Close Enough to Hear God Breathe

What do we know about God from reading the Scripture?  Do we have a favorable view about God? Greg Paul gives us an image of a loving Father. One may argue that such view is not possible.  The account in Genesis 3 seems to suggest the image of an angry God.  In that story, God banished Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden after they ate the forbidden fruit.  How can we say that God is a loving Father? A loving Father should forgive his children when they fail.  Paul argues that even in the story of the Fall, we can trace God's love.  From Genesis to Revelation, there is one great theme. That theme is God's passionate love for all humanity (:28).

Paul argues that the Fall is not the end of God's love.  In the Old Testament, we read over and over God's unfailing love to the people of Israel. God never abandoned them (:73).  Their sin is the proof of God's grace. Concerning the account in Genesis 3, who grieves?  The banishment of Adam and Eve from the garden is a costly sacrifice for God.  He had created everything for them, and now he would have to let them go and allow them to learn from the consequences of their actions.  No longer God would be able to delight in daily intimacy with them; instead, he would have to watch them from a far.  Finally, the evidence of God's love is the "bright beads of blood on his fingers" (:74).  The apex of God's love can be seen in the crucifixion of His Beloved Son.

Paul has skillfully presented to us the Great Story of God's passionate love for all humanity.  He woven together the biblical reflection with his personal stories involving the struggles from his own life and from his church's members. He presented his argument by structuring the stories around the four common components of biblical drama: Creation, the Fall, Redemption, and the Fall.

When I read the first few chapters, I almost wrote negative comments on the book.  My first initial reaction is that the book lacks theological depth.  Too much emphasis on personal stories.  It is more personal experience focused.  However, my appreciation for Paul begins when he begins to uncover the theme of God's grace in Genesis 3. He reorients my understanding of Genesis 3.  The focus is not on punishment.  The focus is God's costly love.  I also appreciate Greg's honesty.  He isn't shy in sharing his own personal struggles--his failed marriage and his broken relationship with his father and brother.  Through brokenness, he discovers God's grace.

I would rate the book 5 stars for its insightful message and its challenge.  It invites me to reexamine my life and reflects on my brokenness.  Unless I can be honest with my brokenness, I would not be able to appreciate the depth of God's grace.  In this regard, I recommend highly the book for both seekers and maturing Christians that they would not take the grace of God for granted.

Desiring God by John Piper

Is it possible for us to have joy when our good deeds cost us dearly?  Naturally, it does not make sense.  How can one find pleasure in such sacrifice?  In his book, John Piper argues that joy and satisfaction is very much possible when one surrenders completely to Christ. Our conversion leads the change from our natural pursuit of sinful pleasures to our spiritual pursuit of joy in God.  Christ becomes the delight of our heart’s desire.  This love for God energizes our Christian life.  No longer will we view our act of obedience as something dreadful; instead, we will find delight in our obedience. 

 

Piper finds the evidence in Christ’s act of sacrifice.  This is the greatness of Christian belief that differentiates from other belief systems.  God does not exalt himself by making us work for him.  Instead, God saves us by emptying his divine nature and by taking the form of a servant.  God exalts himself by serving us (:170).   Other religions demand our good work in order to attain our salvation.  

I find the book inspiring; however, some may find it too philosophical.  It asks questions such as: Is God a second-hander?  Does God show off His glory so that he receives the praise from us?  Can God be loving when he demands our praise? However, these are essential questions that one must confront to really understand the ultimate desire of God for us.  Through these questions, Piper comes to the conclusion that our praise to God results from the wondrous works of God that leads to our ultimate joy in Him.

I would rate the book 5 stars for its insightful message.  It prompts us to ask deep questions that will ultimately lead us to find our true delight by glorifying God and enjoying Him forever.

Rumors of God by Darren Whitehead & Jon Tyson

Are the glory days of the church now over?  Is the truth about God just a rumor?  If we look at our culture, Christian gospel may seem to have lost its power.  Many major denominations witness the rapid decline in their membership.  Against such reality, authors Darren Whitehead and John Tyson paint a hopeful picture of the church that the life transforming power of the gospel is alive and real. The authors use stories from their ministries to convince readers that Christianity is not merely a rumor, and they invite the readers to experience the freshness of the power of the gospel in practical ways.

The primary practical step is our openness to God's intervention.  Will we be willing to have our plans be replaced by God's plan? Will we be willing to pursue God's agenda instead of our agenda?  Will we be willing to pursue the ways of Jesus instead of following our cultural direction?

 

The book is inspiring but also challenging.  It is inspiring for us who have lamented church decline because the church revival is very possible.  However, it comes with sacrifice.  Are we willing to stop living by the standards of consumer culture so that we can practice biblical vision of radical generosity?  Are we willing to reorder our understanding of the gospel? Can we love those who oppose our message?  Can we graciously reach out to our Muslim friends?

I would rate the book 5 stars for its practical message that gives hope to the church that we can reclaim the freshness of the gospel.  We can transform our church so that it is no longer lukewarm but vibrant and alive, but we need to take a radical step.  We need to allow God to reorient us from consumer culture to Christ centered life.

Out of a Far Country by Christopher & Angela Yuan

Is there hope for a lost person?  The stories of redemption that Christopher and his Mother, Angela experienced will give us hope that there is no person that the grace of God cannot reach.  Out of a Far Country is a story of hope.  Even in the most difficult situation, God’s grace still shines.   Many of us would view conflict as tragedy.  Due to a personal life choice, Christopher had to make a life decision that is so hurtful to her mother that their relationship is broken.  What they consider as a lost relationship turns out to the greatest blessing in their life. Through their brokenness, they found God.

Be ready to be inspired.  Christopher and Angela’s stories describe the amazing grace of God vividly.  For his terrible choice, Christopher suffered severe consequences. He lost his dream vocation, and he lost his health.  Not knowing how to cope with her son’s rebellion, Angela almost ended her life.  However, there is no life that is so broken that God cannot restore, and there is no wound that is so deep that God cannot heal.   God restores Christopher’s broken life and Angela’s wounded heart.  Their lives have become the testimony of God’s redeeming grace.

Christopher and Angela have opened their lives for us to read.  They even reveal in their stories some events that may be too painful or shameful for others to tell.  I applauded their courage.  For their openness, readers can be immersed in this captivating story of God’s transforming grace.  I will rate Out of a Far Country five stars.  Christopher and Angela have shown us that God is actively searching and reaching out to those who are lost.

The Final Summit by Andy Andrews

How would you like to meet historical characters such as Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, King David, and many others?  Andy Andrews has crafted so beautifully a fictional story of a man named David Ponder, a successful business man who has a life encounter with the angel of God.  In his encounter, he was given a task to find the answer to the question of importance to our modern civilization:  What should humanity do to restore itself toward successful civilization?

In his conquest for answer, Ponder engage historical characters and obtain their counsel.  The book is filled with meaningful and insightful dialogs.  Andy Andrews has done a thorough research in regard to the authenticity of quotes from the historical characters.  Readers will learn much about history while being fascinated by Ponder’s journey to the past in his search for the answer that our civilization needs.

The book is very engaging as we are drawn to guess what would be the solution.  We can feel the excitement as Ponder and his historical advisers come close to the answer, and we can also feel a deep disappointment when they find their answer being rejected by the angel.  Readers will find their emotion rising and subsiding with every attempt by Ponder and his counselors to seek the right answer. 

I would rate the book 5 stars for its suspense, its historical insights, its motivational content, and its inspirational message.  Go get the book and welcome to the adventure.