Review: (re) union

 (re)union is a book written by Pastor Bruce Cavey.   It is a book that calls people to come to Jesus, to recognize that Jesus is Lord.

I've been reading bits and pieces of this book for the past month.   As I read it, I can see Pastor Cavey's deep desire for people to come into a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Pastor Cavey writes in an engaging manner, step by step spelling out what he wants to teach the reader.  He reaches out to the seeker, the saint and the sinner.  He wants, and you can tell throughout the book, to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  He wants people very much to know that Jesus is Lord and what that all means.

His book is a call to people to come to faith, to see the Lord Jesus for who he is, by the evidence of what we have seen in the Bible.   To know that Jesus is Lord is the ONLY way to connect to God. 

However, as I have read this book I find myself with a niggling case of concern riding in my heart.  Something, but I don't know quite what, isn't right with his theology.   It's like something is missing from the bigger picture but I can't quite put my finger on it. 

As I have continued digging in, that feeling simply didn't go away.  I get the general impression he's trying to replace the evangelistic tools of the Roman way, the steps to peace with God and such like with his own version of them.
 

He would like people to start using what he considers a more thorough tool, one the speaks not only to our need for God but what God intends to do.

I suppose some of my reservations come from the "shut down religion" part of this pictorial.   I don't see God making a big point of this outside of his setting up his kingdom and drawing people to like him (saving us from our sin).  

See Jesus for who he is.  See him as the Lord that he is.  Come to faith in him. Trust in his grace. If you take that pivotal part away with you...then this book will serve a good purpose.

Title: (re)union - the good news of Jesus for seekers, saints and sinners.
Author: Bruxy Cavey
Publisher: Herald Press
Received: ebook version
Reviewed for: NutsAboutBooks.






Book Synopsis:
Is it possible that over the centuries the church has altered the message of Christ? Has modern Christianity wrapped itself so tightly in a fragmented, inactive version of the gospel that the life-changing message of God has been smothered? Pastor Bruxy Cavey thinks the answer is yes. He speaks to a new generation interested in Jesus but embarrassed by Christians in his latest book, Reunion: The Good News of Jesus for Seekers, Saints, and Sinners.

Where can you find it?
Amazon.ca - Reunion: The Good News of Jesus for Seekers, Saints, and Sinners

Amazon.com - Reunion: The Good News of Jesus for Seekers, Saints, and Sinners

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time/

Sacrifices and Protections

 Ezekiel 46:1-18 is our lesson for today.  Last time we how the people and the princes of the land have responsibilities in regards to sacrifices.

I'm actually finding this interesting to learn.  I always thought that the priests handled everything, but God makes it clear here that the prince is take part in the Sabbath offerings, standing at the gate so that the priests can make their offering (burnt and peace).   The prince doesn't need to stay all day BUT the east gate that he stands near is to be kept open all day.

46 “Thus says the Lord God: The gate of the inner court that faces east shall be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened. ² The prince shall enter by the vestibule of the gate from outside, and shall take his stand by the post of the gate. The priests shall offer his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate. Then he shall go out, but the gate shall not be shut until evening........

Another interesting fact.  When the people come to the feasts, if they come in at one gate they must leave by the gate opposite.   One straight line from one gate to the next, with the prince accompanying them.

⁹ “When the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by the north gate to worship shall go out by the south gate, and he who enters by the south gate shall go out by the north gate: no one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered, but each shall go out straight ahead. ¹⁰ When they enter, the prince shall enter with them, and when they go out, he shall go out.

Verses 11-15 discuss the sacrifices.    The next verses talk about inheritances.  Any inheritance the prince leaves for his children needs to come out the land that is HIS, not the peoples, not the temples, just his.  If he makes the gift to a servant they only have until the year of liberty to use it and enjoy it, after that, it reverts back to the prince so that any offspring of the prince don't lose any of their inheritance.

¹⁶ “Thus says the Lord God: If the prince makes a gift to any of his sons as his inheritance, it shall belong to his sons. It is their property by inheritance. ¹⁷ But if he makes a gift out of his inheritance to one of his servants, it shall be his to the year of liberty. Then it shall revert to the prince; surely it is his inheritance — it shall belong to his sons. ¹⁸ The prince shall not take any of the inheritance of the people, thrusting them out of their property. He shall give his sons their inheritance out of his own property, so that none of my people shall be scattered from his property.”

I read these verses and I wonder about God's care for his people.
Assuring that the prince remembers the importance of the sacrifices.
I wonder why the people had to walk in the straight line from one gate to the other.  I wonder if God was just keeping things orderly, or if there was a reason behind it. 
I kinda wonder if it's a foreshadowing of how we can't turn back to our old ways after we accept the sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf.   Once we've "gone through that gate" there is no turning back.   God's call upon our heart is too strong for that.  Nothing can separate us from his love, we're his through and through.  

The last verses have me feeling kinda sad and at the same time more aware of God's protection on our behalf.   Imagine your employer giving you a gift, and you know you can only have it for a short term... nothing long term... because whatever the employer has, has to be kept as an inheritance for his children.   Kind of a bummer to know you have to give it back, but at the same time an incentive to make good use of it and to keep it good shape as you know if will be going back to him!    At the same time it's good to see those protections in place for the future generation, so that you know that the land God gave the prince can't to wastefully given away and thereby affect the long-term needs of future generations.

No squandering to be done here!
Only protections offered.   I just find myself intrigued.
What about you?

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Hymn Study: Agnes Dei

We sang this song in church this morning and I loved it.  Didn't sing all of it, mouthed the words as I have a sore throat (Courtesy of my son)... and I was reminded of how much I love this praise song of worship to our living Lord God.

This one was put together by Michael W. Smith, he has long been a favourite of mine for the music that he puts together.   So many songs of worship to God. 

Figured you'd like to see Michael W. Smith rendition of this beautiful praise and worship song.

Lyrics

Alleluia

Alleluia

For the Lord God Almighty reigns

Alleluia

Alleluia

For the Lord God Almighty reigns

Alleluia

Holy

Holy are You Lord God Almighty

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb

You are holy

Holy are you Lord God Almighty

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb

Amen

Can't you just see it?

The Lord rejoicing in the praise and worship of his people?

Of his people pouring out their hearts before him?

Seeing God for who he is?

Yes I know, It's easy to get caught up on the music, but seriously, don't you just see God's people loving up on the Lord God who created them?   Who leads them every single day?

I do.

And it fills my heart with wonder.

Makes me see how much smaller I am than God.

And thankful for his love, protection and guidance throughout my life.

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time/

Canada Book: Canada My Country

 Busy clearing out some book shelves and thought I'd share some of the books we've enjoyed over the years.   Canada My Country is a work book with stories.

Read a story or an article on some aspect of Canada, and then do a short worksheet.

Six separate units covering topics like Canada's Political Map, It's Physical Map, The Symbols of Canada, Our Government, the Freedoms of Canada and some outstanding Canadians.

Twenty seven lessons contained within 75 pages.

Geared for up to about grade four.  It's an easy book to pull out the information that you want, with permissions for a single teacher to replicate pages for her students as needed.

It's been a helpful book for us over the years.   If studying Canada with younger children this book will come in very helpful to you.  :)

The pages are easy to do and the information short enough

 As you can see.. short selections, easy worksheets the fit the level of elementary aged children.

Published by Northwoods Press, written by Donna Ward.

Where To Find?

 Amazon.ca: Canada, my country: Social studies for elementary grades

 Amazon.com - Canada, my country: Social studies for elementary grades

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool - thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. A Net In Time/