Christian Book Reviews

  "God came down to camp with his people.  The Israelites disovered that it is in the very nature of deity to reveal himself and that the method of self-disclosure was to "tabernacle" with men.  In a sense, this is the essential message of the bible.  When we read the first 5 books of Moses (Genesis to Deuteronomy) we trace the story of God's visits to men, culminating in God's camping with men in a tabernacle so desigend and constructed as to manifest the purpose, power and shekinah of the divine presence.  The New Testament opens in a similar manner for the first 5 books are likewise concerned with the subject of camping with God.  We read that 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... And the Word (became) flesh and (tabernacled) among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.' (John 1 verses 1 and 14).  As we move on from the 4 gospels to the Acts...

I always love to read the introduction to a book before I purchase as it gives a real feel for what the book will be about. R T Kendal's book Did you Think to Pray has within the introduction a wonderful tribute to his late father.  He was not a preacher or pastor but a rate clerk for a freight company.  Every morning he would see his father on his knees praying before he went to work.  It was not until years later - at the age of nineteen - when he became a pastor that he began to realise that he was not a typical teenager and that his father was different from most church members.  Other teenagers were not the slightest bit interested in spending much time in prayer and most people in the church did not spend time in prayer in the way that his father did.  When he became pastor of Westminster Chapel in London R T Kendall asked every member to spend 30 minutes a day in prayer (including the time reading the bible) but realised that this was regarded as "unfair"...

  A couple of hours spent reading the 11 verses of Nehemiah chapter 1. Why was Nehemiah so concerned about the Jewish people living in Jerusalem? He had been born 100 years after they were carried captive into Babylon and then returned again to the land of promise. So often throughout history men and women have been moved by the injustices they see around them and that spurs them to action just as it did for Nehemiah. He knew the only person and place he could carry this problem was to the Lord in prayer. There are 9 recorded prayers in Nehemiah and each reflect his own personal experience of God as well as his knowledge of God's word. Nehemiah was committed, sacrificial, encouraged and confident in his prayers. He confessed his own personal sin first and foremost. There is an intensity, an honesty, a realism and an urgency in his prayer. Nehemiah looked back with gratitude to what God had said and done in the past. But Nehemiah looked forward with confidence too. As a result of hi...

I am always drawn to women in the bible! In Exodus chapters 1 and 2 there are 5 who stand out for their attitude, compassion and faith. First there are the 2 named midwives Shiphrah and Puah. "But the midwives feared God ...therefore God dealt well with the midwives." Then there was Jochebed Moses mother. She was resolute and recognised something special in her son. Next is Miriam, Moses sister who was very resourceful. Finally we see Pharaoh's daughter. Out of the genocide her father proposed came thus precious person. A tender hearted princess, she had not inherited her fathers personality, had a maternal heart, was moved easily to tears and felt for others. All from different walks of life but each had a role to play. Each worked in the plan and purpose of God. My prayer? To see my God work things in his own way in my life. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8 ver...