The FIRE of the WORD

I don't often post my book reviews to my blogs, but seeing how I was asked to read and review this book by IVP Books, I thought I had better make a posting, and in truth, I am happy to do so and to recommend this book to you.

Here is my review as written for Goodreads:

To ask a pastor to read and review a book about reading the Bible is about as smart as handing an Formula One race car driver to read a book about learning to drive.

Oh how wrong I was (nothing new for those who know me.)

This new book, "The Fire of the Word: Meeting God on Holy Ground," (IVP Books, 2012) truly awakened in me a deeper desire to not only know the Scriptures, but know the One who both wrote the Scriptures and about Whom the Scriptures are written. I heartily recommend this book to all who desire to know the Word of God better, and even more importantly, to know God better.

Some quotes from the work may best attest to the gems that are to be discovered within its pages.

The Bible is "a place where the boundary of heaven and earth has been worn through."(p.61) And therefore the Word of God becomes a "thin place through which the presence of God breaks into this world and bursts with unpredictable consequences into our lives." (p. 30-31)

The author, Chris Webb, is constantly on the task to draw us away from seeing the Bible as a book written for "theorists", but rather it is a book for lovers. (p. 68) We are encouraged to see the Holy Scriptures as the medium of the Divine kiss, a way into the very presence of God. (p. 77)

The author helps us to see the Holy Scriptures in a way that brings forth its deep riches and encourages us, his readers, to plumb the depths. Even providing a week-long journey in the Scriptures at the end of each chapter.

I would suggest reading the book through, and then go back and read it again taking that week between chapters to unearth the precious gems contained within its pages.

I also appreciated that the author moves the reader to see the Scriptures in the broader arena of the spiritual disciplines.  The Bible is not an end in itself, but part of the discipline of drawing close to our Lord and the Lover of our souls. Webb's challenge to us is to see that we are not just to be Bible-believing people, but rather, to be God-believing, Christ-centered and Holy Spirit-empowered people.

I thank you, Mr. Webb, for re-igniting my heart for the Word of God, and in that process re-igniting my heart for God. Well done, good and faithful servant.