Podcast: Your Network of Praise: A Few Minutes With Sheila Walsh (4:44)
The interview is about Walsh's new book series: "Gabby, God's Little Angel" is to written to "show God's love". Walsh says, "My heart for the rest of my life is to tell as many people in as many ways as often as I can about the outrageous merciful love of God." "To let children know that they are always watched over by the Lord." Walsh refers to Matthew 19:13-15, and says that in these verses, "Christ pulls some children aside and said don't despise any of these little ones because their angels always behold the face of my father in heaven." "So it was clear to me that children specifically have angels that watch over them and are constantly calling their name out in the throne of grace."
Several things are incorrect or misleading about Walsh's statements:
1) Walsh's book series "Gabby God's Little Angel Princess" is an unbiblical story of a silly, clumbsy, foolish female child angel in training. In the Bible, angels are not female and they are not children and they are certainly not silly, incompetent, foolish and clumbsy. And they are not princesses.
2) When Walsh says she is writing to tell as many people as possible about God's outrageous love, who is she telling? Is she preaching the false easy-believism gospel that says "God loves you just as you are with all those sins and that you can have a ticket to heaven without any repentance and without making Christ the Lord of your life?" What is the point of telling everyone God loves them? It seems to work in contrast to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in which Jesus convicts one seeker after another of their sin. You will not find Jesus or any of the apostles ever preaching, "God loves you just as you are" but "Repent! Turn from your sins and seek God!"
3) Matthew 19:13-15 has nothing to do with angels. Walsh is incorrect in interpreting these verses to justify the unbiblical teaching of "guardian angels" for each individual child. The exact verses in the ESV read, "Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." And he laid his hands on them and went away." As you can see, there is nothing about guardian angels in these verses.
I have read three of Sheila Walsh's books and listened to two interviews (podcasts) and time and time again, Walsh leads readers away from a Biblical view of things. This author is a part of Women of Faith, a questionable group of female teachers that often teach a "prosperity gospel" that we can apply God's 3,600 promises all to ourselves and hold God to these promises and expect them for ourselves. Walsh also was a former co-host of The 700 Club, Pat Robertson's tv show that also taught "prosperity gospel" for the Word Faith cult on TBN. I do not recommend this author and believe her teachings are incorrect and misleading at best.
READ IT: God Loves Broken People by Sheila Walsh
I heard so many bad things about this book and was told to skip this latest one. But I'm glad I gave it a try, because I really enjoyed God Loves Broken People by Sheila Walsh. I think this book is an honest look at how women deal with a life of trials and suffering. Sheila first acknowledges that many people reach a state where they feel they are no longer able to deal with everyday life in the rat race of making money and paying bills, which most of us can relate to. Then she offers really good compasionate advice on how these trials mold us into people of character. The ideas in this book are not new and they've been said a hundred times before, but from a woman's perspective, this is a warm, light, easy read. I found the book uplifting. Walsh isn't trying to give us any answers for why God allows suffering but by the end of the book, you come away feeling like suffering isn't so bad after all and actually can be good. I truly enjoyed this book and recommend it to women who want a ofter look and softer perspective on suffering but still without doing damage to God's soverignty.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher for this unbiased review. I am not required to give positive reviews.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher for this unbiased review. I am not required to give positive reviews.
READ IT: 1000 Days: The Ministry of Christ by Jonathan Falwell
1000 Days: The Ministry of Christ by Jonathan Falwell is a book about encouraging readers to live our the example of life that Jesus left us. Falwell points out that if life was just about salvation and getting our tickets to heaven, Jesus could have been born and died on the cross. But the mere fact that Christ lived out the perfect Christian life for 3.5 years had to mean something. Christ left us this example for us to follow, not for us to just ignore. Although the book isn't deep, it is truthful and a good reminder to Christians to live the life that we are called to. The stories in the book (passages about Jesus) also are things we have heard before, but it is good to hear them again. So this is a good solid book but not outstanding. But still worth the read.
Falwell writes, "My heart has found an answer to its restlessness in the person of Jesus Christ, and I know you can find this same peace and purpose too." His book is about "meet with Jesus Christ like never before. It is a journey to understand His teachings, model your life after His example, and follow Him in a new way." "Get a sense of what it is that Jesus wants us to know about what He did, what He said, who He is, and what He wants us to do about that."
Falwell tells us that Jesus preached for 1000 days to give us an example to follow. Christ could have just been born and died on the cross. He didn't have to preach for 3 1/2 years and leave us an example, but he has. So, what will we do about it? Will we stay sitting in our comfortable homes or get up and do something about it and follow Christ's example? Falwell challenges readers, "Maybe you are one of the comfortable. You are a God-follower, a genuine Christian, but you really don’t want to get out of your seat. You don’t want to share your faith. The mission scares you or simply doesn’t interest you. You, too, have a choice to make. Your invitation is to travel that road with Jesus."
"The bull’s-eye of that target is that you and I become more like Jesus. Remember that He could have skipped His three-year ministry and gone straight to Calvary, except that He wanted us to see what a holy life looks like."
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher for this unbiased review. I am not required to give positive reviewsDisclaimer: I received this book from the publisher for this unbiased review. I am giving my honest review, as positive reviews are not required..
Falwell writes, "My heart has found an answer to its restlessness in the person of Jesus Christ, and I know you can find this same peace and purpose too." His book is about "meet with Jesus Christ like never before. It is a journey to understand His teachings, model your life after His example, and follow Him in a new way." "Get a sense of what it is that Jesus wants us to know about what He did, what He said, who He is, and what He wants us to do about that."
Falwell tells us that Jesus preached for 1000 days to give us an example to follow. Christ could have just been born and died on the cross. He didn't have to preach for 3 1/2 years and leave us an example, but he has. So, what will we do about it? Will we stay sitting in our comfortable homes or get up and do something about it and follow Christ's example? Falwell challenges readers, "Maybe you are one of the comfortable. You are a God-follower, a genuine Christian, but you really don’t want to get out of your seat. You don’t want to share your faith. The mission scares you or simply doesn’t interest you. You, too, have a choice to make. Your invitation is to travel that road with Jesus."
"The bull’s-eye of that target is that you and I become more like Jesus. Remember that He could have skipped His three-year ministry and gone straight to Calvary, except that He wanted us to see what a holy life looks like."
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher for this unbiased review. I am not required to give positive reviewsDisclaimer: I received this book from the publisher for this unbiased review. I am giving my honest review, as positive reviews are not required..
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