BOOK REVIEW - 12 (THE WHITE QUEEN OF OKOYONG) BY Ms. GLYNNIS ARASHEL

 

The book The White Queen of Okoyong shows us the true story of Mary Slessor, a Scottish missionary who lived and worked among the people of Calabar (now Nigeria). In the book, we see her as a brave, determined, caring, kind, and God-trusting woman who refused to give up even when situations were dangerous.

 

She was also a woman who was ready to give anything and everything for God’s glory, even while battling serious health issues (for example, suffering from terrible fevers) that left her weak and exhausted. Even through all this, Mary Slessor was, as previously mentioned, a determined woman. Instead of staying in the mission house (a place where most missionaries stayed to rest and eat before traveling to preach), she moved to a village, took it upon herself to learn the local language, and lived there as if she were one of them—helping anyone she could while also teaching everyone about Christ and His love for them.

 

The book also reveals her understanding about the harmful and dangerous traditions and practices that villages in the region had (for example, killing and putting twins in pots because they were believed to be devils, and forcing people to take tests by drinking boiling oil or eating poison beans) and her struggle to raise awareness of Christ and stop these practices.

 

Amidst these challenges, Mary Slessor’s deep God-reliant character is clearly shown through her words, “Lord, the task is impossible for me but not for Thee. Lead the way and I will follow.” This quote reflects her unwavering faith and complete dependence on God’s guidance in facing fear, danger, and opposition.

 

She put in great effort by rescuing twins and adopting them as her own, going to places no missionary had ever been before to share the love of Christ, solving conflicts between tribes and preventing wars, giving medicine and healing the sick, loving and caring for everyone around her, and never hesitating to help someone in need.

 

A few things I liked about this book are the valuable lessons I was able to learn from it: the amount of time she spent working for God, the many days she pushed through illness, the days she battled homesickness, and the immense love she showed for the people around her. All of this led to her becoming a respected woman of God who reached thousands of Nigerians and led them to Christ. This is as inspiring and admirable as we read and imagine it.

 

Mary Slessor’s life resulted in a strong impact for Christ. She is well known for abolishing the practice of killing twins, and by the end of her life in 1915, her efforts had not only established a strong Christian presence but also expanded trade, infrastructure, and education—benefits that continue in the country to this day.

 

Therefore, this book is a must-read for people who need a push toward living a life for God, help in leading a faith-based and God-reliant life.

 

‘‘My life is one long daily, hourly record of answered prayer. For physical health, for mental overstrain, for guidance given marvelously, for errors and dangers averted, for enmity to the Gospel subdued, for food provided at the exact hour needed, for everything that goes to make up life and my poor service. I can testify, with a full and often wonder-stricken awe, that I believe God answers prayer.’’-Mary Slessor

BOOK REVIEW - 11 (YOUTH ARISE AND SHINE BY PARAMESWARI ARUN)

Once my elder brother attended a spiritual meeting and he was touched by the message delivered by the speaker. So he came and told me about the speaker who is the author of this book. I also heard her messages few times and was blessed. When we heard that she had written a book we were so eager to read that. 

Usually in her messages she quotes incidents from her own life as examples. Even in this book she had shared many of the incidents that had happened in her life, the struggles she faced and how God spoke to her and led her personally.

As she is working among the young people, she had very well understood the trials, temptations, thoughts and troubles they face and she had wrote about those in detail. She knew young people don’t like advices and but yet God led her beautifully to write one separate chapter on correction and advices.

“Correction is needed in our lives. God uses parents, elders, teachers and our friends to correct us. Such people are placed by God to mold, shape and bring us to a place where God wants us to be. When you heed, you will be a blessing for yourself and for others to bring glory to your creator. Believe me! These people are placed by God. Their corrections might be painful. But the truth is that they are important people who would shape you into perfection.”(Page 217)

Starting from loneliness, relationships, sins, and hurt, she had explained the effects of each and everything in one’s life and the way it can be overcome. In most of the books I had read no one has written about sleep. But personally God had already taught me how important sleep is. I was surprised to see a separate chapter on sleep in this book and it will be really helpful.

Everything she had written was supported by in depth statistics that happened around the world. Though the statistics part seems to be lengthy at times, I believe it will be useful for us to understand the real effect of that particular problem. 

When she quoted her own life experiences she had never projected herself as holy person. She had openly written about the insecurity she had once in her mind, her weakness and struggles which many young people could easily relate to and get blessed. 

One could understand her spiritual experience as she had quoted several Bible verses at the apt places. Also her experience in research and Chemistry was revealed in certain places where she had provided some in depth analysis and chemical reactions that happen behind certain hormones.

If you are entering into teen age, I recommend that you should get this book and read it once which will be helpful to you in all aspects. Parents and elder ones, you can read this book to understand the trials and problems your children face and this book will be definitely useful to counsel the younger ones.

BOOK REVIEW - 10 (DANGEROUS SURRENDER BY KAY WARREN)

I got this book long back from someone close to me but I could not read this for years. But recently as I got a strong desire to read this book, I took it and started reading. 

I always love to read the preface of the book to get a glimpse about the entire book. I was surprised to see certain lines written in the preface. 

“The reading won’t be easy or always pleasant – this is not a book to read when you are seeking a light-hearted romp through a make-believe world. But if you are yearning for something you can’t quite define, then you are ready for Dangerous Surrender.”

Initially when I read those lines I thought it might be written to initiate a curiosity within the reader’s mind. But as I read through the book I understood that they meant what they written in the preface.

Remember the reading won’t be always pleasant. Certain lines of this book touched me deeply and made me to realize what I am doing for God is nothing compared to what others are doing. 

Though the book gives you certain deep insights about Spiritual passages, mostly it deals with the personal experience of the author at various instances of her life and how God led her through that using her for His glory. She wrote openly about her inner thoughts and weakness which anyone could easily relate to.

“I felt powerless to do anything about the new reality thrust in front of me. I cried out to God, “Why are you bothering me with this? There’s nothing I can do about it. I am just an ordinary person. What could one person do about such a gigantic problem? And by the way, in case you haven’t noticed, I am a white, suburban mom with a mini-van. What do I know about a disease in Africa? After a month of anguished wrestling with God, I reached a point at which I had to make a conscious decision.”

The author takes us in a beautiful journey from her submission to God’s call to work among those who affected by AIDS to those people she had met in various places like hospitals, homes and brothels. Meanwhile she also writes about those people who was her inspiration to remove darkness that prevails in one’s life and encourage the readers to do so. Even the story of those people will touch you deeply.

“Heather and Scott Raines have adopted three special needs children-children truly on the bottom rung of the society-from three different countries. Their adopted children need constant medical care and treatment just to survive, but the proud smile on Heather’s face as she introduced each new little one to me touched something deep inside of me. These are her babies, loved as dearly as if they come from her own body.”

When you finish reading this book, you will know that God can use an ordinary person like us to be a blessing to many and you will understand what to do when you see anyone who is in need. This book will also benefit those who are married as the author openly writes about the struggles they faced in their journey and what makes them to stay together for more than 35 years.

In one of the pages the author writes, “God’s will begins with surrender.”

If you really have a desire to do something for God and willing to sacrifice anything for God, get a copy of this book and read it. If you have a burning desire in your heart to live a life for God but yet you don’t know what to do and where to start, read this book for it will help you to know that you are really needed by God to do His work.

As it was written in the cover page of the book, you will come to know what happens when you say yes to God. Go for this book and read it. You will be blessed Spiritually.

(Note: Lines in Italics were taken directly from the book)

BOOK REVIEW - 9 (GIFTED HANDS BY BEN CARSON)

Few years back someone gave me a movie named ‘Gifted Hands’ and told me to watch that movie without fail. I was told that the movie will be good. Usually from my teen age my mother advised me not to watch any secular movies. Since I was told that the movie is based on a real story and Christian faith, I watched that movie. 

The movie was about the life of Dr. Ben Carson, world famous neurosurgeon. His life story was so inspirational to me. I loved the way God lifted him high though his father abandoned his family at his childhood. After few days I came to know that Dr. Ben Carson itself had wrote his autobiography named ‘Gifted Hands’. I wanted to buy that book but then I thought the story will be the same as seen in the movie. So I didn’t thought about it again.

Few months before I came across the book in an online book store and I thought I will buy it and read. As I started reading, I found that the book was far more interesting and challenging than the movie. In the book, Dr. Carson openly acknowledge the grace of Jesus Christ and His guidance. 

“That morning the pastor had selected “He Hideth My Soul in the Cleft of the Rock.” He built his appeal around the missionary story and explained our need to flee to “the cleft of the Rock,” to safety found only in Jesus Christ. “If we place our faith in the Lord,” he said as his gaze swept across the faces in the congregation, “we will always be safe. Safe in Jesus Christ.” As I listened, my imagination pictured how wonderfully God had taken care of those people who wanted to serve Him. Through my imagination and emotions I lived that story with the couple, and I thought, That’s exactly what I should do-get sheltered in the cleft of the rock.”

Dr. Carson shared about the troubles that he faced from others in his childhood and also the struggles he had within his mind and how he overcame everything through prayer. 

“Lack of money constantly troubled me during my college years. Once I had absolutely no money-not even enough to ride the bus back and forth to church. That day I walked across the campus alone, bewailing my situation, tired of never having enough money to by the everyday things I needed; the simple things like toothpaste or stamps. “Lord,” I prayed, “Please help me. At least give me bus fare to go to church.” Although I’d been walking aimlessly... I looked down. A ten dollar bill lay crumpled on the ground three feet in front of me. “Thank You, God,” I said as I picked it up, hardly able to believe that I had the money in my hand.”

He also shared about how God helped him to do so many risk surgeries with a successful outcome. As he shared so many incidents that happened in his family and in his workplace, with clarity he also shared how he overcame all the troubles and how he faced joy and success. 

One thing I really understood is the way he dedicated himself to his profession and how he worked hard to reach the plan that God has in store for him. Once when I finished reading the book I really felt that I never gave much importance to my profession and I learnt that I have to dedicate myself to do the work God has given to me in profession and also in Ministry with so much of sincerity and commitment. 

If you are a young adult wanted to achieve something in your life, I strongly recommend this book to you. The life story of Dr. Ben Carson will inspire you, challenge you, will make you think big and will take you a step closer to Jesus Christ. This book is an interesting book to read and surely God will encourage you through this book. God bless you.

(Note: The words in Italics were directly taken from the book)

BOOK REVIEW - 8 (MARRIAGE, DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE BY KENNETH E. HAGIN)

When I was doing my PG degree I went to my college library to get some religious books. On that day I picked up a book on prayer written by Kenneth E. Hagin. Though I failed to read that whole book, I was amazed at the insights he got from God to write that book. From that day on I loved to read the books written by Bro. Kenneth E. Hagin.  

Being a married guy I thought this book will help me in some way to understand the problems that happen in a marriage life. As I started reading the first chapter of this book I felt touched by the three main perspectives from which Bro. Hagin started writing this book.

“First, I am writing as one who knows the pain of a broken home. My father abandoned the family when I was five years old. Second, I also write as one who knows the joys of a wonderful marriage. At the time of this writing, I have been married for sixty-two years. Third, I write as a minister of the Gospel, as one who is divinely commissioned to keep the word of God as the supreme guide and authority in all things.”

Starting from the reasons why he writes such book, he simply touches upon the lessons he learned through so many people life whom he had met in his 70 years of ministry. 

The insights he gave from the life of other people whom he had met was so profound and thoughtful. 

He also used scriptures to suggest how a husband and wife should behave in their homes to have a blessed marriage life. 

“The husband should give himself up for the wife, as Christ gave Himself up for the Church. And the wife should give herself up for her husband, as Christ also gave Himself up for the Church. That’s really walking in love and keeping the Lord’s commandments. As the husband and the wife give themselves to one another, they are laid on the altar of marriage. And the two become one in Christ, each living for and to bless the other.”

Not only that, he also suggested the practical problems of a marriage life.

“The problems of husbands and wives typically center around four things: 1. Religion, 2. Sex, 3. Money and 4. Children. One of the best ways to avoid problems in these four areas is to discuss them in detail before you get married.”

Whatever the steps he had wrote in this book, he explained them with the way how he implemented and got benefited in his own life. His own life experiences were really thought provoking.

I recommend this book strongly for those who believe in Christ. This book will clearly tell you whom you should marry and why you should not marry an unbeliever.

To those who were already married, this book will give you an insight to love your partner more than ever before. To those who got divorced, this book will guide you to take the next step in the light of God’s word.

Do read this book and get blessed. God bless you abundantly.

(Note: The passages in Italics were directly taken from the book)