Book Review: Living In The Overlap

Title: Living In The Overlap
Author: Steve Schaefer
Publisher: Wine Press Publishing
Published Date: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-57921-968-0
Pages: 229
Genre: Christian Life/Spiritual Growth

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.

Synopsis:
How should we deal with our doubts?
What should we keep in mind when we pray for healing?
How can we share the gospel more effectively?

Steve Schaefer contends that when we understand Jesus' central message-the kingdom of God-we can better handle such issues. The Old Testament prophets predicted the coming of God's end-time kingdom, but the New Testament reveals a surprising twist: the kingdom arrives in two stages. The first stage arrived with Jesus' first coming. The second stage will arrive at His second coming. So what happens in between?

About the Author:
Steve Schaefer holds a Master of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from Regent University's School of Divinity. He has traveled the globe as a Managing Producer in the International Programming Department of CBN WorldReach, and is a popular speaker and teacher.

My review:
I am currently doing the Revelation study by Beth Moore and I can't seem to read enough about the end times and what is to come. I think many of us focus on what was before and what is to come, without really focusing on the right now and Schaefer's book helps to give a focus on that and how to live in the present time in your faith. Schaefer calls this present time, the overlap and explores how we can focus on our walk with Jesus until the second coming.

The book is based entirely on scripture and the author does a fantastic job at presenting it and then explaining just what it means for our lives. The author includes Biblical history and scripture but uses modern day examples to show the relevance of the Bible today. Schaefer goes into great detail to describe what the characteristics of the new Kingdom of God will be and even includes the Kingdom Dartboard diagram of this. The Dartboard is a fantastic tool that you can hang up and look at each day as a reminder of what you have to look forward to and what you can do today to prepare for that Kingdom.

I had many favorite passages as I read through the book, but perhaps my favorite one left me really thinking about passion for God and I wanted to share it with you.

"I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please, not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don't want enough of him to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please."

It made me think of life today in general and how many people just want enough to get by. Whether it be just enough at work, just enough on schoolwork, or just enough in marriage. It made me look at my life and think just how much better my life could be if I wanted more than just enough and that I could ever get enough of God.

I highly recommend this book and hope you will all check it out. For more information, www.livingintheoverlap.com