***I was given an ebook copy from the publisher, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolina's for an honest review.

Title: Messiah to the Messed Up; Written by: Sue Ciullo
Published: April 27, 2014
My rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The book blurb:
Spend some time with Jesus and something profound is bound to happen to your heart. Messiah to the Messed Up interlaces rich Scripture narratives with twenty-first century stories. These threads, woven together, create an unforgettable tapestry of the life of Jesus, an image so real that you will feel His presence.

    Watch Jesus arrive, parched and sweaty, and converse with a social outcast.
    Witness Him dine with people that others shunned.
    Wonder at His mercy when He spares an adulteress from execution.
    See how Jesus is every bit as present today as He was 2000 years ago.
    Watch Him love a teenaged girl who gets drunk on strawberry wine.
    Witness His grace in a homeless man who offers an extravagant gift.
    Wonder at His mercy as a veteran takes his last breath.

These stories snippets of time with Jesus will change your perspective on the Carpenter from Galilee.

My opinions:

This book is, in short, different than others that I have reviewed and blogged about. In other words, as nonfiction, there are no set made up main characters or or a certain set storyline. Nonetheless, I could already tell before reading that I will be opening this one up multiple times:

The book begins by comparing life to a seesaw and I'm sure that you can relate to the symbolism there. Life is chaotic, sometimes unpleasant, full of often messy struggles, no matter what the storybooks say. From that point on, the author uses a professional voice of well chosen, informative words to create a commonplace attitude: "Why is it important to get to know Jesus? Because I’m a mess, you’re a mess, and we all need a Messiah" she says.

To present the valuable New Testament lessons it shares, such as the stories around the Ministry of Jesus such as of the woman at the well, the rich young man, Zacchaeus, and Nicodemus, chapters are broken up by scriptural passages with each several parts: the Bible text itself, the historical background, a relevant story situation, an application, a closing, and finally a set of class discussion questions/ personal reflection questions.

As I assess what I have read, what stands out is the way that the author opens up with brutally honest, dramatic retellings of bits of her life and various people, good and bad, who she has been exposed to in addition to the information she includes about the details as pertaining to the scripture in her retellings of the scripture.

For example, the book has taught me, although I had already read the passage of John 4, more about the conflict between Jews and Samaritans that existed for 700 years and similarly about the way that the unpopular, Samaritan at the well was able to be used for God to be the very first female evangelist thru his unfailing love for each of us.

The book then went on to mention high school, McDonalds, and bands/ singers such as Paul McCartney, the Beetles, and Taylor Swift. Big difference, right?  Personally, I love this set up and the way that it flows together smoothly... while providing such a wealth of information on each story.

What I get from reading this is that we each can be challenged for God a little more in each manner of life. As I read, I actively made notes and dogears on several ebook pages, for instance as I read that "When Jesus extended the invitation to one such man, he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” That doesn’t mean the man’s father was dead. In first-century Palestine, immediately upon the death of a parent, the eldest son closed the eyes of his mother or father. ... If the man’s father had been deceased, he would have been buried the same day; therefore, the man certainly could have met up with Jesus the following day."

This stands out because I can relate- Not that I'm waiting for any death in particular, but in the way that I can see myself making "Someday" goals that I'll never accomplish. Did you know this fact of history? Do you make these same goals?

Just like Jesus over 2000 years ago, this author uses stories relevant to today that are very touching and motivating.

If you are interested in reading this 152- page piece, which I can wholeheartedly recommend for teen or adult alike, group or individual, you can get an ebook copy on the current (limited time) kindle countdown sale for *less than a dollar*. Check it out on Amazon here.

Mondays post (here) was pretty short, I'll admit, but I think this post will compensate :)

PS. The linky has Updated Rules!

Fact of Life: Each and every person on this planet wants to belong. If you want somewhere to belong online, than its a fact of life that you should join the ChatAbout community. I'm not kidding.

With a free account onChatAbout.com, you get access to nearly limitless discussion thread topics to talk- I mean, chat- about. As part of this unique unique site, you'll also have full privileges to can ask and answer questions, post articles, comment on and share news articles in Facebook and Twitter, listen to radio, for points, etc.

You might be assuming that this new website is your common social media, but in reality, its not: You get *paid* each time you comment and such. (I repeat, in case you also didnt read the title (☺): You get *paid* in Amazon gift cards and Paypal money (or several physical rewards) to talk about the things you enjoy, the things you love, the things you are interested in, or even just the things you have an opinion about.

For instance, as I draft this post, I can see the most recently commented on discussion forum topics are as follows:  Frugal Tips, ChatAbout Photo Club, Hiroshima, Amethyst, Dictatorship, Daily Bible Scriptures, Basket Weaving, Swagbucks, Reborn Dolls, Lego Building, Paperweight Collecting, Oculus, Reading, Adventure Time, Democrat, Paramornan. ChatAbout brags 10,000+ topics, so even if these aren't for you, something is, even if you have to take a second and start the newest topic thread yourself.

All comments have to be 20+ original words, for a point each. With just that and the radio feature (classic radio, for me but there are many stations) some days I can get 20% of the way to cashing out out (100pts: 500pts) for a$5 reward (great moneymaker, anyone?) but I know that there are many days that I'm just not Chatty Cathy (for better or worse, haha). Fortunately, there is also a bonus section to earn easy extra points, and another for surveys to help compensate for those days or add to your money on the rest.  I can definitely say that these bonus offers have helped me get my points almost everyday for my daily goal- which you can set as you like everyday.

Same with the Radio feature; If I sit and listen to the classic radio station for an hour, that is 12 points just there.

I also feel that I have to say something about the staff: They are so helpful, and get back sooner than any other website that I have seen. Not only was I messaging one Memorial Day, but they got me my reward befire I was even up early in the morning, as well.

I ask you to take a look on ChatAbout, even for a few seconds, if that is all the time you have, and comment with the reason that you would like to belong to the ChatAbout community most.

I''d love to be able to welcome you into the community and enjoy it with you.

You can sign up here: link.

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Thanks for coming to celebrate with my Linky… aka Blog-Hop… aka Linky Party… aka Link- Up. Please pick 2 (if not 3 or 4):

1. Link up any post that fits into the awesome, recent, and wholesome categories to this week’s linky.
2. If you add my linky, or a specific post, to your Pinterest board/s, you can link it/ them. **
3. Please place the linky button on your sidebar or otherwise link it where I can find it.
4. Spend a moment to comment on a post or two and subscribe so you can come back next week!

**I will have to delete your other social media links. After all, this is about the best *blog posts* technically.

Top 75 Warning Labels to Make you Laugh:

16. On a floodlight- This product illuminates, even in the dark.
17. On a foaming face wash: May contain foam.
18. On a plain Frisbee- Contains small parts.
19. On a frozen dinner: Consult plumber before consumption (???)
20. On a fruit rollup- Remove plastic before eating.
21. On a hair curler- Don't use on eyelashes.
22. On a hair curler- for external use only.
23. On a hammer- May be harmful if swallowed.  
24. On a handicap ramp- Ramp ends mid stairwell.
25. On a hat brand: Products are made out of water bottles. You may be allergic.
26.    On a Hershey Almond Bar- Contains nuts.
27.    On a jigsaw puzzle's box- Some assembly required.
28.    On a Laundromat washer- Not intended for small children.
29.    On a lottery ticket- Do not iron.
30.    On a lumber product- Do not consume.

(Miss the first batch, or simply want more? Be sure to see Part 1 )


On a more seroius note, I cant find anything particularly funny (either a video or an image) pertaining to Memorial Day, but I think that this image, below, does justice enough.

The words to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." come first from Duet 6:5, but they are also present in Duet. 10:12, Duet 11: 13, Duet 30:6, Joshua 22:5, Matthew 22: 37, Mark 12: 30, Luke 10: 27, etc in various forms. (For instance, the first lacks "with all your mind")

In Matthew 22:38 Jesus himself elaborates, telling, "This is the first and greatest commandment". Those are the words of Jesus, yet we struggle to apply them to our lives.

I cant help but admit that I do.

So without pointing any fingers, here is the message of my post, and with it, my challenge to grow in grace and not in the ways of this world.

"Love the Lord your God..."


"There is no greater evidence of the inability of man to obey God’s law than this one commandment. No human being with a fallen nature can possibly love God with all our heart, soul and strength 24 hours a day. It’s humanly impossible." (2)
It can be confusing that we as humans are told that we should show our love to out perfect God, our Father, Creator.... confusing because he has everything he needs at his finger tips and we are far from perfect. What, we say, could we give him? Yet these are the ways of how we are to show our gratitude for all He is, was, and forever will be:

1. "...with all your heart..."
Our heart is enclosed at our very core, as should our faith come from. Another viewpoint is that with a "new heart" as one born again, we have entered from spiritual death to spiritual life. The heart gives us life and without it, we are nothing.

To love with all our hearts, we need to be true believers from our very core. We, essentially, need to keep it nurtured thru study and obedience of written Word of God, and serving Him accordingly. Loving him with our life.

2. "...and with all your soul..."
The soul refers to our characteristics as living, breathing, thinking people. You could say that the heart gives life, but the soul is what lives.

In the Bible, soul is used to regard feelings, emotions, attitudes and will of a person. Things that are controllable; they are choices. We need to show our love with the actions we make of our personal beings. We are to love by personally following God's commandments, in doing what is right.

Also, with feelings, we are to serve God completely and willingly, and not only in part. We are to love God with self control of our souls.

3. "...and with all your mind..."
Our mind is also mentioned: Our ability to exercising the mind, to think through. Some of the words, specifically mentioned in scripture mean "A putting together, to figure out, intelligence" or similarly " to consider and think upon."

With our intellect, we are to carefully analyze our choices, our motives, etc and plan things in a though out way that will please God.  Furthermore, we are to "scan" our thoughts that they are moral, pure, honest, and right just as we are to look at what we  put into our minds and what comes from it.

We love in worship with our souls, praise like, and then, we are to love God “with all our mind”  by aligning our views, conclusions, and decisions with God's written Word in all situations. In this way, we are to show love with care.

4. "...and with all your strength..."

These things, this following of God, can consist of relatively simple practices, in most situations, except for the word  that three letter word: "all". "All" means that we can not give quarter effort, go half way, or decide that 75% passes. No, we are to be set apart, nonconforming and this are not to be Lukewarm.

We are to use our bodies and our energy for the Glory of God. We are to have outward expression of what is going on inside, as the Bible says that faith without action is dead. (We can not live in sin, we can not walk the lethal way of our old heart, as members of the born again family.)

With our strength in speech as well (but that is another post) and with our actions and with our ability. The might we have, should go to God, that we should love him with ultimate expression, with"the full energy of your heart—what is most important to you, your emotions, will and reasoning ability; coupled with all your knowledge, wisdom, talents and skills specifically focused to carry something out" (1)

Other explanation says how we "cannot love someone we don’t know, so knowing Him should be our first priority. Those who pursue God and His righteousness, who take seriously the command to love Him above all else, are those who are consumed with the things of God. They are eager to study God’s Word, eager to pray, eager to obey and honor God in all things, and eager to share Jesus Christ with others." (2)



I'll close with the whole of the Matthew 22 passage I mentioned above; for faith without action, without change, and without love is ....something we set our goals above":

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

*Love of God is not salvation, but a lifelong journey in mere correlation; in our failure of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we see the need for our Savior. Also, note: I point no fingers, except possibly at myself. Lets grow together, Growing in Grace.

Ive supported bits and pieces of this post as with links 1 2 and 3.