Thursday, September 17, 2009

Book Review: 'You Were Born for This' by Bruce Wilkinson


Exciting, Practical Advice for Partnering with God on Miracles
By Lauren Yarger
Bruce Wilkinson describes his newest book “You Were Born for This” (WaterBrook Multnomah, 2009) as his former best seller, “The Prayer of Jabez” “to the miracle power.” While a few passages might bring to mind the prosperity message in “Jabez,” this work, written with David Kopp, who also partnered with Wilkinson on “Jabez,” stands on its own as an exciting, inspiring and practical challenge to Christians.

In “You Were Born for This: 7 Keys to a Life of Predictable Miracles,” Wilkinson takes on the topic of miracles and reveals our somewhat limited thoughts about how they can and do take place and what our part in them might be.

“We live in an era that seems to have reduced much of Christian life to two expectations: what God can do for us, and what we can do for God. But every page of this book has been intended to demonstrate to you a third and profoundly more thrilling expectation: what God can do through us for others.”

Through seven “keys” Wilkinson unlocks obstacles to practical everyday steps for learning how to identify opportunities where God wants to use us to work in the lives of others,

The author uses numerous stories of people who were helped by others who were willing to be of service. There are amazing stories of the author running late for an appointment, having plans changed suddenly or even having an urge for ice cream that turn out to be part of God’s plan, rather than normal circumstances of which we might not even take note.

Most exceptional is Wilkinson’s retelling of receiving spiritual “nudges” while addressing a group of men at a retreat. He singles out a man, puts him on the spot and asks what’s going wrong in his life. The man at first denies any problem and Wilkinson, doubtin himself, returns to the platform to continue his talk where he again receives supernatural urging to go back to the man and confront him again. As you might have guessed, there was a problem and the outcome of Wilkinson’s obedient persistence and the response of the men at the retreat will blow you away.

Just when you’re thinking, “Gosh, it would be fun to hang out with this guy,” you realize that he wants to unleash the same miracle partnering power in you.

It really is an absorbing read and absolutely inspiring. Personally, Wilkinson helped clear up a point I have been struggling with for many years now: just how much control do people, especially those unwilling to answer God’s urging to give of their time, money or other resources for his works, have in preventing God from accomplishing his task. Frankly, I’ve never heard any preaching on the subject, but Wilkinson offers some great insight into biblical passages that address the issue head on:

“The amount of our faith – and actions we take as a result – can either limit or release God to act in a miracle situation.”

If that seems at odds with your vision of an omnipotent God, I’d urge you to read the book. You might just be surprised.

Wilkinson’s use of miraculous stories from the bible, as well as from his personal life, sheds new light on some familiar passages and gives new perspective. You’ll never look at Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch quite the same way again.

Along with instruction for how to be open to God’s plan, Wilkinson offers some practical advice for remaining neutral and non-judgmental while a miracle is taking place and for making sure to give God the credit when it does.

“You were Born for This” will give you a new sense of purpose and a way to pursue it immediately. It all comes down to this:

“We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

SPECIAL OFFER: We have a copy of this book for give away. To enter for a chance to win, email masterworkproductions@yahoo.com with “BORN FOR THIS GIVEAWAY” in the subject line by 8pm Monday, Sept. 21, 2009. In the email, include your name, mailing address and telephone number. A winner will be selected Monday, Sept. 21 at 9pm with the winner's name posted on this blog.

Download the first chapter of the book here . You can share your own stories of miracles here.
For a video link, click here . For more information or to purchase the book, click here.

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Daily Inspiration

The Blind Side

Read about the real life mom from "The Blind Side."

Lifeway: http://www.lifeway.com/article/?id=169816

Guideposts: http://www.guideposts.com/story/sandra-bullock-blind-side-football?page=0,1

Read Matt Mungle's review of the movie at http://www.buddyhollywood.com/.

Lauren Yarger, Bio

Lauren Yarger has written, directed and produced numerous shows and special events for both secular and Christian audiences. She co-wrote a Christian musical version of “A Christmas Carol” which played to sold-out audiences of over 3,000 in Vermont and was awarded the 2000 Vermont Bessie (theater and film awards) for “People’s Choice for Theatre.” She also has written two other dinner theaters, sketches for church services and devotions for Christian artists.

Yarger trained for three years in the Broadway League’s Producer Development Program, completed the Commercial Theater Institute's Producing Three-Day Training and produced a one-woman musical about Mary Magdalene that toured nationally and closed with an off-Broadway run.

In 2008 she was a Fellow at the National Critics Institute at the O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT. She writes reviews of Broadway and off-Broadway theater with a Christian perspective for Reflections in the Light (http://reflectionsinthelight.blogspot.com/) and is editor of The Connecticut Arts Connection. She also is a contributing editor for BroadwayWorld.com

She also reviews books for Publisher's Weekly and is a member of the National Book Critics Circle. She formerly was Connecticut theater editor for CurtainUp, a national theater web site bsed in New York and a reviewer for American Theater Web.

She also served as Executive Director of Masterwork Productions, Inc. and worked in arts management for the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.

She is a freelance writer and member of the Drama Desk, The Outer Critics Circle, The American Theater Critics Association, The League of Professional Theatre Women and The CT Critics Circle.

A former newspaper editor and graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, Yarger lives with her husband in West Granby, CT and has two adult children.

Copyright Notice

All contents copyright © Lauren Yarger 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. For reprint permission, contact masterworkproductions@yahoo.com.

Scripture from THE MESSAGE Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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