Book Reviews
Books are alphabetical, except for latest entry which will be on top of its non-fiction or fiction category.
Non Fiction
The Lost Art of Practicing His Presence by James W. Goll
I would recommend this book for all those who long for a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord. The author draws from his own experiences as well as the writings of Brother Lawrence, Theresa of Avila and others who have sought deep communion with God. This book is full of practical advice on Christian meditation, contemplative prayer and waiting on the Lord from believers past and present who value His Presence more than anything.
Amazing Grace by Eric Metaxas
is the story of William Wilberforce, the man who led the fight against the slave trade in Britian during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Wilberforce, a small man with a big heart, was a member of the House of Commons, and a devoted servant of the Lord. As a Methodist influenced in his walk with the Lord by John Newton, the famous writer of Amazing Grace, (the hymn) Wilberforce felt it was his duty to rid Britain of the abomination of the slave trade within its colonies, and also to reform the manners, or morals, of British society. This book describes Wilberforce's life, faith, political dealings, and his friendships and alliances with other important and influential political and social characters of the day such as Prime Minister William Pitt Jr., the Wesley brothers, and Charles Fox. At times, Amazing Grace reads like a textbook and can become tedious, but is worth every minute. This story will touch your heart and inspire your faith in the same gracious God whose calling on his life Wilberforce spent his every waking moment in pursuit of.
Basic Training for the Prophetic Ministry by Kris Vallotton
The title describes the content. This easy to read study guide helps you to understand the purpose and the basics of the prophetic ministry. Each chapter includes questions to ponder, questions for group discussion and a life application.. The final chapter gives you suggestions for practicing prophecy. There are pages in the back to record dreams and visions and prophetic words. It is not a lengthy book, but it should whet your appetite to learn more.
Before I Wake ...Listening to God in Your Dreams by Abraham Schmitt
You may have trouble getting a hold of this book since it was written in 1984. But it was interesting, so I'll write a quick review anyway. The author views dreams as a way to hear from God and believes that a message from a dream should be interpreted in harmony with the Bible. Once the message is received the dream is no longer necessary and will not recur. The author feels that dreams have very personal meanings, meant to be understood and helpful at that moment in time. He finds it sad that so many people fail to utilize this potential for growth. In this book, Dr. Schmitt gives 10 steps to help you better understand your dreams and shares fascinating case studies.
Beginners Guide to Hearing God by James W. Goll
God created us to have fellowship with Him. To have an intimate relationship with God, we must have constant 2-way communication with Him. The author encourages us to "put our ears on" and learn from our tutor -The Holy Spirit. We are reminded that God speaks to us in many ways, and we need to allow Him to speak in any way He chooses. We should expect Him to speak because He desires that we hear Him. The author gives us biblical principles for listening to God, and provides some real-life illustrations for inspiration.
Claim Your Victory Today by Dr. Creflo A. Dollar
There are books you borrow, read, and return. And there are books you buy. This is the latter type, a must have. It doesn't just tell you to meditate on the Word, it tells you how. It's a challenging book. "There is no lazy way into the deep things of God. Far too many Christians today have developed a welfare mentality where spiritual things are concerned. They want everything cooked in the microwave and served on a platter!"
Here's another challenging quote. "Still only a handful of Christians ever muster the energy to pay the price for such abundant life. Instead, all too many go begging God for success or healing or whatever it is they need. All the while, the key to the storehouse of heaven - their Bible - is in their hands."
Each chapter ends with 3 sections - think about it, reflect on it, and do it.
Developing a Supernatural Lifestyle by Kris Vallotton
Subtitle: A Practical Guide to a life of signs, wonders, and miracles.
This book will make you realize how superficial and how powerless the "normal" Christian life is. The author uses both scripture and his own experiences to show you what it can and should be. Developing a Supernatural Lifestyle will leave you thirsting for a more intimate relationship with God, and hungering for more of His gifts to use to bring His kingdom to a hurting world. I highly recommend this book.
Dream Language by James W. and Michal Ann Goll
God has always used dreams and visions as a way of communicating with us. The church is rediscovering this realm of revelation. Based on scripture and personal experiences, the authors teach how to receive and interpret dreams, recognize the difference between Holy Spirit, natural and demonic dreams, and eliminate obstacles that keep us from receiving God's revelations. They give advice on journaling, sharing our dreams, and what to do when God is silent. I highly recommend this book.
Dreaming with God by Bill Johnson
Read this book. You will never look at life, ministry, church or anything else the same. We are co-laborers with God, called to transform this world. To enable us to do this, God offers us unlimited resources. The same creative power that brought the universe into being is available to us. "The believer's inheritance is beyond human comprehension. To put the richness of that gift into the eternal future is to sell short the power of the Cross in the present. He gave us a gift beyond comprehension because we have an assignment beyond reason. Jesus gave us all things because we would need all things to fulfill our call. He intends to fill the earth with His glory, and His glorious Bride will play a role."
Expecting Miracles by Heidi and Rolland Baker
Subtitle:True stories of God’s Supernatural Power and HowYou Can Experience It
A collection of entries by Heidi, Rolland and others highlighting the revival in Mozambique where they minister. This book is full of true stories of healing, provision, and even raising the dead. The authors' passion for Jesus, and their compassion for the sick, lost and poor are evident throughout. You will see God reaching those who many would write off as unreachable. This book will make you jealous for a more dynamic, authentic Christian lifestyle. You may or may not like the journal format, but the content makes this a must-read.
Experiencing God by Henry & Richard Blackaby, and Claude King (revised & expanded edition)
This is a wonderful book that delves into the following 7 realities of experiencing God:
1. God is always at work around you
2. God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal
3. God invites you to become involved with Him in His work.
4. God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.
5. God’s invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action
6. You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing
7. You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you
This faith-building book is full of biblical references and present day examples. Chapters end with 3 sections – Summary, Experiencing God Today, and Questions for reflection.
Face to Face with God by Bill Johnson
Read this book. Chew is slowly and digest it thoroughly. It is that good. It made me excited to be a Christian living in these times and eager to pursue the face of God. The author challenges us to "step boldly into the thick darkness where God is. There is nothing worth more on this earth than encountering His manifest presence and responding to the invitation to know and be known by Him. It is what we were made for, what we were saved for, and the only thing that will satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts." This is a perpective changing book. You will look at things differently than before. There is so much I would love to quote, but I will end this entry with this one, "..it dishonors the Lord to disregard His work in order to justify our difficulty to believe for the impossible. It is time to own up to the nature of the gospel and preach it for what it is. It is the answer for every dilemma, conflict, and affliction on the planet. Declare it with boldness, and watch Him invade Earth once again."
Glory Invasion by David Herzog
Subtitle: Walking Under an Open Heaven
This book will boggle your mind. It will amaze you, excite you, and leave you with more questions than you had before reading it (and that’s a good thing). This book is a powerful combination of testimony, the Word, theory and even science. The author shows us that the unseen things that God used and uses to create are His presence and sound waves. Every created thing has sound waves and responds to sound waves spoken with the Glory and Spirit of God. We must first get into the glory zone of His presence, then speak forth what He shows or tells us, and then creation will respond to our word. The book is full of amazing stories of miracles, and gives great insight into how and why they occur, and how we can accelerate miraculous harvests.
The God Chasers by Tommy Tenney
Subtitle: My Soul Follows Hard After Thee
Throughout history there have been God chasers - those who, according to the author, are not interested in camping out on some dusty truth known to everyone, but who are after the fresh presence of the Almighty. Tenney invites us to become God chasers too, seeking intimacy with God. He feels that most Christians are just looking to date God - to get what we can from Him without real committment. Tenney believes that people are hungry for God, they are just not interested in the stale bread and crumbs the church usually offers. I highly recommend this challenging book. It will change the way you look at your Christianity.
God Encounters by James W. and Michal Ann Goll
Subtitle: The Prophetic Power of the Supernatural to Change Your Life
If you hunger for a more intimate,dynamic and supernatural relationship with God, read this book. The authors share their own exciting encounters (some of them will blow your mind) and provide solid biblically based teaching. Every chapter ends with a prayer. This book will leave you thirsting for your own God Encounters.
The Hidden Power of a Woman by Bonnie and Mahesh Chavda
The authors quote an old Swahili proverb – “The daughter of a lion is also a lion.” The goal of their book is to “help release the daughters of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah into their legitimate place and ministry of doing the works of Jesus…” The authors show through scripture how God created men and women equal, how Christ’s death released men and women from the curse of sin, and how God’s spirit was poured upon men and women at Pentecost. God holds no prejudice against women. We see throughout scripture how God speaks to and uses women. Satan has been trying to silence women throughout the centuries. But God is restoring His daughters’ voice and revealing her power. You will find encouragement throughout this book from the stories of biblical, historical and modern women who answer God’s call. I would recommend this book to women and men - to all who desire to be a part of the work that God is doing in these last days.
One Thing by Chuck D. and Pamela J. Pierce
Subtitle: How to keep your faith in a world of chaos
This is a very real and very readable book on faith. Using stories from their own lives, the authors show how they have learned, in the midst of all the chaos and confusion, to let go and trust God. They encourage us to leave the “big picture” to God, to hear the “one thing” God tells us, and to respond in faith. The teaching is excellent, and the abundance of real-life stories make it easy to read and understand. The book has a great epilogue, where Chuck Pierce shares some great spiritual advice.
Path of Miracles by Samuel Rodriguez
Subtitle: The Seven Life-Changing Principles that Lead to Purpose and Fulfillment
This was a good book, but a slow reading book. There’s a lot to ponder, chew and digest. The author has some unique takes on familiar scriptures. Much of the book is based upon Mary, Peter and John running to the empty tomb. It’s amazing how much material he gets from something most will barely give a thought to. Although it is very much a book on Christian living, it might also be considered a New Testament typology book.
The Power of Simple Prayer by Joyce Meyer
This is a very readable, easy to understand and helpful book on prayer. You will find it encouraging and inspiring. The author doesn't insist that everyone follow the same pattern or method and reminds us that prayer is simply talking and listening to God. It should be a very natural part of our lives. We are individuals and our prayer lives should reflect this. We don't need to copy someone else's prayer life, we need to ask the Lord to teach us how to pray in our own personal way. The author reminds us that prayer is a privilege, and is simple yet powerful. The book goes into types of prayer, keys to powerful prayer and hindrances to answered prayer. I certainly can't describe every nugget of wisdom found in this book, so I strongly recommend you read it for yourself.
Release the Power of Jesus by Bill Johnson
This is another life-changing, must-read book by Bill Johnson. It is hard to do it justice in one small paragraph. The author will expand your understanding of the word “testimony”, and help you to see both its necessity and its power. By repeating the testimonies of His miracles, we can help the miracles to be repeated; we can release the power of Jesus! A great quote "When we fill our hearts and minds with the record of what God has done through conversation and meditation, we sustain a constant awareness of the God who invades the impossible."
8 Steps to Create the Life You Want by Dr. Creflo A. Dollar
Don't let the title turn you off. This book is neither shallow nor simplistic. It does not promise shortcuts to success. Rather, it emphasizes the need to meditate on the Word of God, and develop godly character in order to achieve true success. As in Claim Your Victory Today, each chapter ends with practical applications.
The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind by Bill Johnson
If you are tired of reading and talking about a gospel of power, but not seeing it in action, this book is a must read. Miracles should be a normal part of Christianity. To return to the orginal mission, to do what Jesus did, we must radically change our thinking. We must renew our minds. Bill Johnson does a great job of showing us what happens when we allow God's supernatural power to work through us, and also how we can bring this kingdom reality into our lives.
When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson
Subtitle: A Practical Guide to a Life of Miracles
This is another great book that exhorts us to live in kingdom reality and challenges us to make a difference in the world, not by our works, but by His power which enables us to perform signs and wonders in order to bring His kingdom to earth. Just as we can't earn our salvation, we do not earn the gifts of the Spirit - they are gifts- available to all believers. Quoting the author - " Is it possible the reason there are so few miracles in North America is because too many before us thought they had to become better Christians before God could use them? Yes! That single lie has kept us in perpetual immaturity because it protects us from the power-encounter that transforms us." Space does not allow me to mention all the good things in this book. Read it for yourself.
The Worship Warrior by Chuck D. Pierce with John Dickson
This book will deepen or perhaps totally overhaul your understanding of both worship and spiritual warfare. You will see the way the two work together; how we are to ascend in worship, and receive what we need to descend in war. This is a lesson we must learn if we are to impact our world and bring the Kingdom of God to it. Judah (which means praise Yahweh) was the tribe chosen to lead Israel through the wilderness and also in the conquest of Canaan. We must let praise and worship will lead us also. The teaching in this book is intense and excellent. There is a great mixture of scripture, prophecy, testimony and song. There is so much meat in this book you will probably want to read it more than once. I plan to.
Fiction
Missouri Brides
This book is really 3 small books in one, and is good for fans of historical romance fiction. Each story focuses on a different young woman in 19th century Missouri. The first 2 women are sisters, and the third marries the son of the first. The stories are good, although you may find yourself getting frustrated by the constant misunderstandings among the major characters and wondering whether anyone back then knew how to communicate.
A Bride for Donnigan by Janette Oke
Kathleen O’Malley leaves London to journey to the western frontier to become a mail order bride to a lonely farmer. They have problems to overcome, due mainly to misunderstanding and lack of communication. They learn to communicate with each other, and build a life and family together.
The Centurion’s Wife by Davis Bunn & Janette Oke
If you like biblical fiction you should enjoy this book. Experience the drama of the earliest days of Christianity through the eyes of Leah and Alban. Although born to wealth and power, Leah is working as a servant in the household of her uncle, Pontius Pilate. She is dreading an arranged betrothal to Alban, an ambitious centurion who is sent by Pilate to find out what happened to the body of Jesus, and whether the disciples were planning a revolt against Rome. Procula, Pilate’s wife, sends Leah on a similar mission. Revisit familiar biblical characters, and meet new fictional ones in this novel filled with danger, intrigue, romance and life-changing faith.
The God Cookie by Geoffrey Wood
After a conversation with his friends about whether God still speaks to people, Parrish receives a fortune cookie with an unusual message – “take the corner.” He decides this message is from God and heads off for the corner bus stop where he attempts to help people and find the desperate writer of a letter he finds there. Although I found the opening dialog a little tedious, I enjoyed reading this original story with its interesting assortment of characters.
Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson
Heather seems to have it all - a mansion on a lake, a heart-surgeon husband, a loving son. But she is low on self-esteem, riddled with guilt, and overspends for therapy. Her definition of Christian living is completely overhauled after spending several weeks with 2 elderly sisters (one is a Quaker), and then volunteering at a homeless shelter. Although the reading was a little tedious in the beginning, this was an excellent book that will make you question your own definition of the normal Christian life.
The Shack by William P. Young
This is a touching story that deals with a difficult question - how can a loving God allow pain and tragedy. Mack's youngest daughter is abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in a shack in the wilderness. Several years later he receives a strange note -seemingly from God - inviting Mack back to the shack. What he finds there transforms him. This is a book to ponder, to make you think, and re-think. I think many will be blessed by this book, but a few may be offended. The reader should remember that this is a fictional book and not a doctrinal textbook.
The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner
College student Lauren Durough takes a part-time job with an elderly retired librarian. Her job is to transcribe the journal entries of her employer's ancestor,Mercy Hayworth, a victim of the Salem witch trials. She is really drawn to the young girl who lived and died over 400 years ago. Lauren learns a lot about life, love and mercy. The author goes back and forth between the past and present weaving a compelling story of both girls. You will not want to put this book down.
Summer of the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson
The setting for this historical novel is the Alaskan wilderness in 1915. Leah and her brother Jacob have grown to love this harsh land and its people. When Jayce, the man who broke her heart 10 years earlier, returns, Leah must deal with strong but conflicting emotions. Their lives are all further complicated by adventure, mystery and danger in a variety of forms. The themes of forgiveness, mercy, and justice are recurring. If you enjoy this book, be prepared to read the sequels - Under the Northern Lights, and Whispers of Winter. Otherwise, you'll be left hanging with unresolved issues.
The Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck
After being cast aside by her producer husband, Haley Cutler feels worthless, bitter, and somewhat helpless. Her husband's lawyer suggests she attend the "Trophy Wives Club" an unpublicized support group at his church for woman who have been dealt a raw deal. She takes his advice but only because she is looking for some pointers on taking revenge. Although the cast of characters live in a world most of us are not a part of, you will identify with Haley as she goes through different stages of emotion and learns about real friendship, forgiveness, love and more.
Walk by Faith by Rosanne Bittner
Hurt and shamed by her husbands desertion, Clarissa Graham joins a wagon train headed for Montana to provide a better life for her young daughter Sophie. This book is recommended for fans of historical romance fiction.
What a Girl Wants by Kristin Billerbeck
This book is a fun, if somewhat shallow, glimpse of life as a Christian single in Silicon Valley. Ashley Stockingdale is an overworked, successful patent attorney who fears the opportunity for love and marriage may have passed her by. This is the first book in the series. It is followed by She's Out of Control and With This Ring I'm Confused. These Christian "chick-lit" books aren't deep, but they are an enjoyable read when you don't want to think too hard. Singles and those not too far removed from singledom will identify with at least some of the angst. Those who are married will appreciate their own in-laws more after meeting Ashley's future in-laws. A great quote - Jumping off the cliff is how you feel the hand of God underneath you.
A Woman’s Place by Lynn Austin
This is the story of 4 very different women whose lives become connected when they work together doing “men’s work” in a defense factory during World War II. Their circumstances and backgrounds vary greatly, as do their reasons for taking the jobs. In spite of everything, they become close friends, supporting each other through immense challenges to their lifestyles and beliefs.
Yada Yada Prayer Group Series by Neta Jackson
A diverse group of women meet at a convention when they are put together in a prayer group. In spite of their very different backgrounds and personalities, they decide to continue as a prayer group when the convention is over. They and their families become involved in each others lives and support each other through some very difficult trials as they learn to live their faith. Although fictional, these books will inspire you to mature in your own Christian walk and prayer life. If you're not familiar with the concept of praying Scripture, you will be after reading these books.
