Confessions of a Grieving Christian

Book Review.

Adelaja, Sunday. Church Shift. Revolutionizing your faith, church, and life for the 21st century. Charisma House- 2008
S.A.- founder and senior pastor of the Embassy of God church in Kyviv, Ukraine, the largest church in Europe.

Comment. Henry
An amazing story! The endorsements include that of President Clinton. Sunday firmly believes that the church is the salvation of the nation and must therefore become very involved in its nation. (This does not seem to be separation of church and state.) Born in Nigeria and educated in Russia, Sunday had great potential as an international journalist but chose rather to become a pastor. He is a recognized leader at the highest level in the Ukraine and personally was involved in the Orange Revolution in 2004. A very inspiring and challenging read.

There are strong “kingdom principles” (13) that need to characterize the church and its impact on its nation. God’s redemptive plan is not only for individuals but also for nations.
1 Peter 2:9.

We all have our Promised Land where we are to labor for the Kingdom. It is outside of the church and we must discover it. An ongoing process of education is part of this discovery. Doing Kingdom work requires that we become “kingdom minded”. (49)

Success is the result of hard work. Sunday shares his story of coming to Russia from Nigeria to go to university and being supernaturally called to become a pastor. His academic training for ministry included severe persecution. “Persecution gives us the perfect platform to overcome evil with good.” (92)

Sunday’s first job in Kyviv was as a journalist. Then he became a pastor. “My breakthrough came when I left the pulpit and went to the streets to look for the outcasts.” (97) The Kingdom does not happen without a fight. Some of Sunday’s victories are related. Being a deliverer is part of being an effective Kingdom leader.

“Three practical principles- have given our efforts great effectiveness. Two million people have come to Christ at the altar of our church.” (133) Teach kingdom principles. Serve society. Follow up good ideas that will impact our culture with necessary organization.

It is very important to have a balance between prayer and action. Know when to transition from prayer to action. A moving story is told of the Orange Revolution that happened in 2004 and the part that Sunday and his church had in it. “When the church takes a strong, visible stance in society, godly people will more easily rise to positions of influence and power.” (173)

Sunday tells about being invited to the Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York. There was only one other pastor there along with many high level leaders. “The Christian community is largely mute on the major issues of the day.” (177) The challenge is made very strongly to be available and ready to move when it comes to our part in establishing the Kingdom of God on earth.
Book Review.

Ziglar, Zig. Confessions of a Grieving Christian. Thomas Nelson Pub. 1998

Comment. Henry
I picked up a handful of books at the public library a few days ago and this was the first title that got my attention for the following reasons. Next weekend we are going to the coast (Vancouver) for a memorial service of my wife’s brother who passed away Christmas day. While there we will be visiting my older sister who is in St. Michael’s Hospice (palliative care) facility. She is in her last stages of cancer. While reading the book my mind frequently went back to my own personal experiences of grieving. I lost my mother when I was fifteen. I lost my first wife when she was thirty-one. We had three young children. Since then I lost my father and an older sister.
Zig has presented a moving account of how he and his family went through their experience of grieving when his forty-six year old daughter passed away. Anyone who has had to go through the experience of losing a loved one or is going through the experience will find this book helpful. It would also be a relevant resource for anyone wanting to be helpful to those who are going through a grieving process.

“The process of grief is given to us by a loving heavenly Father” (2) Out of grief can come greater love. Grief is part of life. God grieves. Losing a loved one is traumatic and personal. Grief touches every area of our life. The author’s grief focused on “sorrow, love, and joy”. (29) There is therapy in tears.

Death brings fears and the fear of dying is a very real fear. That fear often includes a feeling of abandonment by God. Christ and the knowledge of Christ make a difference. When we deal with the why questions we can experience a greater confidence and trust in God. “Why questions tend to keep us in fear and sadness.” (78) When you know where someone is they are not lost.

Some thoughts about heaven are shared. Heaven will be all about reality in a glorified body that will be without limitations. “A man is not completely born until he is dead.” Benjamin Franklin. To not be able to describe heaven with human language does not make it less real. During the time of grieving be open to ‘miracles’ in your experience. Don’t mistake them for coincidence.

Grief is tempered by prayer. It becomes an avenue by which we can enter into the grieving process of others. God’s Word is a huge source of comfort. Grief is personal. Don’t try to control your grief or the grief of others. Body language (a hug) is often more effective than verbal language when comforting others. Let them know that you are praying for them. (And then make sure you do pray for them.)

Some helpful comments are made about the opportunities to give to others out of your grief. Accept comfort from others readily. Keeping a departed loved one in your thoughts and conversations contributes to the healing process.

The suffering that comes with losing a loved one has potential for strengthening relationships and the capacity for purposeful work. Some advice is given regarding regret and guilt which are a common part of grieving. The author deals with the reality of “afterschocks of grief”. (215) Grief is like a roller-coaster.

In the grieving process choose to focus on good memories. A strongly developed trust (faith) in God born out in a vital relationship with Him is the best preparation for anticipated grief.