Mr. Tall

Book Reviews

I'm going to try something different. I'm creating this post, but it will be a post that I'll update from time to time. I'll have a link on the right hand side on my main page (current reading section) to this post so it can be easily accessed.

I'll just add links below to .pdf files (or something) with the book review as I read and review books. (For example: Book Tittle, Author - Link)

Below are some books that I'm working on either reading or have read and will shortly write a review. As you'll notice, I'm going to try to do books that are not super well-known (like Desiring God or Purpose Driven Life). The reason is that most people have read them and don't need to read my re-hash on them.
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Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller

Searching for God knows what - Donald Miller

Sex and the Supremacy of Christ - Justin Taylor and John Piper

Fidelity - Douglas Wilson

Why Small Groups - Various Authors, C.J. Mahaney (editor)

more coming soon...

*And yes, the comments section is for you to comment on the book reviews or on the books themselves. Just be sure to reference the name of the book or author.

Texas

It's been a really really busy last two weeks... but through it all God is good. I feel like I'm not stopping and when I do, I'm asleep. I think it's just the month of May.

I went to Dallas, TX the first weekend in May for the following reasons:
- To attend my brother in-law's graduation from Dallas Theological Seminary with a Master of Theology.
- To spend some time with my parents and youngest bro who were arriving in the states for a couple of months.
- To finally meet my nephew Roger James ...only the cutest baby ever! (no personal bias at all, for proof see below).
- To see my best friend Daniel who lives in Austin.
- To take a mini-vacation.

One highlight of my weekend was Friday afternoon. The Lord and I had a wonderful time of communion. I lay out in the shadow of a tree in my sister's backyard and stared up into the beautiful Texas sky. I spent about three hours reading, listening to music, slipping in and out of consciousness. It was so awesome because as I read I talked to God, as I listened to music I couldn't help but sing and praise Him, and whenever I would awake He was my focus. I learned a great deal about having a real relationship with Him.
Anyway, I had a great extended weekend and enjoyed spending time with the family and friends.

Since then... it seems that every night there is something else to do. I work all day and then there are always church activities, helping friends, meeting with my mentor, meeting with my financial accountability partner, weddings, dinner parties, and of course having fun with friends...

Here are a couple of shots of the Rogmeister

Your Beloved

Lord it was You
You created the heavens
Lord it was Your hands
That put the stars in their place
Lord it was Your voice
That commands the morning
'Cause even oceans and their waves bow at Your feet
Oh God

Lord who am I
Compared to Your glory
Lord who am I
Compared to Your majesty

Cause I'm Your beloved
Your creation
And You love me as I am
You call me chosen
For Your kingdom
Unashamed to call me Your own
Cause I'm Your beloved

Lord it was You
You created the heavens
Lord it was Your hands
That put the stars in their place
Lord it was Your voice
That commands the morning
'Cause even oceans and their waves bow at Your feet
Oh God

By the Tree - "Your Beloved" from Hold you High.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth;
I believe in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord;
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary,
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day He rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

the main point

Now the main point in what has been said is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. Hebrews 8:1-2

That's the main point? All of Hebrews and that's the main point? That's it...?

High priest
Sanctuary
Tabernacle
Throne
Blood sacrifices

Yea, I use those words every day in my conversations!

…yes, I said that very tongue-in-cheek. Isn’t it easy to see Christ priesthood as being somewhat peripheral? Sort of like Emergency lighting and Exit signs that you see in every building. They are there and we don’t really think about it unless the lights go out, THEN we’re grateful for them.

The author of Hebrews just told us the main point. Imagine him with his arms open wide, and with a face that shows that he’s told us the key to everything… and our response is: “…yea, and?”

So WHY do we see His priesthood as peripheral?

1. Our language is different
2. Our view of salvation is limited
3. Our sense of need is minimal

Our language is different, but those terms mentioned are a representation of what Christ does for us all the time. If you’ve grow up in church all your life you’ve heard the words and have a vague idea what they are referring to. Just try to explain that to someone you randomly meet on the street… Language or not, this is vital!

Our view of salvation is limited, but thankfully Christ sees the whole picture. He knows everything from before time into eternity. We just see this very very short time that we’re on earth and even then we tend to focus on our day to day occurrences.

Our sense of need is minimal. Here is one of our greatest mistakes! Many times we think that we’ve been saved and we’re all set. Now we just go through the sanctification process and go to heaven. Do you realize that if Christ stopped being our High Priest for one second, we would be condemned instantly?

Hebrews 7:24-25
"but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever (uttermost) those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. "

My sermon notes and commentary on this morning's service at North Hills Community Church.