Living Close to God (When you are not good at it)

Living Close to God (When You Are Not Good At It) by Gene Edwards aims to help those out there who struggle at living and walking close to God. He offers very simple suggestions to improve your walk with God, the first of those being to slow down, and he says that the solution to getting closer to God is found in the simple things of life. He starts his slowing down and his quiet time with God by praying and by closely studying and reciting aloud the 23rd Psalm. He also recommends praying at any time during the day when you have a free breath or a free moment.

While I do appreciate Mr. Edwards for taking time out to write a book about deepening our relationship with God and putting a very intimate part of his life into writing, I had a hard time reading this book. By the time I got to chapter 7 or so, I felt as if he were repeating himself and making this out to be a much more complex task than he had originally stated in his first chapters. I myself am a Christian, married to a minister, and I totally agree that we all need to slow down, approach Christ with all our hearts in a specific time dedicated ONLY to him, and let him know our hearts. I loved the idea of this book, and many of the things Mr. Edwards had to say.

The Fourth Fisherman

I just finished reading "The Fourth Fisherman: How Three Mexican Fishermen Who Came Back from the Dead Changed My Life and Saved My Marriage" by Joe Kissack. Having read "Unbroken", a compelling story about Louis Zamperini, I must honestly say I expected just the story of the Mexican fishermen with some insights on how the author used their story to benefit his life. What I found, however, was not only their story, but the author's story as well, all intertwined together and tied up with a bow. I don't think that the author could have presented the story of the fishermen without presenting how they played a part in his own spiritual journey. Their extraordinary journey of survival and faith was refreshing, and gave me hope that there are still people out there who cling to God. I enjoyed the author's personal story and his honesty- it is not easy to come to grips with one's addictions or ghosts from the past, but Mr. Kissack takes them on and with God on his side, defeats them all.

This book also reflects the many times in my own life that God has reached out to me to open a door, crack a window, or slam a door shut in my face. Joe's story reminds us all that everything we have can be taken from us in one second, and that we should not take anything in this life for granted. It was nice to see an author put into words the spiritual experiences we can have with God if we open our hearts to him and look for him in our daily walk. This is an enjoyable read for anyone who is already walking with God, wanting to renew their walk with Him, or someone who may be lost, just like the fishermen, just like Joe.