From my Library - - Primal by Mark Batterson

From my Library
Primal
A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity

Several weeks ago, I received an advance copy of Primal by Mark Batterson. I was excited to receive the book as his previous book, Wild Goose Chase, was a significant read for me.


Let me begin by stating that I have followed Mark on Twitter and Facebook for quite a while; and as a result, I feel I have become acquainted with him from a distance. Primal, as did Wild Goose Chase, continued to show me more about the heart of the man that God is using significantly.

Anyone who has been around me for any length of time knows of my love affair with Italy. Living in Italy for five years certainly had an impact on me that has left me with clear prejudices for the Italians and their incredible history. I say that to help you understand why the beginning of Primal grabbed me and did not release me until the final page.

Mark begins by sharing the story of his visit to one of my favorite places in Rome, The Church of San Clemente. I have recommended this stop to anyone who was going to Rome. To get all the details of his story, you should read Primal. However, I was captured by his statement, “With each step, a layer of history was stripped away until all that was left was Christianity in all its primal glory.”

In the pages that follow the opening story, Mark weaves incredible illustrations and remarkable facts into a timeless book that should be read by everyone professing to be a Christ-follower.

Clearly divided into four sections that address the heart, soul, mind and strength of Christianity, Mark pulls no punches.

Think about a few statements:

“In my experience, it’s much easier to act like a Christian than it is to react like one.”

“Have you ever noticed the way that suffering helps us become less self-absorbed?”

“The problem with the prosperity gospel is that anytime you put an adjective in front of the gospel, you distort the gospel.”

Early in the book, Mark makes the statement, “The bottom line is this: your focus determines your reality.”

I think more than anything else, Primal was written to help us change our focus. When we focus on the heart, soul, mind and strength that God desires for us, we allow God to change our reality.

This is not a book for the “make me feel good about myself crowd.” It is a book for the group that not just says, but means “have your way with me, Lord.”

Do I recommend Primal? Absolutely yes!

It is a book to be read and studied. It is a book to be processed and then shared with others.