Reb Rev's Blog

This post was republished to Reb Rev’s Blog at 7:12:58 PM 5/26/2009

The New Spirit-filled Life Bible

The “New Spirit-filled Life Bible edited by Jack Hayford is a study Bible with the focus on the role of the Holy Spirit. There are many good notes throughout this Bible. I liked the word helps which are linked to the Strong’s Concordance reference numbers.

The key study notes are in “Clusters.” Some of these (with examples of entries under that heading) are “Spiritual Foundation Precepts” (The Word of God and the Blood of the Covenant), “Personal Growth Precepts” (Growing in Knowing God and Godliness in Moral Purity), “Spiritual Stewardship Precepts” (Seed Faith and God’s Plan for Abundance). There are nine of these clusters with authors such as Jack Hayford, Pat Robertson, James Robison, and Oral Roberts.

I do have some concerns with some of the notes which are written from a decidedly Pentecostal point-of-view. For instance, in the note on Acts 1:8, it says that some of the disciples could have spoken in unknown tongues since the Scriptures do not say specifically that all 120 spoke in known languages which were known to the hearers. There were 120 speakers and only “about a dozen languages” were identified by those in the audience on that day. This is a slippery slope and can lead to all sorts of interpretations of various verses.

However, that being said I believe the intended audience for this Bible are those with more charismatic beliefs.

(I will be posting a few of these book reviews as a member of Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Blogger Program J

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”  – Romans 12:15

As I am closing in on 3o years in law enforcement this year, I am so thankful for all of my many blessings. I know we share so many of these.

We have countless friends and brothers and sisters in blue (brown, grey, etc.) I am certain we would have never met had it not been for this career.

There are a thousand great stories (some scary, some funny, some sad) which have enriched our lives.

There is so, so much to rejoice over and for which to be thankful.

But, there is weeping as well.

I attended the North Carolina Peace Officer Memorial Day service in Fayetteville this week.

I sat across the aisle from a young family, a wife and two young daughters, of one of our brothers who was gunned down last year while answering a call for service.

The weeping of those little girls while their daddy’s bio was being read, while his flag was being placed, and while Matt played taps, broke my heart.

To honor this verse, we must never forget the many blessings we enjoy, but we must never forget the families of those who have fallen – those who weep.