The Prayer Wheel

I selected this book with some hesitation and reservation.  First let me say, my background in religion was one that never taught on the subject of how to pray.  While I was taught the prayer most refer to as the "Lord's Prayer" I was not taught to pray it daily.  So when I started "The Prayer Wheel" it took some change in my theology.
I read through the book in  a week just to get a feel for the premise.  At first it was a little difficult for me to follow.  But after the fourth I was starting to understand the idea better.  The Prayer Wheel is a simple guide to lead you into prayer.  One of the main concepts you need to remember as stated on page 14, "Feel free to adapt the language for what feels most comfortable to you."  That is key, make the prayer wheel your guide but make it personal.
Broken into 7 weeks of daily prayer the wheel will take you into a deep, closer relationship, with God.  I have already started to go back through the book and incorporate the daily prayers into my current prayer time.  While I can not say with certainty that I have experienced any great change in my prayer life, the subject of prayer is some what subjective.  After all, we don't always get an answer as soon as we pray.
But for those who desire a great prayer life,and that should be all of us, this book may be the answer to your prayers.

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"

Shaken by Tim Tebow

I had no idea what to expect when I read Tim Tebow's book, "Shaken".   Too many times with celebrity authors, the book is more about THEM and less about anything that relates to me.  Tim's book is nothing like that.  Oh sure he talks about some of the high points in his career, but he deals more with what it is like to have it all and then loose it all.  And then he takes you on this incredible journey about his work off the field.
I knew Tim was a true Christian in every sense of the word, but I never knew how much ministry he actually does.  He uses his fame to advance the Kingdom of Christ and he shares some amazing stories of how special needs kids are helping him to find purpose and understanding when they share a common bond, that he like them has been shaken at times.
Tim's book is well written and easy to read.  And the personal stories he shares gives the reader a small glimpse into what his life really is.  Leaving the fame, the glory, and the game on the field, Tim walks into prisons, hospitals, and home to reach out to people most would shun or choose to forget.

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"  

Open To The Spirit

Scot McKnight brings back to the Christian debate is Glossolalia, (speaking in tongues) still for us today.  Long has been the debate that this Acts Chapter 2 experience was only for the Apostles and the church at that time.  I think Scot does a good job at not pushing too hard in either directions of for or against.  He does however at times leaving me to wonder just what his opinion is.  But maybe that is a good thing. After all the title is "Open to the Spirit."
There are many examples from people who have told in their own words how they received the gift of glossolalia.  And Scot's intentions seem to be, at least to this reader, to just lay out the experiences of everyday people, who by being open to the Spirit, received a great infilling of the Holy Spirit.
While the debate will rage on and those who believe in the tongues will adamantly claim that their is a separate, distinct, gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, their will be just as many who say that their is only one baptism.  That is where Scot's book will simply lead you to a place to make your choice.  His desire is to just lay out both sides of the argument and ask you to pray a simple pray and be open to the Spirit.  

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review" 

Whisper by Mark Batterson

Mark Batterson just can't write a bad book!  Like his previous books, once I started reading "Whisper" I could not put it down.  I always enjoy Mark's personal stories that he weaves into his books.  Mark gives solid biblical principles on how to hear the voice of God.

Wonderfully written, Mark lays the foundation needed to understand the power of the whisper and why the whisper is so powerful.
Then, Mark shares how to discover the Seven Languages of God.  Like a radio station, the sound waves are being broadcast, but we do not hear them.  Why?  Because the receiver has to be tuned to the proper frequency.  And the same is true if we want to hear the voice of God.  God is always speaking, but we must be tuned to Gods' frequency in order to hear Him.

Of particular interest to me was the  very first chapter, "The Bravest Prayer".  If you have ever faced a serious health issue this chapter will encourage you to rise up and pray your greatest prayer yet.  What are you afraid that God can't do?  After reading just the first chapter my life was profoundly changed.  God still speaks, we just need to tune out the noise and learn how to hear the voice of God.

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"

The Satisfied Soul

I thought I would give John Piper's book, "The Satisfied Soul" a second chance to impress me.  Having read some others by him that were not my cup of tea, I found this one was produced from three previous books Pierced by the Word, Life as a Vapor, and A Godward Heart.  There are 120 days of devotionals, two-four pages, each dealing with different topics in which we find our selves dealing with today.  
My issue with this book as well as the others by Mr. Piper, is I do not agree with his Calvinist views.   Having said that there is still some good things to take away from "The Saisfied Soul"   The book can lead you to a deeper study of Gods' word.
I will say this is the first devotional I have read that actually dealt with current world issues including terrorism, racism, mental health, marital challenges, politics, and the media.  While I do not agree with some of the view points, it is still part of the society we live in and we must contend for the faith.
“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"

What do you do with Life's Disappointments

      I have read a lot of books in the last year trying to find how to deal with the struggles, disappointments and looking for answers to "Why God?".  Kay Arthur was a new writer to me and the title, "As Silver Refined" seemed to capture my attention.  And once I started reading it, I can say it cut to the heart and stripped away some old theology that I had carried around all my life.
    The Bible tells us how to live and gives us great insight into how to handle problems.  Not to take any thing away from the Word of God, but it is summed up by many as, "Trust God, He will provide", and in some extreme cases, "Name it and Claim it", or as I like to say, "Blab it and Grab it!"
    What is so often missing in a Christians devotion and teaching is the ability to accept the truth that God is allowing all the disappointments and trials in your life.  The job lose, the broken marriage, the sickness and even death of a loved one, God has allowed.
     No one likes to think of God as the one who allows the bad things to happen in our life, that God would have a hand in such terrible things.  To dismiss this idea is to question God's Sovereignty.  And that theology is causing many a Christian to throw in the towel and give up.
    The book is great, easy to read and well thought out.  I know "As Silver Refined" was a God anointed pick for my life.  There are so many great quotes, but the one that stands out to me the most is about disappointments.  To paraphrase, Disappointments are His Appointments.... replace the D with an H, and add a space between the s and the a and you get His Appointments.  In God's Sovereignty, he knew the choice you would make, knew the places you would be and made a way to help you through the trials.
“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.

Courageous: The Movie

     While my blog has been about books, this time I have to add the movie Courageous to my blog.  I was so moved by its message.  "Where are the men of God?"  What have the fathers, the husband, sold out for?  The movie takes a look at what it really means for the men of God to be courageous in the time when doing so is unpopular and costly.
     Perhaps the reason this movie hit home with me is because I failed in the ministry, my family and personal life.  I made the wrong choices and this movie, along with the leading of the Holy Spirit, opened my eyes to the source of my problems.
      I strongly encourage you to see this movie.  Take it to heart and let it change you.  You will not be disappointed.

For the King and the Kingdom!

Douglas