BOOK REVIEWS
“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed.”
Francis Bacon (d. 1626).
Reviewed by Darold Morgan, Richardson, TX.
Rediscovering the Lord’s Prayer
Art Simon, Augsburg Press, Minneapolis, MN, 2004.
Here is a surprising, delightful, helpful book on prayer. Perhaps surprising is the appropriate word because Art Simon is much better known as the founder of “Bread for the World,” one of the more effective and practical movements in our time, centered on effectively doing something about the grinding problems of world hunger and poverty.
What you have in this small and readable book is a blending of a solid theology of prayer based on the Model Prayer, and a range of illustrations and applications from Simon’s variegated and interesting life and times. Each of these excerpts from his life, travels, and encounters are timely and memorable.
Always appropriate is the conclusion that “we cannot know enough about prayer.” Though innumerable books have been written about Jesus’ teaching on prayer, centered in “The Lord’s Prayer,” every new insight or repetition of old truths is welcomed and warmly appreciated. A distinctive of this book is the powerful way Simon weaves into every chapter on these familiar passages about prayer, the subtle yet directly personal concerns of people in our world who are poor and hungry. Christian people must get involved in this massive area of need, and genuine prayer is one of the most obvious ways to motivate the believer into this undebatable imperative.
Simon’s background as a seminary-trained Lutheran pastor surfaces constantly in his solid treatment, phrase-by-phrase, of The Lord’s Prayer. The book is further strengthened by a wide-range of quotations from sources both ancient and modern. Among these are references from Martin Luther, C. S. Lewis, Rick Warren, Frederick Buechner, N. T. Wright, and many others. Numerous resources in the chapter notes will intrigue any serous student of prayer.
It is apparent that close to the surface of these helpful comments about a more effective prayer life for the follower of Jesus is the connection between prayer and a sensitive conscience to the ever-growing needs of suffering people. “It’s the aspect of God’s providential care that lays obligations on us, as parents, citizens, employers, employees, governmental offices and the like, to work for the common good and the care of the earth. (p. 47) Knowing of Simon’s deep dedication to his “Bread for the World” commitment, one can readily sense this connection of action and prayer.
Yet the real delight of this book centers ultimately in a fresh and vigorous understanding of prayer as Jesus intended it to be—his major lesson on this theme to his disciples. This book merits a wide audience
