Emerging Conservative

When I do book reviews (which I have been doing more of than blogging lately… sorry about that =), I am usually doing so for books for Thomas Nelson publishers. I am also started to review books for Multnomah Publishers as well. However, this book is not from a big publishing house. A matter of fact, it was handed to me by the author and her husband as an encouragement when I  filled the pulpit at their church in the Smokies not too long back. It was a small book but in the midst of all the ones to review or for study, I did not read it immediately.

Today, I picked it up as I headed to lunch and thought I would enjoy it over some Mexican food and enjoy it I did!

This book is a testimony book going through a period of time that the author and her husband moved three times in twelve months as God directed them. It also goes deeper into some life experiences including the passing of the author’s sister-in-law and the fulfilling of a need for a man they knew who needed a handicap assessable van, Each step she shares with us is loaded with seeing the hand of God moving and being able to see the tapestry of His guidance.

As my wife and I are seeking where God is leading us, it was refreshing to not be reading another theological or instructional handbook by a big name. I needed a testimony of ones who have been there before and could testify to God’s providence. Like sitting at a table with a good mentor being ushered through some life lessons, I was learning as I took from the one-sided conversation and I found I was longing for more time with them to learn from their travels. I hope to have that opportunity some day.

There were several special highlights within the book. I enjoyed the dance between the story, entries from her journal, and quotes from Nouwen concerning the passing of her sister-in-law. It was very moving. Also, the surprise of seeing the cabin they moved to in Townsend to realize that i stayed there once. Their kindness allowed me to stay there for a few days while they were out-of-town and I was in. I have already been blessed by their hearts without knowing it. Also, the story about a bear traveling through made me happy that I was not there that day =)

This is not a big book but I think it is worth having and taking in. If you would like a copy, you can buy one by going to the author’s web-site. Blessings!