Even In Our Darkness
Even In Our Darkness: A Story of Beauty in a Broken Life
Jack S. Deere
Zondervan
Jack Deere is one of my favorite authors and I have always enjoyed his books. SURPRISED BY THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT was transformational in my understanding of how the Holy Spirit can and does work in the believer's life.
I have been waiting for a new book from Jack Deere for many years. When I came across this book on Audible and read the description, I was kind of disappointed. I was hoping for a book from Deere that had deep theological insights and mind-blowing theology. So, when I found out that this was an autobiography of his life I was somewhat disappointed, but I went ahead and got the book anyway. All that I can say is I am so glad that I got it. This book is amazing! Mr. Deere holds no punches in this very open and honest tell all autobiography of his life. I was shocked, I was saddened, and at the end I was filled with hope as Deere showed how God does work in mysterious ways.
I thought for years and years that Jack Deere was a man who was full of the Spirit, blessed with a supernatural understanding of the Bible and had it all together at the spirit of God. Then I saw that Mr. Deere was a man just like the rest of us. His life has been hard and his experiences and lessons learned have been painful, but they are excellent examples of how God can and does work even in the midst of pain, turmoil, and pride.
In EVEN IN OUR DARKNESS, Deere openly and at times graphically recalls his childhood and how he lost his father to suicide, continually struggled with his desires for love and sex, and his eventual conversion to Christianity. In his adulthood he writes of his constant struggles with love, sex, pride, and according to him "building my kingdom". The greatest shock for me was reading that at the height of his writing and preaching success his son was fighting a battle with drugs and eventually commits suicide, his wife's battle with alcoholism, and his struggles with anger and pride. My heart literally broke for the Deere family as I listened to struggle after struggle but was glad to hear that in all this God has brought joy and restoration. I should warn that there is some harsh language and heavy topics used in this book, but the author felt that these words and examples needed to be part of the story to be effective.
All in all, I highly recommend this book.
Jack S. Deere
Zondervan
Jack Deere is one of my favorite authors and I have always enjoyed his books. SURPRISED BY THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT was transformational in my understanding of how the Holy Spirit can and does work in the believer's life.
I have been waiting for a new book from Jack Deere for many years. When I came across this book on Audible and read the description, I was kind of disappointed. I was hoping for a book from Deere that had deep theological insights and mind-blowing theology. So, when I found out that this was an autobiography of his life I was somewhat disappointed, but I went ahead and got the book anyway. All that I can say is I am so glad that I got it. This book is amazing! Mr. Deere holds no punches in this very open and honest tell all autobiography of his life. I was shocked, I was saddened, and at the end I was filled with hope as Deere showed how God does work in mysterious ways.
I thought for years and years that Jack Deere was a man who was full of the Spirit, blessed with a supernatural understanding of the Bible and had it all together at the spirit of God. Then I saw that Mr. Deere was a man just like the rest of us. His life has been hard and his experiences and lessons learned have been painful, but they are excellent examples of how God can and does work even in the midst of pain, turmoil, and pride.
In EVEN IN OUR DARKNESS, Deere openly and at times graphically recalls his childhood and how he lost his father to suicide, continually struggled with his desires for love and sex, and his eventual conversion to Christianity. In his adulthood he writes of his constant struggles with love, sex, pride, and according to him "building my kingdom". The greatest shock for me was reading that at the height of his writing and preaching success his son was fighting a battle with drugs and eventually commits suicide, his wife's battle with alcoholism, and his struggles with anger and pride. My heart literally broke for the Deere family as I listened to struggle after struggle but was glad to hear that in all this God has brought joy and restoration. I should warn that there is some harsh language and heavy topics used in this book, but the author felt that these words and examples needed to be part of the story to be effective.
All in all, I highly recommend this book.