Simply expressed, contemplative prayer encourages the use of breathing techniques and repetitive chanting to achieve an altered state of higher consciousness. This is simply transcendental meditation (TM). Wrap TM in some scripture verses and throw in the backing of one or two big names and the end product is contemplative spirituality.

Early monks used a memory system to memorize the Bible so that they would be able to meditate upon it later. Contemplation, as exemplified in monastic orders, is different from that which is arising in the Emergent Church.

New-fangled contemplation puts the focus inward upon the person. It is not longer God-centered. It is a blend of New Age and eastern mysticism.

So, as a matter of semantics, I am both for and against it. When the definition becomes clear, as a Jesus follower, I cannot endorse something which eradicates the need for Jesus and puts the focus solely on man, a collective consciousness, and a god-within mentality. I can; however, support quietly pondering on God’s word while prayerfully communicating with Him and attempting to draw nearer.

For those unfamiliar with who these men are, Dominc O’Brien is a British mnemonist. Billed as an 8-time world champion, he is able to remember an astounding amount of facts, numbers, etc. He has developed a quantum memory system which he peddles online to unsuspecting sacrificial lambs who are interested in improving their own memories. Sounds harmless and impressive, right? Sure, except for the fact that O’Brien’s memory system is based on quantum memory (thought is matter; reality is what you perceive….think The Secret).

Crossan is a hero of the Christian Aetheist movement (a rejection of God, but the belief in following the teachings of Jesus who was not God but just a great man with a really cool idea of how to live a revolutionary life). He has written several books and co-founded the Jesus Seminar. Professor Emeritus at DePaul University, he claimed to be Christian while teaching Christianity is not the only way. A self-proclaimed expert on Christianity, Crossan declared the majority of Jesus’ sayings as fiction and possessed a disbelief of most of the miracles attributed to Jesus.

O’Brien’s Quantum Memory system promises a limitless ability to memorize data. There will not be a limit on the amount of data that you will be able to memorize-therefore know-if you use his system. Sounds as though he is promising you will become omniscient. Eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil didn’t really work out for Adam and Eve. Trying to build a tower to Heaven didn’t really work out in Babel. And, I’m sure studying quantum memory and buying into the new age ideology when applying it to religion is not going to work for a true follower of Jesus.

The Gospel of Thomas….ah, where do I BEGIN with the problems associated with esteeming it as a legitimate gospel…the equivalent of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John? Ah, yes, but it was validated by none other than John Dominic Crossan and the Jesus Seminar. The Gospel of Thomas was one of 13 volumes found in 1945 at Nag Hammadi. Most true, biblical scholars believe it was actually written in the second century in Syria and is a restatement of what was contained in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John along with its own ideology. This contrasts with the view of the new-agey, christian aethists who date it older than the accepted gospels.

How on earth have these beliefs managed to infiltrate mainstream Christianity? The Bible warns followers to beware. Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.” (Jeremiah 14:14). In the New Testament, Jesus referred to them as “ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:25)

New Age beliefs are not actually new. They spring from the ancient heresy of gnosticism and espouse the “god within….know yourself and know the gods, heaven is not a place but is a state of mind” rhetoric. Pray for discernment. Memorize scripture. Stay focused on Christ.
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. (1 Timothy 6:3) These people, though they may proclaim they know Jesus, will not be known to Him in the end.

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. Proverbs 24:16

There are many exceptional books that you could pick up at Barnes and Noble, Borders and Books-A-Million that are about leadership. Some will probably make it into one of my reviews. If you want an uplifting, often comical, book with a personal story and concise leadership lessons, order a copy of What I Learned While Destroying A Church by Gerald Brooks. Pastor Brooks has extensive knowledge on leadership and character building.

A mere eighty one pages, the book is broken down into eight chapters, each of which covers one leadership lesson. While some may think the title makes light of the demise of a church, Pastor Brooks is quite serious about taking ownership of his mistakes. He will take you through the importance of knowing your calling in life and having a vision for it, to the importance of possessing an understanding of and being able to relate to the people around you. You will learn the true meaning of leadership, how personality and temperament affect a person’s ability to make decisions, and the importance of finding mentors whose leadership will keep you grounded and help you grow. Pastor Brooks relies on specific Bible verses and scriptural examples in the lives of biblical leaders to illustrate his points. Above all, by sharing part of his life story, we are able to see a true modern day example of the truth behind Proverbs 24:16. By admitting his mistakes and growing from them, he was able to rise up and successfully grow a church with a weekend attendance in the thousands. His leadership teachings are used by hundreds of pastors and impact thousands of people worldwide.

The book is available from the author’s website at www.growingothers.com.

Statistics show that 1 in 6 women have been the victims of rape or attempted rape.(RAINN.ORG, “Who Are The Victims”, http://www.rainn.org/get-information/statistics/sexual-assault-victims)

In their lifetimes, women face a 17.6% chance of being the victim of rape/attempted rape. (RAINN.ORG) The violation of rape is amplified when the act is committed by an acquaintance: someone known and trusted. While not openly talked about in the past, rape has become more acknowledged by modern society. Unfortunately, the systems in place for the handling of its victims are far from improved. What is available to heal these women?

Having been trained as a Christian caregiver and having volunteered as a lay minister, I was interested in When Violence Is No Stranger because it claimed to help the pastor or lay minister focus on the psycho-spiritual healing of the victim. The book started out strong for me. It attempted to dispel many myths about rape, illustrated the history of the use of rape as a method of control in the culture of slavery, and presented a few references to rape in the Bible. There was even a chapter with the stories of four different rape survivors and their suggestions for counselors. Regrettably, it was at that point that it fell apart. If geared toward counselors, in general, the book still presented some useful tools. However, this was a book geared toward pastoral counseling and it failed to deliver. The book focused more on secular methodology of psychological healing and removed God from the healing process. God is the ultimate healer. It is not enough to be there as a pastor for a victim while using secular counseling methods. Scripture and prayer should be used to guide the woman in the healing process. By using the Bible to focus on such issues as anger, healing, and restoration, the healing process can begin. Hope for the Heart in Dallas, Texas offers useful resources to aid in dealing with rape and childhood molestation. In addition, the book, Beauty for Ashes by John Coblentz, will show a pastor how to use biblical references when dealing with victims of rape.

As a childhood survivor of molestation and later of date rape in college, I can affirm that secular counseling leaves an unhealed wound in the soul. It was not until I received healing through prophetic prayer and subsequent one-on-one sessions that I was able to truly move past self destructive behaviors, regain confidence and begin to see my self-worth. Having had an earlier resource that would have mended the anger I felt toward the world and the feelings of having been abandoned by God would have been benefited me greatly.

When Violence Is No Stranger: Pastoral Counseling For Survivors of Acquaintance Rape, Kristen J Leslie, Fortress Press, Minneapolis, 2003.

If you or someone you know is in need of counseling services or information, in the United States call 1-800-656-HOPE or visit www.rainn.org (includes international resources).

Young Dynah Carey is off on her own at a Christian college. Engaged to a fellow student who is the desire of most of the campus girls’, Dynah is a sweet-spirited, trusting girl who seems to have it all. Unfortunately, while walking back to campus from the bus stop, she is attacked and raped in the park. What follows is a story of lost opportunities and betrayal by important figures in her life. The dean cares more about the reputation of Dynah’s fiancé and of the school than he does about Dynah’s pain. Upon learning she is pregnant as a result of the attack, the pastor she visits for guidance is more concerned with potential lawsuits from giving advice without a counseling license. Even Dynah’s parents and grandmother have secrets of their own that they are hiding that impact the manner in which they deal with her situation.

As the story unfolds, Dynah remains faithful and listens to God’s voice. She is forced to decide whether or not she should listen to everyone around her and have an abortion or whether she should keep the child. As she wrestles with the dilemma of abortion and Christian morality, she moves out on her own. God places the right people at the right time into her life to help with support and decisions.

While Dynah is healing emotionally with God’s help, her parents and grandmother are receiving their own healings from deep wounds of the past.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who does Christian-based rape counseling, for women’s groups and women in general. I do not remember the last time I cried when reading a book. This well-written, emotionally charged book presented a beautiful poignant story of healing. Although, in the case of this book, Dynah was quick to forgive her attacker, it gave an accurate portrayal of the feelings felt by victims and painted a true to life story of the reactions of family and friends. If you truly want to understand the raw emotion and repercussions of rape in the lives of the women and those around them, read The Atonement Child.

The Atonement Child, Francine Rivers, Tyndale House Publishers Inc, Wheaton IL, 1997.

I was intrigued when I picked-up The King‘s Daughter. In so many ways, it appeared to be “just another typical women’s ministry book”. Yet, as I quickly thumbed through the book in order to decide if it was worth purchasing, I saw it was indeed different. In the past, I have shied away from a lot of women’s ministry meetings and seminars because I felt they contained too much fluff and not enough substance. Permit me to use an example from American television sitcoms to illustrate my point. Carol Brady of the Brady Bunch did a fantastic job deciding how to juggle a schedule with Parent Teacher Association meetings in the 1970’s; June Cleaver of Leave It To Beaver ran a perfect household and always wore a saccharine sweet smile. In the 21st century, I require something more.

This book offered real life solutions and suggestions. While you may sit in a ladies bible study and hear how you should clean and cook for your husband daily from the well-meaning June Cleaver clones, they never seem to understand your demanding schedule. Alas, you walk away with confirmation that you are lacking in another area of your life and you will never be that Proverbs 31 woman. This book offers simple suggestions for ways to doctor up prepared food to make a family feast, gives a basic primer on etiquette, and discusses hospitality.

Using her own life as an example, Diana Hagee candidly opens up throughout the book about her insecurities and self-perceived faults. She shows you how to listen to God’s voice and step out of your comfort zone. Other important issues that are discussed are evangelism, Christian dating, and setting boundaries. Be prepared, though, for the candid section in this book that deals with sex, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Useful for establishing a workshop in your church, the sheets and questions used by the facilitators are included in the back of the book. There are suggestions for assigned make-up work for anyone who misses a session. The book is also easy enough to use as a personal Bible study.

The King’s Daughter: Becoming The Woman God Created You To Be, Diana Hagee, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville TN, 2001.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”KJV

What is amazing to me is that Spong graduated from seminary. He has twisted biblical doctrine and stories in an attempt to assert the Bible cannot be believed. The majority of the book is spent detailing why the Bible is not inerrant and why it cannot be trusted. Permit me to address the following:

Jesus is born
Matthew 2:9, 10 gives a general statement about the shepherds visiting Jesus and then jumps forward by a few years. Look at Matthew 2:16, 17 and you will see that after the wise men left Herod, he gave the order for all male toddlers aged 2 and younger to be killed. Herod knew from the wise men that Jesus was around 2 years of age, hence the order. If Jesus was a newborn, as Spong would have you believe, Herod would not have needed to issue an order to kill toddlers.

Luke 2:7 starts with Jesus’ birth in the manger.

The two stories do not contradict one another, they provide views of different time periods.

Likewise, the book of Matthew tells the story of the flight to Egypt. In Luke, the story bypasses the flight and picks-up where Joseph, Mary and Jesus have already arrived in Jerusalem and have made the decision to head to Galilee.

Again, the two passages do not present contradictory stories of an alleged flight to Egypt. They present stories of different time periods in the journey.

Who was Joseph’s father
Another allegation made in Spong’s book was that the Bible made an error in the name of Joseph’s father. In Matthew 1:20, Joseph was listed as a son of David. This, however, refers to being of the lineage of David; not the direct parental name. The actual name of Joseph’s father is listed in Luke 3:23–38 which traces the lineage of Jesus from Joseph back to Adam.

If one is to believe Spong, Abraham might not have been a real person, the story of Jonah was contrived, the Hebrew religion came into prominent existence over the centuries old Asherah-Baal nature religion as a way to strengthen the power of King David and to promote a more patriarchal society.

After denigrating the Bible and Christianity, Spong then launches into his views on human sexuality. While upholding marriage as the ideal, he states celibacy is not for everyone. Surely God would not have created us as sexual beings to impose celibacy. He advocates church ceremonies to sanctify living together. Spong also advocates supporting homosexual relationships. Per his interpretation, the Bible does not specifically prohibit homosexuality. After all, the ultimate goal is to find stable, loving, monogamous relationships. God would not have created a person with homosexual tendencies only to punish them by forbidding them to ever have a sexual relationship.

Rest assured, God’s views are clearly stated in the Bible:

“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman,
both of them have committed an abomination: they shall
surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
Leviticus 20:13, KJV

“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13:4KJV

“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” I Cor 6:18KJV

My emphatic advice is to stay away from this book! Its doctrines are theologically incorrect and will lead you astray. Of course, in Spong’s reasoning, that would make me a sexually-prejudiced, unintelligent person who hides behind a literal interpretation of the Bible.

Living In Sin: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality, John Shelby Spong, Harper Collins, San Francisco CA, 1988.

Divided into 17 chapters that span 174 pages, the book is written and formatted in a workbook style. The columns are lined for recording thoughts and taking notes. Each chapter following the introduction deals with one of the sixteen specific strongmen mentioned in the Bible. The chapter begins with the spirit’s family tree and related bible verses. The body of each chapter contains specific information on each attribute listed in the family tree, biblical references and examples, how to recognize the spirit at work, why the spirit is harmful, and ends with a prayer specific to that chapter‘s spirit. The concluding chapter provides further information on sins of the flesh and living in the flesh with additional biblical references to aid in spiritual warfare.

Apart from being a book on teaching spiritual warfare methods, the explanations contained in each chapter that tell why each action is wrong for Christians makes this a wonderful teaching resource for Life Groups and small group bible studies.

Strongman’s His Name…What’s His Game, Drs Jerry and Carol Robeson, Whitaker House, New Kensington PA, 1984.

If you are interested in an additional book on spiritual warfare, Charles Stanley’s book When The Enemy Strikes is sure to please. Slightly longer than the Robesons’ book Strongman’s His Name, this book is broken down into 12 chapters spanning 209 pages. Stanley focuses on the fact that we are all engaged in spiritual warfare, whether we wish to be or not, solely because we, as Christians, are natural enemies of Satan. His stand is that we cannot win and must rely on the strength of God to prevail.

In this book, Stanley asserts Satan uses the tactics of debate, division, doubt and deception to hinder Christians. Simplified and worded differently, it is basically the same as insecurity and inferiority that was presented in the Robesons’ book.

Focusing on discernment and prayer, When The Enemy Strikes is well written and easily read. Stanley draws on several examples to illustrate his key points. Unlike in the Robeson‘s book, Strongman, Stanley presents fewer actual biblical references for the readers’ study and use.

When The Enemy Strikes: The Keys To Winning Your Spiritual Battles, Charles Stanley, Thomas Nelson Inc, Nashville TN, 1982.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan was able to use the two to cause Eve to sin. By causing her to doubt God thereby doubting the world as she knew it, Satan introduced insecurity. By telling her God did not want her to eat of the tree of knowledge because God did not want Eve to become as smart as He, Satan introduced inferiority.

Foss claims these two spirits remain at work in our societies, even in our churches, to this day. Who hasn’t heard the saying, “keeping up with the Jones’”? By comparing ourselves and our situations to those around us, we open the door to inferiority and insecurity. Either we will feel that way or we will feel superior. Regardless, we are opening our minds to Satan.

With the advent of multimedia, Satan gained a powerful tool. The message of inferiority could now easily reach millions. Advertising tells us we need a certain product in order to be accepted (demon of inferiority). This has created a society of financial slavery. One doesn’t have to look far to see examples present in the credit and banking collapses, mass layoffs and rise in crime. In Matthew 6, the Bible warns us that we cannot serve two masters. Either we will serve God or mammon. If we continue to believe that we need more money or possessions to accomplish a certain goal or to achieve happiness, we are serving mammon.

Unfortunately, churches preach a gospel of prosperity but fail to warn of judgment. Pastors are afflicted with insecurity and inferiority as they worry other churches are attempting to steal their congregants. The message has incorrectly been preached that we should deny ourselves even though the sinful life presents pleasure. We are told that sin is inevitable because we are mortal. How many of you have heard someone make light of a mistake by uttering the phrase, “only Christ was perfect“? The promise of the Bible tells us, though, that we are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-18). It is when our spiritual eyes have been opened and we truly grasp this statement, that we can accept we are one with Christ. Jesus hated sin and lived a life free of sin. If we are joint heirs and possess the legal rights to operate in the same power, we are capable of living without sin. For those who argue the Bible states “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” this is true, however, this was a state of being prior to becoming one with Christ. The power of the cross defeats the flesh. By identifying our enemy’s tactics, the use of insecurity and inferiority to plant strongholds in the mind, we can use the God-given spirit of wisdom and revelation to conquer sin and to achieve God’s purpose for our lives.

Billed as a prophetic message, this concise, compact , well-written, 118 page book is packed with a powerful message from God. I easily read the book in under two hours and intend to return to meditate upon the message and scriptures contained therein.

While some may tell you that it is a gift and others might say you need to spend hours a day in prayer, Dr. Larry Lea explains that effective, fervent prayer can be achieved in an hour a day. Hang on, I hear what you are saying, “Whoa, wait a minute! I am SO very busy. I don’t have an extra hour to spend!” Actually, you probably do and this book will show you how to make time and teach you–step-by-step–how to pray. While it would be ideal to spend a solid hour, and, indeed, some days you should make time for it, you can break-up the time. Let’s think of the amount of time spent at traffic lights or stopped in traffic. How long does it take you to walk from your car into your office? What about the time you spend standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes, in the shower, watching television at night? If you pray in small time increments, you will achieve your hour. I didn’t think I could squeeze an extra hour out of my day either, however, I tried it and it works! Similar to reading a book, you just begin praying where you left off.

I managed to get an older copy of Could You Not Tarry One Hour, but I checked amazon.com and a newer version is available. The older version dissects the Lord’s Prayer into six lessons. Each lesson contains study questions. The newer version has added biographical chapters on Dr. Lea and his testimony. The book shows you how to begin prayer in adoration and praise, followed by various steps on priorities, promises, provision, forgiveness, defeating the devil, and ends in praise. While it seems like a lot, his instructions are easy to follow and the book is well written.

One of the powerful prayer warrior women taught a mini course on prayer in a Life Group that I attended. I recall that she said she always went to God with an attitude of praise and adoration before she moved on to petitioning for needs. She instructed everyone to end in praise and thanksgiving. This book will show you how to do that. It is devised to use over the course of the six weeks so that you can practice each prayer lesson. The book has been used by several pastors to teach their Life Groups how to pray. I would highly recommend it as it will make a valuable addition to anyone’s library who is seeking to grow his or her faith.