This is a book for which I wrote
the foreword, so this will be a positive review, as you
might expect. Beyond that, however, I give it an even
more glowing
report, because I have had a chance
to digest it another time since first reading this
excellent work by one of the nation’s foremost scholars
and broadcasters in Bible prophecy: Dr. Larry Spargimino
of Southwest Radio Church Ministries.
My thoughts began, in constructing
the foreword:
It is exceedingly rare that I find a book that brings
the mind of God and the human mind together in such an
almost-tangible way as this one. Its author purports it
to be a volume aimed at “teens and the Jessica
generation.” That descriptive makes me feel quite good,
because the book connects with my own
sixty-nine-year-old brain and spirit in all the right
places. It will do the same for most everyone who reads
it, I suspect.
That analysis of Dr. Spargimino’s
excellent work, Today, Yesterday, and Forever,
received reinforcement by my second reading. Although
the teenage and young adult audience comprise his
primary target with this volume, the author has hit a
home run with this book for anyone who reads it, of any
age, from teenager until–well—an old guy like me.
I also wrote the following for that
foreword, which continues to be true:
[Dr. Spargimino] did write it specifically with young,
maturing adults in mind. Certainly, this generation is
where the future resides, and there could be no more
noble an ambition than to touch young people with the
message that God loves them and has plans for all who
will follow His divine precepts for their lives.
In
Yesterday, Today, and
Forever, in addition to many other Holy Spirit-laden
treasures of wisdom, the author writes the following:
- “There are things that we
don’t understand, nor will we ever
understand them.
But we need to surrender our questions,
doubts, and fears to God, knowing that He can get
the glory in every tragedy.”
- “The back seat of a car is no
place to decide how you feel about
personal purity.…
Make your choice before the crisis comes.
Choose to do
right before you are tempted to do wrong.”
-
“When you do get the opportunity for public visibility, always
you do your best, and be sure to give all the credit
to God, both privately in your innermost being and
also publicly. It’s a wonderful thing to be successful and to achieve what we want
to do, and to do
it well. But never forget who is to get the
praise.”
- “As always, Jesus is our best
example. He knew the right thing. He had come to
seek and to save that which was lost. That was the
Father’s will for Him. But He was also willing to do
the right thing. In His case, die on the cross. This
was not easy for Jesus. He knew what He had to face,
and what He would have to experience. He even prayed
to His Heavenly Father that IF possible, the Father
would let this cup of suffering pass Him by, but
Jesus added: ‘Nevertheless not as I will, but as
thou wilt’ (Matthew 26:39).”
- “It’s all about what you do
when no one is looking. When you do the right thing,
your courage will grow. Take that first step to
establish integrity in your own heart, and the
following steps will be easier.… the fact is that
God has chosen to use people. He has chosen to use
us…”
The author lays down some
tremendous faith principles for the young–and for the
rest of us. Such wisdom marks this book as one that will
help make straight the pathway of Proverbs 3:5–6,
through practical advice and powerful, Spirit-filled
suggestions on how to conduct life.
I’m especially awestruck with the
powerful dynamism yet at the same time absolute clarity
which Dr.
Spargimino uses to touch —sometime in great depth—on
everything from philosophy and government (the many
isms
that have ruled mankind) to history of the
causes and effects of war-making by fallen mankind over
the centuries. He takes apart and makes understandable
the decades of developments from America’s founding to
the present hour, during which challenges must be faced
during every waking moment.
All of this he has done in one of
the most cohesive treatments, written at a level that
teenagers can understand, that I have read. To my
thinking, it is a breakthrough in communication, one
that should engender among the young—as well as among
those of us not so young—a desire to develop our
worldview from an increasingly godly perspective–all the
while watching for Christ’s any-moment call to His
church in the Rapture.
You will want to get this one to
give to someone of the younger generation in your life.
But, better get at least two copies, because I promise
that you are not going to want to give up yours.
Yesterday, Today, and Forever
Author: Dr. Larry Spargimino
Publisher: Bible Belt Publishing
ISBN 1-933641-46-0:
397 pages
To
order call Toll Free: 1-800-652-1144
