Christian Story

Examine Your Faith! A Book Review

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

Examine Your Faith!: Finding Truth in a World of LiesExamine Your Faith!: Finding Truth in a World of Lies by Pamela Christian

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“If your faith were put to a test – if you encountered a faith challenging crisis today –would your faith sustain you?

“Are you confident about what you belive and why you believe it?

“If you are not sure that your faith is based on a solid foundation, then by all means, you should examine your faith.”

In her book, “Examine Your Faith – Finding Truth In A World Of Lies”, Ms. Christian answers these questions in her own life by bringing together a careful and consise commentary of the leading world faith – Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, humanism (including New Age), Islam, and Christianity, adding personal testimonies of people who practiced them. She provides the reader with a definition of sound faith and explores how truth is determinded and looks at evil and how the various faiths deal with it, in comparision to Christianity. The book ends with a case for Christ, where she encourages the reader to conclude with her that the Christian faith provides the best possible explanation for our world, the existence of God, the reality of pain and suffereing and the conclusion of evil (pg 194).

As readers we are priviledged to walk with Ms. Christian on her journey to examine what she believed and why she believed it as she was forced to examine her beliefs in order to find peace and have any hope at all.

While this book is not a “lite” read, it is both enlightening and educational in regards to the definitions, truths and falsehoods, and discussions of the basic tenents of the other world faiths descibed in this book ending with the discussion on Christianity. The book concludes with a case for Christ and Christianity as the only true faith… with no competitors.

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

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Verse Mapping

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

A few weeks back, while I was working on the Proverbs 31 Ministry – “When A Woman Says Yes To God” online bible study, we were given a reference to a blog that gave a teaching on Verse Mapping .  Verse Mapping is a unique way to learn scripture by meditating on the Word.  In this blog post, there was also reference to personalizing the scripture verses by crossing out words like “you”, “we”, “whoever”, “them” and write in your name.

This reminded me of something that my mom taught me many years ago.  It was shortly after I was married.  I was just a young bride and for whatever reason (I can’t even begin to remember the reason) I was being particularly snotty one day towards my new husband.

God-inspired I’m sure, but my mom just happened to show up at our home during the midst of my hissy-fit.  Of course, not to let her and dad know that we were argueing… we, or should I say I, dropped whatever it was about.  But my mom had a special gift of knowing when her children were being “stupid” (my word, never hers) Continue reading →

Preparing For The Storm

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

This post was originally written in August 2011. This is something that I wrote a few years back.  With all of the storms that have been beating up New England in the last couple of weeks…  well I decided to repost it.

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storm-pic-for-blog
Winter 2013

Growing up in northern New England, we are used to having massive winter storms.  I learned from my parents at a very young age about being prepared.   The preparations for an upcoming storm typically included making sure that there was “Blizzard” food in the house (milk, cereal,bread, etc… especially with 4 children) and the vehicles were gassed up.  It’s not that we weren’t going to be able to get out of the house for months after the storm, as usually within 8 hours after the end of the storm, we would be out and about.  But then again, you never know. (In December 2010 a freak ice storm resulted in 14 days without power for 100’s of thousands of folks – never know)  Mom and dad were always prepared.

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Sometimes crazy just keeps going

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ 2 Comments

So much has gone on around here the last few days that it is making my head spin.  I won’t go in to too much detail, but suffice to say a member of my extended family is walking a real fine line in breaking the law and is asking Michael to be complicit in it!  His refusal to do that, to lie for this person is causing some major issues here.

I wrote a note to some friends and family other other night asking for adivce on how I should handle things.  In my role in this persons life, I have no  persuasion power over this person, I am merely someone on the fringes with no input, yet on the receiving end of the end results. So, I have to tread lightly in some matters, regardless of my thoughts.  This matter has caused significant arguements between them and us…  especially when I hear comments like… “it’s no big deal, it’s not hurting anyone” and my favorite – “everybody does it”.

So as I said, I sent out a note asking for help and advice.  Not a single response!  What???? It wasn’t until yesterday when I read in my devotional “Quietness and trust accomplish far more than you can imagine…When you trust Me in a given area, you release that problem or person to my care.” (Jesus Calling by Sarah Young – page 267) Continue reading →

A Changed Perspective

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

December 16, 2005

On that day everything I knew and loved came to a screeching halt.  That was the day that my late-husband was diagnosed with inoperable metastatic lung cancer.  We were given the prognosis of 6 – 8 months.  I don’t know how I knew, but I just did.  I knew when the doctors came in that the news was going to be this bad.  Of course the frantic calls were made to family and friends asking, no pleading for prayers for us.  Nothing short of a miracle could fix this.

This journey (which I will detail sometime) lasted just 8 weeks – not 8 months.  But in 8 short weeks, I learned to rely totally on God as my strength.  I had no choice.  I was alone 1000 miles from my nearest family member.  With no help except occasional help from friends, I had to do it all.  I don’t know where the superhuman strength and fortitude came from…, but when I needed it, it was there.  Continue reading →

Divine Encounter

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

I’ve been spending a bit of time today going over what I call “lessons learned this month”.  But today was different.  As you know, I’ve been involved in an online Bible Study called “When A Woman Says Yes To God“. book cover  I started just going over what I had underlined in the first 6 chapters… pondering and praying about some of the thoughts that really struck me.

Well I didn’t get very far into Chapter 1 and I read this:

” When you look at your everyday circumstances through the lens of God’s perspective, everything changes.  You come to realize that God uses each circumstance, each person who crosses your path, and each encounter you have with Him as a divine appointment.  Each day counts, and every action and reaction matters.”  (page 16) Continue reading →

Saint Patrick

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

I found this in a book I was reading today…  thought I would share.

“Most poeple assume that Saint Patrick is from Ireland.  This is not true.  St. Patrick was actually kidnapped as a teen from his native land of Britain and forced to be a slave for six years in Ireland.  During his captivity, his job was tending sheep.  he spent many hours each day in prayer.  By the time he escaped back to Britain, he was no longer a self-centered aristocratic child.  He had become a man sold out for the cause of Christ.  Severeal years later, he returned as a missionary to Ireland and lived out his life winning that country to Christ. Continue reading →

John 14:20

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

“On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you”  Jn 14:20

So, as you know I’ve been involved in an online bible study via the Proverbs 31 Ministry.  We are using the book, “What Happens When A Woman Says Yes To God” by Lysa TerKeurst  book cover.

As it happens, we have just ended week 4 of the study and the facilitators of the study posted a YouTube video that I find truly humbling.

Just go ahead and fast forward to start watching at approximately 5 mins 20 seconds.  I think you’ll enjoy it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0wwfI4tubM&feature=share&list=UUVY8N4SKqcK_Zo0TrlFUOiQ

Is it really okay to sometimes pray for ourself?

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ Leave a comment

Is it really okay for me to pray for myself Lord?  Is that being selfish?  It seems that I think about and pray for everyone I know, but I never seem to ask for help for myself… except for the occasional “Lord Help Me Now” exclamation.

I don’t know that I’ve really ever sat down and said to God… okay God… here’s me… and here’s what I need your help fixing. ( I would hope I wouldn’t be that blase’)  I just feel like I get so wrapped up in everyone around me that I have such little time for me.  I come from a large family and an even larger “framily”… add to that the in-laws and their framily and yes… you’ve got lots of people around.  And with lots of people comes lots of crazy drama and lots of real issues.

And then there’s times that I get so wrapped up in “other thoughts”.  Human thoughts… worldly thoughts… just pure real people thoughts.  So how do I re-adjust my thinking?  How do I re-adjust my perspective?

I started re-reading a book today.  “A Woman After God’s Own Heart” by Elizabeth George. woman after gods heart book  In chapter 1, the author talks about this in the story or Mary and Martha.

Luke 10:41-42 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

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Sometimes You’re Just Out Of Sorts

~ Ann Cuddy-Sullivan ~ 1 Comment

So I don’t really know why I’m feeling like I’m feeling, I wish I did.  Since this past Sunday, I have been in a terribly foul mood and oh just so angry.  I have lots of busy “head talk” going on and that is never good.  My poor Michael, he just can’t seem to do or say anything right this week.  I wish I knew why.

I really expected this week to be a beginning.  I recently signed up for an online Bible Study hosted by the Proverbs 31 Ministry – Proverbs31.org –  It is a bible study on the book “What Happens When Women Say Yes To God” by Lysa TerKeurst.

     book cover

The pearls of wisdom in this book are really wonderful…  Continue reading →