Review and Giveaway!

God’s Favorite Place on Earth is Frank Viola’s newest addition to an abundant library of books about authentic Christian living. With a goal of helping others deepen their relationship with Christ through his writing, Frank Viola has hit a home run with God’s Favorite Place on Earth.

Set in the town of Bethany, Frank takes scripture and imagination and combines the two to create a better visual of what the Messiah’s time in Bethany might have looked like. While rejected in other towns, Frank reminds readers that the one place where our Savior was always welcomed and at home was Bethany, thus rendering the title God’s Favorite Place on Earth.

 What I liked…

Reminiscent of Francine Rivers’ A Lineage of Grace novellas, God’s Favorite Place on Earth brings scripture alive. Lazarus is the narrator and it was interesting to see how the author took the stories from the Gospels and added depth and dialogue to the scenes. Though the Lazarus narratives are fictional, I felt like the imaginative inner monologue that Frank created for him was as authentic as it could get.

Besides a walk in Lazarus’ shoes, the author also takes the “Sacred Text” and provides the actual passages of the Messiah’s encounters in Bethany. I thought this was a vital aspect to the book because though I enjoyed Frank’s take on the stories, it is still important to look and see the true Biblical account. The author then pulls lessons from the scriptures, explaining exactly why he believes Bethany is truly God’s Favorite Place on Earth.

I particularly identified with the story of Mary and Martha, two sisters that couldn’t be more different. Frank explains in his book about how many Mary-types actually used to be like Martha, but just ended up becoming too worn out. The point he emphasizes is that Mary was not lacking in service. On the contrary, her stillness and focus on her Master was her service.

 Recommendation…

God’s Favorite Place on Earth is my first experience with Frank Viola as an author, and I am thus far impressed. If you are looking to gain a deeper understanding of the Messiah and his relationship with those closest to Him, I believe you will enjoy this read. As always, remember to test everything against your own study of scripture, asking the Holy Spirit to guide you in knowledge and wisdom of the Word.

 About the Author…

Frank Viola’s books center around the theme of a deeper relationship with the Messiah. Other works by Frank Viola include Revise Us Again and From Eternity to here. You can learn more about Frank by visiting his website at FrankViola.org or by connecting with him on Twitter.

 The Giveaway…

Thanks to Hoganson Media Relations, I am blessed to be able to provide a giveaway copy of God’s Favorite Place on Earth to one of you, my faithful readers. Simply enter using the Rafflecopter below between now and Saturday, July 20^th. One random winner will be chosen and emailed on Sunday, July 21^st. Until then, happy reading!

Yours in Messiah Yeshua,

 S

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:

I received a print copy of God’s Favorite Place on Earth from Hoganson Media Relations. I was not asked to write a positive review. All views and opinions expressed are solely and completely my own. I received no compensation other than a copy of the book featured in this post, which is mine to keep. This post also contains affiliate links. To learn more, please read my full policy.

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