By, Benjamin H. Liles
By this time I would think I know better than to simply take the cover of a book at its worth. When I first saw this book, I thought, "This will bring encouragement to a whole new level." But the problem I have is taking scripture and modernizing it to fit the needs of today's broken world. "What's wrong with the original text," I find myself asking. I asked my wife, Tanya, to read a portion of this book and she too had a problem with what was being said.
Let me be quick to also add this: just because it doesn't meet my expectations doesn't mean it may not meet yours. Yet again, on the other hand, I feel like this is an attempt, also, to bring contemporary and modernism into an age that is quietly crying out for a Lord and Savior who empathizes with us. To offer more than mere opinion on the book I stand on what is offered to us within scripture: "And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:9, New King James).
If we take a look at those words Paul uses, Christ's grace, His strength, Christ's power, these are enough to help us through those times of our deepest and felt needs where we feel not so courageous. And believe me when I say I have plenty of days where I sit here and claim, "God, you have to do this through and within me because I'm just not strong enough." It's not like I don't see what Rebecca is saying in this book as I do. I just don't see a need to make scripture "relevant," to make it appeal in an "emerging" way.
If anything I want to applaud the voice of courage to say, "Hey, I hurt too," but not if it means refusing the power of Christ to heal, to encourage and to build up. I have to stand firm in my faith, to take a stand for the Lord enough to claim, "I want to build my house of faith on the sure foundation which is Jesus Christ, who is more higher than I!" (Matthew 7:24-27, New King James).
In all honesty I can't give this book a full approval to being bought. I can't sign off on it.