God’s Outrageous Claims,

Lee Strobel, in the Introduction to God’s Outrageous Claims, wrote, “This isn’t a book to read passively, It’s not a collection of feel-good platitudes that offer easy answers. You’ll find much of it encouraging, some of it challenging, but all of it intensely practical.”

I agree with the author’s assessment of his book. The title, though, led me to expect a different kind of book than it is. I was expecting a book on the promises God has made--something to lift me out of the doldrums. Instead, it focuses on the benefits of obeying some of the most difficult instructions God gave man.

The first chapter talks about forgiveness and loving one’s enemies. How can you forgive and love an enemy who imprisoned and tortured you for “2,455 mind-numbing days” as Associated Press reporter Terry Anderson chose to do?

Lee Strobel fills this chapter with how the person who forgives benefits from that act. Forgiving and loving our enemies is difficult, nearly impossible for us at times, but it is good for us besides being God’s expectation for our conduct. He also provides a method, a five-step process summarized by P.E.A.C.E. which stands for Pray, Empathize, Act, Confess, and Emulate [God]. Descriptions and suggestions illustrate how to implement this life changing obedience to God’s command to forgive one another.

Other chapters discuss:

• Forgiving yourself and accepting God’s forgiveness;
• How to live your faith in the workplace and resist temptation to give in to worldly conduct;
• How to avoid being “salt that stings” and “light that glares” so that others will be attracted to Jesus;
• Five steps that can “position you to tap into the power of our omnipotent God;”
• How fulfillment comes to us when we give ourselves away in service;
• How “doubt may strengthen your faith;
• How loneliness is cured by friendships and how to be and to find a real friend through applying the principles of Affinity, Acceptance, Authenticity, Assistance, and Affirmation;
• True freedom in following God’s rule that sex belongs in marriage and only in marriage;
• How The Golden Rule blesses others as God is blessing us;
• The evidence confirming the death and resurrection of Jesus;
• The credibility of Christ’s claim to be the only path to God;
• The rewards of spiritual risk taking and what is lost when we play it safe.

Lee Strobel concludes God’s Outrageous Claims with a challenge to sincerely make yourself available to God. In his words: “This prayer is telling God, ‘I want to dive into your work. Use me as you never have before, to make a difference in the world, one person at a time. Use me to bring your message of hope to someone mired in despair’….If you say that prayer and mean it, there will be action.”