Generally, Frank Viola’s books, such as Reimagining Church, Pagan Christianity, The Untold Story, Who Is Your Covering, Rethinking the Wineskin and others have been weighty books for me. I read them slowly with a marker in hand to underline important points. When I finished them, I used them for research only and did not reread them.
This is not the case with his new book, From Eternity To Here. It is a masterpiece. Well-written. Easy to read. Each page entices you to keep on reading, turning the pages and not quit doing so until it is finished. I look forward to reading it again. And again.
Why?
In the Introduction, Frank states that “the book contains three narratives, woven together, to tell the epic story of God’s ageless purpose.”
The first narrative relates “the story of a God who is an ageless romantic, driven by one consuming pursuit” – a Bride for His Son. The second is about God’s desire to have a family and a home. And the third reveals the Son’s desire to have a visible expression on earth through His Body.
These narratives will challenge, inspire, inflame and transform your love for Father and Jesus to a higher level. Not only that, it will regenerate your love for the brethren.
Here is one of my favorite quotes:
If you and I wish to know Christ, hear Christ, touch Christ, see Christ, enjoy Christ and experience Christ in fullness, we will find Him in a living, breathing expression of His body. For the church, as God has called it to be, is the visible image of the invisible Christ. The church is the presence of Christ today just as Christ is the presence of God. As Dietrich Bonhoffer put it, the church properly functioning is “Christ in community.” (From Eternity To Here, pp. 279.)
As usual, Viola cites numerous scriptures and quotes from countless authors to back up his claims, but he does it in such a way that the story is not slowed down a bit. It moves along.
You can buy a copy at your local book store or purchase it at 33% discount for another week here.
From Eternity To Here … paperback. 315 pages. Published by David C. Cook
Larry Who 