Rating:

The Noticer is a nice story but completely gives a completely false dose of reality. The basic premise is that if you think positively, then positive things will happen to you. If you surround yourself with successful people, then you too will become positive. If you just think about things in a positive way, then life becomes that much more wonderful. The book centers around a man named “Jones” who steps in and out of people’s lives, encouraging them to notice the positive and to make changes in their lives. These stories are miracle stories; marriages are saved, lives changed, businesses created, children inspired.

My main issue with the book is that it is once again the “pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps” mentality. No where is there any persuasion to depend on Christ, to completely cast all your cares upon Him. There is also an underlying assumption that suffering is only due to self-made problems. Scripture clearly teaches that we will have suffering because we are servants of Christ. We learn more through our suffering oftentimes than when life is great.

What is so appealing about this book though, is that there is a little bit of truth hidden amongst the pages. We are in control of how we think and act. Rather than practicing “happiness” to gain success, one should practice being content and resting in who God is. It is a practice and one must continue to work at it. We shouldn’t merely accept the bad things but instead of just wanting a better life, we should be longing to be sanctified and grow more in knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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I am addicted to babysteals.  I admit it.  Every morning at 9am MST, I hover over my computer, waiting for the steal of the day.  I love seeing how big of a discount they are giving.  I often wonder how their business works – how do they actually make money giving away such big deals?

My favorite purchase so far is a pair of pink/lime Robeez shoes for my daughter Abby.  She also has her first birthday coming up – three days after babysteals turns one.

Keep up the excellent work babysteals!

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Christianity in Crisis is an educational look at the contemporary leaders in today’s faith movement.  Hank Hanegraaff exposes the lies that have invaded the modern church and duped so many unsuspecting souls.     In the first section of the book, Hanegraaff looks at the teachings and how they have been taken from scripture but then abused.   He compiles the teachings of various leaders into a creation account.  I found it to be revolting and yet this is what is being taught in many churches around the world.   Hanegraaff also gives a “cast of characters” with detailed research into what each person’s particular slant is with quotes from the pulpit.   This is very helpful if you have a friend or neighbor that is reading some of these authors and you can show them exactly what is wrong with their theology.

Hanegraaff extensively deals with all the components of the broken down gospel as it is being portrayed today.   A big characteristic is the idea of “faith in faith”; that there is this force that we can call into being.  Another aspect is that we are “little gods”; that since we are created in the image, we are actually gods in and of ourselves.

The fourth section deals with “atonement atrocities”.   So much of the teachings in modern leaders attack the essence of who God is when they take away from the work that God did on the cross.  The fifth and sixth sections of the book deal with further misconceptions of faith.  “If you truly had faith, you would be wealthy and healthy”.   This has to be one of the most hurtful components to the average person.   Being poor, suffering or being sick is a sign of doubt and lack of faith.   In reality, we know as Christians, that we were promised suffering and pain.  Yet another way that the devil attacks the work of Christ.

Hanegraaff ends with a reiteration of the true gospel of Christ and reminds the reader of Truth.  A very informative look at the destructive teachings prevalent in today’s ‘church’.

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