I am honored to post a review of my second book composed by a special friend, Robert Stuart, with whom I worked for 25 years at Reasons To Believe (www.reasons.org).
It is clear that one of the reasons Dr. Lennard has written the book, The Boundless Love of God: A Holy Spirit Story, is to remind the church and those interested in the life of the Spirit and how one can better understand and recognize the incredible importance of the Holy Spirit in the lives of not only Christians but also those seeking communion with the God of the Bible. As Dr. Lennard writes, “the Counselor and the Helper continues to interact with the mind of man through the spirit.” This book is an indispensable primer on the essentials of the Christian faith as it relates to the Holy Spirit presented in a fresh and engaging way.
In John 16:5,7 Jesus states “it is good that I am going away…otherwise the Counselor (the Holy Spirit) will not come.” Dr. Lennard elaborates on the many roles the Holy Spirit plays in our lives. He elaborates on the body, soul, and spirit of humanity and how the third person of the Trinity was and is such an essential member for us today as much as He was in the past. The mention of the Holy Spirit 56 times in the book of Acts alone highlights the great importance in launching the new body of believers. With the advent of the Holy Spirit all of humanity now has direct, indwelling access to the Spirit of God in repentance.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Dr. Lennard’s book is the research into how the Holy Spirit may interact with the spirits of humanity through what science refers to as the neural synapse. The immaterial Spirit has a way of interacting with the immaterial mind of mankind. Dr. Lennard connects how we, as people created in God’s image, are created to interact through our minds with the Mind and Spirit of God. Distinctions are highlighted between the mind of man and man’s brain. He makes a strong case for our having the “mind of Christ” that is separate from our perishable brains. He makes a point that research indicates evidence of a “force (the Holy Spirit) [that] is available to the mind which does not depend on such electrochemical circuits but is interactive with it.” In Dr. Lennard’s book, Nerve Endings of the Soul: Interaction Between the Mind of God and the Mind of Man Through Neural Synaptic Networks, he goes into depth regarding the research of neuroscientists who have been exploring this realm for a number of years. I consider this book a seminal work, which helps establish the existence of the human spirit from a scientific perspective. Humans have the potential to receive various manifestations of communion with the Holy Spirit that include dreams, visions, perceived words, intuition, and discernment via our minds.
This book is a must read in these dark days we now find ourselves in. There has never been a time that we need God’s Holy Spirit more than now as Christians. The unfortunate fact in today’s church is the under emphasis of the life-transforming effects of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives. The impact and power of the Holy Spirit to transform those who do not know God as well as Christians who are feeling loneliness, hopelessness, and/or powerlessness to address the many challenges of this present culture is wonderfully laid out in Dr. Lennard’s book. In a very understandable way he communicates how this happens from both scriptural and scientific truths.
Dr. E. Stan Lennard has a very impressive background professionally with both MD and ScD degrees. He is a former esteemed general surgeon and associate professor of surgery at the University of Washington Medical School. Equally impressive is his writing ability along with active engagement in Christian leadership. His work with the parachurch ministry Reasons to Believe (RTB) included serving as chairman of the board, founder of the RTB Seattle Chapter, a trained volunteer RTB apologist, author of several articles for the RTB organization and an online instructor with Reasons Institute. He also has over 20 years of research exploring neurosynaptic phenomena that has resulted in two published books.
I have personally known Dr. Lennard for more than 25 years in my capacity as Apologetics and Scholar Community Manager at the RTB organization. His dedication to God, the scriptures, and the wonders of nature as described in science is exemplary. I heartily commend this book to you, since it will bring a fresh way to understand the ancient prophet’s proclamation that is for us today, “Not by power, not by might, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6