Pursued by Grace

Captured by Grace by Dr. David Jeremiah.
I found this book to be biblically accurate and powerful. Dr. Jeremiah is best when he explains “grace is an act.” More than goodness or righteousness, grace is God turning His face towards us just because He loves us. “God pursues us, relentlessly.” Tracing the parallels in the lives of both John Newton and the Apostle Paul, Jeremiah shows us the depths of that grace in their lives and in ours. The message of the book is somewhat obscured by the amount of visuals the author uses. It reminds me of a preacher who uses too many illustrations and by the time he’s done you have to go back to remember the main point of the message. Jeremiah uses the outline of the song Amazing Grace as well as outlining the book with a timeline (grace past, grace present, grace future). Throw in his use of multiple illustrations and it’s easy to lose the main point. In spite of this the book does manage to bring that point across, that God pursues us, not because we are so pursue-able, but simply because He loves us so much. Grace is that unmerited, undeserved love and favor of God, His acting in our lives every minute of every day. I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I am under no compulsion to write a positive or negative review of this book. The opinions expressed are exclusively my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Resurrection in May

May Seymour was searching for something meaningful and not finding it. Literally picked up from the road by an elderly black farmer after a night of drinking, their friendship becomes the beginning of the end of that search. An invite from the local priest sends May to Rwanda where her she grows spiritually, But her time there ends in horrific, life-changing tragedy and she returns to her old friend’s farm, scarred both outside and in. Is there hope for May Seymour? Tumbling into a reclusive life, burying memories deep, relying on only a few people and friendly farm animals to survive, May claws her way back to God only to find that He was right there waiting all the time. Samson writes a story with a slow southern pace, with some quick plot turns that appear so suddenly you wonder if they truly happened. She reminds us that faith, hope, and love are best lived out in relationship, even if those relationships are not particularly normal. The characters in Resurrection in May are well-developed, particularly May, yet at times the situations seem a little far-fetched for someone living in a small southern town. Like any good slow story the pace quickens at the end, and the reader is pulled along to a satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed this book, but the slow pace of the story did cause it to drag at times. I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I am under no compulsion to write a positive or negative review of this book. The opinions expressed are exclusively my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Love On A Dime by Cara Lynn James

If you’re looking for swelling bosoms and ripping bodices, then this is not the book for you. But if you’re looking for a good period-piece romance with characters challenging themselves to submit all areas of their lives to God’s leading, even their romantic feelings, you can’t go wrong with this book. Fannie Cole is the author of “dime novels”, loved by the common person but often shunned as inferior literature by the more elite class. Yet Lilly, the real writer behind the Fannie Cole stories and a member of that elite class, works hard to pen stories with strong Christian morals. True to her Christian nature she donates all of the proceeds to a charity she supports. When her old beau Jack reappears after a long absence her romantic feelings are rekindled; but what about her fiancé’? The author creates interesting characters who waltz slowly through the story, and an underscore of various subplots keeps the reader spinning until the last dance. The final chapters pick up momentum and lead to a satisfying ending along with a few surprises. Christian romances aren’t my normal genre but I found the writing to be smooth and solid. I would recommend more books from this author if you are interested in Christian romance novels. I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I am under no compulsion to write a positive or negative review of this book. The opinions expressed are exclusively my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I Am Hutterite by Mary-Ann Kirby

I Am Hutterite is a fascinating, funny, poignant look at life in a Hutterite community. Mary Ann Kirby’s memoir helps us understand what it is like to live in a cloistered community, a community where men and women know their place and all work toward the common good. But even in this secluded life politics and pride creep in causing her family to "weglaufen" (run away) and head out into a world that is as ill-prepared to receive them as they are to fit in. Kirby does a good job helping us see this challenge through the eyes of a young girl struggling to adjust to this strange life she now finds herself living. The faith that has been deeply ingrained in her heart and life helps her through the transition from her Hutterite life to becoming English. “And every year, by the grace of God, we inched forward.” The beginning of the book is a little slow, recounting the life of her ancestors and providing background into the Hutterite world. Once Ann-Marie is born the story picks up momentum. The book, much like the Hutterite community, is filled with humor, sometimes self-deprecating and often hilarious. Kirby does a good job helping us feel the tension between the Hutterite community and the world at large. I Am Hutterite is a coming-of-age book in two worlds, the secluded world of the Hutterites and the wider world where being different can be a challenge. The story also reminds us that sin affects even the most set-apart societies and that the devil does his most powerful work by hurting relationships. I would recommend this book. I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I am under no compulsion to write a positive or negative review of this book. The opinions expressed are exclusively my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Wonders Never Cease by Tim Downs

Does Leah truly see angels or are they figments of a damaged mind or an over-active imagination? Do angels even exist, and if they don’t, why are people so excited to read about them? Liv Hadyen’s best-selling novel It’s All About You is a run-away success, but the story behind the novel is one of greed and stupidity in a tale of both selfishness and hope. Tim Downs’ carefully-crafted characters are easy to both like and dislike. From the mysterious Emmett to the irascible Kemp, Downs creates people who come alive as you read. While the twists in this book weren’t all that surprising they were no less satisfying. And the premise of Liv Hayden’s successful novel leads to the comparison of a self-centered life (it’s all about you) to the one Rick Warren shows us in The Purpose Driven Life (it’s not about you). This is the first Downs novel I have read and I found myself checking out the other titles at the end of my edition. I would recommend this novel to anyone. I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I am under no compulsion to write a positive or negative review of this book. The opinions expressed are exclusively my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Eating the Word

How do you read your Bible when you are doing devotions? Recently I read the letters of Paul in chronological order. I’ve noticed, though, that I have a pre-determined way to read them; by chapter. Big chapter or small, I read a chapter at a time and stop.

We often view our Bible that way, by chapter and verse. We’ve been brought up to follow the breaks in the passages, breaks inserted by those who edited the Bible. We even preach that way, taking small passages rather than entire chapters or books. Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase The Message broke through some of those barriers, yet for many it’s difficult to get past the structure of the Bible. Unfortunately, that structure can sometimes get in the way of the Spirit's speaking.

I had an interesting conversation with an employee at my work last week. He had been looking a little tired, so I asked him if he was OK. He told me he had not been getting enough sleep lately, so I asked him why. He said, “it’s an interesting story if you have a minute.” I hate to pass up good stories, so I took a few minutes to listen.

“I was born and raised as a Catholic in the Dominican Republic. As children we were never allowed to have a Bible in the house. Only priests could have the Bible. The only time we heard the Bible read was at Mass.

One summer I attended a Vacation Bible school offered by a Protestant organization and as part of that program they gave me a New Testament. I began to read it and couldn’t put it down. I had to hide it from my parents; we weren’t supposed to have Bibles in the house. I would wait until I went to bed, then pull the covers up and read the Bible underneath them. I knew if my parents found the Bible I would get punished and have it taken away from me.

I couldn’t stop reading. I didn’t worry about chapters and verses, I was reading whole stories. I would start reading and sometimes would read through the whole night. By the time I was in eighth grade I knew the entire New Testament, having read through it several times.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t getting enough sleep and it was beginning to show at school. The teacher called my parents and they determined that there must be something mentally wrong with me, so they sent me to a psychologist. I knew then I would have to admit what was going on; I told the doctor about my Bible-reading. Of course, he made me tell my parents.

From that time on I have had a voracious hunger to read God’s word. I don’t just read a few verses or chapters; I sit down and read whole books at a time. I don’t’ think people realize what a blessing it is to have the freedom to read your Bible anywhere, anytime.”

Our conversation made me wonder; how big is my appetite for the Word? If I’m honest with myself I have to admit, I fill myself up on other things and don’t leave room for the Word. I fool myself by thinking “it’s a Christian book with Bible quotes, that’s the same as reading the Bible, right?” Reading Christian books can expand our spiritual horizons and challenge us in our daily life, but it can’t take the place of reading the Bible.

I pray that God will give me the appetite for His Word that my co-worker has, and that I may read it with the same passion, understanding that in it I find the very words of God.

Lady in Red

She kneeled on the stairs in the front of the sanctuary, her low-cut tight-fitting red dress clinging to her dark black body like a scarlet letter. Her bright dress and dark skin stood in glaring contrast to the subdued hues of the sanctuary and mostly-white tones of the congregation. She kneeled with eyes squeezed shut, hands upraised, ready to receive the benediction as if it was forgiveness.

No one left their seat but there was little doubt that most eyes were watching her; she was hard to miss. We stayed seated, confined to our pews, wondering who she was and why she was kneeling up front, questioning how she came to be in our church that Sunday morning. Imagining without knowing the kind of life she must lead and filling in the blanks with all kinds of sordid details.

The Spirit nudged me, spoke to me, prodded and pushed me. Go kneel with her. Kneel beside her so she is not alone. Kneel beside her so she knows the church is really people, not the preacher or the building but people who live in God’s forgiveness. Kneel beside her because you’re no better than she is, need to surrender your life as much as she does, need the same measure of forgiveness.

The Preacher began the benediction.

“May the Lord bless you and keep you and cause His face to shine upon you…”

Everything in my heart and soul said go up there, do it. But my head said no. If you go up there every one will stare at you. You’re not supposed to leave your pew. Just wait it out, the benediction will be over and we’ll sing the closing song, “bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name.” All that is within me was struggling, longing to have the courage to kneel with this woman and make her feel welcome in His presence.

I felt no peace and never left my seat. “…and give you His peace. Amen.”

We sang the doxology and I walked out of church.

I wonder what happened to that woman.