Greetings everyone! What a phenomenal month October has been and now this morning, our first brush with snow. October provided exceptional harvest weather, great meals with new friends, my winter’s firewood supply is finally completed, and most importantly, I’ve recently enjoyed being stretched by listening to five diverse books that are now being more fully processed in my simple but yet inquiring mind. Indeed, I’ve been blessed!
The book’s titles and authors are as follows:
Jesus in Me: Experiencing the Holy Spirit As A Constant Companion by Anne Graham Lotz
The Burnout Generation by Anne Helen Peterson
The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi: My Journey Into the Heart of Scriptural Faith and the land Where It All Began by Kathie Lee Gifford, Rabbi Jason Sobel
Heaven Declares: Prophetic Decrees to Start Your Day by Hakeem Collins
The Prophetic and Healing Power of Your Words by Becky Dvorak
.We will first consider Anne Graham’s “Jesus in Me,” which is my first read of any of her books. I, as virtually everyone else in believer circles today, is familiar with her as Billy Graham’s eldest daughter. She is a delightful author weaving frequently personal anecdotes into the “meat” of experiencing the Holy Spirit as a constant companion. In this book I noted rather astonishingly in her upbringing in a Presbyterian church and even her childhood home, the term Holy Spirit was rarely ever used. She recalls as a child when the ushers placed the filled offering baskets on the front table, a standard prayer was offered over them including the words “the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.” Likely the same for many of you.
I however am likely an exception as I happened to live as child near a MN Indian reservation in the early fifties. We there experienced a “Holy Spirit outbreak” among some native American “disciples in training” in the neighboring Mennonite mission church, one of at least five started in Northern MN by spiritual adventurers from such Mennonite communities as Plain City OH and Franconia PA. Understandably, this outbreak created all sorts of tension among the area Mennonite church fathers. So even though, I had heard the terms all my life, I do not recall they were ever explained with the clarity and forthrightness that Anne Graham brings to the table here. I am not aware that she ever even mentions anything about tongues in the entire book. I am sure I would have remembered since tongues are the essence of the evidence of the Holy Spirit for many evangelicals today. Strange, I never once even questioned their omission until just now.
The depth of this presentation made me realize early on that this was a book Loretta and I needed to “digest” together. I see the book being particularly helpful to both younger and middle aged women who now as assertively growing believers, will benefit from the wit, wisdom and nurture that Anne Graham provides, especially if they were not nurtured in a solidly expressive Christian home; having experienced the tyranny of “religious form” but not the “joy of gospel substance.”
As this undercurrent about tongues and the Holy Spirit ebbs and flows through out the North American church today, it is apparent the Holy Spirit can function well in both believer environments. I as well as you, have no doubt witnessed its life and power in both camps. May I offer that the problem seems to arise when either camp insists the other camp adhere to their unique interpretation. Anne Graham does an outstanding presentation of the Holy Spirit as our Constant Companion without even mentioning tongues;
By Loving the Person of the HS,
by Enjoying the Presence of the HS,
by Relying on the Power of the HS,
by Embracing the Purpose of the HS,
by Living by the Precepts of the HS,
by Reflecting the Purity of the HS, and
by Trusting in the Providence of the HS.
The second book we’ll review “ The Burnout Generation” by Anne Helen Peterson, unfortunately is only available on Audible. Less than two hours in length, it was born early in 2019 prompted by an article written by journalist Peterson when she received millions of emails from readers who resonated with her description of burnout, many so burned out for so long that they were unaware it was not the norm. But how would they know, had they never witnessed a functional loving home as children where two parent relationships were valued, where living skills were learned, boundaries were understood, accepted and respected, family economic decisions and plans were openly and respectfully discussed around the supper table, especially if the evening meal together seldom if ever occurred. And I didn’t even mention the common denominator to living life successfully by fully integrating the Gospel into our daily living.
She interviews four persons whom replied and to be honest, I quit listening several times because I was bored and tired of hearing only how these millennials today have been so dumped on by society. Many of them have incurred college loan debt as high as six digits and are now in underpaying jobs that too often consume their whole life given their lack of ability to separate their work from their personal life. Evidently many are working two or three jobs. The book does not paint a pretty picture of their plight. But weren’t they sold on assuming the dream of higher education without either foundation or substance? Evidently they were not adequately mentored financially by either parents or grandparents as likely none of them remembered the Great Depression; maybe soon to be termed the Great Divide!
Again, I’m likely the exception but I remember well the day and the place my Dad told me how he as a son of a NB sharecropper during the Depression attended farm sales of his schoolmates where everything a family owned was auctioned off to pay their debts except for basically the shirts on their backs. But I never conveyed any of that history to my three sons until just now, so they too are without any word pictures in their memories to ponder prior to a questionable financial decision such as borrowing big bucks just to attend a prestigious college, much less a mediocre school!
In my humble estimation as is born out in the first two interviews, perhaps these millennials were raised with too much intellect and too little common sense. And neither is that entirely their fault. If our high school grads can’t balance a checkbook, open and utilize a savings account, cook, clean, economically maintain their apartment and transportation, etc., what then shall we expect? Notice I did not even mention anything about knowing your life’s essential purpose, planning for your future, setting and reaching goals, delayed gratification, avoiding addictions, practicing healthy lifestyles, seeking proper nutrition, etc.
In conclusion, may we consider the last three books. If you’ve not yet visited Israel, spend your money and buy “The Rock, The Road, and the Rabbi.” Very insightful and I’ll also encourage you to read our local Holmes County author Paul Stutzman’s “The Thirteenth Disciple,” both of which may just prompt you to envision the significance of you too, someday visiting Israel.
I am finding “Heaven Declares: Prophetic Decrees to Start Your Day” by Hakeem Collins to be an amazing inspiring book containing 90 days of challenging readings. Currently now on day 20, I find myself eagerly anticipating hearing its scriptures, decrees and declarations being read aloud to myself. Portions of it I even read twice for greater impact.
“The Prophetic and Healing Power of Your Words” by Becky Dvorak has opened my spiritual eyes in new dimensions that I only wish I had been introduced to during my college years. I simply was never exposed to the “power of my words.” And consequently, without that understanding and appreciation for the power to speak truth into my life and those about me, that empty vacuum in my mind was filled too often with negative empty spiritual calories that cost me dearly. I do believe both of these books will quite effectively stretch our theology among Anabaptist believers to bring to the forefront scriptures we’ve just missed prior.
I apologize for the length here but we have covered considerable turf, and with the time change, you’ll have more time to read during the winter months. I urge you to break out of your comfort zone and let God lift you out of your “rational” mind more into your “intuitive” mind where we should go more often during prayer. May God then speak to us clearly as we humble ourselves, seek His truth, and then simply obey. He repeatedly states throughout Scripture He desires our obedience rather than our sacrifices! That’s just how I see it tonight!
Blessings as WE ALL GO FORTH IN SIMPLE OBEDIENCE!!!! merlin