Spiritual Growth

The Purpose-Driven Life- What on Earth Am I Here For-

2 stars (Nothing New Here) - I had heard people speak of this book and saw the author on the news so I figured it was worth reading. Unfortunatley there is very little that is new here wich has already been said by others. I personally don't agree with a bit of Mr Warrens conclusions and statements about what God's purpose for us is. In my opinion if you want to know What God's purpose for us is, read Neale Donald Walsch's books "Conversations With God" series and the others he has written. These books have changed my life and how I view God. They give many more answers wich are true to me than does "The Purpose Driven Life". But I will also say that if this book helps you,I am happy for you and Thank God. 5 stars (Live life with a purpose!) - The book is extremely well structured. Plenty of material to read and reflect upon. I recommend as a 'must read' and 'act upon'. Personally, will read this book once again in 6 months. 5 stars (The Purpose Driven Life) - A book that will lead you straight to God. Second only to The Holy Bible. EXCELLENT reading for ALL Christians! ...
Zondervan :: Religion & Christian Life :: CHRISTIAN LIVING SPIRITUAL GROWTH SPIRITUAL FORMATION :: Religion - Christian Living :: Religion :: Christianity - Christian Life :: The Purpose-Driven Life- What on Earth Am I Here For-

Waking the Dead- The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive

2 stars (Try it at your own risk) - I certainly wouldn't be the first to question the wisdom of meddling with nature to the extent outlined in this book. Down the ages, commentators from Mary Shelley to George A. Romero have illustrated the potential negative consequences of achieving what this book shows you how to achieve; the "glory" can soon turn sour indeed. Credit is certainly due to the author for his revolutionary method of integrating the four "streams" to achieve a state of total animation. Now that this knowledge has been made so publicly available, though, we await with foreboding the terrible consequences for humanity... 5 stars (Waking the Dead) - This is a life changing book. It is very well written. The author is insightful and touches on how we can really live life. There are just a few books that I have read that have had a real impact on my life. This is one of them. I have the audio version and it likewise is terrific. 5 stars (Waking a Long Forgotten Heart) - I have had experiences with John Eldridge before in "Wild at Heart," but "Waking the Dead" awakens a many times forgotten side of Christianity. Eldridge brings to light the side of humans so often forced into hiding by society, sin, and religion. Jesus Christ came to sacrifice his all for our hearts which when turned over to Him offer a new depth to the Christian walk. Not only does the author offer therapy for a wounded spirit, but also he equips the reader with a strong exhortation in Christian warfare about which I often forget but about which Paul teaches us at the end of Ephesians. Live from your heart, but guard it as a fortress for God. All in all, this book deserves a read by any Christian looking for a new depth or perspective. Personally, I would recommend it for everyone! ...
Nelson Books :: Spiritual Growth :: Religion & Spirituality :: Christian Living :: Spirituality - General :: Religion - Prayer & Spirituality :: Religion :: Christianity - Theolo :: Waking the Dead- The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive

What-s So Amazing About Grace-

3 stars (Not bad, but way below my expectations) - I think one of the most important subjects in christian theology is Grace. After reading the book by Erwin Lutzer titled ''How you can be sure you will spend eternity with God'' (one of my favourite books on that subject), i decided i need to give more time reading and studying about Grace. That's how i stumbled upon Whats so Amazing about Grace. Reading a fairly good reviews about it, i was so anxious to get it. But alas, i was very disappointed. The book has some excellent chapters and ideas for sure, but all in all, i am afraid its a boring book and doesnt present any new insight on Grace. Some ideas are very redundant and repeated over many chapters. The author uses very very limited bible referencing and you feel as if the author isnt bothering with scripture, and speaks more from a ''social'' point of view. I agree with another reviewer when he said 'Grace got lost in the way' as Yancey doesnt speak about the real Grace (God towards man) but more like grace as in man towards man. At the end of the day, i didn't learn anything new on Grace and was more or less bored. This book is ''ok'' but nothing more. I would give it 2.5 over 5. 2 stars (Grace gets lost in the mix) - I have read and reviewed The Jesus I Never Knew and Rumors of Another World by Yancey and loved them both...See reviews on those pages. However, I was completely disappointed with this book. There are few pages on which Yancey does not accuse and condemn the church for various imperfections. He uses several stories to show how the church lacks grace. Several of these include non-Christians accusing Christians of lacking grace. Yancey seems to side with any who condemn Christians for what they deem as "ungrace." One example is an addicted mother of a 2 yr old girl who has prostituted the girl for drug money. She states she did not go to a church because they would make her feel bad. This story opens the book and is referred to several t...
Zondervan :: Religion & Christian Life :: CHRISTIAN LIVING SPIRITUAL GROWTH SPIRITUAL FORMATION :: Religion - Christian Living :: Religion :: Christianity - Theology - Sot :: What-s So Amazing About Grace-

Celebration of Discipline- The Path to Spiritual Growth- 25th Anniversary Edition

5 stars (The title is not an oxymoron) - The writer of Hebrews tells us in chapter 12 that no discipline seems pleasant at the time we are receiving it, but if we can receive it, learn from it, and apply it, then it will produce "a harvest of righteousness and peace" in our lives. Richard J. Foster gives his readers a beautiful and inspiring look at how spiritual disciplines work in our lives and cause us to become deeper and stronger people in Christ and His Word. In so doing, the process of discipline becomes precious--even joyful--to the mature believer who embraces it. There is a beauty in the simplicity of Foster's words and in the actions that he advocates. There are...to paraphrase a popular television exercise commercial..."no high impact gyrations, no tricky dance moves" here in this book. It's just good, solid, basic information that will bring about real results. But, it's far from dry. Foster is a patient and empathetic teacher. This special 25th anniversary edition is beautifully done, spare but elegant (a lot like the prose inside). This is one of those books that's not only a must for every Christian's bookshelf, but a must to read and apply. In a world full of noise and confusion, Foster offers a doorway into a "place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God." 4 stars (significant challenges...) - Since college, when a number of my dormmates read through this book, I have desired to partake in a 'Celebration of Discipline.' When a fellow brother suggested that I choose something that several of us could study together my thoughts we immediately thrust to this work. I knew I would need the accountability of a group to not just read but seek to apply the principals present by Richard Foster. The book is separated into 12 individual disciplines and further broken down into three groups, 'The Inward Disciplines,' The Outward Disciplines' and 'The Corporate Disciplines.' Foster opens with a warning, encouragement and guidelines for emba...
HarperSanFrancisco :: Religion & Spirituality :: Spirituality - General :: Spiritual life :: Religion - Prayer & Spirituality :: Religion :: Inspirational - General :: Christianity - C :: Celebration of Discipline- The Path to Spiritual Growth- 25th Anniversary Edition

Everybody-s Normal Till You Get to Know Them

5 stars (Wonderful Analysis of Porcupine's Dilemma and Relationships) - In this classic book the author Ortberg zooms on the things that make community tick. He elaborates in the chapter `Porcupine's Dilemma' "Community is the place God made us for. Community is the place where God meets us. Here is the rub : How to get close without getting hurt? How do you pursue this beautiful dream of community with actual, real-life people? Weird, not-normal, as-is, dysfunctional real life people? Your friends, colleagues, your children, your parents? Can it really happen? The Hebrew prophets had a word for connectedness of all things : shalom - the webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight. The connectedness has also been called `reciprocal rootedness'. The North American Common Porcupine is a member of the rodent family that has around 30,000 quills attached to his body. Each quill can be driven into an enemy, and the enemy's body heat will cause the microscopic barb to expand and become more firmly embedded. The wounds can fester; the more dangerous ones, affecting vital organs, can be fatal. Ortberg analyzes the Porcupine's Dilemma : How do you get close without getting hurt? This is our dilemma too. Every one carries our own little arsenal. Our barbs have names like rejection, condemnation, resentment, arrogance, selfishness, envy, contempt. Some people hide them better then others, but get close enough and you will find out they are there. We, too, learn to survive through a combination of withdrawal and attack. We, too, find ourselves hurting (and being hurt by) those we long to be closest to. We try to figure out how to get close without getting hurt. We wonder if there is not a softer, less-barbed creature out there - a mink or an otter, perhaps. We can usually think of a number of particularly prickly porcupines in our lives. But the problem is not just them. I am somebody's porcupine. S...
Zondervan :: Religion & Christian Life :: CHRISTIAN LIVING SPIRITUAL GROWTH SPIRITUAL FORMATION :: Religious aspects :: Religion - Christian Living :: Religion :: Fellowship :: Everybody-s Normal Till You Get to Know Them

Life You-ve Always Wanted- The

5 stars (good as it gets) - I have read several of John Ortberg's books and this one is no exception. If you are truly looking to seek God and have a personal relationship with him in your life... but need help, this book (with your bible of course) can do just that... using it as Sunday school material in our church... they really like it.. 5 stars (The Life You Always Wanted) - This is a fresh look into how you live your faith and how you look at your faith. The book provides a simple look into several areas of your life and tips on how to live life to its fullest from a spirtual viewpoint. I found it to be very insightful. 5 stars (Book for practical spiritual growth) - This is an excellent book from an accomplished author. John Ortberg makes growing spiritually a realistic task, not some unattainable mission that only a priest or monk could hope to achieve. I highly recommend it. ...
Zondervan :: Religion & Christian Life :: CHRISTIAN LIVING SPIRITUAL GROWTH SPIRITUAL FORMATION :: Spirituality - General :: Spiritual life :: Religion - Prayer & Spir :: Life You-ve Always Wanted- The

Blue Like Jazz- Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality

5 stars (wonderful!) - This book was wonderful! I would recommend it to anyone, especially those who don't like Christians or for Christians to challenge them to go deeper and find real freedom. It's worth it, whatever the cost. 5 stars (One Man's "Garbage", Another Man's Treasure ) - This is one of those books that brings out the beauty and honesty of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Don understands that the only way we can survive this world is through community in the body of Christ, and the only way that can happen is through honesty. Miller uses his testimony to tackle some tough issues like freedom and artistic creativity. He also reminds us through expereinces with his 'liberal friends' what Christ looks like when it comes to social action and where many follwers of Christ have been taking naps. "There is no holiness but social holiness". Miller is able to paint a picture of who he is in a way that, when you put down the book, you feel like you just had a conversation with him. This book isn't scripture, it's an autobiography [Which means it's about his personal life experiences :) ]. Donald Miller's testimony is one that has the potential to impact many people. Pick up this book today! 5 stars (Not a 5-step guide to living the Christian life - just one person's perspective on life and Christianity.) - After reading some of the reviews posted, I decided to write one of my own. I'd like people to remember that this book isn't a step by step guide on how to live the Christian life. I don't think Donald Miller's intentions (if I may be so bold) are anything other than getting the reader to think about his or her own flawed thinking about Jesus and Christianity. Some of the reviewers (Garbage comes to mind) ironically fall into that fundamentalist, legalistic category that Miller has written about in his book. I think Miller just wants us to be as honest with ourselves regarding our beliefs and lives and direction, as he has been with hi...
Nelson Books :: Spiritual Growth :: Religion & Spirituality :: United States :: Theology - Lay :: Spirituality - General :: Religion :: Miller :: Donald :: :: Christianity - Disciplesh :: Blue Like Jazz- Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality

Twelve Ordinary Men

5 stars (Meat on the bones) - This is an excellent treatment of the 12. I used it as a starting point for a series of sermons this summer. It brings the flat apostles into focus, to see the life changing effect that being with Jesus brought into one's life. Highly recommended for both group and individual study. 4 stars (Great Apostle Research) - I really like hearing about the histories of the apostles. Makes them seem much more "real" than the abstract readings from the bible. It's also very well written. The other book in the same vein that I recommend in the genre is Your Apostle Personality (it's also at Amazon) which goes a little further relating our personalities to those of the apostles. 5 stars (From the Ordinary to Extraordinary) - This book was excellent, each apostle's personality was described according to scripture; each one of these personalities amazingly makes up the body of Christ before conversion. Here the evidence is laid out before us as to how God took each one; balanced them; settled them, and made them new creatures in order to go out and preach the gospel. Thank God for the Word in it's purest form. It's encouraging and engaging; It made you feel like you was there with them. You seen them go from glory to glory (except for Judas Iscariot). I have seen churches portray the disciples as a bunch of fools-But not in this book! you see the mire clay and the finished product. Please buy this book - you won't be disappointed. ...
W Publishing Group :: Spiritual Growth :: Religion & Inspirational :: Christian Living :: Spirituality - General :: Religion - Christian Living :: Religion :: Christianity - Disciplesh :: Twelve Ordinary Men

God Is Closer Than You Think - If God Is Always with Us- Why Is He So Hard to Find-

5 stars (God Is Closer Than You Think) - I think the book was great. Easy to read & a lot of ideas to think about. 5 stars (as expected) - The book was well-packaged. I recieved it on time, and everything was as I expected it to be. 4 stars ("Closing the Gap is our Choice") - In Michelangelo's painting of God and Adam, Ortberg makes the point that God is so close to Adam, all Adam has to do is lift his finger to touch God, but God purposefully left that space in order to leave room for man to choose whether or not to be intimate with Him. This book is written is an easy almost conversational style; you feel that you are simply listening to the author speak . His spontaneous sense of humor breaks in frequently as his serious train of thought is mentally interrupted by a comical twist . He can't resist - and lets the reader in on the joke (often in brackets). The smile in his words is infectious and you find a smile on your own face in response. Because the author writes with warmth and simplicity you are drawn into the embrace of his message - intimacy in your daily walk with God. Ortberg expresses the invitation of a God who is close - and who yearns for fellowship with those who are His - a God who is there in the mundane moments of our life - as well as our mountain-peak experiences. He is a God who hides Himself in the daily events of our life - not to make it difficult for us to find Him but to give us room to recognize Him or not if we so choose. Ortberg has a way of gently reaching into the heart of the reader revealing what has perhaps been covered over. His gentle rebuke resonates the truth that we turn away from God because we are doing something we don't want Him to see. We hide , just like Adam and Eve in the garden after they had sinned . He talks about the seven pathways in which we most naturally sense God's presence and experience spiritual growth. We are all different and for each of us one pathway will come more easily for u...
Zondervan :: Religion & Christian Life :: CHRISTIAN LIVING SPIRITUAL GROWTH SPIRITUAL FORMATION :: Spirituality - General :: Religion - Prayer & Spirituality :: Religion :: :: God Is Closer Than You Think - If God Is Always with Us- Why Is He So Hard to Find-

If You Want to Walk on Water- You-ve Got to Get Out of the Boat

4 stars (Learn to trust God...with some smiles (and few yawns) on the way) - John wrote this book to address what each and every believer face daily: fear. He invites us to get out of our comfort zone and take a bold step in trusting God in every move we do. To better draw his conclusions, he built this book on the scene in Matthew 14 where Jesus walks on water towards his disciples sitting in a boat : first fear struck them, then Peter had enough faith in Jesus to actually step out of the boat, but again fear struck him when the wind blew and he began to sink. The author couples humor with sincerity and the love of a true friend while analyzing the subject of Fear vs Trust, in every part of the boat scene. The book challenges you but at the same time instruct you on how to become a better christian, letting go of our fears and placing our mind and heart towards God. I loved that about Mr. Ortberg. The weak point about it, is that it tends to become a bit boring at times with a redundancy of ideas that get repeated in different parts of the book. You'll get excited at times, smile with John's humor and yet yawn a few pages along the way. All in all, important subject presented in a challenging, honest and loving approach. 5 stars (Powerful!) - I love this book! This is a powerful and thought-provoking book....it's helped me tremendously in my walk of faith! 5 stars (If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat) - Good humor. Good wisdom. ...
Zondervan :: Religion & Christian Life :: CHRISTIAN LIVING SPIRITUAL GROWTH SPIRITUAL FORMATION :: Trust in God :: Religion - Christian Living :: Religion :: N T :: Jesus walk :: If You Want to Walk on Water- You-ve Got to Get Out of the Boat

Seizing Your Divine Moment - Dare to Live a Life of Adventure

5 stars (Discerning God's will can't be done sitting still) - McManus does an excellent job in this book defining what "God's will" means. So often being in God's will is taught as a place of comfort and security when in truth (biblical truth) it's far from it. Being in God's will is being out of our own will (initially) and we are uncomfortable with the thought of not controlling, not predicting the outcome of our own future. McManus goes on to say that being in God's will is a "dangerous place to be". If you wonder what God's will for your life is or know someone struggling with that question this will serve as an excellent read! Consider this book along with John Ortberg's "If You Want to Walk on Water You Gotta Get Out of the Boat". I can't wait to read more of Mcmanus's work! 5 stars (rob) - To the reader who wrote this: "...anybody could be so gullible as to accept this gibberish! amazing...and to think ERWIN (who should find some time and do a little research first) is actually making money off you poor souls! oh, the pity. I give it a one, but only because it has print in it." I would say....what is the fruit of your life in the kingdom? Erwin lives what he preaches, and lives are changed because of it. This book totally changed my focus from sitting back, waiting on God to "find me" to moving out and seeking where God is already at work, and joining in. 4 stars (if you need a pep talk...) - This book was the right thing at the right time for me. As I was deciding to leave insitutional ministry and launch out and plant a church, I picked up Seizing Your Divine Moment. During one of the scariest times of my life, Erwin McManus took scripture and applied it in such a way that I was not only encouraged, but I was energized. I highly recommend this book to those who are thinking about their lives and wondering "What's next?"...and who might even be a little afraid of the answer. ...
Nelson Books :: Spiritual Growth :: Religion & Christian Life :: Christian Living :: Spirituality - General :: Religion - Christian Living :: Religion :: Christianity - Christian :: Seizing Your Divine Moment - Dare to Live a Life of Adventure