When that horrible sin that we have been committing for some time is finally revealed to all, how ought we to respond? We can make excuses, we can blame it on someone else, or we can take responsibility, confess and begin the process of restoration. Broken is the experience of Paul Murray as he was faced with the above question. Having manipulated the funds of an organization while in a position of leadership, he had justified his actions as being okay because of the end result. However, when finally faced with his failure and his sin, he too was in the position that we all find ourselves. In Paul's case, he accepted responsibility, confessed his sins, and began the process of restoration. Through this process, Paul not only discovered that God provided even more grace and more strength, but He even provided him with an opportunity to bear an even greater witness. Through Paul's experiences and through what he learned during the process of restoration, this book and the very practical guidance that it gives was made possible. Paul addresses each of the issues that a fallen believer faces in their restoration, and especially those issues which are unique to those in leadership positions in the church. He not only addresses these issues from the viewpoint of the fallen person, but also from that of the leader who is helping them to stand again.

Paul Murray makes use of a very direct and very practical biblical approach to Broken that goes well beyond what most might take. Paul strongly believes that God's grace abounds even more for a sinner and that failure does not mean the end. His advice, based on experience, as well as the examples of the great men and women of the Bible who fell and were later restored to do great works for God's kingdom, provides a very solid foundation from which a person can step forward to enjoy full repentance and full restoration with confidence in the great work of God's grace. Broken is not only a must-read guide for those who have sinned and are seeking restoration with God, but also a great resource for church leaders who are unsure of how to handle the failure of one of their church brothers. Solid scripture, practical advice and extremely beneficial to right Christian living.

What does it mean to be broken? Can you recover from a broken state of being? What are the steps to recovery? Dr. Paul Murray, Senior Pastor, Lighthouse Church in Georgia, provides us with the answers. In his book, Broken: Picking Up the Pieces After The Fall, Dr. Murray offers an up close and personal, transparent and vivid account of what it means to be broken and restored. Dr. Murray describes how he fell into a broken state, the shame and embarrassment that he felt, how it affected his loved ones (especially his twin) and the steps that he took to restoration. “I sold my integrity, my moral values, and my character – for what? A few accolades? The praise of people? I should have known better,” says Dr. Murray. Yes, even a minister, bishop or layman can fall into temptation, but it is what you do during and after those times that counts. Even when most people that Dr. Murray trusted turned against him, God was still with him. God used Dr. Murray’s brokenness to help others.

I was glad to read Broken: Picking Up the Pieces After The Fall by Paul Murray because of the substance, transparency and the human element in showing how temptation can rear its ugly head at anyone or at any time. If you are not in touch with God, you will not see the signs before you fall. Like in this example from Dr. Murray: “In my desire to look good, I had taken shortcuts, operated in the 'gray' areas of business, and done what I could to justify my actions. My justification was based upon what I had seen others doing, so I chalked up my actions to: 'this is just how business is done.' I based all of my actions on wanting to maintain a public image of success. In other words it was my pride that drove me over the edge to failure.” Each one of us must stay in self-reflection because, as in the case of Dr. Murray, he wanted to please man more than God, like most of us. We should be grateful that God is not a man and He is a God of second chances. If you have fallen and need help getting up, pick up Broken: Picking Up the Pieces After The Fall By Paul Murray.

Broken: Picking Up the Pieces After The Fall by Paul Murray is an uplifting book that will guide readers on a path to redemption and restoration. It will help them to pick up the pieces of their broken lives, and lead them to healing and a great spiritual experience. Man's failures and downfalls in life are discussed here and the author uses the Bible as the foundation for advice on how to rise above the negatives in life and overcome them successfully. The book magnifies God, the power of God, and His influence in our daily lives. It is a book that discusses the transformation of a person and why at times humans are made to go through tests in life.

The book is inspirational and motivational, and reiterates the presence of God in our lives. Gratitude, compassion, love and grace run through the author's humble words while trying to connect readers to God through his personal experiences. The biblical references add more weight to what the author conveys. The author's way of expressing himself is simple, easy to comprehend, and readers can relate well to the thoughts and advice. The tips on how to deal with failures in life are very useful. It's a book that will make readers look into their own selves and help them resolve their problems and failures in a good way without becoming dejected and disappointed.

Broken: Picking Up the Pieces After The Fall is a motivational book by a man who has experienced a public failure; a testimony to others who have experienced something similar or who wish to know how to help someone who has. Author Dr. Paul Murray weaves his story, in addition to a number of examples from Bible, into his narrative about picking up the pieces and seeking redemption after a fall. He goes through God’s purpose for failure and why He lets it happen. The book can seem to get a bit repetitive at times, but this is most likely due to someone being in this situation needing encouragement, and sometimes one way of making a statement will not be as effective for them as another.

One of the most valuable resources Dr. Murray presents in Broken, in my opinion, is the chapter aimed at leadership and the role of the church and those in authority in the restorative process of the individual. From my own experience, I can easily see where these principles are sadly lacking in the church at large. There are shining stars, of course, in the congregation and among the leadership, but they are perhaps overtaxed by the burden placed upon them in this regard as there are not enough people who have had revelation in this area to adequately share the load. For this section alone, I would recommend this book, even to someone who has not experienced a monumental failure so they can learn how to better respond to those who have. A very good book overall.