STEVE'S BLOG

Must Read!!!

2011-06-16T19:12:12Z

As a reviewer for Thomas Nelson Publishing, I receive a complimentary copy of a book in exchange for an honest and candid review of that book. After writing that disclaimer, let my also say that Vishal Mangalwadi’s book, The Book that Made Your World: How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization, is without a doubt one of the best books that I have ever read. Each page is filled with content that I had never been exposed to. Knowing that the Bible is a major influence in the history of western civilization is one thing. Understanding the intricacies of Scripture’s influence on societal development is breathtaking. This is a five-star-book in every sense of the word.

Help Steve take his message of grace to different parts of the world. His is a ministry supported entirely through the generous contributions of others. Go to our webste and give a gift today!

MacArthur

2011-05-24T19:27:28Z

As a book reviewer for Thomas Nelson Publisher, I receive free books in exchange for an honest and candid review of the books I read. The most recent book I received was MACARTHUR by Mitchell Yockelson and Stephen Mansfield, an excellent biography. Prior to reading Yockelson and Mansfield’s book, the only thing I knew about this man was his involvement in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Little did I know of his achievements in WWI, the Korean War, and his time in the Philippines, much less any of his personal life or political opportunities. This book puts everything in perspective. You’ll enjoy this book. Just like the man, the book deserve five stars.

Help Steve take his message of grace to different parts of the world. His is a ministry supported entirely through the generous contributions of others. Go to our webste and give a gift today!

George Washington

2011-05-10T18:46:00Z

As a history buff, I looked forward to reading Paul Vickery’s new book, WASHINGTON. I received the book free from Thomas Nelson Publishing in exchange for a candid review. This book allows you to get to know Washington, the “man”, instead of Washington, the Commander of the Continental Army. Washington had his share of failures, both before the revolution and during the revolution. In fact, Washington’s failures were so numerous that some might believe that the war was won sheerly based on dumb luck. But Washington learned from his mistakes and ultimately went on to defeat the British and then helped to define a nation that would one day grow into a superpower.

Help Steve take his message of grace to different parts of the world. His is a ministry supported entirely through the generous contributions of others. Go to our webste and give a gift today!

Fasting

2011-02-23T20:47:37Z

As an avid reader, I receive free books from Thomas Nelson Publishing in
exchange for honest and candid reviews. Scot McKnight's book, FASTING, is
one of the best I have ever read. I have been a student of the Bible for
over forty years, and throughout the time of reading this book, I kept
thinking, "Why haven't I heard any of this before?" Having thoroughly
researched the subject, McKnight offers, what I believe to be, a very
biblical view of fasting. The reason for fasting, the author asserts, isn't
to receive something from God or to prove our piety. Rather, fasting is a
response to a holy or sacred moment occurring in our lives. Such a time
might be the death of a loved one, when sadness is so profound that eating
almost seems sacrilegious. It may come during a time of deep spiritual
hunger or perhaps during Holy Week with a desire to identify with Jesus'
suffering. Whatever the case, fasting is not a means of manipulating God
for a desired outcome, but fasting is one way of responding to a sacred
moment, whatever that occasion may be.

Help Steve take his message of grace to different parts of the world. His is a ministry supported entirely through the generous contributions of others. Go to our webste and give a gift today!

The Jesus Inquest

2011-01-01T21:09:00Z

As a reviewer for Thomas Nelson Books, I received a complimentary copy of Charles Foster’s book, The Jesus Inquest, in exchanged for a candid review of the book. This is a superb book, especially for anyone interested in apologetics. Foster does an outstanding job of present both the evidence for and against the resurrection of Jesus Christ including examining extra biblical sources that would otherwise be unavailable to most readers of the New Testament. This is a book that belongs on your bookshelf.

Help Steve take his message of grace to different parts of the world. His is a ministry supported entirely through the generous contributions of others. Go to our webste and give a gift today!

Surgery, Nursing Home, and God

2010-12-02T22:09:00Z

It’s been quite some time since I’ve made an entry in my blog. If the truth be known, I would much rather forget about the last six months than to reflect on them. But, after much thought, I realize that I have a ton to say, and right now, I’m itching to say it.

I entered the hospital early on June 16^th. Near 9:30 that morning, I was wheel into surgery for a kidney transplant and didn’t wake up until 7:00 that evening. The surgery went well, and my new kidney began functioning immediately, right on the operating table.

I had talked with the surgeon a few weeks prior to surgery and told him of the medication that I had been prescribed by my pcp to help me sleep. I specifically asked if I would be able to continue on the medication while in the hospital. He assured me that I would be able to but failed to tell me that only be giving me ¼ of the prescribed dosage. Unfortunately, that was far short of what was required for me to sleep, and for the next two weeks, I received very little sleep. On some nights, I was able to sleep for a couple of hours. But there were many nights during which I received no sleep at all. The sleep deprivation wrecked havoc with my cerebral palsy and landed me in a wheelchair for the next three months, unable to walk.

Before I continue, let me give an update. I am currently walking, regaining my strength, and will resuming preaching shortly after the first of year. I now see my kidney specialist once a month and have blood work done every two weeks. I’m in good shape.

You might wonder, after all that I’ve been through, if I’m angry. You bet I am! All of this could have been avoided if I had just been given what I needed to sleep. Instead of being home with family as I should have been, I lived at a nursing home for two and a half months relearning how to walk. Believe me; I have on more than one occasion thought about litigation. But my heart isn’t in spending the next few years focused on a lawsuit. It’s in evangelism.

During the months in the nursing home, I had plenty of time to think. I want to just one of the convictions that I have which has strongly reinforced due to recent events. Simply put: Everything that I am, everything that I have, and everything that I hope to become belongs to Jesus Christ for him to use in any way that he sees fit. It’s only when someone embraces the totality of God’s sovereignty on his or hers life does cerebral palsy, kidney disease, or anything else begin to make sense. I hated being in the nursing, not being able to walk or even feed myself. I did not know whether or not I’d ever be able to walk again. But as much as I wanted to walk and regain my independence, that’s not where I placed my hope. My hope was in Jesus Christ! NOT in health and certainly NOT in prosperity! But in Jesus Christ, the son of the Living God!

Help Steve take his message of grace to different parts of the world. His is a ministry supported entirely through the generous contributions of others. Go to our webste and give a gift today!

Lead Like Ike

2010-11-01T18:20:00Z

As a reviewer for Thomas Nelson Publishing house, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Geoff Loftus’ book, LEAD LIKE IKE. It is a well written book that documents the leadership style of Eisenhower as Supreme Commander of the European theater of operation during WWII. The book focuses on how he made decision, dealt with his subordinate generals, and how he related to the leaders of the allied world, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. History buffs will love this book because of its behind the scene look at Eisenhower’s decision making. Those who have the responsible of overseeing others will learn from Eisenhower’s triumphs and failures alike.

Help Steve take his message of grace to different parts of the world. His is a ministry supported entirely through the generous contributions of others. Go to our webste and give a gift today!

Surgery

2010-06-15T20:15:37Z

I leave the house tomorrow at 5:30 and will have surgery around 9:00 or
9:30. They're going to cut me open, take a part out, put a part back in,
sew me up, and send me home 5 to 7 days later. I rode down to Indy
yesterday with my donor and he asked if I would have trouble coping if
anything happened to him during surgery. We're both strong believers in the
atonement of Christ, and I knew he'd be in a far better place than me. So I
answered "No...But," I told him, "if that were to happen, i wanted both
kidneys." He laughed, and we had a great day together.

A couple of people have asked about an address. Cards can be sent to: 789 S
Bluebird LN, Upland, IN 46989. I'll see ya on the otherside.

Help Steve take his message of grace to different parts of the world. His is a ministry supported entirely through the generous contributions of others. Go to our webste and give a gift today!

Jesus Manifesto

2010-05-25T17:42:00Z

As a book reviewer for Thomas Nelson Publishing, I always look forward to receiving another free book in the mail. As I started reading JESUS MANIFESTO by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola, I was disappointed by the beginning chapters. I had heard it all before and wasn’t learning anything new. But about midway through the book, the words began to come alive with one fresh insight after another. It might sound obvious to state that the focal point of Christianity is Jesus Christ. However, many have twisted the gospel to make it about anything but Christianity. On page 100 Sweet and Viola write, “We have created a narcissistic form of Christianity, in which conversion is less a turning towards Christ than turning toward success or fame or fortune. … We’ve made conversion primarily about ourselves, a finding of ourselves rather than a journey of God discovery.” Or, on page 105, “Jesus Christ did not come to make bad people good, he came to make dead people alive.”

Help Steve take his message of grace to different parts of the world. His is a ministry supported entirely through the generous contributions of others. Go to our webste and give a gift today!

Transplant Surgery Is Scheduled!

2010-05-24T22:56:24Z

For those of you who may not have heard, I'm finally scheduled for
transplant surgery. It will be at 9:00am at the IU Medical Center on
Wednesday. June 16th. For those interested in daily updates, join me at:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Steve-Chance/109466379093673?ref=sgm I'll
get back to writing lengthier blogs once I've recuperated from the surgery.

Steve Chance

www.goldenclay.org

765-998-0166

Help Steve take his message of grace to different parts of the world. His is a ministry supported entirely through the generous contributions of others. Go to our webste and give a gift today!