Just finished the newest book by Mark
Batterson, “Primal”. I have enjoyed and been challenged by his
earlier writings so I was looking forward to reading this latest
book. After finishing the reading, and realizing how much underlining
was done, the enjoyment and challenge to re-think has been brought to
a whole 'nutha level.

The premise of the book, “Primal”
is the understanding that we need, as followers of Jesus, to
constantly go back to our roots and the life we are supposed to be
living… the practices that should be primary. For Christians, we
need to listen to the words of Jesus reminding us what should be a
practice of most importance: “Love the Lord your God with all of
your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind, and with
all of your strength.”

I know what you're thinking… “I've
heard this and done that” and you're ready to move on… but not so
fast. Mark breaks down the categories and challenges us to re-think
how well and how completely we have been loving God in these areas.
One of the things I appreciate about Mark's writings are the amazing,
random, and often mind-bending information that he brings into his
thoughts to get the point across.

For instance, in the chapter on loving
God with our soul, he refers to Psalm 29 and the reality that
everything nature does is an act of worship before God. He writes
that “there are approximately 2,000 thunderstorms somewhere on
planet Earth at any given time. And there are approximately 100
hundred lighting strikes per second, or 8.64 million lighting strikes
per day! That is a lot of standing ovations…. when was the last
time you cried or clapped for the Creator? When was the last time you
gave Him a standing ovation? When was the last time you thanked God
for a baby's smile or a child's laugh or a spouse's touch?” You
see, everything we do is to be an act of worship as well! If nature
gets this, why do we often forget this truth?

If you want 2010 to be a year of loving
God more, of being more engaged with following Jesus, of going back
to re-starting and re-thinking the beginning of our faith, then
“Primal” is a book you need to read to begin the new year.

Let's make this year the year of “Amo
Dei”… Love God!