A DEDICATION

Mom is one who surrenders all,

It is one of God's Greatest calls.

She knows how to say not my will.

She shows Christ and remains still

She teaches the Truth of God's Word

The Way, the Truth and the Life that is what I heard!

She infuses the love that some beg for.

Even in pain her life pours out more.

She prays for her children each night.

That they would be precious in His sight.

She knows her children's greatest need.

Through Christ's love and deeds.

She has a deeper sense of the Father's love

Because her children are a gift from God above.

She never gives up on her children.

God gives her the grace to deal with their sin.

She is there for them as long as she will tarry.

It is the Cross that Christ gave her to carry

She is the mom of every child's dream.

She has shown that Jesus Christ is supreme.

She pleads to God for their salvation

He gives the only eternal and lasting relation.

I thank you Jesus for my mother!

I would never want another!

Thank You, Jesus for the grace she has bestowed.

Because of her life by You I am owned!

Help her not to live with regret.

Because of her my eternity is set!

Written by Christian O'Dell

In dedication to his mother!

John 3:16-The Greatest Verse-Piece by Piece

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (E.S.V.)

1. For God=The Greatest Lover

2. So Loved=The Greatest Degree

3. The World=The Greatest Company

4. That He Gave=The Greatest Act

5. His Only Son=The Greatest Gift

6. That Whoever=The Greatest Opportunity

7. Believes=The Greatest Choice

8. In Him=The Greatest Person

9. Should Not Perish=The Greatest Promise

10. But=The Greatest Difference

11. Have=The Greatest Certainty

12. Eternal Life=The Greatest Possession

Great Combo of some of my favorite songs

Oh, Taste and See the Joy of Jesus Christ!

What is your favorite restaurant? You know that place where your all-time favorite food is served. For me... it is Olive Garden! We love the all-you-can-eat soup, salad and bread sticks. I love the Zuppa Toscana. It is like, "Manna from Heaven." You can't get enough of it. What Zuppa Toscana is to my stomach, Psalm 34:8 is to my spirit. I can't get enough of it. Psalm 34:8a has been a wonderful blessing in my life. My aim is to break this verse down for "Spiritual Food" and that you would start to taste and see the Joy of Jesus Christ. The first word is "Oh" I love that word. It literally means in the Hebrew, "OOOOHHHH" It is a cry for our attention. It is like the word "Behold" in the Bible. It is crying for you and I to check Jesus Christ out and what He has for us. The second word is "taste" the Hebrew word is "Ta'am" it means to understand. As a parent, I battle with my kids to eat food that they have not tasted. It does not look the way they think that it should so they refuse to eat it. As a parent, I say, just taste it! How do you know that it is bad unless you taste it? Finally they taste it and they understand that it is good. When it comes to Jesus Christ, we need to taste His goodness, and do what the next to words in the verse tells us, "and see". The word see in the Hebrew is "Ra'ah" literally means to enjoy. There is a lack of enjoying the Savior. To bask in His beauty. Like the next few words, "that the LORD is good!" The name of Jesus in the text is LORD in the Hebrew it is Yahweh literally means the Self-existed One or the One Who is eternally present. Also it can mean "I AM". The One in this text that is good is eternally present in every circumstance. He is transcendent and profound. The point is that we will never be unsatisfied with the heights and the depths of Jesus Christ. He is eternally satisfying. This is the longing of Kind David when he personally needed to change his perspective in his present situation. That brings the application for you and I. David did not need to change his circumstances. This Psalm was written when Ambimelech drove David out of his kingdom. Really, David was being driven out of his comforts in his present circumstances. David knew the solution to his situation was not to change his circumstances. How many times in our lives do we pray that our circumstances change? Or that we would be given a different hand of cards? David's answer to his situation was not to fix the situation, but to change his perspective. You and I desperately need to change our perspective in life. We need to stop our reasoning and start tasting and seeing Jesus Christ is good! We need to remember that our present circumstances have been sovereignly ordained by Him. That is why James said, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meed trials of various kinds."(James 1:2) Add that to the statement, "looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."(Hebrews 12:2). If we tie these two verses together you realize that the situations that we are in are ordained by God, and we can have joy knowing that God is presently orchestrating the circumstances we are facing. That is why David is not trying to change his circumstances. He would be in a sense saying, "God I don't like what you have sovereignly placed into my life, and I will not have joy in Jesus Christ in this situation." What David is saying in Psalm 34:8, "God you have ordained these circumstances, and I am not going to focus on trying to alter these circumstances. Instead, I am going to just enjoy your goodness. I am going to understand and enjoy the goodness of Jesus Christ." Whatever you are facing. Please stop trying to alter the situation. Realize it is from Jesus, have joy in knowing He is in control of it, and just enjoy Him. Think about this... No matter what happens to you today. Good or bad, you are still going to Heaven. Your eternity is set, and in Heaven you are going to taste and see that Jesus Christ is full of goodness. He has a place awaiting you with wonderful pleasures. "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11). Amen? Stop trying to change your circumstances. Start to taste and see that the LORD is good. Only then will you experience the Joy of Jesus Christ. Remember that He is the LORD and He is eternally present. So take the time to taste and see the Joy of Jesus Christ.

Always True

Another book to get........

Always True by James MacDonald. It reaches the heart of why God makes me promises, and it gives me a solid theological view from bibliology of God's promises!!! However 2 Corinthians 1:20, all the promises of God find their yes in Jesus Christ.

LIES!!!

I am tired of being lied to. Especially by my family. I have zero trust in them. They do love me, but its like I can not tell them anything without being in absolute shock. It just hurts.

A-ROD or Brett Favre?

I am an avid Packer fan, and last year was another apex in my life as a Packer fan. I want to give props to Aaron Rodgers. He is an incredible talent. I hope that he surpasses Brett Favre on the field. About a year ago he was on the radio and asked about his charities, and he answered, "Do not let your left hand know what the right hand is doing." I had heard that he was a follower of Jesus Christ. Here is a link about his faith and how his upbringing was centered on Jesus Christ. Brett Favre will always be one of my all-time favorites but my heart has embraced A-Rod. I hope that he does well on the field, but I get to spend eternity in heaven with a fellow-follower-of-Jesus! IGo Pack Go!

The Poetic Masterpiece of Jesus Christ which is me-Part 1 of 10

Jesus Christ is the Divine Poet and the Divine artist. Whatever He does is a poetic masterpiece. He is the greatest poet of all time. He is the Shakespeare or the T.S. Elliot of the poetic work in my life. He is the Pablo Picasso as he has painted the picture of my life. The thing that I noticed about great artist or painters is the intricacy of their work. The fine care that they put into their work, and the way they have woven what is in their minds to the paper. It is a picture of how Jesus Christ has woven my life together, and how tenderly Jesus has put my life together. I believe like an artist... Jesus Christ has written out my life or painted the picture of my life before He put it on paper. He chose all the colors, the words and the paper by which my life was done. It is a picture of His predestined plan for my life. I hope that through the scriptures (objective truth) and my life (subjective reality) that you will see the ordained plan of Jesus Christ for all of our lives. Their are zero possibilities with God. I believe that the only thing that makes sense is that everything that has happened in my life is ordained by Jesus Christ.

First, I am not a "Calvinist" however... I believe that God is 100% sovereign over all the affairs of life. Especially in the small details. I have been weaving 7 passages together and have synthesized these passages (In their context) to show that God is totally sovereign in all our affairs to the power of ten. I am feeling the truth that Jesus Christ is 100% in control of everything that comes across my crazy life.

Here is my aim in this blog and I will be turning this into a book. First, God has ordained all my days and is intimately involved with how I was created and His tenderness in creating me. Second, I am his poetic and artistic masterpiece for good works. Third, Jesus Christ began this good work and will bring it to His ordained plan. Fourth, Jesus is the author of the "good" and the "calamities" in my life. Fifth, Jesus had joy in the ordained plan He walked in. Sixth, I can regard the same joy in the ordained calamities and trials in my life. Lastly, humility and exaltation is God's ultimate aim for Jesus and me.

These are the passages for my consideration for my profound belief that God ordains everything and allows nothing in my life:

1. Psalm 139:13-16

2. Ephesians 2:10

3. Philippians 1:6

4. Isaiah 45:7

5. Hebrews 12:2

6. James 1:2

7. Philippians 2:5:13

I am going to break this down into eight parts and show how my addiction, recovery and the Sovereign Hand of Jesus Christ are both objective from the Word and subjective in my needy heart.

New Favorite Music Groups

BACK

Well, I have been gone for a while... I am back and there is more to come! God has done huge things in my life. Mostly painful! I used to think that in life that I had to have a road map to figure stuff out, and now I am realizing that I just need a flashlight to take one step at a time.

THEY DO NOT GET IT!

Lately I have had the wonderful opportunity to preach the Bible weekly to a hurting Church. I see so manny opportunities for growth and yet they are still wallowing in their pain. I can't open their eyes to show them the light at the end of the tunnel. But, I am realizing that faithfulness is needed in this beloved place. Yes, they do not get it! But so many times in my own life. The grace of Jesus Christ was there for the taking, and I so missed it. So pray for these beloved people to see what is so good! They need to do Psalm 34:8 in their lives!

Commentary Recommendations

Instead of giving you a list of my favorite recommendations of New Testament Commentaries, I will give you Dr. C. Sam Storms website and his recommendations. I don't agree with all of Sam Storms views, however I find his passion for the Glory of God very infectious. Enjoy!

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Biblical & Theological Resources from the Ministry of Dr. Sam Storms

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"The Best of the 80's" -Brings out the "WOW"

This morning I watched, Mike & Mike in the Morning. It is an ESPN radio program that talks about sports. This morning the program's theme was, "Best of  the 80's".

 They interviewed some of the greatest athletes in the 80's such as Larry Bird, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Jim McMahon. They wanted to draw us back to all things in the 80's. They did a fantastic job of bringing my heart back to my childhood. They talked about the best actors, best movies, best songs, best fashions, best sports moments, best teams, best sports calls and the best athletes of the 80's. Since the program is primarily a sports program they drew my in to some great memories. I felt a level of awe of the 80's. There was a short clip of the NBA Dunk Contest. The final 2 of the contest were Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins. They had some spectacular dunks. However, I'll never forget the dunk that won it. It was Michael Jordan jumping from the free throw line to dunk the ball. Every time I watch it I am amazed. It is such a "WOW" I wish I could do that moment. I was full of awe. It seemed like Michael Jordan was in the air for like 5 minutes. He had the opportunity to draw people into his greatness.

That brings me to aim of this article. Today the church has lost the "WOW" of Jesus Christ. We have forgotten that when we walk into sanctuary that we are collectively in the presence of True Greatness. The Pastor needs to remember that he is to draw people to realize that they are in the presence of the Greatest Person in all of History. There is no one more preeminent in history than Jesus Christ. Let us return to the "WOW" of Jesus Christ! Amen?

WHAT IS THE DIARY OF YOUR BIBLE?

* January 15-Been resting for a week. A few nights after the first of the year, my owner opened me, but no more. Another New Year's resolution gone wrong.

* February 3-Owner picked me up and rushed off to Sunday school.

*February 23-Cleaning day. Dusted and put back in my place.

*April 2-Busy day. Owner had to present the lesson at Sunday School. Quickly look up a lot of references.

*May 5-Grandma's in town. Back in her lap. A very comfortable place.

* may 9-She let a tear fall on John 14.

*May 20- Baby born. they wrote his name on one of my pages.

* July 1-Packed in a suitcase. Off for a vacation.

* July 20-Still in the Suitcase. Almost everything else taken out.

* July 25-Home again. Quite a trip. Although I am not sure why I went.

* August 16-Dusted again and put in a prominent place. The Pastor is coming over for dinner.

* August 20- Owner wrote Grandma's death in the Family Record. He left his extra pair of glasses between my pages.

* December 31-Owner just found his glasses. I wonder if he will make any new resolutions this year about me.

IF YOUR BIBLE COULD WRITE A DIARY ABOUT YOU THIS LAST YEAR, WHAT WOULD IT SAY?

"Who's laughing now, Voltaire?"

There was this French infidel named Voltaire who lived in the 1700's. He really wasn't to keen on the Bible. He really did not enjoy the Bible. He really had a big-time issue with the Bible. He predicted that within a 100 years of his lifetime that the only place that you would find a Bible would be in a museum. The point he was trying to make is that the Bible's message would no longer be vogue, or that it would be totally yesterday's news. People would move on, and move on to more current and helpful spirituality. 

However, Jesus so has a profound sense of humor, and He was going to personally prove it. Instead within 50 years of Voltaire's death, in 1778, the Geneva Bible Society purchased Voltaire's home for a printing press. They used his printing press to print Bibles. Jesus certainly had the last Word on the issue. Isaiah writes, "The Grass withers, The flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8). No matter what man says or does, he cannot thwart God's unalterable purposes. The testimony of the Word of Jesus Christ is such a confidence booster. It's internal evidence gets Voltaire. The Bible is inspired by God (II Timothy 3:15-16). Think about this. God breathed His Word into 40 people. These 40 people could not be more diverse. Some were shepherds, some were political leaders, doctors, tax collectors, religious leaders and fishermen. These people lived over a period of about 1,500 years. The writers had absolutely zero contradictions in their books, and they all were connected to and by Jesus Christ. The ability for us to get 40 different authors from various walks of life over period of 1,500 years and have no contradictions. If I were to take 4 people and have them watch a car accident, and I promise you that they will have inconsistencies. It would be impossible for me to do this. Oh yes, but with Jesus all things are possible. It was not difficult for Jesus at all. Voltaire is one man that tried to attack the greatness of the Bible, and he mocked the Bible. Who's laughing now Voltaire? "He Who sits in the heavens laughs: the Lord hods them in derision"(Psalm 2:4). Thank you Jesus for proving Voltaire wrong, and for graciously saving me!

Common Sense by Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck is a program that is on Fox news Monday through Friday (4-5pm CST).  I'm reading his book titled, Glenn Beck's Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-Of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine. It is a good read. It is #1 on New York Times Best Seller's List. He has help me realize how out of control our Government is. He did a survey of several key issues. First, the goal of our politicians is not that they work for us, but that they will do whatever it takes to stay in office. Second, I learned that our President's 2009 spending was projected to produce a deficit of $1,700,000,000,000, that is $4.657 billion every day, to break that down even more that is $53,906.64 per second. That is a lot of money! I will not make that much in a year. It just shows how out of control the spending of our Government really is, and that is incredible! Get the book, read it! But remember, the follower of Jesus Christ is sovereign. He is way above our Government. AMEN!

God Wrote A Book

I want to challenge you to read this book. Mark Barlow and myself challenged Mark Driscoll to read this book and now it is his top books for Hermeneutics. Please read this book if you truly love the Bible. To love the Bible is to love Jesus Christ. James MacDonald does a wonderful, witty, engaging and humorous job in this book. I have given a few links below for further information.

Walk In The Word's Website (James MacDonald) 

Book Link:

(http://store.walkintheword.com/p-707-god-wrote-a-book.aspx)

God wrote a book. There’s something very powerful in that simple statement---especially when you realize He wrote it to you and me, sharing His thoughts and His heart with each one of us.

But not everyone believes that. In fact, you’ve probably been asked why you are so bent on following God’s book . . . believing it and doing what it says. For those times, here’s affirmation to bolster your faith and a reasonable response for you to give to others who are asking legitimate, intelligent questions about what the Bible is and what it can do for them.

Audio Sermon Series Link:

(http://store.walkintheword.com/p-1070-god-wrote-a-book-how-to-study-trust-and-defend-the-bible.aspx  )

CD Series Details:

God wrote a book...to you and me. Isn't that incredible? The Creator of the universe, the Lord of life sharing His thoughts and His heart with each one of us who seeks the treasures of His Word. How often we neglect to do that! This series gives us confidence in the origin of the Bible and why the application of its truths is all we need to live our day to day lives successfully. It also provides clear answers to those who ask why we depend on God's Word for the answers we need. 

Messages in this series:

Why I Believe in the Bible	Isaiah 40:8
Where Did the Bible Come From?	Various
What is the Bible Good For?	Psalm 19:7-11
How to Benefit From the Bible	Jeremiah 15:16

The Resurgence Website (Mark Driscoll) (http://theresurgence.com/Great_Books_Bible_Study_and_Theology)

Grace and I have personally benefited from the following books; they are easy to read and are among the best in their areas of instruction. We have recommended these books many times over the years and have purchased many copies for our friends.

Bibles and Bible Study

Children's Bible
The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name (Zondervan, 2007) by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Inerrancy
God Wrote a Book (Crossway, 2004) by James MacDonald

I Don't Get It?

What is up with this huge affection for the "Church Fathers"? I appreciate John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards and many others. They are out of this world I wish I could be like that kind of a guy. However, they had their time. We have ours! I was not born in 1509 like John Calvin. I was born in 1977. I live in a world that is so not like John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards. My fear is that we are developing an unhealthy admiration for these men. I do not believe that Jonathan Edwards is the greatest American mind in the history of evangelicalism. My thought is this. Instead of reading his giant two-volume work. I did read it, and it took me two years to work through it. Get your nose into the Text. The reformation is over. We live in an anti-doctrinal age, more importantly an anti-Biblical age. So instead of reading 1500's let us live in 2008.

I want to challenge you. Do a word search in the Bible, and I guarantee you will not find the name John Calvins or Jonathan Edwards in the Bible. I am not against "Reformed Theology" or "Calvinism". Why do we have to label ourselves as "Reformed" or "Calvinistic". I heard John Piper say that the value of being a Reformed person is that, "Not a bird falls from the sky without your heavenly father knowing it". That is a value that is achieved from being a student of God's word. I believe that everything is ordained by a Sovereign God! That does not make me Reformed, but Exegetical.

In conclusion, I am so thankful for John Calvin, Edwards and others. I am just concerned for a lot today that hold too tightly to their words, and not the Holy Text. My aim is to help us question our love for the Text. Let us be better students of the Word and not man!

Michael Jackson is gone, and so are some Christians!!!

We have all heard that Michael Jackson has died. The King of Pop is gone. America has lost another icon. One of the thoughts that I cannot get out of my mind is where will he be for eternity. Amy and I put on our facebook status to pray for the Jackson family. That comment brought out a lot of comments and most were very sinful because they lacked love. The scripture is clear that when we lack love sin is our motivation. The comments made me ashamed of the statements of these Christians. A lot of pious comments like, "Good, the child molester deserved to die." I was appalled by those comments. I thought, "Without the grace of God we would all be finished!" The only difference between Michael Jackson and the follower of Jesus Christ is grace. Not only that... We don't know if he ever gave his life to Jesus Christ. Only Jesus Christ knows, and we need to pray for his family. That maybe by his death, that Jesus Christ would draw some of them to Himself.

Michael Jackson is arguably one of the most well know figures in the history of the world. He was also a very troubled individual. He had very few people in his life that actually cared for him. When I watched him, I noticed that he seemed a lot like a child. There seemed to be a lot of layers to his personhood. He seemed different from your average Joe. He was creative, talented, gifted and a world icon. However, he died at 50 years old. He has not lived a day longer or shorter according to the sovereign plan of Jesus Christ. He has gone on into eternity.

To us Christians who are cheering about his death... Shame on us, period! He is just like us, and he desperately needed the grace of Jesus Christ. Have we left our reason for why we were saved? Grace! Read Ephesians 2:8-10, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." That is the reason why we are Christians or followers of Jesus Christ. Do not judge Michael Jackson. The key between a follower of Jesus Christ and Michael Jackson... GRACE! So let us get over ourselves, and if we can't then we are gone, period!

Temple Worship! Redemptively Speaking! Questions That I am thinking of from the Gospel of John.

What is temple worship? How does temple worship flow in the metanarrative in the Bible? How does temple worship flow from the Father to the Son? How does the Spirit make the disciples the new locus of temple worship? Lastly, what are the applicable truths of the believers being the locus of temple worship?  If you have any thoughts, PLEASE COMMENT!!! THE TEXT IS TOO IMPORTANT TO NOT QUERY IT!!! AMEN!?

Remember The Rowboats

Your marriage, like two rowboats meant to be together, will slowly and subtly drift apart unless you are well anchored. Tying your boats together with the bonds of commitment, togetherness, and well planned love will also help to drift proof your marriage. Please join us! Become one of the Lord's marriages that will go the distance and make a difference in the lives of those who know you. This book includes both small group discussion questions after each chapter and a personal journal at the end of the book. The book and its format are excellent for small group friendship building and growth, for couple to couple mentoring, for pastoral counseling, and pre-marital training.

"Jim and Barbara are seasoned in their love for God and how that translates to their marriage relationship. Remember the Rowboats book is a living testament to their passion and calling to deepen and enrich Godly marriages." 
- Josh McDowell

"If you're looking for a book on building your marriage that is forged out of the fire of personal experience, Remember the Rowboats is for you. It's solid, helpful, practical, biblical advice on keeping it all together when everything is falling apart. The chapter "Oars and Life Jackets" is worth the whole book."
- Dr. Woodrow Kroll 
President and senior bible teacher of Back to the Bible 

"If you're looking for an authentic book about marriage and family, you've found it. Jim and Barbara peal back the veneer and give it to you straight - real people living real life, but with real solutions.
- Dennis Rainey, President of Family Life 

Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God by Dr. Bruce Ware

Big Truths for Young Hearts is a needful book for the Christian Parent that wants to raise his/her child with some depth in the Word of God. This book is also great for anyone who wants to get the basics down for Christian Theology.  Dr. Bruce Ware loved to hunt when he was younger. He and his wife had two daughters and no sons. So he decided to sell his guns to give his daughter what matters most. A theological foundation! He would teach his daughters in the car, at bedtime and whenever he found time to teach them what he loved most. This should infuse in each of us to look at our priorities to see what is most valuable. The Word of Jesus Christ or our hobbies? With that in mind, I want to wholeheartedly recommend this book to you.

This is what the website at Crossway states about this new book by Dr. Bruce Ware and also some endorsements:

Equips parents to guide their young children through all major doctrines in an understandable, chapter-a-day format.

Sure, it’s easy to teach your children the essentials of Christian theology when you’re a theology professor. But what about the rest of us?

With Big Truths for Little Hearts, Bruce Ware, (you guessed it!) a theology professor, encourages and enables parents of children 6–14 years of age to teach through the whole of systematic theology at a level their children can understand. Parents can teach their children the great truths of the faith and shape their worldviews early, based on these truths.

The book covers ten topics of systematic theology, devoting several brief chapters to each subject, making it possible for parents to read one chapter per day with their children. With this non-intimidating format, parents will be emboldened to be their children’s primary faith trainers—and perhaps learn a few things themselves along the way.

---

“A theologically rich resource to aid parents in training their children. Anyone who wants to help children grow in their love for Jesus and understanding of the Bible needs this book.”
Mark Driscoll, Pastor of Mars Hill Church, Seattle; President of Acts 29 and The Resurgence

“This is a great book for children and their parents on the classic doctrines of the faith. I heartily recommend it to every parent!”
Dennis Rainey, President, FamilyLife 

“My conversion and discipleship as a young girl were significantly influenced by my parents reading to our family a book that taught biblical doctrine to children in a systematic way. The church today must be intentional in passing on to the next generation the core and precious beliefs on which our Christian faith rests. To neglect that responsibility is to leave those who come behind us vulnerable to every wind of (false) doctrine and to risk their rejecting our faith altogether. Big Truths for Young Hearts is a rich resource for parents, teachers, and others who care about helping the next generation know and love God and his ways. In addition to being a theology course for children and young people, it is also a great refresher course for adults.”
Nancy Leigh DeMoss, author; host of Revive Our Hearts radio broadcast

“Imagine a respected theologian devoting himself to training a new generation of pastors and scholars in the seminary classroom. Now imagine him driving home at night to teach that profound theology in simple terms to his children at their bedsides. Now imagine this father compiling those bedside conversations into a book available to all pastors, parents, and children alike. Imagine no more. My friend Dr. Bruce Ware has done it.”
C. J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries 

“I praise God that this book has been written and that a person of Bruce Ware’s theological stature has taken seriously the potential of theological training in the first two decades of life. Although this tool can serve different instructional venues, I cannot help but see the gift this is to Christian parents and to dads in particular who are charged with the spiritual instruction of their children. The foreword alone is worth the price of this book and more than enough inspiration to follow Bruce’s example in the faithful instruction of his two daughters. What Christian father would not want to be remembered by his adult children as a man who loved the gospel and who faithfully imparted the truth on which they now firmly stand. Dear brothers, imagine the impact on future generations if our children could grasp what has taken some of us decades to understand. Take this beautifully written, Bible-saturated, God-centered, theologically comprehensive summary of the truth and teach it diligently to your children, and until your children leave your home talk of it when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”
David Michael, Pastor for Parenting and Family Discipleship, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis

The Pack is Back!

Just a thought about my favorite sport and my favorite team. The Packers! Last year they lost a lot of close games that were very close. It was not because of the offense. They 2008 Green Bay Packers had an incredible offense. The defense couldn't stop anyone. This year they have transition from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense. I think that they will be vastly improved from last year. First they have 2 of the best shut-down corners, very solid safeties and a linebacker group that is getting deeper. They also drafted 2 first-rounders for the defensive side of the team. I believe that they will win the division, and if they can get this new 3-4 defensive scheme work. They can be a pretty tough team in the playoffs. 

Read Philip Graham Ryken's Commentaries!!!

I have to recommend these five commentaries. They are all written by Philip Graham Ryken. Two of them are in R. Kent Hughes series, Preaching the Word, and the other three are in the Reformed Expository Commentary series.  

1. Exodus (Preaching the Word)

     -Ryken does an incredible job of connecting the Passover to Jesus Christ. You can't help but t        to fall in love with Jesus Christ in this commentary. It is clear and easy to follow

2. Jeremiah and Lamentations (Preaching the Word)

     -In his commentary, Ryken show the connection of the book of Jeremiah and the book of             John. You can't help but to see the Old Testament Shepherd VS. the New Testament                     Shepherd.

3. Luke 2 Volumes (Reformed Expository Commentary)-Great Literary Themes!

4. Galatians (Reformed Expository Commentary)-Theologically Solid.

5. I Timothy (Reformed Expository Commentary)-Very Pastoral

*I may be biased! But I find his commentaries very helpful for a pastor who love the Word and has a Theological mind. Also for the student of God's Word, who wants to see how the Bible connects to everyday life.

Some More Book Recommendations!!!

1. Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, By John Piper.

-This is a must read! Especially the chapter on the Lion-Lamb aspects of the Person of Jesus Christ! This book will take you profoundly into the excellencies of Jesus Christ. 

Influential books

Casey O'Dell's Top Books:

A. Theology

1. Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem

2. Abraham's Four Seeds, John Reisinger

3. Christ in the Shadow of the Law of Moses, Vern S. Poythress

4. New Covenant Theology, Steve Lehrer

5. Christ For Real, Charles Price

6. Gripped by the Greatness of God, James MacDonald

7. Knowing God, J.I. Packer

8. The Holiness of God, R.C. Sproul

9. Foundations of The Christian Faith, James M. Boice

10. Concise Theology, J.I. Packer

11. The Unfolding Mystery, Edmund Clowney

12. According to Plan, Graeme Goldsworthy

13. The Doctrines That Divide, Erwin Lutzer

14. The Doctrine of God, John Frame

15. Symphonic Theology, Vern Poythress

16. Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility, D.A. Carson

17. Chosen For Life, Sam Storms

18. Interpreting the Pauline Epistles, Thomas Schreiner

19. Now That's a Good Question, R.C. Sproul

20. The Cross and Salvation, Bruce Demarest

21. Christian Theology, Millard Erickson

22. The Holy Spirit, Donald Bloesch

23. Father, Son, & Holy Spirit, Bruce Ware

24. Him We Proclaim, Dennis Johnson

25. The Doctrines of Grace, Ryken and Boice

B. Christian Living

1. Don't Waste Your Life, John Piper

2. I am not but I know I Am, Louie Giglio

3. I Really Want to Change...So Help Me God, James MacDonald

4. Jesus on Trial, Boice and Ryken

5. Loving Christ, Joseph Stowell

6. The Great Work of The Gospel, John Ensor

7. Holiness By Grace, Bryan Chapell

8. The Gospel for Real Life, Jerry Bridges

9. Can God Bless America, John MacArthur

10. Simply Jesus And You, Joseph Stowell

11. In Light of Eternity, Randy Alcorn

12. Life is a Vapor, John Piper

13. The Cross Centered Life, C.J. Mahaney

14. Christ Our Mediator, C.J. Mahaney

15. Saved From What?, R.C. Sproul

16. The Grace and Truth Paradox, Randy Alcorn

17. Convergence, Sam Storms

18. The Singing of God, Sam Storms

19. What Angels Wish They Knew, Alistair Begg

20. Credo, Ray Pritchard

21. Trusting God, Jerry Bridges

22. Our Sufficiency In Christ, John MacArthur

23. The Weight of Your Words, Joseph Stowell

24. Too Good To Be True, Michael S. Horton

25. Classic Christianity, Bob George

C. Commentaries

1. NINCT The Epistles To The Romans, Douglas Moo

2. Preaching The Word Commentary on Exodus, Philip Graham Ryken

3. Triumph of the Lamb, Dennis Johnson

4. Preaching The Word Commentary on Genesis, R. Kent Hughes

5. The Gospel According To John, D.A. Carson

6. The Justification of God, John Piper

7. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries Colossians and Philemon, N.T. Wright

8. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries I Peter, Wayne Grudem

9. The NIV Application Commentary, 2 Peter and Jude, Douglas Moo

10. The Cross and the Christian Ministry, D.A. Carson

11. Commentary On The New Testament Use Of The Old Testament, Leale & Carson

12. Reformed Expositor's Commentary, Galatians, Philip Graham Ryken

13. The Letter of James, Douglas Moo

14. Basic for Believers, D.A. Carson

15. Holman Old Testament Commentary on Job, Steven J. Lawson

16. Holman Old Testament Commentary on Psalms (2 Volumes), Steven J. Lawson

17. That You May Believe, Skip Ryan

18. The Battle for The Beginning, John MacArthur

19. The Hope of Glory (A Devotional Commentary on Colossians), Sam Storms

20. The Message of The Old Testament, Mark Dever

21. The Message of The New Testament, Mark Dever

22. Studies In The Sermon On The Mount, Martin Lloyed Jones

23. Poet & Peasant And Through Peasant Eyes (A Literary- Cultural Approach to The Parables in Luke)Kenneth E. Bailey

24. The Expositor's Bible Commentary on Matthew, D.A. Carson

25. Reformed Expositor's Commentary on Hebrews, Richard D. Philips

E. Preaching and Pastoral Ministry

1. Brothers, We Are Not Professionals, John Piper

2. Pastoral Ministry, John MacArthur

3. Preaching, John MacArthur

4. Counseling, John MacArthur

5. Preach the Word, Leland Ryken

6. Shepherding the Church in the 21st Century, Joseph Stowell

7. Christ-Centered Preaching, Bryan Chapell

8. Biblical Preaching, Haddon Robinson

9. The Expository Genius of John Calvin, Steven J. Lawson

10. Famine In The Land, Steven J. Lawson

11. The Supremacy of God in Preaching, John Piper

12. Feed my Sheep, Various authors

13. On Being a Pastor, Alistair Begg

14. Preaching the Cross, Mark Dever and various authors

15. From the Front Lines, Joseph Stowell

F. Books on Marriage and the Family

1. Courageous Parenting, Jack Graham

2. Shepherding a Child's Heart, Tedd Tripp

3. Never Walk Away, Crawford Loritts

4. Building Strong Families, Dennis Rainey

5. Seven Words to Change Family... Before it is Too Late, James MacDonald

6. Family Driven Faith, Voddie Bauchman Jr.

7. The Legacy, Steven J. Lawson

8. Family Survival In An X-Rated World, Adrian Rogers

9. The Most Important Place on Earth, Robert Wolgemuth

10. Lasting Love, Alistair Begg

11. Different by Design, John MacArthur

12. Love that Lasts, Gary & Betsy Ricucci

13. Each For The Other, Bryan Chapell

14. Marriage Connection, Greg Laurie

15. Doing Things Right in Matters of the Heart, John Ensor

16. Sex God, Rob Bell

17. Intimate Marriage, R.C. Sproul

18. Love, Sex, and lasting Relationships, Chip Ingram

19. I, Isaac, Take Thee, Rebekah, Ravi Zacharias

20. The Purity Principle, Randy Alcorn

G. Hermeneutics

1. God Wrote a Book, James MacDonald

2. Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics, Graeme Goldsworthy

3. The Cannon of Scripture, F.F. Bruce

4. Scripture and Truth, Carson and Woodbridge

5. God's Word, J.I. Packer

6. Interpreting the New Testament, Darrel Bock

7. Can We Trust The Gospels, Mark D. Roberts

8. Exegetical Fallacies, D.A. Carson

9. Translating Truth, Wayne Grudem

10. Pierced by the Word, John Piper

11. How To Study The Bible, John MacArthur

H. Books on the Church

1. The Deliberate Church, Mark Dever

2. Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, Mark Dever

3. Stop Dating the Church, Joshua Harris

4. The Church, Edmund Clowney

5. City on a Hill, Philip Graham Ryken

6. From Sabbath to Lord's Day, D.A. Carson

7. The Master's Plan for The Church, John MacArthur

8. Recruiting Volunteers in Church, Mark Senter

9. Fan the Flame, Joseph Stowell

10. The Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic, Philip Graham Ryken and Mark Dever

I. Apologetics and Culture

1. Think Biblically, John MacArthur

2. The Gagging of God, D.A. Carson

3. Culture Shift, R. Albert Mohler

4. Beyond Opinion, Ravi Zacharias

5. The Trouble with Jesus, Joseph M. Stowell

6. How should We Then Live, Francis Schaeffer

7. No Place for Truth, David Wells

8. God in The Wastelands, David Wells

9. Losing our Virtues, David Wells

10. Above All Earthly Pow'rs, David Wells

11. Truth War, John MacArthur

12. Velvet Elvis, Rob Bell
J. Top Study Bibles and Translations
----Study Bibles:
1. The ESV Study Bible
2. The Reformation Study Bible
3. The MacArthur Study Bible
4. The Literary Study Bible

----Bible Translations:
1. The English Standard Version of the Bible
2. The New American Standard Version of the Bible
3. The New King James Version of the Bible
4. The King James Version of the Bible
5. The Holman Christian Standard Version of the Bible