The Terrific Twenty-One

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The Battle for Christian Music by Tim Fisher is a book I recently read because of the on-going debate about what is true "Christian music" and what is really Satan's music in disguise. In his preface, Mr. Fisher says "...The compromise of people in the church has eroded clear dividing lines, and lack of Biblical knowledge has undermined the foundation of doctrine in churches which say they believe the right thing. Few are very sure about anything any more...This is not a question of 'us versus them'. It is a watershed issue that is determining the destiny of every church in our culture... We are not out to make enemies or cause unnecessary division in the body, but rather to defend the name of our best Friend, the Lord Jesus Christ." Available from Sacred Music Services, P.O. Box 17072, Greenville, SC, 29606.

In Search of the Source by Neil Anderson and Hyatt Moore is an excellent account of a missionary's experiences. Neil Anderson went with his family to minister to the Folopa people in Papua New Guinea by learning their language and translating the Bible. This book tells the story of the translation process as well as the many things that happened along the way. Read of their struggles, their joys, their frustrations, and their victories through Christ. This book is worthwile for anyone with an intrest in missions. Available from Wycliffe Bible Translators, P.O. Box 2727, Huntington Beach, CA, 92647, (714)-969-4600, www.wycliffe.org

Why I Left the Comtemporary Christian Music Movement by Dan Lucarini takes you inside the comtemporary movement to reveal it's deceitfulness and dangers. Mr. Lucarini is gentle yet firm in his presentation as he relays his experiences of being involved in CCM, and his escape from this trap of the enemy. He goes through the history of CCM, reveals and refutes some of it's common yet often unrecognized deceptions, defines many of it's popular phrases, and uncovers it's numerous misuses and misinterpretations of Scripture. I found this book very convicting and practical. It is informative yet quick to read, and you might want to purchase a few extra copies for friends and those in your church. Mr. Lucarini's powerful book will take you back to the true "heart of worship".

Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends by Sarah, Stephen and Grace Mally, is a book about resolving the conflicts between siblings and enjoying the life-long friendship God intended. 272 pages brimming with insights, testimonies, stories, illustrations and historical examples, this is a valuable tool in improving and restoring relationships. Written for brothers and sisters by two sisters and a brother, this book has three perspectives and three personalities. Practical, convicting, and humorous, I think that this book is one of the best! Available from Tomorrow's Forefathers, P.O. Box 11451, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52410, www.brothersandsisters.net

Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan is guaranteed to change your perspective on world misisons! Born and raised in India, Dr. K.P. Yohannan's book and testimony will challenge your depth of commitment to Christ, as well as cause you to re-examine your ideas in regard to reaching the unsaved. This book definitely gives you an eternity mindset and encourages you to not only be a witness to those in your "Jerusalem", but to become involved in the work of spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth. I found this book to be very encouraging as well as convicting. Revolution in World Missions is definitely worth passing on to your friends! Available from Gospel for Asia, 1800 Golden Trail Court, Carrollton, TX, 75010, www.GFA.org.

The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel is an excellent book about the history of America from a Christian perspective. Answers questions such as, Did God have a plan for America?, Did Columbus believe that God called him west to undiscovered lands?, If, indeed, there was a specific, divine call upon this nation, is it still valid today? I have been reading through this book, and I am really enjoying it! I have learned many things I didn't already know, and there is an enormous amount of information you will not find in other books today. This book will inspire you to be as devoted to the Covenant Way as the Founding Fathers were. The Light and the Glory is available from Peter Marshall Ministries, 81 Finlay Road, Orleans, MA 02653. www.RestoringAmerica.com Also recommended by the same authors: From Sea to Shining Sea and Sounding Forth the Trumpet.

How Firm a Foundation in Scripture and Song by Dr. John D. Morris, is a wonderful book of hymns with hymn histories and testimonies about the hymns. Dr. Morris writes, "It's my conviction that the grand old hymns should be retained in the consciousness of our churches. We shouldn't let them die..." This book goes in depth through 28 hymns and you can listen to 17 of them on a music CD that comes with the book! This is a valuable resource, and I highly recommend it! Order from Master Books Inc., P.O. Box 727, Green Forest, AR, 72638, www.ICR.org

Rebekah's Diary by Rebekah Pearl is about her ministry to the Kumboi people in Papua New Guinea. At the age of 21, she left all that was familiar to her, boarded a plane and went to PNG to translate the Bible into the Kumboi language. For the first few months, she had no contact with the outside world, and the only way in and out of the village was by a six hour hike to a primitive bush air strip. This is her diary, as she wrote it, from the heights and depths of service to her God. Available from The Church at Cane Creek, 1000 Pearl Road, Pleasantville, TN, 37147, www.NoGreaterJoy.org.

The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan is a book that is rather familiar, but I still really enjoyed it! It is about a man named Christian who starts out with a huge burden on his back that rolls away at Calvary when he confesses his sin. Read about his struggles and victories on his journey to the Celestial City. In part two, you can read about his wife Christiana, and her journey with the children and neighbor - Mercy - to the Celestial City. It is a wonderful book and I encourage everybody to read it! Another great book by John Bunyan is Holy War. (Available in most Christian bookstores.)

Hind's Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard is a book that is somewhat similar to Pilgrim's Progress but is still very different and new. I can hardly do it justice to write just a short paragraph on it! It is about a girl named Much-Afraid and her journey to the High Places. She goes with two guides - Sorrow and Suffering - who help her and guide her on the path. Many of her relatives try to tempt her and get her to return home, but Much-Afraid, with the help of Sorrow and Suffering, along with the Shepherd, keeps on the path and resists the temptations. Learn how she builds alters along the way, and how she sacrifices upon them her will, her desires, her wrong thoughts and actions, and see how the Shepherd rewards that obedience. This book is one of my favorites! (Available in most Christian bookstores.)

The Infant's Progress by Mrs. Sherwood is a book about three children - Humble Mind, Peace, and Playful - on their journey to the Celestial City and how they encounter many temptations from their unwanted, but always present companion - Inbred-Sin. Many things happen to them in this story, but they eventually make it to the Celestial City. This book was wonderful! It is hard to find, however it is available from Sower's Seeds Reprints in Texas.

Abide in Christ by Andrew Murray. This is a really good book I read about learning to abide in Christ. It goes through John 15 and other verses looking at the commands and references to abiding. This is a thirty-one day devotional and I really enjoyed it! (Available in most Christian bookstores.)

Music in the Balance by Frank Garlock and Kurt Woetzel. Can "Christian rock music" really be called "Christian"? Are there spiritual and physical effects from listening to it? Is it only the lyrics that count? This book answers these questions and more. This book was very eye-opening to the dangers of Christian rock, and rock/jazz/rap in general. Note: Although this is a good book, we recommend that parents read this first before giving it to your children. Some parts are not appropriate for children. One suggestion is to read it aloud; this gives you the opportunity to communicate the message and edit out the rest. Available from Majesty Music: www.MajestyMusic.com

The Chronicles of Narnia are written alegorical style by C.S. Lewis. "Here is your passport to a most extraordinary excursion into magical lands and enchanted happenings. If you've never been to Narnia, you can enter it for the first time with any of the books, but once you start, you'll want to read every one of [them]." I absolutely loved these books and read them 8+ times when I was younger. Unlike the satanic Harry Potter books, these are written by a Christian and have an allegory to each one. The seven books are titled: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (how Aslan, the noble lion, freed Narnia from the spell of the White Witch), Prince Caspian (how good Prince Caspian and his army of Talking Beasts conqured the Telmarines), The Voyage of the "Dawn Treader" (how King Caspian sailed though magic waters to the End of the World), The Silver Chair (how captive Prince Rilian escaped from the Emerald Witch's underground kingdom), The Horse and His Boy (how a talking horse and a boy prince saved Narnia from invasion), The Magician's Nephew (how Aslan created Narnia and gave the gift of speech to its animals), and The Last Battle (how evil came to Narnia and Aslan led his people to a glorious new paradise.)

Into the Glory by Jamie Buckingham, is a book of true stories of JAARS (Jungle Aviation and Radio Service) workers and Wycliffe Bible translators. This book is filled with testimonies of God's faithfulness, God's provision, and God's perfect plan. I found it to be very interesting and challenging. This book is available from: JAARS, Inc. P.O. Box 248 Waxhaw, NC 28173 (704)-843-6000, or, Wycliffe Bible Translators P.O. Box 2727 Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (714)-969-4600

Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss is a very good book based on Katherine Elliot's journal. I always find journals very encouraging, and as I read this book I was encouraged to keep writing in my journal so I could have a record of how God is changing me. The book starts out when she is sixteen and has lots of problems, but it was neat throughout the book to see how her Potter molded her and made her what He wanted her to be. By the end, I was sitting there thinking "wow!". I highly recommend this book, it had a great impact on my life! This book was given to me by a friend, however, I think it is available from Gam Publications P.O. Box 25, Sterling, VA, 20167.

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom "I pray that God forgives them." And once again, Corrie realized that it was for the souls of the brutal Nazi guards that her sister prayed... This is the excellent and true story of the Ten Boom family and their work with the Jews during the German invasion of Holland during World War 2. (Available at most Christian Bookstores)

G.A. Henty Series Have you ever read the G.A. Henty books? Interesting, yet historically correct, these books are the best history books I've read! Set in real time periods, they explain the true historical facts. Meet important people such as Josephus, Hannibal, Cortez, King Alfred, Sir Francis Drake, Sir William Wallace, just to name a few. Some of the titles are With Lee in Virginia (about the civil war), For the Temple (about the fall of the Temple by the Romans in 70 A.D.), and Winning His Spurs (about the Crusades) and many others! G.A. Henty books are well worth getting your hands on!! Published by Preston Speed Publications RR #4, Box, 705, Mill Hall, PA, 17751, www.PrestonSpeed.com. Have fun reading!

Amy Charmichael of Dohnavur by Frank L. Houghton "Amy Charmichael, born in 1867 in the village of Millisle, Ireland, gave herself unconditionally to Christ. She went first to Japan but was told she could not withstand the climate. Following a short term in Ceylon, presently Sri Lanka, she landed in India in 1895 and remained there without a single furlough until she died on January 18, 1951." This is a really good book on the life and work of Amy Charmichael, and is published by Christian Literature Crusade, P.O. Box 1449, Fort Washington, PA, 19034.

God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew is a story of a Christian man who obeyed God's calling of carrying the Word of God to every Communist country, preached to underground worshippers and smuggled the Bible to Christians behind the Iron Curtain. Read of his dramatic turning to the Lord after a life steeped in sin, and of his commitment and total dedication to the Lord and His promptings! God's Smuggler is published by The New American Library, Inc., 1301 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10019.

Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John is a fictional book about a girl named Annette and her little brother Dani, who is crippled and is told he will never walk again. The villiage bully Lucien is responsible for this accident. In this story Annette learns about love and forgiveness. I thought it was a very good book and it is published by Moody Press, c/o MLM, Chicago, Il, 60610.