Author: jimmyreagan

Jesus: A Theography–A Remarkable Read

/ jimmyreagan / Leave a comment

Would you like a juicy biography of Jesus Christ? How about one that brought the entire sweep of the Bible to bear on the subject? Then, you have what you are looking forward to in “Jesus: A Theography” by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola and recently published by Thomas Nelson.

Unlike other volumes on the life of Christ, the authors here take us back to eternity past. They vividly paint the scene in Heaven as Jesus leaves to come to Earth for us too. You probably won’t find that between the covers of others books on your shelves.

When the authors discussed Christ in both macro and micro version, they were providing great insights. Throughout the book they met a real need in giving a larger view. That is where many such volumes fail. They are able to wade through a sea of details to pull out the key ones that fill the canvas of the composite picture of God’s Revelation. Remember, it is the synthesized view that most leads to understanding.

You also had to love how they unlocked Jesus from some of the ridiculous stereotypes that have been around at least as long as Hollywood has been making movies about Him. They made Him so alive. You see Him as He surely was–always without sin yet righteously angry, laughing, talking, loving, even being funny. They showed Him with emotion–properly controlled of course–but with emotion nonetheless.

You might not agree with every conclusion they make but His death, burial, and resurrection is given its rightful place and they have a strong Christology. To make it all even better they can both turn a phrase and separate the important from the not so important. I never heard of a theography before this book, but am now convinced that it is exactly what we need.

They make it clear that Christianity is Christ. This book is important and flat-out good. I highly recommend it!

I received this book free from the publisher. 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 .

Remember Peter!

/ jimmyreagan / 1 Comment

“The breaking of God is proportionate  to the quality of ministry one will have later in life” said a book I am reading.  From there the author showed how the Lord trained Peter with this in mind.

It was just what I needed! A reminder of what I’ve heard all through my Christian life and could quote with the best of them. Remember Peter!

Failures, less than stellar results, stumblings, shortcomings before a God you love, shortcomings before the people you love–these are the things that weigh you down. Why shouldn’t they? You caused them. At least I know that about myself. Then you add the fact that actions have consequences and you have your life. That is unmistakably our lives. A certain amount of brokenness surely attends to it.

Where does that leave us? That fortunately depends, with just a little cooperation, more on Christ than us. You and I must think before we decide what we will do, what exactly will Jesus do. Again I say, remember Peter.

“Despite the fact that Peter was repeatedly exposed and failed his Lord many times, he was the object of Jesus’ unending love” continued the article.  You know the litany of Peter’s failures. Probably every one wondered why he was the leader of the Twelve. His failures came more often than his successes, at least for a long time. Probably the other eleven entertained thoughts on more than one occasion that he was a mess and they could do his role better. Of course no one can do better the role the Lord gave you–the spouse you are, the parent you are, the Christian worker you are-than you. Were it not so the Lord would have given the job to someone else. That doesn’t mean you or I are doing as well as we should or could, but it is still true. Enter Jesus.

He worked on Peter in ways Peter would have preferred to not be worked on, yet it took his life somewhere. The failures didn’t stop Christ either. You and I would have written Peter off after that third denial, if not before. Christ didn’t. It was Christ that met him when he was at his worst along the Sea of Galilee. He honestly had made a mess of everything! It was a life in disaster. There came Jesus.

Where am I today? Where are you? I’ll keep my failures to myself and give you the same courtesy. But where is Christ? He is here. No matter where we are today, He is not finished. That’s good to know. Peter had a future, a really good one, and so can you and I. Thanks to Jesus Christ!

Those authors said one more thing rather causally, but let’s seize it for ourselves: “In times of failure keep two words in mind: Remember Peter.”

Traveling The King’s Highway

/ jimmyreagan / Leave a comment

It’s the road I’m traveling–the King’s Highway. I sure enjoy traveling it. I’m glad to know so many others traveling it as well. A life of loving and serving the King surely is a nice journey. I’ve spent the day studying God’s Word. That was my pleasant task–I hope you found yours as pleasant as I did mine. If I ever have a hard day, I just remember where this road is taking me.

I started traveling this road through unknown territory when I was 10 years old and the King Himself put me on it. I wasn’t royalty and had no access before He got involved. But I’m glad to be on it now!

There was a King’s Highway in Moses’ day. There is a road in modern-day Jordan that pretty much follows the ancient route and carries still the old name. When I made my solo trip there 2 years ago, I made a point to drive that way. (That’s a portion of it in the picture above). The signage was poor and I accidentally got off in Muslim towns several times. I have a tendency to do that on the King’s Highway. Unlike that King’s Highway in Jordan, there is still a King on the one I’m traveling and He helps every mile of the way.

Here’s a poem I wrote that sums up my thoughts on the Kings’s Highway:

Traveling The King’s Highway

The road of life is rocky                                                                                   Obstacles lay in the way,                                                                                          But you’ll make it if you go,                                                                           Traveling the King’s Highway.

You may lose sight of the goal,                                                                               Mired in evil this day,                                                                                     But look up, weary pilgrim,                                                                     Traveling the King’s Highway.

You think the scenery is strange?                                                            Unpleasant you even say?                                                                              But think where you’re going!                                                                         Traveling the King’s Highway.

So you want to park awhile?                                                                           Relax and rest if you may?                                                                             But remember some are not,                                                                          Traveling the King’s Highway.

Riddled by a lack of faith?                                                                               No strength to stay the right way?                                                                              Trust the One Who paid the fare,                                                                      Traveling the King’s Highway.

You Know the company is good,                                                                                As we journey each day,                                                                                        And the pavement turns to gold,                                                                     Traveling the King’s Highway!

–Jimmy Reagan

A Book To Introduce Your Children To Great Missionaries

/ jimmyreagan / 2 Comments

Wouldn’t you love to have a book to acquaint your children with great missionaries? This is your book then–Great For God by David Shibley and published by New Leaf Publishing. Twenty-six missionaries are pleasantly written of in this helpful volume. Some you may not know as well as others, but the most famous ones are here. You’ll learn of a few you didn’t know as well.

A synopsis begins each entry with key dates, legacy, and a famous quote. This is a great way to introduce a 6 or 7 page chapter. In my opinion, they are very well written and hold attention. I put the book to the ultimate test. I had my children gather around the table and I read several chapters aloud to them. Then I asked the hardest, most-detailed questions I could think of. My kids didn’t miss one question. Even my 5-year-old Macey nailed several questions. That is the ultimate proof to me that this is a quality book for families.

I want my children to know about missionaries. To tell the truth, these type of biographies greatly encourage and challenge me personally. This book is one of the best I’ve seen of the missionary biography books covering multiple missionaries. I give this book the highest recommendation. It’s perfect for what it intends to be and I’m glad the Reagans have it at our disposal.

I received this book free from the publisher. 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 .

“Unstoppable” By The Inspiring Nick Vujicic

/ jimmyreagan / 2 Comments

You’ve surely seen a video by Mr. Vujicic. If you are like me, I imagine it held your attention. He’s a Christian and an advocate for folks with disability to live life to the fullest, to reject the stereotypes that disabled individuals often face, and live beyond discouragement.

This is his second book, here published by Waterbrook Press, that follows up his very successful first volume Life Without Limits. The cover gives you an idea of what you might be in for with this book and Mr. Vujicic. The subtitle”The Incredible Power of Faith in Action” accurately defines the ground he covers.

The book begins with him telling you how successful and busy he has been. If that were to hit you wrongly, he will quickly mute it when he tells you the emotional crisis he has gone through the last few years. He relates that although the first book and speaking ministry have been successful, his company almost crashed at the low point of our economy. This shortly after he had expanded the company, hired new people, and let his parents pull up stakes to move here from Australia to help. His Dad is an accountant and a classic believer in fiscal responsibility! He fell into deep depression and really spares none of the gory details when he tells the story. What he learned and how he dealt with it is worthy reading. He relates to a secret suicide attempt in childhood because of the sadness of what he imagined his life would be. He encourages us in showing how he, a motivational speaker, had to relearn a lesson he should have known well. I can relate to the relearning thing for sure.

In another story he tells about the highs and lows of the journey of God bringing his wonderful wife to him. It is as gripping as a novel, except he draws out real life lessons from the ordeal. You find yourself cheering when he gets her.

The rest of the book is not as good, but he addresses practical matters illustrated by stories of people he met along the way of his ministry. His dealing with bullies, since he had much experience with it, was well done.

The book is in no way theological. It is motivational, with a big you-can-do-it push. It does declare on several occasions that the Lord is also critical to handling adversity, but that is not so carefully brought out. Still, for what this book tries to do, it really succeeds. You will be inspired!

I received this book free from the publisher. 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 .

Reflections On 9 Years As Pastor Of First Baptist Church

/ jimmyreagan / 2 Comments

It seems like yesterday that we came in that moving truck from Tennessee to West Union, Ohio. 9 years! I can’t fathom it really. We beat the statistics at least in that the average pastorate is around 18 months at the last count I heard.

I laugh when I think of the naivety I brought with me. Leaving the banking world really brought little help in the new life the Lord called me into. When our church surprised me with a celebration today, it really got me thinking.

Pastoring is tougher than I imagined for sure. I’ve got the bumps and bruises to prove it. I’ve seen the days when everyone thought I was the greatest pastor around and the days where I was the most incompetent pastor that ever walked behind the pulpit. I’ve lived through the harder days when the choices I felt required of God to make cost me much to the days now where I am just Jimmy and my people love me while knowing I have feet of clay.

As I type, I’m weighing it all out. Yes, it’s difficult, but if I could go back 9 years, would I do anything differently? Not on your life! I don’t care that some plans flopped, or some planned big days were small potatoes at best. I still consider the call of God on my life the greatest life of all.

To get to shepherd, with God’s help, other believers, to get to stand and preach, and to get spend my days in God’s Word, still washes away the worst debris of the ministry as if it never happened.

So thank you dear folks of First Baptist Church for the privilege of being your pastor. And thank you Lord for condescending to call one as unworthy as me to the greatest work I could ever imagine. All I want for the rest of my life is to continue this honor of serving my Lord.

Great High School World History Homeschool Circirrulum

/ jimmyreagan / Leave a comment

Master Books just keeps turning out incredible resources. In addition to apologetic and creation materials, they provide select courses for homeschool. This resource comes with a student book and a teacher volume. James Stobaugh, a pastor and homeschool Dad, wrote the material.

The books are attractive, lavishly illustrated with black and white photos, and fairly priced. The lessons are of manageable length and are for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. Assignments include essay questions and exams. It really encourages the critical thinking that our children need. The teachers guide leads the parent quite easily through what is, in many cases, forgotten subject matter. This style will be good to transition to college type of instruction.

Our children really need quality world history while in high school. I feel that is a lack in my own education. I have to brush up on world history, and particularly Western Civilization, at times. I feel the shortcomings. I feel I did a lot better in American History, but that’s only a little over 200 years of history. It’s the train of world history that led to America and so we need the proper perspective. We need the bigger picture.

Best of all, with this resource we get history from a thoroughly Christian outlook. This is of the same quality as other Master Book materials and I highly recommend it. The Reagan children will all be getting a turn with it when the time comes.

I received this book free from the publisher. 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 . 

Guest Blogger–Pastor Mike Montegomery

/ jimmyreagan / 2 Comments

mike and susie montgomery

I’m glad to have my friend Pastor Mike Montegomery guest blogging on Reagan Review. I’ve learned over the last few years that he is a dedicated Pastor who loves his people, is dedicated to preaching God’s Word, and has a passion for souls. He is as true a friend as could one could be. He was the one who moved in our home while we were in Tennessee a week soon after my wife became paralyzed and tore a closet out of our bedroom replacing it with an accessible bathroom. He even raised the funds for the project. Needless to say, his Christianity is of the real variety. We love his entire family. He is also a reader and I love to hear his take on books he has read. 

He has his own blog at

http://philippians216.blogspot.com/

Brothers We Are Not Professionals

Boardman Holman Publisher

By: John Piper

First Published in 2002

286 pages

Overview

This book is a thought provoking look at the ministry and the personal walk of the pastor. Mr. Piper writes with passion and beauty. He does a great job of keeping your interest and always makes you think.

The purpose of the book is clear in the preface. Pg. xi “The aim of this book is to spread a radical, pastoral passion for the supremacy of and centrality of the crucified and risen God-Man, Jesus Christ, in every sphere of life and ministry and culture.” As far as this reader is concerned he hits what he aims at.

High notes

Mr. Piper repeatedly encourages the study of the pastor. He challenges you to be well read and well prepared. His writing reminds me often of A.W. Tozer in that it is often passionately spiritual and deeply rooted in the Word of God. He exalts the Scripture and calls for the Scripture to speak through the preacher in the pulpit. He leaves the reader with the understanding that the source of a sermon is Scripture, not the mind of the preacher. This book is never boring and will stir your soul as well as your mind. He willingly and boldly confronts misconceptions within the local church polity and theology.  He also emphatically stands on the Scripture for men only in the pastoral ministry. Mr. Piper closes the book with a strong plea for pastors to strengthen their own marriage, and in light of times, this cannot be echoed too often.

Low Points

Mr. Piper is a staunch Calvinist and it does come through in the book. Most of his emphasis is for the sovereignty of God and of course we can agree that God is sovereign. Chapter Fifteen I felt he had waded into a realm of doctrine that I believe is quicksand. In Chapter Eighteen he covers the importance of baptism. Though we agree on the time and method I feel he gives too much wiggle room to paedobaptism.

Summary

All in all, the entire book is a great read and any pastor will walk away from each chapter with at least one convicting and stirring truth. I would put this book at the top your stack!

 

I’ll Never Understand It

/ jimmyreagan / 1 Comment

I have watched the scene play out many times. Someone stares the reality of not being acceptable to God in the face. The truth of sin can not be avoided any longer and yet Christ is rejected. I don’t get it. I’ve been born again for 32 years now so maybe I am too far removed to remember what might entice someone to resist the Person of Jesus Christ.

Here’s how it looks to me now. I’m wrong with God, I’ve chosen darkness over His light, and my deeds are inexcusably evil. There is no way I can atone for my sins, no way I can bridge the chasm that I caused between me and God, and my future is eternally horrible.

In that helpless state, He moved to rescue me when I am the one in the wrong. Rescuing me came at tremendous cost to Him. Jesus left the splendors of heaven, came and suffered the humiliation of taking on a body, lived a giving life of hardship, came to a grotesque cross, bled, died, was buried and rose again–all for me! If I but accept His payment made on my behalf, my sins are forgiven, my eternal future secure, and the rift between us is healed.

To top it off, He offered to me at no cost. No cost to me at least! He even went so far as to send others to tell me about Himself and what He wants to do for me. So, to reject that–I’ll never understand!

I watched many people, though, do that very thing. Like as told in this poem:

JESUS WEPT

I saw a man

With Christ on the veranda of his soul

As gentle as a mare over a coal

Jesus knocked.

I heard a man

Who ignored the overtures to his heart

And said that he wanted no part

Jesus sought.

I watched a man

With no sense of impending doom

And of the judgement that did loom

Jesus pleaded.

I saw a man

Who thought he could delay

As if there were always another day

Jesus tugged.

 I heard a man

With all around him a swirling flood

And then trifle with the Blood

Jesus gave.

 I watched a man

Who could have triumphed over strife

And have received eternal life

Jesus loved.

 I felt for a man

Who stood on sinking sand

And overlooked a nail-scarred hand

Jesus wept.

Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes A Day by Garry Morgan

/ jimmyreagan / 2 Comments

Do you ever catch yourself wondering what exactly other religions believe? Do you  wonder if your one sentence understanding is actually accurate? Do you then go look at a bookshelf of books on world religions and notice that they are all 500 pages or more and chicken out? Well, likely this is the book you have been looking for. It’s given in 180 readable, easy pages and as the title implies, your time is taken into consideration.

He begins by defining “religion”. He keys on a systematic set of beliefs that speaks to ultimate questions about life’s meaning. He will with this logical definition be able to legitimately address secular humanism as a religion.

He addresses Christianity first in one short chapter accurately focusing on the fact that Christianity isn’t a religion but a relationship. Well, according to his definition, it is one, but I appreciate how he found a way to show that the Christian “religion” is fully unique in how it answers life’s questions and the dealing with sin. When looked out from this vantage point, it is amazing, at least to me, what puts all other beliefs in the same fold-a solution tied up in works.

Then he dives into Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and Evangelical Christianity. I might find it a weakness in his trying to present Christianity objectively to the point of not overtly stating its superiority, but I’m sure it was so designed to reach a broader audience. You do see, though, that covertly he is a believer.

He gives the most detail on Islam as it is on our minds these days. Six chapters cover the variety that is out there in the Muslim world. He makes the complexities digestible and is all most would want to read on it. He also explains the confusing differences with Hinduism, Buddhism and the Baha’i faith.

He also covers eastern religions that, though rarer, make their way to us in popular culture in movies and current bestselling books. New Age and transcendental meditation are even covered.

He tries to define the difference in a cult and a religion. Some groups called cults in our day are addressed as well.

This book is a solid addition to Bible study. It’s length is a winner and it is understandable without being heavy. It’s most cases it will answer your questions satisfactorily. I recommend it to Christian laymen, homeschooling families, and pastors who need a quick review or overview.

I received this book free from the publisher. 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 .