Book Review: Red Moon Rising

Very rarely is there a tale behind a book that I am reading, but in the case of Red Moon Rising there is one. When I first purchased this book I was excited.  I had heard much about 24 - 7 Prayer and often found myself on their website.  The "wailing wall" is a popular place to go. Nothing like praying for others in need.   But I didn't know how 24 - 7 first began.  Our contemporary Christan culture is one of celebrity pastors and big name authors.  To be honest I had not heard of anyone who is in the movement. True, I had visited blogs of 24 by 7 people. But none of these people you would know. No great theologians, no great pastors, just people.

I got my copy of Red Moon home and dived into it. An odd thing happened, I got sore eyes.  Strangely enough I found I could not read it for very long. Maybe I had been working too much,  or could the old "pork pies" be letting me down? I didn't know the answer but I decided to put the book to one side for a while.

Several months went by and my prayer live took a dramatic turn, it went into over-drive. I found myself pulled toward constant prayer. I know it sounds super  spiritual, but it really was not like like. It was just a desire to be in the presence of GOD.  I  got the idea to pick up the book again.  The timing was right. Not only did this work tell of 24 - 7 beginnings, it encouraged my soul.  I had felt somewhat alone in prayer. Others didn't seem to view prayer the same way. Yes, there was the lip service but not the action.  I felt a little like a freak. After reading this book I was encouraged by all the other freaks just like me.

The book starts on the cliffs of Cape St. Vincent with a vision. The story then weaves it's way across Europe, via conversations and friendships.  A vision is communicated and shared, not in the same way you may be used too. In North America idea's become popular via the Christian media, a book will be come a best seller, or a mega church pastor will tells us how to do it.  No so with 24 - 7. This is a story about GOD grabbing ordinary people and hooking them up across the globe. 

As I read through the book I couldn't help but think, "there is no way this could have happened by accident". The whole adventure of 24 - 7 is saturated with GOD's power. The book reeked of first century odors. I was especially interested in the Moravian model of prayer that was embraced.  Being someone of Celtic Christian leanings I am familiar with many prayer models from that tradition.  Though hearing of the Moravian's I really didn't know much about them. The events at Hernnhut centuries ago were to have a profound impact on 24 - 7 at it's most embryonic stage. 

As I absorbed page after page I was kept in continual amazement  of GOD working through relationships. By the end of the book it was clear that the Lord was doing a great thing. From the cliffs of Cape St. Vincent came a vision that Christians in nearly one hundred nations have embraced. 

The book is an easy read. I would not say it is filled with deep theological insights,  though there are some very profound thoughts. I am thankful the authors didn't pen another, "this is how you pray book",  many such manuals exist on my book self gathering dust. This is a book about journey and adventure in the hand of GOD.  I found it stimulated and encouraged my prayer life even more. 

If there was to be one small improvement it would be in the generational area. The book keeps referring to "young people", as if anyone over thirty five can't pray all night.  As the years go by the authors will find themselves on the other side of forty, then who will their audience be?  But this is a minor bump in and a otherwise fascinating book.  So, if you are interested in what GOD is doing today, if you have a heart for prayer,  you won't be able to put this book down.

Comments

[Terry]

The book sounds fascinating. Now I'm going to check out the 24/7 website. Thanks for sharing this with us!

[Mark R]

Yep!!! I'm with Terry .. thanks Mike ... hope you are enjoying the end of Spring and here comes summer.

[sojourner]

i will check it out - glad you were able to pick it up again at the right time

[Paul]

You're right, Mike. This is a great book. I was also impressed with the idea of standing on the edge of a continent, "I turned, and with my back to the ocean, I imagined Europe, rolling away from my feet for 10,000 miles. From where I stood, the continent began with a handful of rocks..." What an impressive idea!
PS I didn't publish the Dutch editon of RMR, one of my colleagues got the rights first. But I still like the 24/7 prayer movenment and this book! :-(

[Gerard O'Shea]

Your review has convinced me Mike, I am looking forward to reading the book. It's a rare experience these days for any Christian publication to have such an effect.