Spirituality Books

The Tiny Warrior is a collection of timeless messages that apply to business, personal life, and all people young and old. Look out Covey and Ziglar, D.J. "Eagle Bear" Vanas is a rising star that will inspire you in a whole new way. Vanas will open your eyes, challenge you to achieve your goals, and lead you to the path of a more effective life.

Everyone Can Learn the Secrets to Become a Warrior in their Everyday Lives!
Whether you're a corporate executive or a struggling student, heading in the right direction or languishing in what feels like a dead-end situation, The Tiny Warrior is a must read. Vanas has written a simple tale rich with inspiration and rooted in the Native American story-telling tradition. You'll find priceless gems of hope and motivation on every page!!

I have read and listened to many, many "motivational" authors and speakers. Not until reading The Tiny Warrior did I find the ultimate in inspiring and motivational guidance. Vanas has the rare skill of packing large messages into few words. Skilfully written, this book appeals to all ages from 7 to 70 and is a "must read" for anyone striving to realize their full potential.

This book is amazing!!! As a Sale VP responsible for the performance of a national sales team, I've read many books on motivation, leadership and sales success. This book is the best yet. It is concise, to the point, and an easy read for the busiest sales executive. It delivers a knock-out punch that grabs the soul and draws on the inner strength to succeed. It is formatted in a manner that can be quickly referenced, making it a great self-motivation tool. This is the perfect book to hand-out to every member of your sales team.

If you think you've read "all those inspirational books" before, then you haven't read this one. D.J. Vanas has crafted a tight and illuminating book that is guaranteed to make you see your life in a new way. Engaging, reflective, and often humorous in humble way, The Tiny Warrior condenses an amazing amount of wisdom into less than 100 pages. I spent more time pausing to consider what I had just read than I did actually reading it - and that's the way it should be.

Reviewed by Elizabeth E. Gibson-Evans for RebeccasReads (5/08)

The theme of this book, "Trust in the Lord," by Deen Kemsley, is the journey to know Christ; it is the journey to know the deepest, best element of ourselves. If we embrace this divine element within us by genuinely believing in Christ, we experience the wonder of being born of God, and we discover that Christ's power to heal is deeper than our deepest pain.

As Christ transforms us, He instills in us the genuine concern for others and the desire to serve and sacrifice without regard for worldly praise or reward. If Christ were merely an effective teacher, He couldn't evoke such enduring praise -- this is a witness of the literal Son of God.

We may not always receive specific answers to the questions we pose, but if we listen carefully we will receive a deeper answer -- Christ is in the Eternity overhead; Christ is in the eyes and faces of our young children; Christ is in the tears and joy of these whom He transforms; and Christ is deep within our hearts. "God is there, He hears our prayers, and He loves us."

Often it's in the common bond of Christ that we most clearly perceive our common eternal inheritance. "As we step out of the mire and temptations of this world and begin to ascend the mount of the Lord unto the tabernacle of Eternity that is within our hearts, we will find the true Holy of Holies -- Jesus Christ Himself. No matter how far we may have strayed from Him over time. We will learn He has always been there on the look out waiting for us to return.

"Trust in the Lord" takes you through a true spiritual journey of what it means to truly depend on the Lord our Savior as He Himself trusted in His own Holy Father during His walk as one of us. You learn the way to handle loneliness. Discover answers to the many tough questions we all have or have had. But, most importantly you learn true faith and that no matter what "He hears us and He loves us!"

One of the first things I noticed about Deen Kemsley's Trust in the Lord is that I had initially misread the subtitle. Having mistakenly misread it as "Reflections on Jesus Christ", I was startled to find it actually read "Reflections of Jesus Christ". The distinction is not a minor one. In Kemsley's own spiritual sojourn, Christ is not just an abstract idea to be reflected upon but an active force in our lives that is reflected in the wonder of everyday things. The beauty of nature, the laugh of a child, the kind act of a stranger, all in some way reflect the love of Christ to a fallen world and give light to lead us back to Him.

Meditating upon the joys and disappointments of his own life, Kemsley points to the subtle ways in which God moves in all our lives that are often only noticed in retrospect. While there may not be an empirical demonstration of God's existence that would satisfy the doubts of skeptics, this is less a reason to abandon God than a reason to understand the limitations of our methodologies. God may not answer prayer in a loud roar nor the way we want but He does hear and He does answer. Moreover, He does love us.

The meditations cotained in Trust in the Lord are rich and one may find wisdon in reapeated readings that did not seem apparent at first glance. In this beautifully written and faith-filled little book we do indeed see the love of Christ reflected.

If you have even small doubts about the reality of a living Savior that knows you, loves you, and is aware of you, this book was written for you. It's a book that will most likely change your life. I am half way through my second reading and I feel like a new person. The book doesn't tell me how to run my life, but because of this book I can feel my Savior's direction. He really does care about me and my life. Thank you, Deen Kemsley, for sharing this important message. This is a book for everyone.
-Ardent Reader

Deen Kemsley's writing resonates with uplifting encouragement, inspiring challenge, and amazing insight in is new book "Trust in the Lord." He captures the heart of Christ's own thoughts as he reflects and shares intimate experiences of his own spiritual journey.

Kemsley invites the reader to recognize the Savior at the cross to receive a fresh vision of who Jesus is. He draws from his own experiences and those of others as he speaks about the underlying foundation of the Christian faith as the undeserved, limitless miracle of the love of God demonstrated on the Cross of Calvary. He shows how this love produces joy in circumstances of tribulation, suffering, and persecution. These poignant illustrations draw the reader into an eager search for a fresh encounter with the Lord Jesus.

I experienced a personal call to revival, to recognize my own helplessness without the hope redemption provided through the cross. I am eager to sense the enrichment of God's presence in my life as he works to produce wholeness.

"Trust in the Lord" is for those hungry to contemplate and reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus and His great love, to see fullness replace emptiness and harmony replace loneliness. The book offers the readers freshness in purity as motivation for their actions in their search to fulfill their deepest, truest potential.

Professor Kemsley's personal stories bring to life eternal truths in this book. I found that I could relate to several of his stories making it much more enjoyable. This book truly brings one closer to Christ.

What started as the personal journey of one man to answer some of the mysteries of life turns out to be a discovery of universal truths that are common to all. The spiritual growth of mankind is at critical point as current events (9/11/01) unfold and the more we all understand how similar our journeys are if we are able to make the connection of rocks to clouds. A truly enriching book for people of all backgrounds and interests.

This is an excellent book, not only for people who are looking for answers, but for people who believe they have them. It offers insight into the minds of some of the great thinkers of our time, but more importantly, it offers a glimpse of the importance of seeking : to find things for which we didn't even know we were seeking.

The author, William Elliot is someone you might know, the boy living next door, who went away to the University, whose parents died when he was young, someone who was raised by loving parents, that is, until they died when he was a teen. He keeps alive the values and love his parents showed him but he is searching for something. He is looking for meaning - meaning to their death and his loss. He was a psychology major at the University of Wisconsin when he conceived of interviewing the "wise and spiritual" people who are alive today. His method was deceptively simple ... he sought answers to 25 - 30 questions that might unlock the secrets to his dilemma. Questions such as, "What is the meaning or purpose of life?" "Do you believe in G-d or Ulitmate Reality?" "Why is there suffering, evil in the world? and What is its cause?" "What is important to you?" "What are the three most important problems in life?" He was dissuaded from pursuing this endeavor, to write a book about his conversation with the "wise and spiritual" people whom he interviewed. He overcame challenges and obstacles to interview the people on his list, all the while holding firmly to his goal. He met and interviewed: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Ram Dass, Norman Vincent Peale, Robert Schuller, Jean Houston, Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Rabbi Harold Kushner, psychologist Albert Ellis, psychologist B.F. Skinner, Pir Vilayat Khan, Frances Vaughn, Stephen Levine and even Mother Theresa. He interviewed a total of 21 high-profile persons deemed 'wise and spiritual' by modern standards. The author does not interpret the answers for us, instead he writes out the answers given to him by each person interviewed. In some cases, he writes an introduction prior to the interview, letting the reader know how he managed to get an appointment or interview with the "important" person or else he describes some interesting event or circumstance concerning the interview. He seldom makes a judgement about the person or what they said ... his writing style is matter-of-fact and straight forward. This style of writing makes the book a valuable and worthwile reading experience. It is as if, you, yourself, decided what questions to ask and took the time to write out the answers, sometimes, in utter amazement, that you snagged the interview with his or her eminence ... The author also made a trek to Nepal to meditate and visit one of the most spiritual climates and areas of the world. We learn of his experiences and interactions with people he met there. This book is recommended for anyone who has any interest in spirituality or has read any book by the persons whom the author interviewed. It can be said the author found the truth which he was seeking ... Erika Borsos (erikab93)

This book took the author a long time to finish and just the project itself is an inspiration. The resulting product is a wonderful heart warming book. I got this book from the library and in the end had to buy it. You should too.

I used this book for a study session with 10 other people (common everyday Christians). Most felt that the language was a little bit above their understanding, and many had to really "work" at trying to understand what was being said. Over all I thought that the book gave a very good overview of perspectives that most Christians don't want to engage. Elliott was interesting, and I think that the average person would get lost in most of the interviews because of the language barriers if they weren't familiar with many terms and different religions and or spiritual sources used in this book. It was a little long and I am not sure if anything was resolved, but, we never though we would find the answer in this book. I just hope Mr. Elliott grew from and through it.

Like many people, I have often felt "stuck" in ego, with its painful patterns of reactivity. I still feel this way, but now with a significant difference. The following excerpt had a strange effect on me, as if without knowing it I'd always had a pair of eyes inside me that remained closed. When I read these words, the eyes opened. "The ego is not your enemy, it's a dedicated general in what it perceives to be the battle called life...You could say that the ego is the screenwriter, director, producer, and star in the movie called Life, but none of it has anything to do with you. When you step out of the film into the clear light of reality...the love that you are ultimately embraces the ego as a devoted servant that has mistakenly assumed the role of master. In reality, it's just a function or mechanism without any substantial or abiding reality." While I've read many books, this is the first amazon review I've written, as I feel this book stands out in the sometimes confusing spiritual marketplace of today. To me, it's worth its weight in gold.

A rather dry and somewhat boring expose' on non-dualism self inquiry. I've read much more informative, interesting, and entertaining books written by Adyashanti, Gangaji, and Katie Byron. On a scale of 1 to 10 I'd give it 5 at best.

This is an excellent book in that it includes a clear discussion of what awakening (enlightenment) is and the approaches that can be tried for awakening. Much of this is about Advaita Vedanta. Bodian also discusses what can happen after awakening and the characteristics of an awakened person. I'm not "awakened," but it is helpful to know what might happen if I were. The list of recommended books at the end of this book is good. I am puzzled that Bodian didn't include some of this material in his book Meditation for Dummies. He says that using the Advaita approach is what allowed his awakening after he gave up on other forms of meditation. He also says that the meditation that results from the Advaita approach is the only true mediation.

Stephan Bodian's new book is a significant addition to the literature of enlightentment, awakening and nondualism. The teachings found here come directly from an awakened heart and mind. Stephan has walked the walk. It is a book full of insights and wisdom gleemed from lifteme devoted to waking up. However, Stephan's teachings are not coming from someone who is "stuck in the Absolute." He recognizes the oneness of Absolute and relative truths. He knows both the uselfulness and the limitations of writing about the Truth. He offers a direct approach to waking up, as well as "practices" for "doing" something. He writes with clarity and simplicity but this is not a simple book. Nor is it a book for someone looking for a easy answers and comforting "truths." But if you are looking for authenitc teachings on nondualism from an a wise and compassionate teacher, this is a book for you. Thank You Stephan!

From soup to nuts, Stephan serves up a gourmet feast on awakening. This book is as practical as it is profound, and is just as meaningful for someone just beginning to question what life is all about to dealing with what happens after one awakens. The section on exploring the difference between progressive paths and and a path of being helped me to see why, I had experienced so many years of suffering on the pillow, and in spiritual community. My experience from reading Stephan's book was as if someone had lifted a hundred pound weight off of me, as I felt what I had been doing in the name of spirituality for so many years. I had unconsciously begun with the belief that if I fixed my personality, did spiritual practices and rituals for hours a day, lived a life of service maybe this life I might progress to be a bit more enlightened. Stephan's book showed me that there is ultimately no I to enlighten...we just don't know it. When I live as if an I is real, there is great potential for suffering. Wake up Now gave me wonderful invitations to explore the nature behind all the "I" business. I found Stephan's warnings to be true. Reading Wake Up Now can cause you to be forever changed, more and more moments of not knowing and spontenaity, and less and less identification with an ego, who's very existance is challenged. What is this that is reading this review anyway?

Reinhold Ziegler (synergyca@earthlink.net), A reviewer, February 9, 2005,

To all the kids that grew up in 50's and 60's...To those who were told by their parents and teachers that they had more opportunities available to them than any other generation in history...To the Kennedy generation that was asked what they could do for their country and not what their country could do for them...To the idealists who took these statements seriously and marched in the streets for civil rights...To the Vietnam veterans who fought in a foreign land and gave their life for democracy and freedom...To all those who felt that we had been betrayed by the adults...Walking the Midway in Purgatory is your story. It is a remarkable journey and it will draw you into the heart of the action. This journal makes you realize that you are a witness and a participant of the times that you live in, that life in America is not just a wiennie-roast or a spectator sport. As Mr. Masesso's first book it is a five star performer and a probable screen play. I look forward to other writings from this author.

Admittedly there were parts I had to think about ...

It is a reminiscence of a lifes journey with a by play of events that are part of History.

I was also there for the turning of events.
The reflections brought to me a reminder of the visions that could have been.

Now again I have been caused to weep.

This is a journal style story about social events and personal experiences during the sixties. True to the sixties the messages are timeless and apply today. The author's style is direct with enough sensitivity to allow easy ruminating. The author's discriptions gives one the feeling of being there. This book is entertaining and educational. A text book for anyone curious about the sixties and the people that came from everywhere to the Bay Area. I am giving this book to my kids ages 35, 30, 16 and 12. Every page contains moral and metaphysical questions presented in a unique way that demand thought, discussion and answer.

This is a new voice regarding the generation born in the 1940's.
The author is at times angry, sad, often funny and writes some meaningful poems that make you feel and think. It is an easy and quick read, but its better to muse over the thinking behind the words. A good book if you like to stay current with world events and their effect on individuals.

The premise of Masesso's tome is the fact of this similarity. His theorem is that we can unravel today's confusing world affairs and America's participation by looking to the 1960's, the decade that was murdered in its sleep, for our redemption. The sneak attack on Pearl Harbor looks a lot like the sneak attack on the Twin Towers, the horror of 911. The World War that raged for four years afterwards, the bloodiest and most destructive in history, looks a lot like the open-ended War on Terror. The Second World War influenced the work of Norman Mailer, Jack Kerouac, J.D. Salinger and others, profoundly effecting 20th century literature. Masesso thinks that a new generation of thinkers and writers will emerge to take us in a new direction as a result of our new obscene conflict. With his personal, social and political examination of America both then and now he has staked his claim as one of those voices hoping to lead us out of the wilderness.

I wish I had found this book when I first developed an interest in Buddhism at 18, and gave right up because I thought meditation was simply too hard.

This book will show you exactly how to start to quiet your mind from the first moment, and the stories, real letters from real prisoners and the joy they find in the most inhuman environments you can imagine, will have you weeping.


I wish I could buy this book for every one I know.

One love,

Sean

Reading the correspondence from prisoners working to pursue meditation and yoga in their search for peace just knocked me out. We think in our ordinary (free) lives that we struggle with our spiritual paths, and in theory it might be the same work, but the inspiration from these stories puts a whole new perspective on the seeking. An excellent, touching, sincere and fascinating book.

I thought that this book would be interesting and informative, but was was much better than I expected. It not only answered all of my questions and gave wonderfully clear instructions for the practices, but I actually had several "Ah Ha!" moments while reading it. I rate this book as one of the most important books that I have read in years.

I saw a t.v show on the prison ashram project and decided to check out one of bo's books. The first 2 chapters are very short but full of great information even though they are your run of the mill dime store wisdom found in many places. If you're just getting started then you really don't need any further teachings other than what is here. If you've been goofing around for a while then the third chapter is just great for the questions and answers and honest dialog. There isn't any preaching ... just simple, to the point answers to many questions that plague the average meditator. A great book, thoughtful read and a happy purchase.

Bo Lozoff is the director of the "Human Kindess Foundation" and his writings, workships, and tapes have helped countless numbers of men and women to deal with the limiting effects of selfishness, fear, anger, and addiction --as well as incarceration where the barriers are ones of cold steel bars and high cement walls. He has now distilled his observations and insights in We're All Doing Time: A Guide For Getting Free, with a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We're All Doing Time spells out the philosophy of the Prison-Ashram Project, which strives to give spiritual community and help, without mandating specific religious dogma, to those suffering in prisons. Others work to reform prison systems, and the author commends them highly; but until great changes can be wrought for the better, the philosophies in We're All Doing Time are meant to make prison physical and spiritual life more bearable. Black-and-white photographs and true stories of individuals and inmates searching for peace and meaning in their lives make We're All Doing Time a singularly profound spiritual testimony.

Why Struggle? Life is too short to wear tight shoes, so true! As we go through our daily routine of life we must stop and ask the question WHY STRUGGLE! Barbara J. Faison has captured some of life's reason as to why we shouldn't struggle because we all should be grateful for each day GOD gives us! As a daily affirmation to yourself, I employ you to get and read WHY STRUGGLE? We don't have to struggle if we take that much needed step and excerise our minds, our hearts and our souls to become a better you....a healthier you.... a total you! Barbara, Why Struggle? is truly a blessing and we need more inspirationals and daily affirmations such as this one! If you are ever in doubt that you can't make it just pick up WHY STRUGGLE? and realize that you really don't have too STRUGGLE! Wishing the best in all that you do Barbara J. Faison. May God continue to BLESS YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY'S END!

In Why Struggle?: Life Is Too Short To Wear Tight Shoes, Barbara Faison encourages her reader to accept their lives for the unpredictable journeys they are, to slow down, to watch a child, and to create an adventure of their own. Faison's insightful suggestions are food for thought to nourish the spirit and call our attention to life as a celebration. Why Struggle? is a "reader friendly" and highly recommended compendium of words of wisdom on self-discovery, acceptance, forgiveness, and other principles essential to leading a successful, rewarding, balanced life.

I met her and felt the warmth. The entire time I was reading this little book, I just kept saying, she's right! If you don't believe that you have it in you to be happy, buy this book.

I heard her speak and bought her book. She lives what she has written. Barbara has captured in a simple and straight forward manner, the how to "BE" your own person. This book is a quick read, but once read, it becomes a constant source for those "..tight shoes moments" we all have. I keep my copy on my desk and when I feel hassled or stressed out. I open my book and have a reality check with Barbara's "right on target" comments. After that, I do one of Barbara's thinking and action exercises. I find my attitude shifts back to "being Me" and I get right out of those "tight shoes." Barbara, thanks for your help. When's your next book coming out?

An extremely short read that packs a lot of punch. Why Struggle is a book that is small enough to keep in your purse or back pocket and carry around each and every day. The text is easy to read and easy to comprehend and forces you to take a critical look at yourself in bite sized pieces. Ms. Faison touches upon the most important parts of the human psyche: To Live, To Love, To Learn, To Grow and To Share. Each page has an exercise to perform that helps the reader reach further into themselves to discover more about what makes them a better person in society.
There were several "ah ha" moments in this books for me, things that I just hadn't thought about in that way the information is presented. Naturally curious as I am, this only makes me want to share this book with friends. I liken the discovery of the action filled book with a beautifully wrapped present that one can't wait to open. An Example that I found to be pertinent to my life is the affirmation "I speak with power and Purpose". Sometimes its necessary to be quiet. To quote from this book: There are many times no response is required. Be cautious with your words and save your comments for those who will value what you say. The exercise: Give your next conversation your undivided attention. Turn your body to the person, look them in the eyes and open your ears to their words. Pause for 3 seconds before responding. If a response in not required, say nothing. For a person who is always eager to share an opinion, whether solicited or not, this is pertinent to my life and something that I will carry forth with me. This book is filled with epitaphs that are compact enough to be retained indefinitely.
Take this book with you, in your mind or on your physical person, you can't go wrong with it. A perfect gift for those in your circle of friends.

I was given this book by a friend. I found it to be the most helpful of all books in my library when it came to introducing initiates to Wicca. I have made this book a preliminary requirement before I begin teaching anything because of it's easy reading style and brief tactfulness. It covers many of the basics of the craft and is excellent for beginners. I wish I had come across it sooner in my journeys.

Faced, today, with such a proliferation of books promising to Impart The Secrets Of The Craft, choosing who to listen to can be daunting, even impossible. Yet the aspiring Witch is unlikely to have a seasoned practitioner in easy reach from whom to seek advice; most of us have little option but to rely on books, at least to begin with.

In light of this, you can do a great deal worse than pick up a copy of Moorey's book, if you can find it. This remains one of the best short introductions to Witchcraft (and, to an extent, to many of the concepts of modern Paganism, too) out there: clearly-written, non-nonsense, filled with practical advice on how to celebrate and live your beliefs - rather than sitting around with a pentagram and a few joss sticks, feeling faintly cheated. For the poetically-challenged of us, there are also nicely-expressed suggested verses for sabbats and esbats.

At every stage it is practical, helpful, and (hurrah!) largely non-fluffy. Recommended.

Although it's been awhile since I've read this book (my brother owns it,) I remember what a great little book it was.

I really enjoyed the sections on The God and Goddess and Witches and Sexuality. This was one of the first books I ever read on Witchcraft. I also recommmend Living Wicca by Scott Cunningham in addition to this book.

I am going to buy myself a copy soon.

Update: Feb. 25/03
I borrowed this book from my brother and am reading it again and have been noticing quite a few things that I'm not sure are correct. Things such as Witchcraft being a religion (I'm still not sure of my take on that) and she calls what I know of as the Wiccan rede as the Witches Creed but not all Witches follow it. She says that Satanists worship the devil (which they don't) and when talking about the Burning Times, does not mention that most of the people who died weren't actually witches, and I am only at Chapter 2!

an excellent beginners book for anybody with a curious interest in witchcraft, easy to read easy to follow and digest

Of the many introductory books I've read on Witchcraft, this one is short, sweet, and to the point. Moorey packs a lot of quality information into a small book. I would recommend this book for someone wanting a good overview of the Craft, and looking for a starting out point for further exploration.

I really enjoyed this book. As a female I couldnt relate to everything in this book, but there were many situations I felt kin to. He doesnt sugar coat the problems in his life, or pretend his change to Christianity was over night.
I would buy a copy for the male friends in my life to read, only I dont want him to think this man is correct on the topic of submission. For example he says his wife's friends would call to make sure she was cooking for her man. Maybe this worked for their relationship, however, I do not feel God has this outlined as a role for all women in marriage. Some of us are very successful in business and other avenues, we work more then our men or have men who enjoy cooking for us/shared responsibilities. He non-intentionally he belittles women, not his wife or other believers that live up to his standard, but every other woman out there. In his opinion all men in the game want is sex, and all women fall for men through this same avenue.
In the same respect, I think he is just ignorant to it; he handles homosexuality in an awesome and loving way. I found this to be right on!
I also liked the way he discussed his troubles in giving up smoking weed, this is a major topic for most people I know who become believers. I would recommend this book depsite its downfalls it is great for new Christians, especially young men who love hip hop as it is parallelled throughout the book.

I can't top what has already been said about this awesome book! It inspired me, challenged me...I could not put it down. I will be buying more copies for friends. I thank the Lord for Mykel (and Sheeri.) They have the amazing ability to be so passionate for Christ yet real and humble in their walk. Hey, I would love for them to write a book on parenting! They have great insight....Blessings Mykel and Sheeri!

It's about time!

Over the years there has been a brewing desperatation for someone in the hip-hop generation to stand up and be a voice for others who hunger and thirst after a relationship with God. Mykel Mitchell is that voice. He says what many people are thinking and simply cannot articulate. He helps his readers understand that you are more cool being a Christian than not. No pun intended.

I love his expertise on the hip-hop culture. I love the fact that although there was a huge transformation in his life, he didn't lose himself, because the reality is, the Lord can use all of us. Hmph! Look at Paul.

This book needs to be in EVERY household, recording studio, beauty salon, barber shop, prison, school, group home and the like. It is a must-have! It will inevitably cause people to feel uncomfortable, and that is okay. When that happens, just know that is the Holy Spirit at work and don't try to blame the writer.

Lives will be transformed.

This book is a blessig for anyone who wants to know how GOD sees the hearts of this generation. The message of this work,could not have the impact it does ,without the ispiration of GOD. Thank you Mykel Mitchell for being obdient in completing this testament .

What keeps young people away from the church? What can be done to draw them in? Why would young people want to go to church anyway? These are but a few of the questions Mykel Mitchell addresses in his book WORD: For Everybody Who Thought Christianity Was for Suckas. Using his own life as an example, he shares his experiences in a vivid and honest manner.

He begins by explaining why he was turned off by churches and religion and then candidly explains the sense of despair and lack of fulfillment that led him to give it another try. He reflects on how his professional success, material goods and hip-hop lifestyle were not enough to provide a true sense of fulfillment. He reminisces about his journey back to Christianity and the struggles he encountered while trying to be not only a better Christian, but a better man. From there he goes on to discuss various issues such as sex, money, marriage, and forgiveness, all from the Christian perspective. Most importantly he notes, that while he has changed in many respects, he hasn't rejected his hip-hop style.


I can't express what a gem this book is. It is great for churches trying to build or enhance youth ministries because it highlights some of the reasons why some young people are difficult to engage. The book uses everyday language and hip-hop slang to explain some of the basic tenants of Christianity. As a result, it is a book young people can enjoy and relate to. This can be used to expose non-Christian teens and young adults to the faith and would also be a wonderful discussion tool for Sunday School classes and youth groups. Mitchell points out that commitment to God doesn't mean giving up having fun and being hip, but it offers the added security of knowing that God is working in your life and has your back. I highly recommend this book.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

"Yearnings" opens doors and grants the reader an inner journey of redefining personal, daily life. thank you.

I have read this book twice. I will read it again. Whatever your spiritual belief, whatever your level of faith is or is not, you will be influenced by Rabbi Kula. His fundemental logical conclusions on what make all humans tick is right down the pike. The book is not a polyanna fix for all life's woes but it is sound advice on how to improve your life and improve the lives of the ones around you. You will cherish the read and you will recommend to others..... you can't not!

This review pertains to the audio version, and is read by the author. I am a spiritual counselor and an ordained minister. However, my daily work is in the financial industry. I point this out only to give the reader a perspective.

If you have any interest at all in a real understanding of God and life, please read this book. Rabbi Irwin Kula shares wonderful insights and wisdom into why our perception and expectations of life are they way they are. He also helps readers to see the simplicity of our personal universe when given another, perhaps more considered, viewpoint.

There is a lot of rich material for thought and enlightenment here, so take your time and enjoy what Rabbi Kula teaches. For me it was like eating a great meal, every mouthful to be savored and all the food healthy and nourishing.

I found it a bit difficult to read cover to cover because of it's intensity. But I still thouroughly enjoyed the book when I jumped around to read sections relevant to my life. It has something for everyone. Its a kind of book that needs to be re read a few times to get all the meanings. Overall a very nourishing book

Rabbi Kula is a special breed of spiritual leader whose voice transcends the boundaries between religions. His book reveals a gift of communicating in a different way than typically comes down from the pulpit. In spreading his perspective of "wisdom", he is not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom and traditional interpretations; in fact he is at his best when looks inside these axioms that most of us take for granted. His willingness to share his personal experiences and his own transgressions lend credibility and humility to his stories and observations. This book serves as encouragement to look inside ourselves without judgment and look outward with a healthier perspective.