Charisma Magazine

This book by the theological creator of the best-selling Left Behind series is more suited as an apologetics resource and for small-group study than leisure reading. Still, it is a worthwhile contribution to the Christian community, since Tim LaHaye confronts the Gnostics and other critics of Christ's historicity and the authenticity of the Gospels.

In addition to refuting them with biblical and historical evidence, he presents a series of testimonies that stand as proof of the change Jesus makes in people's lives.

Best-selling author and pastor John MacArthur helps readers take another look at who Jesus is in The Jesus You Can't Ignore: What You Must Learn From the Bold Confrontations of Christ, taking to task the idea that Christ was passive.

Through MacArthur's portrayal, readers will discover a side to the Savior that is often overlooked, but nevertheless is clear and dominant in the Scriptures. Rather than being politically correct, Jesus wasn't afraid to engage the hypocrisy of His day in a quest to open the world's eyes to truth.

Patients often ask me if God wants humans to be vegetarians. The answer is yes and no. Originally, vegetarianism was His design for all people and animals (see Gen. 1:29-30). That plan changed when the Lord said to Noah: " 'Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things,

even as the green herbs' " (9:3, NKJV). The only exception was this: " 'But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood' " (v. 4).

Do you know how much God really loves you? Do you think you have to earn God’s love? Some people think so. But God’s love was never based on our behavior. His love is based on His own nature. God is love. As love, God loves us. How much does God love us? He loved us enough to give His Son to die that we could live. How much does God really love you? God is so in love with you that He spared no expense to show you how much. How much does He love you? He loves you as much as He loves Jesus (see John 17:20-23). Wow!

In humility of mind, realizing that God is truth, you must accept what He says. Don’t fight it. Don’t debate it. In loving reverence to Him, accept it. Worship Him. He is indeed worthy. Seeing that the Father loves us so, should we not respond to Him in humbleness of mind, realizing that He invites us to walk with Him because He really wants us to? He wants to share His life with us and wants us to share our lives with Him. Let us walk with Him and walk closely to Him.

Last Saturday morning I did something I haven't done in awhile. I teamed up with the women in my church and went door-to-door witnessing to residents about the love of Jesus.

My pastor is determined that in 2009, our church becomes a hub for evangelism and outreach. He feels the best way to be a beacon of light in the community is to do what Elvis Presley did, "leave the building." The Bible says, '"Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled'" (Luke 14:23, NKJV). Last weekend we knocked on more than 400 doors during our Canvassing for Christ event.

Every resident I encountered that day was friendly and receptive to what my friend, Shirley, and I had to say about Jesus. In fact, we were fired up and ready to save the world with a two-minute spiel and prayer. But when we knocked on the door ready to rattle off the "If you died tonight, where would you spend eternity?" type questions, we were greeted by ordinary people with obvious needs, so we flipped the script and listened to what they had to say.