Customer Reviews

Mirror Ball: Living Boldly and Shining Brightly for the Glory of God

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I loved this book. Matt Redman's passion for worship is contagious and obvious. He has some great insights that will help the reader gain a deeper understanding of what it means to truly worship. It will draw the reader into a deeper and closer relationship with God. Christians, especially in the West, tend to think of worship in terms of singing. But Matt Redman encourages the reader to expand worship to include things like writing, drawing, painting, and other art forms.Worship is based on our view of God. If we have a big view of God, we will also worship Him that way. If we see God as small, we won't go out of our way to worship Him.

I do have one complaint about this book. It was too short. It was just a hair over 100 pages long. Don't get me wrong. What was there was definitely worth reading, but I found myself wishing the book was longer. I found it ironic that the discussion guide for this book was almost longer than the book itself. Again, this book is definitely a worthwhile read for anyone who wants to have a deeper desire for worship and to see God and our relationship with Him in a new way.

You've probably heard Matt Redman's songs, and even know them by heart, even though you may not know it. Author of: "Better Is One Day" and "Nothing But the Blood" and even "Blessed Be Your Name." My children sing along with him on the Veggie Tales Worship CD. In addition to being an author of praise and worship music, Matt Redman is also an author.

In "Mirror Ball," Matt Redman reflects on the role of worship in the life of the Christian. Yes, worship can involve our church community, a favorite piece of music, or even a concert. But what happens after the concert ends? How are you living your life after the emotional high of the worship experience ends? What choices do you make, long after you sing that it's better to live near God than anywhere else. Are those words simply words, or are they the overflow from a heart that is hungry and desirous of God? What flows from your worship? Is your worship doing something in the world?

The main theme of the book is that the life of worship is not about what we believe we can do for God. It is about God's light reflecting off of us, and going out into the world through us as the mirror.

This book is a short, fast read and includes a study guide. This would be a good resource for worship teams to do together and grow in their understanding of worship.

Matt Redman is mostly known for his worship music, which is phenomenal by the way. He's also a pretty good writer and someone who understands the concept of worship. Read the words of a musician who declares that music isn't worship, but is a tool used to worship. Worship is a way of life. It's a mirror ball reflecting God's goodness back to him through our lives. The mirror ball concept comes from a Passion conference where Louie Giglio used it as an illustration. Redman unpacks the concept in this book and gives it flesh with examples and stories.

It is a quick read. Read it in one sitting, but it is an encouraging read as well. I highly recommend it as a reminder of what God has called us to do, worship with our lives!

Amen! Isn't that what life should be about - shining brightly for God? However, so often we limit worship to just our singing at church. Though Matt Redman is known for his amazing, heartfelt, soul-stirring worship music he and his wife are authors of great books and and their lives reflect a life of living worship. Like every book I have read by either of the Redman's I am utterly amazed!

This book challenges and encourages the reader to look at worship in a whole new light. We are to be like a mirrored ball reflecting the glory of God for all the world to see. He shows how our daily living should be approached as an act of worship for God. Each task we put our hands to should be done with the Glory of God in mind.

If each Christian lived this way - sold out to worship - our world would be utterly turned upside down. People would view all things in life differently and the hurting and lost would see light in the midst of their darkness.

I encourage everyone to pick up a copy of this book.

Thank you B&B for this review copy.

By Matt Redman (David C Cook, 2011)

Have you ever thought of yourself like a mirror ball? Have you ever pondered the realization that you are reflecting who you are and what you believe in unto the world's eyes, much like the mirrors of a mirror ball reflects light?

Author, worship leader, and songwriter, Matt Redman penned this book based on the notion that as Christians we should be reflecting God throughout our daily lives, interactions, communication, and actions with others. Intermingled with Bible verses, quotes, and personal stories, this book will touch your heart and inspire you to assess what your being is reflecting unto the world.

On page 109 of this 165-page book, the Discussion Guide begins, which includes questions and thoughts for each chapter of this book. The Discussion Guide is organized well and would make a great resource for individual, group, or class study.

Matt Redman has written several well-known worship songs, including "The Heart of Worship," You Never Let Go," and "Blessed Be Your Name."

"Every moment of every day, more incentives to sing out His praise swirl all around us...," (Redman, 2011, p. 87). What's your incentive today?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free through The B & B Media Group, Inc. book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255vf: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

I love Matt Redman. He has written some of my favorite worship songs and I really enjoyed his other books. So, it was really a "no-brainer" that I'd pick this book to review.

It's a really easy book to read and it's really good at showing how worship is more than something you do once a week during a special service. I love that he used the story of Caleb in the OT because our son's name is directly from that story. The book is full of Scripture references and stories. The discussion guide at the back would be great to use in a group setting.

I received a copy of the book from The Vine for the purpose of a review. No additional compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Mirror Ball is a book written by modern, famous hymnist
Matt Redman. His name is recognizable from such popular hymns as "Blessed be
the Name", "The Heart of Worship," and "You Never Let Go." Churches all over
America more than likely sing the songs of Mr. Redman once a week.

The purpose of the book is to bring Christians into a better understanding
of what it means to be a Christian. A major point of the text is the
illustration of a disco ball reflecting light all over a crowded room. The
size of the disco ball does not matter what does matter is the light going
into it. Mr. Redman then goes on to develop application for our Christian
lives from this illustration.

Mr. Redman's strength is in his grasp of what worship is. He has an
understanding and a depth that is refreshing; however, this focus on
worship over shadows other elements that would add depth to this book.

The primary themes in Mirror Ball are worship, love, and faithfulness.
Additional elements that would have added strength to this body of work
would have been personal purity and a theological grapple with
sanctification.

My favorite section of the book is when he discusses his personal
aspirations. Redman briefly introduces the reader to Charles Wesley and his
continuing influence on the modern church. The author longs for God to use
him in a similar manner. This kind of holy longing is refreshing.
Oftentimes, modern Christians do not dream in the long term and it creates a
shallowness to their work, may it be art, writing, or raising a family. I
would have liked him to develop this more but I am grateful for the way in
which he exposes his aspirations and asks us to follow.

The book is full of modern cliches and phrases, but that should probably be
expected from a book with a disco ball on the front cover.

Redman is not the most skillful writer. He can communicate effectively but
there is little beauty in the majority of his writings. Authors such as
Buchanan and Yancey do a far better job of using literary devices to develop
a theme. Because of the rather dry prose that tended to lean heavily on
Christian cliches, it was a difficult read. However, while wading through
sentences lacking vigor and filled with cliches, occasionally I would be

shocked at the pure elegance of a simple sentence. On the event of such a
rare sentence I would be reminded again that Matt Redman at his very core is
a poet. He has such a gift at getting a complex thought into a beautifully

concise sentence. Honestly, I would have enjoyed this book more if it was
illustrated and dropped poetic bombs on me like that. I think this is very
high praise for an author to say that he knows what words fit together. He
has a Max Lucado-like gift with some of his sentences, yet when the book is
this many pages - over 100 - this skillful refinement is sadly lost. If I
could challenge Mr. Redman it would be to write better but a bit less.

Matt Redman's book goes beyond what the normal definition of worship is. People usually think of instruments, music, singing, and ways to posture oneself in a service as worship. As Matt reveals, it is so much more than that. Worship is lifestyle. He was playing at a large worship gathering in Nashville and one of the props in the service was a mirror ball. When the lights hit it, it lite everyone up at the service. That led to the writing of this book.

Believers are lite up by the light of the Lord. This occurs in three ways.

1.) We see the light.
2.) We celebrate the light.
3.) We send the light.

A profound reason given that we should worship the Lord as our lifesytle, is God's love for us. "We were not saved by God's feelings. We were rescued by the sacrifical, blood-soaked struggle of God's love in action. Yes, the love of Jesus plays out in vulnerability, humility, and obedience at the cross. But it is not a passive love. At Calvary, Jesus runs headlong into the fury, engaging intensely with all that stands His path. Words like grace and mercy can sound warm and carefree in certian context - but there is nothing soft and fluffy about them in this place. There is blood on the battlefield and tremendously painful cost in His act of submission. The love of Jesus is not just tender affection or heart-warming kindness. It is not always the softended, blurry-edged picture we might see on our Christmas cards. This is bold and brave love, journeying into the thick of the fight to rescue the objects of its affection" (Page 32).

The chapters in the book are as follows...

1.) The Passion of the Christian
2.) Love Will Give Its All
3.) Big God, Big Life
4.) Drops in the Ocean
5.) Who Do You Say That I Am?
6.) Ten Thousand Reasons
7.) The Role of First Things
8.) Endless Hallelujah

The back of the book also has a discussion guide that can be helpful for deeper study of the topics.

The Bible certianly backs up the idea of worship being more than an action, but a lifestyle. You will enjoy this book as a Christian, leader, or worship leader.

I really enjoyed this book by Matt Redman who is a worship leader and songwriter and wrote one of my favorite Christian songs The Heart of Worship.

This book is basically about living boldly in Christ. The bright and shiny mirror ball is not our own light, but a reflection of the Lord's.

I did not agree with everything in this book. From chapter 7 quote "If you meet a Christian whose story is dull, reserved and devoid of action, then there's something seriously wrong. God designed us to be fascinated with life, never bored with it..."

Christians are people with the same faults and flaws as everyone else. Yes, we may go through stages of boredom and even inactivity. I believe that everyone's story of coming to Christ has it's own magic, but not all of our stories are on fire and unreserved. It's our faith in Jesus that ultimately sees us through, not words of testimony. I don't believe that means there is something "seriously wrong." We aren't any less Christian or any less a child of God. Sometimes we go through phases of even apathy, only to come out shining. Who knows what is in God's plan for each of us? But our faith will carry us through because of what we carry in our hearts...even when we are dull and boring.

When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You're looking into my heart...
Matt Redman

This book is short but that's not a bad thing. It's well written and easy to read and yet most importanly it challenges you to draw closer to God. Which is always a good thing. You can feel Matt Redman's passion throughout it and can't help but want to respond to the call to reflect God's glory. Worth the read.