The next book you should read (part two)
In a series of articles, RM family from around the world share which books have greatly impacted them.
In this post, discover books recommended by RM family from France, the UK and the Netherlands - the one that unnerved, the one that set alight, and the one that inspired translation in to Dutch!
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
A review by Georgie, Planting Coeur de Grace Lille in France
Coming out of COVID my husband Roger and I promised to slow life down. We were those people who actually loved confinement.
Then normal life resumed, and life rushed on.
Life is busy right? I don’t know about you, but we spend our weekends driving our kiddos around to various activities, doing chores, hosting, making coffees, setting up a borrowed building, worship leading, preaching, kids work, resetting a borrowed building and, of course, loving those precious ones who walk through the door and all the other things that come with being in church.
I was a bit nervous when Roger pushed this book into my hand and said, “read this”. I have loved John Mark’s podcasts but honestly, he’s a super clever dude and, well - I’m not (clever or a dude!).
The book was a beautiful and simple challenge to my busy head and heart.
What’s the problem? We are all far too busy.
What’s the solution? Silence, Solitude, Sabbath, Simplicity and Slowing down.
John Mark lays it all out so simply and makes it all seem doable. He pulls Jesus’ natural principles, what we would call ‘spiritual disciplines’, and brings them into a twenty-first century world. This book is both pragmatic and yet cuts to the heart of why we are, and why we shouldn’t be, so busy.
Want to know more? Read this book!
The Heavenly Man by Paul Hattaway
A review by Michele, from The Church in Bassett Street in London
I’m not a great reader and haven’t read a ton of books!
However, I love a true and inspiring story and I have read this book four or five times.
The story is about the life of Brother Yun a Chinese Pastor who has an uncompromising faith. He was disciplined: he prayed and fasted, learned scriptures by heart, and preached to villages all across China.
He was also heavily persecuted for his beliefs and constantly on the run from the police as a wanted criminal. Sometimes he had miraculous escapes, but other times he was caught and tortured - beaten badly, suffering broken bones, for the names of his fellow believers and advised to deny Jesus. Yet throughout his times in prison he was sold out for Jesus to reach the lost and to pray for the sick.
His struggles are real and yet he came through victoriously.
When I re-read my tattered old copy for this review, it made me want to buy a new one. They are back in print again so I had one delivered to my workplace. Amazingly, when it arrived my colleague snatched it up saying, “I need to read a good book!” She has taken it home to read! Another person saw the battered old copy on my desk and said it was the first book she read after she became a Christian.
This book will challenge and inspire you to step out of your comfort zone and to be a hot Christian.
Restoration in the Church by Terry Virgo
A review by lydie Geurts from Wijnstokgemeente in Berkel, the Netherlands
When asked which book influenced me personally, immediately the book Restoration in the Church by Terry Virgo came to mind. For after I had been in a meeting of a Spirit-filled church in England in 1976, I longed for such a church, but in the Netherlands - in the village where we live! I was deeply impressed by the warm welcome in that church, the lively praise, the togetherness of the people, the singing in tongues, the prophetic words, the teaching and the presence of God's Spirit in the meeting.
I experienced the same stir in my heart when reading Restoration in the Church. It was published in 1985, and Terry wrote about the New Testament congregations and the foundation of the church, and about grace, baptism in the Holy Spirit, worship in Spirit and truth, evangelism, prophecy, prayer, flock and shepherds, and five-fold ministry. He also emphasized the importance of Word and Spirit.
As I was reading it, I thought: Everyone should read this! So I said to the one who led our church plant: ‘This book should be translated into Dutch!’ to which he simply replied: ‘Well, go ahead!’ And I did, even though I had never translated a book before. In 1992 the Dutch version was released, titled Herstel in de Gemeente.
In 2011 another book of his hand was published - The Spirit-filled Church - which is also published in Dutch (De Geestvervulde Kerk). Perhaps you still can find them on the internet?
Herstel in de Gemeente door Terry Virgo
Een boekbespreking door Lydie Geurts van de Wijnstokgemeente in Berkel, Nederland
Een boek over nieuwtestamentische kerken, de vijfvoudige bedieningen & de doop met de Heilige Geest door Terry Virgo.
Op de vraag welk boek mij persoonlijk heeft beïnvloed, schoot mij onmiddellijk het boek Restoration in the Church van Terry Virgo te binnen. Want nadat ik in 1976 in Engeland een samenkomst van een Geestvervulde kerk had meegemaakt, was mijn grootste wens: Zo’n kerk, maar dan in het dorp waar wij wonen in Nederland! Ik was diep onder de indruk van deze gemeente: de warme ontvangst, de levendige lofprijzing, de onderlinge saamhorigheid, het zingen in klanktaal, de profetische woorden, het onderwijs en de aanwezigheid van Gods Geest in die samenkomst.
Wat ik in Engeland had ervaren, vond ik terug in het boek Restoration in the Church dat in 1985 verscheen. Terry schreef over de nieuwtestamentische gemeente en het fundament van de kerk. Hij schreef over genade, doop in de Geest, aanbidding in Geest en waarheid, missie, profetie, gebed, herders en hun kudden en de vijfvoudige bedieningen. Ook benadrukt hij dat het om Woord én Geest gaat.
Ik was enthousiast en dacht: iedereen moet dit lezen! En tegen de leider van onze kerkplant, zei ik: ‘Dit boek zou vertaald moeten worden in het Nederlands!’ Waarop hij simpelweg antwoordde: ‘Nou, begin maar!’ En dat deed ik, ook al had ik nog nooit een boek vertaald. In 1992 kwam de Nederlandse versie uit met de titel Herstel in de Gemeente.
In 2011 verscheen een ander boek van hem: The Spirit-filled Church, wat ook in het Nederlands is uitgegeven (De Geestvervulde Kerk). Wellicht zijn beide Nederlandse uitgaven nog op internet te vinden en te bestellen.