What is the book about?

The book is part testimony of how I went from committed, albeit legalistic, Christian for twenty-nine years to witch, medium, and ghost hunter for eight years before God restored my faith and life. It details my personal struggle with trying to be “the perfect Christian” while being drawn to the Occult from childhood. The book is also a Biblical study that examines the current pop-cultural interest in the occult (in particular ghosts, hauntings, and mediums) and how this interest is affecting Christians as well as their beliefs about the supernatural.

Why call it Escaping the Cauldron?

This is actually the first book in a series, What Christians Need to Know about the Occult. It is a series of collections written from my former experiences as a witch, medium, and ghost hunter. This book is primarily about ghost hunting, mediumship, and the paranormal but I chose “Escaping the Cauldron” as the main title because witchcraft was truly my entry into the arena of occult interest and exploration including such things as divination, psychic ability, spirit guides, mediumship, ghost hunting, etc.

What do you think is the most important chapter of the book?

I think there are many important chapters but “Spiritual Warfare” and “How Should Christians Respond?”are the two which take everything discussed in the previous chapters bringing it all together, helping the reader understand their authority in Jesus Christ and leading the way to a ready defense for any kind of paranormal or supernatural event they may experience in their life as a Christian.

What do you hope to accomplish with this book?

I hope to inform and equip Christians with information about the occult. Additionally I pray the church will begin to acknowledge the presence of the spiritual world around us and listen to people who come forward with stories or claims of paranormal experiences without dismissing them immediately. When the church refuses to listen or offer any Biblical assistance, many people are forced to seek help elsewhere. This generally means seeking out ghost hunters, mediums, and psychics. I also hope to encourage Christians who may be questioning their faith to seek a deeper relationship with God, especially if they are stuck in a form of legalism. Our answers truly can be found in Jesus Christ.

Where is the book currently available to purchase?

The book is available in paperback and Kindle editions at Amazon. The book is also available in paperback and e-book editions at my blog site: Kristine ReMixed and Lulu Publishing.

How are you available to the Christian community?

I write a daily blog, Kristine ReMixed on a variety of topics including faith, marriage, prayer, spiritual gifts, and the occult. I also work with my husband through Big Fish Ministries at www.BigFishMinistries.com, ministering through speaking with him at church and para-church events about marriage, facilitating seven day or special event prayer rooms, helping the homeless, etc. I am also available to speak at any youth, women’s, or church events on a variety of Christian topics.

##

Find Kristine McGuire on Social Media sites:

Follow on Facebook

Follow on Twitter

Ignite Radio Interview – Intro, Part 1,  Part 2, Part 3

Please visit Christian Speaker Services at www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com for more information about blog tour management services.

I finished Permission to Speak Freely by Anne Jackson in two days — it’s something very special for the community of abuse survivors (at least). She begins by recounting her own journey out of the tangled web of rationalization that abuse spins into the dry-mouthed unraveling of the realization that she is an abuse survivor. She described the journey so well that I found myself rationalizing right along with her about the relationship her 25-year-old youth director had with her when she was just 16. It was a wake-up call for this father of a 17-year-old daughter. My ignorance is part of the problem in a world that is entirely suspended by lies and silence.

Abuse survivors generally suffer from long-term poor self-image, shame and guilt though they were not to blame. Anne combats these issues with persuasive prose about who we are in Christ, arguing that is the true source of self-worth. I challenge any reader not to leap out of their chair at her passionate exhortation to embrace the truth of who they are spiritually and to use that to launch into the fullness of purpose only available in total surrender to our spiritual image, that is, our true image.

Anne Jackson is the voice of her own audio book and she narrates very well. It’s an added bonus for me when the author narrates and does it well; I feel like I’m getting a deeper peek into their head.

Anne’s writing style reminds of Donald Miller, author of Father Fiction and Blue Like Jazz, who calls himself a classical Christian essayist.

Permission to Speak Freely is a must read. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

This book was provided by Christian Audio as part of the Christian Audio Reviewers program.

I just finished Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream by David Platt. The title captured my imagination and the publisher provided a free download of the first chapter, pulling me in deeper.

I have long wondered why God chose to have my spiritual journey happen in the United States, the wealthiest nation in the world. I can only surmise that any American Christian is called to be a giver. Why else would God surround us with wealth in a world where the disparity between us and the rest of the world is so daunting? David Platt touches on this idea and hints at much more in Radical. After only one chapter, provided as part of the preview,  I was hooked and purchased the book.

One of the more compelling images from the book is a recount of the plight of the S.S. United States, built in 1952 to be the most agile troop carrier in the world. It was designed to carry 15,000 troops at 51 mph up to 10,000 miles without refueling. She could outrun any ship and get to any part of the world in 10 days without stopping. She had no match, but she was never used for her true mission. Instead, the S.S. United States became a luxury liner to presidents and heads of state.  Are you shaking your head? Don’t! Platt’s point is that the American church has suffered the same fate — agile and laden with fuel, it is deployed primarily as a luxury liner for American Christians who sit in expensive church buildings and ignore the Great Commission of Matthew 28.

The good news for us is that we are still built for agility and endurance, i.e. we are rich in resources. We all have a mission, in fact, that is our primary purpose, namely, to be conformed to the image of Jesus who was entirely and absolutely missional.

When He prayed in Gethsemane with full knowledge of his imminent death, what did Jesus not thank God for?

1. Preaching to thousands at a time

2. Performing countless miracles

3. Providing a loving family and home

4. Having a nice donkey

Okay, okay, I added the last two, but these four items would make for a great fulfillment of the American Dream, right?

What did Jesus thank God for?

He prayed thanking God for the eleven men he kept safe to be sent “into the world” (John 17:6-19). He knew that was everything required to change the world, because thousands would be saved by the power of their testimony.

A major impedance to finding our mission is that we look for it in the context of the American Dream and other cultural influences. Jesus clearly did not, so you must first shed your prejudice to find your mission. How does the author recommend that we do that?

1. Pray for the entire world on a regular basis

2. Read through the entire Bible

3. Give sacrificially to a specific purpose that we can be involved in first person

4. Spend time serving outside of your context, outside of your world

5. Commit your life to a multiplying community that enables missional believers
Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream is a must read. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

If you would like the sneak peak that I had, a free download of the first chapter is available here: http://www.radicalthebook.com/

There is a free study guide provided that is available to anyone: http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/RadicalQuestion

The audio version of this book is available here from Christian Audio.

I feel like I cheated, because I was abandoned by my father at about the same age as Donald was when his dad took off. As Donald Miller waxes eloquently in Father Fiction he often reflects ideas that I’ve learned through living in the pain, but then he sometimes gets me right between the eyes with an insight. He’s particularly strong at revealing his “fatherless” thoughts and comparing them to how others act; he openly shares his weaknesses, explaining them but not excusing them.

When he first begins to grasp God as a father through observing a child’s temper tantrum and how a father waits patiently knowing he has a better idea of what is good for his daughter though she writhes on the floor crying out that she is actually the one who is right. How often must God the Father patiently observe us as we throw tantrums about jobs, relationships or circumstance. I don’t know if I can ever be disgruntled again without picturing myself as a child throwing myself on the floor, kicking and screaming while my wise Father patiently waits for me to “get it”.

Kelly Ryan Dolan narrates this book so well that I presumed it was narrated by the author and the author had taken acting and speech lessons. As funny and irreverent in expression as the author is in prose, they’re a perfect match.

I give Father Fiction by Donald Miller 5 out of 5 stars.

Christian Audio provided Father Fiction (audio book) free of charge to me in exchange for writing this review as part of the Christian Audio Reviewers Program.

I was hesitant to listen to the audio book In the Presence of My Enemies by Gracia Burnham. I didn’t know anything about the story of Gracia and Martin Burnham and I couldn’t imagine who might kidnap missionaries in the Philippines. I’m not generally a big fan of autobiographical prose.

However, Gracia tells the story of the capture of her husband and herself by Muslim radicals with abandon, holding back nothing including details that might put the couple in an unfavorable light by some. The story rings of candor and desperation, beautifully narrated by Pam Ward, other than her feigned male voice.

The story of the one-year captivity of this missionary family will keep you glued to your iPod as the Burnhams dodge in and out of firefight after firefight while enduring near starvation and living in constant fear of their violent and sadistic abductors who force female captives into Muslim marriages and lessons on the Koran while randomly executing males.

It’s a story of triumph against impossible odds and dealing with the rawest side of human existence. I give In the Presence of My Enemies 4 out of 5 stars.

This audio book was provided free of charge by Christian Audio through their Reviewers‘ program in exchange for this review. You can also follow Christian Audio on Twitter.

1. What is the book about? While the book’s title puts it in the praise and worship section in book stores, the book is more about the total life of the believer. Nehemiah10:39 is the core scripture for the book’s teachings. Nehemiah had gone to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls and also rebuilt the temple, restoring worship to the people. Worship was centered around sacrifice. I use the different groups pictured in Nehemiah to talk about fundamental areas of the believers life. The scripture says they would not forsake the temple of God. We have forsaken the house of God today. We are so busy with our agendas, we have left the true reason for worship. God is looking for something real from our lives, not just our words.
2. Why Enter to Worship and Exit to Serve? The life of the believer comes from our life in God. We bring to Him a sacrifice of our monies, our gifts, our fruit and lay it at His feet. The premise for most Christians today is what can God do for them instead of how can I worship God with all that is within me. The scriptures teach us that everyone has something to offer. When we worship in the fullness of our lives, God then fills us to be able to affect our world. We then exit to serve God through proclaiming His Word, serving those around us and exalting His name in all the earth. Everything we do in church is to help us fulfill God’s calling on our lives in the world.
3. Why do you talk about money? The very first thing that was brought into the temple was an offering of grain or corn. This is symbolic of money. I go to Kenya every year and they trade their corn for other items such as meat, oil, etc. God is interested in our money. He speaks of money more than He does either prayer or heaven. I think there has been a lot of negative about money and there has been a lot of error through the years. I hope that what I teach in the book is balanced. Many pastors have said this teaching has helped their churches understand the truth about tithes, first fruits and seed offerings.


Ronald K. Gray

4. What do you think is the most important chapter of the book? In over 35 years of full time ministry, I have never heard anyone else teach about porters. In Nehemiah 10:39 it lists porters between priest and singers. I thought that was very interesting and researched porters. It is basically a janitor. So between priests and porters are janitors. Servants that do the basics. People who do ordinary things to keep ministries going. God wants servants. That is a concept that is lost in the big time world of church ministries today. Jesus came to serve. I believe that we can make a difference in our community, our neighborhoods, and our world if we are willing to lay our lives down to serve God.
5. What do you hope to accomplish with your book? I hope that ordinary believers will recognize they have something to offer. We can bring our monies and touch the nations. We can bring our gifts and see the power of God touch people and their needs. We can offer our fruit and not wait for the pastors or elders, but be instruments to bring life to those around us who are seeking a relevant relationship with Jesus. The five fold ministries of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher were never supposed to do everything in the church. The church is supposed to be equipped for ministry. Everyone should be able to proclaim the message and everyone should have praise for the God we serve. That should not happen just on Sunday mornings between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. We should be able to give God praise in our homes and throughout the week. I truly believe this can be the church’s finest hour.
6. Where are these resources available to purchase? You can obtain this book and many other resources on my web site at RonaldGrayMinistries.org.
7. Are there other available resources connected with this book? Yes, I taught my book at a conference and had it professionally recorded on video and audio. These sessions are great for small groups and Bible studies. There is a Study Guide to help the leader go through the sessions. The book and the video provide different insights that will help people to grow into maturity.




This interview is posted here as part of a blog tour promoting the book. I was supplied a free copy of Enter to Worship – Exit to Serve in exchange for posting this interview.

My first seminary class at Dallas Theological Seminary was Hermeneutics with Dr. Howard Hendricks. My first homework assignment in this class was to make 100 observations on Matthew 28:18-20, the Great Commission. I jumped into this new world with both feet and cranked out 101 — I was quite proud. Imagine my astonishment with our second assignment was to do make another 100 observations on the same passage. By the time that was done I was a changed man. I never even looked at a leaf the same way again.

John Piper does this on the topic of Jesus’ death in Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. I chose the audio book narrated by Robertson Dean.  Dean is a major improvement over Grover Gardner, the pompous narrator I suffered through while listening to Desiring God by Piper. His steady rendition makes for easy listening.

I treated this book as devotional and it works as that, each of the 50 reasons stands on its own. I would listen to 3-4 in a sitting. It doesn’t entirely work for this because a good bit of the reasons are quite technical and have only shades of meaning that are different than the others. It’s better taken en toto as a lung-expanding deep sea dive to rekindle appreciation of why Jesus did what He did.

These were my favorites, I’m still trying to get my arms around them:

24 To Give Us Confident Access to the Holiest Place
25 To Become for Us the Place Where We Meet God
26 To Bring the Old Testament Priesthood to an End and Become the Eternal High Priest
27 To Become a Sympathetic and Helpful Priest

I  give Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die 4 out of 5 stars. Special thanks to Christian Audio for the gratis copy provided through their reviewers program.

The Shack is a must read.

It’s a mind-bending, spirit-jolting, jaw-dropping walk through the darkest valleys of life experience that expanded my imagination of what heaven is like and why that matters right now. It also put me in the position of deciding to sacrifice myself to save my children with all the attendant emotions and transformed my head knowledge about suffering into heart-felt wisdom about it. Author William P. Young’s fictional story will push your perspective heavenward and give you glimpses of your brief life through God’s eyes, including the perspectives of our Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

I am hearing the cry from theologians about doctrinal error, but it’s not a doctrinal treatise. It’s meant to be read like The Chronicles of Narnia or The Screwtape Letters of C.S. Lewis. Would you argue that Lewis’ rat Reepicheep implies Christians should see a fight in every comment? Is it relevant? The fictional story of The Shack is meant to temporarily transport you into the shoes of the Trinity as they restore a father drowning in his own grief to his full humanity.

For a consideration of the theology of The Shack I would suggest that you check out an interview with the author where he defends himself.

For an opposing view, please see the article written my mentor, Dr. Norman L. Geisler on his site.