Monday, April 25, 2011

Life Without Limits

Nick Vujicic is an amazing individual. He was born without arms or legs, but by God's grace Nick has learned not to let his limitations limit his opportunities. From scuba diving, to surfing, to acting (including doing his own stunts), to speaking across the country and around the world, Nick has done it all! His courage and can-do attitude will be a blessing to whoever chooses to read this book. If you are struggling and need encouragement, I would definitely encourage you to take the time to read it.

As exciting as all of Nick’s accomplishments are, perhaps the true beauty of this book is that it does not shy away from the more difficult aspects of his story. Nick is very candid in explaining his parents initial reaction to his birth. He relates how at first his mother did not want to hold them and that it took her a while to work through her fears and trust God that he would give her the ability to care for him.

I was especially touched when he shared about his childhood desire to end it all. He talked about feeling at one point that it would be best if he just left this world. Fortunately he realized the impact that would have on his family and others around him who cared. As a disabled man myself, I resonated with this part of the story as I had similar thoughts at one point.

Today Nick realizes all of the opportunities he would have missed if his life had ended that day. He is now committed to making the most of every day and as he puts it "living a ridiculously good life." I have been blessed to see how God had used Nick, and have been reinvigorated to continue serving God in my own right.

It is obvious to me that Nick loves the Lord. However, my one complaint with this book is that he never clearly explains the gospel. Without a personal, life-changing relationship with the Risen Christ, our best efforts will never be good enough.

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this honest review.

Speaking4Him,

Andrew Gommesen

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Only ONE Life…

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27)


So a few weeks ago my brothers were playing the XBOX and I needed help with something. I don’t remember the exact conversation, but it went something like this:


ME: Could I get a hand please?


MY BRO: Hang on, I’ve got one life left. Be right there…


This got me thinking about the contrast between real life and video games. In video games you often get multiple lives and the potential to earn more. If the game isn’t going well, you can quit and start over. Real life, however is a one time proposition. While God does give second chances and he will forgive our mistakes, we are only given one life to live and the decisions we make can have a tremendous impact on us now and in eternity.


The most important of these decisions is to answer the question “What will I do with Jesus Christ?” Your chosen answer to this question can mean the difference between eternal life in Heaven or eternal torment in Hell. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2) “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:45)


Two definitive choices are available to all of us—Heaven and Hell. Some would say that a choice for Heaven can be made even after death. However there is a story Jesus told in Luke 16:19-31 about a Rich Man and a poor beggar named Lazarus. The Rich Man had everything the world had to offer, but died without God. Lazarus was a beggar who trusted God. He was brought to Abram’s bosom. The Rich went to Hell—not because of his wealth, but because his wealth gave him the false idea that he didn’t need God. From the heat of Hell the Rich man asked for a drop of cold water, but he is told there is a “Great Golf Fixed” between Heaven and Hell. After death there is no way to span that Golf!


Heaven and Hell are very real. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. He spanned the Golf between us as wicked sinners and Righteous Almighty God. He was perfect before time, was born perfect, lived a perfect life, and rose again! HE LIVES and wants a personal relationship with each of you!


“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)


I urge you to read the Word for yourself and trust the One who died for you!


Speaking4Him,


Andrew Gommesen