âYahweh, Jehovah God, change the overall heart of this gathering place of believers to resemble the heart of Yeshua rather than the unconverted worldâ (Enoch).
The Unannounced Christmas Visitor is a compelling, thought-provoking story that I enjoyed very much. It seems like a combination of allegory or parable and relationship drama â relationship between members of the Jensen family, and relationship between mankind and God. In the opening pages, an angel in the form of a homeless man, Enoch, enters a megachurch worship service, is promptly escorted from the front to the back row, and proceeds to shake up the norm. Elements of this story reminded me of the beloved classic, In His Steps.
I loved the interaction within the Jensen family. John, once a loving husband/father and devout Christian, he had become disconnected from his family, standoffish and argumentative in recent months. Lydia was open to God's working in her life and began reaching out to Enoch and the homeless group in the park. Lydia knew that âher Savior was more interested in the condition of the heart and how His followers treated others, than how many Christian songs and Bible verses they had memorized.â
Enoch was a fascinating character and I adored him. His mission from God wasn't clearly revealed at first, so he had spent a good amount of time with the homeless group, ministering to them in incredible spiritual ways. The author brought this group to life, making me care about them. Then as Lydia, and later John, reached out to them, the story was hard to put down. I loved the impact of the night John spent with them in the cold park.
âUntil you're put in a position of total dependency on Christ and not your own abilities, you'll never truly know what it means to be fully alive as one of His followersâ (Leroy). This story clearly presents the gospel message. There are lengthy passages of dialogue â teaching, sermonizing, etc. â but the intrinsic value of the message reigns supreme. The story illuminates the real meaning of Christmas, perfect for the season or anytime of the year. An Unexpected Christmas Visitor would make a great gift for a new Christian, a seeker, or someone who has grown complacent in their faith.
I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
The Unannounced Christmas Visitor is a compelling, thought-provoking story that I enjoyed very much. It seems like a combination of allegory or parable and relationship drama â relationship between members of the Jensen family, and relationship between mankind and God. In the opening pages, an angel in the form of a homeless man, Enoch, enters a megachurch worship service, is promptly escorted from the front to the back row, and proceeds to shake up the norm. Elements of this story reminded me of the beloved classic, In His Steps.
I loved the interaction within the Jensen family. John, once a loving husband/father and devout Christian, he had become disconnected from his family, standoffish and argumentative in recent months. Lydia was open to God's working in her life and began reaching out to Enoch and the homeless group in the park. Lydia knew that âher Savior was more interested in the condition of the heart and how His followers treated others, than how many Christian songs and Bible verses they had memorized.â
Enoch was a fascinating character and I adored him. His mission from God wasn't clearly revealed at first, so he had spent a good amount of time with the homeless group, ministering to them in incredible spiritual ways. The author brought this group to life, making me care about them. Then as Lydia, and later John, reached out to them, the story was hard to put down. I loved the impact of the night John spent with them in the cold park.
âUntil you're put in a position of total dependency on Christ and not your own abilities, you'll never truly know what it means to be fully alive as one of His followersâ (Leroy). This story clearly presents the gospel message. There are lengthy passages of dialogue â teaching, sermonizing, etc. â but the intrinsic value of the message reigns supreme. The story illuminates the real meaning of Christmas, perfect for the season or anytime of the year. An Unexpected Christmas Visitor would make a great gift for a new Christian, a seeker, or someone who has grown complacent in their faith.
I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
