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Books on Spiritual Growth & Leadership Development
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Prayer – Does It Make Any
Difference (A book review by Dr. Raymond Guterman) Every time Philip writes a book, I get and read a copy ASAP. You may recognize his earlier bestselling titles – Where Is God When It Hurts, The Jesus I Never Knew, Disappointment with God, and What’s So Amazing About Grace? I’ll never forget a dear friend coming up to me several years with a question, “Raymond, what really is prayer? Does it make any difference and why don’t I pray as often as I know I should?” I emailed Fran, still a dear friend, when I prescribed this book and told her that it’s a must-read for every growing Christian disciple who’s ever had questions about prayer, which truthfully we all likely had at one period of our lives or another. Philip doesn’t claim to have all of the answers, but he seeks to ask the right questions; and then he addresses each of them by intriguing chapter titles which include: Just as we are, Why pray, Wrestling match, Does prayer change God? The sound of silence, Unanswered prayers, What to pray for, and Prayer and physical healing. All twenty-two chapters also begin with an engaging statement about prayer – “The paradox of prayer is that it asks for a serious effort while it can only be received as a gift. We cannot plan, organize or manipulate God; but without a careful discipline, we cannot receive him either.” (Henri Nouwen) Most chapters also contain just regular folks like us sharing something of their own joys, questions, or frustrations regarding prayer which are worth this read alone. Warning! It’s not the type of book that you’ll zip through! I’d read a couple of pages and simply think and pray about what I had just read and how it pertains to my personal faith journey as well as my role as husband, father, pastor, neighbor, relative and friend.
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