Jared Brock

This novel appealed to me because of the author. I had read a number of his earlier books, including The Road to Dawn and A Year of Living Prayerfully, so when I learned he had a new book out and what the subject was, I jumped at the change to read and review this book.

I appreciated how the author gave readers a peek into Jesus’ daily activities, demonstrating that he was a real person who existed in a real historical period and location.

The author discussed the lives of the twelve disciples using scripture, which I found to be effective. I like how he looked at Jesus’ relationships with the disciples and how he respected women of that time. I enjoyed how the author skillfully dispels various widespread misconceptions about Jesus, his teachings, his disciples, his childhood, and his vocation just to name a few.

The book includes details concerning Jesus of Nazareth's past from the Bible and other documents. Some of the ideas this author made me consider I hadn't thought of before. After finishing this book, I gained fresh perspectives on Jesus's life in Rome as well as an insight into historical politics and customs of the times. The final few chapters, which were set during the week leading up to Passion Week, were gripping and, to put it simply, eye opening. I walked away from this book with a new and fresh look at the life of Jesus.
This book is for you if you're seeking for a readable, thought-provoking, and enlightening look at Jesus' daily existence in the first century.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/… (más)

This was definitely a unique book which will make it appeal to some. However, I'm not sure that the reader will learn much about Christian prayer, the subject of the book. It is more of a study in the traditions and practices of various religious denominations and some cults. It is interesting none-the-less but my concern is that it might lead some people down some dangerous paths. Christians who are not grounded in the Word might be side-tracked to pursue some of these extra-biblical ideas which wouldn't help them grow in spiritual maturity and could be a distraction.

Brock and his wife travelled to many countries of the world during his year of living prayerfully. They investigated prayer practices in the places they went to and took part in the religious customs as they went. This included attending a Benny Hinn meeting, walking on coals, a visit to Westboro Baptist church, going to North Korea, meeting the Pope and somehow having lunch with him and a number of other things.

Brock entered fully into his experiment and took part in a lot of rituals that were questionable for me. He resisted the command to bow before an idol in North Korea but participated in a lot of other mystical practices and superstitions that I would personally have avoided. Whilst protestant himself he seems to have no issues with ecumenism and quotes a number of mystics, catholics and cult leaders. The question really is how far one should go in attempting to learn how to pray ...

Brock adopted some of his new discoveries into his daily prayer routine including a lot of time in silence. Each person needs to work this out for themselves before God but contemplative spirituality was stamped on quite a lot of this book. Whilst Brock avoids and rejects some of the extremes he encounters, he doesn't seem to be aware of other potential dangers.

A reader might enjoy this for the historical research value particularly as he visited some hard to reach places and shares how customs have advanced over the years. Brock writes in an easy to read, casual style, I didn't find his humour that amusing but others might.

I don't recommend this as a guide to learning how to pray. Prayer is simply a means of communicating with God. We have enough examples in Scripture and I don't think we need to make it complicated or follow rituals. Christians may want to read this book for the travel/history aspect but just be wary of being unduly influenced. It is clean--there is no bad language, violence or sexual content.… (más)

First of all, let me tell you again–this review is for the Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an honest review. I’m telling you now, first, so that I don’t forget; and secondly, because I bought the Kindle version when it went on sale. I WILLINGLY bought this, so I have two copies.

I love memoirs, and since I’ve been trying to sort out myself spiritually for a while now, I’m intrigued by people for whom faith seems to come more easily or for people who are trying to figure things out too.

“We wanted to be prayer warriors, but we felt like prayer wanderers.” Have you ever felt this way? Goodness knows, I have and do. The journey that Jared and Michelle Brock went on to spark their faith and joy in prayer was a pilgrimage filled with laughter and well, prayer.… (más)

Brock spends a year exploring various ways of praying, including Jewish traditions, Greek Orthodox traditions, Catholic traditions, and Protestant traditions. It’s not an objectively told tale, not an NPR sort of report, so don’t expect that. And it’s not a story that takes in non-Christian prayer, so don’t look for that either. It is, however, a fully-satisfying look at one man’s attempt to go deeper into a relationship with God. And parts will make you laugh out loud. And other parts will make you pause to think. And pray.… (más)