Review of Beautiful Outlaw

Beautiful Outlaw

(Experiencing the Playful Disruptive Extravagant Personality of Jesus)

by John Eldredge

Reviewed by Pat Beaty

Reader, let me urge you to beg, borrow, or steal a copy of this book.  No, wait…I cannot encourage you to commit a crime, much less a sin.  However, let me assure you: this book is impressive, and I would be remiss if I failed to emphasize how much pleasure, as well as self-examination, resulted from my reading it.  In fact, the Biblical word “meditation” comes to mind in this regard.

This well thought-out and warmly presented work can be summed up in one of the author’s initial pronouncements: “To have Jesus, really have him, is to have the greatest treasure in all the world.”  Then, however, he spends much of this treatise artfully expressing why we are being prevented, in many cases, from having an intimate relationship with our Lord because of what he calls “religious fog.”  If you really think about what this writer is telling us, you will come to virtually the same feeling. Eldredge also makes a plausible attempt to define the personality traits of our Savior and refers to various events that occur in His time on earth in this regard. 

It is not often, while reading Christian literature, that I laugh out loud, but I did with this author. It is felt that you will also find merriment in this delightful work by a New York Times best selling author. 

The man who authored this book believes that Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, is the most human human-being who ever lived.  I challenge you to read this book and see if you agree.

October 20, 2014

http://patbeaty.blogspot.com

Review of The Papa Prayer

The Papa Prayer

(The Prayer You Never Prayed)

By Larry Crabb

Reviewed by Pat Beaty

http://patbeaty.blogspot.com

Dr. Crabb states he offers this book to “restore prayer to its highest purpose.” With this goal in mind, he has written a book that is designed to answer two fundamental questions: Why must we pray? And how must we pray? In answer to your first question regarding the title of this work – no, this is not an exposition given to theauthor by his dad when he was a mere lad.  The author states he sharing with us “a way to relate to God that lets us hear Him speak.” It is a personal story, heart-warming in many aspects, that stems from his own difficulties with prayer, and the assistance God has given to him in this regard.  He states – “the Papa prayer is simply a way to come to God and learn to wait, to listen with a little less wax in our spiritual ears and, most of all, to be relentlessly real.”

The writer explains what each letter of the word PAPA represents in a most fascinating manner and these “steps” are, or seem to be, not only universal but also fundamental to our daily prayer life.  Although the reader may feel at first that he prays in a fashion similar to what Dr. Crabb is describing, as you read through this eloquent offering, you will discover much you have never even considered.

This is a worthwhile effort on the part of this gifted writer, and I recommend that you add it to your reading library.

September 22, 2014

Review of Randy Singer's The Advocate

The Advocate

By Randy Singer

Reviewed by: Pat Beaty

“It seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilis, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” Luke 1:3-4

This work is a Christian historical novel, and, if the word novel means new and different, this offering is aptly defined, for you will be astonished by the skill of the writer as he intertwines various disciples and others into the several plots in this memorable book..

The book deals candidly with crucifixion and other inhuman acts of punishment in the Roman Empire during the time of Christ.  The author, one of my favorite writers, does not pull his punches in his descriptions of those who suffered during this period in history.

Our hero, Theophilis, who would be called a lawyer today, is removed from his anonymous mentions in the Scriptures, and is given the unpleasant role of dealing with some of the most evil people of Christ’s time.  To his credit, and that of the Holy Spirit, he also comes to know Christ, and this is the beauty of what would otherwise have to be called a very unwholesome pattern of life.

Singer has obviously done his homework, as he introduces the reader to a great many aspects of daily life during this time period and describes the roles of his various characters in most understandable ways. 

Although our Savior is not given as prominent a place in the overall story, the reader can be certain to realize His presence throughout this well-conceived and well-written work.  The time in which the story is set begins with the crucifixion of Christ and continues through Paul and the early church.

Just a suggestion: if you will carefully read the “List of Characters” before you begin feasting on this most palatable creation, you will be helped a great deal throughout your reading.

As you read, you will be introduce to various areas of life during this eventful time in Roman history.  You are not introduced to these details in the Bible. To me, they give more meaning to my understanding of the New Testament.

For previous reviews, check out my blog at: http://patbeaty.blogspot.com.

August 19, 2014

Review of Generous Justice

Generous Justice

(How God’s Grace Makes Us Just)

by Timothy Keller

Reviewed by Pat Beaty

“And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

This quote opens the first chapter of the book, and an equally beautiful verse begins every chapter of this well-researched and extremely thought-provoking work. Then it came to me: Isn’t justice mercy? Well, in a way.  Isn’t it love? Well…sort of.  Isn’t it sort of niceness or kindness?  This didn’t sound exactly right either. So, in a determined effort to understand what I was about to read, I went to my dependable Webster’s College Dictionary.  It is, “the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness.”

As you read this book, and I fervently hope you do, you will find out how justice is, in a real sense, most correctly defined as righteousness. The concept of justice originates in the teaching of the Holy Bible.  He quotes most liberally, not just from the Old Testament, but from the New Testament as well, in his effort to support his feelings about justice. An interesting portion of this offering discusses the often strong difference of opinion between those who believe the church should concentrate solely on the gospel and those who believe that Christ also wants the church to take an active role in helping the poor and disenfranchised.  Dr. Keller refers to Martin Luther King and Calvin in his efforts to explain his views.  He notes passages from various other writers of today in this regard as well. 

The reader will be interested in reading the chapter, “What Did Jesus Say about Justice,” as well as the author’s explanations of why and how we do justice. His thoughts on “Justice and Your Neighbor,” “Justice In the Public Square,” and “Peace, Beauty, and Justice” gave me much food for thought.  Finally, please don’t forget to read the writer’s introduction.  I promise that you will relish it.

June 17, 2014

Review of A Loving Life by Paul Miller

A Loving Life

In a World of Broken Relationships

By Paul E. Miller

Reviewed by Pat Beaty

First of all, I want to suggest that you read the book of Ruth again before you read Paul Miller’s book.  He uses that Biblical story as a framework for a discussion of real love, as opposed to “Disney” love. As an added benefit, his thoughts seem to clarify the events in the lives of Ruth, Naomi and others in the Biblical account.

The author states, “The book of Ruth is an ideal narrative for our post-Christian world, where breaking covenants, not enduring in love, is the new norm.”  And, how about his one – “The death of self offers ideal growing conditions for love.” The author intrigues his readers with a fascinating discussion of the characteristics of love as he deftly and gently guides us to an explanation of the subject of this book – Hesed love (commitment love).  He explains that “this type of love is at the heart of Christianity. It is Jesus’s love for us at the cross and it is to be our love for one another.”

This book is skillfully written, very moving, and a learning experience you will never be able to forget. I can promise that you will become immersed in every paragraph.  I can honestly say that, as I read a book as good as this one, I almost feel like I’m having a discourse with God.  Oh…one more suggestion:  you may want to keep this work on your “favorite books” shelf and enjoy reading it again at a later time.

Review of Escape the Coming Night

Escape the Coming Night

By David Jeremiah

Reviewed by Pat Beaty

This book is an attempt to explain the events and prophecies of the book of Revelation.  The author states “within the pages of the last book of the Bible are the hope and encouragement we need to lift us from the gray gloom of present events to the promise of a brilliant future.”

“The word revelation means the disclosure of that which was previously hidden or unknown.” In this book, the author shared many interesting pieces of information about the end times. For instance, in the Old Testament there are more than 300 references to the coming Messiah that were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  He also answers the question of God doesn’t judge us immediately after death and instead lets all those millions of people pile up until the last minute.  He says that we don’t finish our work when we die.  Instead, it lives on after us.  Jesus will return for his church then to judge the world, and to rule the world.

“God gives us prophecy so we can learn how to live.” Revelation, the apocalypse, is the unveiling of Jesus Christ.  It is a book about him, many characters and numbers in the book of Revelation, as well as the probable reason for them.

He stresses the blessing everyone receives if he reads the book of Revelation and keeps the words of the prophecy in this book. “God has promised that we all can be overcomers, even the weakest of us, and overcomers receive rich rewards.”

A fascinating portion of this book was the story of John, his circumstances, and the thinking of those around him. The reader will find the sections about the church today and the churches mentioned in this book particularly interesting.  You will also read with interest about “the lukewarm church in the last days” and get “a look into the last church on earth” within the same chapter.  The writer refers often to other books in both the Old and New Testaments, and you will be surprised at how much you already knew about the last days if you have done much reading or study of this subject.  I know I was.

The writer states that the millennium is needed as a reward for the people of God, and you will want to read carefully his discussion of pre-millennialism, post-millennialism, and even a-millennialism. 

Finally, your reviewer enjoyed this work that was written so you and I could understand it – certainly not in textbook fashion, but intended for us to understand and mediate on. 

Review of Don't Just Stand There

Don’t Just Stand There, Pray Something

(The Incredible Power of Intercessory Prayer)

by Ronald Dunn

Reviewed by Pat Beaty

This book is rich in information and explanations and most of it is about how we should approach the discipline of prayer.  Early on, the author states, “Prayer was God’s idea.  He created it for people who are weakened by sin, fickle in their commitment, at times overwhelmed by doubt, often discouraged and bewildered, and nearly always fretting about life.”  He also describes the “secret weapon” of the Kingdom of God (prayer) in an amusing but very apt manner that will enhance your enthusiasm for the remaining conclusions in this offering.

Why do we pray? You will find this author’s answer is one that will satisfy your mind and touch your heart (at least this is the way that I was affected.)

Prayer is discussed in a simple, non-technical way and in a very readable way throughout this work. The author draws heavily and almost exclusively on the Holy Bible – both Old and New Testaments, but he accentuates his thoughts with numerous references to interpretations by other authors as well as experiences (some of them delightful) in his own life and those of his church and family members.  He takes time to explain the true meanings of various words and phrases in the Good Book and, in the process, makes this book a very readable and worthwhile effort.

Fro the minister or church member who is planning to begin an intercessory ministry, Appendix A and Appendix B will also be worth reading. 

I was impressed by the fact that this book attempts to give the who, what, where, when, how, ifs, and whatevers of prayer.  It will hold your interest throughout.

“And whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, that the father may be glorified in the son.” (John 14:13)

Previous book reviews located at http://patbeaty.blogspot.com.

March 18, 2014