Reb Rev's Blog

“Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:12

It has a two horsepower motor. It weighs about 10 pounds. It is a grain grinder which is touted as being able to grind 100 pounds of grain an hour. It is called a “Wonder Mill.” It takes hard little kernels of grain and pulverizes them into a wonderful dust called flour, which in turn Eileen makes into all kinds of whole grain goodies.

The other day we found the reason for the name of this device. We “wondered” why it quit working. When you push the button, the motor hums and then… nothing else.

After consulting the manual and the company, the problem has been diagnosed. This super powerful machine is stopped up by a grain of wheat. Not a single grain, and probably not two, there are enough little unground kernels to stop it in all of its power.

One cannot do it alone, but add a few friends and voila – they won.

Do you ever think you are too small, too insignificant to accomplish anything great? The verse above tells us that which we may not accomplish by ourselves, we can accomplish working together. In the Bible I read that verse in, the section is entitled “The Value of a Friend.”

God has blessed us with friends so we might work together and be strengthened through those relationships to accomplish more than we could ever do alone.

Won’t you take a moment to thank Him today for the blessing of friends.

“Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make a Difference” by Max Lucado is another soul pricking work by a great author. Outlining the opening chapters of the book of Acts, the author brings out the truth of the selflessness of the early church. He gives us the application by pointing out both examples and opportunities available to us today.

In his easy to read – slow to digest – fashion he brings each point home without finger pointing or accusation. The reader is left challenged but not guilt ridden. In fact, it is quite encouraging to learn of the “small” options for action which are available to just about everyone. The message is clear, none of us can do it all, but we all can do something.

I highly recommend this book to those who desire to outlive their life.

The book closes with a chapter by chapter discussion guide for us in small group study.

I post these reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program. I receive a free copy of the book, but am not required to give a positive review.  Check it out at http://www.booksneeze.com

“The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters” by Andy Andrews has been described as the “ultimate gift book.” I agree. The information in the book is condensed from “The Traveler’s Gift” into a colorful quick read, but with a powerful message.

The “Butterfly Effect” is a name borrowed form that of a scientific hypothesis which states if a butterfly flaps his wings in the rainforest of South America, the molecules of air which are set in motion can become a hurricane thousands of miles away in the Atlantic. Hence, a thing which may seem to be most insignificant can have a tremendous impact.

That hypothesis is carried over into the life of every person. So, the life of every person – and the actions of every person, are important and meaningful.

To drive his point home, Andy Andrews gives a couple examples from history of everyday, ordinary people whose actions have impacted the lives of every person who has lived since.

While the book is small, the message is huge. It only takes a few minutes to read, but the message can change a life forever.

I post these reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program. I receive a free copy of the book, but am not required to give a positive review.  Check it out at http://www.booksneeze.com

Have you ever wanted to live life on the “wild side”? How about living the Christian life on the wild side? Does that sound contradictory? Well, that’s exactly what Mr. McManus proposes in “Unleashed.” He calls it the “barbarian” way.

McManus’ proposal is that the modern church has become much too civilized in order to be safe. He posits the early church, and especially Christ did not picture this type of life as normal. In this challenging work, he calls for modern Christians to get back to the culture confronting , living on the edge type of faith to which Christ has called those who will follow Him.

The author makes the pint well we have been called to walk by faith, not to be frozen by fear. As the Church, we are far less dangerous – and take far fewer risks – than God ever planned for us. There are many who will not be comfortable with this challenge, and that helps make the author’s point.

I recommend this challenging work, but be ready to feel convicted, confronted and called out by it.      

I post these reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program. I receive a free copy of the book, but am not required to give a positive review.  Check it out at http://www.booksneeze.com