Reviews
written by Luann Budd
Even Among These Rocks
by Steven Purcell
Even Among These Rocks
is a work of art that takes the reader on a spiritual journey led by
artists – their elegant calligraphy of scripture, subtle watercolors,
heart reflections and meditations, moving poetry, classic paintings, and
lyrics. Each contributing artist is a pilgrim who shares our faith but
who comes to follow Jesus through the gifts that the Lord has given
them. We enter into this common pursuit of Jesus led by many who become
our friends. As we learn of Jesus through their eyes, we see anew. The
book is gorgeous and profound.
Wasting Time with God
by Klaus Issler
Wasting
Time with God explores practical ways we can
develop our friendship with the Almighty. At the Springs retreat, we
talk about what to do when we have several hours to spend with God. What
we do, is to put aside all of our “doing” and simply “be” with Him.
Since we don’t have a “product” to show from our time, it can really
feel like a day wasted except that we go to bed that night feeling much
closer to Jesus. If you were going to waste time with God, what would
you do? If someone were to ask you how to deepen her friendship with
Christ, how would you direct her? Issler, a Talbot professor, draws from
the wealth of Christian tradition to make visible the way.
Hearing God
by Dallas Willard
Do you ever wonder what
we mean when we talk about hearing God speak to us? While I certainly
believe in the importance of praying, and I do pray, I have never been
comfortable saying that God speaks to me. I never know if my thoughts
are my own thoughts or God’s thoughts. I never know what people mean
when they say that a decision they were praying about was “confirmed” by
Scripture. Yet I believe that God speaks to us, today, in very real
ways. But how? Since the Bible Study I lead was discussing Listening
Prayer from a chapter in Soul at Rest, I decided that it was time
that I came to some conclusions.
Providentially, I found
Dallas Willard’s Hearing God on my husband’s desk. It was
extremely helpful in my search for answers. Willard has a wonderful way
of bringing together the teachings of Scripture, his knowledge of the
writings of godly people down through the ages, and his own devotional
walk with the Lord as he wrestles with the hard questions surrounding
this topic. The result is a very practical, down to earth, true to the
Scriptures explanation of how we can have a conversational walk with
God. I found the book immensely helpful and full of insight. In fact, I
took 15 pages of notes. If you haven’t read it recently, I’d highly
recommend you take a week or two and spend some time with Willard. Your
prayer life may never be the same.
Prayer by Ole
Hallesby
This fall I heard several
people refer to a book on prayer by O. Hallesby. If you were at Just
Give Me Jesus you heard Jill Briscoe refer to it. I think she said
she found it on one of Ruth Graham’s bookshelves at the Cove. I’d never
heard of him before, or of his book, but people talk about it as if it
is the classic work on prayer. Just last week, our church librarian
featured the book in her newsletter article. So I checked it out of the
library. The book was published by Augsburg Publishing House in 1931 and
is wonderful. Dr. Hallesby understands our struggles to be faithful in
prayer and gives a wonderful explanation of what prayer really is and
how we can grow in our prayer lives. He’s a kindred spirit who learned
how to be devoted to prayer and writes to help us. No guilt trips. No
gimmicks. No formulas. Instead, he masterfully opens the Scriptures and
reveals the Savior’s heart. He encourages us to invite Him in–that’s his
definition of prayer, simply inviting the Savior in.
If you would like to be
encouraged in your prayer life, find a copy of Prayer by Dr. O.
Hallesby. Even after 70 years, it's still in print.
How Great Thou Art
Steve Halliday and William Travis invite us to come
and taste the Lord in their book, How Great Thou Art.
This summer I learned what it means “to taste.” For
our 25th anniversary dinner, we went to the Highlands Inn
near Big Sur. At sunset, we sat at a candle lit table tucked next to a
corner window overlooking the majesty of the Pacific Ocean crashing into
the rocky coast. A world-class hide-away.
Incredibly, our dinner surpassed the view.
Our five-star chef presented four courses, a
“tasting” menu beginning with Russian caviar and John Drury, a delicate
white fish flown in from the Mediterranean. Each course was a sampler of
tastes, perfectly seasoned, deliciously orchestrated with other tastes
and drizzled with delicate sauces. The presentation was masterful. We
dined as royalty for two and a half leisurely hours—tasting, drinking in
the beauty, celebrating.
The verse came to mind, “Oh taste and see that the
Lord is good.”
Over dinner I came to more fully understand what it
means “to taste.”
Although the Lord invites us to his table—to taste
the beauty of his character—we often have too little time to leisurely
dine at his feast, to take small bites and savor his goodness.
The Lord invites us to come, taste Him. There’s a
difference between standing at the kitchen counter, woofing down dinner
and tasting. When you are trying to taste something, you have to focus
your attention on experiencing the flavor. When you
taste, you take tiny bites. Tasting is a complex sensation involving all
of our senses.
How Great Thou Art, compiled by Steve
Halliday and William Travis, is a tasting feast. The book is divided
into twelve chapters. Each month focuses on an attribute of God’s
character…each day we enjoy a taste of his Glory. Thirty readings on
the Majesty of God, followed by thirty readings on the Holiness, the
Love, the Sovereignty, and the Goodness of God. Morning by morning I’m
drawn into his character. Whatever I’m anxious about, melts away. John
Wesley, Martin Luther, Oswald Chambers, J. I Packer, David Needham, Joni
Erickson Tada are the chefs. The Lord is our feast.
Sinclair Ferguson writes, “For centuries
contemplation of the splendor of God has lifted believers to heights of
spiritual insight and delight almost inconceivable to believers of our
own day.” If you’re like me, honestly, you may not even be sure where to
begin in contemplation the splendor of God. How Great Thou Art is
a wonderful resource that sets the table for us to taste the Lord’s
goodness day after day.
