Book Review: Sun Stand Still

Sun Stand Still

"I despaired at the thought that my life might slip by without seeing God show himself mightily on our behalf."

Anyone who can relate to the above quote by Jim Cymbala, of Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire,  ought to give this book a try.  Steven Furtick, the author of Sun Stand Still which is published by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing, refers to his first encounter with this quote early in his book and describes it as "The Sentence That Ruined My Life."  I would call it the realization of holy dissatisfaction, and it's a great jumping off point!

Confession:  I really really dislike inspirational books.  Especially the ones that call on me to have a life vision of some sort.  I'm not a machine and I don't come with an instruction manual and a single over-riding purpose.  So books that turn me into a Purpose Driven Bake-sale drive me crazy.  This book doesn't do that.  What this book did for me was give me a framework for grappling with the promises of God in my life.  Steven Furtick is a man with a practice, not a theory.  It's not neat and tidy, and it doesn't boil down to 10 easy steps, but it's all there in the book, and it's able to cope with your day to day reality.

This book is for all of us who know God has more for us than the 9 to 5 work day and getting by to make ourselves comfortable.  If you've got a dream or a vision for something greater, or a yearning in your heart to do great things and see God come through in your life, but can't figure out how to get there, this book is for you.

You can check it out by watching their video or downloading a sample chapter at their website:  http://www.sunstandstill.org

FTC Disclaimer:  WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group provided me with this book free of charge, and I will always give my honest opinions, also free of charge!

Book Review: The Arm of the Starfish

Here’s my first book review!  I found this gem at a thrift store a month ago and picked it up without hesitation.  I’ve been enjoying Madeleine L’Engle books since I read A Wrinkle in Time as a kid, and I was surprised to see a book by her that I hadn’t heard of before.
The Arm of the Starfish, written in 1965, is a completely worthwhile read.  The author’s ability to vision a world where morality is clearly a driving force is both intriguing and refreshing.  Her characters are quite compelling and believable, to the point I found myself emotionally involved with their adventures.  Despite her clear and compelling use of foreshadowing, I found myself stunned along with the characters at plot twists.
While this book carries on the story of two characters from A Wrinkle in Time, the only real science fiction themes are merely subtexts to move the plot forward.  I found myself wondering if this book would become an allegory because of the names of some of the characters, and while it approaches, the story rises above allegory by use of originality and manages to make a morality tale that is both intriguing and thought-provoking.
I would recommend this book to anyone who’s enjoyed books by authors such as CS Lewis, George MacDonald, or JRR Tolkien.

New Address!

Pardon the unpacked boxes!  For various reasons, I've moved my book review blog to  Blogger.  So here it is.  Make yourself at home!