December, 2024 - T&R Independent Bookstore

Posted on December 31, 2024December 31, 2024 by Ronald Riddle — Leave a comment

Blog by Ron – REDUCED PRICES 2025

Reduced prices 2025 opens the New Year with a spectacular Sale. Basic Authors Training Course and Ministry Publishing prices are being reduced.

That’s right. While the economy has settled down a bit since the Presidential election, it is still uncertain. So, T&R Independent Books has decided that students and clients deserve a break. The idea? Get the New Year started with a bang.

What are the reduced prices for Basic Authors Training?

B.A.T. was earlier reduced to $4500 and it attracted attention. But while the economy is on an uptick it has been reduced by another $50 just to demonstrate T&R’s commitment to keeping prices low.

What are the reduced prices for Ministry Publishing?

This is T&R’s most popular service and has been selling for $899.00 or $80 a month for a 12-month subscription. It will now be available at $849.00 or $ 71.00 a month for a 12-month subscription. Again, grateful for the attention this has been reduced by $50.

What is Basic Authors Training

This is a writing course that transforms the novice or new writer into a published author status. When you sign up for this course, you are entered into a self-paced course that uses the unique 2-tier method.

This method teaches you the fundamentals while you are writing. The first tier is teaching. As your teacher I use my over 20 years of writing experience to teach you fundamentals that will strengthen your writing experience.

The second tier is coaching. Again, I use my 20 plus years of experience as a published author to coach you to success. You start writing almost from the very beginning. As you move toward the finish line the two tiers move closer together eventually merging. During this time, you have learned how to write, edit, create characters that can carry your story, and much more.

What is Ministry Publishing?

What is easily the best-selling service offered, it is a service aimed at Christians who are actively serving in their church. This can be preaching, teaching, office work, grounds keeping, maintenance, singing, playing an instrument, working in the Sound Room, and so much more. It can be paid or unpaid.

The truth is that T&R Independent Books wants to give Christians who are actively serving their church or mission field a voice in the literary world.

How long will Reduced Prices last?

It is scheduled for the entire year. Of course, there may be special sales along the way, but nothing has been scheduled yet.

Now is the time to get started on your writing career or to renew it. You have something that God has given you to share, don’t let this opportunity pass you by.

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R. Frederick Riddle is an author, teacher, publisher, and the owner of T&R Independent Books. The website is at Home – T&R Independent Bookstore (trbookservices.com). You can learn more about R. Frederick Riddle and T&R Independent Books at www.facebook.com/ronald.f.riddle, and at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rfrederickriddle.

Posted on December 24, 2024December 24, 2024 by Ronald Riddle — Leave a comment

Blog by Ron – Jesus Came

Jesus Came is the follow-up to my previous blog on The birth of Jesus. With December 25^th tomorrow, there are more questions that need to be answered.

We have talked about Bethlehem, when He was born, and the sheep. Let’s move to other questions.

Jesus Came to Save Sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15)

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

Written by Paul it is an all-encompassing verse. It doesn’t specify sins, nor the castes of the individuals. That is because all of us, you included, are sinners!

Jesus Came not to Entertain Us.

Our souls were on His mind from the beginning, even before the foundations of the world. Equal with God the Father, the Son never flinched but purposely went to the cross and paid it all.

Jesus Went to the Cross Man’s Cruelest Invention.

The cross is believed to be first seen used by Persians, but the Roman’s made it an art form. When they invaded countries the countryside was soon dotted with crosses. Men, stripped of everything including their clothes were placed on the cross for capital crimes and other offenses.

Jesus Came to the Cross for You (and Me)

It is why He was born into this world. It was the only way could be redeemed. It was a price too big, but Jesus paid it.

Jesus Knew He Would be Separated.

Separated from whom? From God the Father whom He had been intimately connected for eternity. That separation would tear at Him in ways you and I cannot imagine. There is nothing in the world that compares to it.

Jesus Came to Set Us Free

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:18)

He was born of a Virgin in the little town of Bethlehem for the purpose of going to the Cross to bear our sins and become our Savior. He deserves our love and worship!

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Posted on December 11, 2024December 11, 2024 by Ronald Riddle — Leave a comment

Blog by Ron – The Birth of Jesus

The birth of Jesus is a subject that is worthy to look at during the Christmas season. With December 25^th just around the corner, there are questions that need to be answered.

Why was the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem?

In Micah 5:2 it says, But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

The reason it is called Bethlehem Ephratah is that there were two Bethlehem’s. So, the prophet had to be specific.

And what was so special about this town. It wasn’t far from Jerusalem and the sheep raised there were owned by the priesthood and were used in Temple worship.

Why did Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem?

Because all Jewish men were required to go to their family home or birthplace and pay their taxes. Joseph had been born in Bethlehem and so he had to go there to pay his taxes.

So. God used a Roman emperor, a pagan, to cause Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem where she gave birth to Jesus, thus fulfilling scripture.

When was the birth of Jesus?

By a pagan tradition we celebrate His birth on the 25^th of December. But let’s take a look at some facts.

The sheep of Bethlehem were owned by the Temple and used for the temple sacrifices. One of my favorite books over my lifetime has been A Shepherd Looks at the 23^rd Psalm by Philip Keller.

That book follows the sheep as they travel up a mountain, graze on a plateau, then travel back down to their home range. It starts in Spring/Summer and ends in Fall. Because the shepherds were near Bethlehem when Jesus was born, we know He was either born in the Spring or in the Fall.

When you study the time of the taxation you discover it took place in 3 BC. In Luke 2:1-5 is says And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Bethlehem was 70 miles from Nazareth and only 6 miles from Jerusalem where Joseph would need to go in two weeks for the Feast of Tabernacles, which commemorated the 40-year journey of the Israelites who left Egypt for the Promised Land.

In Luke 2:8 the shepherds are said to be abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

If this was wintertime, the flock would have been within a structure not in the field. In my book What’s True About Christmas? Updated I go into more details which point to His possible birth in September.

In fact, there is evidence, both biblical and secular that points to a September 11^th date. In the end, this date is conjecture, but it is much more accurate that December 25^th.

Should we abandon December 25^th to celebrate Birth of Jesus?

Absolutely not!

We couldn’t even if we tried. My point is that we should want to know as much truth as is possible. Knowing the approximate date of His birth adds depth to my Christmas experience. Nothing is taken away from my enjoyment of the season.

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