Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope by Jenna Bush

World AIDS Day - December 1 is a day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of the HIV infection. On December 1 and beyond, I urge you to pray for all the victims of this disease and to lift in prayer those who minister to AIDS victims.

Jenna Bush wrote a book for young adults called Anna's Story: A Journey of Hope based on her work with Unicef and specifically time spent with a seventeen year old girl who was infected with HIV at birth. Ms. Bush has a section at the back of her book with ideas on how we can be involved in helping those who live with HIV/AIDS as well as information and websites to educate youth. Go here to find out more about Ana's Story.

My church also put out a missions book dealing with AIDS that was quite moving - Africa’s Soul Hope: The AIDS crisis and the church **by Ellen Decker.

Missionary Books

My church has a strong emphasis on world missions. Each year our church publishing house puts out six adult mission books. This years books are:

Adult Missions Books
** Indicates books also recommended for youth

Africa’s Soul Hope: The AIDS crisis and the church **by Ellen Decker

Like a giant tsunami, the AIDS crisis in Africa propels itself forward, wiping out entire communities and destroying everything in its path. What hope is there for those facing this insidious, life-sucking disease? How is the Church of the Nazarene providing soul hope to millions of desperate people? Open this book. Read thoughtfully and prayerfully. A word of caution, however: you will never be the same.

Baboons on the Runway: And Other Humorous **Stories from Africaby Richard F. Zanner

Do missionaries ever have fun? According to this author, the answer is a resounding yes! Join former regional director Richard F. Zanner on a journey into the world of hilarious encounters and unlikely escapades lived out among his Nazarene colleagues in Africa. From being chased up a tree by a rhino to experiencing a “resurrection” in a morgue, you can be sure it’s an adventure you aren’t likely to forget!

A Love Story from Trinidad by Ruth O. Saxon

How do you fall in love with a village? A village with a bad reputation? Only God could have created the love story between missionary Ruth Saxon and Chanka Trace, Trinidad. An unlikely courtship, to say the least, it has stood the test of time and resulted in newfound hope and healing. Open your heart to this moving tale of joy and sorrow, healing and heartache, hope and disappointment. And let this stir anew your own love for the Savior and His precious lost children.

Meeting Jesus **by Keith Schwanz

Witchcraft. Gangs. Demon possession. These are but snippets of the opposition faced by JESUS film team members as they share the good news of Christ around theworld. At the risk of their own lives, these brave individuals seek to reap a harvest of lost souls . . . people who matter deeply to God. Written in the style of the Gospel of Luke, Meeting Jesus propels you into a world where good conquers evil and lives are transformed for eternity.

The Nudge in My Side: Stories from Indonesia and the Philippines by the Bob McCroskeys

This father/son missionary duo has teamed up to share life-changing stories from the far reaches of Asia. In Indonesia and the Philippines, where life is often simple and isolated, God has moved in astounding ways to call men and women to himself. Open the pages of this book. Savor the truths of these tantalizing stories. And be prepared to never see the world in the same way again.

They Saw Only Feet: More Life Lessons fromMissionary Kids by Dean Nelson

The call of a missionary often means sacrifice and surrender. Nobody knows that better than their children. Yet as the missionary kids in this book will tell you, God is faithful to care for His own. Between these pages you’ll meet men and women whose life experiences on the field changed them forever. Listen to their hearts, and let your own faith be strengthened as you do.

Click here to see the book covers and more info.

Turn: Remembering Our Foundations by Max Lucado

Max Lucado wrote a book that focuses on returning to the foundations of our faith. It is the official 2005 National Day of Prayer Theme Book. He expands on the Scripture 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." He gives advice in four basic turns:

Turn #1 Toward God's Glory
Turn #2 Toward God in Prayer
Turn #3 Toward God's Word
Turn #4 Toward God in Repentance

In the first turn the author suggests the reader to apply the filter of 1 Corinthians 10:31 to our government. With the presidential primaries in full swing, its a good time to consider this quote, "Elect officials for the glory of God. Not for the glory of Democrats, Republicans, or Independents. Not for the glory of my crusade or your cause, her race or his gender, but for the glory of God." Why do we elect a candidate?"

In the second turn Max reminds us of Jesus teaching on prayer: "Did Jesus call us to preach without ceasing? Or teach without ceasing? Or have committee meetings without ceasing? Or sing without ceasing? No, but He did call us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

In the third turn he challenges each of us to apply God's Word to our lives. "Apply it to your finances. Test God’s Word on your job. Test the Bible on your relationships. But most of all, apply the Bible to your soul."

In the fourth and final turn he discusses repentance. He modernizes the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector from Luke 18, "In the same meeting, a man of humble heart, too contrite to even look to the skies, prayed, “God, have mercy on me – a sinner. Like m brother on welfare – I’m dependent on Your grace. Like my sister with AIDS – I’m infected with mistakes. Like my friend who drinks – I need something to ease my pain. And like those You love who are gay – I need direction, too. Have mercy on me a sinner." That makes it real by bringing it into our neighborhoods!

I pray that this book of less than 100 pages is both an encouragement and a challenge as we look deeply into the Word of God and make applications in our prayer lives.

The Grace and Truth Paradox Book Giveaway

This month, Randy Alcorn is giving away The Grace and Truth Paradox to three randomly drawn winners. If you would like a chance to win the book, go to Randy's blog and make a comment by June 27. Winners will be announced in his blog on Monday, June 30.

I read this book a few months ago and think that many people could benefit from the truths shared.

Some thought provoking quotes I liked from the book:

People sensed that Jesus loved them, even when He spoke difficult words. He was full of grace and truth. He drew them out of the night like a light draws moths.

We’ve redefined Christlike to mean “nice.” By that definition, Christ wasn’t always Christlike. He confronted people with sin, raised His voice, threw tables, and called people snakes, blind hypocrites, and whitewashed tombs. If we don’t talk about sin and hell because we want to be nice, we’re trying to be nicer than Jesus, who spoke a great deal about both.

"Why should we have to choose between conservatism's emphasis on truth and liberalism's emphasis on grace? Why can't we oppose injustice to minorities and to the unborn? Why can't we oppose greedy ruination of the environment and anti-industry New Age environmentalism? Why can't we affirm the biblical right to the ownership of property and emphasize God's call to voluntarily share wealth with the needy? Why can’t we uphold God’s condemnation of sexual immorality, including homosexual practices, and reach out in love and compassion to those trapped in destructive lifestyles and dying from AIDS?

Something to think about that is for sure... For more information, comments, questions and answers on this powerful book, check out Randy's website. I encourage you to borrow or purchase a copy of this book. You could read it quickly or slowly depending on how much you plan to digest.

June 30, 2008 Update:

Go to Randy's blog to find out the winners of The Grace and Truth Paradox giveaway.

Grab Their Knees - WWJD?

I'm reading one of my church's missionary books "Africa's Soul Hope: The AIDS crisis and the church" by Ellen Decker and I came across a quote from Charles Spurgeon that really cut to the heart of the matter...

"If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

What a task we have...Grab some knees and don't let go.

Near the end of the book this challenging quotes jumps out...

We can ask, "What would Jesus do?" or "What would John Wesley do?" or even "What is the Church doing? But the ultimate spiritual question is, "What will I do?"

What am I doing? What should I be doing? What will I do?

The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:16-20

Asia-Pacific from the rising of the sun by Brent Cobb

My church has a strong emphasis on missions and missions education. Each year members and friends of our church are encouraged to read six missions books. Each of the books are available free of charge at our church to read and return.

This book focuses on the missionary work that is done in a large region called the Asia-Pacific.

Back of Book says:

Bitter blizzard winds blasted the frozen farmlands. Bundled in layer upon layer of clothes, two women leaned into the biting tempest. A light in the distance offered comfort; they hoped it was their destination.

At midnight they saw the silhouette of a farmhouse and a man standing near the light. They approached, said a word, and he motioned them to enter. Later, 26 more people quietly and secretly arrived. Soon, classes in this “underground seminary” would be underway.

The Asia-Pacific Region extends from Japan’s northernmost island to New Zealand’s southernmost island near Antarctica. It reaches from Myanmar’s shared border with Bangladesh eastward to Tahiti. Throughout this immense region, committed Nazarenes are proclaiming the message of the Son to those living in darkens.

Between the pages of this book lay their stories – stories of victory, hope and courage. As you savor them, may you rejoice again in the faithfulness of our passionate and creative God.

Call to Action (page 91)

After reading this book, please consider doing one or more of the following:

1. Intercede for unreached people on the Asia-Pacific Region, home to over 2 billion men, women, and children. Many have not yet heard the good news of Jesus.

2. Consider an assignment in Japan, Korea, or China as an English teacher. Doors are wide open. It is a tremendous opportunity to influence the lives of future national leaders. Contact dhane@apnaz.org for more info.

3. Support Asia-Pacific schools with your prayers, teaching skills (if you are a qualified teacher), and your giving. For more information, visit these web sites:

www.nazarene.org/education/iboe/asiapacific/display.aspx
www.apnts.org/pages/index.php
www.kornu.ac.kr/kornu/eng/index_eng.html

4. In compassionate response to human need in Southeast Asia, sponsor a child at Thailand’s Maetang Children’s Home or support eh New Life for Thai (AIDS) ministry. For more information, visit http://www.ncm.org/

5. Stay up-to-date on happenings in Melanesia and the South Pacific with these web sites:

www.kudjipnazarenehospital.org
http://www.fijiboat.org/

If you attend a Nazarene church this book and five others (about different regions of the world) should be available for you to read. Check with your Pastor or NMI president for more information. If you are a Christian who is interested in missions and would like to learn more, you may purchase this book from NPH.