What followed could have been my thoughts - but it was incompatible with my natural thinking. Or it could have been the enemy sneaking in as he tries to - but for various reasons, I don't believe so. So that suggests that God was speaking to me. I've heard more from God in a short time than I'd heard in about four decades - even accounting - which I thought I knew a bit about but not as He showed me. Of course, it wasn't accounting he taught me but how easy it is to turn something we learn from God into rules - a form of religion.

I've put this review up here because the people interested in simple church are keen to hear from God. Perhaps you hear from God more regularly than I was, but realising he wants to discuss our "stuff " with us has dramatically revised my thinking (and hearing). One day he talked to me about His love for me. Great stuff - but not really the same personal touch I'd come to expect. Within 30 minutes I read the next conversation (46) from Mark's book. "What am I doing here? This whole existence, life, the universe; it's all about love. Yes really. Love."

I can't recommend this book highly enough - although there's always a danger of people reading the book and thinking it's nice - but not doing it. This isn't just a book - it's the continuation of God restoring us so that every person has their own regular conversation and walk with our God.

It's not as easy as it could be - mainly because I put obstacles in the way. For example, I liken it to an old grinding stone. We strive to turn the wheel, and eventually, it gets moving. Once it's going momentum almost keeps it running by itself. So I find early in my day this is relatively simple - but once I get into the day, I behave as I have for my first four decades as a Christian. My mind is engaged and active - and I find it hard to hear God's voice. Sometimes I wished He'd raise the volume - but that's not His way.

I become a Christian in 1973. In my first year, I heard a sermon about Christian books - not that it was suggesting we ignore the Bible but that we learn from those who've gone before. So for the next couple of years, I read a book every week. Even though the pace has slowed down (and I've become more selective) I built up quite a collection - which I pruned a few years ago. For no apparent reason (I hadn't "heard" God but He was in it) I went to the bookshelves and pulled out a book. I had read this one about a year after my conversion, and it hadn't been culled so obviously it had something in it. It's J B Phillips "Your God is too small" - which was created before me. I got through this little book in two days. I can't believe I'd read it all those years ago and still kept my God too small.

This is just one example of how my eyes have been opened. Another is I'd never noticed before how the Bible is full of conversations between God and His people. Why did I imagine things had changed?

I can't recommend this book highly enough - although there's always a danger of people reading the book and thinking it's nice - but not doing it.