Christianity Books

I was completely enamored by this trilogy! I had heard and read the stories that inspired these books many times but the poetic and allegorical way they are presented in The Singer Trilogy made me realize the reality and grandeur of the events on a deeper and more personal level then I ever had before. These books affected me while I read them and have lingered with me long after I finished.

This trilogy got me hooked on Calvin Miller's allegories (A Requiem for Love, Th Symphony in the Sand etc.) and I highly recommend them all !

I first bought the trilogy almost twenty-five years ago, and it is one of the few books that I have that wasn't buried in the basement shortly after reading. Recently, I pulled it out again and found that I enjoyed reading it as much as I did all those years ago. The best review that I can give is that I have purchased the complete set twice, individual books on several occasions, lent it others and given it away. It's a book worth sharing with others.

After all the reviews I read regarding this book I had expected something good and, still, it was better than expected. So good, in fact, that I read it a chapter at a time because I wanted to let it sink in.

All in all, well worth it: check it out.

I thought I did a review for this last week but it didn't appear to have gone through. This is a great book and anything Calvin Miller writes is worth the time and expense. I had read "The Singer" before, so when I saw the trilogy was available in one volume, I knew I had to buy it. I can't imagine anyone would be disappointed. It's really a must have!

This is one of those books I read over and over again. I have read it probably 20 times since my first reading. Calvin Miller puts biblical stories into narrative poems that are so well written they force you to turn the page again and again. This book is the first in the Singer Trilogy, followed by The Song and The Finale. It is a poetic retelling of three biblical books: The Singer parallels the 4 Gospels, The Song retells the story of Acts, and The Finale is Miller's version of the book of Revelation.

Miller writes explicitly Christian fantasy in these books. He is also widely known for his non-fiction AND Christian life application books.

The Singer is a powerful retelling of the life of Christ, where instead of Jesus and The Gospel you have the Singer and his song. His song, if you are open to it, can bring healing and restoration. The World-Hater, wants to destroy both the Singer and his star song. Miller's words moved me to tears the first time I encountered them. The story is so well written, it can be read over and over without losing its freshness. The book is also excellently illustrated by Chicago artist Joe DeVelasco. The drawings done in pen and Ink style add to the power of the story by transporting you into the events.

No matter how many times over I reread this book, it is always fresh and new and draws me into the story of Christ in a different way. It is truly a classic and a treasure for any bookshelf. Each time I pick these up and reread them, I find a deepening of my relationship with Christ, and of my prayer life.

Miller also has a Symphonic Trilogy that retells different stories from the book of Genesis. The two I owned were A Requiem for Love and A Symphony in Sand. As far as I can tell, there are also 2 stand-alone books by Miller in this style that are often compared to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Lewis's Narnia. They are The Valiant Papers, an account of a guardian angel's experiences, and The Philippian Fragment, the retelling of the book of Philippians from the New Testament. I have owned most of these and lent them out to not be returned. I now have The Singer Trilogy, Valiant, and Singer Trilogy 3-in-1 hardcover. Over the next few weeks I will review those I still have, but cannot encourage you strongly enough to pick them up if you find them in a used bookstore. They are all great.

Over the next few weeks, I plan on reviewing some of the others that I still have from this author. And if I find the others again, I will review them. (It has just been too long since I lent them out and did not get them back for me to review them from memory.)

Other Miller Books:
The Singer
The Song
The Finale
The Valiant Papers
The Philippian Fragment (Currently OP)

This book teaches in depth about the various stages of relationships. Munroe deals very specifically on being whole and complete and how not to control people to meet your needs.

I would recommend this book for all ages, singles and married couples. It provides great insight for personal growth and maturity. It also helps point out potential pitfalls that befall many.

I highly recommend this book for every walk of life wheather you find yourself single, going through a divorce,seperated or divorced... and married just like the title says. It is a book you will want to refer back to over and over again. Be blessed.

It is true that we need to learn to be whole before becoming complete. Everyone should grab this concept before getting married. I would highly recommend another book, "Why Singles are not Married & the Married are Single". Truly compliments this writing. Mike Marra really gets to the basics of each gender and thoroughly discusses modern day situations like no other I have read.

I am recently separated and after 22 years of marriage, the thought of being single terrified me. This book gave me a whole new perspective on what it actually means to be single, which is different than being alone. Knowing that we are all created to be unique, whole, "single" humanbeings first and that God made us that way, gives me the strength to stay focused on my healing as a person and not go searching for it with someone else. Being in a relationship with others doesn't make me a whole person and when I enter into a new relationship in the future, I plan on being a strong, unique, whole and single person first this time.
I highly recommend this book to those who are struggling with the myth that being single isn't the norm.

Have read many books on leadership. This one tops them all. Useful at home as well as at work. Focuses on who's vision we are really following.

This is one of the best books on leadership today. It teaches leaders at every level how to get Christians from focusing on a personal agenda to getting on God's agenda. One of the best books on leadership ever written. I use it for small group leadership training.

Henry and Richard Blackaby (father and son) are leaders the Southern Baptist denomination, with leadership demonstrated in the business and academic realms respectively. "Spiritual Leadership" is an attempt to tempter the current crop of leadership books, which focus on the American concept of rugged individualism and creating vision. Blackaby and Blackaby, in "Spiritual Leadership" recognize the practical wisdom contained in such books, yet seek to ground their arguments in the foundational concepts of service to Christ and fervent prayer.

Indeed, prayer and submission to God are the central elements around with the rest of the book turns. The authors argue that "creating a vision" and reliance upon human wisdom are foreign concepts Biblical teachings on leadership. They argue that man does not determine his own paths, but rather God prepares activities for his servants, works through them to accomplish these tasks, and then follows up to produce the success (defined by God himself) of the endeavor. To determine what this pre-determined activity is, Blackaby and Blackaby argue that prayer is essential.

The message is simple--seek God's will in strengthening your faith, in your major life decisions, and even in your day-to-day activities through prayer, then (once God's will is determined) humble yourself and faithfully carry out that will. Yet, the message is not simplistic. The authors present the concept thoroughly, addressing growing prayer life and leadership style; showing what spiritual leadership is and is not; addressing short-term issues and long-term ones; showing how this style of leadership plays out in a variety of settings; and providing pastoral encouragement. Although the simple message is consistent, the book never becomes repetitive or boring; rather the prose is fresh and stimulating throughout.

Now, I must admit skepticism based on certain doctrinal and practical principles. On the doctrinal side, I confess my belief that God communicates and communes with man through means--Scripture and Sacraments. On the practical side, I fear that people will simply imagine that God is "telling" them what they want to hear anyway--that is, that people will ascribe to God their man-centered ideas.

Although I still believe both hold water, I decided to follow Blackaby and Blackaby's advice and pray more fervently in the way they recommend to see if any change comes about. Indeed it had. Consistently praying (both prayers common to the church like the Lord's Prayer, Luther's Morning Prayer, and the weekly collects as well as idiosyncratic prayers), I found that my perceived connection to God strengthened, stress reduced, major decisions made with a strong sense of peace as I acknowledged God's direction, and even new, exciting opportunities presented.

While I would have liked to see this book focus a little more on holistic spirituality (e.g. the role of worship, daily Bible reading, Sacraments, etc) in the thorough way they presented holistic leadership, the fact remains that "Spiritual Leadership" is a positive, paradigm-changing book. This is true on the intellectual level (faithful servant versus rugged individual paradigms) and the spirituality level (my spirituality has deepened as a result of following the advice of the book).

How the arguments of "Spiritual Leadership" will play out in my life beyond the month trial or how my opinion of the book will shift as I increase in my understanding of prayer remains to be seen. Nevertheless, the command of our Lord to pray fervently remains, and Blackaby and Blackaby do a great service in showing how this command can be practically lived in a variety of situations.

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

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

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

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

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

These books are good, even if you are really interested in historical accuracy. The great thing about them is they can really inspire one to do their own research and learn themselves about what was going on during that time. The interactions between the characters and famous historical figures aren't factual, of course, but the major events are accurate. These books really inspired me to do my own research and to visit the cities that the characters inhabit. I really enjoyed reading them, so if you love history, don't let the fiction aspect scare you away, it often serves as a fun backdrop in which real learning can take place.

If you start reading this series, you will not be able to put the books down! Against the backdrop of pre-WWII Europe, the Thoenes create characters that are true to life, and that you can't help but root for -- or against. These books are incredibly well-researched and well written, and a great investment of your time and money. You won't be disappointed!

I'll say that the books are interesting. They definitely have that in their favor. However, I have just finished reading some of the other online reviews for the Zion Covenant Series, and it seems that everyone loved them instantly, without finding anything to criticize about them. Well, I'll give you a more critical opinion to help guide you in your book purchases:

If you DON'T care for books in which....
1. ...the characters are very stereotypical;
2. ...the authors take great liberties with the thoughts, words, and actions of actual historical figures and make them say and do things that you know they never did, or would have done;
3. ...the main characters are great pals with the actual historical figures, and are rich, are beautiful, are witty- in short, have absolutely everything they need to accomplish the story and aren't very believable;
4. ...the plot isn't believable;
Then, these books might not be just right for you.

Yes, the books are very interesting. The plots aren't very believable, but they are interesting. The history contained in them is written well, and the books are worth reading for that alone. Unfortunately, these books are more of the same historical fiction in which overall unbelievability prevails, and that spoiled the books for me. Now, if you are not picky about having great people in history meddled with (for example, at one point in the third book Winston Churchill gets involved in a plot to kidnap the heroine, because she would be so exceedingly valuable as a spy for the Allies), and you don't worry about the other points in my list either, then you probably will like the books. For reading for amusement, they are fine. But if you want really great historical fiction, I wouldn't suggest the Zion Covenant.

Vienna Prelude is the first book in an amazing series. The characters are intriguing and Thoene's ability to show the struggle of the Jewish resistance in pre-WWII Europe is incredible.

I have only recently been introduced to Bodie Thoene, but I became an instant fan with Vienna Prelude. Some of the twists in the book had my mouth dropping open. In the world of espionage, you don't know who to trust and who not to--these books brought that alive. They are written about a time before even my parents were born, and it's mouth-droolingly interesting to see what could have happened in this totally foreign world. I've never read anything like these and am in the process of buying all of Thoene's books. I'm even buying for my mother and telling everyone else about them. OUTSTANDING READ!

THE BOOK GIVES NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF WHY THE NEW TESTAMENT IS NOT ENTIRELY VALID. YOU CAN SUM UP HER BOOK BY SAYING SIMPLY THAT THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO DID NOT WITNESS WHAT THEY CLAIM, BUT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND OTHER CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS WANT YOU TO BELIEVE THAT WHAT IS SAID IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IS TRUE REGARDLESS OF THE LACK OF ACCURACY OR MISTRANSLATION. I WILL SAY THAT IT ANSWERED ONE OF MY QUESTIONS, BUT THE BOOK DOES EXPLAIN WHY THE NEW TESTAMENTS' VALIDITY IS QUESTIONABLE. ITS A GOOD BOOK TO READ IF YOU'RE SEARCHING FOR EXAMPLES OF WHY THERE ARE QUESTIONABLE AREAS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, CHRONOLOGICAL ERRORS, MISTRANSLATIONS OF THOSE WHO WROTE THE CHAPTERS, MISREPRESENTATIONS OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED AND WHERE THEY HAPPENED AS WELL AS WHY. IT MAKES ONE WONDER WHAT REALLY HAPPENED 2000 + YEARS AGO IF NO ONE LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO WRITE ABOUT IT. WHAT WAS STATED HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN SIMILAR TO STORIES, ONE MORE GRANDIOSE THAN THE ONE BEFORE IT.

Who was Jesus? is an exceptionally well written and researched investigation into the Jesus story and the New Testament. The author, D.M. Murdock, brings logic, reason, and intelligence to a subject that has held human kind captive for centuries and dares to go where so very few ever dare go. This book rates among the top of a very small group of other equally as compelling books such as "The Age of Reason" written by Thomas Paine in 1794, "The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors" written by Kersey Graves in 1824, and more recent publications "Caesar's Messiah" by Joseph Atwill and "An Infidel Manifesto" by Gary Lenaire.

Theologian David Bosch stated that, "The mission of the church needs constantly to be renewed and reconceived." And so Christianity and its myriad churches have adapted to the changing climate of secular cultural beliefs and methods which gain wide popular acclamation. By the time Voltaire wrote in "Candide" of his devoted disciple to ultra-rationalist Alfred Leibnitz, Prof. Pangloss, the "take it on faith" appeal of the churches toward less acculturated masses seemed glumly passe in the craze of the western cogniscenti toward the new rationalism that stressed study of evidence in rigorous empiricism and epistemology. By the 19th century, the gospels, scriptures, older apologies and other early Christian texts were beginning to be scrutinized by the criteria of rational method formulated in the immediate prior decades. Dissatisfied with the veneer of vague metaphysics in the literal content, the early Christian rationalists employed methods of literary criticism and developed "higher criticism" as a means of analogous and metaphorical interpretation.

Especially in the U.S., starting in the mid-20th century a reactive more fundamental and evangelical school of clerical scholarship is determined to take their "new" rationalism public. In the day and age of rocket science and electronic engineering, both in sermon and classroom, the scholars would spread the word that faith alone is no longer required to embrace Christ's one "true" revelation -- hence, books written for popular appeal such as "Evidence That Demands a Verdict" by Josh McDowell. (Apparently that was not enough : "The New Evidence that Demands A Verdict".) Alleged ex-Atheist journalists like Lee Strobel become super-stars on Christian television with books like "The Case for Christ", ad nauseum.

D.M. Murdock is not the first detective among skeptics to casually but surgically burst the bubble and pollute the punch of modern Christian claims of evidence. But in less than 200 pages she does so with an alacrity and thoroughness that is nothing less than stunning for the quantity of information imparted but brevity in outlining a counter-case. I am reminded of an especially skilled courtroom attorney orating a final summary of arguments to a jury.

She has the ability to make her case quite ably from a minimally clinical perspective, to be sure. But the reader is treated to so much more. We recognize in the writing style here, the sumptuous ability to engage her reader and immerse one in the vagaries of comparative mythology and religion that is the trademark of Acharya S. A passionate archeologist, classicist, and historian, she has that knack of being able to guide the reader into sharing with her the adventure of exploring intellectual realms not commonly known or appreciated. She uses such talent here in spades. From a respectful summarizing of Gospel Matthew, we are alerted to the problem of harmonizing the gospels, the problems of evidences outside the Christian paradigm, the problem of dating the gospels and other Christian documents by standards of best tangible evidence, the earlier Jewish scriptural and pagan influences on the NT, other issues aside, each more enthralling than the preceding, until finally debunking the weak claims of evidence, some clothed no better than the proverbial emperor, insisted upon by the growing range of evangelical Christian scholarship. The pages turn, the momentum builds, and even the most disinterested reader is introduced to fascinating aspects of literary development and mythologizing in the earlier ancient realm of our western tradition.

This book is as intellectually honest as it is timely. The Evangelical movement and neo-conservatives have sought to exploit the uncertainty and fear caused by the attacks of 9/11 and this book is a shining example of the rationality, courage, and intellect that surfaces when society needs a drastic course adjustment. The ugly hegemonic aspect of organized religion has created "godly" millionaires and "humble" political powerhouses bent on the fulfillment of violent prophecies. Without the dissemination of the wisdom contained in this book, and others like it, it is a historically proven certainty that America will become a tyrannical fascist police state with Christianity at its "moral" foundation. If this is to be our fate, the very least that every person of good conscience owes to themselves, friends, and family is to set aside blind faith for a moment and challenge the beliefs that are brining it about. My only criticism of the book is that the author relies heavily on a scientific voice. I have found that logical argumentation conjures, in a split second, the cognitive consonance of blind faith which leads to paranoia, then anger. But, in the end, it is up to the "true believer" to work past this bias. I implore every person with the courage to take personal responsibility for their spirituality to get this book in front of as many Christians as you can, quickly!

As a Religious Studies student at Indiana University I am extremely fascinated by the historical origins of Christianity. Ms. Murdock has provided a much needed objective evaluation of the supposed "evidence" which is usually marshalled in defense of traditional and conservative approaches to the topic. With an even handed use of logic, she forensically examines primary sources. While often citing mainstream and conservative scholars, she doesn't limit herself to their timid conclusions. In fact, her analysis leads to conclusions that are as reasonable as they are shocking. This work is both consice and thorough. It deserves strong attention from aspiring academics as well as those of the conservative literalist fold. Rather than dogmatize out of some hidden agenda, she, more rationally, lets the evidence speak for itself. I highly recommend this eloquent and persuasive volume!

This is a heart warming story about a small Christmas tree that is not perfect, because it shares from the heart.
This story was read to my child at school, and it was liked so much that she wanted one for Christmas.

The little book impresses children (and adults) with the true spirit of Christmas, giving of one's self. The illustrations are beautiful and the text well written. It has become one of my favorite Christmas stories.

This book has a great message for young and old alike! This is a book for anyone who has performed acts of service and wondered, "Does it count for anything?" And the answer is yes. Every act of kindness has a lasting impact on the giver as well as the receiver.

This story is beautifully told and illustrated. This book is a great addition to any home library--it is the kind of book you want to own not just borrow from the public library.

Also recomended:Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices--another poignant story about the rewards of giving...

I wanted a Christmas tree book to read to my kids when we went to cut down our tree. I had never heard of this book, but I chose it from the library because it was about a Christmas tree. It is a wonderful heartwarming story. It has everything my fou-year-old (and me) loves. It has animals, a queen and castle, and a touching ending. I am going to purchase one for our family to make it a tradition on the day we go get our tree and I will likely purchase a few more as gifts as well.

A simple answer to the question in the book title -- because in imperfection you find beauty and grace and wonder. The this story is full of such things.

This book is one of our family favorites -- a classic we return to and will carry with us in memories. Reading this book together gives us the chance to stop in a very busy season and wonder about things bigger and more important than wrapping and running. The message that defines perfection is a life lesson we all need.

I will be purchasing this book to give to my children's families as they marry and begin their own Christmas traditions.

I received this book as a gift and have since purchased 5 for family members and friends. It is my daily inspiration. No matter what we are facing, we can praise God that He is with us in and through it all. This book focuses your mind, heart and spirit on God in the most difficult of times and most blessed of times. It has changed the way I look at challenges and victories and I can praise God for both. I mostly highly recommend this book for everyone.

We used this book for our Bible Study for new Christians and have seen an immediate appreciation for God's character and authority over their lives.

Even though I viewed this product on line before ordering, it was not what I wanted. The 1994 edition I have of this book includes journaling space each day following the day's scriptures. I didn't realize this was not included until the books came. In giving this to members of my mission team, I wanted them to journal their praises to God for the 31 days. I think the journaling space makes the book so much more effective as a tool with which to praise God. The book is still very good . . . just not what I really wanted the way I wanted to use it.

This book was a gift from a friend. It is one of the best gifts I've ever received and I will read it over and over again through the years. Great spiritual insight. This is a good devotional for someone who is grieving the loss of a spouse too.

I have used this book for quiet times for years and I recently purchased another one to use because my old one wore out. It really helped me apply how important praise to God is to spiritual growth.

Max Lucado addresses a pretty fool-proof section of the Bible here. It's a decent book; however, like serving someone a hard-boiled egg, it's pretty hard to screw up.

It is a helpful book for anyone unfamiliar with Jesus' most simplistic yet profound sermon. But, for those already familiar with the Beatitudes, this book serves more as a good reminder than it does as a provider of new insight into Biblical text.

For that reason, I found the book lacking in intellectual/theological stimulation.

Max Lacudo explains the beatitudes in such a simple yet enlightening way one can't help but say "yes" as you read! He literally changed my life as I realized through this book that I too wanted to be up on the Mountain, and not left in the valley. And King of the Mountain is not the goal! For anyone looking to find the light this is the book! I keep extra copies to pass on and give as gifts. A wonderful book!

Great study on the beattitudes for small groups.
Chapters are short enough not to be a burden on busy people.

I have read this book at least 5 times. Without a doubt this book has the happiest ending a story could ever have!

I read this several years ago, and just read it again. It is a great book over the beattitudes. Max Lucado does a great job of teaching through stories and this book is no exception. It gave me a fresh perspective a very popular Bible passage.

This is a terrific book on how to love, and how we really do not understand real biblical love very well. A must read for every believer in Christ!

The book takes the reader into channels of thinking
which are spiritually challenging, and most unique,
in terms of exploring earlier relationships that
must needs be addressed once again.
Very well written, and informative.

This gem of a book was published among a flurry of "me too" self-help psychobabble tomes and I think was lost among them. I am amazed every time I pull it out, at how relevant it still is.
I laughed when I saw the earlier review that said "I dare you" regarding this book.
I said the same thing when I gave it to a friend years ago. (I'm married to him now)

Bold Love is probably the most important book I have ever read. It was recommended to me for the practicality of the three last chapters concerning how to relate to evil persons, foolish persons and so-called ordinary sinners. I found these chapters very helpful. What I didn't expect from the book was a new perspective of myself and God. Allender's language is so graphic I wondered how a man could know what I, a woman, was thinking and feeling. Without knowing it, this is the book I was searching for and hoping for but didn't think existed. I will read it over and over.

What does it mean to "honor" a wicked parent? How do you love an abusive person without opening yourself up to more damage? What happens when you can't forgive and forget?

With a few exceptions, I generally write reviews of books I like which means I'm somewhat biasing the overall Amazon rankings. But let me say that of all the books I like or love, none has influenced my life more than Dan Allender's Bold Love. I say life because it has impacted so many areas from my relationships to my politics to my theology to my marriage. The book is about what it really means to love someone, anyone from the love of your life to an abuser to your greatest enemy. The crux of the message is that love is not forgive and forget attitude but rather one that admits the pain and hurt that has been caused and confronts it. But the purpose of the confrontation is really the key to the book. The purpose is not to cover your bases or get it off your chest to enable to move on and have closure. What was revolutionary to me at the time of reading was that it pointed me back to the object of love, the other. It solidified the fact that evil committed against you must be admitted and the accuser must be confronted. This is difficult and thus the "Bold" in the title. But the underlying belief is that no person is beyond saving. No person is beyond to hope of reconciliation.

The authors are Christians. Dan Allender is a counselor with many years of experience. Tremper Longman is a top-notch Old Testament Scholar who writes one of the chapters in the book himself and assists in writing the rest. Why bring an Bible scholar into a discussion of interpersonal relationships? Because their model for reconciliation is God's reconciliation with man. The sin that man commits against God did not disqualify us from being loved, it just made the task more bold. First of all, God calls a spade a spade. He does not deny the sin committed or the gravity of the consequences. He does not just forgive and look the other way. Rather, Jesus, or better to use the name Emmanuel in this context, dove right into the mess and sought after those who had abused God through their disobedience. He never gave up. He was tenacious always believing that reconciliation was possible. He interceded for his killers saying, "Father, forgive them."

The argument is that this should be our impetus for boldly going after those who have sexually, physically, verbally, or mentally abused us, whether fathers or mothers or former friends or outright enemies. God did not give up on creation. He sought after it at great expense to himself. This is what it means to love. This is what it means to love your enemies. The importance that the book places on admitting the evil that was done along with the hope that no one is beyond the reach of reconciliation is what has impacted my mind so much in so many different areas.

If you're interested in this topic in general I also recommend the following:

Exclusion and Embrace by Miroslav Volf - Award-winning book I've seen recommend by theologians/biblical scholars. (Author is a Christian theologian)
The End of Memory by Miroslav Volf - The latest offering from Volf and has been receiving rave reviews. (Same as above)
I and Thou by Martin Buber - Becoming somewhat of a modern day classic on the subject and I've also seen this recommended in theological circles. (Author is a Jewish philosopher)

Here is a summary outline of Bold Love which follows a wartime motif:

Section 1: The Battlefield of the Heart
This is the most theologically oriented section as it introduces the problem and describes the motivation to love based on what God has done.

Section 2: Strategy for the War of Love
This section is the meat of the book as it describes the steps toward reconciliation. First there is a passionate hope and hunger for restoration. Second, we mercifully revoke revenge and as we are reminded of our brokenness and how God hoped and hungered for restoration with us. Third, introduces us to the art of confronting the enemy.

Section 3: Combat for the Soul
This section takes the principals in the first two parts of the book and applies them practically to three different types of people who may have caused hurt in our lives. First, there is a chapter on loving an evil person, subtitled Siege Warfare. Specifically this is about sexual, physical, verbal, or mental abusers. Second, there is a chapter on loving a fool, subtitled Guerrilla Warfare. This is about people who carelessly cause great damage to another's soul. Third, there is a chapter on loving a normal sinner, subtitled Athletic Competition. This is the type of hurt you may deal with from most people on a daily basis.

If you are reading this review, you have been sucked in by the title, probably because you somehow relate. If so, then the topic is of huge significance to you. The book is solid, and the content reflects the title.

Regardless of your background, if you have a Christian faith and desire to live out that faith with your children, then bring your highlighter and keep notes as you read.

Not everyone comes into parenting with great childhood experiences to draw from. Even if you did have a safe upbringing, ALL parents are forging a new way for their children. We are all "pioneers". This book is a wealth of information, and challenges you to re-evaluate how and why you do what you do and believe what you believe. Mary DeMuth shares her personal journey of overcoming her painful past. She offers great hope & encouragement to all parents. You will glean from her writing, no matter what your story is.

Building The Christian Family You Never Had is a must read for every couple contemplating having children, every parent who has children, and every adult who found life with their parents difficult or confusing. Not have the right role model can be frustrating--even confusing. But thanks to DeMuth's great advice we can learn to let go of the past, foster positive parenting skills, and shield our children from the negative influences others have left on our lives and continue to drill into our psyche.

Mary's book is a MUST READ; not only for every parent, but also for everyone who has ever had a parent. Her insights into family dynamics are revealing and instructive. Her words bring healing and resolution. Mary's skill as a writer makes her Guide for Pioneer Parents an enjoyable, fast-moving read. But watch out - one time through will NOT be enough! You will want to keep this Guide around to read over and over.

Of the three excellent books of Mary's I have been priviledged to read, this is the one that has had me most riveted to each nugget of truth. I am a quick reader, and usually don't read a book twice in a year but this one has me dipping into it almost daily. I have read and re-read the chapters, blinking in the freshness as I absorbed and processed each life altering concept. It has revolutionised my way of life, the sense of who I am, how fragile we are and how Great is Our God. It has given me a glimpse of the Father heart of God and my husband and I have turned our mistaken foundation of parenting back to the example in the Word, thanks to reading this book. I am also peeling away the 'onion layers' of my own childhood.

Mary is a highly proficient messenger of the truth. Her words fly directly from the heart of the healer in my belief and I am honoured to have walked through the pages of her journey and find my own healing in that experience.

Get this book. Even if you have the most Christian upbringing possible. Especially then.