The River of Life by Lee Harmon Directed to Christians But Also Worthy Study Guide for Everybody...

All the world is seeking, including me...and including Lee Harmon, whose web site clearly defines his position as The Dubious Disciple.  I learned something that has blessed me by reading his latest book... I, too, may fall under the same name... Although I've always considered myself more like the woman at the well...

If you are an individual who is seeking...for something you cannot define, this might be the perfect book for you to read... Most of us, if we admit it, question... Yes, we question many things that happen in our lives and in the world...

The amazing thing about this book, though, and I believe about his earlier books, although I've not read them, Harmon has a passion for learning more... While many of us simply question, he goes seeking. His intense research is obvious. And it appears to be more as a scholar than what you might expect from a pastor, priest or other church leader. Specifically, he is willing to explore all sources of documentation in order to provide the results of his research. I consider and recommend this as a must-read if you, too, are dubious...or, even, like me, always seeking for answers...

The River of Life:

Where Liberal and Conservative Christianity Meet

By Lee Harmon

Let me quickly point out that this book will be very controversial for many! Especially Christians... I'm of the opinion that if you cannot read a book that proves contrary to your beliefs, then, really, how do you have the knowledge to believe as you do... ??? Harmon strikes at the very heart of many of those beliefs... You are Warned... 

Tomorrow's discussion includes many of the books issues, so I hope you'll spend time here at BRH then, as well. Will if encourage you to read the book. I believe so...if you are the type of person who wants to seek to learn, to know more...

I am an agnostic Christian.
For the sake of full disclosure, perhaps I should define what I mean by agnostic. I believe in God; I just don’t think we know squat about him. I sense that we are linked by something mysterious, that we are more than matter. I am not agnostic in general, I am merely agnostic toward the Christian depiction of God, or any other personal god, feeling that inadequate evidence exists for one caricature to rise above the rest. Arguing about whether it is Shiva or Allah who is the Truth is a little like bickering over the color of Cinderella’s eyes. Yet I believe, because I have both seen and felt God. I have sat in the churches of various denominations and seen strong people reduced to emotional puddles and then lifted into radiance. I have seen kidneys given to complete strangers. I marvel at Mother Teresa’s mission of kindness in the name of God, though she herself felt estranged from the God of her church.
I am a Christian in search of God. Christian, because Jesus is my inspiration and Christianity is my heritage.
Life is a mystery. How do we explain our universe, life’s origins, and human consciousness? In the Christian Trinity, we have the Son (the mystery of incarnation, or God-in-us); we have the Father (the mystery of our creation and creator); and we have the Spirit (that “something mysterious,” the wave of meaning and purpose which links us). All three are astounding, beautiful, awesome. We Christians tend to combine these three mysteries into one, and then personify their union, though we have no evidential reason for doing so. Nevertheless, I am happy uniting all three under the heading of God so that a common ground exists for discussion.
I am also a liberal Christian, living in a conservative world. Most of my family and friends are conservative Christians. Conservatives consider apostolic tradition of utmost importance, meaning they seek to emulate the first-century church as best they know how. This is a noble goal, but it can lead to stringent intolerance for diluted beliefs. It’s the right way or the highway. Liberal Christians, on the other hand, find the creedal requirements which develop from such strictness stifling and contrary to observation and experience. We see God in many people and places, not just in Christian circles. This can lead liberals to a violent condemnation of narrow doctrine. Intolerance is intolerable.
And round and round we go. As a liberal Christian, I have both stooped to verbal aggression and felt the sting of attack. Both sides care so dang much that we can’t help squabbling, but this hardly puts a good face on Christianity. If the two sides could merely take one step backward, digging back to the Jesus we both adore, perhaps there could be a unity of purpose. Even though there can never be agreement about religious belief, the Kingdom could nevertheless advance. That is my hope in writing this book.

~~~

Harmon lays out where he is coming from right at the Introduction. He's open and honest with this, as well as with all of the book. In many ways, I thought of this book as his "personal testimony" for those who are used to being called upon to do so... Although, not many individuals did so, in most of the churches I've attended during my life... For that, I was much more appreciative and open to the book... Because the first chapter is called, "Heaven and Hell..."

It may seem strange that I begin
my book at the end. Isn't the
afterlife more of a destination
that a starting point?

Well, I'm not really starting here. I'm dismissing the topic up front as being of little importance to Jesus...


Harmon proceeds then to share his understanding of the stories related to Heaven, including those from the Bible. He quickly dismisses Hell...

And do not fear those who kill the body
but cannot kill the soul. But rather
fear him who is able to destroy both
soul and body in [Gehenna]. Isiah 66:24
~~~

Now if that doesn't set some readers off, I don't know what will! However, I must say that Harmon's argument, his belief, is based on historical evidence as well as his understanding of the Bible...including, most importantly, the background on the words themselves... For instance, reading the Bible historically, easily refers to "unquenchable fire" as simply that... fire, not Hell... I noticed that both Harmon and Cahn, in The Harbinger, both immediately went back to 70 CE in Jerusalem. It is apparent that was a significant time, don't you think? But do you know what happened then? And, are you familiar with the word, Gehenna? If you're like me, I'd never heard of it. This word alone was very enlightening to me...

For now, I'll leave you with Jesus' own definition of eternal life, which has nothing to do with the afterlife:

And this is eternal llife, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent...John 17:3
                                                                     ~~~

For people around my age, we have lived through a number of times when "The Second Coming" was predicted to come... Are you still waiting, or has that already occurred, as clarified in this book? This detailed research is well worth your study and just may explain how and when your personal beliefs were formed...or, maybe just as importantly, why they were formed...

Are you aware of what is called "The Holy Spirit?" This is one symbol that people have used across the years... These others have a more personal feeling for me... 

What if the Second Coming already occurred? Harmon suggests that The Holy spirit is already here...

The spirit remains with us even today. The aion of God's rule began in Jesus's day, when the Spirit arrived from heaven, and continues through today. Do you struggle to feel its presence? If you have trouble connecting with the Spirit, try prayer. Yes, I'm serious, whether you are liberal or conservative. When I slipped from the rank of believing Christian into agnostic Christian, I confess that I forgot how to pray. I simply could not visualize anyone on the receiving end of my prayer, and felt silly trying. Nor could I bring myself to utter the skeptic's prayer: God, if you exist, save me from hell, if there is a hell. Many of you may identify with the class of Spiritual But Not Religious, yet you need not jettison the connection with the Divine that prayer affords.

Six more chapters continue on... And I would say, after reading it, Harmon covered the majority of questions that have bothered me through my life. The book is insightful, intelligent in presentation, objective, world-wide in thought. All this while proclaiming his beliefs based upon his scholarship and humbly presenting his thoughts honestly, logically, and with a caring for his readers, in my opinion. I was impressed. Most of the books I've read from Christians have declared what it is we should believe. Harmon merely provides the results of his efforts and allows the reader to absorb or consider and as you'll see tomorrow, allow questions to be raised about what he's written. The author may be a doubting Thomas, but then, the original Thomas had a pretty good career after he started questioning, don't you think?

Caravaggio — The Incredulity of St Thomas

Do check this out... It's highly recommended. For me, I was blessed by reading The River of Life. I wish for you the same...

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. --John 19:33-34

I believe a tricking river began that day, from the pierced side of Jesus. A river the prophets of Israel some anticipated. There came out blood and water. Water, we are told by John's Gospel, represents the Spirit. The blood, while it carries many deep symbolic meanings, represents the sacrifice of Jesus...

GABixlerReviews

~~~

Author, blogger, computer programmer, liberal Christian. Check out my book blog at http://www.dubiousdisciple.com, where I review all kinds of religious books, and learn more about me and my latest book at http://www.thewayithappened.com. Then friend me on twitter and facebook!

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Desert Son by Glenn Maynard Fascinating Look into Death, Heaven, Reincarnation...

There was no escape. Looking at mountains or thinking 

about mountains seemed to be equivalent to the release 

of severe allergy symptoms for Carter. He did his best

to avoid these actions. However, he tested this mountain

 theory a couple more times to verify that he wasn’t

 going crazy. The results were like clockwork. It was

 an odd trigger, he thought, but at least he had a trigger.

~~

Wow, the mountains... he had never seen them before, yet here he was being shown scenes from his life--they weren't in time sequence but...

...But as soon as he saw the mountains in Boulder, Colorado, he began to have those  feelings again. Apparently these mountains had once been in his life. But how? Even the town had been voted happiest city...and the beliefs of Buddhism were followed by many...  None of which meant anything to him...

Desert Son

By Glenn Maynard

Visiting Heaven and being thrown back was not something that was easily understood or accepted. He was glad to be there--in fact, he had immediately felt love surrounding him and there was no pain--he felt better than he had in years! He had come through the tunnel into the light that he'd always heard about, wondering if that was the normal way for those who were killed by accidents... Even if he'd been thrown outside the car, and he had seen that his parents were still inside, yet he knew they would be alright and even saw their spirit leave their bodies and move upward as he laid on the ground, not able to move. At least the paramedics were working on him and would handle things from here on in...

 Not only did

 it perplex him in the way she said it, 

but with the message itself. He thought

 that maybe he misread it. Clearly, 

this was not Carter’s mother. His mother

 had not yet arrived, and even though

 he believed she soon would, this woman

 hardly resembled her. This woman was much

 taller than his mother, and had long, dirty

 blonde hair. His mother wore her black 

hair short and curly. This lady looked frail

 for her young age, but Carter’s mother had 

about 25 more pounds on her. Also, the rough 

skin on his mother could not have turned

 so soft. Not a chance, thought Carter. He could

 not detect one similar feature.

~~~

Carter Spence had always been close to his parents, even remaining at home to save money when he got a job. He genuinely liked being with them and often accompanied them when they went visiting or out to eat...

"Welcome Son..."

He really didn't know what at happened at first, but he could see a man lying on the ground, away from their car. He was curious enough to move closer and to realize that it was him.  The entire sequence of events through which Carter travels is amazingly realistic. When he got to where he was going, a favorite aunt was there and expressed her continued love and then he met his former animal companion who had been killed early in his life... He was happy to have him there to know that he was doing fine. There were others who waved or nodded but then a woman with dirty blond hair came toward him and greeted, "Welcome, Son." For some reason this really bothered him...maybe because he knew his mother had also died in the accident, but this woman wasn't his mother...

But she kept on talking and then quickly announced that he was going back--he had more to do. She kept talking to him, giving further information, but there was a lot of noise pulling him back, back. back...




Carter was changed... He didn't know whether it was because he came back from death, that his parents had died, or merely that he didn't feel right in the life he had been living. He couldn't even bring himself to sleep in their house...

Telling his boss, who had been in business with his father, that he had to get away, he was assured he would have a job there whenever he felt he could return...Carter got in the car and drove... West... The only thing that kept him going was the bits of information that the woman had told him while he was in Heaven... And the pictures he had been shown during his "This is your life" film they'd played upon his arrival...


Carter felt like he was living in a fog and then something would happen and he'd respond to the "sign." This time he had suddenly pulled off the road, not knowing why, but then glanced at his gas gauge and saw the gas station...  Inside he immediately headed for the self-serve coffee--only thing was, she was there first and turned around and walked directly into him. Hot coffee everywhere! He fell for her immediately and was trying to figure out how to get more acquainted when she asked if he was heading to Colorado and handing him money for gas, asked if she could have a ride... Before very long, Carter was glad he'd had her with him...

Especially when he'd later run out of gas and was having vibes that he should go talk to an old man sitting on his porch... and was totally confused when, once Brenda had been received into the house, the old man had attacked her and knocked her to the floor!

Once Carter is on the road, having left his home behind, the speed of action greatly increases and readers are immediately into a turn-page frenzy as things move fast and more information is discovered. Who was Carter Spence? Had he been adopted early in life and never been told? Was there any credibility to the hypnosis, reincarnation and other Buddhist beliefs that he was learning about and what part had they played in his life, if any?

Glenn Maynard takes readers deep into whether fate has any real hold on individuals. Can unfinished business be handled even after death. Can love be continued through reincarnated individuals who are "dragged" through life until that which must happens, does? Are you willing to accept your own fate, even if it means getting kicked back to life after you've died?

There are many ponderous ideas that come to mind through Desert Son. But, hey, the action and suspense is almost overwhelming so that readers tend to accept what is being said and move on, wanting to figure out what the heck is going on! There's definitely a mixture of genres in the book, but I think for me the thriller component was the most significant thing for me. Afterwards, I'm not persuaded about the philosophies of life as explored...but they do make for a "what if" novel that grabs you until you grasp what has actually been accomplished for the involved characters. Yikes!

Check it out!


GABixlerReviews

glennmaynard

Bio: Glenn Maynard has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Connecticut, and a degree in Communications. After spending 4 years living in Denver, Colorado, he returned home to Connecticut and now resides in Wethersfield. He has a 9 year-old son named Andrew. He was a travel correspondent for three newspapers while traveling through the United States, Canada and Mexico during his one-year journey. He had a total of twenty newspaper articles published. His story was captured on the evening newscast upon his return.

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Thanks so much For sharing, Linda Nance...Especially "Not Today"

Image by dbzer0 via Flickr

Not Today...








I gaze in the mirror and my eyes look weary. I am very tired. I see the creases that time has etched in the skin of my face. I remember when it was once young and my skin was silky and smooth. There is no longer a bloom to my cheeks and sparkle to my eye. I take a deep breath and feel tired.

I really do understand what the doctors said. There are many things in life that I ponder, some that I regret, and many that grieve me, but I understood what they said. It is not that I am in denial or do not believe them. He was kind but honest when he told me I would die...

He had tears in his eyes. I believe him. I felt helpless and frustrated and a strong desire to hold on. I felt angry and afraid. I needed to hold on to life. I needed to hold on to those that I love. I needed to hold on to hope. I decided that even if the doctors were right, well, It was not going to be today. That would be my new motto. Not today. If the time came that I was wrong, it would make no difference because if the subject was the day I would die. Then the answer was...Not Today.

I lived desiring to help others and make a difference. I wanted to reach out. I believed that if you help even one person you made a difference. Time has passed so swiftly. In many ways I feel that life has passed me by. I want to live. I don't want to just be alive. I want to live!

I want to look for the beauty in the world around me. I can't stand the thought of leaving those that I love. I need to be here to help them and share the wonders life has in store, and comfort them in their times of need. I want so many things but I am becoming so tired. It is harder now to see the future as unending. I often feel so alone. In a crowd of people I am still alone.

Only I can tread the last path I have to tread, alone, except I will never really be alone. I have my faith and I believe with all my heart that God will lead me home when the time comes. Years ago, the thought of a home in Heaven with no pain or worries or suffering or confusion was such a comfort. It still is...but not for today.

I know it is coming and I still have so much more I need and want to do. I am so tired all of the time. I need to get going. I do not want to give up. I believe what the doctors said--but, it is not today.

I have so much more that I want to do. I am not finished. My time will eventually come, just not, Please Lord, not today...








Linda Nance...

Book Declared Scam! Lies!. Publisher Pulls Book!

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Christian publisher Tyndale House will stop selling The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven by Alex Malarkey and his father, Kevin Malarkey, after the co-author recanted his story.

See News Release continue...






The boy who came back from heaven: A remarkable account of miracles, angels and life beyond this world      A True Story

By Kevin and Alex Malarkey

Tyndale House Publishers
ISBN: 978-1-4143-3606-0
Autobiography/Inspiration
158 Pages

A Must-Read

I am purposely slanting my review of this book...I am not going to share anything that was written by Alex! Fair to my readers, maybe not...but I consider this book a must-read for anybody who will listen to me! And, you the readers, must directly read those stories that Alex will share.

Although Alex is quick to point out that there is nothing special about him and this story is not about him, but about Jesus, God, and Heaven...I'm cool with that. I totally agree...but I'm still not telling you what he has shared! My review is still going to "Wow" you...

The majority of the book has been written by Kevin. Interestingly, there is little reference to his own story of being rescued by angels during the same crash in which Alex was seriously hurt, and, in fact, died. Kevin was and has been completely concerned about his son, Alex, so I believe you can understand his overlooking himself... Still...excuse me, but how many of us are able to say, "Oh, yea, I was taken from the car crash by angels and I was also seen in Heaven by my son...but I don't remember any of that..."

The car crash that occurred was in 2004, in Ohio, a neighboring state of mine and where my brother lives. He nor I had ever heard about this story. Please note that you can find the site PrayforAlex.com right now and start learning about the miracles that started that day in November. There were many news releases about the accident, many of the reporters included comments about angels, healing, and maybe even God and the name, Jesus. All of them were removed before released. Miracles had begun 6 years ago in Ohio and very few people knew...

Alex had been in a safety restraint; however, they were hit on the side. Essentually, although the skin remained intact and held together, Alex had been internally beheaded... With many other injuries as well.

One of the questions that will come to mind is, "why this family?" The book doesn't get into that. It was a Christian family and, although only 6, Alex had already accepted Jesus Christ into his life. Perhaps that was part of it--we'll probably never know. However, what we do know is that the Malarkey church members immediately gathered support and prayer around the family and the type of daily miracles that Christians routinely do began. There was immediate 24/7 prayer activity in the hospital, for instance, not just by family members, but by large groups of people! A web site was created, family bills were paid... and on and on. When a "major crisis" came in the form of a tree falling on the roof of their home, it became minor in light of Alex and because it was immediately addressed by friends and neighbors.

One of the most important miracles came when people came from homes to the crash and started praying for Alex. Then one of the ambulance crew was given the message that he would be healed and told the family. Kevin admitted that his faith faltered often, but Beth, his wife,  had faith that remained fairly stable, based upon that first word of knowledge that had been given. The book talks of how daily living did put a strain on their marriage and with trying to be responsive to their other two children; but, overall, amazing things continued to happen.

You'll be reading of accounts when angels visited Alex, unknown to anybody but Alex and then you'll be reading about what the doctors found healed after those visits. Healing did not and has not occurred all at once. But then, perhaps that was not the plan to begin with--you'll have to decide that.

Recently for some reason, I was wondering what God looked like. My best friend told me that He looked like us...but that didn't seem to me to be true for some reason... Anyway, Alex answered the question for me based upon his visit. Maybe you've had questions about Heaven or God...Perhaps Alex will have an answer for you as well?

All I can tell you is that I totally believe this entire story! Yes, I am a Christian and was "ready" to believe. So I challenge you...If you are not a Christian, read it and decide yourself. It's only a book. If miracles are not happening in today's world and you know that for a fact, I challenge you to read this book. Who knows,  you may hear something important from Alex, The boy who came back from heaven by Kevin and Alex Malarkey. A true story that MUST be read!

Book Provided by

Tyndale House Publishers

Via SheBlogs/

D. J. Jacobson & Associates

G. A. Bixler


It's a shame that we can no longer really trust anybody, isn't it?

Review: A Letter From Heaven Reviewed by Spotlighted Bettie Corbin Tucker

A Letter from Heaven


Steve Butler
AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1-4343-4715-2 (sc)
34 pages

Steve Butler, the author of A Letter from Heaven, has presented the story in a way that will appeal to children; Jamie reads a letter from his sister Alexandra who is in heaven. It is a child talking to a child about her birth, death, love, and the miracle of roses. It provides comfort and satisfies the inquisitive minds of young readers without exposing them to too much too fast. Even the subject of the ashes in the ceramic jar, a difficult subject to bring up to young children, is handled with much skill. The ashes are addressed, but the emphasis is on the important part of Alexandra—that part of her who lives in heaven with God. The author also reinforces how much the living child is loved by his parents, grandparents…and his sibling in Heaven.

In reading this book, I found myself remembering a time in my life many years ago when I suffered multiple miscarriages. For some reason I always found it difficult to talk with my son and daughter, who were born years afterward, about their siblings, now living with God. Mostly, I would remind them that these babies are very much alive in Heaven, even though they did not take a breath on earth. I wish this book had been available to me at that time. I personally feel A Letter from Heaven is a wonderful and much-needed resource for helping parents and health professionals talk with children and explain the loss of a baby sibling who was born before them. It is an issue that has been very much neglected by the book industry.

I highly recommend this book and believe that it should be in libraries across the country.



Bettie Corbin Tucker
For IP Book Reviewers

Review: Guest Reviewer Bettie Corbin Tucker Shares Favorite!

We Do Remember You
Steve Butler
Illustrated by Grace Mayfield
www.enheartpublishing.com
ISBN: 0-965-4899-8-1
48 pages (including front and back matter)


We Do Remember You by Steve Butler is a book written for those who are grieving the death of a child. Though it is a difficult subject, the author has presented the material in a way that gives readers of all ages help, hope, and an outlet for their emotions.

As a mother who has lost a child, I shed tears but also smiled as I met the young angelic characters who are enjoying the beauty of Heaven as they share conversations about their lives and deaths. All but one child explains how his or her family presently expresses their love for them on earth, whether it involves putting flowers on a grave, planting a tree, caring for a rose bush, lighting a candle, praying, or performing some other personal and meaningful ritual. This is done to show the children they are missed and remembered. But what about that one child—doesn’t anyone miss her? Purchase this book and find out how a baby without a name gives and receives joy in Heaven.

When the author mentions rituals in the foreword, he speaks of them as ways of “Doing” your grief…when they are carried out with love and care. He also expresses his belief that these rituals allow the spirits of those who grieve touch the spirits of the ones they can no longer see on earth. Through fictionalized conversations, readers quickly learn from the angelic children how much these acts of remembrance mean to them. This should prove especially beneficial to children who are left behind when their brothers, sisters, parents, or best friends go to Heaven.

Alexandra, one of the heavenly angels, was introduced to me in an earlier book entitled “A Letter to Heaven.” As she thinks about the urn in her own home and a special rose garden in her grandmother’s yard, she understands just how much she was and is loved. She asks God to let her brother Jamie know that she will always love him. I believe the prayer is answered through a ladybug. Yes, a ladybug!

I give We Do Remember You my highest recommendation. It is well-written, beautifully illustrated, and the language is age appropriate. In my opinion, this book fills a need for a different kind of resource on the subject of grieving.

Bettie Corbin Tucker
For Independent Professional Book Reviewers