Spirituality Books

The Blackablys have done a thorough job in researching and summarizing today's secular leadership teaching then contrasting it with spiritual leadership. They point out that many of the principles of secular leadership are of value but the underlying principle of spiritual leadership that differs from secular leadership is that we are to seek God's agenda and not our own. To make their point, early in the book they discuss Jesus as the model for spiritual leadership. Jesus, the very Son of God, did not seek His own agenda, but rather spent hours in prayer to align himself with God's agenda.

The Blackabys also do a great job teaching that spritual leadership is not just for leaders in the church. Spiritual leadership is also required of Christians that are in secular leadership roles. They give us many examples of US Presidents as well as military and corporate leaders that have aligned themselves to God's agenda and have been effective.

We are living in a world that is growing in complexity and the demands on leadership are ever increasing. The Blackabys have shown what an advantage spiritual leaders have in being able to align ourselves to the agenda of a wise and loving God rather than attempting to create our own agenda.

Excelent book. Every leader should read this book. Many good examples of leadership, including President Truman.

We, Christian School teachers, read this and found it very informational. Additionally, it was quite helpful as we learned things that were very helpful in growing and nurturing young leaders of the future.

Drawing from examples of leaders in the Bible, leadership theories, testimonies of ministry and secular leaders, and their own experiences, Henry and Richard Blackaby present a refreshingly helpful and insightful resource on leadership in their book, Spiritual Leadership. Recognizing that Christian leadership today sounds more and more secular than Christian, the Blackabys call on Christians in leadership roles, both inside and outside of the church, to "seek to lead God's way" (17). They define this type of spiritual leadership as "moving people on to God's agenda" (20).

Three main aspects of Spiritual Leadership set it apart from other leadership books and make it highly commendable...

First, it is intended for a broad audience. It is written in a way to be just as helpful for Christian CEOs and other business people as it is for pastors and ministry leaders. In fact, the authors state that they intend this work to be for all Christians who want to make a difference (14).

Second, and most significant, Spiritual Leadership is theocentric in its approach, not anthropocentric. This book is not a do-it-yourself guide to leadership nor is it a self-help book. Instead, it is a refreshing focus on God in the vast sea of "Christian" leadership books today. From the outset, issues such as goals and influence are all presented in terms of God's will. For example, influence is defined as moving people from where they are to where God wants them to be (20). Even popular leadership concepts are reframed in order to present the issue from God's perspective, such as noting how time management really is personal management in order to stay on God's agenda (200). All throughout the pages of this book the Blackabys paint the picture of leadership in terms of God's plans. It is not about advancing one's personal goals. Rather, it is about obeying God and moving people to be in line with His will. The authors conclude that since "God is on mission," the task of leaders is to join Him in that mission and bring people along to join that mission (70). In light of this reality, leaders are urged to make decisions with the reminder that they will give an account before God. The authors remind the readers that the goal is bringing God glory while the reward is finding joy in knowing that they pleased God. In being God focused, this book also recognizes that leaders can accomplish nothing without God. Instead of providing a checklist to be used to achieve goals, the Blackabys encourage leaders to depend on the Lord. In fact, from the outset they state that God calls leaders to do things that only He can do; thus, spiritual leaders must depend on the Holy Spirit (21). Such dependence on the Lord requires a leader to have a vibrant prayer life as well as seek guidance in the Word, from other believers, and even from looking at how God is moving in the circumstances of life. While the repeated stress on dependence and prayer may cause the reader to think "I've heard all of these things ten times already!," such an emphasis prevents the reader from missing the most important theme of the book as well as challenges him or her to remember Jesus' words that are so counter-cultural in the leadership world today: "Apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

Third, Spiritual Leadership focuses more on being than on doing. Instead of offering a program to implement, a check-list to do, or an attitude to embrace, this book challenges leaders to be faithful to God. As in the other themes, the Blackabys are straightforward in this assertion, as seen when they say within the first several chapters that "leadership is more about `being' than about `doing'" (31). The Blackabys believe that being holy and faithful and modeling obedience to God's will are necessary since leaders cannot take their followers deeper than where they themselves are. As such, spiritual leaders must spend much time in the "conscious presence of God" (170). By abiding in Him, spiritual leaders can then encourage their followers to grow in their relationship with God. In addition, such abiding is shown to be necessary since spiritual leadership comes through revelation, not from vision. As leaders and followers seek God, they will be able to join together in accomplishing the work to which He calls them.


All of these themes are repeated throughout the book. By stating them directly in the introductory chapters and repeating them throughout, it is hard to imagine how any reader could miss this counter-cultural, yet solidly biblical, approach toward leadership. By the time readers turn the last page, they can easily articulate the thesis that spiritual leadership is moving people on to God's agenda. They can articulate the reality that leadership is about pleasing God. They understand that such leadership requires abiding with God more than doing certain tasks. Most of all, they recognize that such spiritual leadership, while hard work, is a high calling and a "God-given privilege" (236). Whether you find yourself in a leadership role in the church, in business, in education, or even in your home, the timeless, Biblical principles articulated by Richard and Henry Blackaby will motive you to discern God's will, be faithful to follow the path He has set before you, and do everything you can to bring others along on the exciting adventure of knowing and following God.

I found this book very engaging and was able to read through it without multiple pickups. By this I mean, that I didn't put it down for a few weeks and then pick it up again. Instead, I read through it in about four days. Overall, the book was very good. The only area I would have liked to have seen greater depth was in the decision making process. This was one of the shorter chapters and I felt the authors could have gone a little deeper here.

From a Christian perspective on leadership, this book would definitely be in my top five choices along with The Revolutionary Communicator, The Book on Leadership, Lead Like Jesus, and Christian Reflections on the Leadership Challenge. These other four are fine reads as well.

SPIRITUAL PROGRESS: BECOMING THE CHRISTIAN YOU WANT TO BE is a fine introduction to Catholic Christian Spirituality. Thomas D. Williams, a Catholic Priest and Vatican Analyst and Correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC, has written a highly readable book on deepening one's spirituality in a world dominated by those secular influences which can be all too often at odds with faith and devotion. The book, a scant 254 pages, is divided into four parts which can be read sequentially, or explored thematically.

I: Where are we going?
II: What God does for us.
III: What are we to do?
IV: Getting Down to Brass Tacks

The scripturally based narrative is clear and direct, beginning with a general discussion of holiness and spirituality. It moves quickly into an exploration of prayer and worship, examining how we can deepen our faith. Lastly, Father Williams provides tangible practical advice including the selection of a spiritual director and development of a spiritual direction program.

Although aimed primarily at beginners, the book is a refreshing reintroduction of spirituality to experienced practitioners. I recommend this book for anyone seeking to grow in relationship to God.

This is the best book I have read on steps to increasing your faith. It is a well written guide to bring you closer to Christ. I would recommend this book to everyone!

This excellent book by Fr. Thomas Williams is written with such clarity and common sense I found it hard to put down. His easy and approachable writing style, his common sense orthodoxy, makes essential reading for anyone looking to deepen their faith with easy to follow practical points for those at all stages in their spiritual growth. His chapter on prayer is particularly outstanding. Buy this book, you won't be disappointed. Rachael Quinn, Dublin, Ireland.

This book is written in real, every day english. Fr. Thomas is great at conveying his message in a way for real people who would like to live their Christian faith more deeply, to grasp. These are big Spiritual concepts that I can understand and live in my life as a Mom.

Thomas D. Williams may be a familiar face to readers, as a consultant on Vatican affairs for NBC News and MSNBC. The book jacket shows an attractive face as well, a fact highlighted in his book's press release, where he's called a "handsome young priest" --- bringing to mind "Father What-a-Waste" from the 1980s humorous bestseller GROWING UP CATHOLIC. Actually in the course of his new book, Williams reveals that he's solidly middle aged, but you might not know this from viewing the book cover or seeing his media spots. Professionally, Williams is dean of theology at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University in Rome --- a school one hopes is as impressive as its long name.

Williams says that SPIRITUAL PROGRESS is "for beginners...in the broadest sense": those newly interested in spiritual growth; those "for whom starting over and over again has become something of a profession"; those who want to return after wandering for years. "In short, it is for anyone willing to take seriously Jesus' words: 'Unless you change and become like little children, you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven.'" By "spiritual progress" or growth, Williams clearly means "Christian growth"; his theological reflection and world view is grounded in biblical exposition.

In the introduction, Williams delineates differences among categories of Christian books: self-help books, books of "devotional reading" and spiritual manuals, explaining that his current book is a spiritual "guidebook" that "helps chart a course" that the reader personally walks. This isn't about sitting in church; it's about loving God and neighbor and becoming Christlike.

As a guidebook, SPIRITUAL PROGRESS is very well organized and easy to follow. Internal chapter outlines lay out, for example, five "characteristics of Christ love"; five "fruits of prayer"; four categories of prayer (in terms of content, not posture); three false notions of humility; three "enemies of holiness"; and two dimensions of God's will. And there seems to be intentionality in the straightforward writing style. This is an author schooled in sound-bite communication. "Remember that the goal of the spiritual life is not personal perfection but love of God and neighbor."

Williams's guidebook of the Christian life is sprinkled with biblical stories and quotes but rarely with anecdotes that give any insight into his personal life in Rome. (He includes a few childhood anecdotes.) He's teaching the reader and leading you through Christianity 101 --- more than entertaining you.

The book's publisher clearly hopes that this Christian primer will be read and used by Protestant readers. And on most counts, the content --- orthodox in tone --- will suit, though many may disagree on his interpretation of the role and meaning of the Sacraments (he discusses three: Baptism, Reconciliation and the Eucharist). He also has included a chapter ("Honor Thy Mother: What Mary Has to Do with the Christian Life") on the role of Mary as role model, as intercessor and as mother of the church. "Isn't Jesus enough?" Williams asks. "Of course he is enough. But this isn't the question." Again, though Protestants may not agree with his biblical interpretation, Williams has done a great job of explaining Marian issues in a way that would address and answer Protestant perplexities (What's this Mary stuff?) and open dialogue across traditions.

The final chapters of the book give a cogent presentation of spiritual direction, including "three main qualities of a good spiritual director" and "ten qualities of a good spiritual program."

If you want 260 pages of basic principles of Christian living, try this book, which you'll recognize by its cover --- the photo of that "handsome young priest."

--- Reviewed by Evelyn Bence

I wish someone had went through this exhortation with me back in my teens or early twenties. This is a must read for every young man and even for middle aged and older men. This is the kinda talk a father would have with a son, and Ryle is very easy to read and understand, yet the wisdom he passes on is crucial and very important for all men. This is a straight forward heart to heart talk about what really matters in life. Thank you J.C. Ryle.

I bought this for my son, I read it first and have greatly enjoyed this read. It is still a message for young men of today. I would highly reccommend.

Great conservative ideas for keeping young men pure. Though written quite awhile ago, the ideas are really timeless.

J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) was the first Bishop of Liverpool (Anglican Church). This book is a short yet passionate plea of a man in the latter years of life who was no doubt qualified to address young men. Page after page one finds that this booklet is full of truths that are no less relevant today than as when they were written more than a hundred years ago.

The books is divided into four sections with a conclusion. In section one, Ryle begins with reasons for his exhorting young men. In section two, he then focuses on five specific dangers which young men to be warned of (e.g. pride, the love of pleasure, the fear of man's opinions, etc.). In section three, he outlines some general suggestions which he entreats young men to receive and then in section four he lays down some practical specific "rules of conduct" which he strongly advises young men to follow. Ryle then concludes with the results of heeding such exhortations as he has laid out.

I read this book on a bus ride to the mall . . . and I'm so grateful that I did. In the preface to the book, J.C. Ryle wrote this:

"I am growing old myself, but there are few things I remember so well as the days of my youth. I have a most distinct recollection of the joys and the sorrows, the hopes and the fears, the temptations and the difficulties, the mistaken judgments and the misplaced affections, the errors and the aspirations, which surround and accompany a young man's life. If I can only say something to keep some young man in the right way, and preserve him from faults and sins, which may mar his prospects both for time and eternity, I shall be very thankful" (p.5).

Well J.C., you did your job with me--thanks. While I know men such as him are not popular nowadays, I cannot do justice to my own conscience if I do not say that his exhortations are more practical and timely than many of today's most popular authors.

The content is five star material. I gave it four stars because the old wording may not appeal to some people.

This is the BOOK..., that will PROVOKE you into the HEALING process. The poem "The Apology" was there when my life was lying at the 'dark door' of depression. It was this POEM that resuscitated 'me', with the desire to hear the voice of GOD..., to walk into the purpose GOD called for my life.

If "YOU'RE" feeling like a VICTIM..., feeling abused or aching from a broken heart......, READ this book !!!

Just what the books states, "A time of healing". To know we can heal and move on with our lives is so important in our survival. This poem in itself was very real for a lot of women. To have two very important words spoken to our soul and our spirit has been not only refreshing to us but also very healing. Yes, it is very important for us to hear the words "I'm sorry" for what has happened to you in your life, in your relationship, it is reassuring to know there someone out there does care how we as "Mothers, Wives, Sisters, Friends" feel not only outward but also inward.

Thank you again my friend,

Beverly

This book touches the root of of the problem. It helps you answer the why's, how's,and remember the when's and where's for the problems and answer you have been saerching for years.
Then it laids an sense of peace in your spirit. Because, I think you cannot completely heal until you get to the source. Some are generation curses. But once we digg those roots, we begin to heal. Omega helps us heal!!!

I anxiously awaited the arrival of my copy of "A Time Of Healing" and I was not disappointed. While reading the book I felt like McCoo was writing my journal, my story, the story of many women & men. I truly enjoyed reading it and could not put it down once I began. I cannot wait to read his next book.

Upon receiving my copy of "A Time of Healing", I read it from cover to cover the very same day. I could not put it down. Every poem in this book touched a part of my past or present and brought tears to my eyes. Not tears of sorrow, but tears of letting go, tears of healing. The emotions surrounding all the poems were so intimately captured- they where very real, very personal, and relevant to many of our experiences. The poetry has appeal for women currently going through good and bad relationships. The emotions expressed are timeless, and I can't imagine that anyone, regardless of their own particular situation, wouldn't be moved or wouldn't be able to relate to the contents. God bless you Omega!! Thank you for being obedient to His will.

The Lee's book re-packages the basic teachings of Eastern Mysticism and conveys them to a modern audience. For instance the authors write about a mass spiritual awakening in which humankind finally comprehends the truth -- that "we are all one." This idea of monism has been around for ...well, a long time. In short, there is very little that is 'new' in the Lee's book.

1. The author refer to an energy called "Ki" which they claim is the natural bridge that connects body, mind, and spirit, and is the perfect tool for allowing people to feel and understand the universe's most profound truth. That 'truth' is the idea that everything is one. This they state is the thing, which allows humanity to go beyond current problems into a higher spiritual plane.

2. And it's here that the ideas stumble. Are you having family problems? Are you having work problems? Are you having health problems? The Lee's claim that you are not. You are rather experiencing an illusion. You aren't seeing things correctly. Everything is one. It's all the same. Good and bad circumstances don't exist - just circumstances.

3. See, the book tries to get people to go beyond the categories of ethics. You can't call rape or murder 'bad', because everything is one. The good is the bad and the bad is the good. If everyone would just understand that, then this world would be a better place.

4. However, this isn't ultimately a very satisfying answer. In fact, it's an answer that asks the person to ignore what they know to be true in their heart; that evil is real, the good is real. The Lee's ask their readers to pretend that all is one and to not 'solve' problems, but to see them as not problems at all. This is escapism - It's running from the problem instead of facing it.

5. The Lees ask why this most simple and important truth gone unheeded. For one, it's a very difficult world to live in. It's hard to believe that justice, mercy, hope, love, and goodness and all illusory.

6. The authors sate that the world is in political, religious, economic, and ecological crises of our own making. We need a mass spiritual awakening, in which billions truly realize that we are One. This would transform our world: children wouldn't starve, women wouldn't be brutalized, and young men wouldn't die in battle. I can't agree with their conclusion. People would still starve, and women would still be brutalized, and people would still die in battle, but nobody would care. Why? Because it's all good, because it's all one.

7. The Lees claim that the purpose of life is really no big deal, although people have generally viewed the question, "Why am I here?" as the ultimate in self-exploration. This is true. If someone truly believes all is one, then my life is no more significant than the lives of the bugs on the bumper of my car. The authors teach that we are here on earth in such and such shape, form, and mind to strive for the completion of our spiritual selves, not only as individuals but as the whole. That 'completion' is a recognition that all is one. We are a drop in the bucket. Far from offering hope, this offers hopelessness, and asks that we accept that and come to terms with it.

This book awakened me to a new concept that is the life of the soul. This book can be a light to human journey in this planet.

This is a follow up book to Grand Master Lee's Best seller book, Healing Society. If you enjoyed the book Healing Society, you're sure to enjoy this book. This book is a must read for those wanting to make a difference, and those who can make a difference. as Dr Lee says, "What we need now is an Earth-encompassing awareness. Loving Earth means that you recognize yourself as a member of the Earth community,". We are all members of Our Earth's community, and it is up to us to protect it.

The time is now for all of us to come forward as one to claim our inheritance of enlightenment. Dr. Lee tells us enlightenment is already ours, we only have to choose it. We need only allow ourself to "deprogram" the old and let in the new information that will heal ourselves, our community, and our society. Dahnhak is one way to activate our choice and learn tools to actualize our inherent enlightenment. This book will bring hope and peace to all.

If you were wondering what you could do to help change the world, then you must read Dr Il chi Lee's new book "The Twelve Enlightenments for Healing Society." Dr Lee's words go straight to the heart and show that with choice, a change in perspective, vision, and action, we can heal society. Give yourself a gift and buy this book, then buy one for someone else. It truly is a gift to the world.

I've had this book for a while now. It is absolutely wonderful! After you read it and stop at the points that it says to stop and read certain books of the New Testament, you will have a radically changed view of the NT and the early church. This book is a must have addition for anyone currently interested in organic church life. I've bought two copies of it: one for me and one for my step-mom.

Viola's epic volume "The Untold Story of the New Testament Church" is absolutely the best little guide to understanding the order of events in the life of the first-century ekklesia!

Viola relies on the scholarship of F.F. Bruce, Donald Guthrie, and A.T. Robinson for the dating of the books. He wonderfully weaves together the book of Acts with the Epistles to create one amazing story. Viola follows the story of the church according to Acts and successfully places the epistles in their historical-cultural context. Enabling the reader to better apply the Scriptures to their life.

The New Testament comes alive in movie form as Viola uses some of the best N.T. scholarship to reassemble the entire story of the church as it happened in the beginning! I found that this book was able to give me deep insight into the lives and the circumstances behind the writings of the letters of the Apostles.

Viola helps the reader along with his use of maps and background information on people and places. His book is easy to read. You follow his graphic retelling of Acts and stop to read an epistle at every point in time the book was believed to have been written. His book is fluid and he makes little to no assumptions about the chronology of the events.
(I strongly recommend you read a contemporary translation like the NLT or the Message when following along in the N.T. in order that you might receive a fresh glimspse into the motivation and passion behind the letters. We tend to only see what we've always seen when we read from the same translation.)

I connected with Paul's trials and tribulations in ways I never had before. Many times I had to stop reading just to reflect on the sufferings of Paul and ask myself if I could have endured what he endured.
From the conflict and turmoil of the immature and immoral at Corinth... to the Judaizers and "super apostles" who opposed Paul at every turn... you will not want to stop reading until the story is complete.

However, as Viola points out, the story is not complete. The Bride of Christ is still in a battle bewteen good and evil. The story of the early church is a reminder of the trials that are inevitable for the Christian. Yet... the Bride will endure and will persevere unto the end. This is not a fairy tale or an ancient bedtime story for the religious. It is the ongoing story of the New Testament church. It is our story!

I also want to recommend:

Going to the Root: Nine Proposals for Radical Church Renewal
The Centrality of Jesus Christ (Works of T. Austin-Sparks)
Rethinking The Wineskin: The Practice of the New Testament Church
Pagan Christianity: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices
Paul's Idea of Community: The Early House Churches in Their Cultural Setting, Revised Edition


NOTE: Viola includes Paul's brief trip to Spain. There is little evidence for this and it is certainly a debatable claim among scholars. Some scholars believe that Paul was never released from Rome for a fourth apostolic journey and the letters to Timothy and Titus were written during his initial house arrest in Rome before his death under the reign of Nero.

This book is great, he explains the story of the New Testament in order. Some of it is made up from "Mirror Reading" and extra Biblical history, so don't expect absolute truth. But it will open your eyes to some interesting things that were hidden for you all along.

Frank Viola has, for a long time, studied the modern church. He has written a number of books on church renewal and reform. He is passionate about returning to the methods of the early church and its effectiveness. In The Untold Story of the New Testament Church, Viola has "straightened out" the New Testament, by placing the NT books in chronological order following the events of the book of Acts.

This is a fantastic book. If you really want to understand the New Testament, you can glean bits of information from a sermon here, a convention there, or get it all mixed up by watching a movie (normally not concerned with accuracy as much as drama). But you can save yourself time and frustration by reading this well-written, engaging, and often fascinating book.

This last year I have been exploring the Hebrew roots of Christianity, reading somewhere between 75 - 100 books. (Such books as Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith, New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus: Insights from His Jewish Context and Yeshua: A Guide to the Real Jesus and the Original Church, excel, filled thoroughly with information on their specific topics.) But even after so much reading, I've highlighted nearly every page of this book! The interplay with society and history, and the original meaning and progression of the New Testament letters is thought-provoking and motivating.

This book's clear, enlightening manner will answer questions you've had since becoming born-again (for me that's 29 years). More importantly, it will help correct thinking you were sure you were right about.

For your personal study and understanding, I recommend this book right up there with getting a Concordance!

Pastors, Bible Study leaders, Youth group leaders - prevent misunderstandings of the New Testament from taking root early, or help your students uproot wrong ideas. Though this is not a text book (and the writing is fluid and accomodating) it could easily be used as one. Get this book. See for yourself that it is a crucial addition to your ministry material.

A quote from Isaiah sums this book up the best. "If you go the wrong way - to the right or to the left - you will hear a voice behind you saying. 'This is the right way. You should go this way.'" Isaiah 30:21

Integrity and Character are two of the milestones you will pass as you follow McManus' journey through "The Gauntlet". In this age of immediate gratification, McManus reminds us that our faith takes time. One of the biggest takeaways I got from the book, was how we view poverty and sufferring. Character and Integrity are forged in the furnace of suffering and trial. Yet it is not our suffering and trials that define us, it is that which is forged from them.

I recommend this book highly.

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.

"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.

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

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!

What is Reformed Theology? That really is a deep, honest question that has been lost in the majority report of evangelicals of the western world. While Sproul deals with the basics of Calvin's teachings, he also helps the reader see how the Reformed Theology flows from within the Scripture to form a matrix by which we read each book, each verse, each doctrine, and each truth of Scripture. An excellent introduction (and should be used alongside R. C. Sproul's DVD series by the same title). Sproul and others have helped us see past the titles of Arminian, Pelagian, Calvinism, et al and begin to see the golden threads of biblical understanding that have been a part of Christian instruction since the time of Augustine. Definitely a volume to devour several times. Each reading unveils more and more of the profound truth of doctrines that liberated the church in the early 16th Century. Get it and use it!

In simple words, this is a wonderful book. It will serve to straighten out a lot of mixed up Christians who, through little fault of their own, wind up with a disjointed view of Scripture and a serious misunderstanding of their own salvation, because they don't have a foundation in the fundamentals of Biblical doctrine.

This book teaches orthodoxy as clearly and eloquently as I've ever read it or heard it preached. It's fair to say that the language is crafted, since Sproul has taught the subject in seminary for decades, and is completly familiar with the topic. His arguments are logical and well organized; they flow from premise to conclusion with such clarity that a novice can grasp the argument the first time through.

This book makes my short list of must haves, both for it's impact and concise delivery in only 216 pages. Actually, its a masterpiece because it delivers exactly what its title advertises. If you have struggled to understand the Bible and the Gospel message, and just can't put the pieces together for an effective witness, step back, turn the T.V. ministry off, put aside the half baked theology of easy believism and man centered gospels, and return to the truths the Reformers burned at the stake to re-establish.

A great book for those who wants to deepens in theology. This book is a must to any serious Bible student. With an easy to understand style, Dr Sproul explains the roots of Reformed Theology and its implications to christians of all times.

Dr Sproul is gifted with making the deeper truths of Scripture understandable. This book is an example of that.

I found myself reading it three times because it affected me profoundly.

At first, this book is a "high level" overview of Reformed Theology (as it is distinguished from broad evangelicalism and Roman Catholicism especially and explains what doctrines are held in common, as well).

While Reformed theology is composed of "the five points of Calvinism" and covenant theology as a framework, it is more than that, including a starting point doctrine of God that is controlling and related to every other doctrine.

Along the way, the book deals with some of the profound truths of Scripture such as how Jesus can be both man and God in an easy-to-read format. It conveys a sense of history with such events as the Council of Nicea in which the broader Church established these doctrines. It took a couple read-throughs to digest these and now has greatly helped my understanding of them.

Not only is this book a good overview with good substantive explanation of key points but it useful as a reference text or as text for a Sunday school class.

This book has the quality and information of many books all wrapped up in one. Absolutely outstanding.

Being a non-Reformed person, I have always wanted a clear explanation of the Reformed viewpoint without a lot of the theological jargon. I found it in this wonderful book by R.C. Sproul. He explains the foundations of Reformed theology and the 5 Points of Reformed Theology.

The chapters in this book are as follows:

Part 1 Foundations of Reformed Theology

1 Centered on God
2 Based on God's Word Alone
3 Committed to Faith Alone
4 Devoted to the Prophet, Priest and King
5 Nicknamed Covenant Theology

Part 2 5 Points of Reformed Theology

6 Humanity's Radical Corruption
7 God's Sovereign Choice
8 Christ's Purposeful Atonement
9 The Spirit's Effective Call
10 God's Preservation of the Saints

R.C. Sproul explains with very clear text and helpful charts all the essentials of Reformed theology -- TULIP, covenant theology, God's Sovereignty, Limited Atonement, etc. This helped me so much to get a good overview and understanding of the essentials of Reformed Theology. Highly recommended!!

Truely amazing. Mr Hotchkiss brushes aside all the veils of conventional thought and behavior. Life is. How we choose to experience it is up to us. A kinder, immediately real way to live.

Burt has written a remarkable little book, easily accessible, clear and to the point. As a psychologist, I have sold over thirty-five copies to clients and have given away many copies to my friends. When people begin to apply these principles, then life starts to flow with ease and much happiness. This book could put me out of business!

Burt has written a remarkable little book, easily accessible, clear and to the point. As a psychologist, I have sold over thirty-five copies to clients and have given away many copies to my friends. When people begin to apply these principles, then life starts to flow with ease and much happiness. This book could put me out of business!

The book has a subtle but very serious flaw. The author writes the manual as if he has the true answers to life's basic questions while reminding us several times in the book that "nobody can possibly know the truth." Well, then, how can the author claim to know what he is talking about? He simply contradicts himself at the most basic level of thinking.

In fact, the statement "Nobody can possibly know the Truth" is a paradox in itself! If the statement is true, then it contradicts itself (for how do YOU KNOW that nobody knows?), hence the statement must be false!

This is not just a play on words. How can the author so matter-of-factly tell you all of these owner's-manual-truths... and then keep saying that nobody can know the truth?

The book is a good read and it has many good points to contemplate. But make sure you continue to trust your own instinct for "the truth" and keep in mind that the basic premise (the foundation of the book) is based on a paradox!

Time for a tuneup? Are you being considered for a recall? It is a great gift to finally know that we were not given an owners manual at birth so most of us either wrote our own or else bought the one given us by society. This Owners Manual makes it clear that we are the chooser and that we are responsible for what we make of our life. Truly, we will see it when we believe it. We are able to choose once again and to choose a life based on life enhancing decisions. WOW.

This book is quite interesting. It takes the wisdom from many different religions, though it definitely has a very Eastern bent. His writing reminds somewhat of Alan Cohen. Well, that makes sense since they believe in similar things and they both come from a Jewish background.
I feel relaxed reading this book as I did with Cohen's work. I would definitely recommend this. I would also recommend Eckhart Tolle's book called "Stillness". I like it better than the "Power of Now".

Dean Sluyter writes, "On our journey through life, we think of, say, stopping for gas or going to the bathroom as time out from the main event, from our "real" activities. We think of the time we spend walking down the corridor from Office A to Office B as intermission, dead time, mere connective tissue. But there is no intermission. The show never stops.Every moment is the only moment." Living mindfully each moment is one of the Zen commandments that Sluyter artfully teaches in this wonderful book that you will likely read more than once.
The nine other commandments express Zen essence in an earthy way. This does not have the feel of religion, dogmatism, or preaching. It's more like a friend telling you what he learned in his travels that just might change your way of experiencing the world. The author has taught meditation for over thirty years. I feel certain that he is an excellent teacher. Quoting diverse sources such as Miles Davis, Thoreau, Bill Clinton, and Euripides, Sluyter keeps us on our toes with the wisdom coming from North, West, East, and South. This has taken its place as one of my favorite books.

No, you don't need to give up the religion you grew up with to embrace the thoughts and perspectives this excellent book contains. The author teaches the lessons in an accessible way and leads you on a path to inner freedom and contentment. Its a quick read but you may find yourself reading again and again.

this is a sweet and thoughtful book...
skillfully and beautifully written...
it certainly gets to the heart of the matter...
just the reading of it provides peace...
thank you, mr. sluyter...

This book will open your eyes to a wonderful new way to approach Zen and how you can actually apply it to everyday life even if you are down in the trenches just putting one foot in front of the other. I loved reading it, laughed frequently and was sorry when I finished.