Do you have a favorite place to sit when you are reading a good book? Are you looking forward to retreating to that spot with our book club choice, Cries of the Heart, by Ravi Zacharias? I don’t think you will be disappointed as you dig into this book—though I have to admit this isn’t a light read. Ravi is a philosopher, and though he writes for the average lay person, his concepts take some deep thinking on his readers’ part. I hope you’ll agree with me when I say mining this book is worth the effort required.You will need to allow at least two hours to complete our first assignment which is to read the Introduction and Chapter One. I probably took twice that time—I needed soak time to grasp what Ravi was communicating. The subject of Ravi’s first chapter is God—defining who God is.
As I read this book, I can’t help but wonder if it was taken from a series of sermons. The book reads as if it was spoken, not written. In Chapter One, historical, philosophical, and biblical accounts of who God is lend depth to our reading, but also help us realize man’s search for who God is has taken him in many directions, to various conclusions. Ravi uses history, philosophy, sociology and even theology to show us how little we understand God—the weaknesses of man’s approaches to discover who God is. Isn’t this what we struggle with when we try to understand God? I greatly appreciate our author’s honesty and the conclusions he presents.
I wonder, will you agree with Ravi’s conclusions?
That is what I’d like you to blog about this week as we discuss chapter one of this great book. How does Jehoshapat’s prayer help us understand who God is? What do his questions teach us in our search to know God?
I look forward to blogging with you and reading your responses. And, that brings me to this—if you are reading this book with me, please don’t sit in the blog’s shadows without a voice. Your thoughts are important to our discussion and this blog will be as good as each of our contributions. Please write—please comment—please let us hear from you.
9 comments:
Linda-
Thank you for the time you are investing to host this book club! I'm looking forward to it!
Hello Linda!
Thanks for starting this blog book club! I looking forward to the adventure!
Can you give the information about the next book selection. I live in Kenya and my copy of the current book hasn't arrived yet. So, I think I need to order the next one soon. I can see it is called Gilead, but I can't see who the author is. Thanks!
Lynn, I also am in Kenya. I actually downloaded the software for Kindle from Amazon and then bought the book online. So I have to read from my computer but it works well. If you use a safaricom or orange modem there is no problem in downloading either the software or the book itself.
I'm also really looking forward to being a part of this club! I'm starting in on Chap 1 today and will hopefully have some thoughts to contribute later this week.
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Hi, everyone! I'm excited to read your comments. Thanks, Michelle for your excellent suggestion about buying the book online using the Kindle. Also, my friend Sue, is also wanting to make ALL our books available to us at the 30% discount. (The details are on the right sidebar.) So we should be set either way.
Gilead will be our summer read. More details about the book have been added to the sidebar.
I hope you have a great week reading--I'm looking forward to reading your comments.
Thank you for this opportuntity! ...Diving in and looking forward to it..
Okay, so I'm a little behind schedule but I just finished chapter one. Wow! That was some powerful stuff Ravi!
The questions "Are you not? Did you not? Will you not?" really struck me. At this time in my life I'm facing a bit of a dip. I'm making some decisions and battling the blues and some discouragement. Which is actually a bit surprising because on the outside things appear to be going rather well.
Anyhow! The concept of the importance of journaling really struck me as I read this chapter. I have been motivated to dig in some of my old journals where I have recorded great spiritual highs. I am remembering times when I had no doubt that God was working in my life. I think some of those times serve as a reminder to us in later days (or years) when things are a bit more dry or stale.
Looking back and seeing who God has been in my life and how He has worked in the past helps me look to the future as I ask "God will you not....?"
I am joining a little late but thought I would add a few of my thoughts. I like the sentence where Ravi said,"Jehoshaphat did not just ask for intervention, he sought the very person and the presence of God." I find I often want the answers without the person but that is where I miss out on so much. I am praying that as I read this book and my bible, I will have a high and accurate view of God that isn't tainted by my selfishness and circumstances.
As my family and I are settling into our new home in Central Asia, it was also a good reminder that I need to remember what he has done in the past and that he will take care of us in this new place.
My book still hasn't come, but I finally broke down and did the internet download. So, I am really behind, but glad to finally be reading.
I think Jehoshephat's prayer has helped me through a lot of trying times. When I think of how God has helped and guided me in the past, I am able to trust in him for the present even when it seems hopeless. I know he has always come through in the past - even if not in ways I wanted but in ways that were best for me - therefore I can trust that he will work in this present time and I can be confident in his presence no matter how tough things get.
I liked Ravi saying that juxtaposing "Holy" and "Father" is a fearful symmetry. I am so grateful that he is both and not just Holy!!!
I look forward to more reading this week to catch up!
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