Thomas Freeman's Reviews > The Blessing
My rating:
The Blessing
by John T. Trent, John T. Trent
by John T. Trent, John T. Trent
This book has been a “blessing” to me and I believe to my family. I know I have been impacted by it in the past without even knowing the source. I have been taught this before. I have heard about the importance of specifically and formally writing and sharing a wonderful vision of the future for your friends and loved ones. This book was probably one of the influencers in those who have shared this with me. And although I have been influenced, I don’t think I have ever formally committed to this. I have now. I highly recommend this book.
The bad – I think the author’s do a terrible job with bible hermeneutics. They take the old testament blessing of Isaac to his sons and of Jacob to his sons and use it as the basis. However, in an effort to provide specific spiritual foundations to their views, they read a lot of application into passages that really are about something completely different. Both of these passages were used by God to lay down prophetic direction that would be fulfilled in the lives of their kids. These were one time acts near the death of the one giving the blessing.
The “blessing” concept, as given to us by the authors, is certainly in line with the character of God, the commands to love one another and was exemplified many times in scripture. But not in the 5 step pattern that the author takes as a mandate to be repeated every day. Since the concept is there in scripture – I would have preferred to see the author’s explain the wisdom of their 5 steps and then won us to a passion to impact our sphere of friends and family. They could have shown clearly how this reflects the character of God and is obedient to the commands for the Body of Christ to love others.
The Good – This book is extremely practical. The authors give many stories that help to really grasp and understand the need and wisdom in the steps they provide. They have made the concept “do able”. I personally value this and feel many books fall short at the steps of passion and never help us implement the concept in real life. I have personally learned and committed to carrying this concept out. I’m thankful that God allowed me to stumble across this book at this time as I have personally been asking the Lord to teach me more in this area. God is faithful and is ready to love the world through us. One way is by our commitment to “blessing” others!
I highly recommend this book.
The bad – I think the author’s do a terrible job with bible hermeneutics. They take the old testament blessing of Isaac to his sons and of Jacob to his sons and use it as the basis. However, in an effort to provide specific spiritual foundations to their views, they read a lot of application into passages that really are about something completely different. Both of these passages were used by God to lay down prophetic direction that would be fulfilled in the lives of their kids. These were one time acts near the death of the one giving the blessing.
The “blessing” concept, as given to us by the authors, is certainly in line with the character of God, the commands to love one another and was exemplified many times in scripture. But not in the 5 step pattern that the author takes as a mandate to be repeated every day. Since the concept is there in scripture – I would have preferred to see the author’s explain the wisdom of their 5 steps and then won us to a passion to impact our sphere of friends and family. They could have shown clearly how this reflects the character of God and is obedient to the commands for the Body of Christ to love others.
The Good – This book is extremely practical. The authors give many stories that help to really grasp and understand the need and wisdom in the steps they provide. They have made the concept “do able”. I personally value this and feel many books fall short at the steps of passion and never help us implement the concept in real life. I have personally learned and committed to carrying this concept out. I’m thankful that God allowed me to stumble across this book at this time as I have personally been asking the Lord to teach me more in this area. God is faithful and is ready to love the world through us. One way is by our commitment to “blessing” others!
I highly recommend this book.
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