What If It's True? -a storyteller's journey with Jesus - by Charles Martin ~Book Tour and Review

Publisher's Description:
With the same depth, sensitivity, and emotion that has made his novels beloved to millions, Charles Martin helps us engage the fundamental principles of our faith in new and inspiring ways. Years ago, Martin cracked open his Bible and began wrestling with a few fundamental questions. He asked, “What if every single word of Scripture is absolutely true and I can trust it? How do I respond? Something in me should change, but what? How?” This book is the result of that exploration. Writing as our guide, he uses a storyteller’s imagination to illuminate key moments from the Scriptures, primarily from the life and ministry of Jesus. In addition, Martin shares key moments from his own journey as a disciple—and bondservant—of Christ and a mentor to others. The result is a striking exploration of truth that helps us not just think differently, but live differently. Today.


My Thoughts:
Charles Martin is one of my favorite authors because of the way he is able to put his finger on and convey the human heart and condition.  In this book, he leaves his fiction roots and writes a very vulnerable and honest account of his journey in faith and challenges the reader to ask themselves "What if every word in the bible is true and how should I respond to that truth?"  He starts each chapter with an account in the bible.  He looks at it through a storyteller's eyes and gives the character's involved a human touch with the possible emotions they might have experienced and the context that their story is in.  Then he goes deeper by examining all sorts of related scripture and puts the light of that scripture to his own walk while asking the reader to do the same and then bringing it full circle back to the story.  He ends each chapter with a deep related prayer essentially asking the reader to join in the prayer making the scripture applicable to life today. 

This is not a book to be rushed through.  It is a very deep and personal study.   The reader might not agree with some of the story telling license taken in some instances or some of the conclusions and some of the topics may get under the reader's skin but the point is that the reader should be compelled to go deeper into their own study of the word and ask themselves how it applies to them.  Every chapter put it's finger on things in my own heart.  It was one of the most convicting and challenging and encouraging books I've read in a while.  It was chock full of scripture and each chapter has all scriptures listed in an appendix in the back so that the reader can really get into their own study of the topic.  It encourages a deep examination of ourselves, not for the purpose of finger pointing or condemnation but so that we can fully turn to Jesus and experience a more intimate walk with Him in our everyday.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers for sending me a free copy for an honest review.  I was not required to give a positive review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.