Month: August 2015

Prayers for President Jimmy Carter

English: US President Jimmy Carter

(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

Dear President Jimmy Carter:

Although I don’t agree with you on most political issues, we share strong affinities on faith, family and altruism. Your greatest impact on humanity has come after serving as President of the United States of America. The invaluable work you’ve done to promote peace, human rights, democracy, fair elections, healthcare and much more for people across the globe will forever be appreciated.  President Carter, you’re truly a great man. The significant difference you’ve made in the lives of countless individuals across the world is honored by God. God is now using you as an example for the world to see how to fight cancer with faith, grace, and trust in Jesus Christ.  You’re showing the world that a cancer diagnosis is not a reason to lose all hope.

While most folks in your situation would become despondent, cry profusely, and talk persistently about dying, you’ve made a commitment to smiling, sharing your underrated humor and continuing to focus on the impressive philanthropic work you’ve been engaged in for a long time with the Carter Center.

Christians are to serve as examples for the world about how to respond to illness and disease.  The way in which you have responded to cancer is a shining example of how the bible teaches us to respond. When we place our life in the hands of God, He takes care of us, and we have to remind people that death does not have the final word. Because of what Jesus accomplished for us on Calvary’s Cross, death no longer has any power.

President Carter, I want you to stay encouraged and continue to live an inspiring life. People across the world are praying for you to be healed and delivered from this cancer that has come from the pit of Hell. You’re a man of God and Satan’s diseases have no right and authority to dwell in your body. As a person of great faith, I speak healing and deliverance to your body right now.  I apply and appropriate the Blood of Jesus Christ on you right now. By faith, according to Mark 11:23-24, you’re already healed and made whole!

Keep placing all of your trust in God.

Sincerely,

Dr. Antonio Maurice Daniels

University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Beware of the Arkansas Razorbacks in 2015

Jonathan Williams Arkansas Razorbacks

(Photo Credit: Whole Hogs Sports)

Don’t be surprised if the Arkansas Razorbacks win the SEC Championship in 2015.  As Bret Bielema enters his third season as the Head Hog, he has restored toughness, discipline and power to the team.  We had an opportunity to witness the type of team to expect this season in the final four games of last season and against Alabama.  The Hogs won three of their last four games last season, including back-to-back shutouts of ranked SEC opponents LSU and Ole Miss, and the team concluded the season by crushing Texas in the Texas Bowl—not allowing the Longhorns to earn even 60 total yards.  Let’s not forget Arkansas nearly defeated mighty Alabama, losing by only one point.  In every loss last season, the Razorbacks were close to winning and probably should have won each one of those close games.  In the Auburn game, the Hogs were tied with the Tigers at halftime.  However, former Arkansas offensive coordinator Jim Chaney abandoned the running game—the strength of the Arkansas offense—and the Tigers were able to capitalize on his misguided offensive strategy (or lack thereof).

The Year of the Hogs?

The Hogs are ready to win the SEC Championship this year.  Although the Hogs surrendered a few valuable defensive players to the NFL, the team returns the core of its offense, defense and special teams.  Last season, Arkansas had one of the best defenses and offenses in the nation.  Based on Arkansas having fundamentally the same squad it had last year, including some talented new players, we can expect the team to continue to improve and surprise many teams in the SEC and stun many college football fans across the nation.  The recently released pre-season coaches’ poll has Arkansas ranked as the #20 team in the nation.  However, Las Vegas gamblers—people willing to put their money where their mouths are—have Arkansas ranked as the #6 team in the nation.

When Arkansas Goes on Offense

Again, Arkansas has the largest offensive line in football: both college and NFL.  The offensive line is not only massive but also highly talented and athletic.  Arkansas has two of the best running backs, Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams, in the nation—arguably the best running back duo in the country.  This season the Hogs will feature a third solid running back, Kody Walker, giving the Razorbacks a three-headed monster rushing attack.  Bielema is committed to a power running game—just as he was at Wisconsin—and it’s paying tremendous dividends for him at Arkansas and will continue to pay even greater dividends for him this season and beyond.  With new offensive coordinator Dan Enos at the helm, Brandon Allen, Arkansas’ senior quarterback, seems to have made significant improvements during the off-season, and Enos has been a proven-leader in ameliorating passing games and producing quality passing games.  The success the Hogs will have on offensive will aid them immensely on defense as they’re bound to dominate the time of possession in most games this season.

A Tough but Doable Schedule

Again, the Razorbacks will have one of the toughest schedules to combat, but a few huge wins can propel them to the SEC Championship game and give them a chance to play in this season’s National Championship.  It will be difficult to defeat Alabama on the road, but remember the Hogs only loss by one point to the Crimson Tide last year.  Also, it will be difficult to go on the road and defeat Ole Miss and LSU, but remember the Hogs shutout both teams in back-to-back weeks last season.

Teams situated in the SEC West have to win big games almost every week and Arkansas understands this by now.

Dr. Antonio Maurice Daniels

University of Arkansas

Carole Arceneaux’s James: Faith Becomes Real: A Short Review

The Book of James Commentary

(Courtesy of BookLook Bloggers)

In James: Faith Becomes Real, Carole Arceneaux offers readers a commentary on the Book of James.  The book provides readers with a verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter analysis of the entire Book of James.  While the dominant purpose of the work is to be a commentary, it strives to be a devotional as well.

If one has little background or understanding of the Book of James, then Arceneaux’s work will be helpful to him or her.  Most effective commentaries are academic in nature.  When a person reads this book, he or she will immediately notice that it lacks the authoritative voice typical of academic discourse.  In all other commentaries I have read, I learned something new or had my prior knowledge expanded.  Unfortunately, this book did not benefit me in any way.

Although the effort to add a devotional dimension to a commentary is an interesting and rewarding idea, the devotional aspect of this work seemed more about filling the pages to meet a page number quota.  The book simply lacks the depth necessary to be considered a serious commentary.  Arceneaux’s work certainly could have benefitted from better revision and editing.  Many of the sentences lack the clarity they needed to achieve.

In short, I would not recommend reading this book.  Some elements of James: Faith Becomes Real have potential.  The book, however, needed more work before it was published.

In exchange for my honest critique of James: Faith Becomes Real, BookLook Bloggers supplied me with a complimentary copy of it.

Dr. Antonio Maurice Daniels

University of Wisconsin-Madison