chrisreevesmail@gmail.com | 4922 Ogg Road, Cedar Hill, TN 37032 | (615) 384-2410 | thegoodteacher.com

Heaven: O for a Home with God
Steve Klein and Jeff May
Privately Published, 2014. 135 pages, softback.
ISBN: 978-0692-325704

Nearly nine out of ten people in the United States say they believe in heaven, according to a recent ABC News poll. But, what exactly do people believe about heaven and what do they believe a person should do to get there? Contemporary beliefs about an afterlife and a place of reward are numerous and conflicting. Often they do not represent Bible truth. In a recent book by Steve Klein and Jeff May (both members of the church and gospel preachers), the subject of heaven is given a thorough treatment from God’s word. Klein and May are not interested in modern beliefs, theories, and suppositions about heaven. They are interested in Bible truth. In Heaven: O for a Home with God, Klein and May open with a discussion of God’s home in heaven (Chapter 1) and who Jesus Christ is who prepares the way for us to go to heaven (Chapter 2). Several chapters follow that examine man and what he needs to do to be right with God, live right, and go to heaven (Chapters 3-8). Two chapters consider the help we get from heaven to live right while on earth and some hindrances that we need to overcome to get to heaven (Chapters 9-10). The final three chapters look at the Bible’s description of heaven and what the saved will do there with God (Chapters 11-13). In Chapter 11, the authors offer a good Bible exegesis of Revelation 21 as it relates to God’s people in heaven. While there are many books on the market today covering the topic of heaven, this book by Klein and May is different. First, it is biblical and not full of fanciful imagination and speculation about the afterlife. You are getting God’s truth on the subject, not the opinions of two authors. Second, Klein and May lay down the Bible plan of salvation for man to go to heaven. They discuss both the reward (heaven) and the work necessary to get the reward. Discussion questions are also included at the end of each chapter. Klein and May have done a great service to believers. Their new book will encourage you and remind you of your ultimate goal in life – heaven!

7 Ways to Wreck a Marriage
J.J. Turner, Ph.D.
Publishing Designs, Inc., 2014. 118 pages, softback.
ISBN: 978-0-929540-92-4

The once-stable marriages that made up the fabric and foundation of our society are on the decline in our culture. The divorce rate in our nation has climbed to 50%. “Till death do us part” has been exchanged for “as long as we feel like it.” Marriage is a part of our modern world of change and the tsunami of change is sweeping our nation. Many modern families are being swept away and spouses and children are found among the casualties. What can we do to resist this change? What can we do to keep from being swept away in the current of change? In 7 Ways to Wreck a Marriage, author J.J. Turner gives a clarion wake-up call to the many marriage foes we face today. The Devil wants to wreck your marriage and Jesus wants to build up your marriage. You have to decide who you will follow. And what are the 7 ways to wreck your marriage? Turner says they are: encourage Satan (Chapter 1), open mouth and close ears (Chapter 2), let “I do” become “I don’t” (Chapter 3), leap before you look (Chapter 4), hold the checkbook hostage (Chapter 5), maintain control through abuse (Chapter 6), and rip apart what God has joined (Chapter 7). There is a lot of good material in Chapter 7 on divorce cause and effect, and divorce prevention. 7 Ways to Wreck a Marriage is a good book! This would be a good book to give to someone who may be headed for a divorce or to study with others in a married-couples class. Questions and marriage exercises for couples are given at the end of each chapter.

World Religions and Cults: Counterfeits of Christianity. Volume 1
Bodie Hodge & Roger Patterson
Master Books, 2015.
ISBN: 978-0-89051-903-5

Christianity competes with counterfeits every day. Believers who are members of the true, New Testament church live along side millions of people who are a part of some man-made religion. These religions are numerous and multiplying rapidly. In World Religions and Cults, authors Hodge and Patterson compare and contrast their understanding of Biblical Christianity (according to their particular denominational slant) with such world religions as Roman Catholicism, Greek Orthodox, Islam, and Mormonism. The origin and beliefs of thirteen different religions are discussed in this book. The value of this book is found in its basic overview of each religion. The Christian who reads this book will have a better understanding of some of his religious neighbors around him. He can better defend his faith and he can better prepare himself to discuss the Bible with those who do not follow Jesus Christ.