Arthur J. Besler’s masterpiece, How? How? How?: Jesus, Can We Have Your Church Fired Up?, was featured in the February 2025 issue of The New York Times Book Review (NYTBR) magazine.
The New York Times Book Review is a weekly magazine supplement included in the Sunday edition of The New York Times, where current fiction and nonfiction books are reviewed by professional critics. It is considered one of the most influential and widely read book review publications in the world. Essentially, it is a dedicated section within the newspaper that provides in-depth analyses of new books.
NYTBR is a highly regarded weekly magazine dedicated to literary criticism, featuring reviews, essays, and interviews about newly published books across various genres. As part of The New York Times, it plays a significant role in shaping literary trends and influencing readers’ choices. The magazine covers fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children’s literature, offering in-depth analyses by esteemed critics and authors.
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Author Arthur J. Besler was born to parents of Russian descent who immigrated to America in 1907. They married in South Dakota and became part of the Homestead Act, raising a total of fifteen sons and daughters.
By the time Arthur left home at the age of seventeen, the family’s homestead, which included cows and sheep, spanned approximately five thousand acres or more. As he grew up, his father read the Bible almost every morning, making Jesus very real to him. He recalls an experience in which a man looked at him, and he knew with certainty that it was Jesus. At nine years old, he began to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit, and at eleven, he was filled with the Holy Spirit—an event that led him to speak in an unknown language. Since that moment, he has never been the same.
As he became involved in various churches, he found himself dissatisfied, sensing that Jesus wanted Christians to be more deeply engaged in His commission. At the time, he did not fully understand Jesus’ goal.
Hollywood Book Reviews praised Arthur J. Besler, stating:
“With an abundance of Biblical content, Besler’s book can be considered a reference guide, something you could turn to when trying to fire up the members of your church. He underlines and writes in bold those words that he considers of utmost importance. He has a passionate and engaging writing style, exploring the ways in which the modern church can reignite its fervor and dedication to its core mission.”
How? How? How?: Jesus, Can We Have Your Church Fired Up? by Arthur Besler was among the books displayed by Author Reputation Press during the 76th Frankfurt Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany, from October 16-20, 2024. The 76th Frankfurter Buchmesse (October 16–20, 2024) highlights current topics in international publishing and contemporary socio-political issues. At the same time, it is expanding platforms that foster interaction between readers and authors, with a special emphasis on younger readers’ increasing desire to engage with literature. The book fair’s opening ceremony took place on October 15, 2024, under the motto “FBM24 is Read!ng—Read. Reflect. Relate.”
To experience revival, Besler argues, we must repent both as individuals and as a church, invite the Holy Spirit into our lives, and turn our focus outward to address the needs of God’s flock. According to Besler, failing to do so—if our churches merely serve as places to assemble, structured around “singing a few songs, having a little prayer time, listening to sermons from the preacher, and then leaving”—will prevent us from experiencing the spiritual fire needed to awaken ourselves and our churches from slumber.
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