Christian Review Magazine Issue 3 - March 2015 | Page 80
THE CASE FOR GRACE by Lee Strobel
Zondervan - Christian Living - Available Now
Reviewed by Leah St John
In the pages of “The Case For Grace”, best-selling author
Lee Strobel goes on a journey to find evidence of God’s
grace in the lives of several individuals, ranging from an
orphan to an addict to a felon. Each chapter presents
incredible real-life stories of individuals who came to
embrace God’s grace, and whose lives were forever
changed thereafter. Strobel also shares some of his
personal journey of grace - how God’s grace unfolded in
his own life.
Each testimony is descriptive, and come alive as you read
them. They are written in such a way that one might
think they are reading a collection of cleverly constructed
parables, each one illustrating the life-changing power of
God’s grace. However, the stories contained within the
pages of The Case For Grace are not parables, but true
stories of people whose lives have been drastically
changed - for the better - at the hand of an ever gracious
and loving God. And because of God’s grace, they found
hope, family, love, purpose, healing, and ultimately, life.
Through the book the reader is offered insight into
everyone’s need for God’s ever present and abounding
grace in their lives. The book also serves as an
encouragement for us to share God’s abounding grace
with others.
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A YEAR OF LIVING PRAYERFULLY by Jared Brock
Tyndale - Prayer/Autobiography - March 1, 2015
Reviewed by Nina St John
Jared Brock takes us around the globe on a whirlwind
adventure in prayer. The first two chapters were a riot of
mirth. I laughed until tears roll down my cheeks, and I
was only up to page 26! The rest of the book is peppered
with humor throughout as we join Brock on his incredible
journey in A Year of Living Prayerfully: How a Curious
Traveler Met the Pope, Walked on Coals, Danced with
Rabbis and Revived His Prayer Life.
A veritable who's who on prayer, Brock delves into the
lives of many great prayer warriors, both past and
present. His prayer pilgrimage starts in Hamilton,
Ontario, but takes him, and occasionally his wife
Michelle, to numerous locations worldwide, including
celebrating Passover with Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn and
following the footsteps of Jesus in Jerusalem. Whether
sitting in silent contemplation with Monks on Mount
Athos, Greece, meeting Pope Francis in Rome, braving a
hurricane at the end of the Camino in Spain, or cleaning
the toilets at the Taize community in France, you can be
sure that Brock will enlighten you with Christian history,
and humour.
Although prayer can be both subjective and personal, I
believe that Brock's journey to discover a deeper prayer
life speaks to all of us. A highly recommended read for all
those seeking a more active and profound prayer life.