3 out of 4 stars
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Still Believing: God is Real! by Anthony K. Russell, Jr. is a devotional book for Christians. Very short, it is comprised of very brief passages that help the reader spend a moment contemplating God. Each is inspired by a Bible verse and prefaced by a quotation. Mr. Russell expresses his thoughts in a few succinct paragraphs before concluding the devotional reading.
The key to really appreciating this book is understanding its purpose. It is designed to provoke thought and discussion. It raises questions rather than answering them. Furthermore, it is written for people who already desire a relationship with the Christian God. As you see, it’s readership is fairly specific. Within those specifications, though, it is remarkable. As a teenager, I was exposed to many of these kinds of devotionals, and this one stands out because it is understandable, well-written, and genuinely thought-provoking. It never condescends to the reader, and its message would be applicable to people of many age groups.
One aspect of Still Believing that I find particularly well done is the way it showcases the beauty and awesomeness of God. Mr. Russell points out some of God’s character qualities and then offers Biblical examples that provide evidence of them. Then, he insists that a person can know more and experience more, and he offers advice on how to go about doing so. For instance, in the passage titled “Sovereign God”, Mr. Russell describes God as ever-present and reassuring and gives the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago being sent to the fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar. The Bible story tells that not only did God preserve their lives in the inferno, but witnesses could also see a fourth figure in the furnace with the three Hebrews. Mr. Russell then explains how a story like that one should reassure Christians that even when life gets hard, one can have faith that God is still present and is protecting His devotees. It is both celebration and challenge, which is exactly what I would be looking for in a daily devotional if I were in the market.
If I could make a suggestion to the author to improve Still Believing, I would ask him to edit his quotation sources. There is an unattributed quotation before each devotional section. I didn’t recognize many of them, so it is possible that they are the author’s original words, but their presentation suggests otherwise. Additionally, the author frequently quotes the Bible and fails to give the specific chapter and verse references. He does state explicitly that he is quoting Scripture, but a chapter and verse is customary and in my opinion, conspicuously missing. If the devotional provokes discussion, the absence of a Biblical reference might make it difficult to continue the conversation.
By the time I had read the first section, I had already thought of at least five different people who would love this book. If it weren’t for the situation with the quotations, I would definitely rate this book 4 stars, but because of the missing references, I feel that I can only in good conscience give it 3 out of 4 stars. If the author has the time, I hope that someday he does back and inserts the references he left out so that his devotional can become a truly inspiring read for Christians everywhere.
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Still Believing : God is Real
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