Blog Archives
What It Really Means To Give
Tithing and Giving: A Biblical Study guides readers through an in-depth exploration of biblical tithing, contrasting Old Testament mandates with New Testament freedoms, structured around the idea that the commonly accepted modern practices of tithing, especially monetary, are misunderstood and not supported by Scripture. What inspired you to write this important book?
That is a good question. In truth I had no intention on writing a book about tithing and especially had no plans to teach on giving. This all began with the idea to take some study material I had already done on biblical tithing and do a short study on it for my family.
The title was literally A short Study on Tithing. However, when I began to type things out I felt that the Holy Spirit was leading me to write a book. It was some what terrifying for me as I did not feel qualified and was not looking forward to the heavy pushback that I would get. Since this was not the first time I have had this experience with the Holy Spirit as far as being inspired to teach as he instructed me, which is what happened with The Beauty of Tribulation, I decided not to fight. Once I gave in it felt more like he was using my fingers to convey the message he desired and I was just along for the ride. It did not even feel like time was passing at a significant rate as my fingers danced across the keyboard. Then the next scary thing happened, he had me teach on giving. I was not prepared to do such a thing and did not really want to do so, who in the world am I to teach anyone on financial stewardship? Again, I yielded and the rest is officially history. I am learning more and more that it is not about being comfortable, competent or prepared when God desires you to obey.
What is the most common misconception you feel people have about tithing in today’s world?
This is not an easy question since I feel the misconceptions are all equally concerning. One that God taught me through writing this book is that Christians should not expect God to give them a reward just because they have done as he has commanded. God owes us nothing but is greatly moved by obedience. Even so you will not get like for like as a precedent set in stone regardless of how much you give or do. The reason that this one is so damaging is that it is used greatly in so-called messages about prosperity.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
As I was writing these are some of the important ideas that God brought to my attention in this teaching.
· What Paul taught about when not to give.
· What it really means to give hilariously or cheerfully.
· What sacrificial giving actually is?
· That the act of giving is the blessing not what you get because you gave.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Tithing and Giving?
One thing I pray that readers take away from Tithing and Giving is the freedom to give to God from their heart not out of obligation, fear, tradition or because they feel that they must so that they can truly experience his blessedness as well as the understanding that giving to God is also looking out first for those who are members of his body and then those who are without.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
What does the Bible really say about tithing, giving, and Christian stewardship?
Is tithing a command for today—or a misunderstood tradition?
Tithing and Giving: A Biblical Study is a comprehensive guide for believers who want to understand God’s plan for finances, generosity, and blessing. With clarity and compassion, author J.A. Cox explores what Scripture actually teaches about biblical tithing, New Testament giving, and the difference between religious obligation and Spirit-led generosity.
✅ Inside this Bible-based study, you’ll discover:
What the Bible says about tithing in the Old and New Testaments
The difference between biblical stewardship and church tradition
How to discern truth from myths in Christian financial teaching
Whether Christians are still required to tithe today
What it means to give with faith, freedom, and love
The true connection between giving and God’s blessing
This book is written for thoughtful believers who want to grow in faith while also handling money in a way that pleases God. If you’ve ever asked, “Is tithing biblical?” or “Should Christians tithe today?” — this study is for you.
By the end of your journey, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of scriptural giving, a renewed appreciation for Christian generosity, and practical guidance on how to walk in biblical financial stewardship—free from guilt and full of grace.
Tithing and Giving A Biblical Study
In Tithing and Giving, J.A. Cox walks readers through an in-depth exploration of biblical tithing, contrasting Old Testament mandates with New Testament freedoms. The book is structured around the idea that the commonly accepted modern practices of tithing, especially monetary tithing, are deeply misunderstood and not supported by Scripture under the new covenant. Cox builds his argument with a step-by-step examination of Hebrew terms, priestly duties, Old Testament law, the sacrificial system, and its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He stresses that obligatory tithing, once rooted in supporting the Levitical priesthood, has no place in the life of a Christian after the death and resurrection of Christ, who he argues has fulfilled and replaced the entire priestly system.
I admired Cox’s commitment to sticking with Scripture, often going to great lengths to explain each passage and how it fits within the larger biblical story. At times, the repetition felt heavy, but it also showed just how passionate he is about getting this point across. I didn’t always agree with every conclusion, but I couldn’t deny the depth of thought behind it. Cox’s argument that many churches today push tithing based on verses taken out of context was uncomfortable but also thought-provoking.
I did find the writing style to be pretty raw at points. There were parts where I wished for smoother transitions. But then again, that direct and sometimes urgent tone also gave it character. It read less like a theology textbook and more like a heartfelt letter to fellow believers who might be misled. The emotional weight behind his convictions was clear. You can feel his frustration over what he sees as false teaching, and also his deep care for the truth of Scripture. That kind of honesty gave the book power, even when the prose didn’t always flow easily.
I think Tithing and Giving will really connect with readers who are looking for a strong biblical case against mandatory tithing in the modern church. It’s not light reading, and it’s certainly not trying to sugarcoat anything. But if you’re a pastor, a Bible teacher, or just a Christian who’s tired of feeling guilty over giving, this book will give you something to think about. I’d recommend it to anyone open to rethinking what the Bible really says about giving.
Pages: 121 | ASIN : B0F9TZCK7W
My Eureka Moment
Mastering Your Scenes: Your Blueprint for Success is a book that assists writers in overcoming writer’s block and enhancing their creative skills, presented in a workbook style, encouraging readers to actively engage with its content. Can you tell me more about the inspiration behind this book?
In truth, the inspiration for this book came from the need to make headway in my sci-fi work in progress Fulfilling a Vow: Searching for Answers. After I had succumbed to the idea of learning about outlining and making some progress, things came to a screeching halt once more. It was at that point that I began to question where the real disconnect was. My eureka moment was, “the scene.” I pondered what it really took to create a scene. I started delving into the works of great teachers such as Rayne Hall and reading her various input on different types of scenes. While he doesn’t know I considered R.A. Salvatore my unrequited mentor for writing good fight scenes.
When it all came down to it, I felt that there was still something missing from all the information I was taking in. My conclusion was that the fundamentals of what a scene really was and what it took to create it were not much of a focus. As I explored this through recalling movies, personal experiences, and other writings it gave me the breakthrough that I needed. It also provided me with a rinse-and-repeat process that could be applied to every scene from romantic, to thriller, horror, and such. The basic elements do not really change much.
The funny thing is that I got so excited about how much progress Mastering Your Scenes allowed me to make that I was eager to get it out there before I completed Fulfilling A Vow. It was meant to go out along with it. Then you add some life circumstances to the mix, and I am still working on my work in progress but nearly finished.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I suppose the greatest idea was that I wanted to help other writers understand what goes into a scene and how to create a masterpiece every time.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
In a word the experience that has had the greatest impact would be “hardship.” The struggles, painful moments, and failures have been the whetstone to sharpen my literary blade. At the heart of all of that is my faith in God, who has never thrown me away or forsaken me no matter how many times I have fallen. It has yielded a burning desire to help others succeed and avoid some hardship along the way, should they be willing to receive it.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Mastering Your Scenes?
The one thing that I hope readers take away is the confidence to deliver to their readers an unforgettable page-turning experience that will be recalled for years to come.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon
This book was written with one main purpose: to help give authors a creative boost in their scene writing and toss writers’ block into the oblivion of the abyss. In order to accomplish this, each chapter is written in a workbook-like format so that the steps provided can easily be implemented after they are explained. For each element of scene writing that is presented, J.A. Cox explains the How, Why, and When of its use along with his own description so that the information is easy to assimilate. He provides copious examples from his own writing of these elements in action as well as from shows and movies.
Here are the elements that you will be learning about:Sketching
Location
Time
Characters
Perspective
Resistance
Objective
No new-fangled way of writing is about to be forced on you, but advice offered to help you realize things you are likely not seeing as you struggle to come up with ideas. As you make your way through these pages and consider these elements, you will end up in a state where it is difficult to shut down the tsunami of ideas that will come your way.
Finally, there is a completed outline format that can be used over and over for every scene you write to keep that creative pump primed. Therefore, you will no longer have to fuss over figuring out what prompts or hooks to use to start a chapter as your answer will come to you as you outline your scenes from the various questions provided for you to ask with each element.
This book will revolutionize the way you look at your scenes in the future…
The Power of Knowledge
Eat Your Way Slim and Enjoy Every Bite shares with readers research-based facts on how to improve their diet to increase their health, not just lose weight. What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
My most important goal was to help readers understand the basic connection between what they eat or sometimes don’t eat and its impact on their overall health. Another would be the power of knowledge. The more that a person understands the more informed decisions they can make for themselves. Empowerment through inspiration is a passion of mine.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The ideas that were most important to me is that working out alone is not the solution to weight loss, over fixation on calories alone will drive you nuts and not help you achieve your actual goals and it is the types of calories that you are consuming that really make the difference if you want to succeed in your weight loss goals, to name a few.
With so much conflicting information on weight loss and health, it can be a challenge to find proven facts. Did you find anything in your research of this book that surprised you?
As I mentioned at the start of my book, this book is a derivative work bringing the timeless dietary wisdom of the late Donald G. Cooley to a new generation. I don’t believe in reinventing the wheel and have no problem shedding light on a person who makes sense from another time to help those of today. Much of his way of speaking and knowledge of health resonated with my own. After my own alterations I was very eager to bring this knowledge to others.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I have 3 books that are at various stages of development. My sci-fi work in progress Fulfilling A Vow: In Search of Answers is about 90 percent complete, Mastering Your Scenes Conflict, is in its infancy as well as a new faith based book.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Eat Your Way Slim and Enjoy Every Bite is a derivative work created from the brilliant writing of Donald G. Cooley. Cooley’s work was exceptional, and J.A. Cox has managed to enhance much of his original dietary wisdom, and in some places, bring things up to date.
At the heart of it, you will get much more than just advice on how to shed some pounds. What makes this a unique read is the essential connection made between what you are missing from your daily diet and its impact on your health. Important conclusions are drawn to the lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet to the conditions that they produce in your body.
This knowledge is essential because many are quick to run to the doctor for things that can, with proper care, be easily rectified by a change in their diet. This book imparts the correct guidance to change your life and health for the better…
Strengthened During Times of Abundance
The Beauty of Tribulation is a thought-provoking exploration of the Christian faith, delving into the role of suffering and hardship in spiritual growth and offering insights into biblical teachings. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This book was important for me to write because God laid it upon my heart to bring this book into the world. I was not in a place that it would make sense for him to do such a thing during that time in my life, at least not in a carnal perspective. I questioned if it was him, but he made it very clear to me that it was. I was awakened many times at odd hours and spent many hours writing the things that he put upon my heart. Even to this day, I struggle with accepting that I was the one who wrote the words on its pages. I say that with all humility. I am very thankful to have the opportunity to help other Christians realize that first, God is not the author of their tribulation and second, yes, he does have a powerful purpose for allowing it. The important takeaway is to trust him always and not get so fixated on trying to understand the why. The why is, he has allowed it, and it is not important for us to always know the reason.
Could you share any personal experiences or realizations that significantly influenced your perspective while writing this book?
What significantly influenced my perspective while writing this book was my own tribulations from my very bad decisions at that time. What I mean is, that God helped me to realize that I can and must trust my failures to him as well. Also, he helped me to learn that while I will surely reap the consequences, through repentance he can and will use my failure for his glory. The remedy for our sin will never change; therefore: God is more concerned about our repentance so that he can use our hindsight to help others rather than punish us. God only punishes unrepented sin and must, because he is holy.
What do you hope readers take away from your exploration of Jesus’ suffering and the broader context of God’s plans?
I pray that my readers will realize that suffering is an unavoidable part of the Christian experience. It is also a very necessary part of the experience. The reason is because Jesus has explained that the student is not greater than the master. Because suffering was a necessity for him, it is so for us. However, since Christ continued to have confidence in the Father and never forsook him, he was never alone in that suffering, until he became sin for us. Likewise, as long as we place our confidence in Jesus, we too will never be alone and have strength in all things. Paul understood this and proclaimed, “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4: 12,13. I will end with this point; he could not learn about being strengthened in Christ without experiencing all those things. I will leave it to others to pray and ponder why it is necessary to be strengthened during times of abundance. If you have read The Beauty of Tribulation, you already know the answer.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I have about 3 books I will be working on which are in different phases. As far as faith-based literature, the next book is Flawless. It will likely be an e-book and audiobook due to its small size but will not lack in sating the spiritual appetite. In a nutshell, it has to do with how we properly identify with Christ. Don’t be thrown off by the name. I am not sure when I will complete it at this moment but hopefully, it will be available early next year if not at the end of this year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Reasons why it is necessary.
How God uses it for our edification and his glory.
How God is not the author of our tribulation.
At the root of it, the greatest purpose is to depict the beauty of our painful, frustrating, and most hopeless moments when we allow God to complete the work he is trying to accomplish through them. As you turn the pages of this book you will be taken on a journey that will delve you deep into the tribulation process and come away with a firm understanding of it, perhaps like never before. Every premise is backed with scripture, focused on what the bible says rather than my own ideas.
J.A. Cox hopes that all who read will walk away with a greater appreciation and devotion toward the Lord in regard to this troublesome subject and inevitable part of our lives.
Mastering Your Scenes
In Mastering Your Scenes, J.A. Cox delves into the nuanced world of scene-building, offering a valuable resource for writers of various styles. Cox commences by delineating different archetypes of writers, providing context for his exploration of scene construction. He methodically deconstructs the elements of a scene, clarifying their purpose and contribution to the larger narrative. His focus on sketching as a technique is particularly enlightening; he posits that it enables writers to immerse themselves in a fully realized world, facilitating diverse perspectives and deeper connections with the audience. Cox’s approach to scene crafting integrates a thoughtful blend of tone and literary devices, encouraging experimentation and creativity.
Cox’s booklet stands out for its depth and sincerity. Eschewing sensationalism, he offers a compendium of ‘prodigy information,’ rich in practical applications and real-world examples. These insights benefit both emerging and experienced writers, presenting comprehensive tools for creating engaging scenes. The book’s structure is well-organized and easy to navigate, which is crucial for instructional material. Cox’s writing style itself is engaging and instructive. He actively invites readers into a discourse rather than having them remain passive observers. His use of metaphor in describing writer types and practical examples in explaining concepts underscores his skillful and descriptive narrative approach. He maintains a relaxed yet authoritative tone, positioning himself as a trusted mentor.
For aspiring writers looking to refine their craft, Mastering Your Scenes is a must-have. It assists in identifying one’s unique voice and serves as a tool for overcoming creative blocks. The book’s real-world applicability extends beyond writing, enhancing storytelling skills in everyday situations.
Pages: 78 | ASIN : B08GY843L4
Eat Your Way Slim and Enjoy Every Bite
Maintaining a healthy weight can often be a challenging endeavor, particularly in a world awash with dietary fads and quick-fix solutions. J.A. Cox’s Eat Your Way Slim and Enjoy Every Bite offers a refreshing departure from this trend, presenting a thoughtful and evidence-based approach to weight management.
Cox’s work stands out for its refusal to succumb to the hyperbole often associated with weight loss literature. Instead, he brings a systematic and research-backed perspective to the subject. His writing is grounded in scientific principles, making the depth of research and consideration that has gone into his approach clear to readers. This lends a sense of credibility and trustworthiness to his recommendations, distinguishing the book in a genre often criticized for its lack of scientific rigor. The book’s appeal is further enhanced by Cox’s engaging writing style. He strikes a balance between being informative and conversational, making complex nutritional concepts accessible without oversimplifying them. This approach facilitates a genuine connection with readers, who may find his realistic and candid insights particularly relatable. Cox does not merely dictate instructions; instead, he invites readers into a discussion, empowering them to make informed decisions about their dietary habits. Central to Cox’s narrative is the idea that diet plays a pivotal role in determining body weight. He encourages a critical examination of one’s eating habits, providing readers with practical tools and knowledge to align their diet with their health goals. His emphasis on the use of food as a positive instrument in one’s weight loss journey is particularly noteworthy.
Eat Your Way Slim and Enjoy Every Bite is not just about losing weight; it’s about a holistic understanding of nutrition, metabolism, and healthful living. Cox’s diligent research, combined with his clear and precise presentation, makes the book an invaluable resource for anyone looking to embark on a sustainable and healthy weight management journey. It empowers readers to take charge of their health, offering guidance on mindful eating and informed decision-making. For those seeking to navigate the often overwhelming world of diet and nutrition, this book is a grounded, insightful, and ultimately empowering read.
Pages: 232 | ASIN : B08GYB5RWK
The Beauty of Tribulation
J. A. Cox’s The Beauty of Tribulation is a thoughtful exploration into the complexities of the Christian faith, focusing particularly on the role of hardship and suffering in spiritual growth. Cox delves into fundamental questions such as the purpose of Jesus’ suffering during the crucifixion, the nature of temptation, and how these experiences shape a Christian’s journey toward heaven. The book examines a range of biblical stories and teachings, from the origin of sin and Lucifer’s fall to the humbling of Nebuchadnezzar and the lessons drawn from Jesus’ encounters with Satan.
Cox’s writing style is clear and authoritative, making the book accessible to both seasoned Bible scholars and those newer to biblical studies. He supports his insights with scriptural references, allowing readers to engage with the source material directly. This approach encourages deeper contemplation and understanding of the themes discussed. From a personal perspective, the book offers insights into the nature of prayer and the alignment of personal desires with divine will. I think it challenges readers to consider the broader context of God’s plans and shifts the focus from individual desires to the overarching significance of divine intent. The book is also notable for its use of diagrams and thoughtfully crafted titles which aid in comprehending and retaining the complex concepts presented.
I think The Beauty of Tribulation will be relevant for Christians seeking a deeper understanding of their faith, as well as for those grappling with questions about the presence of evil in the world and the nature of divine justice. Cox’s approach which blends insightful queries, scriptural citations, and logical explanations, facilitates a comprehensive and engaging learning experience. The book encourages a connection to the experiences of Jesus and offers a perspective on suffering as a path to dignity and honor, both in heaven and on earth. Its insightful and reflective nature makes it a valuable read for people looking to deepen their understanding of Christian theology and the human experience within it.
Pages: 97 | ASIN: B08GY69HWD
LITERARY TITAN 