Customer Reviews

Seismic Shifts: The Little Changes That Make a Big Difference in Your Life

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As a longtime resident of Southern California, Kevin Harney has been fascinated with the relationship between small seismic shifts in the earth's crust and huge eruptions that take place above ground as a result. The obvious theme of his new book, SEISMIC SHIFTS, is change. Small, fairly simple changes can have a big impact, both negative and positive. Yet, there are also underlying themes that serve to make this more than a repeat of sermons and pop psychology shows we've heard before. These themes include the importance of faith, communication, and honest self-appraisal in working toward gaining a rich and joy-filled life.

The easy-to-follow chapters are chock full of practical, Biblical ways to make seismic shifts in your life. These shifts will "bring joy, expand faith, provide rest, build relationships, unleash riches, and change the world." As we have learned, information does not equal transformation, so the author offers many doable suggestions that can be put into practice immediately. There are also excellent guides for prayer and reflection designed to help the reader grow and mature as the changes begin. Ultimately, the reader will reach that place of fulfillment that satisfies "God's dream for our lives."

Without relying on "Christianese," our fellowship language that often confuses and confounds non-believers, Kevin Harney provides examples from life and from the Bible that anyone can relate to. From stories about David's victories and defeats to the joys and sorrows experienced by Mary Magdalene, he demonstrates the Biblical message: "in the good and hard times, those who walk closely with God can and should experience life-transforming joy."

Whether you are a longtime believer, a new Christian or simply interested in ways to improve your life, SEISMIC SHIFTS makes sense and will have a far-reaching impact on those who take the small step of reading through it.

--- Reviewed by Maggie Harding, a substance abuse counselor in Phoenix, AZ who wanted to be Brenda Starr before life intervened. She reviews for www.bookreporter.com and www.womenonwriting.com. To contact Maggie, e-mail Magster2@cox.net.

Pastor Kevin Harney has written a book that can be converted into a great series for a church. Our congregation did a nineteen week series (an intro week plus the eighteeen chapters) with sermons, weekly small groups (over 350 people participating) and devotions written be people within the congregation itself.

This book is second only to Warren's Purpose Driven Life, when it comes to helping people see the basic steps of faith necessary to become a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. While the first reading of a chapter would lead some to say "this is basic stuff," upon further reflection those same people would talk about the depth of needing to integrate those basics into their lives.

The premise, that small changes can make a big difference in your life, is valid in many areas of life. This is a book to be read, studied, discussed and read again.

Rev. Dr. R. Kevin Murphy
Saint Matthew Lutheran Church
Walnut Creek, CA

I bought this book after hearing Kevin Harney and then I started to read it. What I really like about the book is that it links to a sermon series which includes power points and sermon notes. Our church has been doing it together and there has been only positive responses. The book covers many of the basics of the Christian life and how one can make small but significant changes to grow in the joy of being a Christian. It has been a positive blessing to our community and my only difficulty has been getting enough books (In Australia). I cleaned out a few Christian book shops and bought some from here as well. Personally, I feel I have grown and there are other groups in the church I belong to her are considering using it for Bible Study. The book has a Bible Study guide, although I begin my sessions by simply asking whether any one wants to say what they enjoyed or were challenged by when they read the material. It breaks down into 6 Bible Studies but I know some couples who are doing it one chapter at a time. I am also going to use it as a one on one study with some new Christians. Lots of great stories and well worth the read.

I enjoyed reading this book. My senior pastor picked it out for me as he was hoping to teach this book as a part of a campaign. It felt a lot like reading a Phillip Yancey book, chapters were concise and to the point and it had good stories and examples. My only fault of this book is somewhere a fact-checker should lose their job. Twice, Kevin Harney makes references to movies as examples in his book - but BOTH times the examples he offers are not recalled accurately. [again, I am being nit-picky, but being a movie-buff, misquoting a movie, or remembering it wrong is just not done in my neck of the woods].

Overall the content worked well in our Sunday campaign and our congregation loved the teaching. Mr. Harney writes well and offers some good insights.

I really like what the author Kevin Harney has to say about making small changes that can have a great impact on your life. Most of us are reluctant to change, especially as we get set in our ways, and these scripturally based changes, although not easy, can help us. Our church is currently using this book as a guide through a current bible study. I think that the subject matter can be a little challenging, humorous and inspiring. I would encourage anyone who feels as though change isn't a life-threatening event, but something that could have a domino impact in their life.