November 26, 2012
   
    Written any good books lately?
    That’s not the typical question; more likely, we ask, “Read any good books lately?” For most people, they would come up speechless on both queries; today, few read… and fewer write.
    Yet, in the gift-giving free-for-all that surrounds the year-end festivities, books are among the most-given. Ties and after-shave have virtually disappeared; CDs are anachronisms, and gift cards for Starbucks have become ubiquitous and mundane. A good book – hand-selected from among the trivial by the giver, for the recipient – still holds promise for a Christmas memory.
    Allow me to save us both some time: I’m tempted to be clever and coy, but neither adjective fits me very well. I’m writing to suggest a solution for your carry-a-box-in-your-trunk Christmas giving needs. Those holiday parties where you need a hostess gift; the gift exchange with the couples in your small group; the uncomfortable front-door experiences where someone arrives – unannounced – with a gift, and you hadn’t even thought to put them on a list (let alone buy something!). What will you do this year for your Category 2 gifting? (Category 1 is spouse/kids/boss; you’re on your own on that front!)
    LifeMastery (Regal Books, 2012) is the answer to your dilemma. For the next month, Jesus is the Reason for the Season will be a trite reminder that He is still worth talking about. The New Testament leads off with the four Gospel writers’ biographies of Jesus. They tell His story from their unique vantage points; among them, 3766 verses give us the inspired accounts of His earthly life.
    Interesting: only 156 of those verses deal with His birth and childhood, but over 3600 verses are devoted to His three years of public ministry. As the Son of God, He performed miracles and completed the spiritual mission of His death, burial and resurrection. But, during His three years of public life, His actions as the Son of Man are worth a serious examination. The Son of God is unique… but the Son of Man has left us an example to emulate as we live to accomplish our own Kingdom potential!
    I wrote LifeMastery to explore the way Jesus conducted Himself in pursuit of His Calling. His career – as a carpenter/builder in the little village of Nazareth – met the demands of his customers, but was deemed secondary by the Holy Spirit as He chose the facts of Jesus’ life worth including in His story. In a short span of time – less than one term for a US President! – He set in motion a movement that has swept us up and changed our world, 2000 years later. All that, without the internet…
    LifeMastery is a fresh look at the life of Jesus. He remains the exemplar of life lived, at its highest level. He designed life; it only makes sense to follow His lead! If you’re a graduate of The Master’s Program – or, currently participating in TMP – I sent you a copy of LifeMastery already, as a gift. If you’ve received it – and, read it! – I would be deeply grateful if you were to visit the Amazon site (Amazon.com) and click on the “Write a Customer Review” button. Tell them what you think of LifeMastery…
    If you’re not in that elite group, I would love for you to experience the book, and to be reminded of the remarkable person that the Lord Jesus was – and, is. How to do that?
    Well, Amazon – or any of the other retail portals – can fix you up. Ask for it at your local bookstore. Option: if you’d like a “special deal” on a mini-case of 10 books, for those Christmas giving moments, we can help with that. Ten books for $100 (that’s 33% off the cover price), and we’ll pay the shipping (no author royalties on these!). Click here to go to a secure page where you can place an order…
    Shameless? You bet. I’m promoting Jesus; He’s worth it. He said, “…when I am lifted up… I will draw all people to myself…” (John 12:32).
    It’s a great time to talk about Jesus!

Bob Shank