| BOOK REVIEWS |
Recently, I have read three books which I have found really helpful to my Christian faith and development.
Two of these books, "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" and "Fresh Faith", both written by Jim Cymbala, are drawn from his experiences of Pastoring The Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York. Over the last 25 years this church has developed from a small congregation to a church of 6,000, with daughter churches in other inner city areas of New York and major cities in the USA.
"Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" explores the importance of corporate prayer in the life of the church. Jim Cymbala expresses his thirst for God in ways which make this book a "page turner" and a "heart searcher". One quote which, stopped me in my tracks is:
- "You can tell how popular a church is by who comes on Sunday morning;
- you can tell how popular the pastor or evangelist is by who comes on Sunday night;
- but you can tell how popular Jesus is by who comes to the prayer meeting."
- you can tell how popular the pastor or evangelist is by who comes on Sunday night;
"Fresh Faith" explores the issue of faith and guidance. The challenge is to seek God for every decision in our lives. The book traces this through clear biblical teaching and examples from the life of the church. As I write, it is the evening of church council. I recognise that, at this important time in the life of our church in Knutsford, we need to seek God over "Building the Church of the Future". We need to have the faith that God will guide us as promised in Proverbs 3:6.
A Christmas gift introduced me to my third book here, "How you can be led by the Spirit of God" by Kenneth Hagin. It is essentially a teaching, which covers such issues as Holiness and Healing. This book can radically alter your devotional life. The author encourages us to be those who meditate, practice and give the Bible first place in our lives so that we may be trained in righteousness.
These books have given me a deep hunger for God. May we continually and truly seek God's will for our lives. The promise of Jesus is "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5: v6).
2. The Shadow of the Galilean - review by Rev Bruce Thompson (Timperley Methodist Church)
If you want to know more about Jesus and you're into novels, especially thrillers, then I have just the book for you! It's Gerd Theisson's, "The Shadow of the Galilean" (SCM 2001), which is a wonderful way of learning, while being entertained along the way, about the world Jesus and his contemporaries occupied. The book can be read at different levels and there is something within it for everyone. You will discover more about the politics of the day (the culture and the religion that influenced Jesus and his hearers), and thus come to appreciate the gospel accounts more fully.
It is not new for a writer to produce a work of fiction around historical events and real characters but when Theissen's book was first published in 1986 it became an instant classic. I was a member of the Candidates' Committee for six years between 1989 and 1995. The Candidates' Committee assessed people as potential ministers, and "The Shadow of the Galilean" must have been one of the most popular works on the book-lists submitted by candidates over those years. I even began to wish that it had been written much earlier so that I might have benefited from the experience myself. Sadly it wasn't, but it was re-issued last Summer and I had it on order for the first day of publication. I have not been disappointed. At £9.99 you can't go wrong, and I honestly believe that all who read it will benefit from the experience.
All too often we seem to think that reading the gospel accounts is sufficient for a full understanding of the Jesus-event. Not so. There is much to be gained from delving into the history of the time - and there is a wealth of new information coming out of recent archaeological discoveries, so much so that those who ignore such findings miss out on a great deal. Theissen's work is an introduction to a greater appreciation of the times in which Jesus lived, and as someone who sees the faith-journey as a life-long one then I commend it to you.
3. The Power of Prayer as a Wife and Parent - reviews by Philippa C
As regards praying for your spouse, she makes it very clear that the power of a praying wife is not about gaining control over your husband - so don't get your hopes up! She stresses the need to lay down all claim to power in, and of, yourself - rather, to rely on God's power to transform you, your husband, your circumstances and your marriage however new or long-standing. We are called, as wives, to use this power as a gentle tool of restoration, inviting God's power into our husband's life for his great blessing, which is ultimately ours too.
Each book works through thirty key-areas of life. For our husbands this includes his role as decision-maker and father, his health and physical protection, security in work and finances, his emotional life and his faith and spiritual life. For our children the focuses are their physical, emotional and spiritual well-beings, their self-esteem, education as well as many other areas.
I have found both books enlightening and very easy to read. Each chapter is quite short and includes an example or some teaching, a useful bible-reference and a prayer.
4. The God Chaser's by Tommy Teeney (Destiny Image Publishers) - review by Caroline R
In this book, Tommy Teeney asserts,
Although Tommy Teeney does not deny the importance of bible-study etc., throughout the book he encourages his readers to become "God Chasers" and, by using his own experiences, illustrates how different our lives could be if, rather than doing things for God, we started to desire Him more. Teeney opens the book with a jaw-dropping description of the first time God "turned up" during a service at a small, low key church in Texas (you'll have to read it to see what I mean) and this will certainly whet your appetite to read on. Teeney's honesty, enthusiasm and insights accumulate throughout the book to show that if we are hungry enough for God then He won't fail to manifest His glory to us.
He also encouragingly shows how it is from this that our programmes and desires to serve God will naturally flow and, dare I say it, revival will begin. He then goes on to identify some of the reasons that prevent God's Holy Spirit from being poured out (for instance, our lack of persistence and need of repentance) and points out that it has nothing to do with how good the worship group (sorry about that, Graham) and preaching may be. At times, Teeney may, for some, come across as too blunt and critical toward the church and worship, but in my opinion this is outweighed by his honesty and contagious hunger to see God's kingdom come. Read this book as soon as you can, and get ready to be challenged.
5. Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets - review by Caroline R
During my first semester at college, it seemed as if most of my questions started with the same word: "Why?". I have to admit that initially I was afraid of voicing these questions for fear of coming over as either too argumentative or too sceptical. But as Dutch Sheets reminds us in his book, Intercessory Prayer,
Finally, even if you think you've got prayer sussed, don't dismiss this book. Doesn't it seem logical that we make sure we really do understand what we are doing when we pray because surely then we will begin to do so with even greater faith and really see things happen?
6. "What's So Amazing about Grace" by Philip Yancey, published by Harper Collins - review by Martin H
Philip Yancey's wonderful and eminently readable book is first and foremost about God's grace towards mankind, but secondly about how Christians are called to practise grace in a world whose values are usually going in entirely the opposite direction. When he was released from prison, Nelson Mandela invited the Jewish judge who had sentenced him to imprisonment to a kosher dinner - that's grace in practice. You don't see a lot of it about. Grace describes a gift given to a person who has done nothing to deserve it, and it can transform the world we live in. Acts of grace can transform a workplace, a home, any relationship and a church. Acts of grace are sacrificial - the recipient hasn't earned them, and the giver has to overcome their all-too natural instincts to perform them. And the bad news folks is that as Christians we are called by God to set the example here! Tough isn't it?
Our response should be to spread grace throughout our society, wherever that may be. Reading this book is a wonderful help to grasping the simplicity of our own salvation, and giving some pointers as to how we should therefore live. I recommend it very highly. Or, as a minor act of grace, I am even happy to lend out my copy!
7. "Move over Harry Potter, make way for THE KAIROS" by Leslie Cashin, ISBN No. 0954646002 - review by Bob B
Concerned by the occult influence of the Harry Potter stories, Leslie Cashin has written a young people's fantasy based on Christian ideals. It is an exciting adventure story based on two young boys and a girl who.... well that would give the secret away.
What is special about Zionica? Why is granddad's bit of horn important? He can't remember but knows it must be treasured. Why will the world be in peril if the white foal dies? All will be revealed when you read THE KAIROS.
THE KAIROS, by Leslie Cashin, ISBN No. 0954646002, is available from bookshops, price £10.00.
I recommend this book as a Christmas present for 10 year-olds upwards.
8. "What God Wants" by Donald Neale Walsch and published by Hodder Mobius 2005 - review by Noel P
People shake their heads in despair over the state of the world, despite the fact that by many measures - literacy, nutrition, clean water and housing - things have decidedly improved in recent years.
A marked polarisation in society is taking place. The general drift of culture pushes religion to the fringe. Some Christians act more and more as if they belong to a fringe religion. Christians under duress often show a tendency to withdraw from the world, pull up the drawbridge and retreat behind a protective moat. This is very sad because it directly contradicts JESUS's command to go into the world and preach the Gospel.
The 'castle' into which Christians retreat is the Church. For many people the Church can be the least likely place to find GOD. Jesus himself looked for God not among the pious at the synagogue but in a widow and her two mites, and in a tax collector. He found spiritual lessons in sparrows sold in a market; and in wedding banquets. Jesus was a master at finding GOD in unexpected places.
Having read 'WHAT GOD WANTS', YOU will learn of many unexpected places where GOD is to be found, and WHAT HE WANTS.
Paul Wilson
Bruce Thompson
I have been reading two quite inspiring books, written by Stormie Omartian, which are both straightforward and practical -
As she says of parenting,
The focus of her message is that our children's lives don't ever need to be left to chance and that, whilst being a perfect parent doesn't matter, being a praying one does - whether your child is three or thirty-three. A lot of what she says makes tremendous sense, and she gives testimony to the changes in many lives that have come about through consistent prayer.
Philippa C
To anyone who is tired of simply knowing about the God of history and is yearning to actually know where He is and what He is doing right now, then this book is a must! To anyone who is searching after a fresh presence of the Almighty and feels that there has to be more than just "doing church" on a Sunday, then this book is for you too. But if you are comfortable and not prepared to take a risk then be prepared because this book has been described as "dangerous" and "not for the faint hearted".
Caroline R
Therefore, if you are anything like me, and your "Why?" questions are usually to do with prayer, then take heart. This book will unlock many truths. Not only is it humorous and inspirational but Dutch Sheets also clearly answers many questions such as,
Throughout the book, the author includes several of his own "miracle stories" (all of which are both touching and encouraging) and brings each chapter to life by using some of the most appropriate illustrations imaginable. There are a few theological terms and Hebrew words incorporated but all are necessary and clearly explained so don't let this put you off.
Caroline R
Difficult word, "grace", isn't it? Try this as an example of grace in daily life.
Not only is "grace" a difficult word - it's also incredibly hard to practise it.
"What's so Amazing about Grace" gives many examples of the way in which acts of grace can transform society. You can read it as a book, or you can read it in small chunks each day, since Philip Yancey's style lends itself to daily reading and reflection. But the bottom line is this.
As Christians, our salvation is undeserved, but God through Jesus has given it to us anyway! Or, as Philip Yancey says in the most quotable phrase in his book: "There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. There is nothing we can do to make God love us less".
Martin H
Bob B
Noel P