Contrarian's Guide to Knowing God
by Larry Osborne
Published by Multnomah Publishing
Click on book
cover to order
at Amazon.com
Reviewed by Dr. David Frisbie
A wise, articulate book that points us to serving God with gladness!
Larry Osborne is back with fresh insight about how all of us--not just the scholarly, introverted, monastic personalities among us--can move forward in our spiritual journeys. As always, Osborne is readable, engaging, and right on the mark.
It's no surprise that survey after survey identifies Dr. Larry Osborne as one of the "most influential pastors" in North America. Osborne has been at the forefront of the church's most successful recent adaptations to contemporary culture--and he's still out in front, leading the way, this time about personal spiritual formation.
A seeming counterpoint to contemporary classics such as "Celebration of Discipline" (Richard Foster) and "The Spirit of the Disciplines" (Dallas Willard), this book explores how anyone with a heart for God can develop and grow spiritually, without having to take on an exhaustive regimen of structured habits and practices.
Here is Osborne's take on the role that faith plays in our daily lives: "It's not how much or how little (faith) we have that matters. It's whether we're willing to act upon the mustard seed (i.e., tiny amount) that we've got." Osborne applies this same practical,
clear-minded thinking to nearly two dozen topics, writing succinctly in essay style.
Well-written, well-organized and easy to read, this book provides fertile ground for pastors and teachers, for everyone interested in spiritual growth and for anyone who wants to discover God's ideas about who we are as His children.
Together with wife Lisa, Dr. David Frisbie serves as executive director of The Center for Marriage & Family Studies in Del Mar, California. David and Lisa have authored eight books and numerous articles about family life.
Armchair Interviews says: Very enlightening.