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Category: Reader’s Corner – Christian Non-Fiction & Christian Fiction

a READER platform to talk of Jesus. SHARE your Brief comments & short reviews of Christian Non-Fiction or Christian Fiction. – How does this book help you to understand and apply the gospel of Jesus Christ in your life? Who should read this book & why?
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  • The Magnificent Word of the Lord – Sandra G. Kennedy

    The Magnificent Word of the Lord – Sandra G. Kennedy

    Christian Non-Fiction review by C. Thomason

    Was just reading a bit about prayer in Sandra G. Kennedy’s book“The Magnificent Word of the Lord” (2011)

    “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
    ~ John 15:7

    “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”
    ~ 1 John 5:14-15

    “Lord, we know that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. By Your blood, we have been made righteous. We desire to have an effective prayer life–the kind of prayer life that brings powerful change to our circumstances and to those of others. Lord, as we pray, help us to believe, that we may receive. Lord, help us to remember to seek Your will concerning what and how You would have us pray. Help us not to grow weary in well-doing, but to press in and press on in prayer. We thank You, Lord, that You are making us into prayer warriors.”

     

  • Many Witnesses, One Lord – William Barclay

    Many Witnesses, One Lord – William Barclay

    Review by Roger Harned

    PREFACE to my reviews:

    1. I’ve made a commitment to review books for Christians to read. I personally read more Non-fiction than Fiction and as you saw from my last review, I also enjoy Biographies which talk about the real issues we face in this world.
    2. One important part of Christian Social Witness is reading; the Bible (of course), but also books about the Bible. I confess to being a theologian; however I’m not a “churchologian” ( my word for one who puts great effort into studying the differences between churches, mostly to justify their personal theological conclusions).
    3. I do not agree with all of the theological positions and teachings of most authors, including an important error in one of Barclay’s doctrinal beliefs (in my opinion). Never-the-less I read the writings of many (including atheists). This I do not recommend unless you are very mature in your faith and doctrine. If you do, keep an open mind and an open Bible.
    4. This book is not the one book I would read before all others. (IF you would like a suggestion on that, please COMMENT and suggest what topic interests you and I may have a suggestion (even a quick review).
    5. In fact, YOU need to SHARE your reviews with us. Just register, paste a comment on a book of your choice and we’ll go from there. (As I’ve said before, this site is NOT about me or my opinions; it’s a place for all Christians.)

     MANY WITNESSES, ONE LORD – William Barclay (1907-1978) {originally published 1963}

    Christian Non-fiction review by Roger Harned

    I suggest this as a good choice of a book about the New Testament in general.  The ‘many witnesses’ are the writers of the New Testament Gospels and Letters. To Barclay’s credit, it is neither a book for theologians nor Bible studies, but a thin 116 page overview written for any lay reader with an interest in scripture.  I had highlighted many of Barclay’s comments and will share only a few thoughts with you, beginning from near his conclusion.

     The crisis of history has arrived; the prophesies are fulfilled; and the Age to Come has begun.

    What has gone wrong? Why is it that Christian preaching in so many cases is no longer effective?

    In what direction lies the cure?

    1. Systematic exposition of scripture and systematic explanation of Christian doctrine… application of both to the hearers of (this) century.
    2. Honesty… abandonment of conventional religious language…
    3. … a total approach to the New Testament (then he defines his total approach briefly, with which I disagree).

    A few of my earlier highlights:

    Repent… relationship to God… obedience.

    After speaking of agape Barclay writes: In the Kingdom love of God and love of men go hand in hand. Obedience is paramount…

    In his chapter on Paul: …rebellion should become obedience and the fear should become trust.

    Hebrews: The life and death of Jesus are not simply events in time; they are windows into the eternal heart of God…

    James: … there is no easier doctrine to distort than doctrine of grace; there were those who made grace simply an excuse for easy sinning.

    You get the idea.  You can find value in every brief chapter.

    Finally from John:

    John is waging a holy war on the falsehood that could wreck the faith.

    Again, please add your comments to this or ANY of our posts. AND check out the several books of our Christian authors and other reviews.

     

  • Susan Boyle – Dreams can come true

    Susan Boyle – Dreams can come true

    The Unauthorized Biography by Alice Montgomery

    Christian Biography – Review by Roger Harned

    NOTE: As part of our focus on reviews of books for Christian Readers, I have made a commitment to post regular reviews in addition to the reviews of others on this site.

    This book about Susan Boyle caught my attention because of her public witness for Jesus Christ by choice of her music in a hostile environment of secular television. Her gentle heart and tremendous talent now have the attention of millions.

    Alice Montgomery catches the flavour of Susan’s meteoric sudden rise to fame after years of humble service and preparation. Here is a sampling of her story:

    “It turned out that Susan, like so many single women, had become the primary carer for her mother Bridget, and Bridget’s death three years earlier had left a terrible gap in her life.”

    Going back to age 25, the London Daily Mirror had discovered Susan singing “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

    Later Susan would be sought after by the likes of Lloyd Webber and numerous others.  

    Montgomery details the adventure of Britain’s Got Talent and other shows that brought Susan into the public eye.  Her biography also includes several color photos from Susan’s life and many stories from different eras of Susan Boyle’s most unusual life.

    Montgomery points out many revealing facts like this one:

    “The first issue Oprah tackled was the makeover nonsense, which had attracted such criticism from some quarters, as if a woman shouldn’t be allowed to make the best of what she had.”

    Millions heard Susan’s performance of “Ave Maria” for the Pope.

    One story of humility that touched me was this quote by Susan:

    “’I was a cheeky little girl at home,’ Susan told the Sunday Times. ‘You had to fight your corner in a family the size of ours.’”

    Her story is compelling, interesting, and in her own personal way, a witness of Christ and example to many insecure young women who just want to say: I dreamed a dream.