Whisper by Mark Batterson

What does it mean when someone says that God "spoke to them"?  Does God still speak today?  If so...how?  That's what this book explores.  How to Hear the Voice of God.

"Chronic noise may be the greatest impediment to our spiritual growth".  That got my attention.  Schedules are busy.  Our lives are filled with cell phones, televisions, and music.  These things aren't necessarily bad, but they can be a distraction.

In 1 Kings 19:12 God speaks in a whisper.  Why a whisper?  Here is the author's take on it: "When someone speaks in a whisper, you have to get very close to hear.  In fact, you have to put your ear near the person's mouth.  We lean toward a whisper, and that's what God wants.  The goal of hearing the heavenly Father's voice isn't just hearing His voice; it's intimacy with Him.  That's why He speaks in a whisper.  He wants to be as close to you as humanly possible!  He loves us, likes us, that much."

So how does God speak?  In this book Mark Batterson explores 7 love languages, providing examples of how we can hear from God.  God can speak through Scripture, Desires, Doors, Dreams, People, Promptings, and Pain.  As I was reading through the stories shared in these pages, I was reminded of times in my life and of other stories I've heard in which God spoke.  Not audibly, but in a way that was clear.  This book can help someone recognize and discern when God is whispering.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh & Sean McDowell

Evidence That Demands a Verdict was written by a man who set out to intellectually and historically disprove Christianity.  Yet instead, he discovered that the claims were true!  This book is a collection of the evidence that he gathered, giving Christians a solid defense of what they believe to be true (commonly referred to as apologetics).

The first version of this book was published in 1972 and was previously updated in 1999.  Since then new discoveries have been made and new challenges to the claims of Christianity have come forth.  This book contains the same truth as previous versions and is now up-to-date for the current generation. 

While you could read this book cover-to-cover, it is more like a resource book, having 722 pages of text.  There is a table of contents, chapter outlines, and a subject index to help the reader find specific topics.  I read bits and pieces of the book and found that the text is easy for the average reader to understand.  It's not too intellectual. 

My favorite part of the book so far is the author's testimony that he gives at the beginning entitled, "He Changed My Life."  It is a very honest, powerful story.  He shares not only how he came to faith, but also how his life changed afterward.

Josh McDowell writes "One precaution when using apologetics: God saves - apologetics does not.  On the other hand, God often uses apologetics, or evidences, to help clear away obstacles to faith that many people erect, and also to show that faith in Christ is reasonable."  

If that's what you are looking for, then this is the book for you!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

A Time to Stand by Robert Whitlow

When I'm subbing at the high school, I enjoy reading a good fiction book now and then to pass the time.  This story revolves around a crime that has been committed...a young black man being shot by a white officer.  But it goes beyond the crime to explore the racial tension in the community and how that affects the case.  While the plot does focus on legal matters, very little of the action takes place in the courtroom.  It mainly focuses on Adisa, a young black attorney, who must decide whether she can go against her racial prejudices to defend the officer.

I enjoyed the book, but a piece of bad theology left me unsettled.  In the story, the grandmother of the boy who had been shot stood up at church and announced that she had forgiven the officer and asked others to show him mercy.  Instead of supporting that act, the preacher and deacons think she needs to be rebuked.  He says "On the issue of whether it's necessary for someone to ask forgiveness in order to be forgiven.  Does Jesus forgive our sins if we don't ask him to?  I don't think so.  If that's the standard he laid down, how can anyone, even Thelma Armistead, forgive someone who hasn't admitted to doing something wrong and asked for forgiveness?  Several of the deacons were telling me I have to publicly rebuke her."  This line of thinking was never corrected.  I know this is a work of fiction, but it bothers me to think that someone may assume this is true.  From what I've read in Scripture, we absolutely can and should forgive others, even if they don't ask for it.

Other than that, the book was well-written and thought provoking.  There are 7 discussion questions at the back of the book.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.