The God Who Hears

Rating:
Summary: Prayer is not a mystery
Review: A previous reviewer says that he is looking for a book on the "mystery" of prayer, and this book does not provide what he is looking for. But who says that prayer is a mystery? The Bible itself does not say so. What is revealed is not mystery, but clear revelation, and this book systematically guides us to understand what the Bible says about the doctrine of prayer and related issues. Excellent.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books on praying I've seen.
Review: I read Dr. Hunter's book during my first year as a student at Talbot seminary. His insights into the nature of prayer, and how we go about praying, were a powerful influence in my own relationship with Jesus Christ. I strongly suggest this book.

Rating:
Summary: Prayer is not a mystery
Review: So I'm intrigued by prayer. This strange communication, influence perhaps, we have upon the sovereign, almighty King of the Universe. Intrigued, I decide to try and learn as much about it as I can. I'm reading lots of things -- Andrew Murray, Henri Nouwen, as well as more moderns, like Dutch Sheets and whoever wrote "too busy not to pray".

Hunter's point in writing this book is a little different than what I was looking for. I'm trying to understand this profound mystery of prayer; he's setting out to show how prayer is a piece of a harmonized spiritual life. The book reads mostly like a handbook on Christian living - with chapters devoted to the holiness of God, the sovereignty of God, forgiving each other, obeying God, even church discipline. He has a good point -- that no part of the christian life is disconnected, and all of these will affect one's prayer life, ability to hear God, and God's answers to prayer.

I believe that he is a seminary professor or pastor of a large and largely successful church, and he writes like one. Everything's very pragmatic and classroomish; there's no mystery or wonder involved. And he writes like a speaker (note to speakers: writing out your speeches is not the same as writing a book.) funny or interesting story, weak and obvious tie to relevant material, then fully jump into the teaching points and forget the corny story altogether.

So basically, I got pretty bored with it. It's not bad, he has good points, he's not wrong, some people would probably benefit from reading it, maybe I did even, but it did not capture me, or change me. Ultimately, a forgettable book. Like so many others.

Does this feel harsh to you? Can you believe a christian would say this about another christian's work? do you agree with me and can't believe someone else would write that way? do you want to meet this strange guy? are you bored? e-mail me at [e-mail]. i'd love to chat.

Rating:
Summary: A handbook to Christian living; prayer not so much
Review: So I'm intrigued by prayer. This strange communication, influence perhaps, we have upon the sovereign, almighty King of the Universe. Intrigued, I decide to try and learn as much about it as I can. I'm reading lots of things -- Andrew Murray, Henri Nouwen, as well as more moderns, like Dutch Sheets and whoever wrote "too busy not to pray".

Hunter's point in writing this book is a little different than what I was looking for. I'm trying to understand this profound mystery of prayer; he's setting out to show how prayer is a piece of a harmonized spiritual life. The book reads mostly like a handbook on Christian living - with chapters devoted to the holiness of God, the sovereignty of God, forgiving each other, obeying God, even church discipline. He has a good point -- that no part of the christian life is disconnected, and all of these will affect one's prayer life, ability to hear God, and God's answers to prayer.

I believe that he is a seminary professor or pastor of a large and largely successful church, and he writes like one. Everything's very pragmatic and classroomish; there's no mystery or wonder involved. And he writes like a speaker (note to speakers: writing out your speeches is not the same as writing a book.) funny or interesting story, weak and obvious tie to relevant material, then fully jump into the teaching points and forget the corny story altogether.

So basically, I got pretty bored with it. It's not bad, he has good points, he's not wrong, some people would probably benefit from reading it, maybe I did even, but it did not capture me, or change me. Ultimately, a forgettable book. Like so many others.

Does this feel harsh to you? Can you believe a christian would say this about another christian's work? do you agree with me and can't believe someone else would write that way? do you want to meet this strange guy? are you bored? e-mail me at [e-mail]. i'd love to chat.