Book Review – The Messenger

I got to do another book review for the new release by author Mike Kastle for his book The Messenger available on Amazon.com. Mike Kastle is just a pen name for a man who has spent a lot of his life working in China as a part of medical teams giving medical care while undercover trying to spread the good news of the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. For security reasons, he does not use his real name.

This is a moving and inspiring testimony to the power of God’s Spirit that can reside in each and every follower of the living Christ. It tells how each Christian can every day truly be a Messenger for God’s Son living in us and His message of forgiveness of man’s sins. With accounts of his experiences in China, Mike Kastle tells how that same power transformed lives even to the point of people willing to risk death and imprisonment just to be a Messenger for Christ and His truth.
The author states how the radical passion for Jesus of the early church is needed just as badly today to transform our neighborhoods, our nation and the rest of the world. God’s word and message needed so desperately today will always return to Him having fulfilled the mission it was sent out for.

Another Monday Prayer

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 Monday Prayer
  
 In the middle of my lostness
 Wanderings, dark sleep
 You took the time
        To search
 For this one miniscule
         Lost sheep
  
 Good Shepherd,
 You are the one who
 Never leaves the one behind
 Thank you for the saving
 Of me; 
 body, soul & mind 

Troubled Soul

 
 
 Troubled Soul
  
 Troubled Soul,
 Troubled Soul,
 Do not sit 
 In the darkness’s glow
 It’s angry face
 Leaves only the sting
 And disgrace
 Of rejection
  
 Sitting in a brackish cell
 Formed by cruelty 
 Coming only from hell
 Troubled Soul
 Hear these words
 For your pain there
 Is a certain cure
  
 Above this darkened
 Black air
 Over your bowed head
 And tangled hair
 A small light glows
 Comes from Heaven
 To let you know
  
 There is a someone
 Who knows your name
 Wishes to discharge your pain
 Forever
 Christ loves your heart
 Which has sat in the dark
 For too long
  
 So raise your head
 Listen to every word 
 Being said
 Inside your spirit
 He will implant His own
 There His truest Love
 & Graces
 Will forever be sown!
   

Deadwood

 
 
 
 Dead Wood
  
  
 You see them lying
 On creek beds
 Where by watery vistas
 They have been led
 Or resting on river sides
 Carried by the ferocity
 Of the moving currents’ tides
  
 These pieces of dead wood
 Would anyone have thought
 They could or better yet should
 End up in such a useless heap
 Their limbs jangling,
 Lamenting in such a lonely keep

But Oh, dear friend
This is not their end
For these shed no tears
Have no fear
Christ's smallest finger
Can transcend
Hell's darkest pit
In such a place He will not
Allow anyone to linger
Have faith
If you will just believe
and God's tranquil waters
You will be allowed to see!
 

Lean

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 Lean
  
 That cross,
 Slick & sticky
 from the red flood
 Of your precious blood
 Soaking, dripping 
 from above
 Down to me
  
 Each precious drop
 A powerful weapon
 Only it has power to stop
 satan’s hatred, 
 storm of fury
 cruel & angry,
 Against our lives
  
 As you took
 Your last breath 
 I am left
 Knowing your death
 Won my freedom
 While I lean my head
 Against the wood
 Rough & hewn
 By man carved 
 only to disgrace
 I gaze upon your 
 Lovely dead face
  
 Knowing you are 
 Returned to your
 Rightful throne of glory
 I will sit at your feet
 On this blood-soaked ground
 I do not care if I am found
 Sitting here
  
 Leaning into your cross
 I know heaven’s deepest loss
 Has returned my life to me
 So may it ever be 
  For each & all of those
 Who unafraid will dare
 To lean into your cross!
  
 King Jesus
 May I always live
 Leaning against your cross! 

Set Apart

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 Set Apart
  
  
 We were meant
 To be set apart
 I believe this
 Deeply in my heart
 Different we
 Should strive
 to be
 So all the world 
 May see
 Our Leader
  
 His purity
 Love
 Light
 Goodness
 To this we 
Should run
 As we struggle 
 To shun
 The world
  
 Sure, we have 
 To live in it
 Love it for sure
 But
 We are not to
 Be of it
 We’re meant
 To live
 In a way much 
 More pure
  
 Not as greedy,
 Sexually immoral,
 Bloodthirsty,
 Selfish
 These things
 We should
 Not be 
 His holy love
 More giving
 The world
 In Us 
 Should see
  
 A Holy Bride
 He longs for us
to be
 As we wait on
 Bended knees
 Longing to please
 Only Him
 Let us win
 This race
 As we let go
 Of every trace
 Of ourselves
  
 Let us dare
 To be different
 Stand out
 Give a holy shout
 Christ’s Name
 It is the same
 Yesterday, Today
 Tomorrow
 For His return will
 Overcome
 All death, pain,
 & every sorrow