Review of Mark Batterson's book, "Primal"

Mark Batterson has done it again. No, he didn't drive off with the gas pump still in his car or forget another wedding, but he has written another book that will challenge you to the very core of your being.

Just like "In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day" and "Wild Goose Chase," Mark is calling us back to basics or to a "Primal" faith in God.

When I first started reading the book, I felt it was a call back to our "first love." But very quickly I discovered there was more to it than that. Mark was giving us a great picture of what the Great Commandment means for our lives.

When Jesus was asked about the most important or greatest commandment of all, he was quick with the response to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." In a very easy to read writing style, Mark quickly defines what it means to love the Lord your God with your heart, soul, mind and strength.

The explanation and application of what these four elements represent in our lives is life changing. I would dare say most of us have never been challenged to love God with our sense of humor or with our imagination. But those things are part of loving God with our mind.

I've also heard people say that their "heart" tells them one thing but their "head" or their "mind" is telling them something else. It's almost as if they have to detach their heart from their mind when there really shouldn't be a disconnect. If we are truly going to love God with all four of these elements, heart, soul, mind and strength, then all of these need to be working together to bring honor to God.

I tell people frequently that when truth is presented to us, we have to bear responsibility for what we do with it. One day God will ask us what we did with the truth that was illuminated for us. So please be advised that after Primal, you will be responsible for a lot more than you are responsible for at this moment in time.

It's not too late to go out and purchase a copy for yourself and for someone else as a Christmas gift. You will be glad you did and your friend will be glad you did too.

Primal is published by Multnomah Books and should be available in your local Christian Book stores, Amazon, Christian Book Distributors or through your favorite place to purchase books.

Always in Pursuit!