Waiting on the Miraculous, and a Book Review

Advent is about waiting on a miracle. It is about trusting that one will come. It is about trusting that Almighty God has entered the human stage in a real, tangible way and walked the paths that we have trod. It is about placing hope in the fact that he has opened up a new Way for us. It is about believing in the impossible.

As Christians, our faith rests on the reality of miracles. Miraculous: A Fascinating History of Signs, Wonders, and Miracles is a book about the history of God’s miraculous dealings with man throughout history and in our present day. It touches upon the human experience of the hand of God across time, place, and faith tradition.  With treatment of the Hebrew patriarchs, Jesus, Mary, the apostles, Perpetua, Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Julian of Norwich, Jonathan Edwards, George Washington, Eastern Orthodox theology, Christians of the modern era, and others, this book presents a rich historical survey of the works of God in the human sphere.

I believe that most books which have reached publication are “good” books – assuming that they rest in the hands of the right reader. When I review a book, I am generally thinking more in terms of asking myself, “For whom is this book a good fit?” rather than, “Is this a good book?” Miraculous is a book for a person who enjoys serious reading. If you’re looking for a light book to zip through, without much cognitive pause, this book will likely not fit the bill. If, however,  you have a love for learning, for Biblical study, and for thoughtful contemplation on God’s hand in the world -- you’ll find this book to be an absolute treasure.

I enjoyed this book immensely. The writing has a lyric quality. The content is well researched, thoughtful, and expertly conveyed. Belmonte’s insights into many parts of the Gospel story, including Isaac on the altar and Mary at the side of Jesus throughout his lifetime, will forever impact my experience of God’s history with man.  Miraculous: A Fascinating History of Signs, Wonders, and Miracles is a delight – highly recommended for the serious reader.

This book was a Review Copy sent by the publisher — common practice in the industry. No payment was accepted in exchange for a review or mention, and the reviewer was in no way obligated to review the book favorably.