Religion Books

This is a excellet book for people of faith. It helps review various stages of belief and faithful living.

A classic overview of spiritual disciplines, Foster's book offers an understanding of Christian growth through prayer and discipline. A good book for beginners.

I had to buy this book for a class and I love it. It is an older book but it has essentials that modern discipleship has forgotten, like fasting. If you are looking for how you can grow closer to God, the methods in this book will help you.

Foster lays the foundation for cultivating a life marked by the spiritual disciplines. He touches on the major aspects of all the basic disciplines--prayer, fasting, journaling, silence, meditation, etc. While he doesn't give a thorough treatment of each one (as this was not his goal), he shows readers the path to developing these vital spiritual habits of the heart. Highly recommended for all looking to deepen their relationship with Christ.

This book is divided into 3 parts. Part 1 dwells on the inward disciplines, covering meditation, prayer, fasting and study. Inward disciplines are about practices by and on one-self leading to inward transformation. Part 2 is about the outward disciplines, covering simplicity, solitude, submission and service. Outward disciplines are about practices reflecting the outward life-style and interaction with the people around. Inward disciplines and transformations reinforce and enhance your outward disciplines and transformations. With inward and outward disciplines being focused on individuals, this leads to Part 3 which highlights on the corporate disciplines, covering confession, worship, guidance and celebration. Corporate disciplines are basically centered on groups of people or the church community, where you as an individual are a participant.

Meditation heightens our spiritual sensitivity which will in turn lead us into prayer. We will then discover that prayer involves fasting as an accompanying means. From the base of these 3 Inward Disciplines, we can move effectively into study which gives us discernment about ourselves and the world in which we live. Through simplicity we live with others in integrity. Solitude allows us to be genuinely present to people when we are with them. Through submission we live with others without manipulation and through service we are a blessing to them. Confession frees us from ourselves and releases us to worship. Worship opens the door to guidance. All the Disciplines freely exercised bring forth the doxology of celebration.

In addition, this book discusses on the differences between Eastern and Christian meditation. Eastern meditation is an attempt to empty the mind, where they stress on the need to become detached from the world and place emphasis upon losing personhood and individuality and merging with the cosmic mind. There is a longing to be freed from the burdens and pains of this life and to be released into impersonality of Nirvana. Detachment is the final goal of Eastern religion. On the other hand, Christian meditation is an attempt to fill the mind, where there is a need for detachment. However it goes beyond the notion of detachment, where we must proceed to go on to attachment. The detachment from the confusion all around us is in order for us to have a richer attachment to God.

Through this book, Foster reiterates multiple times that the purpose of the Disciplines is freedom. Our aim should be the freedom and not the Disciplines. The moment we make the Disciplines our central focus, we tend to turn it into law (becoming modern Pharisees) and consequently lose the corresponding freedom. The liberation is the end; the Disciplines are merely the means. They are not the answer; they only lead us to the Answer.

When we thought we have completed reading and deciphering this book, it actually marks the new beginning of a more in-depth spiritual journey. It will be a journey that spells the presence of the Holy Trinity and beyond believing and understanding the Disciplines, it will instill the desire and ways to be a faithful follower. We have to transit from being a believer to becoming a follower.

The full benefits of this book can be reaped effectively when done in a small group of believers and put into actual practice (which is always the most challenging part!). From the discussions and studies, the book will help you to walk closer to God. However caution needs to be taken that one is firmly grounded in the Christian belief, otherwise one could be easily misled, for example the practice of imagination in the Discipline of meditation.

This book has an accompanying "Celebrating the Disciplines Journal" workbook, which aids in your growth and transformation.

This book has a lot of information not only on how to read the Bible, but also on its historical context (exegesis) and how it can apply to us today (harmenuetics.) This book has so much though that to read this book for all its worth requires a dictionary and time. If you want to learn about the Bible as well as how to read and understand it and have the time to go through it, then this book will be a great buy for you.

Great book that provides a great tool for how to get deeper into the Bible. It is easy to follow and fairly simple to see the points. They provide great examples from different passages with different translations. And using different examples on how to go through an exegesical study helps the reader to follow the process. Highly recommended.

Another book that was required for a course. Another book that would not otherwise have been purchased. Content was OK. It contained some helpful and insightful information.

The book is an excellent journey into the word of God and will get you pointed in the right direction. Many Christians do not study the word of God in the correct context and this book rectifies a long standing problem in the Evangelical community concerning the interpretation of Scripture. I was concerned about the author's pushing the TNIV as the translation of choice for serious study of the Bible. I would have preferred that they used the NRSV with the TNIV being a strong secondary translation for study. I did appreciate the fact that they encouraged the use of Bible dictonaries and commentaries to study scripture, but I felt that thay should have done a chapter on good study bibles that can aid in understanding the text. I did feel that they interjected their opinions too much in the book and gave us their pet peeves, couched in the language of exegesis and hermeneutics. In the same vein, they did debunk a few misinterpretations on some biblical passages and they allow for healthy dissent. The most important thing is to read the Bible and this book gives a good start.

The title says it all. If you want to read the Bible for all its worth, you, not only read the book, but have to have your own copy. I borrowed the book from the library and started digging into it. There were many valuable Bible verses provided to illustrate and support the important points of the author's view. In order to gain the most from the book, I would need to go through all of these references. Since I did not have the time to do this at one time, I would like to keep a copy on my book shelf. In this case, I would be able to refer to it whenever I need to. So, I decided to purchase my own copy. If you are serious about understanding the Bible, I highly recommend this book to you.

I thought this book was just OK. Much of the information was good and I will use it in our home. However, the examples they used in this book were outrageous. Who in this day and age is going to let their kid off to walk home. Also, allowing a child to determine whether they go to school or not is silly.

For the people reviewing this book who think it is cruel to children, or might lead to a drop in self-esteem, I suggest reading a study by a Dr. Dweck. It did a study on praising children, and the gist of the study is that children respond better to being told they are hard workers than being told they're smart. How does this relate to the book? Instead of constantly coddling your child, Love and Logic encourages you to put your confidence in their abilities, implying that you think they can work through their problems. This is great for self-esteem! Taking responsibility for yourself is a huge confidence builder (take it from someone whose mom was still making Dr. appointments for her at 21). Everyone fails. Letting your children make small mistakes ,and believe me, being cold all day because you didn't want to bring your coat is a SMALL mistake, helps them see that they can deal with the consequences of their failures/mistakes, making them more willing to try things. And for those who think Love and Logic doesn't offer good advice about parenting, keep in mind that this is a book about disciplining children. It specifically states in Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood to make sure your children enjoy being with you so that sending them to their rooms seems like a punishment. It also says to set a responsible example and take care of yourself, but that's about the extent of their off-disciplinarian parenting advice. It doesn't make it a bad book, just like you wouldn't consider a history text incomplete for not having math in it. I thought it was a great book and have had much success with it, as has my sister who introduced me to it. I recommend it to anyone I see struggling with their children.

My family is getting ready to adopt a special needs child and they were told to purchase this book along with the Martian Child movie. We purchased both of these items and they are very good to help in the thought processes behind a special needs child. The book shows a completely different way in bringing up children versus the old fashioned way. We have not finished the book yet but we are darn sure it is going to help.

There are a ton of "parenting" books available but this one is helping me a great deal. Good illustrations and easy to read; the logic makes sense and the love is there.

One of the co-authors of this book (Foster Cline, M.D.) is the psychiatrist whose "attachment therapy" resulted in deaths and torture of children. (See "Advocates for Children in Therapy" at http://www.childrenintherapy.org/.) My child -- now 20 and an honors student adored by family and friends -- had oppositional and destructive behavior with tantrums. My husband and I followed advice similar to that in this book, culminating when our son became suicidal at age 8. At that point my husband and I looked at each other with the simultaneous unspoken thought: "We can't keep treating him this way." We instead relied on our own sense of how far to go. Later, when I read, "The Explosive Child" by Ross Green, I said to myself, "This man has written a book describing how we decided to raise our son!" It was such a relief to read, "The Explosive Child." Our change in approach paid off -- and the medications finally were tweaked correctly, and guess what: his behavior changed overnight from awful to excellent. It wasn't that he didn't WANT to behave like others: it was that he COULDN'T. As soon as the medications allowed him to control his behavior and distorted perceptions, all the good parenting and modeling we had done kicked in immediately. "Love and Logic" is based on the belief that natural consequences are all that's needed -- but if your child has a brain disorder that causes a distorted view of what's happening, the consequences you would have to resort to would be torture.
It's MUCH MUCH better to understand the disorder and how it is distorting your child's thoughts and perceptions, and get it treated by a board-certified child psychiatrist. Also, read, "The Explosive Child." (By the way, our son has not taken any medications in three years. The medications bought him time to mature enough to be able to make use of cognitive-behavioral techniques to control his anxiety. I also think the medications may have allowed his brain to develop normally so that eventually he didn't need them.)

Bishop Wright has taken one of the most important concepts of Christianity and in non-theological terms clarified the teachings Jesus and the apostles about life-after-life-after-death and what is means for the mission of the Church. Many readers will have a surprise when the learn that they will not spend eternity in a white robe, with halo and harp, playing boring music. He strips off confusing ideas added in the Middle Ages and today's pop culture and shines a light on what we should be doing now in preparation for the appearing of Jesus and the remaking of the cosmos.

N. T. Wright is a great author and most knowledgeable within the Christian ranks. At the same time he can sometimes speak a little over my head. The book is worthwhile if you want to work while you read it.

I posted on Bookguy's review
I looked at this book at B and N...I would never subject my soul to such ideas. I wish to inform christians that what you read affects the soul. Please read Jung and the history of the church, you christians may come to know some things about your shadow...which is deep and dark, 1700 yr period. European *christians* have been persecuting jews for the past 1700 years. Violent persecutions. Of course you do not wish to look at that, truth hurts.
This book only leads astray into very strange ideas, having nothing whatsoever to do with God's Kingdom on earth.
Brother Paul
New Orleans
Aug 27,2208

I believe this book is destined to be a "Christian classic" along the lines of C.S. Lewis's best works. Being more succinct than Wright's previous tomes, it is much easier to digest and has, in turn, a greater impact on the reader. I say this having read most of what N.T. Wright has written.

The central of truth of the kingdom of heaven being inaugurated with Christ's life, death and resurrection is one of the most powerful truths ever -- and will change our lives, if we'll let it. I am still grappling with the practical ramification of heaven being "right here" among us, albeit in a different dimension -- rather than being "out there" somewhere.

Likewise, the truth of Jesus ruling and reigning presently, in his bodily resurrected form as opposed to spirit-form, is profound. That's another one that I'm wrestling with. I can honestly say I've been energized in the last couple of weeks just pondering this.

Bottom line, this book challenges us to re-think and re-shape many of the traditional views of heaven, the resurrection, and the kingdom. And, most importantly, we are provided practical guidance on "what this all means" to our everyday lives.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ALL!

We often view the afterlife in very narcissistic terms, as some kind of self-centered, individualistic reward for personal holiness. Bishop Wright blows that theory right out of the water. Its not about us at all, but the Kingdom of God and our expanding role in it. Having just finished this excellent book, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about what the Bible actually teaches about what resurrection really means for the life of the world. You may be surprised, as the title says, but I have no doubt that you'll also find it quite inspiring. The cost of this book is money well spent.

i've read a couple of krakauer's books (into thin air, into the wild), and have mostly loved them. i say "mostly", because, while i think he's a great writer and storyteller, and meticulous in his research, there's occasionally a hint of arrogance or smugness that i don't find appealing. that said, i found under the banner of heaven to be exceptionally fascinating.

if you're not familiar with krakauer's work, his books all have the same general approach: he tells a particular story, but places it within the context of its larger setting. in this case, the particular story is of a double murder, carried out by two fundamentalist mormon brothers (of their sister-in-law and her daughter) based on an alleged prophetic message from god. but the larger context is a thorough history of mainstream mormonism, and a much more detailed history and current-day description of the various fundamentalist mormon sects that have split off from the main lds faith.

of course, this book was published before the news-swirl earlier this year of the raid on a polygamous fundie compound in texas, and all the fall-out from that; but those characters play into this book (specifically, warren jeffs, the de facto leader of the particular splinter group that raided compound rolled up to). i learned a lot about mormonism, and even more about fundamentalist mormons (who, i have to add, krakauer treats with as much empathy and fairness as is possible).

all that said: what was really intriguing to me were the broader questions the book occasionally asks, but were regularly percolating in my mind, about religion. questions about civil disobedience, and how to respond when one's faith and government are at odds with each other. questions about hearing the voice of god. questions about authoritarian structures and communal discernment. even questions about marriage, fidelity, and intimacy. at one point, i jokingly said to my wife, "hey, maybe we should consider polygamy." she was at a particularly weary moment, and quickly responded, "could the other wife do all the cooking and cleaning?"

at the bottom line, under the banner of heaven bubbles up the danger of any one person saying he or she is speaking for god.

This book regardless of how people feel certain leaders were portrayed, was very informational. I didn't know much about that religion besides what the media wanted me to know. Now I know more about who Joseph Smith was and what he accomplished, the difference between the LDS and FLDS, and even a little geography. Krakauer made the history of the LDS easy to follow, and I could trace their steps from the east coast all the way west. There's also (which I don't believe but was interesting to know) is how they thought the world was created.
This is all just a background to the major piece of the book, which is a gruesome murder of a mother and a baby. Thanks to the information on the history and practices of the LDS/FLDS, I'm more able to make an educated opinion on what the media puts out and can now tell the difference between the extremists and the Mormons who just want to make the world a little nicer.

I wanted to love this book, but I wound up just liking it. Krakauer is a great writer, the topic was impeccably researched, and the subject is fascinating. But, I feel like for the non-historian reader, many of the details could have been left out. There are hundreds of names, places, and small events that don't add much to the story other than increased difficulty.

Another small complaint is about the footnotes. This is just a personal preference, but I find frequent large footnotes to be distracting. I feel obligated to read them, but that breaks up the continuity of the main text. I much prefer when writers incorporate the info into the main text or just put the notes at the end of the book.

That said, anyone interested in a more detailed view of the history of Mormonism will be satisfied by this exposition. There are some shocking tidbits about the origins of Mormonism as well as some profound tie-ins with religion in general.

As a fan of Krakauer (read the excellent "Into the Wild" and "Into Thin Air"), I was interested in his bringing his reporter's style and thorough analysis to this topic. Those that criticise the book as "anti-Mormon" do not get the point - it is an analysis of religious extremism in any form. He uses Mormonism as the protagonist to tell the story. The book could easily be about Islam, Catholicism, or another major religion. Mr. Krakauer goes into detail about aspects of mainstream Mormon history that the LDS church would rather he not get into such as the Mountain Meadows Massacre, for example. As a non-Mormon, I was not put off by his book, and found his thourough and thoughtful forays into the history of the LDS church to be fascinating. I had never read an account of Joseph Smith, the founding of the church, the persecutions they suffered and the migration to the Salt Lake Valley from any other source, including from any member of the LDS church.

Mr. Krakauer's point is that you cannot tie fundamentalism any more to mainline Mormonism than you can to mainline Islam. But, they are related in their origins, and he describes portions of LDS history which demonstrate that the religion was born out of violence, both directed towards the church and in some cases, perpetrated by it.

The examples of a small minority of those involved in the strict fundamentalism of the Mormon faith are not representative of the LDS church as a whole. The official reaction from the LDS church I felt was unfortunate. Instead of attacking and discrediting Mr. Krakauer, I rather think they missed a great opportuntiy to communicate the stark differences between the LDS church's substansive role in modern American life vs those fundamentalists that have twisted the teachings of the church to serve their own cause.

At times, Mr. Krakauer examines the Mountain Meadows Massacre as well as the deaths of three of explorer Powell's men a bit too closely, which gave me the impression he was "piling on" a bit in making his point. In the case of Powell's men, he goes into great detail of the circumstance of their deaths, but merely repeats scholarship that has already been written. Perhaps the detail of these accounts cannot be found in many other places.

As he points out, however, these are parts of Mormon history that the church should address rather than trying to shove, along with Mr. Krakauer, under the rug.

The first half of the book discusses the personal lives of a couple psychotic men who happened to be Fundamentalist Mormons, to prove that the LDS religion breeds molesters.

If that is true, then we can easily conclude that the Catholic religion breeds pedophiles.

The author grossly misrepresents the theology of Mormonism, claiming that Lehi, the ancient Hebrew, discovered that we must "EARN GOD'S LOVE" through obedience. Mormons do not believe such drivel.

Through obedience, one pleases God and "earns" His approval, but not His acceptance and love.

Excellent Bible study for Catholics. Through scripture, author Father Mitch Pacwa helps Catholics to draw a deeper of understanding of their faith and the sacramets. Using the New and Old Testament readings of Paul through the eyes of this scripture scholar brings great insight and understanding to those who complete the study.

In addition to what other reviewers have written, allow me to add a note about this book's style and format. Fr. Pacwa respects the intelligence of his readers, and doesn't hesitate to introduce deep theological points and insights, using etymology and history to explain them. Decades of preaching these concepts to a wide variety of audiences no doubt helps him do so. Likewise, the format is not of the "What-the-readings-mean-to-me" variety. Fr. Pacwa takes a cognitive approach to instruction, and readers are expected to probe and discuss meaty subject matter from the text. I intend to use this book for my weekly catechism group this fall; the fact that it is reasonably priced is an added bonus for the group's members. Highly recommended.

This book written by Father Mitch Pacwa, of EWTN fame was specifically written for the Year of Saint Paul. Written and presented in a way that makes it very intereactive, Fr. Mitch presents Saint Paul's teaching on six of the seven Sacraments. Each of these chapters/sessions delves into what Saint Paul taught and its relevance for us today.
The book also includes a checklist/reading guide to aid those who would like to read through the Pauline corpus during the Year of Saint Paul. The list is designed to help the reader make it through the writings of St. Paul in about three months, while taking no longer than 10 minutes a day to do so!
This is a very original book, presenting fresh material that is engaging and exciting. The boxes within the book provide interesting information, including some recent research that gives a new take on the Letters to Timothy and Titus.
Highly recommended!
I am the author of The How-To Book of the Mass: Everything You Need to Know but No One Ever Taught You

Father Pacwa is a biblical scholar of remarkable depth, but he's also a preacher who can communicate to ordinary people. He has produced something remarkable here: a profound synthesis of St. Paul's thinking on a variety of subjects, but in a form that's digestible for parish groups and home Bible studies. His special focus is the Church's sacraments, but he also touches upon other doctrinal, moral, and disciplinary issues. With this overview, we can recognize our present-day parishes in the congregations of so long ago. The Church is one, not only throughout the world, but through all time. This is the best introductory Bible study to Paul I've seen.

Just because I think he has thick skin doesn't mean he does when it comes to the things I, as his wife, say. I was hard to take some of this stuff because it isn't talked about in society and it makes it hard to understand. She goes past just saying "men are visual" and actually describes what that means from a mans perspective. My husband was practically in tears when he realized I really was interested in knowing him better. In fact, when I mentioned there was a companion "For men only" he told me to get it. (this from the man who cringes at spending $0.50).

God created men different for a reason. If we really want to understand the majority (there are always exceptions) then this is a great place to start. I think it'll start being my wedding gift to couples.

The insights are very appropriate for all married people, because they will open the discussion, and they do so in very clever and insightful ways. = There are good and bad with past, as with present, marriage practices, and to suggest otherwise shows a lack of objectivity.
I also for women and men recommend I Love You. Now What?: Falling in Love is a Mystery, Keeping It Isn't

I wish I had read this book at the beginning of my marriage, now 22 years later I am still doing the same thing I did when I first got married with no good results.

Now, I have started changing my remarks in public about my husband that I did not realize were detrimental to how he feels about himself. There are lots of things I never truly realized about men. We are so totally different. I complained about him working long hours and that is one way he is saying he loves me and the kids by providing for us. To me that is a sacrifice to the family, and yet to him it is the man's job.

Just little things like that to help me see things in a different perspective.

I agree with other reviewers that this may encourage women to be less assertive of their needs and more understanding when their husbands are doing things the don't understand/agree with.
This book did help me understand my man but he's still accountable for his actions.
He read the counterpart for men and has adapted his behaviors as well. If you have the sort of relationship where you can work together it can't hurt for both to become more understanding!
This book has religious undertones but it's tolerable.

Both books were interesting. But scanning the reviews for both books today was more illuminating.

"For Men Only" - helping men figure out their fairer partner - has garnered about 90 comments so far. The few negative reviews were from two apparently unhappily-married guys, and a woman suggesting if you didn't already know what women wanted you were clueless. The rest, often by women (my best guess here, given the pronouns and screen names used by reviewers), offered glowing commentary of how important it is to understand and meet a woman's needs. Ah, the importance of patience, kindness, listening. My favorites were the ones in all capitals and exclamation points. Yes, yes, YES, YES!!!

Now scan the "For Women Only" comments - all 212 of them to date. So far there are 29 negative reviews (including 16 "1 star" votes) about a book on how ladies can better love their men. There were a few unhappy guys, some complaining the book wasn't "biblical" enough, but the bulk are from ladies insulted (!) by the idea of compromising their feminine selves for some man.

The ladies offered such loving things as:

"Unfortunately, this book is only going to help you if you're a fat nagging religious close minded wife who's let herself go."

"The entire book was about stroking a man's ego at the expense of anything the woman may want."

"This book is full of generalizations and stereotypes that should have gone out of fashion at the same time as beehive hairdos."

"If you want to find a reason to play into all of the broad societal expectations about your personal appearance, your sexual boundaries, and general steps to becoming a Stepford wife, then this is your book!"

Or my favorite: "There is an underlying "good" here that is twisted in a package that will be ultimately damaging to our children and to ourselves. Yes, we must be careful of our spouse's emotional, physical, sexual, and relational needs. But we must do this out of love and respect that is guided by a sense of mutuality in the marriage relationship, not by catering to an unhealthy sense of self-worth that is so pervasive in the responses of Feldhahn's participants. Feldhahn has taken these unhealthy responses and twisted them into normal "healthy" responses that women must then take care of through their behavior and appearance. We should not buy into this myth. Rather, we should take seriously the feelings of low self-esteem, poor attachment, and an un-Biblical view of the role of women in a marriage relationship that were demonstrated by the participant's responses and work to improve the messages we are sending the men in our society."

Obviously a graduate of Women's Studies at Wellesley College.

Now, don't get me wrong. The large majority of both men and women who read these two books found them helpful in understanding the opposite sex a little better. Most couples also found them to be good conversation-starters, important for any relationship. Having scanned both I also thought there was plenty of useful info in each.

It's hard, though, to miss all of the gracious thoughts liberally applied to "his book about her," compared to what seems like a sort of begrudging admission in the other that, well, men like being loved too, as long as it meets faminine approval.

Speaking of usefulness, perhaps the person these books helped the most was a former boyfriend of a Ms. Rhonda Pyle of Corpus, TX:

"My boyfriend gave me this book in hopes that I would read it and think that what it was saying was insightful and profound. He thought it could help make me into the woman he wanted me to be. I just want to say to the women that are considering buying this book: I broke up with my boyfriend of two years - who I was going to marry - shortly after he gave me this unhelpful, uninspired piece of material. I was glad though; it revealed to me the kind of man he was. I don't think this helped me understand men more; it just made excuses for them. I remember thinking how often it excused men's insecurities and how women should just be OK with this obvious fault. I'm a Christian woman, but I don't believe that women have to be pushovers for men in order to be a righteous woman in their marriages..."

Wherever you are, bro, count your blessings. Thanks to this little book you dodged a bullet.

Perhaps Ms. Rhonda's unwittingly found the most important reason to buy Shaunti's stuff: Give a copy to your (prospective) mate and see what happens. If it gets devoured and put into action, you're a lucky guy/gal. If it remains un-opened on the nightstand or ends up in the garbage disposal, perhaps you should reconsider your options...

I use the words LOVE/HATE because that is what this book was for me. I loved what Francis had to say WHILE AT THE SAME TIME hating it because it was dead on to many things I had been convicted about.

We need more books like this that are not set out to specifically BLAME THE CHURCH for the message it portrays and bring to light that WE are the church and the change comes from bringing the Kingdom through the way we live our lives in reflection of Jesus Christ.

My two cents, at least!

Not very often do I LOVE a book enough to actually take the time to write a review, but this book was so amazing I just had to. I don't want to praise Francis Chan one bit because I KNOW that he would NOT want to receive the praises. I praise the God Almighty for the work He is doing through Francis. This book is amazing and challenging and not intended for those who like to be comfortable.

Let's get radical and love like CRAZY!!!

I saw Francis Chan speak at the National Worship Leader's conference last year in Austin, TX and was blown away by his passion and guts. He obviously believed what he was telling us, that God never called us to be comfortable and successful, he called us to follow him faithfully. Period! I also downloaded his message from the Passion '07 conference. Also unreal, and life changing.

When I saw this book available, I bought it immediately. I have read it, watched the chapter videos, relistened to both messages I already had of his, and it is changing me radically.

I thought I was already a pretty sold-out Christ follower, but this book really does make you reflect. Am I really obsessed with God? Do I truly think about what God thinks is important? Am I caught up in the American dream?

Beware of reading this book if you don't want to be challenged in your faith. If you are not a Christian and want to hear some real and enlightening thoughts on the state of the American Christian church as opposed to the instructions given by Jesus, this book is a good one for you as well. This is NOT a feel good book. There are plenty of those around. (cough..Joel Osteen...cough)

I put this right along recent classics like "A Generous Orthodoxy" by Brian McLaren, "The Spirit of the Disciplines" by Dallas Willard.

Very inspirational. Makes you realize that we are not giving all that we can to God,who loves us more than anything we can comprehend.

Don't read this book if you find yourself satisfied with comfortably floating along through life - believing that your faith and relationship with God is in a semi-decent place. God, Francis Chan argues, will have none of it and, ultimately, deserves far more.

The whole idea of loving God sure doesn't seem like an original topic, but there's something about this book that is remarkably fresh and challenging. Chan doesn't mince words, if Christians truly love God then that love will dominate and influence all that we do. As if to address the inevitable questions forming in the mind of the reader, Chan devotes a whole chapter to ordinary people who are (or who have) powerfully lived out a life of "Crazy Love."

This is an important book for Christians today. So often our mindset is focused on the bare minimum - what can we do to just get by with the least amount of effort? If you read this book (and you should!) be ready to ditch that mindset.

Saint Augustine is spiritual, philosophical and always profound.
Warning: Likely to blow your mind.

Augustine's confessions are confessions to God, and thus, prayer. Augustine bares his soul--his doubt, fear, guilt, as well as his joy, peace, and love. All this is addressed to God as prayer. Like the Psalms, these prayers are shockingly intimate--you can't read these properly from a comfortable distance.

I am grateful to Augustine for sharing his personal relationship with God in a way that leads me closer, too.

All you one and 2 star commentators will like what I have to say on this alleged *saint*.
Look its one thing to havea mother complex, most men do, a few succumb til death, Augie was one of these who never got over his complex.
Monica, his mother was the typical type that drowns the son , a power monger.
She was the one who advised her son to dump his *wife* of 17 years (was a forced marriage as the girl was a concubine he got pregnant when he 17 yrs old!!!) Augie was 34 and seekinga high position in Milanese government. His *wife* was illiterate street girl , thus *extra baggage*. Augie sent her back to north africa, their hometown.
Plot gets juicier.
Mommie Monica (the catholic church titles her *the great devote saint*) sets up a new potential mate, but the girl is only 10, roman law allows marriage for girls not until 12 yrs old. So he has to wait.
In these 2 yrs, he gets depressed and calls off the marriage.
His life then is nothing but turmoil, driven by his monster size mother complex. Monica dies during this time, however the complex is in full force. The physical mother is gone, but the dominate complex is in his blood in full force.
Augie was schooled as a master of rhetoric, thus as a new christian he realize *fancy talk* is cheap, and contrary to christian ideals. But too late, his mind was hard wired to function in this mindless rhetorical mannerism.
Worse than actually helping the soul his writings lead the soul no where but in senseless out-of-touch-with-reality circles.
His beliefs do much harm to those who wish to finda child like faith, which Christ himself says is the only way to the kingdom of God. Augie's babbling and empty chatter leads us away from the plain truth, which Christ came to reveal to *those who will receive* (the few)
The catholic church wants us to look beyond all these glaring issues and say *what a great man to turn from his sins and go on to defend the faith*
Augie like EVERY SINGLE CHURCH FATHER, was constantly embroiled in fighting the *heretics*. Where in the New Testament do we find a command to FIGHT the heretics?
BTW we should also be aware that anti-semiticism was fervent throughout the history of the catholic church.
Read B Natanyahu's masterly book The Origins of the Inquisition/Random House, 1995.
Its no wonder the catholic church has become what she now is, a business , based upon misguided writings from Augustine. Priests actually have to study this fermented long-winded bunk!!!
To sum up, Augustine's mind offers no understanding of the soul, life, man, woman, and certainly sheds no insight into the mysteries which we call God.
AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE.
Paul Best
New Orleans
July 30,2008

This book is a very powerful, memorable spiritual autobiography and Augustine tells his story like none other. He is transparent and honest at every turn, holding nothing back. He tells of his faith struggles, his sins and his temptations very candidly. The story of his conversion is truly beautiful and will stay with you. He has written in such a way that you truly see the hand of God at work in his life. A phenomenal read that will stay with you. Highly recommended.

Augustine is one of these characthers from antiquity who illustrates that humanity is always an everywhere the same - we share the same form, namely the soul and we thirst always and everywhere for the same thing, namely the infinite, which is God. Augustine is poetic in his treatment of God, he addresses him as a bride to her husband. Let him speak for himself:

"Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace."

His own struggle is the struggle of every man and woman to find God. And, yet, not only was Augustine the master of the inner life, he was a great philosopher - witness the chapter on time, which is wonderful. Miss not also his shared ecstatic vision with his mother, Monica.

This is a great work - but, there are bits that are not easy (his exegesis of Genesis, for example) but persevere, its worth it!.