Unlocking the Bible Omnibus - David Pawson

Dad had bought this book on February 2007  but only around mid 2008, I started reading it seriously. I haven't completed it yet, but I can't wait to tell you how immensely I have been affected by it.

I need to confess that I haven't yet read the Bible completely cover to cover .I feel ashamed about this and I don't want to justify it but the reason could be that at certain times, certain portions of the Bible seemed repetitive and uninteresting.I have no reservations concerning the fact that the lack of a longing for God's Word is a symptom of wickedness and, I am constantly at work trying to get my heart to consume God's Word and receive direction, discipline and discretion. 

When I tried to find out why Bible-reading was sometimes burdensome instead of being a truly wonderful experience, I realized that it was because my understanding of the background of the Scripture was shallow and insufficient.So I could not identify even the obvious treasures of God's Word.

Here is where David Pawson does a terrific job, by putting his years of enormous studies in a simple common man's language through his book; he makes you so interested in the Bible that you get committed to it.Now, this is the key to unlocking the treasures of the bible.

This book does not attempt to give a verse by verse commentary instead it provides a spectacular insight to the essence of the biblical setup and the stage where the Scripture was written.Does this sound like a dry history book to you? Then you are terribly wrong, the language and the presentation makes it as interesting as a novel.

It is quite a large book comprising of about 1340 pages. But remember, this book has put together enormously large eras of history and culture from the works of different people.Considering the fact, that an amateur like me would never be able to find all the required studies and reference books, this kind of a collection under a single binding is very helpful indeed.

Not just that, it shows us how we should read a particular book of the bible?, how the parts are divided?, what are the theological views of the book?, why should we read it?, what are the misconceptions existing?, what was the significance of the period in which this book was written?, What do we know about the person who wrote it and how his lifestyle has affected the way the book has been written? These are some questions whose answers will help understand the relevance of what God wants to communicate.

Some people have advised me not read bible reference books, commentaries, or even study bibles because I need to learn the truths by myself from the Holy Spirit. I don't deny their good intentions, because they are afraid that I maybe misled or get distracted.

However, I beg to differ. Bible references, studies and books such as "Unlocking the Bible  - Omnibus" help to understand the Word with more clarity. So that we can spend more time with the Holy Spirit to receive direction, discretion, and discipline from the Word. Without understanding the context of the Bible and the background of the Scripture, the reading becomes unconnected and boring. Eventually, the inspiration to consume more of the Word wears out.

This is not a devotional book, rather it helps you gain wonderful devotionals yourself, once you have understood the backdrop.I highly recommend this book to everybody who want to make their Bible-reading more rewarding.

The purpose driven life- Rick Warren

I'll be one among the many millions who appreciate this book. Written by Rick Warren, the founding pastor of Saddleback Church; *This book has been on the New York Times Best Seller list for advice books for one of the longest periods in history, while also becoming arguably one of the best-selling non-fiction books of all time, topping the Wall Street Journal best seller charts as well as Publishers Weekly charts with over 30 million copies in print by 2006.*

The book aims to enable you to discover the most important question, What on earth am I here for? The author calls you to have a 40 day spiritual journey and strongly urges you to read only 1 chapter a day so that you will have time to think about the implications for your life.

The journey begins by unveiling the purposes of God under these titles

• Purpose 1: You Were Planned for God's Pleasure (Worship)
  
• Purpose 2: You Were Formed for God's Family (Fellowship)
  
• Purpose 3: You Were Created to Become Like Christ (Discipleship)
  
• Purpose 4: You Were Shaped for Serving God (Ministry)
  
• Purpose 5: You Were Made for a Mission (Mission)
  

Each of these is fulfilled sequentially and built upon the other, i.e, one cannot function without accomplishing the previous.

Let me confess, that I did not take the 40 day spiritual journey, and I finished the book in a week.However I have re-read it many times, and during travel, this is one book that you will find in my backpack.This is the kind of book which impacts your thinking.This book has served as a great conversation starter at many places too.

I like this book not because I read it and Eureka!! I found my purpose, but because this book helped me look at the big picture of God's purpose instead of my tunnel materialistic view of success.There is not a single page that you can afford to skim through in this book.Each sentence drives a point to your heart.

Though some wont agree with the paraphrasing of Scripture from different versions, I think that the verses are not taken out of context.Usually the tendency is to skip the bible reference while reading a book, so instead of reproducing the complete reference he includes a reference id that could be looked up in the appendix to find out where it can be found in the Bible.

I know that Pastor Warren has many critics,but as far as this book is concerned, I can assure you of its clarity and its motivation is to glorify God's purposes.Short anecdotes, poetry and punchy one-liners make it even a more interesting read.There is also this 'question to consider' at the end of each purpose, that serves as good discussion topics with your friends.

The best part of the book is the way it deals with 'eternity'.It does not mince words yet the work is done gracefully.This book is not some Christian 'self-help' book aimed at topping best-sellers. Rather it is a no nonsense straight talk about the expectations of the Mighty Conqueror God.

I don't believe that our life should be 'purpose driven' rather it should be God-led.No one but the Holy Spirit can show us how to fulfill God's purpose in our life, but this book goes a long way in helping us realize that eternity is our goal and everything else we do on earth need to help us reach there.

Reference

*-Wikipedia

When God Whispers-Carole Mayhall

My sister's Scripture Class teacher(who was my teacher as well) presented her this book.The author, Carole Mayhall calls herself a very ordinary woman but she has done an extraordinary job in capturing ordinary moments of mundane life and etching out a beautiful and meaningful insight from it.This was one of the books that inspired me to listen keenly to my Master's voice in every routine event of the day.

She has carefully divided her experiences under the following categories;
Part 1:He Transcends my Dailies
Part 2:He Transforms my Weariness
Part 3:He Thrills at my Trust
Part 4:He Touches my Hopelessness
Part 5:He Triumphs in Praise
Part 6:He Travails through my emptiness
Part 7:He Applauds my willingness
Conclusion

Each part contains several short commonplace moments where God meets us and strengthens us.Some books make you feel happy, this is one of them.It contains a warming collection of very normal facets of life, but portrays the extraordinary visitation of a supernatural God right at the place where we are, and captures His responsible, loving and embracing heart.

I really envy her style of writing, very simple but very impacting.Her amazing sense of humor smooths the treatment of tough stuff but keeps the reader focussed, so that he leaves the page without missing a point.

Though she speaks a lot of personal experiences, she is careful enough not to deviate the reader to concentrate on her life instead she has done a thorough job in keeping the reader directed straight to the heart of God.Each reflection is grounded with a relevant Scripture and ends with a short straight and refreshingly honest prayer.

This is just the perfect book to read when you are taking a break in the middle of a busy day or just before you are about to doze off totally exhausted because of the days' pressure.It is not one of those "How to relieve stress?" books rather it is a book that helps us hear the loving whisper of our Creator God.

The Gifts and Ministries of the Holy Spirit-Lester Sumrall

I shared my little experience in the previous entry because I don't think I can effectively 'review' this profound book.

The book begins with a direct confrontation, "God cannot bless ignorance, He can only bless intelligence"., thereby compelling the reader to understand the need for the importance of information on this subject.He asks the reader "to have an open heart and a consuming desire to know all we can about the nature and role of the Holy Spirit."

The contents are arranged under the following parts,

Part 1-Gifts of the Holy Spirit

• Nature and Role of the Holy Spirit
  
• Charismatic Renewal
  
• Sign Gifts of the Holy Spirit
  
• Two Foundation Stones
  
• Weapons of Our Warfare
  
• God's Gifts to the Church
  
• The Revelation Gifts
  
• The Power Gifts
  
• The Gifts of inspiration
  
• The Gifts in Jesus' Ministry
  
• The Gifts in the Early Church
  
• The gifts in the Apostle Paul
  
• How You can Receive the Gifts
  
• The Devil's Couterfeit
  

Part 2 - Ministries of the Holy Spirit

• The Ninefold Purpose of Ministry Gifts
  
• The Fivefold Ministry Gifts
  
• Elders,Deacons,Helps and Governments
  
• Combinations of Ministries
  

I think the effectiveness of this book is primarily because of the excellent blend of scriptural illustrations and personal experiences. Rev Sumrall elucidates the relevant Scripture as a brilliant narrative and brings out a parallel drawn out from his years of ministry.

The honesty of the book is its speciality, like Rev Sumrall puts it, "The gifts were born, not in a moment of jubilation or victory in my life, but in a moment of great attrition.They were born in a moment when I was downcast and almost broken, which made me realize the greatness and majesty of God."

He examines each category of gift in a teaching approach and not like a preaching.I like the way he explains what each category means,and what gifts are placed in there and who are the bible heroes who were endowed with that gift, how the gift is manifested and how it is often misinterpreted.

Through each page he equips the reader with a solid teaching in a simple straightforward style so that even a newbie like me could understand the depths of the truth.It helps us understand the great value of the free gifts God has prepared for us and ready to give us.It helps us to move from the place where we just think of the gifts as bits of the charismatic revival to the place where we begin to grasp the infinite love of our Heavenly Father.

Whether you are already operating in the gifts of the Spirit for a long time or whether you are longing for receiving it for the first time, this book will definitely speak the Master's voice to your heart.

A special day

After being saved, the one thing I was longing for like mad crazy was the annointing of the Holy Spirit.I'd run to every altar call and I'd be present in every special meeting held for this purpose.

Actually I had an issue in my own life that I was struggling with, but I conveniently buried it deep, thinking that it won't cause much harm to my relationship with God. But all through the way God was dealing with that one issue. I would say to God, "Lord I surrender completely", but there was that something in a corner that I did not let go.

I remember one time when a few girls whom I used to strengthen and encourage in the Lord walked with me to the altar and they received the annointing and I did not.That was the height of my embarrasment and frustration.

The devil strikes you most when you are hungry and when you are angry. Fortunately for him, I was both at that time..Furiously hungry!!! he made me to believe that I don't really need an 'annointing' or 'tongues', and that these were just for a few who are called for a different purpose.

I believed it and I was satisfied.His theory gave me real peace and comfort. And I stopped praying for it or reading about it or listening to teachings about it.It was just not for me. I was brainwashed.

It was at this time that I came to Chennai, India for completing my higher school education. By divine appointment I was acquainted with Evelyn, how we became the best of friends is another amusing story.

My bad luck, she received her annointing just weeks before, and ohmygosh, this girl would not stop yapping about her experience. She would go on and on and on and I would be so polite outside but trying to hide my anger and irritation with the widest smile possible.The truth was that I really loved this girl and was very happy to be in her company, but when she opened this stuff, it was like a pandora's box for me.

While this was happening, God was also directly confronting me about the issues of my life, which He was not very happy about. For the first time, I let go of it, and asked God to strenghten me to stick to my decisions. I was so sure I had to leave it in order to satisfy God.I accepted my fault, repented  and surrendered to His grace.

Slowly as my friendship grew with Evelyn. I started understanding a different dimension called trust-relationship. I believed that God put her in my life. Until that, I never spoke about my personal life to anybody, but that one day, I spoke my entire heart to her.I spoke about my issues and the decisions that I took, but again conveniently hiding the fact that I had stopped asking for the annointing.After this little talk, my sin was no longer tormenting me, because I had confessed it, repented it, received forgiveness from my Lord, and now by sharing it with a God given friend, nothing remained buried, everything was brought to light.Believe me!! sin cannot survive the Light.

One day, we paired up for studying Math together at my place. We'd gone through the stuff, had a few laughs and suddenly she strikes me, "Callie, are you praying to receive the annointing??".

I am the kind who always walks around with a self defence mechanism, never succumb to emotional blackmail. I always thought I was invulnerable. But that moment, I burst to tears.The first time I actually cried to a third person. I poured out everything. She was totaly understanding. When she left home, I was on my knees crying, praying. I felt like the prodigal daughter.I said, "God I am back!! I surrender all, please annoint me."I became crazy hungry again.

In about 2 months I left to Dubai for my Summer hols.I was dying to hear some teaching about the Holy Spirit, but we had no such sessions. At that time, I got hold of this book, "The Gifts and Ministries of the Holy Spirit" -Lester Sumrall in a resource centre present in our church premisis. When I took it to the counter. The cashier looked at the book, looked at me, looked at the book,looked at me and said; "This is one heavy book, you are taking kid!".I did not really understandwhat he meant because it was just a small 300 pages paperback.

I went home, and after dinner began reading it, I was hooked. I could not keep it down. I read and read, till it was about 2:30 am. The first thing that I was thinking about the next day, was the book, I went back to it. I read it like mad. I read every word, read the bible references. I studied it. I bought the book on 16th April 2004.I finished it on 24th April 2004 11:30 pm.After finishing it. I prayed. I walked the length of my room and said "God I badly need this power. I am desperate. Please don't make me wait any longer". 

The next morning April 25th 2004, my mom wakes me at 6:00 am; which is quite unusual on a holiday. She told me, "A man of God is coming home at 10:00 to pray for us, Get ready"!!I wasn't really expecting anything, I thought it was those usual prayers that used to happen in my house. I got ready. The person came and we chatted for a while, and then prayer time began. He was praying for my mom. Then suddenly he placed his hand on my head and I started believing that I would receive the annointing that moment.

Bang!! the fire was let loose. My God had answered my prayer.25th April 2004,the most memorable day of my life ever.