BELIEVING GOD

Best-selling author and Bible teacher Moore, staunch Texan that she is, uses all her homespun charm and folksy anecdotes to convince Christian followers to throw off their characteristic unbelief and start "believing God." Moore is bent on proclaiming a message of renewal and spiritual combativeness against the defeatism so common in today's churches. With her typical can-do style, she energetically espouses that the main reason God has kept his believers on earth after their conversions is so they might "succeed" in the here and now. Why then, are so many Christians living lives of mediocrity? Quoting Hebrews 3: 19, Moore says the primary reason is "unbelief." She uses the biblical Joshua's story of faith, belief and courage to admonish contemporary Christians. Moore also presents a five-point system to stimulate the weak-kneed to victory, encouraging readers to speak the following statements aloud throughout the day: "God is who He says He is. God can do what He says He can do. I am who God says I am. I can do all things through Christ. God's Word is alive and active in me." Bible study enthusiasts will flock to this newest offering from Moore, a popular author with a sterling reputation. But while biblically accurate, much of the book is wordy and repetitive. A little restraint might have given this garrulous resource the zing it now lacks. (July)