I had no idea that one of my favorite pastors was writing his first book until I came across an ad in Charisma magazine. When I went online to find out the date of its release, I was counting down to get it. Family Chrstian bookstore had one copy left and it was mine. Once I started reading this book, it was very difficult to put it down.
Dr. Zachery Tims is the pastor of New Destiny Christian Center in Orlando, Florida. I watch the ministry's broadcast via the Word Network and am always challenged and blessed by the messages that God gives him. In reading this book, Dr. Tims uses the same approach when challenging readers to tap into what call and purpose that God has on our lives. He is very transparent when he shares details of his past as a drug dealer and out of control young man who craved the attention and affection that he longed for from his father. He tells how one thing that his mom said to him when he was running the streets..."you're better than that"...made more sense as he got older. When he was incarcerated for attempted murder, those words stuck with him. His mother could not handle him at that time;yet, she still saw something special about her child.
He also gives a rather touching account of how he finally gave his life to the Lord after a co-worker took him under his wing and did not give up on him. This part of the book also challenged me in the area of mentoring those who are new in the things of God. Dr. Tims also shares about the humble beginnings of New Destiny to what it has become today. He comments that he is still looking for the Lord to do great things (paraphrase). It simply shows that he is not one to rest on anything that he has done. He points out, most humbly, that it was the Lord that did it. No bragging about what he has in this book.
This book is not only autobiographical, but also a teaching tool. There are "keys" with Bible verses to support what they pertain to. Dr. Tims makes it a point to let the reader know that no matter how old you are; no matter what mistakes you've made; or how many times you messed up in your walk as a Christian, it's never too late walk in your calling.
Now, I'm going to go back through it to highlight some important points and apply them to my life...
