Month: March 2014

Book Review : Blood Moon Rising

/ Steven Ruff / Leave a comment

4bloodmoonsProphecy and end-time discussion is big business today. We constantly see new books, studies, and movies that deal with various interpretations of end-time events. People are curious. People are scared. People today want to know if the failing economy and ongoing wars are a precursor to some apocalyptic event. The Bible is very clear in two things: the world as we know it will come to an end and there will be signs that point toward that end. Pastor and attorney Mark Hitchcock has written a book that addresses one of these believed signs pointing to the Lord’s coming. His book is called “Four Blood Moons; Bible Prophecy, Israel, and the Four Blood Moons”. The theory that a series of four blood moons are linked to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ was first brought to mainstream media by Mark Blitz and then picked up by John Hagee.

Hitchcock, speaking of signs says, “Simply stated, prophetic signs of the times are current events that foreshadow future events predicted in the Bible. Signs of the times are like signs on the highway: they point toward or herald what’s ahead. They indicate what’s coming. Signs of the times are not fulfillment of prophecy per se but are events that indicate future fulfillment of prophecy.” One such supposed “sign” that is gaining traction today is called the Blood Moon Prophecy. This prophecy is wrapped up in an astronomical event known as a tetrad. A tetrad is the appearance of four blood moons (lunar eclipses) falling on two Jewish feast days (Passover and Feast of Tabernacles) in successive years. Adding to the interest of this prophecy is the reality that significant events have happened in the nation of Israel in conjunction with the occurrence of these blood moons. There have been three previous tetrads (1493-1494, 1949-1950, and 1967-1968) with the next predicted for 2014-2015. This will be the final tetrad of this century. Hitchcock begins his book with an introduction as to what spiritual signs are how one should approach and respond to them. In order to present the proper framework and context for this later discussion regarding blood moons, Hitchcock gives ten signs that he believes are the “biblical framework or mirror for events today that serve as true signs of the times”. Chapters five, seven, and eight offer the much needed background and context.

Hitchcock’s book takes on a critique feel toward the latter half. He deals a lot with John Hagee’s book, “Four Blood Moons; Something is About to Change”. Hitchcock is not convinced that the blood moon prophecy, as an actual signpost to the Lord’s coming, holds water as many proponents do. Beginning in chapter seven, Hitchcock lays down his own groundwork as to why the blood moon prophecy is full of holes and is not reliable. The major premise of the blood moon prophecy is that the four blood moons serve as signs of major events in Israel’s history. Hitchcock examines the five passages of scripture that blood moon proponents base their theories upon. He concludes that blood moon theorists have two main problems. First, the major events that took place in the nation of Israel occurred before the actual tetrad. So, in the author’s conclusion, they cannot serve as a sign pointing forward. Second, the blood moon theorists are guilty of faulty methods of interpretation. When they look at the scriptures dealing with blood moons, they neglect the other signs that go along with it. Having read John Hagee’s “Four Blood Moons” prior to this one, I am convinced that blood moon theorists are guilty of proof-texting and sensationalism.

Mark Hitchcock has written a great book. It is well researched, balanced, and fair to the other books on the same subject. As this subject gains attention in the future, it is important to have a work that deals with the Blood Moons Prophecy in a way that highlights its flaws and shortcomings. I would highly recommend this book to any Christian who is interested in the signs that are pointing to the coming of the Lord.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review : The People Factor

/ Steven Ruff / Leave a comment

peoplefactorIn life, you cannot get around relationships. Regardless of where we go or what we do, there will be people involved. Whether it is school, work, church, or family, it is important that we know how to involve ourselves in healthy, functioning, and beneficial relationships. This is the premise of Pastor Van Moody’s new book “The People Factor; How Building Great Relationships and Ending Bad Ones Unlocks Your God-Given Purpose”. On this subject, Moody writes, “You have some kind of relationship with everyone you encounter. Some relationships are extremely personal and some are strictly professional. Some are casual and on-the-surface relationships, and some are intimate and deep. But every relationship you have influences your life. There are no neutral relationships. Each one lifts you up or weighs your down. It moves your forward or holds you back. It helps you or it hurts you.”

Moods begins the first section of his book by giving the reader ten relationship laws that govern all relationships regardless of the nature. These include the Laws of Being Real, Mutual Benefit, Agreement, Letting Go, Selectivity, Sacrifice, Against Secrets, True Value, Loyalty, and Constructive Transition. In each chapter, Moody goes into detail about how each law is fleshed out in our daily lives. Also, each chapter also has a Relationship Reminder section at the end that are simply bullet points that summarize the chapter. In addition, there are questions designed to dig deeper into the covered material in each chapter. In Section Two, Moody covers how to deal with unhealthy relationships by explaining what they look like and how to get out of them if necessary. In Section Three, Moody talks healthy relationships. He introduces the reader to what he calls the Vertical Factor. Speaking of God’s love, Moody writes, “This is the vertical aspect of relationship; it goes up and down, between God in heaven and us on earth.” Moody has a good book here. It is in-depth without being too much like a textbook. I highly recommend.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review : Awakening; How America Can Turn From Economic and Moral Destruction to Greatness

/ Steven Ruff / Leave a comment

awakeningI would dare say that little argument can be found over the notion that the United States has lost/is gaining ground as a leader among other nations. Signs pointing to this reality are clear and increasing. It seems every day that another block is removed from the conservative foundation that this great nation was built upon. It has been argued that Rome fell, not because of an outside military threat, but fell because of inward corruption. Ralph Reed, founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, in his new book, “Awakening; How America Can Turn From Economic and Moral Destruction Back to Greatness”, seems to agree as he writes, “Similarly in America, the most lethal threat to freedom today comes not from a foreign military opponent. It comes from within.” The faces of this internal corrosion include, but are not limited to tax-payer funded abortion, bi-partisan conflict in Congress, weakened foreign policy, economic slowdown bordering on depression, an overstretched and burdened military, exponential growth in the national debt, government sanctioned persecution of the Christian faith as seen in IRS harassment, assaults on the institution of marriage, rises in pornography, gambling, human trafficking, and many other moral issues.

Reed sets the stage for a comeback with a sobering picture of what a prosperous and conservative America looks like. He begins by describing what is a called spiritual cycles. This refers to the course that a country runs from prosperity to want. He uses the nation of Israel as an example. The Bible gives us an up close picture of a nation that went from good to bad to good. Spiritual cycles, as Reed writes, move through a series of six stages, “Faith leading to obedience to God’s laws, obedience creating abundance, abundance leading to pride, pride leading to apostasy, apostasy leading to defeat and judgment, and repentance leading back to faith.” Reed shows how America was on the front side of this cycle as a nation built upon Judeo-Christian values. He also shows how America prospered under the leadership of President Ronal Reagan. This is section entitled “In Motion”, or what America looked like before the wheels starting coming off the cart.

In the second section, entitled “Off Course”, Reed demonstrates how America, now under the leadership of a President Barrack Obama, who is the polar opposite of Ronald Reagan, is languishing in the fourth and fifth part of the spiritual cycle. Reed cites matters such as a disregard for sanctity of the US Constitution, his spoken support of same-sex marriage, failure to act decisively in foreign policy matters, and increasing the dependency of the poor on government services as the signs of a dangerous drifting from conservative roots. In Section Three, “Awakening”, Reed gives the steps that we can take to bring America back to greatness. His steps are: The Reenergizing of Lincoln’s Party, A Bold Pro-Family Plan, and A Call to Christian Citizenship.

Reed has written a great book. I really enjoyed Reed’s background on the forming of America as a conservative nation. This is very helpful. I also liked how Reed set the presidencies of Reagan and Obama alongside each other using the words and press reports from each presidency. The book becomes a summary of the failures of the current administration. I have no problem with this, but I am sure Democrats will take issue here. All in all, Awakening is a well-researched, passionately written clarion call to return to the moorings that made America great.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Worthy Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review : Captivated

/ Steven Ruff / 1 Comment

captivatedIt is possible to be exposed to something for so long it loses its significance and value. I believe this has happened as it relates to Jesus Christ. So many books, so many moves, so many sermons have been dedicated toward the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Sadly, He is becoming common-place, with all of the wonder and reverence quietly diminishing. Thabiti Anyabwile, pastor of First Baptist Church Grand Cayman has written a new book entitled, “Captivated; Beholding the Mystery of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection”. In this relatively short work, ninety-four pages, Anyabwile makes a passionate plea to return our attention and amazement back to the person of Jesus Christ. With the Easter holiday season fast approaching, the timing for this book is perfect.

Captivated takes an honest and probing look at five questions surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These events stretch from Jesus before Pilate to the resurrection itself. Captivated began as a series of sermons Anyabwile shared with his congregation. I enjoyed the subject matter very much. A challenge to refocus and reexamine the teachings we have heard for years is always a good thing. There are a few things I did not like about the book. Due to the weightiness of the subject matter, the brevity of the book is a hindrance. I believe there is a lot more that could and should have been said in order to fully develop some points. Books that begin as sermons often struggle to capture what the original listeners heard. The flow seemed to clearly be one of “preaching points”. Although scripturally sound and passionately written, Anyabwile’s work is good, but not great.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from CrossFocused Reviews Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. 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: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”