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. 80 > CHRISTIAN REVIEW MAGAZINE 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.