Christian Book Reviews

  20 years ago Les Isaac started Street Pastors. I was interested in this work as they work locally to myself in Coleraine Northern Ireland. I picked up this book in a charity shop and read it for the first time 2 years ago. So what is a Street Pastor? A volunteer who cares for, listens to and helps other people, particularly in the night time environment in busy areas where people are drinking, partying and moving between pubs and clubs. In the opening chapter Les outlines the training and what makes a good pastor. There are real life testimonies from people who came in touch with Street Pastors throughout the book. Les also gives his own journey into faith and the work Street Pastors does with the voluntary sector and in schools. I loved the opening comparison to the story of the Good Samaritan in the New Testament. The Jewish traveller received help when he needed it most and it was of a practical nature. When the Good Samaritan could do no more, he handed him over to so...

  ELIJAH A MAN OF HEROISM AND HUMILITY by Charles H Swindoll     I haven't looked at 1 Kings in any format yet but decided instead to do a character study for a change on the life of Elijah who bursts on the scene in chapter 17. This book by Charles Swindoll has given me so much background historical evidence that it makes me want to read the book of 1 Kings now. I left 2 Samuel with David now king of Israel and his son Solomon followed him. For over 100 years the throne of Israel had been dominated by 3 kings - Saul, David and Solomon.   "At the end of Solomon’s life a civil war broke out in the kingdom that had been untied under God’s anointed leadership. As strife grew in intensity, the nation became divided into a northern kingdom, most often called Israel and a southern kingdom, usually referred to as Judah. This division remained until both kingdoms fell to foreign invaders and the Jews were led away into captivity.   From the beginning of that division un...

  BE COMMITTED Warren Wiersbe Warren Wiersbe in his opening introduction to his book "Be Committed" a commentary based on the books of Ruth and Esther wrote this "Questions about authority in the church and particularly about the ministry of women, might be resolved more biblically if attention were given to the fact that 'ministry' means 'serving'. With that definition in mind a most appropriate response ... is not for either men or women to grasp at ministerial status or authority but rather to encourage one another in faithful service to the glory of God." He goes on "That's what Ruth and Esther do for me. They encourage me to be faithful in my service to the glory of the Lord. At an hour in history when it's easy to compromise and even to quit these 2 heroines if the faith tell me to be committed to the Lord and to do the will of God come what may." Last weekend I was reading Sharon James' book and just now realise...