Monday, February 28, 2011

PrayFit


I reviewed PrayFit out of curiosity. How is it celebrities recommend a fitness book that focuses on Jesus? (Not your usual Hollywood stuff, for sure.) I soon found out what makes PrayFit buzz-worthy.

PrayFit is a guide to a healthy body and stronger faith in 28 days and includes devotions, exercises, tips and meal plans.

Author and fitness guru, Jimmy Pena, shares his wisdom about exercise, food and faith. Jimmy Page, MS and Jim Stoppani, PHD, complete the package making PrayFit an easy-read manual on growing in faith and fitness in 28 days.

Don’t get me wrong. Although PrayFit provides a challenging 28-day workout plan (which, by the way, involves zero equipment, so no excuses anyone), the spiritual component is not deep theology. The devotional nuggets and prayers are simple, but nonetheless biblical. And, like the meal-plans and food tips, readings are bite-sized easy to read.

PrayFit provides intense workouts, thorough food info and inspiring spiritual content. I recommend it for just about anyone. (Makes a great gift—especially for friends interested in improving their health and needing to draw closer to Jesus.)

Follow up tips and info are also provided via PrayFit.com. Good stuff.

Janey L. DeMeo M.A.
Copyright © February 2011

www.orphansfirst.org
www.JaneyDeMeo.com
www.twitter.com/JaneyDeMeo

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

4 Americans Killed by Somali Pirates



(Photo of Africa seas, credit Louis DeMeo)

This week we're talking about The God Hater by Bill Myers (see previous post). But it would be unfitting to ignore what's going on in the world -- especially as with so much God-hating activity on the loose. With that in mind, please read my latest article in The San Diego Christian Perspectives Examiner, Missionaries killed by Somali Pirates.

Janey L. DeMeo M.A.
Copyright © February 2011

www.orphansfirst.org
www.JaneyDeMeo.com
Follow Janey on Twitter

Monday, February 21, 2011

The God Hater


If you're look for a relevant, thought-provoking, page-turning book -- and you have a heart to help orphans -- buy The God Hater by Bill Myers.

Not only is The God Hater one of the best books in the genre of Christian Fantasy that you'll read, but here's the double-whammy: The proceeds go to Orphans First -- a non profit organization helping children. (Read my recent article on Orphans First work in Haiti here.)

Since I'm a huge Bill Myers fan, I posted a review of The God Hater a while back which you can read here. You can also read my fellow Christian Science Fiction & Fantasy (CSFF) blogtour colleagues' reviews here:
Noah Arsenault
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Rachel Briard
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Carol Bruce Collett
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
CSFF Blog Tour
April Erwin
Amber French
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Katie Hart
Ryan Heart
Joleen Howell
Bruce Hennigan
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Becca Johnson
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Emily LaVigne
Shannon McDermott
Matt Mikalatos
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
MollyBuuklvr81
John W. Otte
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Andrea Schultz
Tammy Shelnut
Kathleen Smith
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Jessica Thomas
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Nicole White
Dave Wilson
Kathy Brasby

Bottom line: There's a whole lot of us who recommend The God Hater.

Oh, and for those curious about the Orphans First / Bill Myers connection: As well as being a brilliant writer, Bill has a huge heart for orphans. As well as being an advocate and supporter, he is on the Orphans FIrst Advisory Board. (He was also our guest speaker for our commencement ceremony at Theological Institute in France years ago.)

Janey L. DeMeo M.A.
Copyright © February 2010
www.orphansfirst.org
www.JaneyDeMeo.com
www.twitter.com/JaneyDeMeo

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Defining Faith Part 2



(Video & photo credit Louis DeMeo)



It took a whole lot of faith to sit under that collapsed building on top of a ton of stinky rubble. Eeeeeooh! Who knows what lay underneath that stuff? But what is real faith -- the kind that delivers our souls from damnation? And what makes the Christian faith, belief in the Bible as God's inspired Word, different from other faiths?

One defining aspect of the Christian faith is faith. Sound simple? It is. But some people make it so darned complicated.

The Bible teaches that by faith we are saved, not by works (Ephesians 2:8). Faith, as discussed in last week’s article, must be based on truth in order to be true faith. To the Bible-believer, that object of truth is God’s Son, Jesus.

Most religions – just about all religions – believe that you must try to be good enough to merit Eternal Life and Heaven. That’s what makes Christianity or Bible-believing different from other religions; the very premise of Christianity is that humans cannot do enough good to merit God. They cannot arrive at perfection because they are bound by old sin natures.

The Bible says none of us will ever be good enough for all have sinned and fall far from the mark of perfection demanded by the very personification of perfection, God (Romans 3:23). That’s why God sent His only Son, Jesus, to pay the price of our imperfections and to die for our sin, so we could, in essence, go scot free to Heaven on the merit of what He did—and not on what we did or didn’t do. That’s called grace: receiving something we don’t deserve and never earned or merited.

Bottom line: He did it for us. We must accept it and accept Him, believe in Him, put our faith in Him. It’s not hard but it is clearly the most important decision one can ever make because it’s this decision that determines our eternal destiny. If we believe in Him, we become His adopted child and He promises Heaven and a life walking with Him now. Just takes a little faith...

But that doesn’t mean that once we have put our trust in Jesus and accept Him that we can live like Hell with no consequences. Whatever a person sows, he or she will also reap (Galatians 6:9). And a person who has asked Christ into his heart will be changed over time. Truly changed. And that will show on the outside.

The Bible says that faith without works is dead.

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:14-18, NKJV).

So here’s the cincher. If you really know Jesus you’ll walk the walk that reflects who He is. You’ll reach out to the hurting, pour out to the poor, reach out to a needy neighbor, pray for loved ones, seek to make your own wrongdoing right, sense when you’ve done something that grieves God and ask for forgiveness… The list goes on. But all that’s for another time. Stop by again soon for more on this subject.

Feel free to leave a comment. i value your feedback.

Janey L. DeMeo M.A.
Copyright © February 2011

www.orphansfirst.org
www.JaneyDeMeo.com
Follow Janey on Twitter

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Valentine's Day and How to Make It Count

Drawing by (and courtesy of) Francesco Raphael DeMeo. Copyright (c) 2005.

Valentine's Day is here and for some it's hardly a woo-hoo! Loneliness, solitude and sadness make it anything but a love-fest. But it doesn't have to be that way. It's all about perspective.

Read my recent article on Valentine's Day on The Strand in the San Diego Christian Perspectives Examiner here.

Janey L. DeMeo M.A.
Copyright © February 2011

www.orphansfirst.org
www.JaneyDeMeo.com
Follow Janey on Twitter

Thursday, February 03, 2011

Unto The Hills: A Daily Devotional by Billy Graham

I review for BookSneeze
Let’s face it; you can’t really miss the mark when reading a book by Billy Graham. And Unto the Hills; A Daily Devotional is no exception. It’s a fabulous tool for all Jesus followers.

Each daily devotional provides a Scripture followed by a commentary relevant to the Bible quote, then ends with a prayer. In true character to Dr. Graham’s down-to-earth style, this book makes for easy (but interesting) reading. Its pages echo a tone of characteristic purity – characteristic of Billy Graham and, of course, of Jesus.

Recurring themes pop up periodically such as angels, salvation, faith, family, suffering etc. Some of the devotionals delve into several Bible passages to provide an overall sense of what God is saying. Others provide fascinating illustrations through parables or real-life stories. Poignant quotes from other men of God – some well known, others lesser known – also sporadically lace the pages throughout, enriching the read.

Unto The Hills would benefit anyone—including unbelievers (it makes a great evangelistic tool) and even pastors. But it’s especially a must-have for new believers.

I received this book in exchange for my review as a Thomas Nelson Booksneeze reviewer.

Janey L. DeMeo M.A.
Copyright © February 2011

www.orphansfirst.org
www.JaneyDeMeo.com
Follow Janey on Twitter

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

What is True Faith?


Faith in action. Healing faith. Faith enough to move a mountain. What is faith?

There are many kinds of faith in the world, but there's only one that lasts forever. Read my article Defining Faith in The Examiner.

I just returned from another trip to Haiti working with the children and feeding program supported by Orphans First. I'll be writing an article on this soon. Stop by again.


Janey L. DeMeo M.A.
Copyright © February 2011

www.orphansfirst.org
www.JaneyDeMeo.com
Follow Janey on Twitter