Soul Revolution: How Imperfect People Become All God Intended (Paperback)

by John Burke (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Burke, founder of Gateway Church in Austin, Tex., and author of No Perfect People Allowed, asks powerful questions in his second book: What drives us to strive so hard? What are we really after? What do we long for? Burke believes our deepest longings are fulfilled through relationships with God and others, and he provides a way to create those relationships through a 60-day experiment in faith. He says that willingness is the key to staying connected to God at least once every 60 minutes for 60 days. His book offers a roadmap for the 60-60 Experiment through loving God, loving people, building character and demonstrating God's love to the world. Burke uses Bible texts and real-life examples liberally, as well as action steps with each chapter to make principles personal. He encourages accountability, yet eschews traditional groups that encourage participants to try harder because we can never become all that God intends just by trying harder. Connecting to God creates genuine change, he says. This is a thorough, well-written and challenging book. (Oct.)
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Review
Burke, founder of Gateway Church in Austin, Tex., and author of No Perfect People Allowed, asks powerful questions in his second book: “What drives us to strive so hard? What are we really after? What do we long for?” Burke believes our deepest longings are fulfilled through relationships with God and others, and he provides a way to create those relationships through a 60-day experiment in faith. He says that willingness is the key to staying connected to God at least once every 60 minutes for 60 days. His book offers a roadmap for the “60-60 Experiment” through loving God, loving people, building character and demonstrating God's love to the world. Burke uses Bible texts and real-life examples liberally, as well as action steps with each chapter to make principles personal. He encourages accountability, yet eschews traditional groups that encourage participants to “try harder” because “we can never become all that God intends just by trying harder.” Connecting to God creates genuine change, he says. This is a thorough, well-written and challenging book. (Oct.) — Publishers Weekly

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310276462
• ISBN-13: 978-0310276463
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,925 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple steps to a more radical faith, December 8, 2008

By	John Gibbs (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

We have lost the ability to see and hear and understand how to truly follow the way of Christ moment by moment, according to John Burke in this book. As a first step to reconnecting, John invites us to try a simple experiment: for a period of sixty days, have your watch set so that it beeps every hour to remind you to abide in the presence of God.

A major problem with the way Christianity is lived in western countries today is that Christians do not resemble the disciples of Jesus as described in the New Testament in the ways they think and act, and the priorities they hold. The book invites us to imagine ourselves as being loving towards unlovable people, increasingly generous, relishing the gift of life and making a lasting difference in the lives of others.

A soul revolution is what we need, and we can gain it by practicing the presence of God each moment in our lives. The book is divided into five sections: Preparing for a soul revolution; Loving God; Loving people; Building character; and Being the Body. Each section contains fresh and insightful commentary and moving testimonies. I found it to be one of the best written and most inspiring Christian books that I have read in recent years.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Revisiting Brother Lawrence, December 29, 2008

By	Stephen Barkley (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If Brother Lawrence's Practicing His Presence was written by a group of people who failed and succeeded together, instead of an solitary believer, it might look something like Soul Revolution. Burke's book is the story of a community of people who tried to consider God every hour for 60 days. Are you interested? All you need to do is buy a cheap watch with an every-hour beeper, and you're off to the races.

While I'm pretty sure this book lacks the simple staying power of Brother Lawrence's effort, there were a number of things about it that I enjoyed:

1. The stories fit the message perfectly. You can tell Burke is a preacher--he has the perfect anecdote for every situation. I even used one of these stories to challenge our congregation here in Bracebridge.
2. The sidebars contain testimonies of people who took the challenge and learned from it. The honesty of these messages drive the point of the book home.
3. There is a ring of authenticity here. You will finish this book with hope that you can grow in your Christian life, because other people have broken the trail.

Full disclosure: I didn't take the 60-60 test, I just read throught the book. Even so, I was challenged and encouraged. If you're looking for something to help you beyond the making and break of of annual resolutions, give Soul Revolution a try.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hope for Pastors, December 2, 2008

By	J. Gravens (Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

John Burke is the founder of Gateway Church in Austin TX. Soul Revolution is a roadmap through an experiment that he tried with his congregation. He basically asked a "what if" question and discovered tremendous results.

Burke asked the question, "What if we improved our relationship and communication with God?" From there he developed the 60-60 experiment. The experiment is based on the concept that are deepest longing are fulfilled in our relationship with God. Thus, we need to be in constant contact. Burke had his congregation attempt to connect with God at least every 60 minutes for 60 days. People filled their work areas and homes with reminders. Many people carried timers that sounded every hour.

The book chronicles the results. It is filled with testimonies of how people, through frequent communication with God, broke addictions, restored relationship, and grew by spiritual leaps and bounds.

It is a great reminder to pastors that spiritual growth can take place in a congregation without million dollar budgets or buildings.