Spirituality Books

I've always had the impression that Western/American Buddhism was overwhelmingly white, upper-middle-class and academic - an impression and perhaps a prejudice (or a hang-up); in spite of having read and been influenced by the philosophy and practice through much of my adult life, I've always held any personal endorsement or affiliation at arm's length because of this - I'm not white, upper-middle-class, or an academic, and the (perceived) insularity of that particular world doesn't often seem to be very inviting.

This is why this was such a valuable read for me - Willis belongs to a very, very small demographic - African-American Buddhists, and in DREAMING ME she traces a path from a Baptist upbringing in the segregated (and oft-violent) South to her present life as an academic and Buddhist scholar. Willis' recountings of her childhood were - to me - the most successful part of the book, with the grimness of Jim Crow-era Alabama rendered in cinematic detail. Willis also - with great success - draws parallels between the faith she grew up with and the philosophies she grew to accept as an adult. Beautifully written, she makes it almost seem effortless.

Not a very well-known book, unfortunately - and I fear this may slide into obscurity. I would encourage checking it out.

-David Alston

This book was read in one marathon session that flew by all too quickly. It spoke to the very core of my being. Having this story told in such a personal way deftly teaches the reader at every level. It's well written and one could easily be fooled that they are simply being entertained with a good read. There were many moments where I felt stunned with deep recognition of a life experience that mirrors a good portion of my own. I connected with this book deeply at the heart level. Most touching were the moments with her teacher, Lama Yeshe. His extraordinary heart helped her heal deep societal and personal pains which have traveled across generations influencing and shaping our culture in difficult ways. Thank goodness Dr. Willis chose to develop the good heart, rather than fight the good fight. One does not need to be in a culturally specific group or religion to recognize and feel Dr. Willis' experience. She reached into the depths of spirit and wrote in a way that touches universally. This lady has a heart that totally outsizes her brilliant, immeasurable intellect and her story will benefit countless numbers. I'm one unabashedly grateful reader.

Since I have met Jan Willis a few times through my own work at Naropa University, I emailed her after I finished reading Dreaming Me. Here's part of what I wrote to her: "I just wanted to let you know how engrossing I found your book. It was like talking to you, hanging out with you, to read it. I had put it at the bottom of my pile of "books I want to read" but somehow it jumped right up to the top, and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. Please take that as a resounding compliment! Thanks so much for writing it, and for revealing so much of your big heart.

There is something intriguing about a story which chronicles a former Baptist's alteration towards adhering to the teachings of the Buddha Shakyamuni. Jan Willis is an African-American Tibetan scholar and translator, a professor of religion at Wesleyan University and teacher of Buddhism for more than 25 years. She starts the book recording her life prior to finding the Buddha's teachings, a life spent as a devout Southern Baptist in a segregation ridden south. The KKK was active in her area of Alabama, and at a very early age they had burned a cross in her parent's front lawn. Later she would go on to march in Martin Luther King's civil rights movement, adhering to the values she so strongly believed in. In 1965, with 7 other African-Americans, she enrolled in Cornell University where during her junior year she sailed off on a trip to India which greatly impacted her life. For a brief period she returned to the states to continue her studies at Cornell, but eventually she felt drawn back unto the East again. She left this time for Nepal and underwent intense study with the Tibetan master Lama Yeshe. She studied with him for more than 15 years, where she faced a problem most predominant in all our practices: sense of self, ego.

This book is a fascinating look at a very small minority in the world of Buddhism, the role African-Americans have played in it's growth and the teaching of the Dharma. In the west, in my lineage of Zen, African-American's are probably the least represented group of all. While we have male and female teachers, and practitioners of several racial and cultural backgrounds, for some reason or another there is a very small pocket of African-Americans present. This is not due to any sort of discrimination but rather, to be frank, oftentimes the African-American individual can at times have a problem with breaking down ego. Something which has it's roots in the horrendous treatment this group underwent at the hands of a predominantly white America. This work is a fascinating look at practicing the Buddha Dharma in modern times with a voice of honesty, clarity, and incisive wisdom on each and every page. Enjoy this treasure.

Books like "Dreaming Me" are gifts or treasures that we rarely have the good fortune to discover. Ms Willis' journey is at times painful yet ultimately joyful. She shares this pain and joy in a compelling writing style that is filled with anecdotes and drama. No matter what your life experiences may be you are quickly drawn into the universal themes that every human being shares. As a white male living in the Northeast during the sixties I was on the other side of the world from a person like Ms Willis. Yet she made her experiences part of me. And like two parts of a greater experience I felt whole after reading this book. I highly recommend it. Thank you Ms Willis for putting your experiences into such a beautifully written book.

I bought this book for a friend who is familiar with the author. She loves it and says it contains the secrets to a happy life.

A great book about prayer and how to pray. The book explains to you the dimensions of it without push you on (whatever) religion.

Although the Author's background is Christian, and the book uses Christian terminology, it is not necessarily a Christian book. It applys to Jews, Muslims, Buddhist and whatever creed they are - and even to non-religion people. The book encourage you to feel the Spirit of God and to understand that the world that God created, can be a better one, if you just start to pray with a pure heart and an honest one!

For a Christian, Jew, Muslim, etc. - this book can encourage their faith - whatever it is and deep it!

Don't look on the book as one to glorify your own creed, look on it as a way to meet God and miracles!

Pray and enjoy!

This is my third Ponder book, which I have read through Chapter 4. Incidentally, Catherine Ponder mentioned in her autobiography that the first four chapters are the most helpful. However, I will continue the book to the end.

What a learning curve, and what a powerful book this is. I believe it could teach us more about the soul than several other books on that subject. Her writing, to me, is more dynamic and compelling than any that I've read from a considerable list. I will re-read and take notes since I'm like Andy Rooney who learns best after "writing it down".

Much study and writing and great empowerment!

This is the best book I've read on metaphysics and spiritual growth. Catherine Ponder has an indredible way of bringing life into perspective. I highly recommend this book for everyone. I've purchased many of these to give to my friends and family.

I love, love, love this book! Mrs. Ponder expertly draws you into her book page by page addressing many important questions one could have about prayer. She tells stories throughout the book about people in dire situations that have used affirmations/tells what affirmation the person used to help change things for the greater good.

She also discusses forgiveness and how bitterness can be a reason why your prayer was not answered. This was a big wake up call for me. I could be standing in my own way of success and happiness simply because I was not fully forgiving those people I felt hurt me. But even more then that, I needed to work on forgiving myself for the situations that I created in my life just as much I needed to forgive others. And yes there are many more bits of good knowledge to fill your life with good vibrations!

This book has definately transformed my prayer life and it will be a book that I will refer to time and time again.

If you enjoyed Persuasions then you will aslo enjoy Easy Chairs. This is a book for those who are learning to enjoy a challenge. Easy chairs although easy to read is more difficult to follow than persuasions. You will need to stay awake and follow the conversations as they unfold, and really think about the answers being given. I have read this book more than once and I enjoy it each time that I read it.

The premises are those related to reform theology.Mr. Wilson writes that these are questions that he asked as he studied. They are very good questions indeed. The answers are offered in a way that causes the reader to formulate his or her own answer. As an Adult Bible teacher I am pleased to have found this book. Each chapter causes the students to think, evaluate, contemplate and discover Biblical truths without being given easy answers from a teacher at the front of the room.The answers are not always the easy ones given half-heartedly and without serious thought.

I purchased an additional copy for a friend who is deep thinker and she was thrilled with this book. WARNING: If you don't like to think on your own this is not a good book for you.

This is a truly impressive work. It is a penetrating, but yet sufficient simple and "reader friendly" introduction, defense, and reflection upon the doctrines known to many as "Reformed Theology".

Wilson does a fine job of integrating theological ideas into the conversational story he weaves. He relies upon clear and simple analogies and writes in a convincing and effective way.

Highly recommended for those who are seeking to understand (or defend) reformed theology!

I have been able to use this book as a great evangelism tool on numerous occassions. I have been able to lend it to Christians who go to Liberal churches so they can see how they are following short in their reasoning and presumptions of what God requires of man and I have been able to use it with non Christians so they can see clearly how God's eternal plan works in our lives.

Sit down, and pull up a chair. Pour a cup of coffee; we have to talk.

Truth alone, sets us free. Truth is timeless, and is above culture....truth never changes.

This is a solid book. Doug Wilson explains many of the common questions about Calvinism and Reformed thinking (beginning, of course, by stating his reticence to use these terms) in an engaging, informative manner. I have read assorted other books on Calvinism, and Doug Wilson here answers some questions in ways I've never seen them answered before, and gives great analogies to help understand what he's talking about. The whole book is written in a dialogue format, which makes for an occasionally stilted read (there are only so many ways a character can say "I see" or "I don't understand" before it gets kind of old). But overall, I think the format works great, illustrating how down-to-earth these principles are, and following the natural logic when thinking through these things. It's a stellar book.

I enjoyed Cavey's writing style and his friendly approach to his readers. Nevertheless, two sorts of problems ruined the book for me. The first sort is theological. The second is research oriented. If either of these problems didn't exist I might have been able to give the book 3 or 4 stars.

The major problem is a theological oversight. The elephant in the room that Cavey never addressed is that God himself created Judaism. God himself instituted rituals and rites. God demanded feast days and sacrifices. What was God's intent? Why did God create a religion just to overturn it? Why did the disciples immediately organize, create a hierarchy, and institutes rites (two sacraments everyone agrees on, more depending on your flavor of Christianity). There were deacons before the first martyrdom. They had apostles, elders (bishops), and deacons -- all found in Paul's letters. Did Jesus fail to teach his disciples that badly? Did the disciples fail to understand so catastrophically?

These questions may, more or less, have standard answers. But to not even address the issue is a rather major oversight.

Hence the title of my review: With such a glaring oversight, the only people this book should convince are those whose momentum climbing the fence will carry them over anyway.

The second sort of problem is research. The first issue that I recall is early in the book, Cavey claims that the water jars that contained the water that Jesus turned into wine were ceremonial in nature, and thus Jesus was defiling symbols of sterility for a life-affirming symbol. This is interesting and wonderful if true. I sure would like to have seen some sort of evidence beyond assertion that this is true. After all, guests would have needed water for drinking as well as rituals.

The second research problem is related to using the cross as a symbol. Cavey wonders about whether if Christ had died on an electric chair we'd wear little chairs on necklaces. Cute. But a little research quickly indicates that this is far from his own idea. It is widely discussed on the internet and it is generally attributed to Lenny Bruce.

The third one is where Cavey remembers hearing of a kid in Sunday school answering the question about faith: Faith is believing what you know ain't so. Great anecdote. Except it is quite commonly known that Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) said that.

All in all, it was rather disappointing.

After years of running away from religion and finally having a tenuous relationship with God, when I picked up this book, I thought, man is this really what I should be reading now? I was concerned Bruxy was going to take me down some unorthodox path, or worse, so I was suspiciously picking through the first couple of chapters. Not anymore. Haven't even finished the last two chapters and this book has blown me away. I'm reading the book and referencing the Bible the whole way. Diving into the Bible more than I ever have before. I really feel like now, I am finally understanding, I finally get what Jesus was saying and living. And I believe. Wow, that's quite a statement. Thanks too to the Drew Marshall radio show for turning me on to this book! Now can we please get rid of the name Christianity? Okay, couple more chapters to go.

The church that I am on-staff at is presently in the middle of a 50 Day adventure using Bruxy's book. We are using the small group format and I am using it to teach our Youth group.Christ is revealed for the purpose for His arrival here among us. Anyone who is not quite sure where they stand with God, or sitting on the fence in their personal lives would be well served in reading this book. Also helpful is the 6 part CD set that Bruxy recorded a couple of years ago at "The Meeting House" called the "IRreligious Christ". Bruxy is very easy to listen to as He presents the material that basically makes up his book.The question and answer period on the CD is Live and Unscripted. Was actually a priviledge to be present @ The Meeting house personally while 2 of the 6 were recorded.While talking to Bruxy yesterday at a Meeting in Kitchener Ont. he asked to report back to him how it is going over with the Youth because He is interested in how relevant it is for youth.Bruxy has demonstrated that he is very much like David in that he is a man after God's own heart!

I only wish there was a book like this available 30 years ago. What a difference it could have made in my life. Thank God it's here now, to help maybe (hopefully) multiplied thousands. I believe deep down that all of us who walk in relationship with Christ know that " religion", (in and of itself) never satisfies. Yet we burden ourselves with trying to measure up to the demands of it. Even without realizing it sometimes we juggle relationship with religion...(WILL NO MORE!!!). In this book Bruxy really brings to light the reasons why it doesn't satisfy. Thanks Bruxy for all the time you spent writing and researching this book. It's the most helpful book I've ever held apart from the scriptures themselves.

My heart breaks because so many people are held hostage to religion. These same people think they are worshipping Jesus, and want to, but religious traditions keep them from seeing who Jesus really is. I encourage every person who has had a problem with "the earthly church" and Christians to read this and give it to others. I especially encourage those who don't like what they see in Christianity to give Jesus a chance. In this book they can see why He really came and how His followers were supposed to handle the Good News.

The Enemy Within
By Tom Ward
Isbn# 1413737455

Tom Ward's " The Enemy Within" is a must read for everyone wether you are homosexual or heterosexual. Many poeple will disagree with his thoughts and writings. I found his book very
informative and to the point. I do agree that children at a young age wether it's a boy or a girl , that parents and relatives shouldn't label a child a " Fairy ," or " Faggot" or
strange just because they dress a little different or are taught
how to do household chores, which is essential in later life, I
firmly believe that all children should learn these basic skills.
His thoughts and the word of God are compelling. I firmly believe
everyone has to look into his own heart and soul before they judge others. I give Tom Ward not 5 stars***** but 7 stars*******
for a book well written.

Joseph Frank Baraba
" Dusty "
Isbn # 1424120187

Tom Ward's book The Enemy Within contains tons of information about the Gay lifestyle. Using his own experience he shows that being homosexual is in fact a choice that in many cases is condoned or accepted by society as just being genetically different. Mr Ward bursts this myth with facts and reasonable deductions backed up by Bible scriptures. This book is well written and researched. The Enemy Within will show homosexuals wanting out of that lifestyle how to enlist help with their struggles. Homosexuality and God has been a hot topic for the last several years and Tom Ward offers friends and relatives clear and concise information not found elsewhere to help them understand what homosexuality is really about.
[...]

Tom Ward Exposes a lifestyle in its own truth. The Enemy Within effectively indicates how the mind becomes embattled with confusion because of choices that are made. Whether gay lifestyle is created for acceptance or approval, it is learned and nurtured through lusts of the heart. The abomination and spiritual death of such choices are never the less under the umbrella of forgiveness and faith. The Enemy Within is definately the healing Angel's food that enables a cleansing descipleship to grasp hold. This read is definately the help that begins with understanding. A very well written substantive book that I highly reccomend....Robert Meacham author

I had the great pleasure to read and review Tom Ward's book, The Enemy Within. Tom's book deals with a subject that most people would rather sweep under the rug and forget about. Tom Ward has taken this problem and brought it out of the closet and into the light--not the light that condones an alternative lifestyle, but the Light of Jesus Christ. Tom has found his way into the Light of Christ and has made the CHOICE to become a new creature, away from that lifestyle. Not only has Tom found his way out, but continues to work to help others make the right CHOICE--the CHOICE to follow JESUS CHRIST.
Homosexuality is a problem that can no longer be ignored, we as Christians need to stand up and be heard. Schools are teaching that this is the norm in today's society. It is not the norm in God creation and never will be. The homosexuality isn't born that way. The world we live in promotes this alternative lifestyle. The only way out of the gay lifestyle is in the Gospel of Jesus, and with the help of the faithful like Tom Ward, homosexuality can be forgiven washed away and forgotten.

I say to Tom, well done good servant, well done.

This is a book written about and for both homosexuals and heterosexuals who befriend and counsel them. Tom gives examples of people he helped along the way and describes his mission to reveal Christ to those who want to be reached. This is an excellent guide for counselors and friends of homosexuals - parents, teachers, pastors, ministers and others who reach out to help and give hope to homosexuals today. The Enemy Within contains answers for all of us.

Homosexuals are not merely "sexual perverts," writes Tom, but human beings created in the image and likeness of God. Tom's book focuses on their need for salvation like everyone else. He relates from a biblical perspective the journey all take towards truth within the context of faith. He believes they would reject the message if he concentrated on the necessity of leaving the lifestyle first. This is not a judgmental book, but one whose message comes from within Tom's own experience and therefore valid for all Christians or other seekers to follow.

God loved the world of which the homosexual is a part and sent Jesus Christ to die to save all mankind. That makes each one a valuable commodity, writes Tom. Therefore, there are chapters on witnessing and preparation for going into the world where homosexuals gather, to preach and teach the Gospel. Tom is a faithful witness who stands at their cross as one who has walked in their shoes.

Tom's book gave new meaning for me to many of the Scriptures. For example he states there are six admonitions against homosexuality but over 356 sins written of heterosexuals. Ephesians 6:10-17 admonishes: Get the log out of your own eye first before seeking to remove it from others. This applies to both heterosexuals and to homosexuals equally.

Early in the book Tom speaks of the experiences he had with his father that led him to a lifestyle that could have been different if he had been treated differently and had his father's support. He explains how he helped his mother cook and work around the house and how this caused his dad to call him a sissy. He dressed from hand-me-down clothing, not the latest style that made him look different from his peers. This also had an effect upon his self-image. . Tom reveals it is not true that sticks and stones may break your bones, but names will never hurt you. Words can harm a child in an untold number of ways. The tongue is a dangerous weapon.

Even before receiving this knowledge from Tom, I was aware of his counsel from my late husband's experiences. I think only by the grace of God did he escape such a lifestyle. He was left in the care of his grandparents after his deaf-mute parents abandoned him. They likewise dressed him in clothes that were different and made him feel "queer" or strange and not like the other boys, and in other ways they demeaned him.

However, God's ways are not our ways. I believe Tom initially chose this lifestyle because he was first chosen by God in order to bring this message to others. Just as God became human to become one with humanity, he chose sinners to be an example of conversion to like souls.

It's always easy to judge, but we must look into the mirror of our own souls in order to understand others and bring the message of God's love to them. The Enemy Within will help one to do just that.

Joyce Ann Edmondson

This book is amazing. It came out during my first pregnancy but I didn't have time to buy it or read it, and now that I'm pregnant again I decided to finally get it. The stories are so real and touching and beautiful. And they're very honest. They're not all "feel good" wishy washy stories, but rather real, honest accounts of pregnancy and motherhood and how these women manage whether they have 15 children or 1. I can't put it down but I don't want it to end either. If you're pregnant and Jewish you have to get this one!

This book gives a down-to-earth, intimate account of women's experiences during pregnancy, boldly bringing out the physical, emotional and religious challenges they face. The women interviewed don't separate themselves from Judaism but rather find a wide range of ways to integrate Judaism into their identities as women, professionals, wives, mothers and individuals. This book touched me and enriched my knowledge of Judaism's view of pregnancy. I'm so glad I read it!

When I became pregnant for the first time, I really wanted to read something that told me what I already felt in my heart - that pregnancy is the most amazing miracle ever and that hte weekly blow-by-blow account of what is happening at a physical level is not the true story of pregnancy.

When I read Chana Weisberg's book - I simply could not put it down ! All the stories of strength also helped me get through the morning sickness etc... and were an excellent reminder to think beyond the phyiscal and truly appreicate the miracle that was happening inside me.

I highly recommend this book without hesitation (particularly to all first time mothers-to-be).

When I was pregnant with my first baby, all I could think about or talk about was -- being pregnant. At times I felt bogged down by the sheer physicality of it all, and longed to make it a more spiritually uplifting experience. I also wished I had other obsessive-compregnant women to talk to, so we could all take turns inspiring and/or boring each other. Reading EXPECTING MIRACLES filled all these gaps in my pregnant life! It was all I wanted to read. Women from various walks of Jewish religious life are telling you all the intimate details of their experiences as pregnant ladies and then as mothers and as wives. They give all sorts of ideas, suggestions and encouragement to make it more spiritual. YOu think, I could do that. I want to try that. I couldn't put this book down. It is a MUST-HAVE alongside WHat to Expect When You're Expecting. Expecting Miracles is like the spiritual counterpart to that sometimes too-physical (and occasionally scary) pregnancy guidebook. Expecting Miracles revels in the joy, excitement, spiritual potential and blessing that being the carrier of life is all about.

This book truly resonated somewhere deep within me. It connects the reader spiritually with her larger family, that of all Jewish women. The womens' stories are so honest and real; I felt like I was having a conversation over coffee with some of my oldest friends into the night as I read and read and read... Despite the fact that some of the women have different backgrounds than my own, there was something in each woman's experience I could ALWAYS relate to. It was so confirming to see, in print, so much of what I had felt during the months of my pregnany, my birth experience, and my initiation into motherhood. I HIGHLY recommend this book!

This is a great study on the heart of our Creator and Savior. I recommend it to everyone.

Awesome study! I am doing this independent of an organized group, and am loving it!

A fantastic bible study. Highly recommend it!

This workbook arrived just as the stress of facing major surgery was about to overtake me. Within a couple of lessons, I felt such peace and trust. Max Lucado truly uses God's gift to him which allows us to know and "feel" Jesus in our lives. Jesus becomes so real and "approachable". This workbook has been such a comfort and with only 2 lessons to go, I hate to see it end.

I was a bit skeptical about purchasing this workbook, because the others I've purchased by various othe authors just really didn't teach me or help me.

I believe THIS workbooks is an absolute must have for everyone from the new converts to the old heads in church. It's very "everyday" partical, no theology words in there that you can't understand or need a dictionary for.

It's fun! It's exciting! And most importantly you LEARN how to put into action what is being said in these studies. They encourage you, They reassure you, and it really helps your relationship with Christ.

It has lovely scriptures and little parts that really spoke to me as I was doing this workbook. Max shares from his life and experiences as well so it's very people friendly.

I really think ppl will enjoy and be encouraged by completing this workbook.

Fearless by Tom Stephen and Virginia Starkey-Stephen is a lovely book, well written and beautifully illustrated with photos by Hank Foto of Hawaiian surfing. Written with the reflections of a peaceful day ahead, it is truly inspriational that can be used again and again. Wonderful!

This book looks like a coffee table book on surfing. In truth, it is packed with insiteful guidance on how to navigate through life. Using surfing and extreme sports metaphor, the book walks the reader into a much better understanding of what drives us - good or bad - and what God wants. I find myself reading one or two pages every few days, putting it down and chewing on the content. Worth every penny.

This is an awesome devotional. It connects on so many levels and is applicable whether you surf 7 days a week or live 1500 miles away from the ocean. Whether you are a committed follower of Christ, new believer or anywhere in between, or you just like great surf photos, this devotional is great for you. We have been using Fearless in our youth Sunday School class and the kids have been loving it. They love the pictures, the scriptures are relevant, the short readings are really easy to follow and connect with and the questions really spark thought and conversation. In a world that's pretty scary and messed up, the idea of fear and God's answer to that fear is so important. Buy this book. Read it. Use it.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and benefited from it. The writing is excellent, the photos are terrific, and the messages are truly inspiring.

how often do you find a great devotion and coffee-table book in one? the cover caught my attention and i started flipping through this book to look at the (fabulous) pictures. before long i found myself reading the insightful, surprisingly personal questions and great scripture excerpts. i've really enjoyed dwelling in the devotions and i look forward to more books by these authors.

I liked this book, and I think you should get it - but watch out - there's a big surprise waiting!

Finding Jesus, Discovering Self is a buffet table sort of a book, a collection of Bible stories about Jesus, first person stories from the authors, poems and quotes from writers famous and otherwise, and directions to help the reader reflect, react and respond to the ideas presented in the stories. Ok so far, the bible stories are familiar, the personal reflections engaging and interesting, the poems and quotes enlightening and easy to read. It's like a long dinner table conversation with those smart, compassionate, well read friends you always wished you could spend more time with. There's a magic bookshelf that pops out the perfect quote, the poem, the literary example at just the right time.

As the evening goes on, though, something a little disturbing starts to happen. The talk turns to you (me!) and the friends start to tell their stories in a more intimate way, revealing not just the easy morals or the funny parts, but how they fell short, were disappointed, didn't act right, learned a hard lesson the hard way. Something about the way they tell their story makes it impossible for you to stay silent, and you find yourself talking, thinking, feeling in ways you hadn't expected. It gets tougher - the friends use challenging words like "imagine it differently...", "ask yourself what the other person is feeling.." or "name your unfinished business."

Caren Goldman is a friend, and in the interest of full disclosure, when I read this book I could imagine her at our dinner table, telling these stories, running to the bookshelf for the Rilke poem that put the idea just right, fixing me with that look when I'm less than honest with myself.

Bill Dols I've never met, but I know things about him from these stories, and I've let him sit at my dinner table, too. Both Caren and Bill present Jesus in a new way, too - not the Gospel of Certainty but the Gospel of Questions - love embodied in the unanswered far more than the answers. These old, familiar stories that Jesus told or that were told about Jesus are presented like a familiar stone, or a picture we've seen forever. They ask us to turn it a little, hold it in a different light, look from closer in. I read the Good Samaritan story, then they asked me to imagine that I was the priest who walked on by, or the robbers who stripped and beat him! Their questions for reflection take the story all the way home... "look around you", "Who do you pass by every day". They quote the Talmud, Milan Kundera and poet Derek Wolcott.

I get up from the banquet, the dinner conversation, the engagement that this book invites a little tired. It's not an easy self-help affirmation, this book. It's hard. The Jesus I thought I knew is different from the one I meet in this book. So is the "self." This book asks us to look at the beauty, the ease, the love - but also the anger, the selfishness, the disappointment. Smell the flowers, of course, but smell the funk too, acknowledge the rest of the picture, live with the tough questions.

It's not easy - I stopped a couple of times. I thought, "I don't really need this," and "I don't really have time, and " I'm not sure what they believe and if they believe the way I do". In the end, I found it immensely helpful, a powerful experience. Living the questions raised in this way - the questions about Jesus, the questions about myself - is a better way to live. It's like the way I feel getting up from that dinner table - challenged, alive, full, energized - and ready for more!

Caren says that it's her hope that "the questions...will ...remain a welcome signpost on your journey to healing and wholeness." Bill says it's "exchanging the insatiable search for meaning in the Bible for the opportunity to read sacred narratives as life's drama around and within me." Around the middle of the book there's a little TS Eliot poem that summarizes the genius of this book for me.

"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."

The authors have provided me "food for the journey."This outstanding book is most helpful for a fifteen minute quiet time in the middle of a busy day, as well as for a contemplative read to begin or end the day. Bill Dols is creator and Editor of Bible Workbench and Caren Goldman is an Associate Editor of this 52 week program that is a valuable resource that provides a life-changing process for us to engage scripturre in the same way the authors have done in this book: Scripture, Questions, Stories, and Poetry that reflect the relevancy of the Biblical text to our lives today.

Finding Jesus, Discovering Self by Caren Goldman and William Dols is a book about passages to healing and wholeness, using passages about Jesus's life from the Bible as meditations and illustrations for handling daily problems. The book is written by the unlikely team of Goldman, a Jewish journalist, and Dols, and Episcopal priest. They are excellent writers and bring two different perspectives to each scripture and add guided meditations and questions to answer about your perspective and insights gained. The book is an excellent study, no matter what stage your spiritual development is.

Caron Goldman and Bill Dols invite us to explore the Jesus story and our personal stories from fresh, new, sometimes challenging perspectives. To help us, they generously share their own stories, struggles, joys and questions in "Reflections." They invite us to go deeper with more questions and creative imaginings in "Wonderings and Wanderings." Then they hold up "Mirrors" for us to catch another glimpse of the Jesus story and our own with poetry and prose from many sources. In the process of "living" the questions about Jesus and his story, as well as our own stories, one discovers universal life connections and truths. This book is one all seekers will want to own and keep close for guidance on the path. The more I found about Jesus the more I discovered about self and life.

This remarkable book gave me that rare gift, an inventively presented opportunity to see old ideas in new ways; to turn off the philosophical autopilot and reconsider long-held values and operating principles; to realize yet again that I don't necessarily know what I think I know. I took advantage of the authors' permission to skip the exercises this time through, because I'm getting ready to move and don't have time to engage at that level. In some future peaceful season I'll be back, to consider their questions. Great quotes from a lineup that includes a range of talent from Oscar Wilde to the Thomas of that other gospel, combined with the authors' personal experiences that relate to the stories of the life of a wise Jewish man from Nazareth, provoked enough thought this time through.

It never really made sense to me until after I started reading this book. God really does love us. He's the only one that we can always count on and our focus should always be drawn back to him.

"Finding Peace" is yet another great book by Charles Stanley. The book's focus is on realizing that our peace rests on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ instead of circumstances. Dr. Stanley challenges the reader to take responsibility and be proactive in finding peace through a relationship with God instead of fuming and fretting over the situations we find ourselves in.

Among the great points mentioned in the book are:

1. Issues that can cause destructive conflict.
2. God is larger than our challenges.
3. Four clear signs of God's peace.
4. Why we lose our peace.
5. 5 essentials beliefs for a peaceful heart.
6. 7 categories of peace-destroying thoughts.
7. 5 vital questions to ask yourself about regret.
8. Results of anxiety.
9. 7 steps to overcoming fear.
10. 4 keys to living in contentment.

I also appreciated Dr. Stanley describing his own struggles when his wife filed for divorce and yet was able to obtain peace through the trial.

Read and be encouraged to seek peace in the Lord instead of yourself, others, or your circumstances!

Highly recommended.

Dr. Stanley has a wonderful talent for putting such a complicated ideal into laymans terms. He's definitely set me on course towards finding peace. The book isn't about answers, but rather a process.

~Finding Peace : God's Promise of a Life Free from Regret, Anxiety, and Fear~ is a helpful guide to seeking peace and overcoming anxiety in midst of stressful circumstances. Charles Stanley gives practical and sound Scriptural exhortation on facing life's problems. We can find our peace in midst our trials and tribulations by recognizing that God is sovereign. Sometime, it is a lot easier said than done, which is why we need reinforcement from others. We have to continually set our sights on God's promises. Few Christians want to peer into book of Job, much less have their faith tested like Job. Taking a hit professionally or financially, suffering persecution, enduring slander, or relationship friction can strain a person. However, we can come out stronger enduring hardship if we seek peace of mind through God. God's pruning can often be painful, but we have to set our sights on Romans 8:28, and the promises of God. Life is a vapor.

Anyhow, Stanley offers a lot of prudent exhortation on seeking stability, peace of mind, discerning between productive and destructive anxiety, and living at peace with others. Too many Christian pastors these days, miss the mark and neglect addressing that life has its pains, and preach blissful optimism. Turn on Joel Olsteen for example, and he will be rambling about having a "better house, a better car," etc. and preaching the health and wealth non-sense. When life on the flying carpet of bliss doesn't come people get more discouraged and disappointed. Charles Stanley, however, isn't one of those errant teachers... Stanley will be the first to say tough times will come. Likewise, he offers sound advice on enduring those times and finding peace through acknowledging and trusting God. "You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 2:3). Hardship endured in God's strength produces the peaceable fruit of patience, makes us more dependent on God, and breaks us of our stubborn self-centered thinking.

"What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?."
-Romans 8:31

If you have not read this book by Dr. Stanley, you need to read it. You owe it to yourself. I continue to be amazed at his use of Scripture as it applies to the human soul.

I highly recommend this volume.