SUBMERGED IN THE PROPHETIC

Buckley, who serves as a prophetess in her New Mexico church, shares insights into the biblical gift of prophecy.

Buckley, in her debut, writes that she grew up Baptist in Mississippi, hearing about Jesus’ history but not his mystery and only later learning how to live a richer spiritual life. She lays a foundation for discussing the gift of prophecy by explaining how Christian workers must be prepared to go forward only in God’s timing. In one practical example, she compares the preparation of the Christian worker to the harvesting of collards by her Mississippi grandmother. Her grandmother wouldn’t pick collards until days before the first frost, when they were ready; similarly, the Christian worker should be aware that it “may be your season but not your time.” The author is also a private pilot, and she compares the proper use of the gift of prophecy—defined as “edification, exhortation, and comfort”—with the proper use of her knowledge of flying an aircraft. Above a certain altitude, she writes, she and everyone on the plane must have portable oxygen or they will be unsafe; likewise, she believes those with the gift of prophecy must be aware of their own limitations, as shown in the Bible, and must operate under the authority of the church. Some of the prophetic terms aren’t clearly defined until late in the book, and readers new to this topic would be better served if terms were explained earlier. The author has a pleasant, accessible writing style and is an excellent teacher, frequently explaining scriptural insights she’s learned from others. The book of Matthew tells of a woman with a blood disease who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment: “Once the hem is done, the garment is complete,” Buckley writes. “Therefore, when the woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, she touched the finished work of Jesus Christ.” The appendix gives information on prophecy and other spiritual gifts to help those desiring further study.

A sharply focused, well-written guidebook.