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75th out of 955 books
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1,451 voters
And the Shofar Blew
2004 winner of a Retailer's Choice award from Christian Retailing In the Old Testament, God called his people to action with the blast of the shofar, a ram's horn. God still calls his people today. In this relevant and timely contemporary novel, dynamic young preacher Paul Hudson is committed to building his church--but at what cost? As Paul's zeal and ambition build, he l...more
Paperback, 448 pages
Published
January 22nd 2004
by Tyndale House Publishers
(first published January 1st 2003)
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WOW! I REALLY enjoyed this book. It is rather thick with very small print so it took me awhile. It really made me think. As you all know the church I attend as had declining attendance for several years. I have been thinking and praying for more people to come. This book made me see its not really the numbers but seeing that you are right with GOD. Living the way, walking the walk, and talking the talk. I think I will try some other books by this author! I don't know if this "review" makes much...more
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I am really having trouble putting to words my feelings about this book...it was an emotionally heavy and depressing read for me through much of the first three quarters or so and I can't pinpoint exactly what affected me the most...I don't know if it was grief for Eunice and Timothy because of the ugliness of Paul and what he turned into or if it was the aspects of Paul that I could identify with; the same false motives and selfish attitudes that I know I have operated under before in my own li...more
Very nice story that doesn't throw religion down your throat. Francine Rivers has a way of conveying right from wrong without the overly, push it in your face, preachy sermon type novels. I really enjoyed this book!
From back cover:
"He seemed like the perfect pastor to lead Centerville Christian Church. She was the perfect pastor's wife.
When Paul Hudson accepted the call to pastor the struggling church, he had no idea what to expect. But it didn't take long for Paul to turn Centerville Christian...more
From back cover:
"He seemed like the perfect pastor to lead Centerville Christian Church. She was the perfect pastor's wife.
When Paul Hudson accepted the call to pastor the struggling church, he had no idea what to expect. But it didn't take long for Paul to turn Centerville Christian...more
I lived 33 years in the same community as Francine Rivers and saw this story happen "in real life." It must have been her inspiration. I wondered how she fictionalized and treated the story. So I listened to the audio book on CD and found it insightful, sympathetic, and ringing true to experience and scripture. Stylistically I was impressed with how she developed a big story scene by scene, moving the conflict and themes forward succinctly, smoothly, and engagingly. The story is layered, as life...more
MY REVIEW:
This is the story of a young Pastor and his wife who accept the call to a small dying church. They begin this new chapter of life with zeal, passion, and love for one another. Then just as you fall in love with them and the other sweet characters of this story, the tale twists and the reality of sin becomes all too visible to the reader. This story - while fictional - is sadly all too true of many churches across America. Francine once again expertly captures your imagination and your...more
This is the story of a young Pastor and his wife who accept the call to a small dying church. They begin this new chapter of life with zeal, passion, and love for one another. Then just as you fall in love with them and the other sweet characters of this story, the tale twists and the reality of sin becomes all too visible to the reader. This story - while fictional - is sadly all too true of many churches across America. Francine once again expertly captures your imagination and your...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Good story of a pastor and the struggle he has with his ambitions of having a growing church. His father was a famous pastor of a megachurch and Paul seemd to think that this is the best example to follow instead of what the Lord wants. He thinks that he is following the Lord's calling but it is his pride and ambition leading the way.
His wife has a real problem with the way he moves ahead without abandon but doesn't speak up enough, in my opinion. I mean, come on, when he takes the word "Chris...more
His wife has a real problem with the way he moves ahead without abandon but doesn't speak up enough, in my opinion. I mean, come on, when he takes the word "Chris...more
Another great book by Francine Rivers! How does she do it? I procrastinated in starting this book, I am not sure why, maybe it was the cover, or the title? I am soooo glad that I did finally pick it up! Once I did, I could not put it down! So many nuances and layers to this story; from marriage,and woman's intuition, to the fact that a pastor, with all that he is, is still a man, human and capable of sin. My heart broke, and my spirit rejoiced all with one book! Very relatable for all Christian...more
This is the story of a young pastor who takes on a dying church and resurrects it. Unfortunately he gets too caught up in his own importance and forgets about the real meaning of being a Christian. I liked the story. I found it interesting to see how a mega-church might be developed and what the pitfalls could be.
I had some issues with how quickly Pastor Paul loses sight of his faith. Although I did appreciate a line from near the end of the book on how leadership is fraught with trying to keep...more
I had some issues with how quickly Pastor Paul loses sight of his faith. Although I did appreciate a line from near the end of the book on how leadership is fraught with trying to keep...more
I'm not a huge fan of Christian fiction (sorry!) because I think much of it is not well written. Add to that the fact that I'm not a romance novel fan at all and it's a wonder that I like Francine Rivers Mrs. Rivers is a former romance novelist-turned-born-again-Christian novelist. I first read her Redeeming Love more than a year ago and just recently picked up "And the Shofar Blew."
Shofar is about what a church really means. Is it the building and numbers/goals or is it people who are gathered...more
Shofar is about what a church really means. Is it the building and numbers/goals or is it people who are gathered...more
Francine Rivers is a slight cut above the typical Christian author talent and style, so when I want an easy read without any sex and a reasonably intelligent handling of some interesting ideas I read her. I finished this book last night and I didn't want to put it down because I really wanted to see Pastor Paul burn. Unfortunately, he didn't.
Rivers did a good job of making her characters a realistic mixture of good and bad, but halfway through the story you can't remember any reason to like Pau...more
Rivers did a good job of making her characters a realistic mixture of good and bad, but halfway through the story you can't remember any reason to like Pau...more
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Christian Fiction. I wanted a small break from the heavy reading. This, like Redeeming Love, has given me small sentences to chew on and think about...I wish I had been writing them down as I came to them.
This one just hit me about seniors - they want to pay for services...and sometimes we don't want to take it...we'll just come once a while.
"Samuel stay at the kitchen table, staring out at his backyard. Abby had helped him put in the Red Blaze climbing roses that were spilling over the back f...more
This one just hit me about seniors - they want to pay for services...and sometimes we don't want to take it...we'll just come once a while.
"Samuel stay at the kitchen table, staring out at his backyard. Abby had helped him put in the Red Blaze climbing roses that were spilling over the back f...more
Many are familiar with the great line from Spiderman: With great power comes great responsibility. Often, the reverse is also true:with great responsibility comes great power. The question for those in power is how to maintain humility and accountability. Francine Rivers presents and then answers these questions very well in her book And the Shofar Blew.
As I read the book, I could see the train wrecks coming. Paul building his platform and losing his family, a wife attracted to an available male...more
As I read the book, I could see the train wrecks coming. Paul building his platform and losing his family, a wife attracted to an available male...more
After I read Redeeming Love I got kind of obsessed with Francine Rivers. This is the third book in a row I've read of hers (and I just started a fourth). They are all very readable with very sympathetic characters, and she deals with serious questions. Her books are very much a cut above the average Christian fiction genre. I liked this one a little less than her others, and almost gave it 3 stars but decided on 4 because I think she gets points for dealing with a really difficult subject of how...more
So ready for this book to be over! How much more can she drag this out?! I'm about to die from near boredom with this drug-out storyline...
I finally finished I didn't know if I could bear it anymore. :/ The Scarlet Thread by Rivers is far better.
I think I might of liked this book if it wasn't as long! Also, the book was full of cliche's. There's only so much of that I can handle.
Okay, the characters' names were creative (although I think a little cheesy)
Samuel- is one of the elders in the fledg...more
I finally finished I didn't know if I could bear it anymore. :/ The Scarlet Thread by Rivers is far better.
I think I might of liked this book if it wasn't as long! Also, the book was full of cliche's. There's only so much of that I can handle.
Okay, the characters' names were creative (although I think a little cheesy)
Samuel- is one of the elders in the fledg...more
This was a painful and difficult book to read in many ways because it was so realistic about what can go in in churches and with ministers and their wives. It was hard to read about the kind of pride that leads to this kind of thing... I am so glad Francine wrote it though, as I think it is an honest look at the problem which we only have a chance of fixing by being honest. But I think many don't want to think this IS a problem. We need to seek God, seek God, seek God and His will for our lives....more
Wow. This book was long. And heartbreaking. And frustrating. But it was GOOD!
Let me say first that I really enjoy reading Francine Rivers. As a reader I appreciate that she really weaves you into the lives of the characters with such detail. Yes, this typically makes for longer books, but I always feel as though I know these people I am reading about. I can practically see their face, hear their voice. I miss them when the book is over! As a Christian, I also appreciate that she writes stories r...more
Let me say first that I really enjoy reading Francine Rivers. As a reader I appreciate that she really weaves you into the lives of the characters with such detail. Yes, this typically makes for longer books, but I always feel as though I know these people I am reading about. I can practically see their face, hear their voice. I miss them when the book is over! As a Christian, I also appreciate that she writes stories r...more
I have been a fan of Francine Rivers - but I really didn't like this book much. Sure, it sucks you in and makes you want to read it. But it was also depressing, a little un-realistic, and very much shoving Christianity (and her opinions about what Christianity should look like)in your face.
I got the frustrating introduction to this book from my mother. I was only a few pages into it when she saw me reading it and said “ugh, I didn’t like that book at all!” Not that we share similar literary tastes at all, but it’s never nice to hear something like that about a book you’ve just started. That being said, I’m not exactly sure what it was about this book which bothered me. I didn’t really care for many of the characters, but they were lovingly developed and the story was intricate and...more
This book was a surprise. I thought, from the title, that it would be a novel with Old Testament characters. Instead it was a compelling analysis of how a church can go wrong when its lead pastor goes astray. At a certain moment, after years of subtle sliding, God finally intervenes.
Many ideas for discussion questions. How should you react when any enterprise in which you are involved (whether it be a church or a marriage) is clearly getting in trouble? To what degree do you continue the route...more
Many ideas for discussion questions. How should you react when any enterprise in which you are involved (whether it be a church or a marriage) is clearly getting in trouble? To what degree do you continue the route...more
I suppose this is about as good as it gets for Christian fiction. Francine Rivers can write, but her Christian blinders make parts of this book unintentionally hilarious. One of my Bible-thumping relatives saw it on my bookshelf and started salivating at the prospect of having a long conversation about God. Didn't have the heart to tell her I'd bought it for a laugh.
I didn't like Milton when I was forced to read "Paradise Lost" at university, but it's a shame that in our times, high-minded peop...more
I didn't like Milton when I was forced to read "Paradise Lost" at university, but it's a shame that in our times, high-minded peop...more
I really enjoyed this book by one of my favorite authors. The characters and the plot lines were well developed and it caught my interest early and never let it go. It is the story of a young pastor who follows in his pastor father’s footsteps and loses sight of his heavenly father along the way. He affects many people’s lives and there are people who affect his life all along the way. The most important being through prayer. I would be hard pressed to really find any bad points about the book,...more
i would love to say i enjoyed this book, or that it made me feel great but unfortunately the book is too well written. i couldn't put it down but francine has such accurate insight into the modern church that it hurt.
i read someone's review that they believed this book to be full of cliches but this was the first book i've read that addressed such common battles within churches. maybe i've just been reading 'feel-good' books?
however, i'm glad i read it and it put some serious issues on my heart...more
i read someone's review that they believed this book to be full of cliches but this was the first book i've read that addressed such common battles within churches. maybe i've just been reading 'feel-good' books?
however, i'm glad i read it and it put some serious issues on my heart...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
A blood chilling story, completely plausible. It portrays a grotesque transformation of a man seemingly after God's own heart. Though it's plot takes place over the course of many years it's so skilfully written that you hardly notice the change of time. The characters age naturally and there isn't any jerky or rushed information. It's so beautiful how the story is spun from the point of view of a confused wife and mother as we readers chart the course of her relationship with a living and uncha...more
3.5 stars.
This would have been a full four, but some parts at the end didn't sit quite right with me.
I became very emotionally attached to this book almost right from the get-go. The story of Paul's journey felt a little close to home. I don't believe the preachers I know have been like that, but I am really big on semantics, and some changes talked about frighten me a bit. Seeing the "decline" of the church and seeing the way Eunice and Tim were treated made my heart ache.
All-in-all, this was a...more
This would have been a full four, but some parts at the end didn't sit quite right with me.
I became very emotionally attached to this book almost right from the get-go. The story of Paul's journey felt a little close to home. I don't believe the preachers I know have been like that, but I am really big on semantics, and some changes talked about frighten me a bit. Seeing the "decline" of the church and seeing the way Eunice and Tim were treated made my heart ache.
All-in-all, this was a...more
This book made me cry, As a pastor's daughter, it felt like Francine was telling my story, what my mother went through, my brothers became rebellious, my dad falling ill and dying in the middle of all my parents separated. The case of another woman in the picture broke my mothers heart. Church folks didnt help either. This is a lesson for all. It's all about God, not your ambition. Let God be the center of it all. I wish I could re-write my family's story, but God knows best. Thanks Francine for...more
And the Shofar Blew tells the story of Paul Hudson, a young pastor who helps the struggling Centerville Christian Church of 50 members turn into a quickly growing church. But amidst the new growth, his wife, Eunice, feels like something isn't right...something that hasn't been right for a while. Where can a pastor's wife go for help when her marriage is failing and her life is out of control? This novel addresses several important topics, such as the different ways people hear God's voice (somet...more
Francine Rivers is my favorite author. This book made me cry. I'm learning, though, that the characters in her stories can go through some pretty tough times and sometimes they're almost too unbearable for me to read. I think this book is intended to parallel the disobedience of the Isrealites and God calling them out of the darkness of their lives of idolatry and self gratification, calling them with a trumpet call to worship Him alone.
In this story, a minister husband is caught up in "buildi...more
In this story, a minister husband is caught up in "buildi...more
To be honest I HATED this book! The plot was awful, and the ending pissed me off. It didn't seem to resemble anything near to a realistic experience of someone in ministry- or someone who has experienced a betrayal of that stature. I was glad that I read this when I worked at a Bible store and could only try and get people to buy her other books- some of which are among my favorite. I was thoroughly disappointed and disgusted with this book- totally not up to par with what the author is capable...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Not a fan of Paul | 12 | 17 | 24. April, 19:35 Uhr |
New York Times best-selling author Francine Rivers began her literary career at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in English and journalism. From 1976 to 1985, she had a successful writing career in the general market, and her books were highly acclaimed by readers and reviewers. Although raised in a religious home, Francine did not truly encounter...more
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