Crazy Praises

".....When people ask me where is God? I can honestly say - I've seen Him and I know He's real, He was at our farm, last Thursday. He turned up with a chainsaw, a shovel and a rake to help clean up and return the joy, that Satan tried to take..." ('Last Thursday' Poem)

Is it crazy to praise God for disasters? You would think so, but this little book Crazy Praises, challenges that thinking and shows us "not to be conformed by the world" (Romans 12.2) but to open our minds, our hearts and our eyes, to find the answer. It puts forward difficult scenarios and the clever poetry invites the reader to see God as they've never seen Him before. To let go of the old stereotypes and see God in a modern context as real, relevant and personal; to understand that through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, together we can and do change our lives and our world - for the better.

The premise of Crazy Praises is that in all things, having God in your life is the answer. Crazy Praises is an insightful collection of eclectic contemporary poetry ranging from the humorous "God is not a Helicopter Parent" to the serious "A Beautiful Ugliness" to the profound "There Once Was a Girl". It has personal, heart-warming stories of a dying man's last wish, unexplained messages from beyond the grave and a church community helping to repair a flood damaged property.

Drawing on her own life experience and from people who have shared their testimonies, Crazy Praises is inspirational, dramatic and compelling. Each poem shows how God works in our lives to help us find the good in every situation. Examination of the human experience and the profound truths found in the Bible underpin each poem, leading to the one conclusion that God is Great and He is worthy of all praise. In all circumstances we need to go crazy and praise Him, praise Him, praise Him.

Crazy Praises is the third book of contemporary Christian poetry from new author Christine J Bourne. Chris has a Diploma in Christian Counselling, is mad about horses and lives on the Sunshine Coast with husband Peter and their dog, Joy. Chris is a member of two church congregations St Margaret's Anglican at Woombye and Church on the Rise, Maleny.