The Scribe's Portion

  "Nine" by Rachelle Dekker I tried to finish this book, I really did, but I couldn't. Don't get me wrong, the concept is interesting but not enough to make me want to finish it. I liked and enjoyed The Girl Behind the Red Rope, it was unique, full of suspense and mystery but this one just wasn't for me. The plot is not original, it gave me Stranger Things vibe with the mysterious girl named Lucy, government experiments, running into a diner, being chased by scientists, and even her being referred to by a number. This was the primary reason I was turned off. I got to chapter 15 and although I was a little interested in getting to the end, I wasn't interested enough to keep going. Other reviewers mentioned that there is a tie- in to The Girl Behind the Red Rope, and I do remember Zoe (Evelyn) and her brother so I find that bit interesting. But again, I'm not intrigued enough to find out. On a side note, Rachelle's books always have amazing covers, and t...

  "The Fire of God's Presence: Drawing Near to a Holy God" by A.W. Tozer Compiled by James L. Snyder As usual with every Tozer book, this is a powerful read. These Tozer sermon compilations on the presence of God are not only convicting but they break you, they move you to seek the face of God with a holy desperation. He uses the burning bush, Moses' response, and Elijah as his main examples to expound his message. Not all of his books move me in this way, but this one certainly did. I will have to re-read soon. And as always, Mr. Snyder has done an amazing job of making these compilations and editing these epic sermons so the world may keep hearing the word of God as preached by Tozer, a man of God. Two of my favorite quotes from the book: "Moses experienced God, and from that moment, God was no longer a theory. God was no longer knowledge by description, but now knowledge gained by experience." "The fire of God's presence in my life will glorify m...

  "The Nation's Rage: Prayer, Promise, and Power in an Anti-Christian Age" by David Sliker "The Nations Rage" by David Sliker is a great place to start when looking to read about the times we are living in light of Scripture. David addresses several key points: The church and the coming storm of glory, the church in an anti-Christian age, and the promise of the victorious church.  A lot of what the author says we can already see by looking around us today. What the Bible prophesied about the end times, we are living in right now. David doesn't just rehash Scripture but goes a little further to discuss what the Christian should do in the present circumstances. How are Christians to not only live in these anti-Christian times but how are we to prepare for the coming judgment of the Lord, the author addresses these as well as other questions.  Ther are many books on this subject, but this one is a pretty good place to start, especially for new believers. The la...

  "The Christian Book of Mystical Verse: A  Collection of Poems, Hymns, and Prayers"  Compiled by A.W. Tozer I have only recently acquired an interest in Christian poetry and written prayers. I was happy to find that Tozer had made a compilation of his favorite hymns, poems, and prayers from various writers. According to Tozer, these poems reflect Biblical theology, not just feel-good fuzzy feelings which I appreciate.  This compilation contains 111 passages arranged into 15 different topics. I like that he included works from many different writers, most of which I had never heard of before. I also hadn't heard most of these poems before but I liked several.  Of course, there are much better compilations of prayers, poems, et al out there (I personally love The Valley of Vision) but if you like Tozer and are interested in his favorite poems and prayers then by all means pick up this book. This is a good place to start with Christian poetry.  I received a c...

  "How To Be Filled With The Holy Spirit" by A.W. Tozer This is a powerful and convicting message in just 64 pages! Every Christian should read this little book and give to non-believers as well. Only Tozer can pack a strong punch in a few pages. In this booklet, Tozer discusses our need for and how to be filled up with the Holy Spirit. Yes, this is Tozer's best and favorite topic and nobody else can write about the Holy Spirit quite like him. He addresses the issues Christians have with the Holy Spirit and why most believers lack communion with Him, what they can do about it and how.  Not much was said about the importance of the Holy Spirit in Tozer's time and the neglected state of it in the church sadden him. Fast forward to today, the problem has only gotten worse. Speaking of the Holy Spirit is almost a forbidden topic in the church, if not, taboo. This is very saddening considering that the Holy Spirit took great importance in the early church. This book is nee...