What do you think?
Rate this book
Seeking Wisdom From God: A Quest For Truth
From the single, pure, infallible truth of Jesus Christ from which Christianity was born, the religion has since splintered into an overwhelmingly vast number of denominations, each laying claim to the firm truth of its doctrine. This situation can sow confusion for modern-day Christians as they wrestle with complex questions about spirituality and morality. In light of these
challenging circumstances, first-time author Thomas Walker draws on his own spiritual wakening as well as a probing knowledge of Scripture to bring some clarity to the confusion and offer a fresh, daring perspective to old questions.
This book has the potential to lift the veil and revolutionize the thinking of Christians everywhere. Amidst chaos comes order, and truth from misconception under the humble authority and incisive mind of Thomas Walker.
The author engages his readers with well-known Biblical parables and teachings, establishing his bold but well-defended position that today’s Christians should reorient themselves away from the arcana of denominations and church leaders and toward a strong, personal, one-on-one relationship with God. He argues passionately for abandoning an over intellectualized or misleadingly scholastic approach to biblical matters, asserting that the only way to understand God is spiritually rather than intellectually. But by no means does that position suggest that Walker is careless with his research or analysis; indeed, he draws on a range of texts to support his argument, which a number of pastors have described as refreshingly eye-opening and insightful.
challenging circumstances, first-time author Thomas Walker draws on his own spiritual wakening as well as a probing knowledge of Scripture to bring some clarity to the confusion and offer a fresh, daring perspective to old questions.
This book has the potential to lift the veil and revolutionize the thinking of Christians everywhere. Amidst chaos comes order, and truth from misconception under the humble authority and incisive mind of Thomas Walker.
The author engages his readers with well-known Biblical parables and teachings, establishing his bold but well-defended position that today’s Christians should reorient themselves away from the arcana of denominations and church leaders and toward a strong, personal, one-on-one relationship with God. He argues passionately for abandoning an over intellectualized or misleadingly scholastic approach to biblical matters, asserting that the only way to understand God is spiritually rather than intellectually. But by no means does that position suggest that Walker is careless with his research or analysis; indeed, he draws on a range of texts to support his argument, which a number of pastors have described as refreshingly eye-opening and insightful.
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 2011
4 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Thomas H. Walker
10 books26 followershttp://www.facebook.com/thomash.w2
http://www.facebook.com/seekingwisdom...
THOMAS H. WALKER is an inspirational speaker, musician, teacher and award-winning author. He received his MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University, graduating with honors. Nominated for “Who’s Who Among College Scholars,” Mr. Walker presently serves as Senior Vice President with a church design/build company for which he has consulted and planned over $191 million worth of church building projects. The author has spent eighteen years as a Business and Risk Management Consultant, eleven years as a Church Facilities Growth Consultant, and twenty years as a Marketing Strategist.
The author engages his readers with well-known Biblical parables and teachings, establishing his bold but well-defended position that today’s Christians should reorient themselves away from the arcana of denominations and church leaders and toward a strong, personal, one-on-one relationship with God. He argues passionately for abandoning an over intellectualized or misleadingly scholastic approach to biblical matters, asserting that the only way to understand God is spiritually rather than intellectually. But by no means does that position suggest that Walker is careless with his research or analysis; indeed, he draws on a range of texts to support his argument, which a number of pastors have described as refreshingly eye-opening and insightful.
http://www.facebook.com/seekingwisdom...
THOMAS H. WALKER is an inspirational speaker, musician, teacher and award-winning author. He received his MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University, graduating with honors. Nominated for “Who’s Who Among College Scholars,” Mr. Walker presently serves as Senior Vice President with a church design/build company for which he has consulted and planned over $191 million worth of church building projects. The author has spent eighteen years as a Business and Risk Management Consultant, eleven years as a Church Facilities Growth Consultant, and twenty years as a Marketing Strategist.
The author engages his readers with well-known Biblical parables and teachings, establishing his bold but well-defended position that today’s Christians should reorient themselves away from the arcana of denominations and church leaders and toward a strong, personal, one-on-one relationship with God. He argues passionately for abandoning an over intellectualized or misleadingly scholastic approach to biblical matters, asserting that the only way to understand God is spiritually rather than intellectually. But by no means does that position suggest that Walker is careless with his research or analysis; indeed, he draws on a range of texts to support his argument, which a number of pastors have described as refreshingly eye-opening and insightful.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 23, 2013
I won this book free through Goodreads First Reads.From the first day I received this book I was excited, I am always looking for a good Christian book to learn and grow from. I found this book to be inspirational and encouraging. I couldn’t put this book down; I just wanted to keep reading. It took me three days. I can understand why to be hesitant to share stories because people might think you crazy or that you are just not telling the truth. I have experience things,dreamed some amazing dreams and people would look at me oh really, so now I just don’t tell them, unless God say I have to. God has done some wonderful things in my life and still working on me today. This book helped me to surrender. I thought I was surrendering everything to God, but I wasn’t.I am seeking to learn more and more of our Heavenly Father. Even though I have an intimate relationship now, it’s so much more to learn. I think you can never learn enough, there is always room to grow. This is a great book. I loved it. I recommend it to anybody that is seeking to know more of God.
June 18, 2012
My knowledge of the Bible is very limited so I will neither attempt to agree nor disagree with Thomas Walker's interpretations of scriptures. I was lucky enough to receive this book as part of The Library Thing Member Giveaway. My hope in entering for a copy of the book was to reach a better understanding of the Bible. Many scriptures leave me in a state of muddled confusion. I appreciated the opportunity to have passages interpreted. The book exceeded my expectations because Bible quotations and references were used to explain broad areas of religion and faith.
The following is a quote from the book's dust jacket. "As the rings found inside a large tree that start from the outer parameter and progress inward toward the heart of the tree, so likewise in the Bible are God's truths layered like the rings in a tree-starting at the verses and progressing inward toward the heart and mind of God. Applying this parallelism, Christendom's progress in understanding God's truths would be analogous to having only removed the bark."
This is a very worthwhile read.
The following is a quote from the book's dust jacket. "As the rings found inside a large tree that start from the outer parameter and progress inward toward the heart of the tree, so likewise in the Bible are God's truths layered like the rings in a tree-starting at the verses and progressing inward toward the heart and mind of God. Applying this parallelism, Christendom's progress in understanding God's truths would be analogous to having only removed the bark."
This is a very worthwhile read.
June 17, 2012
This book is very inspirational. Being a person that has had a lot of faith and then lost that faith due to trials in life this book is a tool that I can use on my journey back to the LORD. I love that the author Mr. Thomas Walker, tells you about how he didn't believe in traditional religion, and how a group of people that prayed for him caused him to change his views and helped him find GOD. I also like how all the chapters kind of play off of each other; its like they pick off where the last one left off to help answer some of our everyday questions.
If you are going thru hard times and you have a question for GOD that you think he's just not answering, I'm pretty sure if you opened this book (which also gives the books/chapters in the bible where you can find the answers)you will be able to set your mind at ease.
If you are going thru hard times and you have a question for GOD that you think he's just not answering, I'm pretty sure if you opened this book (which also gives the books/chapters in the bible where you can find the answers)you will be able to set your mind at ease.
March 16, 2012
This was a great book. It was easy-to-read and straightforward. The author clearly explains Christian and biblical messages without being too preachy. This is definitely a must read for anyone who needs to reaffirm his or her faith or anyone looking to become a Christian for the first time, but needs more information and advice.
May 3, 2013
love to read books that bring me closer to God. I'm looking forward to reading this book and learning!
March 17, 2012
- I received this book for free from LibraryThing Member Giveaway in exchange for an honest review -
The author claims to, in this book, reveal "a fresh and unique viewpoint on some Biblical topics," (page xiii) and it was interesting to see some of his thoughts and interpretations of areas of the text, although I tend to be much more progressive, and he more traditional, so there was much within the book that I did disagree with, even if his writing style was engaging and enjoyable.
For example, the author and I have different understandings when it comes to many themes and terms within the Bible, including, but not limited to: Satan, Adam and Eve, the "last days" and rapture, rewards in heaven, the idea of a physical resurrection, spiritual warfare/battles, the Kingdom of God, the intended message of Jesus, the idea of will and humanity, etc, etc. Some of the differences in opinion I will touch on here in this review, and the rest I will just leave with saying that I don't believe the same as he does.
One difference in belief can be found when he is discussing the idea of will being something that will be removed from us completely in the "new kingdom", as "humanity's will is intrinsically evil" (page 24). He even goes on to say that free will is the most destructive force in the universe, which is something I cannot agree with. I believe that free will is important, essential; something God Himself felt so vital that He granted it to each and every one of us - not just to learn the lesson that we can't manage on our own, or to prove how badly we'd screw it up by our own efforts, as the author suggests. Instead of stripping will altogether (because we're apparently not capable of submitting our will to His), I think the point is a cultivation of a will that reflects/aligns His own, since His will is rooted in love and compassion and relationship. I believe the point is moving past a selfishness to a selfless, altruistic way of life, of growth and progress and union with God and our fellow man. I don't see mankind as flawed or fallen, but believe when we are told that we are made in the image of God that such a likeness doesn't refer to a physical similarity, but instead reveals that we are able to reflect the very nature of God Himself, that we are able to tap into the innate goodness and potential and act in love. He speaks of humanity being the problem, but the way I believe and understand, our humanity is the way we reflect God. The very definition of humanity pertains to the tendency of mankind to be humane, to be loving, compassionate, altruistic, the higher consciousness and awareness mankind has that allows us to contemplate morality and goodness and God... It (our humanity) is the very way by which we mirror God Himself!
In fact, when Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God, I don't believe he was referring to a future event, but instead inviting people to a reality we can experience here and now by applying his message to the way we live our lives in the present. I believe that the idea of a circumcision of the heart refers, not to something (the removal of the will) that will happen when eternity begins, as the author declares, but instead refers to a change in heart that happens when one "comes to faith," so to speak. I think it speaks of the healing, restorative, transforming power of love and the message of Jesus. I don't think the point is that we *can't* or *aren't* capable of love and goodness, but that we *are* - that not only are we entirely capable (as examples like Gandhi and St Francis and many others can reveal), we are *called* and *expected* to cultivate that potential and capability, we are *commanded* to follow and emulate the example of Christ (to become Christ-like) - not, as the author might claim I'm trying to suggest - in terms of works, but because when one's heart is love one becomes love oneself and love and goodness (and other "fruits of the spirit") become the natural results.
I think the two different viewpoints : that mankind is inherently flawed/evil, and that mankind is inherently good, is the basis for ALL of our our disagreements in interpretation. My personal understanding of humanity and its relationship to God, its nature and inherent goodness as children of God, leads me to understand the message and meaning of Jesus and his life/death much differently than the author does. The author seems to speak of God needing to wear people down, even *break* them down, in order for them to come to acceptance, to learn what they need to learn, to love Him the way He hopes we would, and such an idea is difficult for me, believing as I do that Jesus built people up by reminding them of, and appealing to them through, their inherent worth and dignity and potential, that he called to them through love and edification. The author claims his interpretation of God is loving (I loved his quote, on page 120, "God is love. God's love for the human race defies the imagination in its intensity and passion"), even unconditionally so, but much of what he (and many others) says *about* God, according to the way he understands God, puts conditions on His love, reveals a Deity that doesn't sound very loving at all... I would rather have complete faith in the love and compassion of God, cannot believe that there are limits to God and his love, etc, etc...
Those differences in interpretation aside, I did find his thoughts on the parable of the ten virgins, his thoughts on the idea of the whole of the universe eventually being intended for mankind's habitation (the connection to Abraham and God's promise to make his descendants number as many as the stars in the sky was interesting), and his understanding of washing of our feet, interesting and engaging, even if I may not personally think the same way or wouldn't have personally gone in the same direction he did, in expanding on those interesting interpretations.
I even loved his section about racism - in fact, page 77 was my absolute favorite page in the whole book, with quotes like "Nothing reveals our God to the world like the love we demonstrate" and "Love is to the heart as rain is to the earth," even the reference to Christ's two laws of love being the "litmus test" for Christians (something I myself have said many times) - although I think it's ironic that many Christians will speak out against racial prejudice without being able or willing to admit that religious prejudice exists, that many interpretations of religion encourage an "us verses them" mentality, a kind of religious caste system, a sense of superiority, a perpetuation of stereotype and misinformation (the way many Christians talk about Islam is a great example of this). Whether one believes in an absolute truth, in only "one" way (I personally don't believe Jesus' message was about recruiting people to a specific faith tradition or set of beliefs, but to a way of life and love, so I don't believe in only "one" correct way to God, unless we were to say that love is that way...), I do think that it does need to be addressed that such an effect exists, and that we need to do something about it. Referring to those who are "wrong" as being deceived by Satan, or enemies, etc, only encourages such religious prejudice, although that's where the idea of spiritual warfare becomes useful, I guess, because it's easy to justify prejudice and superiority when one can claim that being "right" obligates one to "fight" against those who are "wrong," something that makes me detest the idea of spiritual warfare even more than the idea of waging war against a demonic force that I don't believe exists....
To be honest, I think many Christians are doing to Jesus what the author and many others claim Jews did with their laws and practices - missing the point by focusing so much on the medium through which the message was revealed, if that makes sense... I agree with him, and many others, when he says that "if Jesus walked among us today, few would recognize him," (page 114) though I'm sure he and I would disagree on what we mean by that. ;)
Getting back on track, though, even though the author claims he is a "strong advocate for higher learning" (page 110), much of what he says (in the specific section, at least) almost comes of as anti-intellectual, and he and I disagree greatly when it comes to issues like Biblical criticism and applying scholarship to the text...
I think the one section I agreed with most were the pages discussion what he called "soil stewardship" and the idea of using chemicals and so forth interfering with the earth's natural processes and leading to lower quality food. Such concerns should be something a Christian, called to be stewards of the earth, should take seriously, not only in the realm of farming and agriculture, but in all the ways by which we interact with the world around us, from the cars we drive to our waste management, etc, etc. I would love to see him expand on this idea more completely.
I think what bothered me most (because most of our differences and disagreements were merely differences of opinion and not really issues) was his claim that the Holocaust was God's way of taking out the blood vengeance, so to speak, for Jesus' death, because by rejecting Jesus as Savior the Jews are still under the law and therefore God is "obligated by law to avenge His son's blood." (page 142) Even though he claims that they were "manipulated (on page 144 he says "possessed") by a host of demons" (page 143) and speaks of how Jesus' death was necessary and *intended* by God (he even speaks on page 149 of how no one could kill Jesus, that he was "destined for the cross"), how Jesus himself cried for their forgiveness (which, according to him is why the state of Israel was founded after WWII), their descendants were held responsible for his blood being spilled (not because they rejected him or called for his blood, we are told on page 150, but because they were still under the Law while doing so). The whole chapter was disturbing and offensive, which he clearly knows by claiming that its being so "does not mean that it is incorrect." (page 148) It is hard to believe in his "deep love for Jewish people" when he so easily speaks such a way, and even insinuates that the tribulation will be even worse, calling it "another Holocaust." (page 149) Such contradictions bother me as a Christian - how we can claim to be loving, that our God is loving, and then be comfortable with such unloving ideas and actions, when we can be so comfortable with such uncomfortable, ungracious, unloving things? But I guess that's a conversation for another time...
All in all, despite all the areas where we disagreed, I didn't hate this book. I just think it wasn't a very good fit for me. I loved the author's style, but the content was much more traditional than I personally tend to believe. Someone who adheres to a more conservative or "traditional" way of faith would probably find it much more spiritually enlightening than I did, though I am glad for the chance to have read it, and wish the author well in his future endeavors.
The author claims to, in this book, reveal "a fresh and unique viewpoint on some Biblical topics," (page xiii) and it was interesting to see some of his thoughts and interpretations of areas of the text, although I tend to be much more progressive, and he more traditional, so there was much within the book that I did disagree with, even if his writing style was engaging and enjoyable.
For example, the author and I have different understandings when it comes to many themes and terms within the Bible, including, but not limited to: Satan, Adam and Eve, the "last days" and rapture, rewards in heaven, the idea of a physical resurrection, spiritual warfare/battles, the Kingdom of God, the intended message of Jesus, the idea of will and humanity, etc, etc. Some of the differences in opinion I will touch on here in this review, and the rest I will just leave with saying that I don't believe the same as he does.
One difference in belief can be found when he is discussing the idea of will being something that will be removed from us completely in the "new kingdom", as "humanity's will is intrinsically evil" (page 24). He even goes on to say that free will is the most destructive force in the universe, which is something I cannot agree with. I believe that free will is important, essential; something God Himself felt so vital that He granted it to each and every one of us - not just to learn the lesson that we can't manage on our own, or to prove how badly we'd screw it up by our own efforts, as the author suggests. Instead of stripping will altogether (because we're apparently not capable of submitting our will to His), I think the point is a cultivation of a will that reflects/aligns His own, since His will is rooted in love and compassion and relationship. I believe the point is moving past a selfishness to a selfless, altruistic way of life, of growth and progress and union with God and our fellow man. I don't see mankind as flawed or fallen, but believe when we are told that we are made in the image of God that such a likeness doesn't refer to a physical similarity, but instead reveals that we are able to reflect the very nature of God Himself, that we are able to tap into the innate goodness and potential and act in love. He speaks of humanity being the problem, but the way I believe and understand, our humanity is the way we reflect God. The very definition of humanity pertains to the tendency of mankind to be humane, to be loving, compassionate, altruistic, the higher consciousness and awareness mankind has that allows us to contemplate morality and goodness and God... It (our humanity) is the very way by which we mirror God Himself!
In fact, when Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God, I don't believe he was referring to a future event, but instead inviting people to a reality we can experience here and now by applying his message to the way we live our lives in the present. I believe that the idea of a circumcision of the heart refers, not to something (the removal of the will) that will happen when eternity begins, as the author declares, but instead refers to a change in heart that happens when one "comes to faith," so to speak. I think it speaks of the healing, restorative, transforming power of love and the message of Jesus. I don't think the point is that we *can't* or *aren't* capable of love and goodness, but that we *are* - that not only are we entirely capable (as examples like Gandhi and St Francis and many others can reveal), we are *called* and *expected* to cultivate that potential and capability, we are *commanded* to follow and emulate the example of Christ (to become Christ-like) - not, as the author might claim I'm trying to suggest - in terms of works, but because when one's heart is love one becomes love oneself and love and goodness (and other "fruits of the spirit") become the natural results.
I think the two different viewpoints : that mankind is inherently flawed/evil, and that mankind is inherently good, is the basis for ALL of our our disagreements in interpretation. My personal understanding of humanity and its relationship to God, its nature and inherent goodness as children of God, leads me to understand the message and meaning of Jesus and his life/death much differently than the author does. The author seems to speak of God needing to wear people down, even *break* them down, in order for them to come to acceptance, to learn what they need to learn, to love Him the way He hopes we would, and such an idea is difficult for me, believing as I do that Jesus built people up by reminding them of, and appealing to them through, their inherent worth and dignity and potential, that he called to them through love and edification. The author claims his interpretation of God is loving (I loved his quote, on page 120, "God is love. God's love for the human race defies the imagination in its intensity and passion"), even unconditionally so, but much of what he (and many others) says *about* God, according to the way he understands God, puts conditions on His love, reveals a Deity that doesn't sound very loving at all... I would rather have complete faith in the love and compassion of God, cannot believe that there are limits to God and his love, etc, etc...
Those differences in interpretation aside, I did find his thoughts on the parable of the ten virgins, his thoughts on the idea of the whole of the universe eventually being intended for mankind's habitation (the connection to Abraham and God's promise to make his descendants number as many as the stars in the sky was interesting), and his understanding of washing of our feet, interesting and engaging, even if I may not personally think the same way or wouldn't have personally gone in the same direction he did, in expanding on those interesting interpretations.
I even loved his section about racism - in fact, page 77 was my absolute favorite page in the whole book, with quotes like "Nothing reveals our God to the world like the love we demonstrate" and "Love is to the heart as rain is to the earth," even the reference to Christ's two laws of love being the "litmus test" for Christians (something I myself have said many times) - although I think it's ironic that many Christians will speak out against racial prejudice without being able or willing to admit that religious prejudice exists, that many interpretations of religion encourage an "us verses them" mentality, a kind of religious caste system, a sense of superiority, a perpetuation of stereotype and misinformation (the way many Christians talk about Islam is a great example of this). Whether one believes in an absolute truth, in only "one" way (I personally don't believe Jesus' message was about recruiting people to a specific faith tradition or set of beliefs, but to a way of life and love, so I don't believe in only "one" correct way to God, unless we were to say that love is that way...), I do think that it does need to be addressed that such an effect exists, and that we need to do something about it. Referring to those who are "wrong" as being deceived by Satan, or enemies, etc, only encourages such religious prejudice, although that's where the idea of spiritual warfare becomes useful, I guess, because it's easy to justify prejudice and superiority when one can claim that being "right" obligates one to "fight" against those who are "wrong," something that makes me detest the idea of spiritual warfare even more than the idea of waging war against a demonic force that I don't believe exists....
To be honest, I think many Christians are doing to Jesus what the author and many others claim Jews did with their laws and practices - missing the point by focusing so much on the medium through which the message was revealed, if that makes sense... I agree with him, and many others, when he says that "if Jesus walked among us today, few would recognize him," (page 114) though I'm sure he and I would disagree on what we mean by that. ;)
Getting back on track, though, even though the author claims he is a "strong advocate for higher learning" (page 110), much of what he says (in the specific section, at least) almost comes of as anti-intellectual, and he and I disagree greatly when it comes to issues like Biblical criticism and applying scholarship to the text...
I think the one section I agreed with most were the pages discussion what he called "soil stewardship" and the idea of using chemicals and so forth interfering with the earth's natural processes and leading to lower quality food. Such concerns should be something a Christian, called to be stewards of the earth, should take seriously, not only in the realm of farming and agriculture, but in all the ways by which we interact with the world around us, from the cars we drive to our waste management, etc, etc. I would love to see him expand on this idea more completely.
I think what bothered me most (because most of our differences and disagreements were merely differences of opinion and not really issues) was his claim that the Holocaust was God's way of taking out the blood vengeance, so to speak, for Jesus' death, because by rejecting Jesus as Savior the Jews are still under the law and therefore God is "obligated by law to avenge His son's blood." (page 142) Even though he claims that they were "manipulated (on page 144 he says "possessed") by a host of demons" (page 143) and speaks of how Jesus' death was necessary and *intended* by God (he even speaks on page 149 of how no one could kill Jesus, that he was "destined for the cross"), how Jesus himself cried for their forgiveness (which, according to him is why the state of Israel was founded after WWII), their descendants were held responsible for his blood being spilled (not because they rejected him or called for his blood, we are told on page 150, but because they were still under the Law while doing so). The whole chapter was disturbing and offensive, which he clearly knows by claiming that its being so "does not mean that it is incorrect." (page 148) It is hard to believe in his "deep love for Jewish people" when he so easily speaks such a way, and even insinuates that the tribulation will be even worse, calling it "another Holocaust." (page 149) Such contradictions bother me as a Christian - how we can claim to be loving, that our God is loving, and then be comfortable with such unloving ideas and actions, when we can be so comfortable with such uncomfortable, ungracious, unloving things? But I guess that's a conversation for another time...
All in all, despite all the areas where we disagreed, I didn't hate this book. I just think it wasn't a very good fit for me. I loved the author's style, but the content was much more traditional than I personally tend to believe. Someone who adheres to a more conservative or "traditional" way of faith would probably find it much more spiritually enlightening than I did, though I am glad for the chance to have read it, and wish the author well in his future endeavors.
November 24, 2013
Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Book.
------------------------------------
Looking for answers to Christianity based upon the Words in the Bible would find Seeking Wisdom from God: A Quest for Truth a great addition to their library. It’s the author’s personal attempt to find answers to probing questions about life, about God, and about our purpose in life. And, it’s written in simple easy to understand words, using several personal examples, and is heavy in biblical references throughout.
The author, Thomas H. Walker, doesn’t claim any theological credentials typical of religious authors. Instead, his book is based upon the “result of believing in the promise of God.” Specifically, His promise in James 1:5 that God’s wisdom comes from the author’s search for truth in His Word.
I liked one of the author’s philosophies that “you can sell a lie, but you can’t give the truth away for free.” But then again, this isn’t anything new to people today. We can find similar concerns from ancient times. Julius Caesar’s words, homines id quod volunt credunt, express my concerns about people’s search for the knowledge of truth. “Men believe what they want to”. Unfortunately, most Christians would rather argue with someone instead of discussing with them about something they don’t already know or believe. Instead, they’re more influenced by the simple sound-bites of political talk-show radio rather than in what Jesus really taught
In addition to the author’s revealing philosophies and methods of seeking wisdom, I enjoyed his use of using controversial authors such as Professor Ehrman, who’s involved in the textual criticism of the New Testament and with the Historical Jesus. For example, many Christians believed that God wrote the Bible through divine inspiration of men as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16. Yet, there were some Christians who believe the complete opposite, such as Bart Ehrman, the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was also the New York Times bestselling author of Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why and Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible. Professor Ehrman specifically wrote that, “many of the books of the New Testament were written by people who lied about their identity, claiming to be a famous apostle -- Peter, Paul or James”. Once again, there exist many learned scholars today who will be willing to provide contradictory assessments. Ultimately, only you can decide for yourself what you will use as the basis of your Christian faith.
My only concern with this book is the author’s complete reliance upon the Bible for his wisdom. The Bible to me is nothing more than God’s message through both literal and non-literal stories that He loves me and everyone else. It does if we’re concerned with the literalistic translations and meaning of each word. For me, it doesn’t since I’m more concerned with reading the stories of the Bible metaphorically by looking into its meaning. And, I believe that seeking wisdom should begin outside the Church (and the Bible) since Christianity has a strong foundation in the writings of ancient and renaissance philosophers such as Aristotle, Kant, Descartes, Epicurus, Cicero, Epictetus, and Seneca. This includes evolutionary development over two millennia starting with the teachings of Jesus together with analyses by key intellectuals such as Augustine.
Religion is most assuredly one of the most powerful human forces. It lifts the heart, challenges the mind and inspires great achievements. Molded by religion, our beliefs affect how we live. Accordingly, understanding the truths within the Bible is an excellent way to improve our life, and afterlife.
What's more, as the author attempts to convey, the Bible shouldn’t be used as a law book with someone quoting scriptural sound-bites to justify their position. If they do, they are likely conducting spiritual malpractice. Instead, the Bible should be taken as a whole, contradictions and all. The primary message is that God loves everyone. Likewise, we, too, should love God and everyone else. Any other message is probably a contradiction to the overall meaning of the Bible.
To uncover the truth of Christianity, Seeking Wisdom from God provides valuable questions with some meaningful answers. A useful addition to the library of anyone serious in learning about the truth in Christianity.
------------------------------------
Looking for answers to Christianity based upon the Words in the Bible would find Seeking Wisdom from God: A Quest for Truth a great addition to their library. It’s the author’s personal attempt to find answers to probing questions about life, about God, and about our purpose in life. And, it’s written in simple easy to understand words, using several personal examples, and is heavy in biblical references throughout.
The author, Thomas H. Walker, doesn’t claim any theological credentials typical of religious authors. Instead, his book is based upon the “result of believing in the promise of God.” Specifically, His promise in James 1:5 that God’s wisdom comes from the author’s search for truth in His Word.
I liked one of the author’s philosophies that “you can sell a lie, but you can’t give the truth away for free.” But then again, this isn’t anything new to people today. We can find similar concerns from ancient times. Julius Caesar’s words, homines id quod volunt credunt, express my concerns about people’s search for the knowledge of truth. “Men believe what they want to”. Unfortunately, most Christians would rather argue with someone instead of discussing with them about something they don’t already know or believe. Instead, they’re more influenced by the simple sound-bites of political talk-show radio rather than in what Jesus really taught
In addition to the author’s revealing philosophies and methods of seeking wisdom, I enjoyed his use of using controversial authors such as Professor Ehrman, who’s involved in the textual criticism of the New Testament and with the Historical Jesus. For example, many Christians believed that God wrote the Bible through divine inspiration of men as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16. Yet, there were some Christians who believe the complete opposite, such as Bart Ehrman, the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was also the New York Times bestselling author of Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why and Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible. Professor Ehrman specifically wrote that, “many of the books of the New Testament were written by people who lied about their identity, claiming to be a famous apostle -- Peter, Paul or James”. Once again, there exist many learned scholars today who will be willing to provide contradictory assessments. Ultimately, only you can decide for yourself what you will use as the basis of your Christian faith.
My only concern with this book is the author’s complete reliance upon the Bible for his wisdom. The Bible to me is nothing more than God’s message through both literal and non-literal stories that He loves me and everyone else. It does if we’re concerned with the literalistic translations and meaning of each word. For me, it doesn’t since I’m more concerned with reading the stories of the Bible metaphorically by looking into its meaning. And, I believe that seeking wisdom should begin outside the Church (and the Bible) since Christianity has a strong foundation in the writings of ancient and renaissance philosophers such as Aristotle, Kant, Descartes, Epicurus, Cicero, Epictetus, and Seneca. This includes evolutionary development over two millennia starting with the teachings of Jesus together with analyses by key intellectuals such as Augustine.
Religion is most assuredly one of the most powerful human forces. It lifts the heart, challenges the mind and inspires great achievements. Molded by religion, our beliefs affect how we live. Accordingly, understanding the truths within the Bible is an excellent way to improve our life, and afterlife.
What's more, as the author attempts to convey, the Bible shouldn’t be used as a law book with someone quoting scriptural sound-bites to justify their position. If they do, they are likely conducting spiritual malpractice. Instead, the Bible should be taken as a whole, contradictions and all. The primary message is that God loves everyone. Likewise, we, too, should love God and everyone else. Any other message is probably a contradiction to the overall meaning of the Bible.
To uncover the truth of Christianity, Seeking Wisdom from God provides valuable questions with some meaningful answers. A useful addition to the library of anyone serious in learning about the truth in Christianity.
Read
March 2, 2015ForeWord Clarion Review
RELIGION
Seeking Wisdom from God: A Quest for Truth
Thomas H. Walker
WestBow Press
978-1-4497-1023-1
Four Stars (out of Five)
Seeking Wisdom from God: A Quest for Truth is both a traditionally Christian and surprisingly revolutionary book. From the outset, Thomas H. Walker reminds us that “Jesus did not come to earth to set up another religious denomination, but to put an end to religion.”
Using the premise that God’s message is like a jigsaw puzzle, Walker reassures the reader that eventually all pieces will fit to form the beautiful portrait of God’s love. He proceeds, then, in a logical fashion to take the reader through a series of scriptural concepts that build a convincing argument.
Christ’s washing of his disciples’ feet is the first and founding metaphor for his premise: the mustard seed that grows into full-blown philosophy. Christ washed the feet of his disciples and asked that they also wash each other’s feet. Walker interprets this scripture to mean that our feet are dirtied by walking through this sinful world. We must wash them daily (confess) and wash each other’s (forgive each other and ourselves). We will sin and sin again. Sin serves a purpose and we should not be defeated by it. It exists so that we may confess and seek forgiveness from God. This daily washing ensures that we stay in intimate contact with Christ. It supports a personal relationship which is not distorted by religious doctrine.
Well-considered references to familiar scripture support the author’s message through a series of chapters that explore common biblical references. The rapture, the expulsion from the garden of Eden, and the wedding feast are used to strengthen the argument that sin is caused by
will and we overcome this weakness by learning from our personal experience and our personal relationship with God.
Thomas also takes his religion to task. “In the name of Christianity, there have been more wars fought, brutalities inflicted and . . . inhumane treatment of innocent people perpetuated.” He goes on to assure that Christianity is not the problem: It is ritual that obscures the truth that it was meant to reveal.
The author’s central message is compelling. There are echoes of Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Martin Luther King in his arguments for inclusiveness and compassion. The final chapters of the book might have been stronger if he had substituted a summary of his philosophy for conjecture about the Jew’s role in the Holocaust and God’s involvement with life on other planets. Taken out of context, these passages might alienate some readers and distract from his ecumenical message.
This book is nicely packaged, but merchandising standards should have been applied to the cover, which has too much text. Personal anecdotes effectively illustrate Walker’s points and copious references to scripture support his arguments. The charm of the author’s style is evident in observations like this: “..to see the Bible not as a history book, but a personal preview of coming attractions.” “God will see to it that you face Goliath, . . . and even a Pontius Pilate who will order your crucifixion for someone else’s mistakes”
Marilyn Berry
RELIGION
Seeking Wisdom from God: A Quest for Truth
Thomas H. Walker
WestBow Press
978-1-4497-1023-1
Four Stars (out of Five)
Seeking Wisdom from God: A Quest for Truth is both a traditionally Christian and surprisingly revolutionary book. From the outset, Thomas H. Walker reminds us that “Jesus did not come to earth to set up another religious denomination, but to put an end to religion.”
Using the premise that God’s message is like a jigsaw puzzle, Walker reassures the reader that eventually all pieces will fit to form the beautiful portrait of God’s love. He proceeds, then, in a logical fashion to take the reader through a series of scriptural concepts that build a convincing argument.
Christ’s washing of his disciples’ feet is the first and founding metaphor for his premise: the mustard seed that grows into full-blown philosophy. Christ washed the feet of his disciples and asked that they also wash each other’s feet. Walker interprets this scripture to mean that our feet are dirtied by walking through this sinful world. We must wash them daily (confess) and wash each other’s (forgive each other and ourselves). We will sin and sin again. Sin serves a purpose and we should not be defeated by it. It exists so that we may confess and seek forgiveness from God. This daily washing ensures that we stay in intimate contact with Christ. It supports a personal relationship which is not distorted by religious doctrine.
Well-considered references to familiar scripture support the author’s message through a series of chapters that explore common biblical references. The rapture, the expulsion from the garden of Eden, and the wedding feast are used to strengthen the argument that sin is caused by
will and we overcome this weakness by learning from our personal experience and our personal relationship with God.
Thomas also takes his religion to task. “In the name of Christianity, there have been more wars fought, brutalities inflicted and . . . inhumane treatment of innocent people perpetuated.” He goes on to assure that Christianity is not the problem: It is ritual that obscures the truth that it was meant to reveal.
The author’s central message is compelling. There are echoes of Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Martin Luther King in his arguments for inclusiveness and compassion. The final chapters of the book might have been stronger if he had substituted a summary of his philosophy for conjecture about the Jew’s role in the Holocaust and God’s involvement with life on other planets. Taken out of context, these passages might alienate some readers and distract from his ecumenical message.
This book is nicely packaged, but merchandising standards should have been applied to the cover, which has too much text. Personal anecdotes effectively illustrate Walker’s points and copious references to scripture support his arguments. The charm of the author’s style is evident in observations like this: “..to see the Bible not as a history book, but a personal preview of coming attractions.” “God will see to it that you face Goliath, . . . and even a Pontius Pilate who will order your crucifixion for someone else’s mistakes”
Marilyn Berry
May 4, 2012
Seeking Wisdom from God starts out by exploring the layman's role in the church, but quickly expands to much more. Thomas H. Walker does not have a doctorate. He doesn't preach in a church. He's a regular guy, who happened to believe (as it says in the Bible) that anyone could ask for wisdom from God... and receive it. After touching on this, Walker goes on to describe some of the wisdom that he has received.
I treated this book as a devotional, reading a chapter a day and breaking in down into more manageable bites. It gave me time to think about each chapter and digest what the author was trying to get across and I think it ended up being a good policy. Walker is a pretty clear writer, but some of the subjects are a bit on the esoteric side and having some time to think before tackling the next part was very helpful.
I will say right off that I don't think I agree with everything that Walker puts forth in this book. But then, again, I'm not sure he's wrong either. It was an incredibly thought-provoking book and it teems with ideas that I've honestly never heard of or considered before. But I'm certainly considering now. Some of the ideas were eye-opening.
One drawback that I found off-putting was Walker's occasional tendency to be sarcastic. It's very subtle and only happened a couple times, but I found it disconcerting and it ruined my enjoyment of the theories presented.
Overall, a good book, but not stunning.
[I received this book for free through First Reads and was not required to write a positive or any other type of review. All opinions stated herein are solely my own.]
I treated this book as a devotional, reading a chapter a day and breaking in down into more manageable bites. It gave me time to think about each chapter and digest what the author was trying to get across and I think it ended up being a good policy. Walker is a pretty clear writer, but some of the subjects are a bit on the esoteric side and having some time to think before tackling the next part was very helpful.
I will say right off that I don't think I agree with everything that Walker puts forth in this book. But then, again, I'm not sure he's wrong either. It was an incredibly thought-provoking book and it teems with ideas that I've honestly never heard of or considered before. But I'm certainly considering now. Some of the ideas were eye-opening.
One drawback that I found off-putting was Walker's occasional tendency to be sarcastic. It's very subtle and only happened a couple times, but I found it disconcerting and it ruined my enjoyment of the theories presented.
Overall, a good book, but not stunning.
[I received this book for free through First Reads and was not required to write a positive or any other type of review. All opinions stated herein are solely my own.]
September 2, 2014
You know that guy in your Bible study class who always has something to add? Sometimes it is profound, but other times makes you raise an eyebrow in uncertainty. That was sort of how I felt reading this book.
I read this a chapter at a time as a summer devotional, and it really is a little heavy for reading too much in one sitting. I appreciated that it was not made up of the easy to read "fluff" that makes up many devotionals. Walker approaches many Biblical topics with honesty, personal examples, and a willingness to take a fresh look at scripture.
While I did not necessarily agree with every point that the author made and felt that some chapters rambled on a bit, I did appreciate the thought provoking nature of this book and the questions that Walker forces the reader to ask themselves. For example, in chapter 6 "Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood," I was expecting a discussion on communion. Instead, Walker makes his case for the idea that the Crucifixion cross was created out of wood from the Tree of Life from the Garden of Eden. This is certainly not a thought that I had previously entertained, but it was interesting to consider the author's thoughts on this matter and several others.
Seeking Wisdom from God is not a quick read and probably is not appropriate for a new believer, who would likely be confused by much of the content, but if you are a seasoned reader of scripture looking for a book that will make you think, you will enjoy this.
I thank the author, Thomas Walker, for providing a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I read this a chapter at a time as a summer devotional, and it really is a little heavy for reading too much in one sitting. I appreciated that it was not made up of the easy to read "fluff" that makes up many devotionals. Walker approaches many Biblical topics with honesty, personal examples, and a willingness to take a fresh look at scripture.
While I did not necessarily agree with every point that the author made and felt that some chapters rambled on a bit, I did appreciate the thought provoking nature of this book and the questions that Walker forces the reader to ask themselves. For example, in chapter 6 "Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood," I was expecting a discussion on communion. Instead, Walker makes his case for the idea that the Crucifixion cross was created out of wood from the Tree of Life from the Garden of Eden. This is certainly not a thought that I had previously entertained, but it was interesting to consider the author's thoughts on this matter and several others.
Seeking Wisdom from God is not a quick read and probably is not appropriate for a new believer, who would likely be confused by much of the content, but if you are a seasoned reader of scripture looking for a book that will make you think, you will enjoy this.
I thank the author, Thomas Walker, for providing a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
March 31, 2015
Thomas H. Walker’s book uses the idea that God’s message is like a jigsaw puzzle; all the pieces will fit together to form God’s love. In a logical way he goes through a series of scriptural concepts to show his point.
I do not believe that this was necessarily an easy to understand book, despite the short length of it. I found myself only able to read a few pages at a time without getting bored; I was never really drawn in. While I believe that his basic message was good I felt as though he kind of jumped around and I didn’t always understand the point that he was trying to make. There were chapters that I enjoyed and found well written. I liked chapter 7 where he talks about Christ being seen in the most unlikely people because that is a constant reminder that I need to stop judging others.
As I came to the end of the book I read the chapter in which Walker tries to explain the Holocaust. I suppose it is an interesting theory, but I don’t think that I necessarily agree with it. He says that because the Jewish people rejected Jesus they remain under the law. “And because of the pledge spoken at the trial, God was obligated by law to avenge His Son’s blood.” (page 142)
So when I read this book I saw some good in it as well as bad. Once I sorted through what I believed and didn’t believe I found some good pieces throughout the book.
I received this book for free from LibraryThing Member Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
I do not believe that this was necessarily an easy to understand book, despite the short length of it. I found myself only able to read a few pages at a time without getting bored; I was never really drawn in. While I believe that his basic message was good I felt as though he kind of jumped around and I didn’t always understand the point that he was trying to make. There were chapters that I enjoyed and found well written. I liked chapter 7 where he talks about Christ being seen in the most unlikely people because that is a constant reminder that I need to stop judging others.
As I came to the end of the book I read the chapter in which Walker tries to explain the Holocaust. I suppose it is an interesting theory, but I don’t think that I necessarily agree with it. He says that because the Jewish people rejected Jesus they remain under the law. “And because of the pledge spoken at the trial, God was obligated by law to avenge His Son’s blood.” (page 142)
So when I read this book I saw some good in it as well as bad. Once I sorted through what I believed and didn’t believe I found some good pieces throughout the book.
I received this book for free from LibraryThing Member Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2012
This was, by far, the best book I've won from a Goodreads giveaway.
It took me a while to read, but it really was an extraordinary book. The author breaks down lessons so that they complete all of the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Each chapter discusses a new puzzle piece that is important for seeing the bigger picture. The whole thing was very well thought out and the lessons were very well presented. As most students need repetition, each chapter repeats the point in a few different ways.
This whole book really let me look at my life as a whole-what I've done, where I am, and my future plans. How do they work into God's plan? Am I following His path or am I giving into the temptations of Satan, which can be small things but keep us away from God nonetheless? It helped bump me back into the right direction after I finally realized I made a wrong turn. It didn't make me feel like a horrible person though, as many Christian books can do if written poorly.
My favorite parts were: Chapter 1: The Daily Foot Washing, Chapter 4: Circumcision of the Heart, and Chapter 19: For the Letter Kills: Under the Law. These are the three chapters that I will probably go back and reread periodically because they had the deepest impact.
This book truly was a joy to read and I have already recommended it to a few people. I recommend it for everyone!
It took me a while to read, but it really was an extraordinary book. The author breaks down lessons so that they complete all of the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Each chapter discusses a new puzzle piece that is important for seeing the bigger picture. The whole thing was very well thought out and the lessons were very well presented. As most students need repetition, each chapter repeats the point in a few different ways.
This whole book really let me look at my life as a whole-what I've done, where I am, and my future plans. How do they work into God's plan? Am I following His path or am I giving into the temptations of Satan, which can be small things but keep us away from God nonetheless? It helped bump me back into the right direction after I finally realized I made a wrong turn. It didn't make me feel like a horrible person though, as many Christian books can do if written poorly.
My favorite parts were: Chapter 1: The Daily Foot Washing, Chapter 4: Circumcision of the Heart, and Chapter 19: For the Letter Kills: Under the Law. These are the three chapters that I will probably go back and reread periodically because they had the deepest impact.
This book truly was a joy to read and I have already recommended it to a few people. I recommend it for everyone!
March 21, 2012
I truly enjoyed Seeking Wisdom from God: A Quest for Truth by Thomas H. Walker. He wrote this book in a manner that you could understand the points that he drove to the hearts and minds of his readers. For me the Bible parables that he used worked very well for me. The Bible can sometimes be complex-ed and other times simple that a two-year old can understand. The author wrote this in a way that you wanted to read more and he didn't write where he was talking at you but to you. My favorite parable was the one where he talked about how Jesus washed the disciples feet. He made a point about how we have to cleanse ourselves daily in order to have a clean body. The same is for our spiritual cleansing we have to pray daily for our sins because we are imperfect we're going to sin, even though that is not our intentions. So if you what to gain some spiritual knowledge, I recommend that you read this novel.
March 9, 2014
I was intrigued by this book and the author did a great job in delivering his thoughts and interpretation on numerous Bible quotes and other topics.
He often used examples from his own life to highlight the point and that made him real to me as a person.
In reading other reviews, I did see some disagreement regarding some material in this book. I read this book with the mindset that the author is providing his opinion on topics. Whether I agree or not is not the point. The point is he has taken the time to compile numerous topics and then match the topics with biblical reference and his own opinions.
I found this book to be straight forward and easy to read. He wrote this book using real life examples that were easy to follow and I could see the point he was trying to get across.
His philosophy on life, on God and on an individual's purpose on this planet was definitely thought provoking and made for a good read.
He often used examples from his own life to highlight the point and that made him real to me as a person.
In reading other reviews, I did see some disagreement regarding some material in this book. I read this book with the mindset that the author is providing his opinion on topics. Whether I agree or not is not the point. The point is he has taken the time to compile numerous topics and then match the topics with biblical reference and his own opinions.
I found this book to be straight forward and easy to read. He wrote this book using real life examples that were easy to follow and I could see the point he was trying to get across.
His philosophy on life, on God and on an individual's purpose on this planet was definitely thought provoking and made for a good read.
July 2, 2012
A question of faith
***
One man’s journey illustrates how his own personal interpretation of Scripture, myths, and historical facts could lead readers to spiritual growth and support his philosophy of life and faith. Although this non-academic work is expected to open the hearts of readers to a Christian way of life, it is defeated by the many contradictions. For example, the author speaks of racism and “hatred [as] a seed sown by the evil one into the hearts of men” (Chapter 12) only to turn around and state that the Holocaust was God’s punishment and retaliation against the Jewish people for the death of Jesus (Chapter 19). Walker appears to support higher learning, yet comes across as anti-intellectual, at least where one would criticize the Bible and Scripture. This book also contains a list of citations.
***
One man’s journey illustrates how his own personal interpretation of Scripture, myths, and historical facts could lead readers to spiritual growth and support his philosophy of life and faith. Although this non-academic work is expected to open the hearts of readers to a Christian way of life, it is defeated by the many contradictions. For example, the author speaks of racism and “hatred [as] a seed sown by the evil one into the hearts of men” (Chapter 12) only to turn around and state that the Holocaust was God’s punishment and retaliation against the Jewish people for the death of Jesus (Chapter 19). Walker appears to support higher learning, yet comes across as anti-intellectual, at least where one would criticize the Bible and Scripture. This book also contains a list of citations.
March 9, 2014
I found this book to be very thought provoking and a good read.
To start – I liked this author as he talks about his beliefs and also about Christianity without getting on a “high horse”.
He also uses examples from his own personal life when discussing topics such as patience.
While I may not agree with his viewpoint on several topics – I do feel that he is entitled to express his viewpoints and I commend him for doing so.
All in all, I felt this book was well thought out and concisely written which made it quite easy to follow along.
To start – I liked this author as he talks about his beliefs and also about Christianity without getting on a “high horse”.
He also uses examples from his own personal life when discussing topics such as patience.
While I may not agree with his viewpoint on several topics – I do feel that he is entitled to express his viewpoints and I commend him for doing so.
All in all, I felt this book was well thought out and concisely written which made it quite easy to follow along.
September 11, 2012
Thomas Walker presents many logical theories about the truth of God's wisdom. Walker truly studied the bible and presents these theories with conviction. This book is not a simple read to be plopped back on a bookshelf but rather a book to be read, pondered, read some more, etc. Thanks to Goodreads for my "win" of this book.
July 4, 2012
I won this book from a LibraryThing giveaway
This is a great book. It takes you on a journey of spiritual growth. It brings up many issues and The Bibles answer to them. You won't be disappointed when you read this book.
This is a great book. It takes you on a journey of spiritual growth. It brings up many issues and The Bibles answer to them. You won't be disappointed when you read this book.
Want to read
November 17, 2013I never recieved the copy I won on goodreads. O well.
.
.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews