This blog gets a fair amount of traffic, and we’re guessing that some of you must have purchased a copy of What He Said from Amazon (the only place it’s available). Yet our Amazon page only has 8 reviews, the most recent coming 7.5 months ago.

So the favor to ask of you is this: if you have the book, would you mind going to the Amazon page, scrolling down to the reviews, clicking the “Create your own review” button, and then waxing away on your opinions, feelings, reactions, etc. to the book? We would love to see what you think. And thank you.

The post A Favor To Ask of You first appeared on What He Said: The Words of Jesus Christ.

Christianity Today published an interesting analysis of the 2007 Baylor Religion Survey which asked a whole range of folks about their Bible reading and views on a variety of topics. The survey found that people who read the Bible the most tend to be more conservative, BUT BUT BUT the more these same folks read it, especially on their own, the more liberal their views become. That pesky Jesus!

Why does this happen? One possible explanation is that readers tend to have expectations of a text prior to reading it. Given the Bible’s prominence in our society, it’s little wonder that many people think they know what’s in it before they open it up. But once they start reading it on their own, they are bound to be surprised by something, and this surprising new content is then integrated and grafted on to the familiar. Beliefs do change with the addition of new information.

The post That Ole’ Lefty Bible first appeared on What He Said: The Words of Jesus Christ.

“Thanks for the copy of What He Said. Yep, believe you hit the mark here. I’m pleased to see someone clarify what we are TOLD Jesus said, as it is recorded in the Gospels.  This book helps readers get to the core of Jesus’ teachings and sifts through all the rest so as to create a readable and valuable tool for those interested.  It’s spot-on. Good work.”

Nice to hear we’re on the right track. To read more of his work, check out:

• The Enoch Factor: The Sacred Art of Knowing God
• The Giving Myths: Giving Then Getting the Life You’ve Always Wanted

The post New Review of What He Said first appeared on What He Said: The Words of Jesus Christ.

Want to read it together? It’s been a while since I went through the Gospels with a fine-toothed comb, and I’m ready. To keep things manageable, I propose that we read four chapters per week, and then discuss them on Fridays. I’ll put up a post and then everyone can chime in using the “comments.”

So get your copy of What He Said (off the shelf or from Amazon if you don’t already have it), and start reading.

Assignment for February 25: Matthew, chapters 1-4

The post Read The Gospels With Us first appeared on What He Said: The Words of Jesus Christ.

And think.

Christmas, after all is meant to be a celebration of the birth of Jesus, not a celebration of the glowing credit card. One more plastic toy or electronic doo-dad is not going to make this world a more peaceful and tolerant home for any of us.

If you could sit Jesus down and ask Him what he really wants for his birthday, I’d bet He’d say “To be understood.” We just happen to know of a great gift for everyone on your list that makes His message easier to understand than ever before. Give it a shot >>

The post It’s His Birthday – Get Him What He Wants first appeared on What He Said: The Words of Jesus Christ.

The other two books on the podium are beautiful and powerful; check them out.

• Gold: What He Said: The Words of Christ in the Four Gospels, by Breviloquent (Breviloquent, LLC.)
• Silver: Pilgrims to Openness: Direct Realization Tantra in Everyday Life, by Shambhavi Sarasvati (Jaya Kula Press)
• Bronze: Chosen Faith, Chosen Land: The Untold Story of America’s 21st-Century Shakers, by Jeannine Lauber (Down East Books)

You can see the full list of IPPY winners here.

The post IPPY Winners Announced first appeared on What He Said: The Words of Jesus Christ.

I like a good “gala ceremony” as much as the next person, but I don’t think our schedules will allow us to attend. Our fingers are crossed nonetheless.

You can view the full list of finalists here.

The post We’re Up for an IPPY! first appeared on What He Said: The Words of Jesus Christ.

This article/editorial discusses “false witnesses” in the ever-growing movement of hate groups:

“It always seemed to me that there was a whole lot more to being a Christian than just believing in Jesus, that too many call themselves that without really knowing what it means and, in far too many cases, to justify behavior that is the antitheses of true Christianity.”

In discussing the arrest of the Michigan couple planning to kill law-enforcement officers, Dan Thomasson continues:

“The problem is that these people aren’t alone. Disaffected, ignorant followers of the philosophy of violence are popping up everywhere. They’re being helped by the Internet and the easy access to weapons. The high rate of unemployment has left otherwise normal citizens disaffected and vulnerable to the likes of those who hide behind religious masks and crazy schemes. Be careful. They aren’t Christians.”

The post Christianity and Not Christianity first appeared on What He Said: The Words of Jesus Christ.

He was also one of the first people to give us a review of What He Said. Again, listen to the story.

The post “Jesus, Reconsidered” first appeared on What He Said: The Words of Jesus Christ.

“What He Said is just a brilliant concept. It is such a handy reference tool, and I really don’t know what I ever did without it. It makes studying easier and simply reading through the book gives you new insight to our Lord and Savior.”

You can find Amy online at Amy Bayliss.com and also at Inspired Hearts Media.

The post New Review first appeared on What He Said: The Words of Jesus Christ.