The Power of a Whisper by @BillHybels :: Book Review
I grew up in a "ministry home" and have spent a couple of decades in pastoral ministry. Some of the most exciting times I've experienced as I've walked alongside new believers is to watch as they learn to hear the voice of God.
In his book, "The Power of a Whisper, Hearing God and Having the Guts to Respond" Bill Hybels challenges the reader to not only learn to hear God's voice, but act on it!
Hybels shares many snapshots from his own journey and how God quietly and succinctly spoke to him. He also shares some very compelling stories of those around him and the exhilarating journey they have experienced because they not only heard, but acted on the whisper they received from God.
It is not, however, just a book of stories. Hybels clearly shows how God whispers to us using Scripture. He also includes a great chapter on "How to Know When You're Hearing From God."
If you or someone you care about is wanting to grow in hearing God's voice I would highly recommend this book! Hearing God's voice isn't as hard as some have made it out to be. Obeying God's voice, it takes guts!
You can pick up a copy at Amazon (Kindle) or Christian Book Distributors.
The Goodness of God by @randyalcorn : Book Review
The back cover of the book starts, "For those times when we're wounded by broken trust, assaulted by disease, or victimized by evil - or when we're crushed to see such things happen to people we love - Randy Alcorn offers something solid to hold on to."
I believe that he delivers on that with this condensed version of his "If God is Good" book.
It seems that one cannot address the single attribute of God's Goodness without also addressing the issue of human suffering. It is the age old question, if God is truly good, how can he allow evil and suffering? The problem, however, is that God has many more attributes than his Goodness. He is also just and true.
That being said, Randy does a good job of methodically working through the issues raised. First of all, he addresses the fact that God is not the problem, humans are. He then raises some of the theologically faulty explanations that have surfaced over time trying to explain evil and suffering.
Randy also introduces some of God's other attributes. Specifically, his Sovereignty. I believe that this is one of the critical attributes that we need to keep in mind when wrestling with the issues of evil and suffering. God has a plan and he is the center of it. We have a plan and we are the center of it. We must submit to his plan, for he is God and we are not.
I would recommend The Goodness of God, especially in these times of turmoil around the world. It is neither a long, nor tough read, that provides many answers. For those that have done a fair bit of reading on this topic, there may not be much new meat to chew on in this condensed volume, but would still serve as a brief refresher.
NB: I received a free copy of The Goodness of God from Multnomah Publishing for the purpose of this review.
You can pick up your own copy at: Amazon or Christian Book Distributors. Both of these providers offer electronic version for your eReader.
The Grace of God by @andystanley : Book Review
The topic of Grace has had countless authors and theologians look at it from every angle. Many come at the topic from a theological perspective... and that is very appropriate! Stanley writes about the topic of grace with the heart of a Pastor. In typical Stanley style, he writes in a very conversational, easy reading rhythm.
Beginning in Genesis and proceeding through the entire Bible, Stanley touches on many very familiar stories from Scripture. He looks at them through the lens of grace. How was God active in the lives and circumstances of some popular and not-so-popular Bible characters. At times, it feels like Stanley is sitting across the bistro table having a conversation with his reader, wanting his reading to see the incredible measure of God's grace, not just in the pages of Scripture but also in the reader's own life.
If you've listened to Stanley speak, you'll feel right at home reading this book. It wouldn't surprise me if this book is a compilation of messages that Stanley has preached in the past. The book is full of some great quotes that have made it into my collection for future use.
It won't take you long to read this book, but it's impact on your spiritual walk will take much longer to digest.
You can pick up your copy of this book at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, or ChristianBookDistributors.
SoulPrint by @MarkBatterson : Book Review
In a world of hero worship and mimicry, Mark Batterson writes a book that challenges the reader to be the person that God intended them to be, not a replica of someone else. This is the first book of Mark's that I've read cover to cover. I've used and recommended some of the Small Group materials based on some of his previous writings. It will not be the last I read.
Mark takes the reader through a journey of self-reflection by holding up the biblical account of five defining moments in the life of David. By looking not just at the wins in David's life but also some of the failures, Mark gives the reader a perspective that God uses all our experiences to shape us into who he has created us to be... as long as we submit ourselves to the process.
This book is an easy read and won't take an average reader very long to get through. At times, it may be harder to put down than to get through. The book includes a Discussion Guide so you can easily use the book as a study guide for your small group. I would recommend the book for those who desire to fulfill their God-desired destiny.
You can order your copy of the book directly from Multnomah; Amazon in paperback or for your Kindle; Barnes & Noble in paperback or for your Nook; Christian Book Distributors in paperback.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of providing this review.
The Land Between : Book Review
I recently finished reading The Land Between by Jeff Manion. A more timely read I could not find as I go through my own personal time in The Land Between.
Through looking at the Israelites time in the wilderness, Jeff challenges his reader to apply the principles to their own life. He warns of the tendency for the reader to assume that they would not fall into the same patterns of behavior that the Israelites found themselves in. It is a good warning, for we tend to view ourselves as the hero in the story.
The Land Between is not the only one of transition, it is any time of hardship and trial. Through many examples, both personal and anecdotal, Jeff makes real the points he drives home.
The Land Between is a place that is ripe for complaint. The Israelites were grumblers... it was a habit, not the exception. In contrast, Moses went to God with his frustration and vented. The Land Between is a place where we can learn to cry out to God in unabashed honesty and without fear of becoming the recipients of God's wrath as long as we do not allow the habit of grumbling. We must continue to see God's provision and ensure that we do not take it for granted.
There were many passages that spoke to my heart and challenged my thinking. One such quote:
Trouble and trust coexist in the hearts of the people we meet in the Bible—David, Jeremiah, and others—even as they coexist in our own hearts.
Some have taught that faith and fear cannot co-exist. That may be true, but often it is presented that faith and a troubled heart cannot co-exist. That is not true.
This is a great book. If you are going through a season of trial, a time where God's path is leading uphill and you are experiencing frustration with the circumstances of life. This book will be a great tool that God can use to help you look at yourself honestly and identify what God may be work doing in your life.
The Land Between is first and foremost, a time of spiritual transformation, not a time of judgment.
What I'm Thinking...
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