Rating: 
Summary: A big blessing
Review: God defenitely used this book to teach me. I've been reading this instead of the morning newspaper. Though I do not agree with all the doctrinal aspects of this book, God did use it to teach me a lot.Thanks you Major. Ian.
Rating:
Summary: The message in this book changed my life.
Review: I was tempted to drop out of seminary right before I had the opportunity to hear the author, Major W. Ian Thomas, during his book tour years ago. He was introduced as the founder and general director of the Torchbearers, the group that runs the Capernwray Hall Bible School in England. It was a challenge to make out all his words through a thick British accent and staccato delivery, but I was educated in British boarding schools and had an edge on the rest of the students. And when Major Thomas spoke and pointed a finger that had been partially cut off, I was intrigued. Now here's an interesting man, I thought, probably just because he wasn't afraid to use that finger for gesturing. But as soon as he had me hooked, his short message spoke to me. I had been so hungry for answers that I had quit wondering where they would come from. I had all but given up, but, in twenty-two minutes, Ian Thomas got through to me. His theme was "Any old bush will do, as long as God is in the bush." The essence was that it took Moses forty years in the wilderness to realize that he was nothing. Thomas said God was trying to tell Moses, "I don't need a pretty bush or an educated bush or an eloquent bush. Any old bush will do, as long as I am in the bush. If I am going to use you, I am going to use you. It will not be you doing something for Me, but Me doing something through you." Thomas said the burning bush in the desert was likely a dry bunch of ugly little sticks that had hardly developed, yet Moses had to take off his shoes. Why? Because this was holy ground. Why? Because God was in the bush! I realized I was that kind of bush: a worthless, useless bunch of dried-up old sticks. I could do nothing for God. All my reading and studying and asking questions and trying to model myself after others was worthless. Everything in my ministry was worthless, unless God was in the bush. Only He could make something happen. Only He could make it work. Thomas told of many Christian workers who failed at first because they thought they had something to offer God. He himself had once imagined that because he was an aggressive, winsome, evangelistic sort, God could use him. But God didn't use him until he came to the end of himself. I thought, "That's exactly my situation. I am at the end of myself." When Thomas closed out with Galatians 2:20, it all came together for me: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (RSV). I ran back to my room in tears and fell to my knees next to my bunk. I prayed in Spanish, "Lord, now I get it. I understand. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. The whole thing is 'not I, but Christ in me.' It's not what I'm going to do for You but rather what You're going to do through me." I stayed on my knees until lunchtime, an hour and a half later, skipping my next class to stay in communion with the Lord. I realized the reason I hated myself inside was because I wrongly loved myself outside. I asked God's forgiveness for my pride in thinking I was a step above my countrymen because I had been well-educated and was fluent in English, and because I had worked in a bank and spoken on the radio and in a tent and in churches, and because I got to come to the United States and mingle with pastors, seminary professors, and other Christian leaders. I had thought I was really something, but God was not active in the bush. I hadn't given Him a chance. Well, He still had a lot of burning to do, but God was finally in control of this bush. He wanted me to be grateful for all the small hinges He had put in my life, but He didn't want me to place my confidence in those opportunities to make me a better minister or preacher. He wanted me to depend not on myself or my breaks, but on Christ alone--the indwelling, resurrected, almighty Lord Jesus. I was thrilled to finally realize we have everything we need when we have Jesus Christ literally living in us. Our inner resource is God Himself, because of our union with Jesus Christ (see Colossians 2:9-15). It's His power that controls our dispositions, enables us to serve, and corrects and directs us (see Philippians 2:13). Out of this understanding comes a godly sense of self-worth. That day marked the intellectual turning point in my spiritual life. The practical working out of that discovery would be lengthy and painful, but at least the realization had come. It was exciting beyond words. I could relax and rest in Jesus. He was going to do the work through me. What peace there was in knowing I could quit struggling! Copyright (c) 2000 Luis Palau. Reprinted by permission of the author.
Rating:
Summary: The message in this book changed my life.
Review: I was tempted to drop out of seminary right before I had the opportunity to hear the author, Major W. Ian Thomas, during his book tour years ago. He was introduced as the founder and general director of the Torchbearers, the group that runs the Capernwray Hall Bible School in England. It was a challenge to make out all his words through a thick British accent and staccato delivery, but I was educated in British boarding schools and had an edge on the rest of the students. And when Major Thomas spoke and pointed a finger that had been partially cut off, I was intrigued. Now here's an interesting man, I thought, probably just because he wasn't afraid to use that finger for gesturing. But as soon as he had me hooked, his short message spoke to me. I had been so hungry for answers that I had quit wondering where they would come from. I had all but given up, but, in twenty-two minutes, Ian Thomas got through to me. His theme was "Any old bush will do, as long as God is in the bush." The essence was that it took Moses forty years in the wilderness to realize that he was nothing. Thomas said God was trying to tell Moses, "I don't need a pretty bush or an educated bush or an eloquent bush. Any old bush will do, as long as I am in the bush. If I am going to use you, I am going to use you. It will not be you doing something for Me, but Me doing something through you." Thomas said the burning bush in the desert was likely a dry bunch of ugly little sticks that had hardly developed, yet Moses had to take off his shoes. Why? Because this was holy ground. Why? Because God was in the bush! I realized I was that kind of bush: a worthless, useless bunch of dried-up old sticks. I could do nothing for God. All my reading and studying and asking questions and trying to model myself after others was worthless. Everything in my ministry was worthless, unless God was in the bush. Only He could make something happen. Only He could make it work. Thomas told of many Christian workers who failed at first because they thought they had something to offer God. He himself had once imagined that because he was an aggressive, winsome, evangelistic sort, God could use him. But God didn't use him until he came to the end of himself. I thought, "That's exactly my situation. I am at the end of myself." When Thomas closed out with Galatians 2:20, it all came together for me: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (RSV). I ran back to my room in tears and fell to my knees next to my bunk. I prayed in Spanish, "Lord, now I get it. I understand. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. The whole thing is 'not I, but Christ in me.' It's not what I'm going to do for You but rather what You're going to do through me." I stayed on my knees until lunchtime, an hour and a half later, skipping my next class to stay in communion with the Lord. I realized the reason I hated myself inside was because I wrongly loved myself outside. I asked God's forgiveness for my pride in thinking I was a step above my countrymen because I had been well-educated and was fluent in English, and because I had worked in a bank and spoken on the radio and in a tent and in churches, and because I got to come to the United States and mingle with pastors, seminary professors, and other Christian leaders. I had thought I was really something, but God was not active in the bush. I hadn't given Him a chance. Well, He still had a lot of burning to do, but God was finally in control of this bush. He wanted me to be grateful for all the small hinges He had put in my life, but He didn't want me to place my confidence in those opportunities to make me a better minister or preacher. He wanted me to depend not on myself or my breaks, but on Christ alone--the indwelling, resurrected, almighty Lord Jesus. I was thrilled to finally realize we have everything we need when we have Jesus Christ literally living in us. Our inner resource is God Himself, because of our union with Jesus Christ (see Colossians 2:9-15). It's His power that controls our dispositions, enables us to serve, and corrects and directs us (see Philippians 2:13). Out of this understanding comes a godly sense of self-worth. That day marked the intellectual turning point in my spiritual life. The practical working out of that discovery would be lengthy and painful, but at least the realization had come. It was exciting beyond words. I could relax and rest in Jesus. He was going to do the work through me. What peace there was in knowing I could quit struggling! Copyright (c) 2000 Luis Palau. Reprinted by permission of the author.
Rating:
Summary: This book has changed my life, too
Review: I work in a Christian bookstore, and I would gladly stack the FIRST chapter of Major Thomas' book up against my ENTIRE 'Christian' psychology, self-esteem and self-help section. If you are a Christian and have not read "Saving Life of Christ," READ IT!
Rating:
Summary: The Thrill of Mystery
Review: It is disputed in the Christian world whether Christ is behaving in the surrendered Christian or whether Christ has enabled the Christian to walk. This difference between behaving and enabling has been a hard struggle for many to understand. Major Ian Thomas, in THE SAVING LIFE OF CHRIST, is of the former. He believes, and I quite agree with him, that we have a life hid with Christ in God, and that, when we are practicing God's presence, we will see that life manifesting itself in our words and actions. Though I believe Thomas doesn't go far enough on the self-discipline aspect of the Christian walk, he certainly makes a beautiful, reasonable, and readable case for the essential life of sanctification. The sequel to this book, THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS, is a wonderful followup. In that book, Thomas explores the example of Christ who allowed his Father to behave through him. Every Christian should read these books, that is, if he/she desires his/her own feet to pad beside the great Lion of Judah.
Rating:
Summary: The Thrill of Mystery
Review: It is disputed in the Christian world whether Christ is behaving in the surrendered Christian or whether Christ has enabled the Christian to walk. This difference between behaving and enabling has been a hard struggle for many to understand. Major Ian Thomas, in THE SAVING LIFE OF CHRIST, is of the former. He believes, and I quite agree with him, that we have a life hid with Christ in God, and that, when we are practicing God's presence, we will see that life manifesting itself in our words and actions. Though I believe Thomas doesn't go far enough on the self-discipline aspect of the Christian walk, he certainly makes a beautiful, reasonable, and readable case for the essential life of sanctification. The sequel to this book, THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS, is a wonderful followup. In that book, Thomas explores the example of Christ who allowed his Father to behave through him. Every Christian should read these books, that is, if he/she desires his/her own feet to pad beside the great Lion of Judah.
Rating:
Summary: Christ Can Live Through Us
Review: The main theme of this book is that Christ can live through us. After we commit to Christ we receive the Holy Spirit and are reborn. Christ will then live in us if we offer Him child-like acceptance. Like the Jews who longed for Egypt while travelling in the wilderness, there are carnal Christians who still live in the flesh even though they have been redeemed by faith in Christ. Without the fullness of Christ in us we cannot celebrate completely. Thomas makes his case with readable prose and his arguments are backed up by original thinking. I read the book after hearing the author speak at a local church and found both experiences to be inspirational.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This book changed my life
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: Thomas has a unique view of how Christ will live in us if we only give Him an invitation. If we do this without reservation, Christ will then take over our lives while we are allowed to go on vacation. Anytime I read a book by Thomas, I invariably feel inspired.
Rating:
Summary: Experience Victory Thorugh Christ!
Review: Thomas' wonderful title is an excellent encouragement to live a life of victory instead of defeat. Among the important points Thomas covers include: 1. Having a new life in Christ saves us from the futility of self-effort.
2. To be a true disciple, we must realize our own bankruptcy.
3. We are called to commit to Christ, not a cause.
4. What is not of faith is sin.
5. Do not panic and let God be God!
6. The sufficiency of Christ.
7. Remember the sin of Moses that kept him out of the Promised Land.
8. God does not intend to satisfy us in the wilderness. Read and be encouraged to stop trying to live life in your own strength and instead let Christ's life flow through you!
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