enrolled in a medical assistant training program, and was beginning to find her way to becoming the kind of mom she wanted her little girl to have. Then Brian Nichols took her hostage. Just hours earlier, he’d allegedly shot to death a judge, a court reporter, a deputy, and a federal agent and escaped in a stolen vehicle. Now she found herself face-to-face with Nichols, a desperate, heavily armed man with nothing left to lose.

Juxtaposing the minute-by-minute tale of her experience with the tragedies and triumphs of her own life, Captive is a riveting story that will leave no reader untouched.

My Review

Because of my hair-on-fire schedule, for me to finish a book requires that the book holds my attention. I can’t count how many books I start that I just can’t finish. Captive literally had me captivated from start to finish.

I think the fact that this book is based on a true story was part of the allure for me. The book was difficult to put down because I was so into the story of Ashley Smith, a widow and recovering drug addict trying to start fresh to win back custody of her daughter.

The book did a great job of putting the reader into Ashley’s shoes and mind as she is abducted by Brian Nichols, an escaped prisoner on the run from authorities. Readers are privy to this young mother’s thoughts and prayers as she attempts to make a personal connection with her captor, all for the purpose of saving her life.

If you enjoy an edge-of-your seat read with a great message, you will enjoy Captive.

Giveaway – Captive

This giveaway is for a paperback copy of Captive. Enter via the Rafflecopter below. A winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via e-mail. The drawing is open to residents of the US and Canada only and will conclude on Wednesday, September 23, 2015.

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: ‘Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising’): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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SPOTLIGHT: Amazing and Beautiful New Children’s Book

Every once in a while, a book comes along that makes me so glad I took the time to review it.

Even more rare are those books I read with the thought: “Wow. I wish I’d written that.”

Both of these are certainly the case with The Biggest Story: How The Snake Crusher Brings Us Back To The Garden. This amazing and beautiful new Christian children’s book accomplishes what should have been done years ago. Rather than a disjointed collection of Bible stories, this book gives a framework to show kids (and adults, too!) that the Bible has a glorious story from start to finish.

Check out the book, the author and illustrator, my review, and the hardcover copy giveaway below.

Children’s Book – About the Book

Once upon a time there lived a man and a woman. They were the happiest people on the planet.

True, they were the only people on the planet, but they were still terrifically happy.

Unfortunately, things didn’t stay happy and wonderful for long. . .

The Bible is full of exciting stories that fill children with awe and wonder. But kids need to know how all those classic stories connect to Scripture’s overarching message about God’s glorious plan to redeem his rebellious people.

In The Biggest Story, Kevin DeYoung—a best-selling author and father of six—leads kids and parents alike on an exciting journey through the Bible, connecting the dots from the garden of Eden to Christ’s death on the cross to the new heaven and new earth.

With powerful illustrations by award-winning artist Don Clark, this imaginative retelling of the Bible’s core message—how the Snake Crusher brings us back to the garden—will draw children into the biblical story, teaching them that God’s promises are even bigger and better than we think.

Ages 5-8 (read to me)

Ages 8-11 (read to myself)

“I love what Kevin has done here! I’m buying a copy for each of my grandkids.”

—Rick Warren, #1 New York Times best-selling author, The Purpose Driven Life; Pastor, Saddleback Church

“Kevin DeYoung has written a delightful book that both young and old will enjoy. The Biggest Story is a small treatment of a huge theme—God’s drama of redemption, centered on Jesus Christ. Kevin’s words are fresh, engaging, playful, and biblical. Many Bible storybooks offer pearls without a string. This one puts the pearls on a string—the right one. The result is magnificent and memorable.”

—Randy Alcorn, Founder and Director, Eternal Perspectives Ministries; author, Heaven, If God Is Good, and Money, Possessions & Eternity

“Rarely has one heard The Greatest Story ever told like this—with such winsome grace and compelling truth. Once we began, we couldn’t stop reading the The Biggest Story aloud to our family, all in one sitting. Laughed, stilled, and wept by the last line—the moving glory of His amazing grace.”

—Ann Voskamp, author, New York Times bestseller, One Thousand Gifts

“So often, our kids hear individual stories from the Bible without fully understanding how these accounts are tied to the ‘biggest story’ of Christ’s ultimate victory over sin. Kevin DeYoung has linked together the Bible stories that are familiar to children into one, enthralling volume. From the first page to the last, kids will come to understand why Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension are truly at the center of all of history.”

—Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family

“Have you ever wanted to hug a book? This is how I felt after reading The Biggest Story. It awakened childlike wonder in this grandmother’s heart. The charming words and illustrations creatively tell the biggest and best story—the drama of redemption in Christ.”

—Susan Hunt, former Director of Women’s Ministries, PCA; author, Women’s Ministry in the Local Church

“In The Biggest Story, Kevin DeYoung masterfully tells the story of man’s inability to be good enough and God’s enduring faithfulness to his promise to bring us back to paradise. This is the big picture, not the typical moralistic way of telling the Bible’s story. This book is engaging and wonderfully illustrated; your kids will want sit on your lap and have you read it again and again.”

—Tedd Tripp, pastor; international conference speaker; author, Shepherding a Child’s Heart

“The Biggest Story is a family worship favorite around our household. The kids love hearing the story of Scripture read as one continuous adventure. From toddlers to adults, this book teaches important truths about God, his Word, and the history of his work in the world.”

—David Platt, President, International Mission Board; author, Radical; and Heather Platt

Children’s Book – About the Author and Illustrator

Kevin DeYoung (MDiv, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is senior pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan. He blogs at the Gospel Coalition and has authored or coauthored numerous well-known books such as Just Do Something, The Hole in Our Holiness, Taking God At His Word, and What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?, as well as the award-winning books Why We’re Not Emergent, Why We Love the Church (with Ted Kluck), and Crazy Busy.

Don Clark is an artist and the cofounder of Invisible Creature, a widely respected and award-winning design studio based in Seattle, Washington. Invisible Creature was formed in early 2006 with his brother Ryan. Don’s love for mid-century design and illustration lays the groundwork for Invisible Creature’s aesthetic, although his range reaches far beyond any one, specific style. He lives with his wife and their 3 children on a ranch 30 minutes southeast of Seattle.

About the Book – My Review

As you could probably tell from the introduction to this post, I absolutely LOVED this book! My favorite part is that it gives the big picture of all the stories children learn from the Bible. From the garden of Eden to the gardens of heaven, the snake crusher’s story of redeeming grace and restoration echoes loudly through the pages of this book.

While the illustrations are unique, they are vivid and memorable, certain to catch the attention of children. Here’s just a sampling of some of the gorgeous and colorful illustrations found in the book.

The book is divided into ten chapters, but I honestly believe this is a great book to read in one sitting if at all possible. And the note from the author to parents at the end of the book is a must read!

And as for the things I disliked about this book? Not. One. Thing. In fact, my copy is going to my two favorite little people in the whole world.

Children’s Book – Giveaway

This giveaway is for a hardcover copy of The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden. Enter via the Rafflecopter below. A winner will be drawn randomly and contacted via e-mail. The drawing is open to residents of the US and Canada only and will conclude on Monday, September 21, 2015.

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: ‘Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising’): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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The Actual Reason People Allow Themselves to Be Deceived

There’s really only one reason people are deceived.

They want to be.

Oh I know. If you conducted a poll of people on the street and asked them, “Do you want to be deceived?” I dare say 100% would answer “No!”

And that’s probably true in the intellectual sense. But dig a little deeper into the inner workings of humans.

We not only want that money in the cash register we work behind. We need it. Deceived.

We not only appreciate the attention and admiration from that person other than our spouse. We need it. Deceived.

We not only want to feel good about ourselves and feel like we’re the ones in control of our destiny. We need it. Deceived.

We not only want that carton of chocolate ice cream. We need it soothe our hurts and frustrations. Deceived.

We not only want that illicit drug or pint of whiskey. We need it to help us escape the hellish life we’ve built for ourselves. Deceived.

Do you know the actual reason most people are deceived? Details here:
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Deceived: Where It All Started

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. -Genesis 3:1-6 (NASB)

Do you see what happened here?

First Satan mixes a bit of truth with a bit of a lie (his standard mode of operation, by the way). Eve quickly sets the matter straight.

Then true to form, Satan tells another half-truth (AKA lie), this one intentionally designed to appeal to what Eve thinks she needs. And she falls for it.

After all the tree was good for food, beautiful to look at, and would make her wise! What wasn’t to love about that? In fact, it was such a fantastic bargain, she just had to share it with her husband.

Deceived.

Deceived: The Result

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. -James 1:14-15 (NASB)

We’re deceived because deep down inside we want to be deceived. It’s only on the opposite side of giving in to temptation–gluttony, drugs, false religions that put self on the throne rather than God, adultery, ill-gotten gain, and more–that we realize what we thought would bring us freedom has only brought chains and slavery. Death. Destruction. Pain. Sorrow. Separation from the One who made us and loves us first and best.

The results of deception are tragic and life-altering. Find out more:
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Deceived: The Solution

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. -James 1:16 (NASB)

Obviously, the easiest solution is to avoid being deceived altogether. Unfortunately, for most of us at least once in our lives (and probably more than once), we will give way to deception.

There is a solution to the slavish chains of deception. Find out here:
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Once that happens, a natural chain of events takes place–one in which we must be a willing participant (unless of course, we prefer to stay enslaved to deception):

Accept the consequences of giving in to deception, and allow it to teach you what you need to watch out for in the future.
Confess to God that you wanted to be deceived, that you gave in to temptation in spite of His warning signs.
Turn away from the deception/sin and back toward God, committing yourself to walk ever more close to the side of the Shepherd.
Move forward, in step with His Spirit, knowing that the forgiveness and grace of God sets you completely free from the chains of deception (regardless of what the enemy tries to make us believe).

Coming next in the Miller’s Creek novels: A story about the chains we willingly embrace and the freedom only found in Christ.

Chit-Chat Fodder: Can you think of other deceptions to which we fall prey? Let’s talk about it in the comments.

Join the Discussion: To what deceptions do humans fall prey? Talk about it here:
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How to Actually Overcome 8 Objections to Faith

As believers in Christ, it is our God-given responsibility to overcome objections to our faith.

In other words, we are to do all we can to convince a lost and dying world that the only divine being is God and that His Word is absolute, capital-T Truth. The older I get, and the more I see our world on a collision course with destruction, the more convinced I am that our time to reach others is short.

As mentioned in this recent video post by Jonathan Cahn, the gray middle ground of mankind and our society is quickly disappearing. The proverbial line in the sand is growing more distinct. We cannot straddle the line of compromise. We must choose one side or the other. And, as believers, we must do all we can to bring others from darkness into light before that opportunity is forever lost. This was my underlying reason for writing the sixth Miller’s Creek novel, Crossroads.

In my search for the best way to answer the objections of those who take a stance of opposition to God, I’ve become very interested in apologetics. Through that search, I came across the book, The Case for Faith by former Chicago Tribune journalist Lee Strobel. This post is my review of that book.

Looking for a way to overcome objections to Christian faith? Check out this book:
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 Overcoming Objections: About “THE CASE FOR FAITH”

Was God telling the truth when he said, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”?

In his #1 bestseller The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel examined the claims of Christ, reaching the hard-won verdict that Jesus is God’s unique son. In The Case for Faith, Strobel turns his skills to the most persistent emotional objections to belief―the eight “heart barriers” to faith. This Gold Medallion-winning book is for those who may be feeling attracted to Jesus but who are faced with difficult questions standing squarely in their path. For Christians, it will deepen their convictions and give them fresh confidence in discussing Christianity with even their most skeptical friends.

“Everyone―seekers, doubters, fervent believers―benefits when Lee Strobel hits the road in search of answers, as he does again in The Case for Faith. In the course of his probing interviews, some of the toughest intellectual obstacles to faith fall away.”

 ―Luis Palau

“The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel helps answer the strongest objections to Christianity.
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About the Author: Lee Strobel

Lee Strobel (www.LeeStrobel.com), with a journalism degree from the University of Missouri and a Master of Studies in Law degree from Yale Law School, was the award-winning legal editor of the Chicago Tribune and a spiritual skeptic until 1981. His books include four Gold Medallion winners and the 2005 Christian Book of the Year (coauthored with Garry Poole). He and his wife live in Colorado.

Other Books by Lee Strobel : 

The Case for Christ

The Case for a Creator

My Review of “THE CASE FOR FAITH”

To me, this book should be required reading for every believer. Apologetics 101, if you will. Why do I feel this way?

Because the book takes the top eight objections to the Christian faith, and offers solid evidence for Christianity. Here are the eight objections:

Since evil and suffering exist, a loving God cannot.
Since miracles contradict science, they cannot be true.
Evolution explains life, so God isn’t needed.
God isn’t worthy of worship if He kills innocent children.
It’s offensive to claim Jesus is the only way to God.
A loving God would never torture people in hell.
Church history is littered with oppression and violence.
I still have doubts, so I can’t be a Christian.

For each of these objections, Lee Strobel took a staunch journalistic approach and interviewed top Christian experts on each topic. During the interviews, Mr. Strobel cited examples of opposite worldviews, and then challenged these experts to prove him wrong.

With surgical precision and yet also with gentleness and respect, each expert interviewed quickly cut through to the heart of the matter and provided evidence in defense of Christianity. I found it extremely powerful that most of these experts gained their status by first seeking to overcome their own doubts and objections to Christianity.

Book Review: “The Case for Faith” by Lee Strobel – Details here:
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I was especially appreciative of the fact that the book didn’t read like a stale and boring college textbook on Christian philosophy, but was instead easy to read and understand. I would highly recommend this book for all believers and seekers of the Truth. I truly believe that if read and studied with open minds and hearts, the case for Christian faith will be found solidly accurate and sound.

BELIEVE & KNOW, a Bible study by Cathy Bryant on the search for truth, available for both Kindle and print.

Chit-chat Fodder: Which of these eight objections to faith resonates most with you? Sound off in the comments.

Join the discussion: What objections to #faith have you had to overcome?
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Aren’t There Many Ways to God?

Pretend for a second that you’re Satan.

Yes, seriously.

As Satan, your goal is deceive people so you can defeat God and Jesus and rule the world. Just how would you go about achieving that goal?

Wouldn’t you want to confuse masses of people? Keep them so wrapped up in a fog that they can’t reach the truth? Create substitutes for the truth that sound similar and even appealing?

If that sounds vaguely real and familiar, it’s because that is exactly what the enemy of our souls has done. Because of this mass deceit, a question we hear a lot in our culture today is: Aren’t all religions the same? At the heart of this question are other questions: Aren’t there many ways to God? Aren’t we all going to the same place?

No matter how you phrase it, the answer is the same…NO!

Not Many Ways to God – Here’s Why

Truth is defined as being in accord with reality. Therefore, it stands to reason that everything which lines up with reality is true, and everything that doesn’t line up with reality is false.

One only has to look at the chart above to see that these religions don’t even come close to lining up with one another in just the two areas mentioned–God and salvation. So the question “Aren’t all religions the same?” can be truthfully answered with “No. Not all religions are the same.” Each one has a different belief system about God and how man ultimately reaches God, not to mention the condition of man and a myriad of other topics.

So it logically stands to reason that not all of the above-mentioned religions are true. They may have teachings that sound similar, but isn’t every lie a mixture of lie with a little bit of truth thrown in? (Or at least something that resembles truth…)

Satan has been twisting truth since the garden of Eden. When he said to Eve, “You will not certainly die….For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5), he twisted the truth. Adam and Eve didn’t die immediately, BUT the death process started immediately. They were already like God in the sense that God made them in His image. And yes, their eyes were opened to know good and evil. But Satan made it sound like something to be desired, when the reality was far, far different.

Twisted truth = Deception. Confusion. Doubt. All tools of the trade for the devil. And tools he has used to deceive many.

Something Else to Notice

Look very carefully at the column above which deals with each religion’s belief system on how man reaches God.

The first four are all based on the works of man, which presumes that man is somehow able, on his own accord and efforts, to reach God.

Only Christianity carries the belief that there is absolutely nothing marred and broken mankind can ever do to reach God, which at first thought is cause for great concern. After all, if we can’t reach God–if this human life is all we have and then we die–we are truly without hope.

This is where Christianity differs by leaps and bounds from other religions. (In fact, I would go so far as to say that Christianity isn’t religion at all. That’s just a label it’s been given to categorize it with other belief systems.) Knowing our desperate condition, God put on human flesh. He came to earth as a helpless baby born to lowly peasants in manure-scented stable. He lived an earthly life and never committed any wrongdoing. And man’s response?

Death by crucifixion. But ultimately part of God’s plan.

You see, the Lamb of God was slain to fix man’s problem–the sin that separated him from God. Jesus died, was buried, and–unlike any other “religion”–was resurrected from the grave and lives eternally. Because of that resurrection, those who trust in Jesus and His atoning sacrifice to forgive sin, have found the ONLY way to God.

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” ~Jesus, John 14:6

Don’t believe me? Then do your own search for truth, and see what actually lines up with reality.

The post Aren’t There Many Ways to God? appeared first on Cathy Bryant.

Focus on True Repentance: It’s Not Too Late…Now

Repentance is a word that gets a bad rap.

Simply put, repentance is turning back to God, which at the same time turns us away from our sin and rebellion. Unfortunately, it’s easy for people to just go through the motions of turning back to God, saying the words they think they need to say. But true repentance isn’t merely a lip service which never reaches our hearts. Instead it is turning from the rebellion and pride in our actions, attitudes, and motivations, and humbly seeking God, confessing our wrongdoing, and asking for His help in overcoming our rebellion.

As Sovereign Creator and Almighty God, He is able to discern the true motivations of our hearts. If we are sincere, He hears and acts on our behalf. But He won’t be swayed by those who say one thing with their lips and another thing with their lives.

And with repentance, it’s not too late…until it is.

A God Who Gives Warning & Notice

Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the LORD: “This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the LORD’S house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word. Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from his evil way. Then I will relent and not bring on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done.” –Jeremiah 26:1-3 (NIV)

God had clearly told the nation of Judah through His prophets–including Jeremiah–what was about to befall the nation of Judah for their idolatry. He was about to send Babylon against them to totally destroy the land and take them into captivity. God’s Word fell on deaf ears, something we’ll address later in this post.

The point I want to get across here is this: God, in His holiness and righteousness and love and compassion, is giving Judah a second chance to repent. He does the same for us. It’s not to late to repent…until it is.

What I find incredibly sad is that Jeremiah is told to go to the courtyard of the temple and speak this message to the people as they went in to worship. Do you see the irony here? Of all people, these “worshipers” should have been listening to God’s message. But obviously they hadn’t listened, or God wouldn’t have given Jeremiah this mission.

The correlation for today? We can can attend church and offer up a few praise songs, but with our hearts far removed from God and hardened to the message He wants us to hear.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What messages from God have we–as His people–ignored today?

What messages from God have we ignored?
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Now let’s look at why we ignore His message.

IGNORING GOD: PROCRASTINATION

I’m a writer, which means I’ve finely honed the skill of procrastination. (Other writers–at least the ones who are honest–will attest to this as well.) The easy way out of anything–writing or ignoring God’s message–is to put it off for another day.

And that works…at least for a while. The problem lies in the fact that we’re incapable of knowing when we will pass that invisible line of too late.

Benjamin Franklin put it this way: “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” The writer of the book of Hebrews had him beat by several years.

So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried Me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known My ways.’ So I declared on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’ ” See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. As has just been said: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” -Hebrews 3:7-15 (NIV)

“#Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…” Heb. 3:7
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IGNORING GOD: HEARING WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR

At one time or another, many of us may have been involved in a situation where those on the outside refused to hear the truth, opting instead to hear what they wanted to hear, and thus believe what they wanted to believe.

We do the same exact thing with God.

Don’t believe me? Let’s continue the story of Jeremiah and the message given him by the LORD.

Jeremiah went to the courtyard of the temple and delivered God’s message: “This is what the LORD says: If you do not listen to Me and follow My law, which I have set before you, and if you do not listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened), then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.”….But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, “You must die!” -Jeremiah 26:4b-6, 8

Though we’d like to believe that we’re somehow above the people of Jeremiah’s day, we’re really not different at all. That’s why we’ve seen thousands flocking to the health and wealth gospel. The false prophets back then prophesied peace and well-being in sharp contrast to Jeremiah’s message of God’s coming judgment and the need for repentance. Guess which message the people chose to hear?

Paul recognized this tendency in people as well. The words he spoke to his son in the faith are prophetic about the world in which we live today: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. -2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NASB)

Brothers and sisters, if you hear nothing else I say, please hear me in this. There are many in our social media circles who proclaim false teachings, especially those announcing a message of peace. Those who say things like “Pass this on to three others and God will bring a miracle into your life!” or “God wanted me to tell you that you will have no more problems for the rest of this year.”

Falsehood and lies, in direct opposition to what Jesus said: “In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”

Here’s the truth, based on how God has moved in the past. (And our God doesn’t change!)

Yes, God is patient with us. Yes, He loves us. But He is also a God of justice, righteousness, and holiness. He will only abide our rebellion so long! And I believe this not only for individuals, but for our nation as a whole.

We need to stop sticking our heads in the sand and pretending that everything is hunky-dory. The only thing that sticking our heads in the sand accomplishes is plugging our ears!

The only thing that sticking our heads in the sand accomplishes is plugging our ears.
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And here’s the danger: when we choose the message we want to hear over what God is trying to say, we are choosing a false god, who moves, acts, and speaks in the way in which we want.

AN EXAMPLE OF TRUE REPENTANCE

 

Though the people in Jeremiah’s day sadly did not listen and repent, Jeremiah 26 does tell of a prophet named Micah of Moresheth who delivered this message from God about a former king of Judah: Did not Hezekiah fear the LORD and seek His favor? And did not the LORD relent, so that He did not bring the disaster He pronounced against them? -Jeremiah 26:19b (NIV)

Our God can and will stay His hand of judgment, but only IF we truly repent.

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil. -Joel 2:12-14 (NASB)

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people, if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NIV)

Stop ignoring God’s messages, which are coming with increasing frequency and intensity. Stop creating your own little-g god, who acts in accordance with your wishes and plans and tells you what you want to hear. Stop giving into messages that contradict God’s Holy Word of Truth.

Instead…turn back to God in full repentance.

After all, it’s not too late…until it is.

It’s not too late…until it is. #Repent #TurnBackToGod
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