Customer Reviews

The Prisoner in the Third Cell (Inspirational)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Have you ever felt like a failure as a Christian when God disappointed you? When God let you down?

What do you do when God doesn't live up to your expectations?

John the Baptist knew who Jesus was. They were cousins, acquainted with each other, maybe friends. Certainly God revealed Jesus in His glory when John baptised Him! Father, Son and Holy Spirit converge in a moment of spiritual manifestation.

But sitting in the third cell of Herod's damp, dark prison, day after day certainly didn't feel like deliverance. Where was this king? The powerful one? Where was the fire? Where was this Jesus?

If the "greatest [man] born of woman" had his questions, disappointments, frustrations, how much more might we have the same today? He knew Jesus face to face, as a man knows a friend.
Yet, his understanding was rocked by the God who answers many questions but rarely answers "Why?".

Edwards answers these issues, sort of, in an insightful, profound way. The book will lead you back to where you began but with a deeper faith and clearer insight toward this powerful, invisible God who will do what He will do.

"His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts." Thank you, Lord.

Wow! This is an amazing little book that presents the story of John the Baptist from a perspective I doubt that most people have ever considered! You will feel as if you are right there in the story with John and you will connect with him, not merely as a "hero of the faith," but as a real person. The story is a fictional account but it is based on the true story of John the Baptist from Scripture. In fact, it is more than just "based" on it because every element from the story here is consistent with Scripture and history. Gene is a wonderful story teller and has created dialoge and included historical elements to piece the story of John's life together in a way that introduces you to the real character. The story does not depart from Scriptural truth at all but actually will help the reader to see it in a clearer, more personal and meaningful light and apply it personally.

The message of this book will grip your heart and pull you closer to Jesus Christ. If you are struggling as a Christian, whatever your circumstance (be it sickness, emotional pain, depression, discouragement, or just feeling and wondering if God has forgotten about you or that He has not lived up to your expectations of Him... If you've ever cried out to God and asked Him, "why? Where are you? Why are You silent?") this is a remarkable book you need to read. It may change your entire perspective on suffering and give you strength and hope when all seems to be crumbling around you. I wish I could have shared this book with my father before he passed away. This book is not what you expect and it is not typical. Some people who have read through it have commented that it ends a little "dark." After reading it myself, I understand to some degree what they mean (though I wouldn't use the term "dark" at all myself), but sometimes life doesn't always have such a simple, happy resolve (at least to our human way of thinking). Sometimes we just have to bear our crosses and trust in a God we don't always understand completely.

Prisoner in the Third Cell is about a mind-renewal process concerning how we approach suffering. Sometimes this story gets a little deep and you have to think about it. When you're "going through it" it makes a lot more sense! Probably one of the most difficult lessons to learn through struggle and pain is that God's grace is really sufficient. In a world where so many televangelists tell you that all you have to do is give money and have faith and everything will be perfect, this book is a refreshing insight into the reality about suffering and true faith and how God's grace really is enough. In truth I have seen more people who have tried so hard to reach some high "position" of health, wealth and success by quoting this Scripture verse and that one and practicing positive confession until they're blue in the face and only wind up more discouraged, depressed, confused, angry and weary in the battle. This little book will open the reader's eyes in a new dimension of God's grace, love and purpose through enduring hardship and those seasons when we just can't understand why, and the heavens seem to be silent.

Gene himself is no stranger to suffering and brokenness and God has revealed much to this brother. Gene has such a tender heart for the Lord and this element of his life is so beautifully sensed in his writing. Highly recommended reading. In fact, all of the books by this author are quite good. Other good titles I found to be really a blessing were "A Tale of Three Kings" (get the video version of this book - much better seeing Gene himself tell the story) and The Highest Life.

4 Stars is my high grade for this title. I think I did not regard it as five only because it did kind of leave me hanging a bit at the end, but I suppose this was the point. Rather than just seek a simple answer, I need to learn the suficiency of God's rich grace. It's a contemplative resolve that's not so easy to swallow. I confess I wanted a brighter, simpler answer myself. I was left wondering, could there be more to it than this? But if you're going through some struggle or have a friend who is, this is a book that will be identified with and point you in the direction of grace. It's a great title, worth reading. It's relatively short and can be read in an evening or two.

Gene nails the issue of God's silent nature dead on. What more could be said on this matter after reading this book? Absolutely NONE. Gene wonderfully shows that there must be a "why" aspect in our lives. He writes that w/out the "why's", there would be no real inward transformation in our lives. I learned that the power of an unanswered question can truly change and transform something as evil and decietful as our hearts. Gene takes you from John the Baptist's "why" in prison to Jesus's "why have you forsaken me" on the cross. Very deep stuff here people. I particularly enjoy the way Gene transports the readers into the mind of the Lord as He walks through the corridors of time. After reading this book, you will never again ask God "why" w/out a slight understanding that sometimes silence is the highest way.

Someone at church insisted that I read this book after suffering a terrible family loss. As a believer, I had no explanation why the Lord would allow what seemed to be the worst possible outcome - after years of
prayer. This book was so easy to read, but gave so much food for thought and soul. It really drew me back to the Word which began to restore my heart.

This was a great read. It allowed me to think about all that John went through. I am not a big time book reader and find it hard to get into many books, but I was hooked from the start. I was even in tears by the end of the book. I recomend this to anyone in need of direction and is a must read for Christian Leadership.

This book is a fictional but accurate potrayal of the life of John the baptist. The reason the book is so powerful lies in the fact that we ask God the same question John does. "If you're such a great God, why do bad things happen?" And John wonders if Jesus really is the 'One', and he doupts that his life and what he did mean anything at all. God answers John's questions the same way He answers our questions,... This is a must read for every Christian who questions God's goodness.

This book serves as one of the most intimate looks into the thoughts of Christ That I have ever read...aside from the Word itself. You become John the Baptist. You walk through his desert, sleep in his cell and experience his thoughts. Edwards is a master story-teller. If you've ever wondered why God doesn't seem to move when you think He should...this book will speak to your heart.

We took a lot of heat from other members of our group for suggesting a fictionalized account of John the Baptist's life. I regret that they couldn't embrace this author's account of John's life. It was such a great illustration of one of the greatest men in the Bible. Edward's storytelling pulls you in from the start & never let's you go. I finished this book 2 weeks ago & still find myself pondering points made in the book. I can't say enough good things about this book. Buy it, read it & pass it along to your fellow saints.

This is my favorite Edwards book. It is an easy read and has a great "big idea". I have read about 5 of Edwards books. He is great at getting you to think differently about the Christian Life and how things could (and often should) be different. However, he often takes what would charitably be called "poetic license" when he uses the Bible to support his ideas. It bothered me less in this book than in the others.

This is a very thought provoking book, especailly if you focus on each of the characters in the beginning of the book and then follow their lives, where their choices lead and what causes ended up with them in prison.
But when you get to the prisoner in the 3rd cell there is such revelation and the light really goes off--
I would recommend this book to every one to read, it is just awesome.