Book Review - Reset (by Joseph W. Walker III)

This is actually the Book of the Month for September.

This is a good book if you are looking to start over with your life in addition to the Bible. If you're reading this on your own, then this is a great motivational book for churchgoers. However, I believe the best way to read through this book, similarly to "The Purpose Driven Life" (by Rick Warren), is in a small group of believers.

Personally, "Reset" sounds like a collection of sermons. For example,  reading through the contents page a reader will see chapter titles like "Reclaim and Rededicate" and "Reassess and Recalibrate". This is very helpful for people to remember like one would with a song which has been popularized in the Black Church. I also can tell that the author is non-white from the vernacular and diction. This is great for those, like me, who are looking to read more books from a non-traditional American author.

Main Points

If I had this book ten years ago when I was starting my life over again (for the third time), then here are the points that I would have instantly applied.

• Reflections - these questions at the end of each chapter are powerful and require deep, honest thoughts. I would write down my answers and, next to it, write future answers (to the same questions) that I would like to reflect.
• Rain and Revelation - this section is quite good; talks about getting breakthroughs instead of breakdowns.
• Recognize the Call - 'the call' defined as 'an urging of the Spirit.' This was very helpful in zooming into my focus because many distractions in this world will take you away from your main attraction in this world.
• Remake - in the section about 'Understanding...Lo Debar' the author talks about how someone has dropped us, abused us, lied to us, deceived us, and caused other damages that may have paralyzed us in some fashion. He reminds us those thoughts and feelings are painful and difficult to face, but need to be addressed if we are to progress towards God and forward with God. We can't reset family, friends, and others, but we can reset ourself. This message is something I could have used during middle school.
• I like his section on "Commitment and Promise". Basically, our commitment to God is what entitles us to His Promise and promises.
• I would actually debate with the author on his statement "This [tithing] shows us that it was pre-Mosaic covenant." Tithing implies a tenth for all things received. I don't see where Abraham and others pre-Mosaic covenant are actually continuously tithing. I see some sacrifices here and there, but nothing periodically.
• I like the section on "Sacrifice", too. Every true Christian understands the meaning and importance of sacrifice.
• I like how the author uses a lot of personal examples.

Favorite Quotes

• "There are also those men and women who think they are inside the will of God when they are not. These are the people who outwardly live the Christian life. They go to church. They tithe. They're on committees. But so many are guilty of working for God instead of with God." - Whoa, love it.
• "Only a few of us really have the capacity to be Hosea, to love like that. But all of us have been Gomer."
• "it takes pain to teach us the limits of behavior, people, or situations that can hurt us mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It is there to push us away from danger. That is the positive side of pain."
• "Give yourself time to heal before God's next move." - Amen!
• "This is a distinction between information about God and revelation about God." - Amen.
• "If you have a dream that is of God, he will always give you the space to reach for it."
• "you will never reach your destiny if you don't know your history."
• "You can tell when people don't know who they are. It's easy to see when they don't know their identity, their destiny. It's in their posture."
• "there is a distinct difference between praise and worship. Praise is simply a response to what God has done for us."
• God is a God of timing. He operates in kairos rather than chronos - his time, not ours."
• "There can be no purification without separation, and there can be no separation without some agitation. Sin has attached itself to you the way dirt and grime attach themselves to your clothes. To remove it, there has to be agitation. In real life, that can mean disruption."
• "There are certain ships in life we all ride in - relationships, friendships, partnerships, fellowships. And some of those ships are too small to get you where God is taking you."
• "If you're not healthy, you can't fulfill your purpose."

Favorite Verse

"Let us reason together," says Isaiah 1:18. Let us talk this through.

What's Missing?

Here are my thoughts on what is missing in this book and could possibly draw concerns.

1. The author must emphasize the importance of starting life over with true believers that care about the person's reset. Church is insufficient on such a personal matter. Small groups, too, are not enough. There must be a few trustworthy believers, preferably of the same gender, that will personally befriend and assist with the reset.
2. A person resetting their life but having strong abusive addictions must get professional, Christian counseling. I didn't see this mentioned along with a list of counseling centers, contacts and resources. Such helpful resources should have been provided in an appendix. I must highlight this miss because my assumption of the audience will include individuals who are heavily broken, discouraged and depressed.

Overall, I'm glad I read this book as it's always helpful to be reminded of the importance to reflect and see which in areas in my life need to be reset, removed, reclaimed or refined. ;-)