Burning Ones

What a fantastic book and testimony! I would challenge anyone who does not believe that God is still moving and speaking today to buy it and read it now! If this is the work of Satan, I’d appreciate hearing how.

Brief Overview.

The book is, as far as I can tell, an autobiography written by Brother Yun, a member of the Sinim Fellowship of House Church Leaders and their official representative to the world, with the help of Paul Hattaway. Paul leads a coalition of ministries that have a heart to serve the House Church networks of China through partnership and supplies. There’s very little more to say except to highlight some of the massive works of God in and through Brother Yun.

Yun was saved when he saw his father healed a massive illness that had drove his family into utter poverty. His mother had met Jesus when she was younger but had lost her faith until that time. They prayed fervently all night one simple prayer, “Jesus, heal father!” The following morning, their father was healed. This started massive revival in their own lives as well as the lives of those around them. Yun prayed fervently and persistently for three months that God would give him a Bible. Again, the words were simple, the effect massive! God answered his prayer, despite the Communist Revolutionary Government having destroyed any Bibles they could find.

Yun has throughout the book was imprisoned 3 times for a total of 7 years for the sake of Jesus. Truly, hearing his story brings alive what Jesus meant when he said, “Blessed are you when others persecute you and revile you and utter all kinds of evil against you for my name’s sake, for so they treated the prophets of old. Great is your reward in heaven!” On one occasion, he fasted absolutely for 74 days under the anointing of the Holy Spirit while in prison as a witness to the Lord. Many came to Christ through this witness.

On the last occasion that he was imprisoned in China (in the book, at least), the Chinese government wanted to teach him a lesson. So they destroyed his legs by beating them. He was unable to walk for over 3 months. One day, the Lord released him from prison and miraculously healed his legs. There are many witnesses to this event.

Stories such as this abound, but the incredibly refreshing thing is that Brother Yun never tries to focus on them for their own end. His constant cry as his wife, Deling, reports is this, “We are absolutely nothing. We have nothing to be proud about. We have no abilities and nothing to offer God. The fact that he chooses to use us is only due to his grace. It has nothing to do with us. If God should choose to raise up others for his purpose and never use us again we would have nothing to complain about.” His spirit of humility and grace abounds, though he has experience God’s mighty working. Oh, that we would have that in America!

Take Away Ideas.

The main take away idea that I have is that I am encouraged again to enter into the “simplicity of devotion to Christ.” What seems most to stand in stark contrast to the American Church in the Chinese House Churches is just that: simplicity. There aren’t large debates over theological perspectives, but a large and fervent cry to experience God and reach the lost. Persecution produces this, as does the outpouring of God’s Spirit. May the Lord have mercy on us and release his power of conviction without producing it through fire!

Another idea is that persecution is a necessary part of our faith, and “Woe to you when others speak well of you!” This is massive in its implications. Would that the Church in America would not have to pass through judgement in order to experience revival, but the more I read Brother Yun and meditate on the words of Christ, the more I realize that the path to redemption and revival is only on a road with the Cross.

Conclusion.

I highly recommend this book. I will more than likely read it many more times as my life goes on. May you be encouraged in a similar way and return to the simplicity of devotion. Amen.

It’s been awhile since I read book four, but thankfully Frank Herbert leaves so much time in between books it wasn’t long until I was all caught up.

Tim was told that by book five and six, Frank Herbert transgresses into a dirty old man. And… I’d have to say I found that true. Although the story line was fantastic and I finished the book quickly just because of how gripping it was, there were some parts that I really could have done without. It’s just got too sexually graphic for anywhere near my taste.

So with that said I’m a little apprehensive about reading book six (the last book of the series). So if I do I’ll be praying it won’t be a porn novel, hehe.

One thing he did phenomenally in this book was what he did with the Bene Gesserit. The BG are a group of people that you encounter heavily in all the books and in almost every book you feel differently towards them. I liked them in the beginning of the first book but by the end I thought they were useless, and through the second and third although they’re less prominent, they’re the enemy. In the fourth book you see them as mere pawns for the great worm god and in book five you become very intimate with them. He’s always done a great job turning my opinions of characters upside down and at this point it’s why I love the books so much.

My rating: * * * (mainly for the graphics)

So I asked Timmy what I should read next and he plopped this book down on the coffee table. Its one of his favorites so I figured it couldn’t be all that bad :-).

And, of course, I loved it. It was extremely fast paced- I finished it in two days just because of how much action there was. I think I’d give it 4.5 stars out of 5 because it was very depressing at times, which I think added to the author’s goal, but depressing nevertheless. It also had some really realistic suggestions for what the future might be like. One of them was a population limit law, which prohibits you from having a third child (which is what Ender is).

As far as a brief synopsis goes, all I want to say is that Ender is a really, really smart six year old who is burdened with something that he should have never been burdened with. So its the story of him and how he carries it.

My Rating: * * * * 1/2

I’ve recently just finished The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and Timmy thought it’d be cool to write a review.

To be honest it was a chore to read (for the first couple hundred pages) because Dumas likes to jump scenes, which introduces you to many new characters in a short amount of time. It actually attributes to his genius, but for an impatient reader like myself I had to press on for a bit.

Thank God I did! Once I was past the first little hill, the book flew! I’ve never had 1200 pages go so fast in my life! Then again, I’ve never read 1200 pages :-). It’s orginially written in French but the translator did a wonderful job putting it into “eloquent” English. So although it was hard to get into a rythym of reading, it was one of the most “beautiful” books I’ve ever read. I would kill to be able to talk like le Comté de Monte Cristo :-) The story-line was just amazing. The movie didn’t do it an ounce of justice. You could make several exciting movies from that book alone- I can’t believe they actually attempted at consolidating it!

As odd as it sounds sometimes when I picture God I picture the Count. Not in some idolistic way, but all the characteristics that I would picture God having I saw in the Count (even the whole revenge-thing). The Count at one point purchases a Greek child named Haydee who later grows into this beatiful woman and says herself that she loves him like a husband, brother, lover, etc. I thought that the relationship amazingly reminded me of what I’d like to feel for God.

So God definetely helped me find Him in it, which I am extremely happy and blessed with, and thus made the book a total success for me and I would recommend it to anyone.

My rating: * * * * * (that means 5/5)

Ok, so we’re listening to the “making-of” and it turns out it is a commentary on the evolution of man… hahahahaha… should have gone with my first impression :-)

I’ve finally narrowed my top five favorite movies in order (trilogies count as one movie). I have to admit, I feel somewhat *unholy* posting this after Tim’s awesome news.. but that’s condemnation, not conviction.

1. V for Vendetta
2. Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Trilogy
3. Stranger Than Fiction
4. A Good Year
5. Hackers

Nb: #3-5 might change in order, but I think those three are permanent. Anyone care to list their top five?

During work I’ve been listening to The Call: Las Vegas online at God.TV. I would totally encourage everyone who can to get over to that website and begin to feast on what the Lord is pouring out in our Nation.

I’ve been kind-of bursting into tears throughout the day because of it. You’re going to have to sign up for a God.TV account but it’s free and fairly painless to do. If you already have a Church Insight account you can just use that.

Let’s keep the cry going!