Thriving in Babylon by Dr. Larry Osborne

About the book:

Thriving in Babylon (David C. Cook, April 2015)

Meet a man forced to live in a fast changing and godless society. He faced fears about the future, concern for his safety, and the discouragement of a world that seemed to be falling apart at warp speed.

Sound familiar? His name was Daniel, and with the power of hope, humility, and wisdom, he not only thrived, he changed an empire while he was at it. Though he lived thousands of years ago, he has a much to teach us today.

Even in Babylon, God is in control.

In Thriving in Babylon, Larry Osborne explores the “adult” story of Daniel to help us not only survive – but actually thrive in an increasingly godless culture. Here Pastor Osborne looks at:

·       Why panic and despair are never from God

·       What true optimism looks like

·       How humility disarms even our greatest of enemies

·       Why respect causes even those who will have nothing to do with God to listen

·       How wisdom can snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat

For those who know Jesus and understand the full implications of the cross, the resurrection, and the promises of Jesus, everything changes—not only in us, but also in our world.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the author:

Dr. Larry Osborne has served as a senior pastor and teaching pastor at North Coast Church—one of the ten most influential churches in the country—since 1980. Dr. Osborne is the author of numerous books, including Accidental Pharisees. He and his wife live in Oceanside, California. They have three grown children.

Margie’s Comments: Thriving in Babylon by Dr. Larry Osborne is one the best books I’ve read about living successfully in an increasingly pagan world. Not a book to read in a hurry, I had to pace my reading in order to absorb the truths Dr. Osborne teaches from the story of Daniel. One of the main things we learn from Daniel is the importance of our choices, even to those that might seem insignificant at the time. By laying a foundation of godly choices based on the truths of God’s Word, we are assured a life that will gain in significance and influence. But we might never know the extent of that influence until we are in eternity with the Lord.

                  The story of Daniel has always been fascinating to me. He and his friends withstood many obstacles in their exile, but because of their unwavering faith in God they earned the respect of the Babylonian and Persian kings they served. Dr. Osborne does a great job of applying the circumstances of Daniel’s life to the world we live in today—something I really appreciate. Over and over, the author emphasizes the importance of obedience to God’s principles as the building blocks of life. When we make good choices in seemingly insignificant areas, the challenges and tests get increasingly harder. Still, once the pattern of right living is established, even though the temptation is stronger to walk away, the pattern of obedience should be so ingrained in us there is no other option.

                  If you struggle with the increasingly pagan society we live in, I’d encourage you to get a copy of Thriving in Babylon and to read it, prayerfully and thoughtfully. 

*I received a copy of the book from the publisher through LitFuse Publicity in exchange for a review.

The A – Z of C. S. Lewis by Colin Duriez

About the book: 

A Complete Guide to His Life, Thoughts and Writings

Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of C. S. Lewis's death, this complete guide covers all of Lewis' works, from his literary criticism to Narnia.

C. S. Lewis's work is widely known and regarded, but enthusiasts are often only aware of one part of his work-his children's stories and his popular theology; and yet he wrote so much more, including science fiction and literary criticism. This volume brings together all aspects of C S Lewis's life and thought. Arranged in alphabetical order, it begins with The Abolition of Man-written in 1943 and described as "almost my favorite"-to Wormwood, a character in The Screwtape Letters. This book will delight anyone who is interested in C. S. Lewis and wants to learn more about him, his thought, his works, and his life.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/tzmgH 

About the Author: 

Colin Duriez was for many years a commissioning editor at Inter-Varsity Press UK. He has subsequently appeared as a commentator on DVDs of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, and BBC television's The Worlds of Fantasy. He is also the author of The Inklings Handbook (with the late David Porter), J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: The Story of Their Friendship, and Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings, and has contributed to definitive reference works relating to Tolkien such as The Tolkien Encyclopedia (Routledge).

Margie's Comments: Wow! What an excellent resource for everything C. S. Lewis. This book is carefully and meticulously researched and compiled into an interesting, extremely readable volume on the life and work of C. S. Lewis. It includes 8 pages of bibliographical material for those who desire to extend their research into this fascinating, multi-dimensional man. This book is definitely a keeper. 

AfterLife by Hank Hanegraaff

Glass Road Media Management

presents

 

AfterLife

by

Hank Hanegraaff

 

 

About the book: (Nashville, TN)  Judging by book sales and movie tickets sold, we are a nation obsessed with the afterlife. Books about near-death experiences shoot to the top of the best-seller lists. But do these experiences provide trustworthy information about life after death? Hank Hanegraaff wades through the varying near-death accounts and lines them up with what the Bible says in his latest books, AfterLife: What You Need to Know about Heaven, the Hereafter & Near-Death Experiences. Does hell exist? Does heaven? Do pets go to heaven? Do we float around with wings? How much good work is required for entry? Have people been and come back to tell the tale? Will there be sex in heaven? How old are we there?

 

With his signature style, Hanegraaff cuts through the cultural clutter to illuminate what is know about the afterlife, what has been said about the afterlife, and how we can filter the glut of stories and revelations through biblical wisdom and discernment to help you live an abundant life today with confidence of an abundant life to come.

 

 

About the author: Hank Hanegraaff is host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, heard daily throughout the United States and Canada via radio, satellite radio Sirius-XM 131, and the Internet. He's author of the runaway bestsellers The Prayer of Jesus and The Complete Bible Answer Book—Collector's Edition. He and his wife, Kathy, are parents to twelve children. www.equip.org    

Margie's comments: What an incredibly interesting read! Hank Hanegraaff's AfterLife is full of biblical answers to a topic that is much misunderstood. Every religion in the world has a doctrine of the afterlife, from Nirvana to Paradise, to heaven and hell, and everywhere in between. And there are many erroneous theories as to what to expect. But God has given us answers to the afterlife in His Word. It seems as though we can hardly go very many days, weeks, or months without hearing about another "near-death" experience. Our world seems fixated on what happens after we die. I appreciate the author's clear, straightforward, and biblical truth as he fully discusses every question this fascinating subject spawns. He's very clear about what is purported to be truth about heaven and hell and what is really the truth as presented in the Bible. This book takes speculation and conjecture and reveals truth. He answers questions I never have thought to ask. As I grow older and more and more of my family members and friends die, heaven becomes more real and more longed for than ever before. AfterLife is a must-read book for those searching for the truth about what happens after our body dies and heaven and hell.