Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith

Amazon.com

Through Anne Lamott's many books (including six novels, her bestselling parenting memoir, Operating Instructions, and her popular guide to writing, Bird by Bird) the subject she keeps returning to is her faith, her deeply personal--"erratic," she says--journey in Christianity. Her latest book, Grace (Eventually), is her third collection of her "thoughts on faith," and she took the time to answer a few of our questions.

Questions for Anne Lamott

Amazon.com: This is your third book on faith. How has your perspective changed since you wrote your first one?

Lamott: I wrote my first book on faith when Bill Clinton was president, and I was in a much better mood. I wrote Plan B during the run-up to war in Iraq, and the ensuing catastrophe, so I was very angry, but trying to reconcile that pain and hostility to Jesus's insistence that we are made of love, to love, and be loved, to forgive and be forgiven. Some days went better than others. Also, my son Sam was in his early teens, and that was a LOT easier than when he turned 16 and 17, his ages when I was writing the pieces in Grace (Eventually).

In general, I think Grace (Eventually) is a less angry book. I like how I'm aging, except that my back hurts more often, my knees crack like twigs when I squat, and my memory fails more frequently, in more public and therefore humiliating ways. But I think I complain less. As my best friend said when she was dying, and I was obsessing about my butt, "You just don't have that kind of time."

Amazon.com: What does grace mean for you? How can we better communicate it to each other?

Lamott: Grace is that extra bit of help when you think you are really doomed; also, not coincidentally, when you have finally run out of good ideas on how to proceed, and on how better to control the people or circumstances that are frustrating or defeating you. I experience Grace as a cool ribbon of fresh air when I feel spiritually claustrophobic. Sometimes I experience it as water-wings, something holding me up when I am afraid that I'm going down, or the tide is carrying me away. I know that Grace meets us whereever we are, but does not leave us where it found us. Sometimes it is so small--a couple of seconds relief here, several extra inches there. I wish it were big and obvious, like sky-writing. Oh, well. Grace is not something I DO, or can chase down; but it is something I can receive, when I stop trying to be in charge.

We communicate grace to one another by holding space for people when they are hurt or terrified, instead of trying to fix them, or manage their emotions for them. We offer ourselves as silent companionship, or gentle listening when someone feels very alone. We get people glasses of water when they are thirsty.

Amazon.com: Many of the essays in Grace (Eventually) first appeared in Salon, the online magazine, and that's the way that many readers first found you. How do you see the Internet changing the way people read and write?

Lamott: The Internet makes everything so immediate and spontaneous, which I totally love--UNLESS it has to do with the immediacy of people's negative response to me. Several of the Salon pieces in Grace--for instance, the story about the horrible fight with my son, and the piece about turning the other cheek while being ripped off by The Carpet Guy--generated a couple hundred letters, many of them extremely hostile. Perhaps "spewy" would be a better description. I also sometimes get knee-jerk responses to my mentions of Jesus in my Salon pieces that seem to lump me in the same tradition as Jerry Falwell. But for the most part, I love the populism and egalitarian nature of the Internet: everyone counts the same.

Amazon.com: What stories do people tell you, when they've read your books or know you are a writer?

Lamott: People tell me how relieved they are that I try to tell the truth about how hard it can be to be a mother, or a daughter, or an American in these times. They tell me stories about how awful their own teenagers can be, or how awful they themselves behaved towards their kids or parents; how hard it was to finally be able to adore their mothers, or to forgive their fathers. They tell me their sobriety dates. They whisper to me that they are Christians, too.

Also, they ask if I am able to read their manuscripts, and the name of my agent, and my e-mail address. They ask if we are going to survive the current political difficulties--and I promise them we are. They ask how old my son is now--17 and a half--and how he is doing, which is fantastically, after some of the hard months I wrote about in Grace.

Amazon.com:What lessons do you think you can pass on to others: to your readers, to your son? What lessons does it seem like people have to learn for themselves?

Lamott: All I have to offer is my own truth, my own experience, strength and hope. I can pass on the tool of a God Box, and how for 20 years I have been putting tiny notes in mine and promising God I will keep my sticky fingers off the controls until I hear God's wisdom: sometimes I get an answer because the phone rings, or the mail comes, but at any rate, during every single terrible problem and tragedy, I have been given enough guidance and stamina and even humor to bear up, and be transformed, for the good. I always tell Sam that if you want to make God laugh, tell Her your plans. I tell Sam that if he listens to his best thinking, he will suffer: and to listen to his heart instead, to listen in the silence, and to seek wise counsel.

Amazon.com: You've written nearly a dozen books (including an incredibly popular guide to writing): does writing get any easier? Does it get harder?

Lamott: In a very important way, writing gets easier, because I've been doing it full time now for thirty-plus years, and just as you would get better and better if you practiced your scales on a piano, I've gotten better, and can try harder and harder pieces. But writing is always hard. It does not come naturally to me at all. I sit down at the same time every day, which lets my subconscious realize it's time to get to work. I give myself very short assignments, and let myself write really terrible first drafts. But I grapple with the exact same problems every writer does, which is having equal proportions of self-loathing and grandiosity. I sort of live by the Nike ads: Just Do It. So I sit down. I show up. I do it by pre-arrangement with myself, because I know I'll feel sad and terrible if I shirk on that days writing. I do it as a debt of honor, to myself, and to whatever it is that has given me this gift of being able to tell stories, and to make people laugh. Laughter is carbonated holiness. Other people's good writing is medicine for me, and I hope mine is too, for my readers.

Book Description

The sharp, funny, and heartfelt follow-up to her bestselling Plan B, Anne Lamott's newest collection is a personal exploration of the faith and grace all around us.

In Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith, Lamott examines the ways we're caught in life's most daunting predicaments: love, mothering, work, politics, and maybe toughest of all, evolving from who we are to who we were meant to be. This is a complicated process for most of us, and Lamott turns her wit and honesty inward to describe her own intimate, bumpy, and unconventional road to grace and faith.

"I wish grace and healing were more abracadabra kinds of things," she writes in one of her essays, "that delicate silver bells would ring to announce grace's arrival. But no, it's clog and slog and scootch, on the floor, in silence, in the dark."

Whether she's writing about her unsuccessful efforts to get her money back from an obstinate carpet salesman, grappling with the tectonic shifts in her relationship with her son as he matures, trying to maintain her faith and humor during politically challenging times, or helping a close friend die with dignity, Lamott seeks out both the divinity and the humanity in herself and everything around her. Throughout these essays, she writes of her struggle to find the essence of her faith, which she uncovers in the unlikeliest places. By turns insightful and hilarious, pointed and poignant, Grace (Eventually) is Anne Lamott at her perceptive and irreverent best.

Customer Reviews:

Funny and profound.......2007-08-12

Anne Lamott is honest and engaging. This book is a beautiful testament to a real life lived in faith and hope in the midst of inevitable disappointments and hardships.

Grace (Eventually) thoughts on Faith.......2007-08-08

I bought this book thinking I would get an inspiritial read. Instead I found that the title totally misrepresented the book. This is nothing but a self-centered, self-indulgent, whiny bunch of writings from a drug user/alcoholic, over age hippy, feeling (what?). Certainaly not faith!
Title should read "Poor Me, I can't Think Straight"

Not her best, but still brilliant.......2007-08-01

One of the most popular voices in contemporary spirituality, Anne Lamott has a remarkable gift at handling serious and unfunny topics - religion, motherhood, eating disorders, death - in a witty and disarming way.

Lamott's new book, "Grace Eventually: Further Thoughts On Faith," is a collection of essays, many of which Lamott wrote as a columnist for Salon.com. If you haven't read anything by Lamott before, the best places to start would be "Traveling Mercies" (her bestselling memoir), and "Bird by Bird," (one of the best guide to writing anywhere, another bestseller). But the two things you should know before reading Anne Lamott is that 1) she is an incredible prose artist, quirky and profound, with a style that seems all her own. And 2) she is almost completely neurotic.

"Grace Eventually," is a special book in that Lamott's description of ordinary events make them feel sacred. She is a writer with an ability to make the reader pay attention, feel present, and tune in to the story taking place around them. Although she refers to Jesus consistently, there is little that seems orthodox about Lamott's spiritual journey, and perhaps that is one of the reasons she has such a wide readership.

You'd have to be made out of granite not to find something that moves you in this unique collection of essays. You would also need to adhere to Lamott's precise and strident political positions not to find at least one portion of this book infuriating. Either way, "Grace Eventually" is a provocative and unique read, and any avid reader owes it to themselves to become familiar with one of the country's top writers.

No thank you, no good........2007-07-25

I read another one of Anne's books. The first one I did not like much, and really did not want to read this one, but when you already own it, you feel you must with 16 dollars into the book. It was some repeating of stories I really did not like in the first place, there were a few highlights or good moments, but not enough. I still feel bad for her, but most times I was like "get over it." Now I loved Donald Miller's book, which was along the same mindset, but he seemed deep or maybe just a man. Sorry Anne, you are twice if not more the writer that I am, but I was just not into the book.

She's the Best.......2007-07-25

Her words are equivalent to the phrase "A sight for sore eyes." My copy now has so many underlines and dog ears that I just don't know where to start with quotable quotes--

"IT FEELS AS IF SOMEONE FINALLY CRACKED OPEN A WINDOW THAT HAD BEEN JAMMED."
"...taught me a willingness to help clean up the mess we've made is a crucial part of adult living; that our scary, selfish, damging behavior litters the planet."
"...we get mad at each other, over and over, then we apologize, become friends again: I see how each time this is redemption. How amazing it is to share that."
"Joy is the best makeup."
"Prayer is not asking for what you think you want, but asking to be changed in ways you can't imagine."

I use this like a Bible when I need to be called to a higher place. It soothes me, calms me down, and calls me to a (much) higher place. Buy this, Bird By Bird, and the other two from this series. They are GIFTS.

The Revival Slim and Beautiful Diet: For Total Body Wellness

Average customer rating:

Does read like an informercial, but it's not all bad!
Worst book ever...
Not worth the price...
Great New Book!

The Revival Slim and Beautiful Diet: For Total Body Wellness
Aaron Tabor , and Suzanne Tabor
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0849903556

Book Description

A "no-brainer" system to better physical, emotional and spiritual health. Take a dynamic medical researcher and physician, pair him with his down-to-earth, straight-talking mama - and you've created the perfect writing team for The Slim and Beautiful Diet. Based on ground-breaking research, this book shares the exciting health benefits of soy along with other easy-to-implement life-enhancing beliefs, activities, thoughts and health practices in an entertaining, accessible format.

Customer Reviews:

Does read like an informercial, but it's not all bad!.......2007-06-26

I use Revival Soy products (the shakes & protein bars, low carb versions) on a regular basis and enjoy them for the most part. It one of the few products I've ever used that have actually done for me what they say it does. It's helped greatly alleviate my PMS symptoms, clear up my skin, and more. My husband doesn't need further convincing to keep Revival Soy in my life...he doesn't miss the PMS witch at all! Even with the controversies that surround soy products, I stick with Revival Soy...I don't want to go back to what I was (or how I felt) before it.

With that said, when I heard that Dr. Tabor and Revival Soy were coming out with a diet book, I got excited and actually looked forward to reading it. (I hate reading diet books.)

Well, by chance I was able to get a free copy. I'm glad I got it for free, as I would not have been completely happy if I had to pay more than a few bucks for this book.

The biggest reason? This book does come off as a informercial. I've caught myself rolling my eyes on more than one occasion...and I'm only 1/2 way through the book!

Despite that, I have found a lot of great tidbits and inspiration to help keep me motivated in my current weight loss journey. While I'm not doing the Revival Diet plan per se, (I prefer to stick with my low carb diet) I still enjoyed some of what the book had to say and gave me some new ideas and inspiration to work with.

To me the real value of this book is in the psychology of going through the weight loss process. Losing weight is not easy...but if we can keep a positive attitude about it - about ourselves - we will enjoy the journey of change better than just a quick fix plan.

If you can pick up this book for "cheap" then I think you will find some gems in there worth reading. If you're not a fan of informercials, then stay away!

Worst book ever..........2007-04-19

There is nothing in this book that hasn't been said before and it points out in numerous places that you have to follow the entire plan exactly. Which means living off of the author's products. It was like reading over 150 pages of an infomercial.

Not worth the price..........2007-04-18

This diet book provides Dr. Aaron Tabor yet another forum from which to tout his soy products. Interspersed with recommendations about a variety of other supplements (all of which I had heard about previously), this book contains such breakthrough diet advice as: eat small to be small. The tidbits provided by Dr. Tabor's mother, while mildly amusing, offered little in the way of useful material. It may interest readers to know that mama knew it was time to do something when she looked like an overstuffed sausage casing in her slimming undergarment, but these interspersed comments get annoying quickly and seem more like filler than useful advice. This program isn't unique - it's simply repackaged material from a dozen different books already on the market.

Great New Book!.......2007-04-05

Unfortunately, current popular diets offered to consumers focus only on weight loss, not total-body beauty inside and out. Dr. Aaron Tabor, M.D., a graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, has created his next-generation "The Revival Slim and Beautiful Diet." The program is the first clinically proven inside-out makeover diet plan for dramatic weight loss and improved skin, hair, and nail appearance, year round.

"Using topically applied creams and lotions is only 50 percent of battle against the visible signs of aging. The other 50 percent starts inside for a slim figure and gorgeous skin, hair, and nails," said Dr. Tabor.

Developed during the past seven years at some of the nation's top hospitals, "The Revival Slim and Beautiful Diet" was originally created to rescue Dr. Tabor's mother, Suzanne Tabor, from what he calls a "midlife meltdown." His mother experienced a rapidly expanding waistline, deepening wrinkle appearance, dull hair, brittle nails, menopausal hot flashes and night sweats. The program was carefully designed as a simple, yet effective, diet and physical activity plan to help dieters achieve:

* An average weight loss of 26 to 29 pounds in just sixteen weeks (among the best results ever published in medical history);
* A rapid reduction in belly fat (up to 25 percent or more in sixteen weeks) with a reduced waist circumference;
* Improved appearance of wrinkles and skin with less roughness and better coloration;
* Increase in hair silkiness with reduced dullness and better manageability;
* Sexier nails with less splitting, ridging and flaking;
* A reduction in hunger and cravings for sweet, salty, and crunchy foods;
* Promotion of better energy levels with protein-packed, low-glycemic "smart-carb" choices; and
* Promotion of normal hormonal health (including reduction of hot flashes), bone health, and cholesterol levels.

Revival dieters did not experience the typical weight loss "plateau" seen in many other diets, thus indicating that Revival dieters can continue to lose significant weight well beyond the initial sixteen weeks.

"The Revival Slim and Beautiful Diet" book, co-authored by Dr. Tabor and his mother Suzanne, encompasses unique and tangible research-based guidelines to help dieters achieve maximum, long-term results. The eight-chapter book not only highlights the physical steps needed to successfully diet, but it also touches upon the psychological aspects. Chapter three, entitled "The Ten Psychological Commandments of Permanent Weight Loss," addresses the deeper meanings of dieting and helps consumers become mentally determined for permanent weight loss. When the principles learned from the aforementioned chapter are paired with the more actively involved guidelines in such chapters as "The Fifteen Physical Laws of Accelerated Weight Loss," and "Put A Tiger In Your Tank...Energize Me!" dieters are guaranteed to experience a lasting "inside-out nutritional makeover."

"The proven power and simplicity of `The Revival Slim and Beautiful Diet' can help any dieter improve the way they look and feel," said Dr. Tabor. Tabor continued, "Looking great isn't vanity. It's victory. This diet is designed to help people lose weight, look beautiful and live healthier, empowered lives."

Consumers can learn more about the latest inside-out makeover technology, including how to promote better facial bones, and view a special video from Dr. Tabor.

About Dr. Aaron Tabor
Aaron Tabor, M.D. is the CEO of Physicians Pharmaceuticals and author of "The Revival Slim & Beautiful Diet." A graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Dr. Tabor oversees all clinical research on the Revival Slim & Beautiful Diet plan, conducting randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled studies at leading hospitals in the U.S. Areas of note include weight loss, skin/hair/nail appearance, energy, menopause, PMS, cholesterol, memory, and diabetic health. He is also responsible for directing new Revival product development based on clinical research results. Individual results vary. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Revival isn't intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul

Average customer rating:

Good insight to the real us..
Amazing
Practice discernment with this book
Validates the importance of womanhood and beauty
Wonderful Book Revealing Those Times We Were Broken As Women

Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul
John Eldredge , and Stasi Eldredge
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0785264698

Book Description

Every little girl has dreams of being swept up into a great adventure, of being the beautiful princess. Sadly, when women grow up, they are often swept up into a life filled merely with duty and demands. Many Christian women are tired, struggling under the weight of the pressure to be a "good servant," a nurturing caregiver, or a capable home manager.

What Wild at Heart did for men, Captivating is doing for women. Setting their hearts free. This groundbreaking book shows readers the glorious design of women before the fall, describes how the feminine heart can be restored, and casts a vision for the power, freedom, and beauty of a woman released to be all she was meant to be. By revealing the core desires every woman shares-to be romanced, to play an irreplaceable role in a grand adventure, and to unveil beauty-John and Stasi Eldredge invite women to recover their feminine hearts, created in the image of an intimate and passionate God. Further, they encourage men to discover the secret of a woman's soul and to delight in the beauty and strength women were created to offer.

Customer Reviews:

Good insight to the real us.........2007-10-11

This book has been pretty good so far. I kind read through it pretty quickly and learned a bit from it, now I'm going back with a study guide and the journal to make the most of it and I'm taking slowly to be able to really focus and apply some of the material.

Amazing.......2007-10-03

This book is the best christian book that I've ever read. It really hit home with me and I could relate to all the things it talked about. I truly believe all teenage and young adult girls should read this book!

Practice discernment with this book.......2007-09-29

The Eldredges have a penchant for writing pop culture into their books rather than stating what is Biblical. Much of their Scriptural quotations are deliberately picked and chosen to back up their personal opinions and experiences. Any true student of the Bible would be able to discern the poor exegesis right away. They read into the Scriptures their personal biases, rather than gleaning from the Scriptures what was truly meant.

Aside from that, contrary to what Eldredge has written, every woman's greatest longing and desire is not "to be a beauty." Every woman's (and man's) greatest need is to know that they are God's -- valued and accepted by Him. Sadly, many women have found that their only source of validation, from the time they were little girls, came from their external appearance. When they wore pretty dresses, had cute ribbons in their hair and looked pretty, they were complimented. This taught and reinforced for them that their value comes from their beauty. It then follows that many women long to 'unveil beauty' (as Eldredge writes) because that's the only way they know validation. Women, this is not what we should be teaching our younger women nor should this be what we believe. What we are all seeking is to be valued, and we can be valued by God simply because we belong to Him -- not because of how we look or what we've done. Our identity comes from Christ. And our purpose in life is not to be a beauty, to be rescued and romanced or join a man in his adventures -- rather, it is to follow God on the adventures He has us go on. We are not called to just be sidekicks to the hero, we are also called to be heroines. God's call is for both men and women to be 'fishers' of men and women. God's commission is for both men and women to make disciples of all nations. This means both men and women are to go on great adventures with God. Don't settle for a lesser role than God intended for you.

As a final note, we all know and understand from Prov 31:30 that "beauty if fleeting". A woman's greatest call is to be "a woman who fears the Lord." This is what we ought to pursue with passion.

I wouldn't recommend this book to any of my friends. But if you want to see what all the hype is about, I just wanted to encourage you to practice discernment in reading this book. Take their words with a grain of salt. Remember that it is THEIR words and opinions, not biblical words from the Lord.

Validates the importance of womanhood and beauty.......2007-09-29

Being an aesthete, I always considered myself trivial in my need for beauty. I couldn't imagine why it was so important to me, but I figured it must be a dysfunction and I felt shallow for it. I also had trouble with femininity in general because what was feminine was not valued in my childhood home or in the media. That was until I read Captivating. Eldredge did an excellent job breaking down what is critical and powerful about beauty and womanhood, in a way that was impacting and memorable. I consider it a must-read for women.

Wonderful Book Revealing Those Times We Were Broken As Women.......2007-09-25

I had to read this after I read Wild At Heart--This book pointed out so many times, places in my life when I was broken. When my spirit was crushed, when I missed getting something that I truly needed for my life--and it also gave me the strength to say, "Hey, that's okay -- I'm okay -- I'm beautiful." Thank you -- John and Stasi -- for your ministry and honesty!

For Women Only: What You Need to Know about the Inner Lives of Men

Average customer rating:

An Amazing insight book
Revolutionary
Great things come in small packages
Shaunti Feldhahn is not just an author, she is an EXCELLENT communicator.
THIS IS A REALLY GOOD BOOK

For Women Only: What You Need to Know about the Inner Lives of Men
Shaunti Feldhahn
Manufacturer: Multnomah
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Interpersonal Relations | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1590523172
Release Date: 2004-07-28

Book Description

What’s going on in a man’s mind? From their early days, every woman has struggled to understand why males behave the way they do. Even long-married women who think they understand men have only scratched the surface. Beneath a man’s rugged exterior is an even more rugged, unmapped terrain. What bestselling author Shaunti Feldhahn’s research reveals about the inner lives of men will open women’s eyes to what the men in their life—boyfriends, brothers, husbands, and sons—are really thinking and feeling. Men want to be understood, but they’re afraid to “freak out” the women they love by confessing what is happening inside their heads. This book will guide women in how to provide the loving support that modern men want and need.

The Truth About His Inner Life

He Desperately Wants You to Know

What's going on in there? Ever been totally confused by something your man has said or done? Want to understand his secret desires and fears, his daily battles that you know nothing about?

In a woman-to-woman conversation you’ll never forget, Shaunti Feldhahn takes you beneath the surface into the inner lives of men. This book is about the things we just don’t ‘get’ about guys. With findings from a groundbreaking national survey and personal interviews of over one thousand men, For Women Only is full of eye-opening revelations you need to not only understand the man in your life, but to support and love him in the way he needs to be loved. Grounded in biblical hope, you will discover how to love your man for who he really is—not who you think he is.

Story Behind the Book

I had no idea how clueless I was about men until I interviewed a bunch of them for my last novel. Initially, I just wanted a little insight so I could write my main (male) character. But pretty soon I found myself astonished, over and over again blurting out, “That’s what you’re thinking?” So I did more interviews. After the novel hit shelves, dozens of women told me they also had been astonished by what I included. Clearly I wasn’t the only one who needed more insight on this!

To lay the groundwork for this nonfiction book, I wrote out the half-dozen things from these interviews that had most surprised me—things that appeared to be universal to most men—that women desperately needed to know. I conducted a professional national survey of men to test my findings. Yep—the survey substantiated every single one. These findings are fascinating—and they have already changed my life and marriage. I can’t wait to share them!

Customer Reviews:

An Amazing insight book.......2007-10-17

Being a man, I can tell you women out there that this book is 90% of what all men think and feel. It was amazing reading how accurate it is.

Sure there are exceptions but this book focuses on the common ground and while it is not in depth, it will give you a look inside our hearts and say things that we are scared to death to say in front of you.

I would recommend this book before ANY other book on men and relationships.

Revolutionary.......2007-10-11

To begin with, I was blown away by this book. What an impact such a small volume has made in my relationship with my dear fiance' as well as with my brothers and father. So, why is this book so good? Firstly, it is written with the idea of informing about the way men think. How many of us are totally confused about men? Yeah, most of us. And men don't talk a lot about their "feelings" so it is very difficult to get an honest answer. This book is an absolute blessing in that measure. It shows why men have trouble being romantic, why they need women's respect so much and (possibly the most revolutionary chapter) why they want SO MUCH sex.

I will not explain, b/c the book does that, but I will say that once I read the book my eyes were completely opened to why my fiance' reacts the way he does to my actions. And I began changing my actions and... well I will just say that although Caleb and I have always had an incredible relationship, this just made things even more beautiful.

To the reviewer who complained that the book made wives too subservient I would answer, firstly, read her book "For Men Only". Both books are interested in teaching wives and husbands to better serve eachother. Secondly, women are not at all put down in this book. Rather wives are shown to be the one factor in their husbands' lives that really makes the crucial difference between men feeling like a success or a failure. This book really is empowering to women because it is basically like, "You can make the crucial difference... Oh yeah, here's how."

While some points in this book may not be accurate for all men (I am blessed with a man who is the "King of Romance" as my mom says, and who will always talk about his feelings) it really has something for every relationship. If you are working to cultivate a blessed, beautiful marriage, you will find this book to be of great value.

Great things come in small packages.......2007-08-31

I have read a lot of books trying to understand my fellow homosapiens and this did not most terrific job. I relate to my brothers, coworkers, leaders, and men I've dated so much better. I judge less and I find that I'm less insecure around men now.

Shaunti Feldhahn is not just an author, she is an EXCELLENT communicator........2007-08-20

For Women Only is the result of a survey of 400 men across the country who responded to a questionaire about their relationships. This book points out seven areas in which women have a surface understanding of men's needs or desires and delves into each subject in a way that leaves the reader grasping what that statement really means.

For example, the first point is that "men need respect". That seems obvious enough, but Feldhahn brings this into perspective with her survey result that 74% of the men would rather feel "alone & unloved" instead of "inadequate & disrespected", if they had to choose one of the two options. She then elaborates on this with several follow-up examples of ways women can either demonstrate respect or show a lack of respect. Some of which we don't usually connect with showing disrespect. On page 24, she quotes Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, "In a relationship conflict, crying is often a woman's response to feeling unloved, and anger is often a man's response to feeling disrespected."

I would highly recommend this book to any woman who is serious about wanting to improve her relationship with her husband. The author has a way of transforming something you think you know into something you can apply to your everyday life, which isn't always an easy task.

THIS IS A REALLY GOOD BOOK.......2007-08-20

MOST INFORMATIVE. FIND THINGS U MIGHT THINK YOU KNOW AND IF YOU DONT DO A LOT OF RESEARCH ON RELATIONSHIPS THIS IS SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY WOULD NEVER NO OR UNDERSTAND IF YOU DONT READ THE BOOK

Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality

Average customer rating:

Love that Schama!
Good, but hypocrytical . . .
Miller's faith perspective rings true
Inspired Me to Read His Other Books
Re-thinking my original opinion

Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality
Donald Miller
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785263705

Book Description

"I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve. . . . I used to not like God because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened." In Donald Miller's early years, he was vaguely familiar with a distant God. But when he came to know Jesus Christ, he pursued the Christian life with great zeal. Within a few years he had a successful ministry that ultimately left him feeling empty, burned out, and, once again, far away from God. In this intimate, soul-searching account, Miller describes his remarkable journey back to a culturally relevant, infinitely loving God.

Customer Reviews:

Love that Schama!.......2007-10-18

Just as fun as the PBS series! Has more information than the series too.

Good, but hypocrytical . . ........2007-10-11

As a Christian who frequently finds sustaining spirutuality in more resources than just the bible, I enjoyed this book some of the time.

Miller is dead on in his assertion that "the Church" and from that really all Christians, need to re-connect with the example of Christ's love, especially with regards to those whom Christians don't mingle with on a daily basis (at least my "daily basis" anyway).

His hypocrisy ruins it for me, though. It seemed like every time things were warming up about "loving others", Miller would drop some hugely critical comment about Republicans, fundamentalists, evangelicals, etc. I get it that these people aren't necessarily his cup of tea. However, if we are to accept, and adopt, Christ's example of love, it's all inclusive.

Loving only the less fortunate doesn't count; Christ loves all of us. And if Miller is going to write with integrity about emulating and expanding that love in our own lives, he can't pick and choose whom to love and not to love. In short, he falls in to the very trap he accuses "the Church" of living in.

And the hypocrisy of that makes it difficult to take his message seriously, at least for me.

With all that said, I am sending a copy of the book to an atheistic friend. You never know!

Miller's faith perspective rings true.......2007-10-10

Get Real: a spiritual journey for men
Blue Like Jazz is a beautifully written book that requires the reader to think honestly about issues of faith. Miller has moved well beyond the posturing and pretense that characterize too much of Christian apologetics. It's impossible to read Miller without being struck by his disarming candor and honest self-examination. Rather than introduce doubt, Miller makes sense, and he makes a strong case for a Jesus who is real and interactive in the world today. Like journalist Derek Maul's "Get Real: a spiritual journey for men," (2007) Blue like Jazz presents the Gospel as engaging, incisive, and deeply authentic.

Inspired Me to Read His Other Books.......2007-10-08

Blue Like Jazz is a sort of meditation on Don Miller's spiritual life so far (he's in his early 30s), sprinkled with a little Christian apologetic told by narrative rather than by theories or "spiritual laws" (Miller's "Search for God Knows What" is more along the lines of an apologetic though). Miller's writing style is accessible and easy, though he's prone to meditative tangents on the nature of God or faith or creation that may annoy the less religiously-inclined reader. Miller has a lot of credibility in the so-called emerging church movement for his narrative approach (and probably for his decidedly left wing politics), but his religious beliefs themselves come across as pretty standard evangelical Christian, which I was a little surprised by. It's not heavy theology by any means, and there's a lot of raw meat in Miller's book for the internet's theology attack dogs to tear apart, but the books resonated with me. After reading "Blue Like Jazz," I was inspired to read Miller's "Searching for God Knows What" and "Through Painted Deserts." My favorite moment in the book was the "reverse confession booth," where the campus Christians confessed the sins of the church to astonished students. For a new spin on evangelical Christianity, check out "Blue Like Jazz."

Re-thinking my original opinion.......2007-10-06

I am actually re-reading this book because I got so much out of it during my first read. I may have made a mistake by reading all these negative reviews here, but I'm finding I agree with some of them to an extent. It's funny because I am seeing both sides here, both good and bad, about the book. Yes, some of the stuff he wrote about is a little self-obsessed, but some of the stuff he wrote sparked real passion in me and furthered my relationship with God. I think I just had a moment of realization (an epiphany, if you will) that you cannot take ANYONE'S word for anything, except God's. This is just more proof to me that people, no matter who they are or what their intentions or how close to Christ they are, can lead you astray. To conclude; read the book (it has some good stuff in it), take from it what you will, and trust God with all your heart.

90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life

Average customer rating:

Could NOT put this book down! Awesome Book!
God chosen one? REALLY!
90 Minutes in Heaven
Gives hope but something is missing
Not What It Seems

90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life
Don Piper , and Cecil Murphey
Manufacturer: Revell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0800759494
Release Date: 2004-09-01

Book Description

As he is driving home from a minister's conference, Baptist minister Don Piper collides with a semi-truck that crosses into his lane. He is pronounced dead at the scene. For the next 90 minutes, Piper experiences heaven where he is greeted by those who had influenced him spiritually. He hears beautiful music and feels true peace. Back on earth, a passing minister who had also been at the conference is led to pray for Don even though he knows the man is dead. Piper miraculously comes back to life and the bliss of heaven is replaced by a long and painful recovery. For years Piper kept his heavenly experience to himself. Finally, however, friends and family convinced him to share his remarkable story.

Customer Reviews:

Could NOT put this book down! Awesome Book!.......2007-10-19

I don't really know what led me to reading this book to begin with, but I will tell you that once I started reading it - I couldn't put it down! I expected the description of heaven to be glorious. The scripture at the beginning of each chapter was comforting. I felt like writing each verse down as it's easy to forget! I was pleasantly surprised by all the lessons and the personal account of Don's recovery and the lessons he still had to learn. Any person who is struggling with a terminal illness, has recently lost a loved one or has sustained any big injuries NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK! I will buy several and hand them out. I finished reading this book this AM and have already lent this book to my BOSS! This book reads well and is written in such a manner as if Don was he's telling you in person! Would recommend this book to anyone - Christian or non-Christian.

God chosen one? REALLY!.......2007-10-18

I picked up this book because I was facing yet another heart cath and thought what a good read for me. I also had a NDE and was sent back to human life. I enjoyed the book until the last chapter. SO, ONLY Don was pick by God to tell of his experience in heaven? Others like me are making our experience up? Excuse me, our God doesn't choose just one man to serve him and tell of the afterlife or of HIS love for us. Self serving to make money is what Don Piper is doing here folks. God loves us all. Piper will be in my prayers.

90 Minutes in Heaven.......2007-10-17

This is a truly amazing book. I had trouble putting it down before I finished it. Very inspiring and encouraging. What a story!! I'd highly recommend to all. I've shared it with many people.

Gives hope but something is missing.......2007-10-16

As a Christian, I read this book more as a source of comfort and inspiration than as a way to convince myself that heaven is real.

I found Piper's style easy to read, and his overall story to be inspirational, but I felt like something was missing. Maybe because Piper worked with a co-author, but the whole experience seemed watered down. For something so life-changing and miraculous, it read in places as a mere recitation of the facts, rather than a deeply felt and tumultuous event that had far-reaching effects on numerous lives.

I also found the timeline to be choppy -- it was hard to follow in places as it jumped forward and then back again, covering the same ground several times.

I would have preferred a deeper exploration of how his accident and subsequent journey to heaven impacted his life and that of those around him - what changes did he make as a result of his experiences? How can he inspire readers to make changes in their own lives as a result of what he has gone through? Instead, a potentially powerful story is diluted and its impact lost.

Not What It Seems.......2007-10-16

I bought this book because I was curious to see what Don Piper had to say about the afterlife. As one who has had a near death experience, I am always interested in reading other people's experiences. I've learned much about the NDE over the last ten years from the people who have actually researched them, some of whom I've met personally. I've also read quite a few near death accounts.

Given what I have learned over the years, I wanted to read 90 Minutes In Heaven to see if it measured up to the research that has been done on the topic, as well as see if I could determine why this particular book is so popular.

I was looking for the basic components researchers like Dr. Raymond Moody, Dr. PMH Atwater and Dr. Bruce Greyson have identified over the years. I saw a few, but some major ones were missing, like the Life Review. There was no tunnel experience. There was no supernatural rescue and no realm of bewildered spirits.

Toward the end of the book Don takes a swipe at other people's experiences, he says: "Descriptions of their ordeals often seem too rehearsed and disturbingly similar, as if one person copied the story of the last." It looks like Don doesn't believe the experiences that back up the conclusions of the research that has been established. It may well be the experiences are similar because they are indeed near death experiences, which makes me wonder about credibility issues this book has.

Actually, Don never did get past the "pearly gates" he reported seeing and he never got to walk the streets "paved with gold." His description of heaven (albeit short) is what I'd expect to come from a clergyman. Almost all of what Don saw and experienced consisted of meeting others who were outside of the gates of heaven. Basically, his description of heaven comes from the outside of heaven, not from the inside. This is likely the reason many other reviewers think the title of the book is very misleading. I tend to agree with them.

Researchers might class this experience as a "Pleasant or heaven-like experience." I'm not saying that I don't believe Don saw what he saw, but I am saying that his NDE isn't as descriptive as many others are. There is very little information about the afterlife in this book.

The lion's share of 90 Minutes In Heaven is focused on Don's recovery which I feel could have been written better. It isn't in chronological order, which made it extremely hard for me to follow. There is a lot of repetition throughout the book, especially about the "Ilizarov leg fixator" device. The "poor me" and "it's all about me" attitude throughout the book got old really fast.

I'm sorry I can't recommend this book. There are other books with quite a bit more information about the afterlife in them. I'd pass on this one.

David L. Oakford, author of Journey Through The World of Spirit: God, Gaia, and Guardian Angels

Average customer rating:

Powerful
Ideas are good, but nothing revolutionary
The best books on Leadership
Great reference material
Excellent learning while reading

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
John C. Maxwell
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Compaq C-Series 2010c Handheld PC

ASIN: 0785274316

Amazon.com

John C. Maxwell offers lively stories about the foibles and successes of Lee Iacocca, Abraham Lincoln, Princess Diana, and Elizabeth Dole in The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Readers can expect a well-crafted discussion that emphasizes the core attitudes and visions of leadership. Maxwell uses the same tell-it-like-it-is approach that he honed in the bestselling Developing the Leader Within You. For instance, when explaining "The Law of Influence," Maxwell states that "job titles don't have much value when it comes to leading. True leadership cannot be awarded, appointed or assigned. It comes only from influence and that can't be mandated." Even after Princess Diana was stripped of her title, Maxwell says she was still able to lead a global effort toward banning land mines because of her sophisticated ability to influence others.

If readers are looking for a step-by-step formula, Maxwell's list of "laws" will probably seem too chatty and anecdote driven. There are no specific tips on what readers can do during the next workday to help them become stronger leaders. On the other hand, Maxwell's background as a pastor gives him an inspirational voice and a spiritual context to leadership that many business and church leaders appreciate. --Gail Hudson

Book Description

What would happen if a top expert with more than thirty years of leadership experience were willing to distill everything he had learned about leadership into a handful of life-changing principles just for you? It would change your life.

John C. Maxwell has done exactly that in The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. He has combined insights learned from his thirty-plus years of leadership successes and mistakes with observations from the worlds of business, politics, sports, religion, and military conflict. The result is a revealing study of leadership delivered as only a communicator like Maxwell can.

Customer Reviews:

Powerful.......2007-10-17

This is a powerful book. I cannot say enough about John Maxwell's ability to put things into perspective. This has helped me to understand why some of my managers are struggling and what to look for in hiring new ones.

Ideas are good, but nothing revolutionary.......2007-10-10

The workbook seems to be a "Readers Digest" version of the original book. While the questions can be thought-provoking, the stories are a bit predictable and common.

The best books on Leadership.......2007-08-26

John Maxwell is the world's best writer and speaker on leadership. I've seen him speak several times and read most of his boos. This workbook is a great companion book to his award winning book of the same name. I've recommended The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership to almost every one of my mentor clients and if you are a leader, or if you have an interest in becoming a great leader, this is the place to start.

Also see the John Maxwell Leadership Study Bible as a great reference on leadership with Biblical examples.

Great reference material.......2007-08-01

I am in Grad school and have cited this work several times since it arrived and in great shape. THANKS!

Excellent learning while reading.......2007-05-13

Good reading! Easy to follow and digest the contents while learning!

Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul

Average customer rating:

Misses the Mark
Wild at Heart Rocks
Wonderfully Spiritual and Invigorating - Not Just For Men!
Truly Transformational!!
Timing is everything

Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul
John Eldredge
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0785268839

Amazon.com

If Christian men are going to change from a pitiful, wimpy bunch of "really nice guys" to men who are made in the image of God, they must reexamine their preconceptions about who God is and recover their true "wild" hearts, writes bestselling author John Eldredge in Wild at Heart: Discovering a Life of Passion, Freedom, and Adventure. Eldredge throws down the gauntlet--men are bored; they fear risk, they refuse to pay attention to their deepest desires. He challenges Christian men to return to authentic masculinity without resorting to a "macho man" mentality. Men often seek validation in venues such as work, or in the conquest of women, Eldredge observes. He urges men to take time out and come to grips with the "secret longings" of their hearts. Although the book succeeds best in its slant toward a male audience, it also strives to help women understand the implications of authentic masculinity in their relationships with men. Eldredge frames the book around his outdoor experiences and appealing anecdotes about his family, sprinkling the text with touches of humor and overlying everything with heartfelt passion. Even as he mixes eclectic ideas about masculinity from popular movies such as Braveheart with classic words from Oswald Chambers, and lyrics from the Dixie Chicks with stories from the Bible, he points to only one answer for men searching for their true wildness of heart. Writes Eldredge, "The only way to live in this adventure ... with all its danger and unpredictability and immensely high stakes ... is in an ongoing, intimate relationship with God." --Cindy Crosby

Book Description

God designed men to be dangerous, says John Eldredge. Simply look at the dreams and desires written in the heart of every boy: To be a hero, to be a warrior, to live a life of adventure and risk. Sadly, most men abandon those dreams and desires-aided by a Christianity that feels like nothing more than pressure to be a "nice guy." It is no wonder that many men avoid church, and those who go are often passive and bored to death. In this provocative book, Eldredge gives women a look inside the true heart of a man and gives men permission to be what God designed them to be-dangerous, passionate, alive, and free.

Customer Reviews:

Misses the Mark.......2007-09-28

Has some good open insights, but misses the mark as the author wants us to return to the patriarchal ways of thinking that actually hurts true masculinity.Men-The Gods of Love

Wild at Heart Rocks.......2007-09-27

Wild at Heart rocks! Perfect view of God and men - No. A great motivator for men to develop a deep and very personal relationship with God - Yes. Having read the book a couple of times, and now having read other John Eldredge books, I can tell you that my spiritual walk with God has been completely changed in a very meaningful way. In fact 'changed' is probably a word that does not completely convey the real impact of the message on my life -- 'Warped Across the Universe' would be more descriptive.

As a few reviewers have highlighted, the book is not perfect. Nor is it the answer to every man's questions about his masculinity and how we are all formed in God's image. It simply provides a strong framework to think differently about what it means to be a man but yet a Christian.

As mentioned again by several reviewers, although the book has a little bravado here and there, it is not license to mistreat other people, especially not the women in our life's. The message is very clear. Although the God is a Warrior, He is also a compelling force who loves mankind deeply.

Bottom-line about this book is that message, can at least for some men, revolutionize their thinking about God, Church, their families and their relationships with other people. It has changed me in a personal a deep manner that this review cannot even begin to express.

Wonderfully Spiritual and Invigorating - Not Just For Men!.......2007-09-25

I cannot speak highly enough of this book! I learned so much from reading it--about myself, about my husband, about life! In fact, I think I'll read it AGAIN!

Truly Transformational!!.......2007-09-18

Treasures of the Kingdom, Vol. 1

I've seen the message from this book transform not only my own life, but the lives of many, many others as well.

The Eldredges have such a wonderful way of awakening the heart to its natural hunger and thirst for God. They throw us head long into a journey of pursuing God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.

The pursuit results in total transformation. Mediocre religion doesn't cut it anymore. We have to have God and we have to see Him powerfully and fully integrated in our every day lives. Walking with God, hearing His voice, knowing His guidance and leading in our lives changes everything.

For true stories of lives transformed because of the power of this message as presented by the Eldredges, see the real life accounts in the Amazon book, Treasures of the Kingdom.

Timing is everything.......2007-09-13

I actually read this book about 4 years ago and remember thinking it was pretty good, BUT for some reason I picked it up a few weeks ago and re-read it. POWERFUL insight. Then just as I was finishing the book, my Dad died. There are no coincidences. This book answered a lot of deep questions I didn't even know I had. It was a real life shaper. TO those of you who are fathers to boys,.. its a MUST READ. The authors insight is right-on and much different than what you would expect from a "Christian author". BTW, I could see why some women might have a problem understanding and accepting some of his insights. I'd say they just need to listen, observe and keep an open mind. This book can save relationships.

The Laws of Thinking: 20 Secrets to Using the Divine Power of Your Mind to Manifest Prosperity

Average customer rating:

AWESOME READ !!!
Destiny is a matter of choice
The Laws of Thinking is the Law of the Land
En-POWER-ing! Beware: Likely not palatable by Fundamentalists
A REAL MAP TO SUCESS

The Laws of Thinking: 20 Secrets to Using the Divine Power of Your Mind to Manifest Prosperity
Bishop E. Bernard Jordan
Manufacturer: Hay House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1401917968

Book Description

Bishop Jordan has written a stellar work that is guaranteed to free the mentally enslaved, acquit the wrongfully charged, and bring healing to the sick. The Laws of Thinking is not a work for the shallow-minded person. It is demanding and challenging. It is neither intended to be used as the basis for unmerited criticism nor as sermon material for the minister having difficulty receiving a fresh work from the Lord. It was written with a very clear aim: to provoke spiritual thought. Bill Gates' Microsoft, Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions, Stephen Spielberg's DreamWorks, and even his own Zoe Ministries all began with a thought.
Every invention, university, book, song, business, home, skyscraper, movie, stage play, and baby began when someone chose to think. Nothing happens without thought. Creation did not happen without God's thought. Bishop Jordan's first objective is getting you to think.

Customer Reviews:

AWESOME READ !!!.......2007-09-11

I'VE READ THE LAWS OF THINKING BY BISHOP E. BERNARD JORDAN AND IT WAS AWESOME! THIS BOOK MOVED ME INTO ACTION AND CHANGED MY LIFE. IF YOU'RE READY FOR A SHIFT, THIS IS A MUST READ !!!!

Destiny is a matter of choice.......2007-09-11

The Law of Thinking is definitely a must read. It will motivate you to start acting on ideas and dreams you thought were unreachable. Bishop E. Bernard Jordan teaches Destiny is not left up to chance but a matter of choice. He is the Master Prophet who brings life to visionary ideas. So if you are tired of (J)ust (O)ver (B)roke get this book for you and a friend and start living the way God expected you to.

The Laws of Thinking is the Law of the Land.......2007-09-11

As a man thinketh so is he states Proverbs 23:7 from the Wisest Man Who Ever Lived, The Great King Solomon..Bishop E. Bernard Jordan gives us the 20 Secrets to Using the GOD-GIVEN Divine Power of Mind... I Cor 2:16 states that who has known the Lord to instruct Him, yet we have the Mind of Christ...This Divine Mind within empowers us to manifest prosperity which is a benefit of salvation or the Greek definition soteria which means peace, prosperity, health, wellness all of which is defined in the Laws that our wonderful Master Prophet teaches in this book from the Law of Becoming to the Law of the Harvest...this is a step by step manual for those Christians who are looking beyond the letter......and beckoned by the spirit to come into the DEEP...

En-POWER-ing! Beware: Likely not palatable by Fundamentalists.......2007-09-10

I found Bishop Jordan's work so inspiring, enpowering and en-LIGHT-ening (as in shedding LIGHT on one's spiritual nature and relation to God, taking one out of DARKNESS)that I now own both the book and the CD and am working my way through his workbook. (Available from his site.) If the belief system you have chosen will allow you to consider other view-points without FEAR, that I recommend it highly, (especially for "Rhinos" - ie, entrepreneurs) so as to help manifest God's GOOD in your life. Remember, the validity of your belief system manifests in its FRUITS.) Alas, I could see "Fundamentalists" or "Literalists" taking offense at some thoughts expressed in it. One of my favorite parts in the book is when Jordan cites a instance when precisely this happened and a congregation member gasped "Bishop Jordan thinks he's God!" and he replied "NO! God thinks he's ME!"

May your Blessings ensue...

A REAL MAP TO SUCESS.......2007-09-09

THE LAWS OF THINKING BOOK is map to a prosperous life.I say map because you can use this book before you begin your journey to a sucessful life,or if you are having difficulties in your business, you can use this book to get you back on track and focused.

Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality And Spirituality

Average customer rating:

Enlightening read
Sex God
Flat out amazing
Fabulous perspective with an easy approach
Sex Is Not The Answer

Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality And Spirituality
Rob Bell
Manufacturer: Zondervan Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Sex | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0310263468

Customer Reviews:

Enlightening read.......2007-10-18

I found this book to be written with a sense of humor mingled with heart felt truth. Rob Bell gives personal and biblical references for his premise. He shares ideas with clarity and an enlightened perspective. His view about the nature of human sexuality and how it is a gift from God was refreshing to hear. He explains in various ways how our sexuality is such an important part of who we are in many realms beyond the physical. It is a beautiful and poignant truth about our spiritual and sexual connection.

Sex God.......2007-10-10

Great Book! Whether or not you agree with the author, Rob Bell, his book is an enjoyable read/listen as his enthusiasm and joy at the majesty of God are contagious. Rob takes you through the evolution of God's love expressed in the union between a woman and a man. The book would be appropriate (and recommended) for any young teen getting to the age of dating and considering serious relationships. And it's great for those who are married to help reaffirm their love.
I'd recommend anyone having marital problems to listen/read the book together and rediscover the beauty and holiness of God's gift of a man and woman to each other. Go through it together chapter by chapter, thought by thought and discuss those things that both of you find challenging. But listen to the whole book once first together or alone.
The audio CD is read by Rob and he is one of the few authors I enjoy hearing read his own work. I also recommend his book Velvet Elvis on CD. The print in his books is a little hard for my older eyes to see. But his CDs are marvelous!

Flat out amazing.......2007-09-26

Rob Bell really connects with his readers in this book and I would recommend it for people of any age

Fabulous perspective with an easy approach.......2007-09-09

With it's provocative title, this book can seem like something to be afraid of. on the contrary, Rob Bell does an excellent job at not only sharing a fair perspective of sex and spirituality both with and without Christian orientation, but he also walks the reader through it quite easily. With an almost Socratic approach, the reader can realize meanings and derive personal conclusions through the authors suggestive questioning (much more pleasant than if the auther were to share an epiphany and use the rest of the book as means of persuasion, especially with such a bold subject)

Sex Is Not The Answer.......2007-09-07

This was an excellent book if you are looking to understand why sex is so prevalent in this day and age when we all seem to be ever more so disconnected from reality.

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