Rick and I thought it would be valuable to add reviews of the books we are reading to our blog. I recently finished reading APPROACHING GOD Accepting the Invitation to Stand in the Presence of God. by Steve Brown (New York: Howard Books 2008)
Steve Brown is often called irreverent because of his sometimes brash and unorthodox style. I think of Brown as uncommonly honest.
The thing that was refreshing about this book was that it was not a push to spend so many minutes praying about certain things. The book is an invitation to a relationship with God. It is penetrating in it's appraisal of some of our shallow spirituality. Brown recognizes that too often our prayer times are stiff rituals that lack intimacy.
Brown believes in prayer. In fact, scattered throughout the book are stories of people who testify of God's remarkable answers to their prayers. Brown believes prayer is vital and important. He believes prayer's power comes not from the form of our prayer but the heart of our prayer. His emphasis is on developing a relationship with God.
This is a book that everyone can understand. It is a book that will leave you saying, "I can do this". [BAG]
