BOOK REVIEW: JESUS PURE AND SIMPLE

BOOK REVIEW: Jesus Pure and Simple

By Wayne Cordeiro

Wayne Cordeiro is the pastor of a Foursquare charismatic church in Hawaii. Like too many dustcover author blurbs these days, his notes that New Hope Christian Fellowship is “one of the nation’s fastest growing churches.” This, apparently, the most important qualification for anyone to write a book.

I liked the title of this book so I asked for a review copy. I am thankful to the editor for providing one.

The book contained a few good thoughts, but none worth quoting here. Mostly, it was a big miss. There was a whole lot more Wayne than Jesus between the covers. I am not sure why this happens so often in books? An author sets out to tell us of Christ, then talks all about us. It is tiresome. This book reminded me of a man who invites you to join him at a window to enjoy a spectacular view, but after he positions you near him, you discover it is actually a mirror. And he is the only thing you see.

Besides that, one had to endure the typical shout-outs to Mother Teresa (63) and Joan of Arc (174) and all. Then came the typical evangellyism stuff; I have to listen to what the Holy Spirit says to me, God told me such-and-such, God filled my empty spot. Yawn.

Sometimes I shudder to think what is going on in churches in the West.

(This book was provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and BakerBooks in exchange for an honest review.)

Self-Forgetfulness

Agag—Self-pity

Not for Thyself, Thy pity and Thy fears,

Not for Thyself, Thy sympathy, Thy tears-

Only for others were Thy comforts spent;

Only for others Thy compassions lent.

This secret virtue, self-forgetfulness,

This generous power to succor and to bless

By reason of an inward liberty,

Give it to me, my Lord, give it to me!

Now, by Thy grace, I do contemn, refuse

That deadly vice, self-pity. I would use

Strength that Thou givest, pity’s gracious power

For others only. Grant me from this hour

To be aware of Agag, though he be,

Like Agag, walking very delicately.

Help me to rise and smite him down and slay,

And spare him not. Away with him—away!

- Amy Carmichael 

Reflections on Spending One-Hour Thanking God - Happiness

Our Week of Prayer continues at Grace Fellowship Church. Last night we devoted our meeting to thanksgiving. I don’t think I have ever observed so clearly the relationship between gratitude and happiness. As the night progressed and folks thought of more and more things for which to thank God, my joy rapidly increased.

Gratitude seems to do the same thing confession does – make you happy in God.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17 ESV)

There is not a single good thing in our lives that is self-generated or self-maintained. All our good is a gift from Him. This is profound. Especially if you are willing to believe that every breath, every beat of your temporary heart, is a “good gift.” How many times does my heart beat in a day? (On average 75 beats per minute… 1440 minutes in a day… 108,000 gifts a day… almost half of which I receive while sleeping!) Every day I have over 100,000 reasons to thank God.

The power of giving thanks is that it reminds me what an amazing Benefactor our God is to us and all the world. And this makes me very happy.

Public Confession of Sin and Giving Thanks - Attracting God's Attention

The last few years we have begun our Week of Prayer with a time of confession. Of all our meetings I think this one freaks people out the most. Get together and publicly confess sin!? Who does that?

I admit my own hesitation to this early on. In fact, it was only upon reading a description of Spurgeon’s Week of Prayer at the Tabernacle that convinced me it was worth a try. At the end of this meeting I am always left asking why we do not do it more.

            But this is the one to whom I will look:

                        he who is humble and contrite in spirit

                        and trembles at my word.

                       (Isaiah 66:2b ESV)

I think this is the power of public confession. We attract the attention of God. When my brothers and sisters are pouring out their hearts to God and admitting their failures over the past year, God gets glorified. His forgiveness, His patience, His longsuffering, indeed, His abundant grace, all get made much of. And He looks toward them - He gives them "more attention."

Tonight we will seek to spend the hour of prayer thanking God. Thanksgiving tends to work like water breaking through a dyke. What starts as a slow trickle ends up gushing forth in abundant praise to the One who has done so much for us.

I think it is great to prepare for these meetings. One thing you could do for tonight is spend the rest of the afternoon jotting down things for which you are thankful. Bring your list to our meeting and help us all glorify the One who has given us so much.

8 Reasons to NOT Come to Week of Prayer (with Biblical Refutations!)

I am of the opinion that coming up with excuses to miss a prayer meeting is about as easy as opening a can of pop. It does not take a profound imagination to concoct reasons to skip. With that in mind, I sometimes remind myself why prayer must be kept essential rather than supplemental. I like to use the Word to re-frame my desires. If you are a member of Grace Fellowship Church and starting to think of why you should stay home tonight or any night this week, here are some of my Monday afternoon reflections.

Answer the Tempter with Truth!

I am tired.

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 24)

I have more important things to do.

“For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” (Luke 12)

I do not like to pray.

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5)

I can pray better on my own anyway.

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2)

I forgot about it.

“They forgot his works

and the wonders that he had shown them.

Yet he, being compassionate,

atoned for their iniquity

and did not destroy them;

he restrained his anger often

and did not stir up all his wrath.

He remembered that they were but flesh,

a wind that passes and comes not again.

How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness

and grieved him in the desert!” (Psalm 78:11, 38-40)

I don’t feel like it. Have you even been outside?

“Another of the disciples said to him, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.’” (Matthew 8)

I don’t see the need to confess my sins in front of other people.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5)

I have to get ready for school/work tomorrow.

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6)