Book Description
Erwin McManus wasn't raised in a Christian home, so when he came to Christ as a college student, he didn't know the rules of the "religious club." He didn't do well in Shakespeare courses, so he didn't really understand the KJV Bible he was given either. But he did understand that prayer was a conversation, and he learned to talk to God and wait for answers. Erwin's way was passionate and rough around the edges-a sincere, barbaric journey to Christ.
Barbaric Christians see Jesus differently than civilized Christians. They see disciples differently, and they see Christ's mission differently.
The Barbarian Way is a call to escape "civilized" Christianity and become original, powerful, untamed Christians-just as Christ intended.
Customer Reviews:
Passion.......2007-06-20
I am a new consumer of McManus' work and I have wondered why it took me so long to find this guy. This book will inspire you, bring you to tears and use personal and touching examples in it's quest to move you on from your "boxed in" Christianity.
If your faith is not what it's cracked up to be, then you should read this book.
Become a Barbarian.......2007-05-16
The Barbarian Way definitely takes evangelism to a higher level, it takes it back to what Jesus and His disciples did and challenges us to get out and just do it.
Challenging the Christian Status Quo.......2007-05-15
McManus challenges comfortable Christians to face a God who calls them to more than a satisfied faith. The term Barbarian turns out to be a good thing, but the white, upper middle class men in my Bible study kept having a hard time with trying to think barbaric thoughts. It is worth getting past that to the core truth that God is not safe, this faith is not weak, our cause is great and our opportunities are boundless. Perfect for a men's group.
I want to be a Barbarian .......2007-04-10
I was in Zambia when a friend gave me this book to read. It spoke to me so vividly as I worked and served among the shantytown of Mapalo to people who see very little hope except for their tremendous faith and beauty of expression of that faith. I have spent most of my life wanting to "feel like" other Christians seem to feel, but never have. I have done all the Christian "things", but never felt like I had what everyone else seemed to have. This book made me realize that, in fact, I don't. I feel the love and the passion in a different way that makes me want to embrace all those who feel unworthy of the Christian church and religion. It has made me accept my faith and love in a wonderfully unique and accepting (of myself and others) way. I am so thankful to McManus for giving me permission through his book to accept and confirm my spirituality and to my friend in Zambia for sharing it with me.
Amazing.......2007-04-01
This book is incredible. It was recommended to me by my youth pastor and i guarantee that you will be left ready to take the untraveled road and pursue Christ.
Book Description
An Unstoppable Force will excite and inspire readers about being part of the Church that God had in mind! A "force" created to change the world. A Church that is engaged with its community, daring to cut itself free from atrophied practices and programs to flourish in creative and compelling worship. A Church that risks reaching out to our jaded culture with "outside the box" expressions of faith and love.
Customer Reviews:
Everything I expected.......2007-10-05
The writer has exceptional skills with the use of metaphor to communicate about a difficult subject, the emerging church, in ways that help the changes occuring within Christianity make sense. Without this approach in communications, what he has to say from a content standpoint, would probably be rejected. He breaks through the artificiality of Jesus-speak with a freshness that gets to the heart of the real gospel I believe Jesus brought us. I enjoyed, but was challenged, by this work.
A Must-Read.......2007-01-19
Read this book - it will energize and focus you if you are a believer. If you are not, it will cause you to rethink what your perceptions are about church.
An Unstoppable Force.......2007-01-09
Excellent book with many challenging statements about the role of believers in the world today.
A light in the darkness.......2006-07-01
It seems, from time to time, God raises up visionaries to nudge the church toward His divine directives. The book of Revelations carries letters to the churches reminding them, correcting them, and showing them that even at that early age the church had the potential to stray a bit from the path we are to follow. And throughout our history, there have been others to bring this message to His bride.
Erwin Mcmanus is one of those messengers. He speaks with clarity on the issues that many of us have been wrestling with for some time. To quote the great theologian Morpheus, "you know something is wrong, like a splinter in your mind". (paraphrased)
As I read this book, I cried aloud many times, "Yes!" when I would read another statement laying bare the topic of the generally handicapped state many of our churches is in. Not in the pointless fashion of criticism but with direct counterpoints to many of the tired and stale positions the church has taken on the topics relating to, in all reality, the foundational reasons the church exists. My wife must have thought me crazy during these outbursts.
If you have forgotten your first love-READ THIS BOOK
If you are walking the "narrow path" and would like a trail map-READ THIS BOOK
If you feel your walk is becoming more of a trudge-READ THIS BOOK
If you are involved in ministry in any way. Pastor, teacher, prophet, elder, greeter, parking lot attendant. I beseech you, PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.
This is not a "here's how to fill up those empty seats in your church" book. What this is, is a picture of the heart of the church, laid bare.
I rarely recommend books to folks because I believe all truth is available in the Holy Bible, and we are pushed constantly to spend our money on an endless train of Christiana. Or to send our money to others so that they can do God's work for us. I have no issue whatsoever with any ministry doing valid Christian work. My point is we are ALL called to do the stuff. As the late John Wimber said, "everybody get's to play".
With that said, I do recommend this book wholeheartedly for anyone desiring to pursue a closer walk with Thee.
it will change the way you look at church.......2006-04-06
Loaded with many fresh, new perspectives on churches and pastoring, McManus brings many forgotten aspects of what the church is to the fore.
My favorite is the "pastor as spiritual environmentalist" where he talks about the work of pastoring being like farming. It's all about the soil around the plant, not actually making the plant grow itself.
Many other great insights in this book. It's great if you're currently out of a church or are rethinking the roles of pastors and churches in the world today.
Book Description
We can spend our whole lives trying to satisfy the one insatiable part of our being, our soul craving. Our capacity for spiritual experience both proves our need for something greater than ourselves and leaves us wanting when we fill it with anything but God.
Soul Cravings is a powerful, down-to-earth exposition that interprets our need for intimacy, meaning, and destiny as common sense apologetics pointing to the existence of and our need for God. The book will deeply stir the reader to consider and chase after the spiritual implications of their soul's deepest longings.
Customer Reviews:
Soul Cravings.......2007-07-20
I love Erwin McManus, especially hearing him speak, but his writing is excellent as well. He has a great way of relating to all types of people, and that is what this book is about. We all have cravings within our souls that are basically what we are looking for in life: intimacy, purpose, and meaning. It really helps you look inside your heart and figure out why you are doing things and how you might want to change that to get to a good place in the future. He really makes you think, and his stories and examples from current culture are excellent.
'Soul cravings' are what defines us as human.......2007-06-09
'Soul cravings' are what defines us as human - it's an inner quest for more than physical sustenance, but for spiritual meanings in life - and SOUL CRAVINGS seeks to define the parameters of these cravings for intimacy and community, destiny and meaning in life. It's these basic cravings which suggest a human connection with God, Erwin McManus maintains: chapters analyze belief, belonging, and more in a fine exploration of human interconnections and faith.
Providing us with a whole lot to think about on our own........2007-06-06
Some of the greatest frustrations of life on earth stem from our deep desire for those things that this life can never provide, which Erwin McManus identifies as the cravings of our soul. McManus, pastor of the Mosaic community in Los Angeles and author of Gold Medallion finalist AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE, sees our universal cravings as a search for identity, destiny and meaning, and he arranges SOUL CRAVINGS accordingly.
Each chapter in those three sections is labeled an "entry," an accurate description for writing that at times has the feel of a journal entry. Only with McManus, the writing is a cut above the way most of us would record our musings. He startles you every now and then with a sentence that you know you'll remember forever. One example, from Entry #13, Being Loved to Death, in reference to Jesus' encounter with the Pharisees and the woman caught in adultery (the "Let him who is without sin throw the first stone" passage): "If Jesus' encounter with this unnamed adulterous woman tells us anything," he writes, "it reveals the unexpected truth that the safest place for a sinful person to go is to God." We may already know that, we may in fact have known that for years, but we may never have thought to express it in that way --- describing God as the safest place for a sinner to go.
McManus's way with words may be the book's greatest strength. He's so good with words that it takes a while before you realize that you have no better idea of what to do with your unfulfilled soul cravings than you had before you read the book. It's like the way you feel after a profound and caffeine-laced philosophical discussion with a friend about the deeper issues of life. Neither one of you is any closer to understanding those deeper issues, but you feel better just knowing there's someone you can talk to on that level. The meaning of life, the nature of faith, the resiliency of the human spirit, the problem of evil, the value of doubting --- McManus thinks out loud about all this and more, providing us with a whole lot to think about on our own.
If there is an answer to be found in SOUL CRAVINGS, it is this: our cravings begin and end with God. Throughout, McManus reminds us that, ultimately, whatever it is that we crave most --- for instance, love --- is already available to us in our relationship with God. And trying to fill those cravings with anything other than God is not only futile but can also be destructive. He writes: "No matter what we become, it is never enough. Our souls always crave more. It's not because they're insatiable, but because we know there's more to be had." That "more" is a life of intimacy, destiny and meaning --- all of which can only be found in a life with God.
--- Reviewed by Marcia Ford
Must-Addressed Issue Addressed.......2007-05-08
I loved this book! It's not only deep and meaningful, but it's easy-to-read and captures you. It's relative and answers those questions we constantly ponder and it offers a solution to our cravings.
McManus substitutes philosophical and psychological ideas for biblical ones.......2007-05-07
Soul Cravings is sort of an apologetic aimed at the postmodern generation. Rather than persuade his audience with biblical proofs, scientific evidence or logical arguments, McManus has chosen a philosophical approach. His reasoning is that our souls crave three things: intimacy, destiny and meaning. The fact that all human beings have these cravings is evidence for the existence of God.
The big question is, if these cravings do point us to God, just where and how are we to find Him? The underlying theme throughout the book is that we will find Him in ourselves as we allow our cravings to lead us. In the introduction (it should be noted that McManus "creatively" does not use page numbers, rather he has 68 "entries" of various lengths) he writes, "This is not a book focused on empirical evidence for God. It is about coming to know ourselves...It is about our story; and if God exists, we should be able to find Him there." To this end we are told to "follow love and it will guide you to God" (part 1, entry 4). Soul Cravings ends where it begins. In the conclusion we read, "All the evidence you need to prove God is waiting within you to be discovered." And, "If you pay attention to your soul, it will guide you to God." Again, "Explore nowhere else except deep within yourself...you will come face-to-face with God."
Rather than take the reader back to Scripture (which describes and points the true way to God) or to Jesus, who most fully explains Him (John 1:14, 18), McManus would have us look inside ourselves to find God. And while Romans 1 and 2 would agree that God has planted evidence of Himself within our souls, the Scriptures are equally clear that "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). One of the problems with pointing people back to themselves to find God lies in the wickedness of our hearts (Jeremiah 17:9) and the inadequacy of our souls to comprehend God unaided by the Spirit using the Word. This is the fatal flaw in McManus' system. At no point does he explain to his reader the gospel message. It is as if such information will get in the way. Rather, we follow our cravings and our cravings lead us to God. The Scriptures do not agree.
An interrelated problem found in Soul Cravings is the insistence that God's love is unconditional. "What in the world would happen," McManus asks, "if people actually began discovering the actual message of Jesus Christ--that love is unconditional...that Jesus was offering His love freely and without condition?" (part 1, entry 10). What does McManus mean by this? Is faith not the human condition for receiving saving grace? McManus never speaks of the cross as necessary for our atonement or redemption or for propitiation which satisfies the righteous wrath of God. Instead, the cross "is God's declaration of love for you" (conclusion). So the cross is gutted of its full meaning and replaced with the gospel of unconditional love.
Soul Cravings has its high moments. McManus' ability as a motivational speaker and writer are evidenced in the many inspirational stories and pep rally feel. But McManus substitutes philosophical and psychological ideas for biblical ones. In the end he succeeds in identifying the true longing of our heart (cravings) but fails to point us in the right direction. He does focus us on God, but it is the God found within our souls. He talks about Christ and the cross but reduces their meaning to nothing more than unconditional love. He does not explain man's great problem as being sin, and his solution found only in Christ. And he does not talk to us about repentance or faith. He has opened the door in Soul Cravings to explore the true God but he has not taken his reader beyond the threshold.
Book Description
You know it all too well: life is fraught with challenging moments. When the storms of life blow-as they most certainly will-are you going to stand strong, bend, or break? Popular author Erwin Raphael McManus suggests that you discover how to rise above the normal reaction and learn to stand against the wind.
Through thought-provoking chapters, McManus takes readers on a journey of transformation through the landscape of their character-from where they start out "Running Free," through "Rising Out of the Ashes," developing "Divine Imagination," and finally, reaching the "Greatness of Servanthood."
Readers, ages 18-35, will appreciate this international consultant's expertise on culture, change, leadership, and creativity.
Customer Reviews:
Uprising on steroids..........2007-01-09
Uprising on steroids... is what I've heard this book coined as. It's basically a re-package of Uprising, flashier and in smaller chunks. I can see why it's geared toward the 18-35 market.
I liked uprising more, but I passed it to a close friend who didn't like to read, and he thought it was phenomenal.
My favorite section was Running Free. I've always loved the message of freedom and running wild found in the Scriptures, but there's something also to be said about the trials and disciplines that lead to that life-transforming freedom that we sometimes neglect to mention. A couple quotes from the book:
The transformation of our character is more revolution than reformation. It is forged from battles fought far more than by beliefs held. It emerges out of crisis, not out of classroom.
Our capacity to run free is related to our commitment to stand firm. There is a discipline of the heart that marks the free spirit. All of us long to play the song in our souls, and more of us would do so if it didn't require endless hours of studying the notes.
great for group discussion.......2006-07-09
Erwin impresses me once again with his incredible understanding of Scripture and unique perspective on culture. This is a great book especially for discussing in small groups. The book is very thought-provoking and takes some time to get through but the practical applications are invaluable.
Little Gem.......2006-04-04
This is one of those little gift books that you observe a proliferation of in spring as people are preparing for graduation and other changes in life. It is truly meant as a gift, and as such it is a great little book. It is almost a work of art; most pages could be reprinted and framed as inspirational art. Most of the material appears to be new work, unlike most books of this type that are a rehash or synthesis of the author's thought or other books.
The way this book is set up you can read it from beginning to end the first time through, then go back to specific chapter's from time to time as a reminder, a challenge or an encouragement. The specific chapters deal with the topics as follows:
1. Freedom - Running Free
2. Truly Human - The Drowning Pool
3. Humility - Rising Out Of The Ashes
4. Grateful - Creating Out Of The Pieces
5. Perseverance - Coming Out Of Nowhere
6. Integrity - The Unifying Power Of Believing
7. We Need God - The Healing Power Of Belonging
8. Perseverance - The Sustaining Power Of Becoming
9. Courage - The Warrior's Heart
10. Generosity - The Generative Spirit
11. Fear God - The Divine Imagination
12. Servanthood - The Greatness of Servanthood
Even though this book comes in at under 120 pages it will help to call you to a deeper relationship with God and to a life lived for others. Some great quotes from the book are:
"Life is most enjoyed when we give ourselves away. Generous people give more than their things; they genuinely give themselves. In the most marvelous of ways, those who give most freely live most freely."
p.98
"When you fear God and nothing else, you discover the freedom to pursue great adventure."
p.105
"The scriptures remind us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. Then what exactly does this mean? When we fear God, we fear nothing else. It is only in the fear of God that we find ourselves free from the fear of death, of failure, and all the other fears that bind us."
p.112
"We were created to be free. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you're also called to be free. Yet to experience this freedom, there must be an uprising - a revolution of the soul."
p.7
"An overwhelming number of us feel trapped in the lives we've created. The irony is that we are the cruel tyrants who hold ourselves captive, and the tragedy of our imprisonment reaches into the deepest caverns of our souls. Our passion to be free both ignites us and betrays us, and more often than not leads us to be consumed by an unforgiving fire.
The very fire that burns within us can destroy us."
p.13
"YOU CANNOT FOLLOW JESUS AND REMAIN THE SAME!"
p.26
"Talent without character is a dangerous thing. Talent fueled by character is a gift from God."
p.51
These are but a few samples of the great gems you will find within this book. Pick it up, you will not be the same.
An inspiring and thought-provoking gift book.......2006-03-03
Just in time for graduation season, J. Countryman is releasing STAND AGAINST THE WIND, a gift book from inspirational speaker and writer Erwin Raphael McManus. It is a combination of colorful images and photos along with portions from UPRISING: A Revolution of the Soul.
This 120-page gift book is littered with inspirational scriptures and thoughts. McManus is convinced that life is more than just the practice of living but rather an adventure and a journey filled with all kinds of excitement and risk. Everyone is created with a passion to live, and that's more than just fulfilling a list of religious rules. Rather, when we unleash our passion and desires, particularly those that were placed within us by God, then we can more fully live the ultimate life, the Christian life.
McManus writes: "When you make God your primary passion, He transforms all the passions of your heart. The result of this transformation is that it will be God's pleasure to fulfill those passions. When God is your desire, you can trust the passions of your heart. In this state you can most fully live a uniquely passionate life. It is not incidental that the death of Jesus is called The Passion."
In addition, he takes stabs at things that stand in the way of God, including selfish ambition and pride. He points out that people who have an attitude problem more often than not have an arrogance problem. This explains why two different people can have such varied responses to the same issue. The cure for such arrogance is honest humility --- the kind that requires repentance and controlled strength. He asks readers to replace the temptation of greed with the act of generosity. Such giving breeds forgiveness and, thus, healthy relationships with others.
He observes, "Gratitude and forgiveness are inseparable, as are ungratefulness and bitterness. When we are grateful, we see and experience life with a healthy optimism. When we lack gratitude, we move toward pessimism. An ungrateful heart always sees what's wrong with life. The longer we live without gratitude, the more embittered we become."
That's why gratitude naturally spurs optimism. As our hearts become more whole through Christ, they increase in their capacity to both give and receive love. But McManus doesn't stop with just these virtues. He presses on to raise issues of perseverance, courage and integrity. He argues that it's through our integrity that a context is formed for true courage. In other words, integrity comes with integration and becomes what we truly are, and it requires a bit of bravery not just to hide behind masks. In fact, integrity makes it possible for us to live in a heroic way with sincere love for others.
Overall, STAND AGAINST THE WIND is a well-written and well-designed gift book. The writing is truly inspiring, thought-provoking and challenging. And the colorful design adds rather than detracts from McManus's insights and wisdom. Recommend this book to friends who haven't discovered McManus as an author yet or pick up a few copies for the upcoming graduation season. You won't be disappointed.
--- Reviewed by Margaret Feinberg
Book Description
In this inspiring book (formerly
Seizing Your Divine Moment), Erwin McManus uses the biblical account of Israel's war with the Philistines (1 Samuel 13 and 14) and the characters of Saul and Jonathan to demonstrate the difference between living a life of purpose and adventure, and living one of apathy and missed opportunity. In the midst of a less-than-hopeful battle, Saul rested beneath a tree as Jonathan seized the divine moment that would impact the future of Israel. Through this story McManus artfully illustrates the eight characteristics of an adventurer's heart, what he calls "the Jonathan factor."
Using powerful examples from his own life and ministry, along with fresh biblical teaching, McManus asserts that God crafts divine moments specific to each of us-priceless opportunities for us to actively engage in God's plan. By developing the characteristics McManus outlines, Christians can move from mundane to miraculous living.
Customer Reviews:
Adrenal Spirituality........2007-09-15
Chasing Daylight: Seizing the Power of Every Moment is the"Red Bull" of devotional books, a passionate call to action. Erwin McManus is, in his own words, "a husband, father, writer, futurist, activist, artist, and a spiritual and cultural leader." Chasing Daylight embodies McManus' high octane approach to life and spirituality.
Chasing Daylight is an invitation to view Christianity as something more than mere "sin management." For McManus, faith is adventure, and each second of our life is an on-ramp to living life purposefully. McManus uses language that feels alien to a discussion of Christianity, but shouldn't--courage, initiative, risk, embracing uncertainty, influence, and movement. These traits should be the buzzwords of every believer.
The narrative of Jonathan and his shield bearer choosing to attack the Philistine camp without support (1 Samuel 14) makes up the backbone of the book. Pastor Erwin sees Jonathan as a temple of personal discipleship. We see a need that only a God-energized agent can meet and attack it. McManus calls this the Jonathan Factor, and he believes that this should be a standard feature of every Christ-follower.
Chasing Daylight is filled with personal stories from Erwin's personal life and from the life of his congregation. McManus has gone where he's calling others to go. His stories of starting out as a pastor and risking his financial security and reputation for the sake of God's calling gives him the credibility to dare others from their lives of complacency. The story of how his church, Mosaic, risked looking foolish in their quest to begin influencing north Los Angeles resonated deeply in me.
McManus also weaves references from pop culture and fictional diary entries of a mysterious character, Aydan, to simultaneously add familiarity and mystery to his book. Chasing Daylight is intense, urgent, and fast.
It's hard to find a fault with this book, other than it cost me some sleep. I started reading the book in bed, thinking I'd take in a chapter before falling asleep. However, McManus' writing pushed every leadership and motivational button in my body. It's like singing "Eye of the Tiger" to your infant as a lullaby. It's impossible to read this book with a detached perspective; you'll find yourself personally engaged in the call to spend your life well.
Chasing Daylight is a great book for anyone needing a jolt from complacency, living in a rut, or even laziness. This is the perfect gift for the graduates in your life who are just beginning to launch their adult lives.
Seize this book!.......2007-07-01
I recommend this book to everyone, young and old Christians alike! I read it, then my daughter, and then we bought more copies to pass along to her friends. McManus shares personal experiences to show how God STILL moves and wants us to MOVE for Him. You should take one more step of faith and buy this book!
It will change your life.......2007-04-03
If you are a born-again believer, this one will put feet to your Christian walk the likes of which you have not experienced. It will encourage you to live aggressively.
Drink this up.......2007-03-31
Caution! Reading this book may be hazardous to a stale, comfy faith!
Mcmanus is one of my favorite authors and this is one of my favorite books by him. If you've read Fearless Faith by John Fisher or Your God is Too Safe by Mark Buchannan...this is very similiar.
This book will stretch you. I encourage you to read, think deeply, and apply personally the main ideas presented in this book.
Nate Warren
Be Careful!!.......2007-01-09
Don't read this book if you are in love with the status quo. Don't read this book if you want to eek out a meager existence in the land of the mediocre! Erwin McManus takes a in-depth look at the risks that Jonathan took and translates that into challenges for the reader to make the same kind of difference in their world. Read Chasing Daylight if you want God to use it to spur you on to taking steps of faith.
Book Description
In this inspiring book, Erwin McManus uses the biblical account of Israel's war with the Philistines (1 Samuel 13 and 14) and the characters of Saul and Jonathan to demonstrate the difference between living a life of purpose and adventure, and living one of apathy and missed opportunity. In the midst of a less-than-hopeful battle, Saul-who should have been leading-rested beneath a pomegranate tree as Jonathan seized the divine moment that would impact the future of Israel. Through this story McManus artfully illustrates the eight characteristics of an adventurer's heart, what he calls "the Jonathan factor."
Using powerful examples from his own life and ministry, along with fresh biblical teaching, McManus asserts that God crafts divine moments specific to each of us-priceless opportunities for us to actively engage in God's big-picture plan. Apathy and apprehension prevent us from being all we are meant to be for God's kingdom. But by developing the characteristics McManus outlines, Christians can move from mundane to miraculous living.
Customer Reviews:
A "must read".......2007-01-09
The title fits precisely. Everyone would benefit from reading this, not just Christians. This book is in the same league with John Eldredge's Waking the Dead. A great book for a small group to go through together.
Decently Written.......2006-03-28
Seizing Your Divine Moment was my first exposure to McManus' work. Admittedly, I brought a little bias to the book, since I realize McManus is a fellow seminarian...
Biblical exegesis of Jonathon's (King of Israel Saul's son...) heroic confrontation of a Phillistine outpost with his armor-bearer.
I think that McManus has the right idea and it looks like this work was inspired by Blackaby's original Experiencing God. The motif of that book could really be boiled down to: Find where God is at work and then join it.
McManus' work could be boiled down to: don't just sit---get out and do. Be a risk-taker for God and go after a divine encounter. God rarely brings them to us...we have to partner with him to find them.
Commended to all who need a kick-in-the-pants jump start to doing "something" for God.
Seizing Your Divine Moment.......2006-03-28
This book is not one to be read thru quickly. It's like fine food, rich chocolate or good wine, take your time, savor every morsel. Read it , read it and read it again, taking in the benefits of it wisdom. Some time this book is exilerating, sometimes it's scarrey, but it always blesses when you listen to it and move on it. It could be your "Divine Moment" when you pick this book up and start the journey.
Life Changing.......2006-03-23
This book puts feet to Forty Days of Purpose. We are studying this book as a church and it, along with scriptural study, is making life-changing impact. A must read.
Whoo-hoo! This book rocks!.......2005-12-29
We should have purchased this book by the caseload - we have purchased somewhere near that many and have given them away. I was raised in a wonderful godly home with a fantastic Christian heritage, but I must admit that I always sat and hashed whether I was "in God's will." McManus shattered the legalism of that for me. I almost dare say this book is mistitled except that no one would read it if it were titled, "Sovereignty and God's will." This is not a boring theological tome - this is life to the full, the life the Lord invites us to. The ideas here transformed me from bondage to living on the edge and thinking biblically. If you ever get a chance to see or hear McManus in person, he is awesome. Willowcreek Assoc has some of his audio,etc. Whoo-hoo, McManus! Keep it up!
Book Description
A feisty, entertaining, and educational conversation about the shape of the church of the 21st century.
Customer Reviews:
Great resource for information on the Emergent Church.......2007-05-22
I have greatly enjoyed this book. The conversation format provokes thought and adds a level of depth and clarity that is rarely experienced (especially in books concerning the Emergent Church). Moreover, the different authors approach the topic from different views, which allows the read to see different sides of the issue and make a decision for him/herself. If you are curious as to what the key issues are for this topic/discussion, this is the book for you!
A needful, if confused and quite unfinished, conversation.......2007-04-11
Andy Crouch. Skeptical of postmodernism, Arminian, (but curiously) open to the New Perspective of Paul & Law, seeks recovery of baptism and eucharist as the enduring means of grace. "Postmodernism is encroaching consumer culture which we must overcome via service and sacraments".
Michael Horton. Reformed, dismissive of postmodernism as a determinant of Christian thinking, critical of 'low-church' theology, believes that justification by faith is Scripture's key question. "Postmodernism is the next bad thing in secular modernism which we must resist with truth and tradition".
Brian McLaren. Emergent, path-finder for a storied, multi-layered, 'refreshed' Gospel centered in Christ. "Postmodernism is the new world in which we must embody and communicate God's message."
Frederica Mathewes-Green. Eastern Orthodox, practical, down-to-earth in a mystical kind of way, offers a relational kind of atonement theology. Postmodernism is irrelevant to our role as God's healers and questioners."
Erwin Raphael McManus. Metropolitan, multi-cultural, urban jungle orientation, pitching an all-out-for-Jesus, never-give-up, all-it-can-be church. "Postmodernism is a radical God-starved jungle we must love and serve!"
The Church in Emerging Culture: Five Perspectives - a book examining different views on the relation between church, world, gospel and discipleship, in no particular order.
After a good introduction from Leonard Sweet (which some say was worth the price of the book alone - I'd agree, if the price was lowered...), Crouch and Horton locked horns from the start with McLaren on the issue of what postmodernity/ism is and much space was spent clearing the misunderstandings surrounding the word (McLaren even claimed Crouch was paying 'rhetorical hardball'). Crouch virtually ties postmodernism to consumer culture and Horton can't seem to take his eyes off postmodernism's negatives (labelling it 'most-modernism' given the impossibility of there truly being a radical break with the supposed modern past).
Crouch is non-Reformed evangelicalism at its 'safest' i.e. neither too liberal to earn Horton's wrath or too stiff to have his books shunned by pro-emerging folk. McLaren, as one might expect, took the postmodernism challenge best to both Horton and Crouch with his creatively worded 'yes-but' subversive poking at their (largely traditional) strongholds.
It's clear, though, that - unless Crouch and Horton don't mind rethinking their ingrained definitions (let alone value-judgments) of postmodernism - a lot of work still needs to be done to even get pomo emergent and 'modern' conservative evangelicals on the same page. To really 'connect' with people like McLaren, McManus, etc., folks like Horton/Crouch have to empathise far beyond what their present suspicions and arms'-length repudiation of postmodernity are allowing them. Criticism and the use of what's "tried and true", undoubtedly the favorite tool of theologians, isn't going to be very helpful here.
Naturally, Horton isn't pleased at the slightest shift away from established Reformed doctrine. He continuously red-flags (what he sees to be) false dichotomies and liberal theology by the others (especially McLaren and McManus). Horton's write-up, IMO, embodies precisely what many are frustrated about in the church : People are exploring new directions, asking new questions, even seeking new experiences but not only are the responses by conservatives not very different from decades ago, it seems like one could reprimanded for not thinking traditionally(!).
If you've not read McLaren before, his essay should be a good first blush with his thinking (although maybe 'questioning' could be a better word). Via questions and reflections, McLaren came to (tentatively, I'm sure) conclude that the Gospel is narrative-formed, multi-layered, cumulative, performative, catalytic i.e. so much more than what tradition and churches have extolled it to be (hence, the annoyance many have with church). Typically emergent, McLaren counsels a spirit of inquiry, continuous seeking, asking, trial-and-error and rethinking as a way of proclaiming a Christ-centered Gospel in ever-changing situations.
In the midst of the Horton vs. McLaren encounters, Mathewes-Green and McManus were more or less cheer-leaders, questioners and one-line provocateurs (especially the former).
Interestingly enough, I found Mathewes-Green's write-up to be the most relaxing and inspirational. Hers was a good break, done in a subversive Q&A format, from the standard 'pop-academic cum evangelical' style of the first three. I'll never forget her line which went, "What might real rebellion look like? Standing outside an abortion clinic on a cold Saturday morning wearing really uncool sneakers and an uncool cardigan, praying."
McManus' essay read more like an inspirational for church growth and ministry and less a theological for-or-against towards postmodernity. Nevertheless, it's clear he's on the left of McLaren with statements like, "In modern times, Scripture have been demeaned into God's comprehensive encyclopedia...we have moved from a missiological hermeneutic to a theological hermeneutic and have lost the power of the Scriptures in the transition."
When all is said, though, this is a book whose gist I find hard to "grasp" and say I've truly understood. The novel format - where comments and questions from the co-authors are inserted within a presenter's essay - was both boon, as it depicted a 'real' conversation, and bane, as it was distracting. Tip: IGNORE the addendums until you've finished reading each section on its own.
Read Crouch and Horton for the best in time-tested theology and if you want some material for a largely cerebral "Intro to Postmodernism" lecture. Read McLaren and you could be quietly inspired to do something new, although you could have more questions than answers. Read Mathewes-Green and you'll want to pray. Read McManus and you feel like jump-starting the next urban crusade.
With such a spectrum of slants and priorities, this book is both a mindtrip and a minefield for learning - you'll learn a lot, but you may not be sure where to step next: Welcome to the new church/world(?)
Decent introduction of topic.......2007-01-10
The book gives five different perspectives, from five different authors, on how the church should respond to an increasing post-modern culture. It is in a sense a modern day discussion of H. Richard Niebuhr's classic text Christ and Culture. The five perspectives are introduced by Leonard Sweet with a four quadrant matrix. The matrix represents the church's response to cultural change on two axes, change in method/form/style and change in message/content/substance. The four quadrants are then described with the following four phrases: preserving message/preserving methods, preserving message/evolving methods, evolving message/preserving methods, and evolving message/evolving methods. The five perspectives then deal with each of the four options (with two taking up the first option of preserving message and preserving methods.
List strengths of book.
The main strength of the book is that it covers the topic very well, with good dialogue going back and forth between the five authors. The topics are discussed with great thoughtfulness and insight. I especially liked the use of the matrix mentioned above, in the introduction by Sweet.
List weaknesses of book.
While the book was very interesting to read it shared little practical advice for the church to actually engage the culture. The book would certainly have been strengthened with examples of theory that was shared by each author. Additionally, I found the chapter by Erwin McManus to be the weakest of the five perspectives, it seem almost incoherent at times.
Dialogue on Christ & Culture.......2006-08-17
Here are six individuals, actually five participants and one moderator/editor who tackle between themselves the topic of what does Christ do in changing, emerging cultures.
As reviewers have pointed out, salient to this dialogue is the method exhibited of each of five providing essay, then other four comment as it seems at will. The essayist than at the end responds to this sprinkled comments.
Of course, one of my confession would lean towards Horton, who certainly wins the day with his comments seeking return to text and history, rather than inventiveness and questioning always from our cultural arrogance stance.
Useful to see contrasts. Too much of McLaren. Would like to seen more "orthodox" participants in line of Horton.
A little annoying, but mostly interesting..........2006-07-07
Two comments have already been made, but I would like to reiterate. The light gray, italicized, 6 pt font used for interjections by other authors during an essay is hard to read. McLaren talks way too much, especially when he says the same thing over and over and takes EVERYTHING personally. He thinks his point of view is the only one worth having, and seems rather arrogant in his intellect.
Having said the few negatives, it is overall a good read. I would love to hear a more detailed view of what each author truly believes church should be like (which I know most of them have been published and anyone could read what they've written elsewhere). It also seems that the only real discrepancies are in their view of what "postmodernism" really is. As far as the actual workings of church, they could probably find a lot of common ground. But, they give very little actual advice on what church should be like.
Overall, it is an interesting book full of interesting ideas about the current culture. Leonard Sweet's introduction must be read to truly understand the rest of the book, but it gets a little too flowery at times.
Book Description
We are all, as Erwin Raphael McManus states, broken pieces of the image of God. And as Christians, too often we talk about God's ability to change lives without fully understanding how to access that power.
The reason is simple: we ourselves have never been radically transformed. McManus explains how many people unknowingly block God from changing us and teaches readers the "texture of the heart" required to unleash God's transforming power within us. He also demonstrates the passion and purpose that lie ahead when we undertake the journey that leads us to the true source, the very character of God. Fascinating stories from McManus's personal life and ministry, paired with fresh biblical teaching and profound insights, will astonish and challenge readers to break free from negative habits, destructive emotions, and other strongholds that hinder lasting transformation and to turn toward a life marked by enlightenment, nobility, and virtue.
Customer Reviews:
McManus makes all the pieces fit nicely together in the mind........2006-07-25
If you've attended church and read the Bible, you've heard all these ideas before. Uprising makes all the pieces fit nicely together to make all the religous concepts make sense as God intended, not as many churches have taught.
Unbiblical dead end to spirituality.......2005-11-09
"In this daring book Erwin Raphael McManus points the way to a life overflowing with passion, freedom, destiny and human creativity-" (from the inside book cover).
So just what is this "way" that McManus points us to? And just how Biblical is his (and the publisher's) attempt to cash in on "The Purpose Driven Life" bonanza? After all, the book's inside flap begins with "...a life of passion and purpose is the cry of every human heart."
From my reading of the book (and from his own words), McManus' bottom line, in a sentence, is this: If we will seek to develop the qualities of honor, nobility and enlightenment (following the pattern set by Jesus), our lives will be changed from "imitation and mediocrity into [lives] of passion and character...that will forever change the world!"
Quite a tall order and quite a promised outcome!
In my opinion, Mr. McManus has simply given us another Christian self-help volume-in addition to the hundreds, if not thousands, already available on the Christian bookshelves of the world.
Please allow me to quote extensively from the book before commenting upon its shortcomings. I want to present an accurate picture of the author's thesis.
(From the book cover flap:) "...reach your fullest potential as a human being" "What would we look like if we became like Him?" "This is the ultimate destination to become the person God dreams of."
"God formed us in His image and then breathed life into us. His life in us is sustained by His character. When we lose the character of God, we lose the life of God in us. But to have His character, we must first die to ourselves, because to become like Him is what it means to really live." p 6
"...this book is a quest for life...a quest to regain what was lost in the fall." p 6
"Our quest is to have God's character formed in us..." p 9
"...course set before us offers the freedom that comes from a discipline of the soul." p 16
"...the pursuit of character." p 16
"...the cry of our own soul screaming, `I want to change!' " p 18
"What do you do when you can't stand the sight of yourself?...you can't escape who you are. ... But you can become someone else. ... One thing is certain-you need to change. ... Change into what? From who you are to who you can become only with Christ." p 19
"To want godly character is one thing; to know how to acquire it is quite another." ... This journey's course is set by none other than Jesus Christ. The path is unveiled by His footprints. To choose His way is to engage in three quests that will not leave us unchanged-a quest for honor, a quest for nobility, and a quest for enlightenment." p 20
"...you alone have to desire to change." p 29
"He (Jesus) promises that if you and I follow Him, we will become like Him at journey's end." p 34
"In the pages ahead we will walk a path marked by the footprints of Jesus." p 36
"You now stand before a gauntlet. The destination you seek requires that you pass through treacherous terrain...three quests: a quest for honor, a quest for nobility, and a quest for enlightenment." p 39
And so forty pages into his book, McManus sets about to convince us of the virtues of godly character development to attain our "fullest potential as a human being."
Is this truly what God wants for our lives? Is this God's solution to the sin problem-the sin of greed, self-centeredness, impatience, etc. Will this "quest" for honor, nobility and enlightenment change our lives from lives of "imitation and mediocrity into one of passion and character...that will forever change the world"??
Hogwash.
Let me be clear that this is not a personal attack on Mr. McManus. Instead it is an attack on a false and dead-end approach to the Christian life.
Let's start dissecting this unbiblical path to "the ultimate destination." From the book cover flap: "...reach your fullest potential as a human being" "What would we look like if we became like Him?"
This, dear reader, is the very same proclamation which was used in the garden of Eden to precipitate the fall of man!! "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God..." (Genesis 3:5). We are NOT to become "like God." We are to be expressers of the life of God through abiding as a branch in Him as the life of the Vine (John 15). This is a RESTING in Him rather than a "quest" for character traits which imitate His life.
On page six McManus says, "God formed us in His image and then breathed life into us. His life in us is sustained by His character. When we lose the character of God, we lose the life of God in us. But to have His character, we must first die to ourselves, because to become like Him is what it means to really live." "...this book is a quest for life...a quest to regain what was lost in the fall."
Hold on here. "His life is sustained by His character"?? I think not. Rather His character is sustained by His life!! His character is the outflowing of His life. There isn't something called "character" which is sustaining God's infinite, omnipresent, omnipotent life. McManus seems to imply that the presence of God's life in us is dependent upon godly character and godly behavior on our part. If we just "die to ourselves"-our ungodly character traits-we shall begin "to really live." McManus thinks that "what was lost in the fall" was godly character traits!! His quest for honor, nobility and enlightenment is a quest to regain what was lost in the fall.
Of course that is not what was fundamentally lost in the fall. It was "spiritual identity" which was lost in the fall. Adam and Eve accepted the belief of an independent selfhood and acted upon that lie. What is needed now is not a quest for godly character traits by fallen or even "saved" humanity, but a dying to the false sense of self (identification in Jesus' crucifixion) and a spiritual re-birth (identification in Jesus' resurrection). This exchanged life produces God's character in our lives-because it's HIS character-filled life rather than our false sense of life. Rather than a "getting" of godly character, it is a realization of the present fact of being "complete in Christ" already. There is a vast difference in these two approaches to true spirituality.
McManus reveals his lack of understanding of what is commonly known as "the exchanged life" in the following quote: "What do you do when you can't stand the sight of yourself?...you can't escape who you are. ... But you can become someone else. ... One thing is certain-you need to change. ... Change into what? From who you are to who you can become only with Christ." p 19
As I read this, McManus wants us to become godly with the help of Christ. But this approach to spirituality denies the new creation and Paul's revelation of "Christ Who is our life" and "I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." Only Christ can live a godly life. The natural man cannot become godly. And "Christ Who is our life" need not go on a "quest" for honor, nobility and enlightenment-they are inherently a part of His life.
We are "complete in Christ" and the path to attaining "honor, nobility and enlightenment" is to be still and come into the realization of our oneness with God the Son and God the Father as the answer to Jesus' prayer recorded in John 17:21-23 "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one;...."
No mention in this prayer of any "quest" in order to "forever change the world." Until Christians understand and experience the difference between the external "quest" for godliness and the inner realization of the truth which sanctifies and makes free, publishers like Thomas Nelson will continue to make money on self-help books like this one.
Transformation and transparency.......2005-09-20
Erwin McManus is one of the most compelling Christian authors I've read in a long time. He shares his heart and is transparent about his strengths and weaknesses and how God is changing him. He has a vision for the church today, that we assess what it is we are doing, why, and what we could do to better serve Christ. But the church will only change as individual believers catch the vision and are transformed. Read this book if you are ready to grow!
Challenging and Thought Provoking.......2005-09-01
Every morning I read a chapter in my quiet time with God and was challenged. This book is thought provoking, causing you to look at your faith and who you are as a follower of Christ, and then to embrace that or change direction to gain greater insight.
It's a book that every believer should read. It's a book that every person seeking to know God should read.
T. Suzanne Eller, author and speaker
Excellent material.......2005-03-25
Uprising borders on mysticism. However, it is high time that we start understanding Christianity and the sacrifice made for us. We too often allow ourselves to become the center of life.
McManus challenges men to conquer our greatest weaknesses, and embark on a great adventure with Jesus.
Outstanding and insightful. I loved this book, and refer to it often, both for sermon preparation and personal reflection when I am struggling.
Average customer rating:
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A Teacher's Guide to Stick Up for Yourself: A 10-Part Course in Self-Esteem and Assertiveness for Kids : Every Kid's Guide to Personal Power and Positive Self-Esteem
Gershen Kaufman ,
Lev Raphael , and
Pamela Espeland
Manufacturer: Free Spirit Publishing
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ASIN: 1575420694 |
Customer Reviews:
creative and adaptable.......2006-03-09
This is a great lesson to follow for a small group setting as well as whole class. The lessons allow for you to adapt them to your students and they are very easy to follow. They are also creative and give you ideas on what to say during each lesson. I would recommend this book if you are planning on doing a group on self-esteem and assertiveness.
Book Description
From the Buddha to Ram Dass, sages have extolled the benefits of living in the "now." But what exactly does that mean and, more importantly, how's it done? In How Now, Raphael Cushnir demystifies the concept of living in the present moment and offers 100 easy, specific practices designed to bring awareness to our thoughts and actions. Readers participate in inspiring, life-affirming activities, ranging from redefining friendships to forging forgiveness, or even revisiting such simple childhood pleasures as blowing bubbles. Evocative color photography lends further inspiration as Cushnir, a popular contributor to O, The Oprah Magazine, offers practical and appealing encouragment for creating a more joyful here and now.
Books:
- The Blessing of a Broken Heart
- The Blue Annals
- The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait
- The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait
- The Fellowship: The Untold Story of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Fellowship
- The First Man
- The FMLA: Understanding The Family And Medical Leave Act
- The George Eliot Letters (Yale Edition of the George Eliot Letters)
- The Grand Duchesses: Daughters & Granddaughters of Russia's Tsars
- The Harlequin (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 15)
Books Index
Books Home
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An Unstoppable Force: Daring to Become the Church God Had in Mind
Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul
Chasing Daylight: Seize the Power of Every Moment
Soul Cravings
Stand Against the Wind: Fuel for the Revolution of Your Soul
