Rob Seabrook

Rob Seabrook

Author of Beneath the Tamarisk Tree

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Category: Christian Living

Faith Like a Child – Lacy Finn Borgo

Firstly, it is clear that this book just oozes love, which makes it a pleasure to read. It is written from a place of…

Say The Right Thing – Carolyn Lacey

Subtitled “How Your Words Can Glorify God and Encourage Others”, this title grabbed me. I think I am an encourager by nature, so coupled…

Unjoy – Len Lantz

In the US there are apparently 7 million Christians with depression, so no doubt there are proportionally similarly large numbers across other countries. Depression…

Sixteen Years in Care – David Meader

All too often we have heard stories about the care system detailing horrendous abuse, by individuals and by institutions. It is probably rarely shared…

The Wonders of Creation – Kristen Page

The Wonders of Creation is a set of three essays exploring our attitudes to creation through the consideration of imagined worlds, namely those created…

Do Dogs Go To Heaven? – Nev Green and Mark Stibbe

Losing a dog, an ever-faithful friend who has offered so much unconditional love, is a trauma I fear having to face. Bruno, our 10…

Jesus, Coffee and Foster Kids – Lisa Baptist

As a foster carer and a Christian, you can understand why this book grabbed my attention ! Fostering can be hard. To open up…

The Ultimate Christmas Wishlist – Rico Tice

This is just a short book presenting the gospel, the greatest story ever told, in which Jesus is the bringer of hope, peace, purpose…

God Isn’t Finished With You Yet – Catherine Campbell

If you read my book reviews you will know that I do like a book that that I can learn something from, especially stories,…

The Environment – Dave Gobbett

As a part of the Talking Points series from The Good Book Company, this is a quick, short delve into the topic. It is…

A Changed Mindset – Dr Althea Phillips

A Changed Mindset is written with the objective to help the reader deepen and grow in their relationship with God, so that they can…

Dream Small – Seth Lewis

In all walks of life there is an underlying attitude that ordinary is dull, second best or worthless. Glory is given to those who…

Write It On Their Hearts – Chris Swain

‘Being a parent is such an important job’ … sorry if it seems a bit pretentious to quote my own writing, but I wrote…

Courageous Inspirations – Doyvon Montgomery

Courageous Inspirations is a collection of teachings collated from Doyvon’s blog, that offer some short insights and solid teaching on how to lead a…

The Great Gardener – Jo Claire

As someone who loves to relax by pottering in my garden, this book attracted me from the start. The author uses a lovely picture…

The Air We Breathe – Glen Scrivener

The Air We Breathe offers a point of view that I had not really encountered or considered before, but probably should have been aware…

Standing In The Storm – Matt McChlery

Matt has quite some story to tell, and he lays it out in this new book that is clearly written and easy to read…

Northern Soul : Football, Punk, Jesus – David O’Brien

It was the book title that grabbed me for this one. You just know it is going to be an unusual and fascinating story,…

Encounters – Rachel Treweek

Encounters, by Rachel Treweek, the Bishop of Gloucester, captures thoughts on the centrality of relationship and community to the Christian faith, clearly a topic…

Abused . Addicted . Free – Trudy Makepeace

Abused . Addicted . Free by Trudy Makepeace, is such a powerful autobiography. It is far from appropriate to write a “book review” as…

Believing is Seeing – Michael Guillen

I read Believing is Seeing by Michael Guillen, as background research for another project that I am working on, and I am so glad…

The Christing – Paul White

The Christing, by Paul White, was a great find. Paul comes across as being informed and authoritative, wise in fact, but never academic or…

The Road to the Father’s House – Alistair Forman

We read different books in different ways. A novel we may want to binge read, becoming immersed in the story, obsessed with the characters…

Lead – Karl Martin

This article was first featured by the publisher, Muddy Pearl, on their web site, back in December 2020, a time when the world of…

Recent Reads

  • Faith Like a Child – Lacy Finn Borgo
  • Dawn – Mark Miller
  • A Greater Glory – Gavin Peacock
  • I, Julian – Claire Gilbert
  • Say The Right Thing – Carolyn Lacey
  • Friend of God – Rachel Yarworth
  • Daughter of Eden – Jill Eileen Smith
  • Untaken – C O Wyler
  • The Prison Letters – Matt McChlery
  • Touch The Earth – Drew Jackson

rob_seabrook

Author of Beneath the Tamarisk Tree, a fictional take on the miraculous story of the Penitent Thief. Christian book reviews.

rob_seabrook
BOOK REVIEW - Faith Like a Child by @lacy_finn_bor BOOK REVIEW - Faith Like a Child by @lacy_finn_borgo 

Firstly, it is clear that this book just oozes love, which makes it a pleasure to read. It is written from a place of realness, honesty and humility, coupled with an expertise in psychology that seems to have been gained from a combination of academic study and life experiences. At times it is poetically written by someone who seems well qualified to speak into our lives and address our relationship with the Father, with frequent references to scripture throughout.

We read that children need relationship and connection, especially from a parent. At some point in our "growing up" we decide that we need power, which in fact is a bit wide of the mark. All we ever truly need is that relationship and connection.
The author gives it a very personal touch, sharing her own deep personal journey of faith and as well as her knowing she is a child of God. It is adorned with some very personal testimonies to illustrate the points being made - the bravery in sharing them is really appreciated.

As a Foster carer I have received some training and instruction on attachment theories and practices, the psychology surrounding how people relate to each other and especially how children relate to parents and carers. So it was quite fascinating to read how these theories can also be applied, sensibly, to our relationship with Father God. It is quite helpful in assessing the depth of relationship.

The book covers some psychology, which works to highlight how God has made us thinking, emotional beings with complicated personalities and phenomenally created brains.

I especially enjoyed the chapter on play and its importance. I found myself thinking about being intentionally less serious...

Read the full review at https://www.robseabrook.com/faith-like-a-child-lacy-finn-borgo/

Thanks to @ivpress via @netgalley , for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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BOOK REVIEW - Dawn by Mark Miller This is a detai BOOK REVIEW - Dawn by Mark Miller

This is a detailed, hour by hour account, of all that happened from Jesus's death on the cross to his Resurrection, taking its cues from the biblical accounts and lining them up in chronological order.

The forensic like research that has gone into this book means it is packed with details that bring the story alive. The geography, religious practices, customs and politics are all well explained, offering excellent context to the biblical accounts.

Coupled with good writing, it all comes together to paint a picture from the crucifixion of Jesus, His Resurrection and the days following. Much of it is told through the eyes of the five women who were the key witnesses to the Resurrection, but it also offers a thought-provoking view of all the protagonists - Jesus's family and the disciples - showing how they all may have felt and what they may have thought during those perhaps confusing, but all-important days.

The narrative recounts, in chronological order, the appearances of Jesus after he died. In the biblical accounts these are often easy to read quickly and their impact not necessarily always fully understood. But when presented in this way, with a bit of detail and reactions from the witnesses, they become truly impactful. The power of their meaning becomes heightened.

For anyone who may doubt the Resurrection or its centrality to the Christian faith, then it may be worth putting this book in front of them...

Read the full review at www.robseabrook.com (link in Bio).

Thanks to the publisher, via @booksirens for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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BOOK REVIEW - A Greater Glory by Gavin Peacock Th BOOK REVIEW - A Greater Glory by Gavin Peacock

There was no way I was not going to enjoy this book, as it combines three of my favourite things... Christian faith, football and autobiographies. I remember Gavin well from his playing days but somehow had missed the part of his story after he retired from football.

For the sports fans there is plenty of football background offering a glimpse into the way the system works, as well as background on some of the many other great players that Gavin played with. As ever, there were a large number of people around him, players and managers, who helped shape his career, most notably his father.

Gavin offers an honesty about his faith which seemed to come about so naturally. He focuses on the positives and it is not a book that in any way “dishes the dirt”, which is wholly right. I am sure there were more difficulties and persecution than he is letting on, but he has the good manners and diplomacy to leave it be.

Gavin takes plenty of opportunity to offer his thoughts on how the world can be a better place, especially some of the values he sees as key to his upbringing, that may now be lacking more broadly across society, to its detriment. There are disciplines that create success in the elite sporting world, as well as the Christian faith, that can have such a life-changing impact.

I enjoyed reading about the many players the Gavin played with and against - there were some real characters around in that era. His observations on what made the players great holds a lot of truth - yes, talent, speed and strength are important, but to make a truly great player the physical skills need to be coupled with integrity, determination, resilience and respect.

These traits then carry through to all aspects of life, with lessons learnt on the field being equally valid off the field.

Gavin comes across as being well-balanced, as a footballer as well as an individual. He is humble and full of praise for other players, rarely mentioning his own great achievements or glory moments. He is clear that the glory was not for him, but to God.

@calvary_grace @christianfocuspublications #bookstagram #bookreview #christianbookstagram
BOOK REVIEW - I, Julian by Claire Gilbert This is BOOK REVIEW - I, Julian by Claire Gilbert

This is a cleverly written fictional autobiography of Julian of Norwich, focusing on her relationship with God as it develops through her life.

Julian of Norwich was the author of the earliest surviving writing in English by a woman, detailing her visions of Christ and her interpretation of them. She became an “anchoress”, dedicated to a life of prayer and meditation, literally sealed into a small cell by bricks, with a couple of small windows and no means of exit. There until the day she died.

She lived in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, and the historical events of the time are influential on the course of her life, especially the loss of so many during the Black Death. The events from local history led her to become so focused on seeking and serving God. There is much fascinating detail in the book, offering an understanding of what life in the medieval period may have been like.

It is intriguing to consider the thought process and personal story that may have led her to decide to take up an anchorage, to us perhaps one of the strangest callings in the church. To be locked up for life, voluntarily imprisoned in a cell like room beside a church, dedicated to a life of prayer, on display for all to see and consult with on spiritual matters.

The reader will gain an understanding of what it may have meant to her to be confined, solitary. The book describes it as there being nothing now between her and God. No distractions or relationships. Just fully focused on prayer, worship and communing with God. When you get over the horror that it first creates, in fact there is something attractive about it...

Read the full review at www.robseabrook.com (link in Bio).

Thanks to @hodderbooks via @netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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BOOK REVIEW - Say The Right Thing by Carolyn Lacey BOOK REVIEW - Say The Right Thing by Carolyn Lacey

Subtitled “How Your Words Can Glorify God and Encourage Others”, this title grabbed me. I think I am an encourager by nature, so coupled with being an author I was especially interested in this one.

As a writer, when sometimes we can agonise for days over selecting the right word for a particular place in a story, we know the importance of language and the difference it can make.

But the teaching in this book takes it a step further than simply choosing the right words. It highlights how wisdom can and should be the driving force behind the words we use. How, when we are speaking to anyone, we can see ourselves as speaking as Christ to them. Thinking like this can create a whole different way of behaving and expressing the love of God.

Carolyn is quick to point out that we all get it wrong, quite often, but an intentional attitude of kindness, truth, love and (interestingly) praise in our conversations, will make an enormous difference to us and to all those we communicate with.

This book makes a point of highlighting what the Bible has to say on the topic, unpacks it and presents it with empathy and encouragement.

It is the sort of book that after you have read it, you come away with a feeling that your behaviours will never quite be the same again, to the benefit of everyone.

See more reviews of Christian books at www.robseabrook.com (link in Bio).

I received an advance complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, but was under no pressure to provide a favourable review.

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@thegoodbookcompanyuk @carolynlacey
I am so thrilled to learn that my novel, Beneath t I am so thrilled to learn that my novel, Beneath the Tamarisk Tree, is a finalist in the annual Christian Indie Awards, in the Historical Fiction category.

Beneath the Tamarisk Tree is a novel based on the story of the Penitent Thief, a character mentioned so briefly in the Bible. But his encounter with Jesus offers great insight into the scale of the sacrifice that Jesus made, and all that is freely available to everyone who believes.

It is available from book shops and online, or you can order a copy via my web site www.robseabrook.com (Link in Bio).

So excited to hear the winners announced later in April !

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Beneath the Tamarisk Tree - FREE KINDLE DOWNLOAD Beneath the Tamarisk Tree - FREE KINDLE DOWNLOAD

From Saturday 25th February for 5 days.

A great read for Lent.

Search for Beneath the Tamarisk Tree on Amazon or follow the links from www.robseabrook.com (link in Bio).

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BOOK REVIEW - Friend of God by @rachelyarworthwrit BOOK REVIEW - Friend of God by @rachelyarworthwriter 

In a good autobiography, an honest one, the reader can glean insights and wisdoms from the writer’s life story. And this is an honest one.

It is well written, sets a good pace and offers the reader a window into Rachel’s life, the ups and downs but most importantly the one constant in her life that carried her through. She had an encounter with God at an early age, and she has kept Him close pretty much every step of the way.

It is a beautiful story showing how God cares about each of us and wants us to live in relationship with Him. It is not about rules or deeds but about keeping Him close.

At times this is a very personal account, voicing the realities of a life of faith, including all the doubts. But most of all it shouts loudly about how a life led by faith can be an awesome adventure of blessings, given and received.

The tag line of this book is “the miraculous life of an ordinary person”. We may all feel that to some degree we are just ordinary folks, without much to make us exceptional. But the point is that the miraculous can and does break out into the lives of the “ordinary”. We can all live a life that is blessed and touched by God.

I often stand on is the truth that everyone has a story. The story of what they have experienced to form them into the person they are now. It helps to fuel our empathy when we have to deal with those people who we may find to be more challenging! But it also shows how each of us are unique, special if you like. This is why it is so important that stories like Rachel’s are told, so we can understand and learn, to encourage us to know that our own stories are also valuable.

I have a feeling that Rachel’s adventure will still have many more tales to tell.

Read more Christian book reviews at www.robseabrook.com

Thanks to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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