Christianity Books

Very rarely do you find a book that leaves you desiring more of God. However, this one provokes a yearning in you to give yourself more to God in prayer, worship and time in the Word. It pulls you into God. An easy read, short in length and well written, Matt Redman does a great job of pulling your attention away from whatever or whoever and pushing you to concentrate on the Lord. The book provides a healthy Godly perspective on worship, provides principles that one can easily understand and apply to their lives and mix a few of Redman's personal stories in to lift you to a higher place of worship. I highly recommend to anyone who needs another boost toward God! If you're struggling at this season in your life to keep God the main thing, this is for you. If you're at a place where you just want more of Him, this is for you! No matter where you are, this is for you! Enjoy~

This book was recommended to me by a fellow marathoner. It reads quickly, and you will want to read in a single sitting. It speaks well of the heart and relentless desire of the worshipper of Jesus, to give Him endless and countless praise and worship for His work on the cross. It's also penned by a dude with amazing musical gifts. I will probably re-read many times,as it validates one's desire to worship even in the midst of the storms of life..........

I'm a worship leader in NJ and I've require all our musicians and vocalists to read this book. My philosophy is that everyone doing worship during a service is leading the congregation in worship. Not just the one who may talk or sing the most. This book by Matt Redman is a valuable help to everyone involved with a worship team or seeking to understand what worship is all about in a deeper way. Do yourself a favor and read this wonderful devotional type book by a very experienced composer and worship leader. It will enhance your own time with the Lord and make you a better worship leader for your church.

Ever feel like no one else gets it? Like you sometimes can't connect with other people who although share your faith, seem to have a different taste for God than you do?

In my opinion this is the book for you. I found myself finishing this book in a short time because not only did I feel challenged, but I realized that I'm not a complete failure simply because I struggle in my focus on my God.

Matt lays out a very profound and understandable set of lessons that will help you understand what life long/ eternity long worship really is.

This isn't the gospel according to Matt or any book of vague ideas. It's a great devotional on intamacy and thirst for our God.

As a worship pastor/ youth pastor of a church I can't tell you what a blessing this reading really is.

We were taken back to the Heart of Worship!!!!

Breaks free of the conventional bonds of indoctrinated, cookie cutter, christianity. A refreshing view of spiritually and the relationship of God with humanity.

This book dissents from and defends religion in very different ways than most. It is a masterful treatise on the religion of love, the religion of inclusion, the religion of the goddess, and the religion many of us have lost to patriarchy and intellectual dominance. There is little pious prattle here, rather a statement of the value of all religions, human talents, and dispositions. All are needed to truly solve our problems.

The following summary was used in a discussion with Bob Thompson at Northwestern University's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, in Evanston, Illinois, on November 30, 2007. This was one session in a semester-long study group titled, "Why Religion Matters." These notes highlight many passages and concepts but are only a small reflection of the richness of the material and the personal vignettes which illuminate Bob's ideas. We hope that this summary whets readers' appetites to experience the entire book. (Note: references, e.g."p15," are to page numbers in from which passages are quoted)

The Introduction distinguishes religion of the head from religion of the heart. "Religion of the head involves thinking about life's questions in order to come up with answers. Religion of the heart is about seeing our innate and unalterable connection to all others as both the question and the answer" p15. "Religious orthodoxy is the inevitable result of thinking exclusively from the head. The heart is always a heretic, however, and its natural inclination is to upend the status quo...and see the human race as one" p16.

Chapter 1, "For a Good Time, Call God" Asked if he believes in God, Thompson usually responds that it depends on what is meant by God. He cannot agree that God is a separate being with an extreme ego who controls the world. Rather God is a voluptuous ultimate reality which "calls us to laughter, love and joy" p23. "It matters whether we worship a God of distance or a God of intimacy. An intimate God is at once transcendent and imminent , beyond and within. We live in the Divine and the Divine lives in us" p27.

Chapter 2, "What is the Soul?" Thompson also disagrees with the conventional Christian belief that the human soul is separate from God and corrupted by original sin. Rather, "The soul is a drop of consciousness in the ocean of God" p31.

Chapter 3, "Soul Liberty." A preliminary title for this book was "Soul liberty - Meditations of a Christian Heretic." "Soul liberty is the freedom to seek the truth in one's own way, according to one's own conscience" p41. In this Baptist belief, a person may choose any religion or none and is only responsible to God for the decision. The chapter ends with several paragraphs on the importance of meditation, i.e. "opening to the inner teacher" p43. "placing our attention within ourselves," and "recollecting the soul." This work of a lifetime takes "our attention from life's broken surface to an inner truth" p44.

Chapter 4, "Finding God by Subtraction" God is always present but lives in silence. God can be most easily found in meditation, prayer, or even in the awkward silences in conversations. Bob quotes Meister Eckhart who said that "God is not attained by a process of addition to anything in the soul, but by a process of subtraction" p 54.

Chapter 5, "Do you Believe in Divine Intervention?" Does God answer prayers? Is God an activist? Thompson does not believe in a personal God. Rather, "The God I've met is impersonal or transpersonal. A transpersonal God does not seek out individuals by bestowing favor on some while turning away from others" p58. "We need the experience of an enduring presence that lasts an eternity far more than an intervention that lasts a few moments" p59. This enduring, compassionate presence helps us to realize that we are never alone.

Chapter 6, "The Greening of God." The prevailing Western view has been one of patriarchy or the right to dominate the natural world. Now "we are beginning to wake up and see the earth as indigenous peoples have always seen it, as a living organism....Mother Earth, the Great Mother, the Goddess" p68. And God connects everything and is in everything that lives. "Water and air pollution, deforestation, and global warming are all symptoms of a deep brokenness...we must address" p72.

Chapters 7-13 are an invitation to "Be a Christ," but not some distant savior dressed as a king, rather as one who lives a compassionate life. "We live in an eternal now. This is it... Spiritual truth is about fully living the moment we are in" p89. "Ego is the illusion that we are ...separate from each other, and separate from God" p99. "It is more useful to see sin as a condition or state of being in which we see ourselves as literally separated from ourselves, others and the Divine" p103.
Thompson, as a heretic, says we should live beyond the belief system we've been handed. "Real spiritual strength comes...from our own inner authority, the authority of our own experience, the teacher within" p120. ."Christ is the Christian word for the divine energy that connects everything" p122. It is called by different names in Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and other faiths. It is intoxicating, so "it's not unusual for great spiritual teachers to appear to be a little too happy, giggly or simply `lit up'...Other people seem to light up when in their presence" p 126. "All will be well, no matter what...In our inner-most heart, in the soul, we know there is nothing to fear. And what we all want is nothing to fear" p128.

Chapters 14, "God and Caesar - Religion and Politics." Introduces the concept of the politics of conscience, or the politics of the heart. It will take a massive act of conscience to bring peace to the Middle East or to mitigate the suffering in Africa. However, "conscience is always speaking, but often we turn a deaf ear" p139.

Chapter 15, "A Greater Patriotism" states that we are surrounded by violence. "When we swim in it all the time, we just don't notice it" p146. But we notice terrorism and wonder where it comes from. Following Ury, Thompson says it's like a virus "that lies sleeping, then wakens and spreads throughout the body and attacks, as if out of nowhere....Violence prevention requires creatively addressing conflicts in their earliest stages" p147.

Chapter 16, "The Hospitality of Heaven is a Queer Thing" addresses the issue of same sex relationships suggesting that LGBT people "need to be healed back into the larger community' p154. This is done thru agape love which, following M. L. King, is "an understanding, redemptive, creative good will toward all human beings...it is what Jesus meant when he said `love your enemies'" p155. This is not the same as to" like" your enemies. "Like," in any case, is a fairly superficial engagement.

Chapter 17, "Surrender Your Life to Something Greater" Dealing with the ego is not easy. "We can be important one day, and a mere drop in a very big bucket the next. And when we realize this, we can let go of the need to be important" p163. True greatness, however, comes from our connection to others. Gandhi, M.L. King, and Mother Theresa all surrendered self will and said yes "to serving the human race, no matter what" p165. "The greatness of the servant comes from helping others to discover their greatness" p 166.

Chapter 18, "The Devil is Not What You Think." Whether you believe in a devil or not, the most serious temptations are from those you believe to be allies. They appeal to altruism, ego, and power; persuade us that " life is a puzzle to be solved;"....and "reduce the meaning of life to a formula" p171...or "to getting life to go our own way" p173. Rather, "Life is amazing and astonishing....Every moment of life is remarkable. Every moment brings astonishment. Every moment is a mystery." P173

Chapter 19, "The Things We Carry Around." "...to get over our narcissism, our self absorption, our preoccupation with ourselves. This is the very heart of all spiritual practice and it takes a lifetime" p179. "We reduce our our own suffering by letting go of the poison we carry around" p 180.

Chapter 20, "The Spiritual Purpose of Our Relationships." "When I'm experiencing tension or discomfort in a relationship, I inevitably realize that I am struggling, not with the other person, but with myself" p187. A person is only fully developed through others. "We can't grow in isolation and exclusion" p188.

Chapter 21, "Life is But a Dream." We need to be aware that life is neither permanent nor predictable, just "a succession of images and experiences" p 198 . "We are awake when we know that life is nothing more than a passing show." P201.

Chapter 22, "Every Tomb is a Womb." "When we say goodbye to a person or a place we love, a part of us dies. We are then reborn to another way of life. When we go thru a divorce, lose a friendship, or fail to get the job we want, something in us dies while something else rises up." P 204.

Chapter 23, "From Religious Tribalism to the City of God." Thompson talks about the need to cultivate interfaith relationships. This "encourages us to explore our own tradition and assumptions more deeply" p211. We become more welcoming to strangers, more willing to help them with whatever burdens they have, and more understanding of "what it means to be religious" p215.

I was born and raised Jewish, attending an Orthodox synagogue as a child and a Conservative synagogue as an adult. I now live in the mostly Conservative Christian community of Colorado Springs, CO. I never really felt drawn to organized religion and for years I found myself unaffiliated and searching for a spiritual home. For six years, I found that home at Lake Street Church. Bob Thompson's words have shown me the difference between religion and spirituality. They have also helped me to accept Jesus Christ - not as a messiah or savior, but as a rabbi, teacher, and mystic. I have learned to experience God on a personal level rather than as an omnipotent, wrathful, punishing presence.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Voluptuous God, connecting with the essence of Bob Thompson's spirituality, and learning to relate to the concept of being a heretic. I have purchased extra copies to share with friends of like mind living here in Colorado Springs. I highly recommend this book to any and all spiritual seekers.

Many years ago I abandoned the Christian faith believing it was obsolete. However, I always said if some new philosopher comes along who can articulate the faith in a way that reconciles it with reason and makes it relevant in the 21st Century, I will reconsider Christianity. Thompson does that in this excellent book.

Being raised a Catholic was a spiritually alienating experience. I tried to live the Word but seeing others in my church being pious in the sanctuary and then being less than Christian in the outer world made no sense to me. So, for many, many years I veered away from Christianity. I never thought a spiritual book written by a Christian minister would help me change my attitude about religion. The chapter 'The Resurrection of Judas Iscariot' literally moved me to tears. I confess I have been in situations where I did not speak out or act upon a situation that required my attention. Several days after reading this particular chapter I came upon a homeless man. He was looking for shelter and food. While I could not give him shelter, I did take him to a restaurant for a meal. I don't think I would have done this had I not read this chapter on Judas. I am now trying to live the Word. Thank you for writing such a meaningful book.

Very insightful book. Basically Mr. Gire discusses situations, moments, windows that God opens in our lives that allow us to look thorugh them and see Him. These windows are opened, generally for a limited time, and we have the opportunity to look through them but are not forced or required to. Of course, in the failure - or refusal - to look through the window we also miss the opportunity to see God and what He is saying and/or doing at that moment. A common mistake is looking AT the window, and merely seeing the window (situation), rather than looking through it and beyond the situation before us. I will be re-reading this book as I think the thoughts are meatier than a single pass through and derserving of additional pondering. I would recommend the book.

In "Windows of the Soul" Mr. Gire Takes you to places where you have always known God was, but opens your eyes to realy "see" God. It is a poetic journey that touched my soul and allowed me to experience God in a whole new way. I would highly recommend this book to the new believer as well as the person who has walked with God many years, neither will be dissapointed.

I purchased this book off the shelf as its artistic references in the description attracted me to it. I soon discovered the value of Mr. Gire's wisdom, compassion, and his own personal knowledge of an intimate relationship with God that evolved through his own personal experiences. This book came at a time in my own life when, a few months earlier, I had suffered a sudden tragedy that resulted in the death of my husband of 11 years. This book, and its quiet reflective nature, brought me peace during many sleepless nights. I found the thoughtful wisdom inspiring, and appreciated his knowledge of literature and history. I have purchased several of his books since, and have been blessed by each one.

In 1998 I reveiwed this book by writing the following:
Ken Gire is one of the most expressive writers of our day. His words paint a picture of our soul. Words that are simple, yet profound. Gire shows us how we can experience God through different avenues that intersect our daily lives. Don't be surprised by the tears that come to your eyes, they are tears from God showing you an area of your life that may need to be explored, understood or enjoyed. This is a book that you will continually want to come back to again and again.

I continue to read this book and find it as refreshing as the first time.

I disagree with the review from Hooterville. Ken Gire is very sound theologically and his work reflects this. Ken encourages us to look for new ways in which we can discover God. There is nothing mystical about discovering new ways for one to grow in their love for God and in their love for people.

I think it's obvious there's nothing wrong with observing our world and the happenings within it and speculating what God's perspective might be. And there's nothing wrong with contemplating a piece of art, literature, music, or film and recognizing in it symbolic correspondence to transcendent truth as revealed in Scripture. And author Ken Gire does this well. If he had left it at that, I probably would be as enthusiastic about this book as the next reader.

However, in "Windows of the Soul," Gire goes a step further and teaches that such endeavors are actually communications from God, "moments of revelation." The book is Gire's attempt at giving Christians insight into how to perceive such "revelations." Gire goes as far as to imply that such "revelations" possess an importance equal to that of the Bible, even referring to them as "God's word." Gire implies that Biblical revelation sometimes fails to satisfy our spiritual longings because, through it, "we are fed the experience of others. But they are not OUR experiences. I can read a psalm about David crying out from a cave in the wilderness, and I should read that psalm, but it is not MY psalm. It is not my psalm because it is not my cave, not my wilderness, and not my tears." Thus, Gire feels a need for a new category of revelation.

I sense Gire is well intentioned, but I believe, in this respect, he's teaching a form of mysticism, not Christianity. [Webster: "mysticism - the belief that direct knowledge of God, spiritual truth, or ultimate reality can be attained through subjective experience (as intuition or insight)"] And while I recognize that the defense of these ideas isn't the primary intent of his book, the theological extrapolations Gire offers are tragically sloppy and at times involve the assignment of new, unorthodox meanings to Biblical accounts and terminology.

Some might suggest that Gire's paradigm is just an elaboration on the concept of "general revelation," the Biblically supported idea that the world implicitly communicates certain things about God and His nature. However, the variety of channels described in "Windows," as well as the content of the messages Gire speculates they deliver, far surpass the traditional understanding of the nature and role of general revelation. (And Gire writes as if he's aware that what he's proposing is unconventional.)

READER BEWARE : I believe it is accurate to say that Ken Gire is advocating a theology and discipline not taught in Scripture.

When it comes time to contemplate the "furniture" of life and apply Biblical teachings to what you observe and experience, "Windows of the Soul" does document some good exploration in that regard. However, when it comes time to hear God speak, don't let anyone convince you God's revealed Word in Scripture is insufficient for the task.

For my more thorough critique, see: HotFudgeSunday.com/WindowsOfTheSoul

AMAZING BOOK...MUST READ..AGAIN AND AGAIN AND FOLLOW HER TO A "T" AND IT WORKS...HOWEVER, REMEMBER...YOU MUST USE EVERYTHING TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONE SAFE !

A friend loaned me her copy - after reading it, I had to have a copy for myself.

Thanks for your prompt service. Book arrived as promised in good time.

This teaching has given me a "spiritual backbone" like I have never experienced before and has revolutionized the way I pray, especially for my children and myself. Satan is defeated. Christians have been given the authority over Satan and he is "overcome by the word of God and the blood of Jesus" Rev 12:11 and all we have to do is use it.
This book is the most awesome teaching that I have read in many years. I have had the head knowledge of these truths, but had not accepted the spiritual knowledge into my spirit man and was not using these truths in my life.

Ms. Brim has an excellent way of putting very complex ideas in very simplistic terms. This book is absolutely necessary for every believer for the times we are living in today. My eyes have been opened in a new way and I have seen things in a clearer way than I ever thought I could. I highly recommend this book for the new believer as well as for the seasoned Christian.

There is also a paperback version of this book available for $24.95. Amazon sells it for $15.72 (37% off the cover price). You can find it by searching under the editor's name.

Wonderful Wonderful Edition!! I agree with the former missionary. This is a very user freindly edition of the BoM. The offical LDS Church Edition is very imposing and stark compared to this very inviting and easy on the eyes BoM format. Hand this edition to potential converts and they just might read the BoM. Why it took a secular university to put another Churche's Main Religious Text in a truly inspired format is beyond me. Maybe it is time the LDS Church puts out a new version of the "Standard Works". After all....it has been quite a while since 1978 when they redid all of the scriptures.

(From Paragraph 67) Christian faith cannot accept 'revelations' that claim to surpass or correct the Revelation of which Christ is the fulfilment, as is the case in certain non-Christian religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such 'revelations'.

(Paragraph 73) God has revealed himself fully by sending his own Son, in whom he has established his covenant for ever. The Son is his Father's definitive Word; so there will be no further Revelation after him.

This edition of The Book of Mormon is absolutely delicious. "Come unto the Holy One of Israel, and FEAST upon that which perisheth not ... and LET YOUR SOUL DELIGHT IN FATNESS."

I read the Book of Mormon for the first time in mid-2002 at age 15. Since then, I have read it almost 9 times (as of this review). Moreover, I have read a heck of a lot of material critical of the text itself (e.g. The Tanners, Evans, Vogel, Metcalfe) Notwithstanding, most, if not all, the attacks are usually based on fraud and/or popular though errant assumptions about the Book of Mormon text that actually do not jive with the text itself. In additoin, what Hardy has done with the 1920 text is make it more accessible to those approaching the Book of Mormon, following modern editions of the Bible, by indenting, for example, prose, not too dissimilar to the NRSV rendition of Deuteronomy 32, and leaving introductions to chapters to a bare minimum, alongside adding a number of appendixes, such as one on poetry in the Book of Mormon (e.g, chiasmus).

I urge any one interested in the truth to read the Book of Mormon to discover for themselves that it is indeed another testament of Jesus Christ, and to learn of its truthfulness by study and by prayer to God, after "testing all things" (Acts 17:11).

Bridge Called hope was a great read, filled with inspiring, uplifting and triumphant stories that really help define the important things in life, that we should all be striving for. The emergance of Hope..

Kim Meeder is a great person. I've met her while attending a women's retreat here in Oregon. I have both books signed and she was giving them away. Both her husband and her have big hearts. They have a great ranch in Bend, OR. I have never been there, but I do plan on visiting with them, they only live 100 miles away. My horse will be 26 this year, and she's doing fine, but I've told Kim that when it's time to retire her, that she gets her. She's not a kids horse yet. But she loves attention.

I believe God has a purpose for us all. And to know that I met Kim, it's the greatest thing of all, and to get two of her books. She is a great down to earth person. Normal like the rest of us, lol.

One of the most touching, and powerful books I have ever read. I tend to be drawn to true life stories, especially with a Christian or inspirational message. This book had both.

Even for someone who doesn't love horses, this book is an amazing read, but if you know or love horses, you will understand the power that these beautiful creatures possess.

Kim Meeder presents the real life stories that will touch your heart and soul in ways you might not have realized. I would read every book that she writes, because of her beautiful writing style and her amazing gift and telling a story with a message.

Anyone who enjoys watching someone who is undergoing trials and tribulations, turn their life around and conquer internal battles of pain and anguish, will absolutely love this book.

This collection of stories about how horses and humans can interact will touch the most hard-hearted among us. Not only do the stories relate the astounding human/ horse miracles that can take place, they also follow the author's walk of faith, doing the very things God has called her to do, putting everything on the line at times. For anyone who loves horses, or even those who don't, this book will inspire readers to look differently at animals in general and wonder what further things they can tell us. Reverence for all life should follow. Highly recommended.

Both Kim Meeder's books are wonderful...miraclous in fact! I bought them both and it's probably the best books I have ever purchased!Names of the books are: Hope Rising and Bridge Called Hope. Would recommend them to anyone an d everyone!

Book in Great condition (new), cheap. Shiped promptly. I will definitively buy again from this seller.

I highly recommend this to people considering converting to the Catholic faith or those who are new in it. I would even suggest it to "cradle Catholics" like myself because we all need a refresher on what our faith really is. The conglomeration of different authors is a brilliant idea because it gives the reader different perspectives. The authors are connected to the Franciscan University at Steubenville, which some priests have told me is the best Catholic university in the country. This book is heavily based on the Scriptures and very enlightening. It gives the big picture that we are God's family and He loves us.

Scott Hahn is without question the most popular and important Catholic apologist in today's world. Not only is he an incredibly gifted author but he is also a very dynamic speaker as well. His efforts have not only helped many of the Catholic faithful to better understand our faith but he has also been instrumental in the conversion process for many new Catholics. He himself was a Protestant minister until he began to examine scripture more closely and found a home in the Catholic Church.

Most of Dr. Hahn's books are the exclusive work of his brilliant mind and I have yet to read one that didn't teach me many things and help me understand better the things that I thought that I knew. In somewhat of a departure however the good doctor only writes one chapter and serves as co-editor of the rest of the essays that make up this book. Surprisingly, Dr. Hahn's chapter is not the best one to be found within this collection but among such other fine works that is nothing to be ashamed of. Among the best chapters are those by Curtis Martin, Kris Gray, Timothy Gray and Kimberly Hahn all of whom shine in a sky full of stars.

The basic theme for this collection of essays is the Church as the family of God (familia Dei) and each and every chapter deals with some aspect of this reality. From chapters on Our Lady's role as our mother, Divine sonship, the Church as the bride of Christ and the reality of Purgatory to the use of the term Father when addressing a Priest this book covers many interesting facets of our Catholic family. Best of all everything is explained in an easy to read and understand method with the authors not assuming that we are all as well educated in the Faith as they are.

There are a few negative aspects of this book however that deserve some attention. In any collection of essays some will be better than others and that is certainly the case here. None of the essays are bad, or even average for that matter but some of them are just a bit dry in places. Another problem is that some of the authors tend to use way too many quotes, one of which is so long that it takes up an entire page. Some quotations are reasonable and necessary but some of these authors push the limits a little too far. One other point that registers as both a negative and a positive is the somewhat repetitive nature of some essays. It is excellent that the main them is discussed time and again and that the subject is never far from the surface but too often I found myself thinking that I must have lost my place because I had read the same exact thing just minutes ago. I don't know how this could have been avoided but it was sometimes disconcerting.

There is much to know about the Catholic Faith and despite some minor flaws Dr. Hahn and company have done a marvelous job of explaining some of the very basics of Church teaching. They are not mean spirited or pompous as they explain to us less educated Catholics some things that we really should have known already. This book can justifiably be touted as another winner in the Hahn collection.

If you want to take a leap in your faith, this is the book for you. The depth of the book is fantastic and should be read over and over for it to sink in. I am buying 5 more copies to give to my closes friends...and I have never done that before. Need I say more.

Today the number of Catholics that do no go to mass, or do not have a clear idea why go to mass at all, is immense. Catholic for a reason is an excellent tool in helping those Catholics to come to know and love the Faith they received at baptism. Great book!

This is a great devotional book! My seminary student son ordered this book right before he left on a long trip. The book arrived after he left so I looked through it and got hooked. I have used it for the past month and have drug it around all over the country while highlighting all of the good passages. It looks pretty beat up with all the use. I ordered him another copy because he isn't getting this one back!

I've been reading Celtic Daily Prayers for five years now, and
love to re-read some prayers with their Celtic rhythm and images.
And there's much to explore. There are two series of daily
readings for the year with Biblical references for each day.
I find inspiration from this treasure of a book.

I have used the Celtic Daily Prayer every day for about 5 months. I read the Scriptures for the day, the meditation for the day of the year, and the meditation for the day of the month (repeats). It is consistently outstanding. I have distributed about 10 copies to our church ministers and leaders, and their response has been very positive.

The Celtic Daily prayer book has been a tool I have used for many years.
It has proven to be a source of inspiration, reflection, teaching, refreshment, and I could list many more.

I hope more western Christians will try this tool to draw nearer to the Lord and become more aware of traditions and tools that have developed Disciples for hundreds of years.

For many years, liturgy and formal prayers have been out of favor in Protestant Churches. Many of us are realizing that this rich tradition guarded by our (mostly) Catholic brothers and sisters has a very vibrant place in modern Christian spirituality. The wealth of tradition and unity offered by liturgical worship may be the next "in thing" for Protestants. We've already made hymns cool.
This books serves as a wonderful introduction to some of those practices. There are three sections of set prayers, two with scripture readings and meditations, plus a compline for each day. The CD, which I can't find on Amazon, makes for easier memorization of the prayers and blessings. The book also includes blessings and liturgies for baptisms, communion, marriage, and the like.

Celtic Daily Prayer is a great resource for someone new to the Daily Office, or as an alternative source of liturgies for those already accustomed to this form of worship.

For those interested in an overview of Traditional Christianity, Marcia Ford's Traditions of the Ancients: Vintage Faith Practices for the 21st Century might be a good place to start.

The rest of the reviews give beautiful summaries of this book.
I just want to add a few things. On the technical/storytelling side, Mr. Owens writes extremely well and this facilitates the excellent storyline that keeps the reader engaged.

Concerning the spiritual/Christian side of the book. This is the deepest book that I have read by a Christian author. By depth, I mean his representation of spiritual warfare is right on. Though many call this book a fantasty -- it is not fantasy but reality when it comes to the things of God.

So -- Mr. Owens, if you read these reviews. I just want to say thank you -- God is using you mightily and I am looking forward to your next book!

I really enjoyed Mr. Owens' book. Kept your interest and leaves you interested in the characters-wanting more. For all those who are looking for other good authors while waiting for next novel-check out Stephen Lawhead.

All the previous reviews tell you what the basic premise of this book is, a tantalizing bit of plot, that it is well-written, AND that it is an excellent first novel for author Owens. I agree with those statements.

But what is not told here is that new Christian fantasy is far and few between (his publisher put out four. Will there be more?) The Christian publishers--for years--stayed away from it and only re-published C.S. Lewis' Narnia or sent you to read Lord of the Rings and general market fantasy. A smattering here and there, but not a stronghold as a genre.

This book is well done, and if you appreciate Christian fantasy, you should be buying this. Why? 1. Because you like the genre and we all have said it's good. You'll enjoy it if you like Christian fantasy and a good story. 2. To let publishing companies know that we want more. 3. I really like it that there is a strong woman character and she meets her match in every way--definitely can appeal to women.

I hope Miles Owens is writing more of this sort of book. He'll only get better, and is already a really strong writer. More, Miles, more!

This book was an excellent first novel. I cannot believe the publisher has not picked up the trilogy! I keep checking back in the bookstores, but no second book has appeared. With the great need for engaging Christian fiction, this book stands a league above some of the other trite books that call themselves good reading! I implore Strang Communications to reconsider and publish this series.

In Miles Owens's book Daughter of Prophecy, a battle between good and evil is looming. At the center is Rhiannon, a girl who at her birth was prophesied to be the Protectoress of an Ancient covenant. At first she believes her prophecy to be literal and she trains with her brothers in sword fighting. But as the story progresses, she realizes the Eternal might have something entirely different in mind. Helping her in this process is a repentant religious leader and her foreign teacher. Meanwhile, the Mighty Ones are sending winged horrors determined to destroy her before she can fulfill the prophecy.

There are subtle christian messages throughout this book. The Eternal can use us only if we let go of all our wants and desires, and He is always standing by to help. Evil is truly evil and powerful, yet prayer can help destroy it. Owens does a good job of developing the characters and allowing them to grow in the story line. There are many characters, yet Owens makes it easy to keep track of them. Even the secondary character's actions will have an impact on the outcome of the battle.

Daughter of Prophecy is a great christian fantasy book. I look forward to reading the sequel.

CSFFC Ratings:
Teen Friendly: A
Christian Message: A
Crude or Profane language: A(none)
Drug or Alcohol: A-
Sexual Content: A(none)
Writing: A-(Solid writing. A few editing mistakes)

JoEtta Dingman
Christian Science Fiction & Fantasy Central Reviewer

"Dr. Gail's" Insightful how-to guide brings order and understanding to why we dress and groom the way we do. It helps women to feel comfortable in their own skin by illuminating the reason behind what sometimes seems like madness. In today's cookie-cutter, judgemental time when so-called fashion gurus with flash-in-a-pan book deals and cable television shows, it's refreshing to know that there is a voice crying out in the wilderness saying, it's ok to be who GOD made you; and to reflect your individuality through your style. Kudos to Dr. Gail!

Daughters of the King : Finding Victory Through Your God-Given Personal Style by Gail M. Hayes
Walk Worthy Press -May 2005
Full of inspiration and self-reflections.

Have you ever wondered why you like the things you like or even what career would best be suited for you? Have you ever daydreamed about Mr. Right or what makes you really you? Well, look no futher! DAUGHTERS OF THE KING suggests the ideal types of careers, spouses, clothing and loads of other things! We've all seen or heard about personality analysis before, whether it was Meyers-Briggs or some other method. Yet, Dr. Gail M. Hayes provides a whole new perspective in her book DAUGHTERS OF THE KING, which opens by providing an analytical quiz to the reader to help determine which of the six types they may fall into, from Jaunty Espirit to Sensual Exotic. For instance, if you fall in the "Harmonic Refined" category, you may see yourself as some type of diplomat affecting world peace or how about an accountant keeping the numbers in order? With your distinctive traits, you like to plan your work and work your plan. You have a great eye for detail. Just like the prophetess Anna, people have great respect for you and how you get things done but their feathers may get ruffled by your directness. Whereas your "Elegant Flamboyant" sister is a woman in charge and she has no problem letting others know it. She is the free-spirit entrepreneur who loves marching to the beat of her own drummer, just like her Biblical counterpart Lydia. She could also be that talk show host who likes to be the center of everyone's spot. Although these are just two of the personality traits highlighted in the book, Dr. Hayes relates each of the six traits back to a Biblical female and thoroughly provides insight ranging from clothing and jewelry preferences to career choices and family relations.

All in all, I enjoyed the approach DAUGHTERS OF THE KING provided. It was an interesting glimpse into a subject matter that I've studied in the past. While I enjoyed the biblical references, I thought some of the generalizations about the various image types may have been just that, too general. Yet, I found myself studying the text in the book and at times, laughing out loud or shaking my head in agreement. If you're curious to see how your personality style matches up to your biblical counterpart, do not pass up DAUGHTERS OF THE KING.

Reviewed by Nedine
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

Authors Gail M. Hayes, PHD, has written an awesome non fiction guide for women of all ages, all races, to help them to first understand that they are unique and one of a kind. A woman of God called before the foundation of the Earth to be who they are according to how God made them.

Daughters of the King helps us to recognize our personal God given style so that we will not try to fit into someone else's mold or perception of who we are. We can be ourselves proudly knowing who we are in God regardless of our personality styles, which includes our dress, what kind of jobs we enjoy, our ministries, our family lives, and who we are as a whole.

What I enjoyed the most was utilizing the Image Indicator in the beginning of the book and finding out what personality style I am and then reading further in the book to see how very accurate it was. Being called "Jaunty Esprit" was very unexpected, but after reading through the book, I found that I had a little in each personality style.

I would recommend this book to all women regardless of their race, religion, or dress size. What Dr. Hayes shares in her book will cause you to take self-inventory to find all of the amazing things about yourself that is personally and uniquely yours created by God.

Reviewed by Sharel E. Gordon-Love
APOOO Book Blub

An incredibly interesting and wildly fun - and I must admit truly accurate book - found me recently. It is Gail M. Hayes' book, Daughters of the King.

Hayes believes that every woman has her own unique sense of style that is not only how she dresses but also how she does things (like holding an eating utensil or how she thinks). It is her very essence. It is simply who women are in the world and as children of God.

Hayes presents a simple twelve-question image indicator, and from the answers can tell women what type they are; Jaunty Esprit, Harmonic Refined, Elegant Flamboyant, Creative Poetic, Chantilly Graceful or Sensual Exotic. Now you might scoff or even laugh at the thought that a short questionnaire can pinpoint style, but I must confess that when I took the test, it was so accurate it shocked me. And no, I'm not going to share my style. I'd like to quietly savor it for awhile before proclaiming it to everyone.

Once you have determined your style, Hayes discusses in depth the beauty of your unique style, the inner you, tells a biblical story, discuses your style and family life, your strengths in the body of Christ, working style, good career choices, color and clothing and jewelry choices, as well as make up and hair styles.

I absolutely love this book because it's fun, it explains my style personally and as a child of God. And because it is, as I said before, so accurate! Women, buy this book, share it with your daughter, friends and anyone who will listen. I see style parties cropping up all over the country. "What fun!"