Book Description
Take a moment to look around your community--the parks, the malls, they key points of interest. Look at the downtown, the uptown, the back alleys and across the tracks. What are the institutions that dominate the life of your city? Do they glorify God? Or is your city infiltrated by pockets of idolatry and corruption? You can bring light to the darkest parts of your community by breaking down the enemy's strongholds through prayer. Finding solid information will ensure that your prayer is on-target and much mroe effective. This book shows you how to identify the enemy's territory in your area, and provides practical steps on how to pray against these dark strongholds---making it perfect for pastors, church leaders and intercessors on each level. Whether you are being called to frontline warfare or behind-the-scenes prayer support, discover how you can target your prayers to God's glory in your neighborhood.
Customer Reviews:
Book Summary.......2005-05-03
This book consists of nine independent, though complementary, chapters penned by nine authors on strategic spiritual mapping's theology, methodology, and case studies. These multiple authors speak with one voice, enriched by their varied perspectives. Much overlapping in substance exists across chapters. The book's tone is informal throughout, like a series of "prep talks".
George Otis, Jr. defines "spiritual mapping" as superimposing Christian "understanding of forces and events in the spiritual domain" to see beneath geographical patterns of evil and spiritual oppression. This assumes in the practitioner "a keen understanding of the spiritual domain" and "a skill born out of a right relationship with God and a love for his world". Spiritual mapping's conclusions, to be verified by the Bible and sociological-historical observation, can enhance the effectiveness of ministry. George Otis, Jr. further describes a "territorial stronghold" as an evil spiritual being ruling over an explicitly proscribed area (e.g. a home, a village, a city, a valley, or a nation), possibly with hierarchies of deities and spirits. Such a territorial spirit may exercise extraordinary power over the area's local people. A "territorial stronghold" wards off divine influence and may invade unprotected targets abroad. A territorial stronghold, allowed into an area by earlier generations' misplaced choices, may be consciously affirmed in the contemporary generation's religious festivals and ceremonials and pilgrimages.
Cindy Jacobs (of a prayer networking organization called Generals of Intercession) enumerates nine additional strongholds, where Satan exalts himself against human knowledge of God and against God's plans. A personal stronghold (such as personal sin, pride, selfishness or desire for power) needs be repented of. A hopeless mindset stronghold "causes the believer to accept as unchangeable something he or she knows is contrary to the will of God." A sectarian stronghold causes pride in doctrines, idolatry of denominations, and divisions among churches. Moreover, instead of a church's "us versus them" mentality, the church should lend itself as a helpful resource to its local population. A social stronghold exists when poverty or oppression (such as injustice, racism) causes "people to believe God does not care about their needs". An ideological stronghold influences entire cultures and societies. An occultic stronghold (such as witchcraft, Satanism, and New Age religions) is "an overt evil application of many ideological strongholds". Cindy Jacobs cited her experience in breaking occultic strongholds: once through corporate repentance among Christians in the Argentine city of Rosario of earlier generations' worship of the Queen of Heaven, and once through Christians' intercession against a "curse" on Cindy Jacobs' personal health. A "seat of Satan" is a "highly oppressed and demonically controlled" geographical location from which Satan wars against a larger region. A "stronghold of iniquity" stems from earlier generations' sins producing weaknesses or iniquities in later generations.
Kjell Sjoberg of Sweden emphasized that spiritual mapping helps to target intercession. Among his insights are the followings: A believer's unconfessed guilt invited demonic influence on that believer; a believer's confession must precede his/her spiritual warfare. God's promises in the Old Testament for particular nations can be used in prayer for those nations. God might sometimes urge believers to gather for prayer without the believers knowing why; later those occasions might turn out to coincide with high levels of occultic activities. Human opposition could signify correct targeting in the Christians' spiritual warfare.
Harold Caballeros, a pastor in Guatemala, had been reading Matthew 12:29 , Mark 3:27 and Luke 11:21,22 . A believer told him of her dreaming of three rough rustic hands holding transparent ropes joining three specific Guatemalan cities. Another believer, upon hearing this dream, named the three persons holding the ropes. Subsequent investigations revealed those three persons were conducting "evil works of the devil" in those three cities, through money, politics and drug dealing. After "on-site prayer", the first was jailed awaiting trial, the second lost his office, and the third's power was greatly diminished. There was then less violence and more fruitful evangelism. In another situation, Caballeros' research team identified an archaeological site of Mayan idolatry and witchcraft, plus a vacant house there where contemporary idolatry and witchcraft was occurring. Caballeros' prayer team reported that God described to them the person responsible, including his appearance. Caballeros' prayer team was also told on what page of the next day's newspaper that person's name will be identified. All these came true; and further research indicated that person named in the newspaper indeed owned the aforementioned house.
Victor Lorenzo, of Harvest Evangelism in Argentina, was initially reluctant to obey God's call to strategic spiritual warfare. This opened his baby son to sickness due to demonic attack. As Lorenzo repented, an angel assured him of subsequent protection of his son. Based on information from five local professors and prominent murals of the city of Resistencia, the spirits of death, fear, sexual perversion, witchcraft/sorcery, Freemasonry, and the Queen of Heaven were discerned. Lorenzo's team's targeted prayers resulted in evangelistic success and doubled church attendance across all social strata, effective social service ministries, and positive media exposure. However, bitterness among certain pastors was not entirely healed in Resistencia. In a subsequent project for the city of La Plata, Lorenzo's intercession team members independently felt led by God to spotlight freemasonry. Lorenzo later found that La Plata's city center was indeed laid out as a freemasonry temple, with public statutes and monuments bearing Masonic symbolism. At the time of writing, many local believers were following up with fervent targeted intercession, sometimes on location in the city's Masonic landmarks.
Mark McGregor (a Seattle computer programmer) applied to Seattle the 20-question spiritual-mapping approach in John Dawson's Taking Our Cities for God; and Bev Klopp (of Gateway Ministries) planned follow-up prayers and actions of strategic spiritual warfare for Seattle.
Critical Insight into Fulfilling the Great Commission.......2001-03-22
Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces in high places, to paraphrase the apostle Paul. Salvation comes from the heart action of faith, not the mental grasp of facts. This is a spiritual process, and there are spiritual enemies obstructing that process.
C. Peter Wagner's great book, Breaking Strongholds in Your City, offers critical insight into "breaking the backs" of the enemies of the great commission. Illustrating to us the process of "spiritual mapping," Wagner shows how we can lay siege to the demonic garrisons that have ravaged the attempts to take our cities for Christ.
Reading this book will allow you to glimpse at the "hidden war" in the heavenlies. You will see how the "ruling spirit" in an Argentinean city was taken down. You will learn about common hideouts of demonic entrenchment. These places were often established by secret societies that have designed and built many of our cities, thus shaping our spiritual history. You will gain insight in how to gather information to perform spiritual mapping--mapping the strategic spiritual strongholds. Finally you will learn through example how to overcome these strongholds through prayer walks, prophetic prayer actions (PPAs), and strategic intercessory spiritual warfare.
Attempting to advance the kingdom of God without attacking on the spiritual level is like feeling for the light switch in a dark room while being punched at. I wouldn't advise it.
"Our struggle...is against the powers of this dark world.".......2000-10-25
In the seven volumes of the "Prayer Warrior" series, C. Peter Wagner introduces the reader to what is happening on the front lines of the international prayer movement. This volume deals with "spiritual mapping", which uses a combination of research and spiritual gifts to identify demonic forces and patterns of sinful behavior that keep a city or region in spiritual bondage. This knowledge can then be used by intercessors to target their prayers to weaken and overcome these hindrances to God's work. Wagner acknowledges that, while there are biblical passages that support this approach, the real proof is in the results. In particular, Wagner cites tremendous breakthroughs in evangelism and church planting in regions formerly resistant to the gospel that result from spiritual mapping followed by targeted intercessory prayer. A fascinating, compelling book that should be read by anyone interested in missions, evangelism, or intercessory prayer.
A New Strategy For A New Day.......2000-04-06
Wagner has once again contributed useful information to the body of Christ. Let's continue to keep HIM in our prayers so that the Lord will continue to use HIM as He's used him to write this book.
Strategical and helpful.......2000-03-30
I found this book to be very helpful in becomming more strategical in my prayers. Dr. Wagner has once again taken a chance to break away from the status quo and serve the body with practical information. He will always have his critics, yet it is unmistakable that he is being used to further the great commission in obvious ways. Jonathan Edwards once said something to the effect of genuine works of the Spirit being accompanied by friction. Praise God for fresh strategies that will help us to get the job done!
Amazon.com
We've had our share of "season with the team" books about basketball, baseball, and football, so why not a book about an event of political importance: an insider's account of an entire term of a big city mayor? And it might as well be about one of America's best, most interesting mayors, Philadelphia's Ed Rendell. Buzz Bissinger follows Rendell, his chief of staff, and four other Philadelphians through four years of his sincere, flamboyant struggle against Philadelphia's crushing poverty--four years of dealing with the staff, the press, the constituents, and the feds. It doesn't end with the eradication of the city's many social ills, but it does end with a second term, and with hope.
Book Description
Current Affairs/Urban Studies
"An extraordinary book, an insider's account of the daily
workings of a big-city administration."
--Witold Rybczynski, The New York Review of Books
A Prayer for the City is Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Buzz Bissinger's true epic of Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell, an utterly unique, unorthodox, and idiosyncratic leader who will do anything to save his city: take unions head on, personally lobby President Clinton to save 10,000 defense jobs, or wrestle Smiley the Pig on Hot Dog Day--all the while bearing in mind the eternal fickleness of constituents whose favor may hinge on a missed garbage pick-up or an overzealous meter maid. It is also the story of citizens in crisis: a woman fighting ceaselessly to give her great-grandchildren a better life, a father of six who may lose his job at the Navy Shipyard, and a policy analyst whose experiences as a crime victim tempt her to abandon her job and ideals. Heart-wrenching and hilarious, alive with detail and insight, A Prayer for the City describes a city on its knees and the rare combination of political courage and optimism that may be the only hope for America's urban centers.
"A Prayer for the City gives a unique insider account. . . . [It] is a superb book. . . . Bissinger's writing, sparse and urgent, always shines . . . and his narrative crackles with descriptive force." --The Miami Herald
"A full-scale portrait of a struggling American metropolis that brings to mind such classics of urban reportage and analysis as J. Anthony Lukas's Common Ground and Nicholas Lemann's Promised Land."
--The New York Times Book Review
"What we see through Bissinger's unique lens is profoundly touching and inspiring, poignant and sad. . . . If you really want to feel the
heartbeat of the American city--and find a source of hope for its
revival--you will find it here." --The Philadelphia Inquirer
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Observations of a Mayor Facing Major Conflicts.......2005-06-01
Ed Rendell allowed a writer, Buzz Bissinger, to shadow him during his first term as Mayor of Philadelphia. This book is the result of what Buzz saw during those four years. It provides an extremely candid insight into what Ed Rendell is like as a person while dramatically presenting the difficulties facing a large city Mayor.
"A Prayer for the City" also follows the lives of four Philadelphians during this same period. This makes for interesting contrasts that shows how the story of Philadelphia during this era affected people differently. Although, I wonder why, after several years of following a Mayor around, the book did not concentrate more on the Mayor.
The book shows Ed Rendell, the person, flaws and strengths. Ed Rendell is presented as a strongly driven man who works hard, knows his goals, and does his best to reach those goals. This is seen in contract negotiations where he know what he wanted entering, he knew contingencies, and he knew how to reach his goals, which included allowing others to gain credit and his opposition to come to agreement by being able to walk away from the negotiating table with the ability to claim victory, or else the agreements would never have been reached. Agree or disagree with the result, this ability to engage in complex and strategic thinking and reacting allows readers to conclude that Ed Rendell is a very skilled and driven leader.
Ed Rendell is seen as a hard worker, but as one who doesn't react well to overexertion. He is conflicted by the expectations that the Mayor must go to the hospital of any wounded police officer, knowing that a private family time can be seen as being inappropriately disturbed by a politician and the media. Yet, as Ed Rendell lost his father when he was 14, he related well to the children of slain and wounded officers. When the pressure and lack of rest got to be too much, Ed Rendell can scream, throw things, and even do bodily harm, such as digging his heel into another or grabbing a photographer enough to bruise her arm.
Ed Rendell also knows the key to victory is to build coalitions with necessary partners. In order to get legislation through City Council, he did his best to stroke the ego and give credit, even when it was not due to him, to City Council John Street. Of course, we wonder what John Street thinks when he reads some of the negative sentiments expressed by Rendell in the book that were kept from him at this time.
The successes of Rendell's first term are presented. A structural deficit that threatened to bankrupt the city was eliminated. Job losses reversed and small job gains began. The man Al Gore dubbed "American's Mayor" went on and has become our Governor. Readers will see that dealing with the complexities of being a Mayor should serve well as a prelude to being Governor. One point clear from this book is that Ed Rendell means to be a good leader, for as he said himself, "if I walk out of here voted out, I walk with my head held high because I've done the right thing."
The human side of politics.......2005-02-27
Not just a book about a mayor but a book about how people interact with their city and view their mayor as the father of their city and the solver of all problems. So many people try and compare running a political organization like a mayor's office and city government to be ing a company CEO, but this book shows that the comparison is shallow becuase city residents - especially in our urban centers - want much more from a city than customers want from a company. there is an emotional attachment to one's city.
The book is very well written and moves along at a nice pace, while still taking time to show the details of people's lives that make us care for them and make their charachters come alive.
Brilliantly Written Political (non?) Fiction !.......2004-03-23
Well, let's face it... The author of this book is obvoiusly a huge fan of Ed Rendell... and is a brilliant writer... the end result... Ed Rendell can pass gas, and in the hands of Bissinger it'll seem like an act of unsurpassed poignancy and heroism... With all that said... The book is unbelievably engaging, captures the realities of life in Philly, its trapped and fleeing residents, and Rendell's nobel efforts to get the city back in shape... As for Rendell the man... well, again its clear that Bizzinger sees the guy as a HERO... and uses his entire literary vision to portray him to that extent (presenting his weaknesses only to make him more affably human - - which obviously he was...) I think most Philly residents (except the city workers) are more likely to like the guy and feel that he was a good mayor, but chuckle a bit of Bissinger's "literary glorification" of the man... Still, whether you're from the "Fast Eddie - - don't trust the guy !" school or the "wow, the guy really accomplish some miraculous things," there's one thing that's for sure... The book is an engaging... if not at times heart rendering read... and well worth getting...
An honest view.......2003-04-22
It is often that governement is displayed as flawed (as it is here) but rare that the dramatic and negative repercussions of unions that have grown selfish over time are shown. The Rendell (brilliant but with emotional loose ends) /Cohen (brilliant but a control junkie) combo slowed Philadelphia's death. But problems of this magnitude cannot be resolved in four years. What they were able to accomplish is both encouraging and inspirational, while at the same time ultimately futile. Their very human sides are presented as well which makes the book read like a novel. The only drawback is the someitmes overly lengthy passages related to population declines and other urban historical data. I have never been to Philly. Reading this book makes me want to go there, if only to see what it looks like now.
Amazing and Inspiring.......2002-07-15
This book provides great insight into how a city or anything should be run - with pride and dedication for the better of everyone, not selfishness. Rendell and Cohen prove to be a terrific pair, leaving you with wanting to know more and more.
Customer Reviews:
Vision casting, bar raising, life changing book!.......2007-05-19
Ed Silvoso experienced an entire city being reached for Christ (Registencia, Argentina). He is a gifted evangelist and is being used by God to inspire others to seek the breakthrough for their cities as well. This book records Silvoso's account, followed by his distillation of key principles that are generally applicable in different contexts. This book personally raised the bar for me in what was possible in our Christian experience about 12 years ago. I've given away over 10 copies to seekers. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was because there are some hermeneutical issues which Silvoso could use improvement on.
BEYOND COMPARE WITH ANY PRAYER or EVANGELISM MANUAL.......2006-04-07
I have my 10-year old copy and am now on my 12th copy in giving when people ask. This book by Pastor Ed Silvoso is exciting for reasons too numerous to mention (gotta get the book!). I bought book in '96 from a conference the author taught at and now my copy is worn, dog-eared, flagged, underlined, circled and margin noted. This is so valuable for anyone who is curious about spiritual warfare or how to pray according to God's heartbeat, right down through all the scriptures and details for evangelism. You can pick this book up if you know nothing and almost everything and you will still gain and benefit in your understanding of who God is and what He says. A 10-star top-notch book!
Some Strong Points, Some Very Weak.......2005-04-09
I concur with the reviewer before me that much of what Silvoso writes is not biblical. He takes texts out of context in his chapters on dealing with specific strongholds and he does place too much emphasis on territorial spirits and demonic activities rather than the power of Christ.
However, the book does give the reader a passion to pray. While I could read the book and see the errors I also sensed the hunger to pray building up. Without a doubt, Ed Silvoso writes with a passion for prayer and for evangelism. He is accurate to see these as going hand in hand (Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2; Acts 1:8, 14; 2:38, 41-42; 12:5; 16:13-15; Romans 12:12; Colossians 4:2-6).
I would urge the reader to purchase this book and read it for yourself. I agree that there are errors in Silvoso's theology in that he holds to terroritorial spirits, believes in mass evangelism through altar calls and the sinner's prayer, is theologically lacking in its substance, confuses experience with Christ as a point of unity, and has an unbiblical view of the authority of Satan, nonetheless the book does inspire one to pray with fire and faith in Jesus.
Book dishonors God and is not Biblically accurate........2003-12-05
The author dishonors God and is Biblically inaccurate when he describes God as not having control of what happened on earth from the time Adam sinned to the time Jesus was crucified.
He claims that when God created Adam, he made Adam master of the entire earth. However, the "ownership" of earth passed to Satan when Adam sinned. Once Satan had ownership, God was left looking from the outside without being able to influence events on earth. According to Ed Silvoso, God was no longer in charge of his creation and was unable to challenge Satan in things related to man and earth. God was only able to regain control of earth when Jesus was crucified.
In the Bible it is very clear that God had control of events throughout all history. Two examples come to mind. In the book of Job, Satan had to obtain direct and specific permission from God before doing anything to Job and Moses led Israel out of Egypt under the direct control of God.
The book is dangerously vague as to which denominations should be allowed to join in your prayer evangelism. Should you allow Catholics, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, etc? To which denominations or religions whould you lend your efforts? Who will take care of the new sheep?
The author also fails to discuss the dangers of compromise. In order to bring all the denominations of a city as one in prayer you have to be careful not to compromise your faith and your Biblical beliefs.
Before reading this or any other religious book, you need to be very familiar with the Bible and stand in sound doctrine. This book does not stand in sound Biblical doctrine.
Ed's Book.......2002-10-01
Very anointed by the HOly Spirit. When I read it
the Spirit of God comes upon me. I highly recommend
this book to everyone.
Ed is God's servant.
Book Description
The New England town of Dorsetville, “where miracles are never far away,” faces unexpected challenges in this much-anticipated fourth volume of Katherine Valentine’s beloved series.
The rumor mill is running at full speed: the Country Kettle Café, meeting place for everyone who’s anyone, may close down now that the owner’s wife has struck it rich. Deputy Hill is devastated over his open-ended assignment to the graveyard shift, his just desserts for having nearly wrecked a car and a wedding in one unfortunate mishap.
Then tragedy strikes: the Gallagher twins are fighting for their lives after a fall through the ice—one on life support and the other in a coma. Doc Hammond is waging his own battle for life while helping the twins. More than ever, Dorsetville needs a miracle.
Customer Reviews:
Loved it!.......2006-07-10
I love Katherine Valentine's subject matter, her characters and her lively and humorous writing style. I read this book in one sitting, then immediately purchased the next 3 Dorsetville books, and the first book in what I hope will be another series.
The only reason I've given the book 4 stars instead of 5 is because the story is almost too idyllic. Yes, we'd all love to believe that somewhere out there a town filled with people like this exists, but for most of us, it just sounds too good to be true.
Despite that, I still loved these books and they all have a permanent place in my collection because I know I'll read them all again, and again.
Valentine delivers another hit.......2006-01-15
Katherine Valentine is one Christian writer who can deliver an uplifting message without being preachy or sappy. Her latest installment about the folks at St. Cecilia's is no exception. I can't wait to see what she does in her new series (?) about Bend Oaks due out in June 2006!
Tales of Dorsetville continue.......2005-12-01
I just LOVE the characters in this series and Katherine Valentine's newest installment does not disappoint. Just a few pages into the first chapter, and I'm transported back to this wonderful New England town filled with funny and heartwarming characters. I feel like I never left.
On A Wing and A Prayer begins when the Gallagher twins fall through the ice while playing hockey. Rodney is saved, but by the time the rescue team arrives to save Dudley, his prognosis is bleak. Making matters worse, Doc Hammon must entrust his patient to a stranger in order to undergo heart surgury. As always, the people in Dorsetville rally round, stocking the Gallagher's freezer to overflowing with food, and round the clock prayers. The ending was quite a surprise and one I thoroughly enjoyed.
Book Description
Months before September 11, 2001, many Greater New York churches were uniting together in one of the largest urban prayer movements in the world. So when disaster struck on that late summer Tuesday morning, the churches and people were already in place to comfort, heal and pray for miracles.Mac Pier and Katie Sweeting, coordinators for Concerts of Prayer Greater New York, write about their experiences in The Power of a City at Prayer. They explain how to build an urban prayer ministry, and they share powerful examples of how such prayer movements have dramatically influenced neighborhoods, communities and cities around the world--including New York City before and after September 11, 2001.
Customer Reviews:
If It Can Happen in NYC -- It Can Happen Anywhere!.......2002-11-06
Mac Pier has been on the cutting edge of the prayer movement in New York City (NYC) for over a decade. This book explores the work of God when people pray. You will learn the spiritual history of the greatest city in the world; the biblical role of cities in the plan of God; and a precise plan for developing a prayer strategy for your city. You will also be encouraged and inspired by the stories of the people and miracles surrounding the prayer movement in New York City.
Pier and Sweeting, who are with Concerts of Prayer of Greater New York..., share the four aspects of prayer for any city:
Prayer for Revival
Prayer for Reconciliation
Prayer for Renewal
Prayer for Reaching the Lost
I think it is interesting to read this book along with "Leadership" by Rudy Guiliani. Over the last decade there has been amazing positive change in the culture of NYC. While policy played a role in the decline of crime and violence, you can also clearly track the decrease to the increaase in the prayers of Christian people.
Highly recommended for anyone living in NYC or anyone who desires to see a prayer movement in their own city. If it can happen in New York City, it can happen anywhere!...
Book Description
As a result of the growing worldwide prayer movement, powerful changes have taken place in the Church and in scattered cities-transformations beyond anything imaginable only a few years ago. Of the revelations to come out of this movement, perhaps the most dramatic and promising is the rediscovery of biblical principles for changing the spiritual climate over entire cities and regions. Fulfillment of the Great Commission is no longer a distant hope but, rather, is a fast-approaching reality for a Church that will take hold of and utilize the biblical principles for changing cities as described in Prayer Evangelism. In it Ed Silvoso shares his heart and his passion for reaching cities the way the Early Church did it: the whole Church modeling the whole gospel to the whole city through prayer and prayerful evangelism.
Customer Reviews:
Eye-opening!.......2002-08-20
If your heart beats with love for the lost, but you've grown discouraged by the increasing lawlessness in our cities, this is the book for you. This is a follow-up to Silvoso's other book, That None Should Perish. The two books are a double-barrel shotgun aimed at the enemy, and I recommend you buy both. As you read, you'll see the manner in which the early apostles reached every person in Asia with the Gospel. It's not only possible, but it's happening in various cities around the world. Your faith will rise and your heart will fill with a new understanding of God's grace and love for the lost. My life has not been the same since I read about prayer evangelism. Already I have begun to see fruit in my life by applying the concepts Silvoso has clearly (and simply) laid out.
Heart-changing and totally practical in use!.......2001-02-27
This book will turn your world around - the way you relate to the lost, the way you understand church, the way you build your faith on the power of God, and the way you witness to those within your reach. Ed Silvoso's book not only ignites a passion for the lost inside your heart and prepares you to become a vessel of the love of Jesus, but is also a practical guide for every single step that imparts the faith, the extremely necessary paradigm changes and the tools it takes to reach your targeted people for Christ. A must read for every Christian and the most useful and complete book on evangelism for the whole body of Christ ever written.
Book Description
In this revised edition of a classic collection of congregational prayers, Ernest T. Campbell demonstrates the value and creative potential of thoughtfully prepared public prayers. Originally crafted for use in The Riverside Church, New York City, these pastoral prayers continue to engage with the concerns of contemporary life and the richness of religious faith. They will be an invaluable resource both for those who plan worship services and for those who seek to deepen their personal prayer lives.
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful and Practical.......2006-04-09
These are a collection of written prayers that Campbell has used from his own lectern. They are beautifully written prayers for the world and for his own congregation. His initial experience of stuttered and repetitive improvised prayers motivated him to put into print what he would take to the pulpit.
The structure is simple and thoughtful. Prayers are numbered 1,2,3, first prayers of thanksgiving for God's goodness, second prayers for the world, and lastly prayers for themselves. Campbell says that praying for the world first shapes the way we pray for ourselves. This pattern is repeated throughout the book.
The four subdivisions of the book are appropriately loose. In the first, "As a Hen Gathers Her Brood," Campbell focuses on the chaotic city life of New York and God's presence in that tension. In "All Sorts and Conditions of People" (p. 21), we hear repeated lists of careers and situations for which they are praying. In "Among You as One Who Serves" (p. 47), we hear a Pastor's voice for the laypeople who are communicating their faith in their working and home lives. In "Around the Christian Year," there are prayers for the liturgical Christian holidays: Easter, Christmas, Advent, Ash Wednesday, Passion Sunday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Pentecost, and Reformation Sunday.
What is intensely rewarding about the book is that the reader ought to fear she is picking up the ramblings of a retired minister who just wanted at last to make it into print, and instead, she finds a beautifully written piece that is as likely to inspire personal devotions as serve as a practical resource for professionals. I've already started using this prayer book in my church. It ought to be an appendix to the Book of Common Worship.
Book Description
Millie Keith provides girls with fun prayer ideas
Customer Reviews:
Great prayer reference!!.......2007-04-26
I cannot say enough about how pleased I am with this book. I bought it for my [...] daughters & haven't given it to them yet because I'm enjoying it so much!
The first few pages have ideas for how to make your own prayer journal. In the back are reference pages including A-Z lists of the names of God, how to pray for the different people in your life, and a what-it-means-to-be-saved section. I haven't gotten to the middle yet. =)
This would be a good companion book if you're already into the Millie series, but it also stands alone as a great reference/activity book. I'm planning to get my girls started on the Millie series after reading this prayer book.
Book Description
Targeted plans and specific strategies-including spiritual mapping-for local churches to powerfully reclaim and renew their communities through prayer.
Customer Reviews:
A Must-Read for all Praying Christians.......2006-07-04
This is not a book of theories or opinions. It is rooted and grounded in the real experience of a pastor and his congregation and the believers in that city. It is an easy-to-follow primer, peppered with Pastor Beckett's personal and congregational experiences germane thereto. Would that all believers had such a rich and powerful experience with the power of God to deal with a very real enemy.
Beckett is on the forfront of spiritual mapping........1997-03-25
Beckett's book, "Commitment to Conqour," pictures ministry not just in the local church but in the whole community. He challenges the reader through personal example how to positively attack spiritual strongholds. The church he serves and founded, The Dwelling Place, demonstrates the best of evangelical desire and congregational focus. Together, they confront the principalities and powers and see the victory of the Holy Spirit over demonic activity.
Beckett illustrates well how to unify pastors and churches to take one's city for God. We are not in a battle by ourselves but in a battle for Jesus Christ, a battle ultimately to be won by God Himself. By uniting 30 pastors together, they come together in agreement with God and claim the land.
Clearly, this is a must read for anyone who wants to take their city for God. Beckett's excellent teaching skills shine in this book.
Reviewed by Rev. Lawrence H. Potts, Pastor of Beverly United Methodist Church, Beverly, NJ
Customer Reviews:
Good Companion to Praying Through the Window III.......2000-04-07
This book focuses on the major urban centers in the 10/40 window. The background and statistical informaton for each city (including unreached peoples) is laid out in easy to read format. A map is also provied for each city and can help one keep the city in perspective. Specific prayer requests are listed for each city. I have found this book to be an excellent companion book to Praying Through the Window III: The Unreached Peoples. Using these books in tandem will not only make your prayer life more focused, but will also give you a deeper appreciation for other peoples around the world.
Books:
- Bringing the Jobs Home: How the Left Created the Outsourcing Crisis--and How We Can Fix It
- Capitalism and Freedom: Fortieth Anniversary Edition
- Captives and Cousins: Slavery, Kinship, and Community in the Southwest Borderlands
- China, Inc.: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World
- Contemporary Urban Planning (7th Edition)
- Cover Your Tracks Without Changing Your Identity: How to Disappear Until You WANT to Be Found
- Cracking More Cases: The Forensic Science of Solving Crimes : the Michael Skakel-Martha Moxley Case, the Jonbenet Ramsey Case and Many More!
- Deliver Us from Evil : Defeating Terrorism, Despotism, and Liberalism
- Designing Social Inquiry
- For Common Things: Irony, Trust and Commitment in America Today
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Investment under Uncertainty
- Celtic Knots: Mastering the Traditional Patterns
- Ufficio Postale/Whiskerville Post Office
- Wetlands
- A Vulgar Display Of Power: Courage and Carnage At The Alrosa Villa
- Escape from Slavery: The Boyhood of Frederick Douglass in His Own Words
- Animal Physiology
- Body Alchemy: Transsexual Portraits
- What Money Really Means
- Vermont All Business Directory 2002
General
| Church History
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Prayer Shield How to Intercede for Pastors, Christian Leaders, and Others on the Spiritual Frontlines (Prayer Warrior)
Possessing the Gates of the Enemy,: A Training Manual for Militant Intercession
Taking Our Cities for God: How to Break Spiritual Strongholds
Warfare Prayer: How to Seek God's Power and Protection in the Battle to Build His Kingdom (Prayer Warrior)
The Twilight Labyrinth: Why Does Spiritual Darkness Linger Where It Does? (Spiritual Mapping)
