A Prayer for Owen Meany
587338
John Irving is more than interesting writing about his best friend Owen Meany! I enjoyed the book from the first page to the last! DVH, Canada
3681229
Great quote: "On that day, I prayed a little differently than I had prayed before. "God, I trust you with this. If Marie isn't the donor you have for me, then please just have her be disqualified." A few minutes after I finished praying, my phone rang. It was mom. "I have some news, " she said. "Marie's been disqualified." I was disappointed, just as I had been with all of the others. But in this case, I was completely at peace with the outcome. It was a sacred moment that affirmed that God was in the midst of my situation. In a way, he had used my prayer to show me his presence. It was easy to think prayer was just a mechanism for petition my requests to God, but the truth was, prayer changed me." (Page 164)

My thoughts:  Scott MacIntyre was discovered to have perfect pitch when he was a preschooler. Enrolled in piano lessons from that very young age, Scott was also homeschooled. When he reached the age of 14, he enrolled in college. By the time he was 19, MacIntyre was a Marshall Scholar as well as a Fulbright Scholar. In his mid-20s, MacIntyre rose through the ranks of the television show American Idol, eventually finishing in eighth place that season.

Oh, and did I mention he is also blind since birth?

And that in the midst of it all, he suffered total kidney failure which required months of dialysis and eventually a kidney transplant?

Scott MacIntyre's life has truly been amazing so far.

By Faith, Not By Sight by Scott MacIntyre is his autobiography, but it's also his personal confession of his faith. Through both his medical trials and his rise to AI fame, MacIntyre has maintained his strong Christian beliefs. In fact, the title of his book is a reference to a Bible verse:

For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

For me, the star of the book was really MacIntyre's close-knit family. Whether it was driving off to American Idol auditions or flying across the Atlantic to help young MacIntyre move to London, this family appears to be completely devoted to music, God and to each other. When two medical emergencies threaten the family's goals, the MacIntyre's lean in closer to God and circle the wagons around the best medical care they can find.

I enjoyed this book for its positive and uplifting spirit. The whole American Idol thing didn't really creep into the book until the final 100 pages or so. Instead, MacIntyre's book focuses on overcoming challenges, big and small, with faith and grace. By Faith, Not By Sight is a quick and easy-to-read book that people of all ages would enjoy.
3006542
This novel was very well timed.  I lost my Big Sis to sarcoma at the end of December last year.  I miss her so very much, but my hope rests in our Heavenly Father, who allowed His only child to be our sacrificial Lamb. so that we could live forever if we believe He died on the cross to cover our sins with His blood, and arise three days later, we too must love our Heavenly Father more than anything in this carnal world.  I will one day be able to spend time with my sister and all of my loved ones, who have passed on before me for eternity!!!!  I have my faith and do my best to share the gospel with people I meet.  God is good ALL the time.
4440594
I learned a lot about prayer from this book! John Hyde was an American missionary who ministered in what is today northern India and Pakistan in the early 1900s. Today, he is known as Praying Hyde.

In 1896 Hyde traveled around to many villages in Pubjab. He wrote, This year there were no conversions in the villages. There were last year. What is the reason? His solution was to fall to his knees in prayer. He began to cry out to God for lost souls. He often prayed all day long and through the night, forgoing food and sleep. He was often seen crying as he prayed, O God, give me souls or I die.

Hydes passion for prayer led to the formation of the Punjab Prayer Union. Their goal was to dedicate themselves to praying for revival.

Hyde saw a need to encourage and train pastors so he invited a group of local pastors to the city of Sialkot for a convention in 1904. Before the first meeting, Hyde spent thirty days on his face before God in prayer. Because of the prayer saturated environment, there was a great outpouring of Gods Spirit. Many confessed their sins and pledged themselves to seek God.

At the Sialkot Convention in following years, there was great brokenheartedness for sin and a burden for lost souls. One brother who attended the convention describes what he saw, Oh, what an awful vision I have had! Thousands of souls in this landbeing carried away by the dark river of sin! They are in hell now. Oh, to snatch them from the fire before it is too late.

In 1908, John Hyde announced at the Sialkot Convention that he was believing for at least one soul to be saved everyday. He asked God, not just for a seeker, but a soul saved, ready to confess Christ in public and be baptized in his name. In a nation where some churches went years without any conversions, many thought his goal was impossible. But, John Hyde began to pray and travel and preach. He encouraged those who worked with him to find lost sheep.

One of his friends reported that Hyde would engage a man in a talk about his salvation. By and by he would have his hands on the mans shoulders, be looking him very earnestly in the eye. Soon he would get the man on his knees, confessing his sins and seeking salvation. Such a one he would baptize in the village, by the roadside, or anywhere.

By the end of that year, over four hundred new believers had been baptized! In 1909, John Hyde asked God for an even more audacious request. He wanted two souls to be saved every day. If the daily quota was not filled, his response was to stay up all night in prayer crying out for God to give him souls. As he focused on soul winning, he found himself drawing closer to the heart of God. He preached, When we keep near to Jesus it is He who draws souls to Himself through us.

Over eight hundred people were saved that year and at the Sialkot Convention in 1910 the vision was enlarged once again. That year, Hyde set a goal of leading at least four people to Jesus every day. His example challenged other pastors and missionaries. Some ministries that had experienced years of little or no fruit suddenly saw hundreds coming into the kingdom of God.

Much of what God has done in Pakistan and northern India in the past one hundred years can be traced back to the original Sialkot Convention and John Hyde. This year, I have been invited to be a speaker at the Sialkot Convention. We will hold Gospel meetings right next to the house where John Hyde used to pray. I believe God is bringing us to the epicenter, ground zero, of what He has done in Pakistan. This is not by accident. God is raising up a new generation of preachers who are passionate about soul winning. The prayers of John Hyde still ring true! The greatest harvest of souls in Pakistan is still ahead and I am privileged to play a part in what God is doing.
4843307
This book presents readers with a relationship between Owen and John; a relationship based upon strong pillars of trust, reliability, and securtiy. One may find that the story provides a sense of comical relief and humor that keeps the reader intact. The style chosen by author John Irving is both a unique and quizzical prose that entertains readers by all means. An experience that relates the readers to the lives of Owen Meany and John Wheelwright, the stong bond of friendship that exists between two boys, and the unique detailed background of each boy. Giving the book 5 stars, I recommend that anyone looking for a good laugh and striking entertainment, should read John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany.
4308797
Reading this novel, I didn't know what to think.  The characters were very original.  Owen Meany was just so courageous and funny.  All of the characters had an important part to play to the very end.  I didn't think there were any wasted moments, nothing we could do without.  That is what I loved about this book.  No wasted moments.  It is one of his best works yet.
3019353
This book spoke directly to my heart, as none other has.  We need to pray desperately for the mercy of God.
498824
God  has blessed these two w/one another, and the grace to bring more of his sheep to him; through a horrible tragedy. I loved this book,  God is using them for his good~ thank-you for the courage to write this for others to witness God's grace. In Jesus precious holy name~ Amen
1853569
I enjoyed the 21 gratitude of prayers. Something to look forward to if we pray diligent  and believe that God is listen and He will
grant our wishes .
4375642
Have just finished the book Do Greater Things by Robby Dawkins  which I received from it's publisher Creation House. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in building up your confidence and faith in praying effectively for the sick and hurting. It reminds me very much of the books I read early in my faith walk over 45 years ago by Charles and Francis Hunter. They made praying for the sick seem so obvious and natural that everyone should be involved in doing it and expecting that God would indeed answer.

This is less a book about the theology of healing prayer and more about examples from the ministry of Mr. Dawkins that demonstrate the practical applications of how praying for the needs of others can be accomplished. Here are a few things that are talked about which resonate with me. And this is how I interpret them.

The first is that God has given us the authority to pray for the needs of others in Jesus name. That means that because we are a representative of Christ we can speak directly to the condition ourselves. Our prayer then does not say something like - Oh God, please heal this person's leg - but instead goes more like - I command that leg to receive divine healing now (in the name of Jesus). The same stance would be used in dealing with evil spirits. We must use the authority we have been given based on what Jesus has already done for us.

The second is that we should be interested first in the person and second in the condition they have. And if we are interested in the person then we engage them in finding out what hurts where. After they identify their level of pain we pray and then check to see if there has been any improvement and to what level. Then we keep at it until complete healing or until it's obvious there is no more that can be done at that time.

And the third thing that stood out to me is that although everyone does not have the gift of healing every Christian does have the authority of Christ in them to pray for others with some success. Many times we do not ask others if we can pray for them because of the fear of being in some way rejected by that person.

This book brings out two things here. One is that almost all people appreciate it when someone asks if they can pray for them. If nothing happens they really don't get upset or think less of God. Two is that although it is our responsibility to pray it is God's responsibility to effect the authority He has given us. Our faith is in who God is, trusting that He loves both us and the person we are praying for.

Again, this is an easy read which is both faith building and action inducing.
3579887
I pray Father God that we may all see Your love, Your Goodness, Your Loving Kindness, Your Eternal Majesty and Wonder!
512312
A interesting and wonderfully written book of prayer based on scripture.  I will be reading and praying these prayers over family, friends and circumstances and situations I find myself.
457796
Wear it every day. It reminds me to thank Jesus Christ, King of Heaven and Earth, my Savior and Redeemer, my Master and my Friend for all He did for the world when He did for us on the cross. The Jesus Prayer is: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner. Amen.
4228654
What a blessing!!  I can add Boot Camp Prayer to my warfare playlist along with Morning Glory by Prophet Brian Carn & Atomic Warfare Prayer by Dr. Cindy Trimm. It will stir you up spiritually. The intercessory prayer is AWESOME! Thank you Prophet Ferguson for your dedication.
1289684
This book made me very sad, but ultimately I think it can be a great encouragement to someone who has lost a loved one, especially a child.  Prayers and blessings to this family.
624086
First of all I love Tozer and am humbled every time I hear his heart written or recorded. This is a short and sweet read that was taken from one of his sermons. Though brief, it is nevertheless weighty and worthy of your mind, time, and finally your prayers.

"First, the man who is crucified is facing only one direction." I like thatfacing only one direction. If he hears anything behind him he can't turn a-round to see what's going on. He has stopped looking back.
37112
I enjoyed the movie's theme about hope. My wife and I just recently lost our 16 yr son due to a vehicle accident driven by his friend. I pray my wife and other children understand the message of faith in God and having hope that one day, things become more bearable to deal with.