Dr Paul Allen

Author: Cripplegate This annoying little book is not going away. Upon hearing his 4-year-old claim that he had visited heaven and met Samson and a blue-eyed Jesus, Pastor Todd Burpo encountered the same challenge all parents of toddlers frequently face. When my boy claims that he is actually Superman I wrestle with an identical dilemma: Do I just smile and play along til he grows out of it, or do I write a book sharing the claim with the world? What to do, what to do? Pastor Burpo didn’t chicken out and opt for the condescending smile-and-nod approach most of us lazy dads do. No, he employed a literary agent who successfully lured Thomas Nelson Publishers into eventually putting 1.5 million copies into print. (If anyone can get me that agent’s number, I’m very interested!) Dad exploited assisted his boy to polish his story, and Nelson presented their newest father-and-son trophy as the very yellow “Heaven is For Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back.”...

English: The Last Supper (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Judas had planned to give them a signal, saying, ‘The man I kiss is Jesus . Arrest him.’ At once Judas went to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Teacher!’ and kissed him.” Matthew 26:48–49 NCV When betrayal comes, what do you do? Get out? Get angry? Get even? You have to deal with it some way. Let’s see how Jesus dealt with it. Begin by noticing how Jesus saw Judas. “Jesus answered, ‘Friend, do what you came to do’” ( Matthew 26:50 NCV). Of all the names I would have chosen for Judas, it would not have been “friend.” What Judas did to Jesus was grossly unfair. There is no indication that Jesus ever mistreated Judas. When, during the Last Supper , Jesus told the disciples that his betrayer sat at the table, they didn’t turn to one another and whisper, “It’s Judas. Jesus told us he would do this.” He had known it, but he treated the betrayer as if he were faithful. It’s even more unfair when you consider that the religious l...

Français : Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame de l'Annonciation de Moulins; vitrail néogothique. La Cène. Détail: Judas. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot , son of Simon, to betray Jesus . Jesus . . . got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, . . . and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” John 13:2–5 NIV It has been a long day. Jerusalem is packed with Passover guests, most of whom clamor for a glimpse of the Teacher. The spring sun is warm. The streets are dry. And the disciples are a long way from home. A splash of cool water would be refreshing. The disciples enter the room, one by one, and take their places around the table. On the wall hangs a towel, and on the floor sits a pitcher and a basin. Any one of the disciples could volunteer for the job, but not one does. After a few moments, Jesus stands and removes his outer garment. H...

Giorgio Vasari: An angel strengthens Jesus praying in agony in Gethsemane. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And He took Peter , James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.” Mark 14:32–34 Go with me for a moment to witness what was perhaps the foggiest night in history. The scene is very simple; you’ll recognize it quickly. A grove of twisted olive trees . Ground cluttered with large rocks. A low stone fence. A dark, dark night. Now, look into the picture. Look closely through the shadowy foliage. See that solitary figure? Flat on the ground. Face stained with dirt and tears. Fists pounding the hard earth. Eyes wide with a stupor of fear. Hair matted with salty sweat. Is that blood on his forehead? That’s Jesus . Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Maybe you’ve seen the classic portrait of Christ in the garden. Kneeling beside a big rock. Snow-whi...

The Road to Emmaus appearance, based on Luke 24:13-32, painted by Joseph von Führich, 1830. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “ Jesus . . . kneeled down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take away this cup of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want.” . . . His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Luke 22:41–44 NCV The writer of Hebrews penned these words, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death” ( Hebrews 5:7 NIV ). It’s an expression of Jesus that puzzles us. We’ve never seen his face like this. Jesus smiling, yes. Jesus weeping, absolutely. Jesus stern, even that. But Jesus anguished? Cheeks streaked with tears? Face flooded in sweat? Rivulets of blood dripping from his chin? Jesus was more than anxious; he was afraid. How remarkable that Jesus felt such fear. But how kind that he told us about it. We tend to do the opposite. Gloss over our ...

Polski: Koronacja Najświętszej Marii Panny (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Mary should never be the object of religious veneration, imputed to having titles or attributes that belong to God alone . It is Jesus , not Mary, who is the fountain of grace. She must never be the central focus of worship or religious affection. Scripture makes no claim that she was untouched by original sin , a perpetual virgin, a co-redeemer with Christ , or the Queen of Heaven . She is not to be the object of prayers—God alone is omnipresent and omniscient and the One to whom we pray. Mary is the equivalent of the Hebrew “Miriam,” and the name means “bitter.” Mary’s young life may well have been filled with bitter hardships. Her hometown was a forlorn community in a poor district of Galilee, so good things probably were pretty scarce. She had a sister (John 19:25) and a close older relative named Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:36), who might have been an aunt or a cousin. At the time th...

Cover via Amazon Although it came out in 2004, Sarah Young’s devotional has seen a steady increase in popularity over the last two years. Published by Thomas Nelson , The Jesus Calling has to be one of the more popular devotionals today. If you are not familiar with it, The Jesus Calling is a collection of transcribed messages that were given verbatim from Jesus to Sarah. As such, they are all in the first person from Jesus’ perspective. Here is a typical example (from the day I wrote this review): (July 8) “When you seek my face, put aside thoughts of everything else. I am above all, as well as in all; your communion with me transcends both time and circumstances. Be prepared to be blessed bountifully by my Presence, for I am a God of unlimited abundance. Open wide you heart and mind to receive more and more of Me. When your Joy in me meets my Joy in you, there are fireworks of heavenly ecstasy. This is eternal life here and now: a tiny foretaste of what waits you in the life ...