Subtitled: The Inexorable Power of God's Love
In Consuming Fire, editor Onesimus has transformed MacDonald’s magnificent three-volume work into an extraordinary daily devotional. Philosopher Thomas Talbott, author of The Inescapable Love of God, calls Consuming Fire a “perfect introduction to MacDonald’s reflections on God and Christian living; and for those who already know and love these sermons, an opportunity to meditate daily on its spiritual insights."
Barbara Amell, editor of the journal Wingfold, writes that "unlike many devotional volumes, which provide the reader with scant material to ponder, we are offered a substantial daily reading from MacDonald's incomparable Unspoken Sermons, the product of his extempore preaching in England and Scotland. Onesimus has edited this book with great care and with a noble purpose.”
In a class with Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest, Consuming Fire reveals MacDonald at his best: at once deep and profoundly practical, inspiring, convicting, uplifting, and joyous in his passionate love of Christ. Pastor John Kermott of the First Baptist Church of Sterling, IL, writes "when I came to read the Unspoken Sermons of George MacDonald, the thought that came to me was, ‘This guy knows Jesus,’ and I saw my need to know Him better. This devotional will give any reader fresh ways to ponder the scripture and the One toward whom the scripture points.”
All Royalties Go to Finding a Cure for ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)
Onesimus and his late wife came to Christ through the writings of George MacDonald and C. S. Lewis. All royalties from Consuming Fire go to the ALS Therapy Development Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the foremost nonprofit biotechnology organization dedicated to finding a cure for Lou Gehrig's disease.
According to Lisa Murkowski, senior United States Senator from the State of Alaska, “ALS is a devastating disease that erodes victims’ communication and physical skills, but it cannot take away their souls. I commend Onesimus for this devotional designed to give nourishment to the hearts and souls of those suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease, and the family and friends who watch over them and provide them the support they need.”
Editorial Reviews
"A daily devotional featuring the words and spiritual insights of George MacDonald was a wonderful idea, and Consuming Fire, named after MacDonald's great sermon of the same name, may be the perfect introduction to his reflections on God and Christian living. For those who already know and love these sermons, it will provide them with an opportunity to meditate daily on the spiritual insights contained therein."
--Thomas Talbott, author of the critically acclaimed, The Inescapable Love of God
"Pastors often read classic sermons when preparing their own messages. In reading some of the great preachers of the past, I've sometimes thought, 'This guy is brilliant!' But when I came to read the Unspoken Sermons of George MacDonald, the thought that came to me was, 'This guy knows Jesus,' and I saw my need to know Him better. This devotional, Consuming Fire, will give any reader fresh ways to ponder the scripture and the One toward whom the scripture points."
--John Kermott, Pastor, First Baptist Church of Sterling, IL
At first glance, Onesimus' notion of a year-long series of meditations on the thought of George MacDonald seemed dubious; should not one simply be directed to read MacDonald himself? After reading the first meditations, however, I became convinced that here was a brilliant introduction to and recommendation of MacDonald. Onesimus gently brings the reader under the spell of George MacDonald, and illustrates for the modern reader why we owe MacDonald for Lewis.
--Lynn E. Mitchell, Jr., Ph.D., Clinical Professor and Director of Religious Studies, Retired, University of Houston
"C. S. Lewis once remarked that George MacDonald was his master. I think of MacDonald as a modern staretz, someone who enjoyed a profound relationship with God and intimately knew the depths of His love and mercy. The daily reflections of Consuming Fire are a wonderful way to enter into MacDonald's vision of the Father and the life freely given in Jesus Christ."
--Fr. Alvin Kimel, Eclectic Orthodoxy, a theological blog devoted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Church Fathers, and the Orthodox faith
"In his lifetime, George MacDonald would often give poems or prose for publication to help raise funds for various charities. If my great-great-grandfather were here today, I am convinced that ALS is a cause to which he would have given an entire novel. Lou Gehrig's Disease is a heartbreaking affliction, and organizations such as the ALS Therapy Development Institute deserve all our support to help eradicate it. I very much hope this wonderful devotional, Consuming Fire, will raise both awareness and much needed funds to this end."
--Christopher Peter MacDonald, London, England