Life Lessons From a Horse Whisperer blog tour review

ABOUT THE BOOK
A champion trainer and true horse whisperer, Dr. Lew Sterrett has used patience and a firm but gentle hand to earn the trust of more than 3,500 horses. In this book, Lew tells the stories of his work with these horses and the lessons each one has taught him. Sometimes heartbreaking and often uplifting, Lew has condensed his lifetime of learning into messages for the Christian life. Today, Lew shares these messages with more than 50,000 people each year through horse training presentations at Miracle Mountain Ranch and nationally through his Sermon on the Mount Ministry.

The author's engaging style and adroit mixture of well-tested anecdotes and thoughtful instruction make this a winning read-and not just for horse lovers.



MY THOUGHTS
Life Lessons From a Horse Whisper, was a very intriguing read that makes the reader take notice. Not only was the book filled with trivia pertaining to horses, it was filled knowledge on how we can have closer walk with the Lord. Growing up in the city, I was never exposed to horses, so I had no idea about their personality traits, it’s unbelievable how much we have in common with them. We as Christians often put up the same struggles with our Master as a horse does with his. Sometimes we are either too headstrong, or have simply be broken down by the events that have happened in our lives to place our trust in Jesus Christ. We have to slowly gain our footing and realize that He is their to love, and protect us, that he has given His life to redeem the unworthy. This book shows us how we can trust in the Lord. Defiantly a book I will pass along to my friends and family, I believe that everyone can benefit from reading this touching book.



MEET THE AUTHOR

A champion trainer and true horse whisperer, Dr. Lew Sterrett has used patience and a firm but gentle hand to earn the trust of more than 3,500 horses. Dr. Lew Sterrett (Ph. D) had little idea that his boyhood interest in horses would open doors internationally for speaking and training. During his years in 4-H, he savored many opportunities to train and show horses and earn national recognition. As a student leader at Penn State University he benefited from many mentoring relationships from which he received valuable training, experience and honors. This foundation provided a basis for an extensive horse career with a unique emphasis on training youth and community leaders.

Lew has served as the Executive Director of Miracle Mountain Ranch Missions, Inc. (MMRM) since 1977. MMRM, located in northwestern Pennsylvania, is home for a summer youth camp, and a leadership training center for youth, adult, and family groups. He has also promoted safety in public riding programs, serving as President of the Certified Horse Association for 7 years. A licensed pastor, certified Youth, Marriage and Family Counselor, he earned his PhD from North Tennessee Seminary in 2007

Find out more about Dr. Lew Sterrett on his website: http://www.sermononthemount.org/


Q&A WITH THE AUTHOR


1. HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH HORSES? AT WHAT POINT DID IT BECOME YOUR LIFE’S PASSION?

I was but eight when my neighbors got horses and then my sister followed suit. Somehow it struck a chord with me, for I had already been infatuated with the likes of Roy Rogers, Stony Burke, the Rifleman, etc. I rode my sister’s horse looking more like a peanut on an elephant than a cowboy on his steed, but I was hooked. From that time on this fantasy began to become a reality. When I was 14, I was asked to train for someone else. It was all downhill after that. In part because of my intense enjoyment of horses, in part it was my safe place from family issues, and in part because I begun to experience affirmation from others in what I did.


2. THE TITLE OF YOUR THIRD CHAPTER IS ‘ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH DOING POORLY’- WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

Of course this statement opposes the more popular line that ‘If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well’. However we must understand that no one ever starts anything at the top of their game. Starting is often clumsy, messy, and many times, embarrassing. The key is ‘get started’ for you will never learn any younger, and you really have no place to go but up! The emphasis here is to learn how to take the initiative and to keep getting up when you fall.


3. YOU SUGGEST AT VARIOUS POINTS IN YOUR BOOK THAT TRAINING HORSES IS ABOUT TEACHING THEM TO TAKE SIMPLE STEPS. WHAT LESSONS CAN CHRISTIANS TAKE FROM THIS TRAINING?

“Obedience is better than sacrifice, and to hearken the fat of rams’(Isaiah 15:23). Man often pursues unhealthy habits and poor decisions with impulse sacrifices. Perhaps people can be bought off for a time, but God values faithfulness over impulsiveness because faithfulness results in confidence. Little steps that are taken consistently bear far better fruit over the long haul than great talent; character prevails over skill. When applied to the home this produces harmony and growth.


4. YOU GREW UP IN THE CHURCH, BUT THEN STOPPED ATTENDING FOR A WHILE. WHAT BROUGHT YOU BACK?

Growing up in church no more makes one a Christian than standing in the barn makes one a horse. Without a personal intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, Christianity is nothing more than a religious shell. I grew up in that void and until I came to Christ as a college student, none of it made a lot of sense. After my new awakening in Christ, I found a new hunger in and thirst for the Word, for fellowship and sound teaching.


5. WHAT DOES THE PHRASE “ASHES TO BEAUTY” MEAN TO YOU? AND HOW HAS WORKING WITH HORSES TAUGHT YOU THIS?

God the Creator is always in the business of redemption. In my opinion, we were a pretty poor purchase for the sacrifice of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. With all respect, I see Him as a garbage collector: He takes our garbage and in exchange offers forgiveness and cleansing. He gave His life as complete payment for our sin offering eternal life to all who would receive Him. What a deal! Only a fool would turn it down and that is precisely the point. Furthermore, He takes ashes of broken lives and gives us a purpose to do His good and perfect work. The testimony of His regenerate work in a person’s life parallels seeing that of a horse whose life was headed for destruction being restored to a place of useful and honorable service.


6. IF THERE IS ONE MESSAGE YOU WANT READERS TO TAKE AWAY FROM YOU BOOK, WHAT IS IT?

Every trainer wants a relationship with the horse. Man’s ways are opposite to God’s- we are deceitful and addictively self-absorbed-but God wants a relationship with us. To get there, God often has to corral us and get is to face the futility and deception of our own reasoning. Like the horse, we can’t ‘save ourselves.’ The story of this book is that not only does God want a relationship with every reader, but He has already sent the trainer, the Lord Jesus Christ, into our arena to speak our language and to elevate us to fellowship with him. It is our privilege to respond to Him in humility (repentance) and trust (faith) in His offer of forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe in Him for salvation.



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I received my free review copy from LitFuse