EXCELLENCE AS PROTEST

I've just returned from our latest recording session in Franklin, TN with Mike Card for our radio program IN THE STUDIO. Each session is amazing in new ways as Mike, Joe Carlson, and I watch God work through the guests and music.

One of the first things you'll notice when you walk into The Mole End Studio, is something painted prominently on the wall. The attached video will explain it as Mike talks with Ralph Borde of Charasia. Ralph spent the day with us and you'll hear those interviews on upcoming IN THE STUDIO programs.

New Book From James MacDonald

We wrapped up recording today of the soon-to-be-released book from Dr. James MacDonald, "10 Choices: A Proven Plan To Change Your Life Forever". Oasis Audio is strategically now recording audiobooks for simultaneous release with the print versions, so I expect it will be released in September.

If you would like the print version, however, it is available for pre-order right now at a reduced price from WALK IN THE WORD.

Now that I've read it (word-for-word!), I can say officially that it is an outstanding book. James is not only a great expositor of the Word of God, but he understands the process of transformational change in people's lives. Interestingly, both audiobooks I've produced this summer (see my June 30th post) focus on the thought of what is going to count for eternity. Maybe I'm supposed to be learning something? If I had to pick, my favorite part of the book is what James calls our "capacity" choices-- I choose to forgive, and I choose to trust.

Here is what James says about "10 Choices":
"God holds us responsible for the choices that we make. In fact, the Bible is filled with stories of people who made good choices and got blessed, but also who made bad choices and reaped the consequences. I'm thinking about a day when we’re each filled with greater faith in making better choices about our future, a better future that God is waiting to lavish on us. (1 Corinthians 2:9)"

This would make a great book for you to get several copies as gifts for people you care about.

EVERYTHING COMING UP RUSSIAN

The theme of this week is definitely Russian. First, we attended a picnic at the home of our friend Sergey Rakhuba of Russian Ministries and met many wonderful Russian friends, including Alexei Dadochkin of St. Petersburg Christian University. Did you know there was such a school? I didn't, but you can read more about it at www.spbcu.ru (like me you may have to click on the English button :) Alexei and others from Russia and surrounding countries are in Wheaton attending a six-week conference. He is bringing one of his colleagues, Sergei Brishtel, who works with Trans World Radio to my office for a visit tomorrow.

Then yesterday in Cleveland at our regular Monday recording session for THE PUBLIC SQUARE, we were joined in the studio for a lengthy interview with KGB Major General (retired, thankfully) Oleg Kalugin. What an amazing man. He was the head of Soviet counterintelligence in this country for many years and can tell spine-tingling stories of just how effective they were in infiltrating the U.S. society and government. He himself had a cover here as a Fulbright Scholar and Russian journalist. When he ran afoul of Putin's government, he moved to this country and eventually became a U.S. citizen. His book, "The First Directorate" will soon be released in a re-titled second edition. Our interviews will come up next week on THE PUBLIC SQUARE. General Kalugin is a self-described atheist, but we dialogued about religion and Christianity from several different angles.

Finally-- and this is also about Russia-- Sergey Rakhuba passed on to me today just how urgent the need for financial support is for the summer camp program in Russia and surrounding countries. Thousands of children attend these evangelistic camps, but the cost of living in Russia and the Ukraine has gone up 25-30% making it even more difficult to buy food, etc. $50 will send one child to one of these camps for a week. To help with this urgent need, go to their website.

Things have changed so dramatically in Russia in my life time. And it is still changing-- in both good and bad ways. Keep praying for this land and its dear people.