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I wrote this book in order to put the magic back into the Kingdom for all those who went to the Charismatic Disneyland of Evangelical Christianity only to discover that they would never be spiritually tall enough to go on any of the rides.
By Paul Anderson-Walsh
Book Review St. Andrew's Bookshop www.standrewsbookshop.co.uk
The Bonsai Conspiracy definitely belongs in my list of the most influential books I have read. Why? Because it is a book that breeds HOPE, a fresh, vital, living HOPE, of the genuine possibility of developing that life of grace and freedom, which Christ promised his followers and which so many Christians get to talk about but so few of us actually get to live.Much of the Christian literature that I have read, seems to suggest that we can self-improve our way into Heaven. If only we could teach ourselves to: think in the right way; act towards others in the right way; feel (or completely ignore our feelings!) in the right way, pray and do our devotions in the right way, THEN, if we get it right and do enough of it, God will come and things will be better. In Bonsai, Paul Anderson-Walsh directly counteracts this 'self-improvement' lie. He speaks about self-replacement and NOT self-improvement. What a relief it was to finally hear this truth! He believes that it is only when we have finally exhausted our own resources and effort, and hit “burnout”, that dependence on the False self is destroyed and we can thus truly begin to live according to God's grace and strength.
Click Here to buy The Bonsai Conspiracy
I. Depending on how firmly rooted we are in our reliance on our False self, depends on how deep the “Dark Night of the Soul” has to be in order to shake us out of this false belief. In explaining this, Paul manages to give suffering a context and meaning. It is a journey through and not a dead-end, a journey into and out of, not something to get stuck in, be destroyed by or be avoided at any cost.
Paul's refreshing and loving interpretation of Scripture also breeds hope. Instead of a 'narrowing down' and a using of Scripture as a rod with which to beat oneself or a measuring stick against which to see how badly we are failing, which breeds defensiveness, he uses it to communicate and elaborate on the Love of God and what He has done, freely, for us, out of his desire to communicate that depth of Love for and to us and lead us in that way. The point is our freedom in Christ and not about living under the condemnation of the law or trying to live up to it.
In summing up, instead of metaphorically standing “on the mountain” telling everyone how great the view is and what they need to do to improve themselves in order to get up there too, Paul Anderson-Walsh presents the simple truth, which is, that each of us individually needs to make that journey, hand in hand with Christ, learning about ourselves in Him, as we go. Paul explains, guides and directs us into developing this deeper relationship with Christ, in order for us to make that journey.
Christ IS “the way”.
John 14:6
Wendy Austin
www.standrewsbookshop.co.uk
"I received your book “The Bonsai Conspiracy” last week and brought it to the coffee shop for my “church” this morning. I love the mystery in the title and unlike many books I didn’t feel a need to disguise what I was reading. The mystery of the title makes people want to ask what it is about. I had the shop owner (a disillusioned seminary graduate) read your quote “All Progress in the Christian life is predicated upon disillusionment”. He was brimming with response. As is my habit, several others came by to chat and were intrigued by your cover and hours of conversation ensued." John C. USA.
Book Review Mary Bartholomew thegoodbookstall.org
The Grace Project sets out to serve those Christians disillusioned by the churches with which they have previously been involved, and teaches “ ‘the Gospel to the saved’ as expressed by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians [Gal. 2:20].” The Bonsai Conspiracy is written for those already calling themselves Christian, but who need to grow out of their constrained beliefs into the Christ given fullness of Grace. With many biblical references to back up his teaching, and with many repetitions of his seemingly favourite word ‘paradigm’, Paul Anderson-Walsh helps believers to confront their innermost fears and phobias. The unusual layout of the book is designed to help clarify this teaching. From whatever background the reader comes, they will find this book challenging and informative.
Book review by Michael Zenker, Grace Walk Canada - www.gracewalkcanada.org
What a breath of FRESH AIR!! thank you for writing this book. I was expecting another nice fluffy book on grace but this is not nice and fluffy! This is an intensly meaty book not meant for gummy infants, but rather for anyone with a deep hunger to understand more deep theological truths of what it means to walk in Grace and understanding ones identity in Christ! This book challenged me to re-visit what the purpose of the church is. They are not five performances, or the five doings of the church, but rather an all out call to the church to grow up into Christ! way to go Paul, I can hardly wait to read the rest of the trilogy!!!
UK Stockists include: Martin Deadman Perivale Christian Bookshop, 90 Bilton Road, Perivale, Greenford, Middlesex, UB6 7BN Tel:020 8998 2933, Richard Farrell Books for Life, Bethnal Green Mission Church 305 Cambridge Heath Road London E2 9LH Tel 0207 729 4286, Andy Gilmour Canaan Christian Book Centre 121 High St, Staines, Middlesex TW18 4DP Tel 01784 457 194; Shalom The Rainbow Book Shop Bourton-on-the-Water Jennie Hemin Tel 01451 810222; City Gates Book Shop Ilford John & Sue Defoe Tel 0208 478 3278; Revelation CRC Chippenham Tel 01249 659432. CLC contact Roger Page CLC wholesale Tel 01962 732402 for nearest CLC stockist Nyuk Fong Lau Good News Book Shop 59 Churchfield Rd Acton W3 6Dl Tel 020 8992 7123 Ed Olhausen St Andrew's Bookshop Hopkins Yard Valley Rd High Wycombe Bucks HP1 4LG Tel 0845 270 2160.
Visitors from the USA wishing to purchase copies of the book may be interested to know that the book is now available from Grace Walk Ministries FL. To order go to www.gracewalk.org/
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paul franklin
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The strap line of the Grace Project – “Discover who you really are” – articulates the heart of the first phase of our journey.
Orlando Florida USA
I wrote this book in order to put the magic back into the Kingdom for all those who went to the Charismatic Disneyland of Evangelical Christianity only to discover that they would never be spiritually tall enough to go on any of the rides. By Paul Anderson-Walsh
“This book will inspire and encourage you. It will indeed cause you to feel safe and sound. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself experiencing an inward sigh of relief as you read. The three phases of Christian maturity discussed in chapters four and five stimulated my mind. My emotions were stirred by a renewed sense of deep joy as I read the extensive description of agape in chapter seven. The tenth chapter is one of the best apologetics for the security of the believer that I have seen. I wish every new Christian would read that chapter within the first month of their new life in Christ.”
