Book Review: THE MAP by David Murrow

by J.W. Bergmann on 03.07.10

“A map, written in code in the Gospel of Matthew, reveals a truth so explosive it could rock the foundations of Christianity… or lead to it’s rebirth.” When I read this quote on the sleeve of the book, David Murrow (the author) had my attention. I assumed that this novel would read like another chapter in The Da Vinci Code series… but I was in for a non-fictional surprise! The story begins as a fortunate but daring, global adventure and ultimately climaxes into solid, real-life advice for men who consider themselves… or desire to be followers of Christ.

I sat down to read a chapter and ended up devouring the whole book over the course of three days… and became a David Murrow fan in the process. Loaded with great examples from Scripture and practical application for today, I found myself scribbling notes in the margins and underlining key texts for further reference in my future studies.

Rather than give away the plot, it should be sufficient to note that there are three themes that play out in the lives of men all through the Bible. I found myself thinking through personal choices that I have made in the past, processing the present, and looking forward to the prospect of the future as a growing and imperfect man after God’s own heart.

Men, I highly recommend this book. Be ready for a treasure quest that will yield the keys to becoming a man of Biblical proportions.

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His Finest Creation

by J.W. Bergmann ~ 03.06.10 Devotional Thoughts

Have you ever stopped to ponder God’s creative ability? Aside from the fact that Jesus (God in the flesh) came to earth to save us from our sins, the second most awesome subject in scripture is God’s creativeness. Everything from the vast expanse of outer space down to the most intricate sub-atomic detail was thought [...]

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The Second Call

by J.W. Bergmann ~ 02.27.10 Devotional Thoughts

I am currently in a season of reading. I can’t seem to devour books fast enough. It has been a ridiculously revealing and yet wonderful journey…
As of late, I have been savoring The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning.
This is a passage that bears sharing. It aptly describes where I am at in life and [...]

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Book Review: 66 LOVE LETTERS by Dr. Larry Crabb

by J.W. Bergmann ~ 02.15.10 Published Posts

I recently read the book 66 Love Letters from author and psychologist Dr. Larry Crabb. This is a literary departure from the other works that Dr. Crabb has written previously. This volume is “presented as a dialog between one man and God.” (quote from book sleeve)
The structure is simple: each chapter covers one of [...]

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You Are Loved

by J.W. Bergmann ~ 02.13.10 Devotional Thoughts

I wear a special piece of jewelry on my right ring finger. It has lettering embedded all the way around the band and five jewels strategically placed according to my design. I wear it all the time and will do so until the day I die… not because it is made of gold or has [...]

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Growing Young

by J.W. Bergmann ~ 02.06.10 Devotional Thoughts

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending a memorial service. A well loved man had passed. His family, friends, and acquaintances gathered to share one last moment together to savor the influence that he had in their lives. At one point, a few songs were played that were known to be his favorites. While these [...]

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The Ding-Ding Man and Other Assorted Oddities

by J.W. Bergmann ~ 01.30.10 Family Stories

It’s funny how your childhood experiences form who you are as a person. Friends, classmates, your parents, other relatives, even the TV shows and music that you listen to… all of these have a profound influence on your thoughts and overall worldview as an adult.
This, I think, is what makes life interesting and hilarious. There [...]

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I’m Missing In Action!!!

by J.W. Bergmann ~ 01.27.10 Other Ramblings

I’ve had several people ask what happened to my blog… All is well… I am moving my old blog material to a new server and hope to be back up in a day or two!!!
If you would like to access my old site, please visit http://jwbergmann.wordpress.com
Thanks for your patience… and pray for mine (whew!)
Yours and [...]

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Shaking Tom's Hand

by J.W. Bergmann ~ 01.25.10 Devotional Thoughts

In my early twenties, I had the privilege of getting to know a man named Tom. He was roughly 10 years older than me, very soft-spoken and always had a smile on his face. Quite honestly, he was one of the most humble and kind men that I have ever known. He loved to shake [...]

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3 YEARS

by J.W. Bergmann ~ 01.20.10 Devotional Thoughts

When I was a campus minister at Pittsburg State University, I painted “3 YEARS” above my doorway so every time I walked out of my office I would remember that I have an average of 3 years with each student to help them meet Jesus, fall in love with Him and build a real relationship [...]

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