Christianity Books

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RNE87Q7CFIJMO Great inspiring video about Joan of Arc with historic pictures.

Maid of Heaven was the third book I recently read about Joan of Arc. While I don't typically read poetry (that is I may be a bad judge), this particular poetry was definitely not to my liking. The book was essentially a short biography of Joan 's life told in a manner that seemed forced and not particularly appealing; the poetry aspects seemed almost non-existent to me other the some basic rhyming (I have read some really good poetry, some that captures your imagination and lets your drift into deep thought, not this one). The reason to add this review was to provide some counter-balance the 10 other 5 star ratings (!?) -- you may love this, but the book didn't excite my imagination at all.

Everyone knows of the general legend of Joan of Arc - a young and illiterate girl hears voices from God and leads France against the invading English. "Maid of Heaven: The Story of Saint Joan of Arc", however, tells the complete and through story of a sixteen year old girl who rose up to stand against insurmountable odds. Nonfiction, but written and reads like fiction, "Maid of Heaven: The Story of Saint Joan of Arc" is expertly composed and highly recommended to world history shelves and for anyone who wants a complete understanding of this enigmatic teenage girl who was anything but.

The symbolism in this poem is awesome! The whole battle of light verses darkness in the life of St. Joan is beautifully portrayed throughout Maid of Heaven. The very first stanza references St. Joan's birth on the Epiphany and from there her great spiritual journey unfolds in a way that make it clear what the focus of her life was: serving God.

If you only read this poem as a history of Joan of Arc you will come away with a good understanding of the major events in her life. BUT if you allow the poem to take you deeper you will transcend beyond the obvious conclusions about St. Joan of Arc and better understand why she truly deserves to be called a saint.

I've read many books about France's Partron Saint, Joan of Arc, but never seen one like 'Maid of Heaven' by Ben Kennedy. It is Joan's life portrayed through beautiful poetic form. Mr. Kennedy does an amazing job of putting such a lyrical story into capitivating lyrical form. It is the kind of book that catches your attentiion, and then never lets go. Once I started, I was compelled to continue to the very end. The poetry is lovely and well versed, and the historical perspecties reflect an accurate accounting of Joan's amazing story. Most importantly, Mr. Kennedy doesn't neglect to include the spiritaul perspectives and implications in his work, and we are all the better for it. I highly recommend this lovely and most original approach to Joan's life.

I am still reading this book but have found it enjoyable for the most part. It is easy reading and is good food for thought. There are a few things I am not sure I totally agree with but that is just a difference of opinion, and still gives you something to think about.

Having reached the 'empty nest' stage in my life I am finding this helpful just as a reminder to constantly be aware of my marriage, and my partner as a person. As we struggle to remember the initial attraction and rebuild the fire, this book is there to gently lead me to look in the right direction.

I would recommend it to others.

I heard the author on an edition of the Focus on the Family radio show. She talked about watching her husband, who was sitting on the couch without a shirt on, hunched over and clipping his toenails..... or something like that...... and her almost-repulsed thoughts about the "big lug who sleeps next to her at night." Not such a Prince Charming moment.

Have you ever wondered just how green the grass is on the other side? Maybe you've already hopped the fence; or maybe your feet are firmly planted in your own yard. Either way, if you are a married woman, your marriage will no doubt benefit with the flip of each page of this masterpiece. Paula Friedrichsen uses her personal experience of a "too-close relationship" and the wisdom she gained from it to help the rest of us. I can't say enough about it. This book will keep you in check and give you an attitude adjustment in your marriage. You'll want to have a highlighter in one hand as you read because there are so many "WOW" nuggets that you'll want to look back on. I am so thankful to Paula for reminding me and teaching me what a Christian marriage should be and how much it needs to be FOUGHT for! If every woman could only read this book and heed the biblically-based principles, our world would be in much better shape.

I think the last paragraph in her introduction does a great job in summing up the book:

"Along with the realization of this blessing that has been right under your nose all along, joy bubbles up from a place long dormant. You are renewed, and your marriage is renewed, too. With your new lens, you'll see that even in an imperfect world, with an imperfect guy, living out an imperfect marriage--you serve a perfect God. A God who delights in making all things new... who delights in reminding you of His blessings. A God who shows you plainly that the man you always wanted is the one you already have!"

THANK YOU, Paula, for helping me to see that the grass at my house is the greenest of all!

The Man You Always Wanted Is the One You Already Have is a wonderful book that all married women should read whether they think they are already married to their Prince Charming or not. Paula Friedrichsen shares from her own personal experience in her marriage and how a relationship that started out innocently at first soon became inappropriate, almost destroying her marriage. She was given a new "heavenly perspective" for her husband after everything was brought out into the open and shares some wonderful biblical insights on how we too can begin to see our husbands with new eyes so we can keep from going down the wrong path in our own marriages.

It is wonderful how the whole book helps us appreciate and view our husbands, imperfections and all, from a "heavenly perspective" because so much of everything else we read and watch tells us differently.

In this book Paula challenges us as Christian women to rise above our emotional response, and choose to do right by our husbands, by honoring God and what he has called us to as wives. It reads like a conversation with a good friend with honest stories, insightful personal trials, scripture and well put humor.

This book will give you the tools you need to help you grow into the wife God has called you to be, which will in turn bear the fruit of a blessed, lasting and happy marriage.

Paula Friedrichsen lays it out very clearly in this book about how, as Christian wives, we should look at, honor, and better serve our husbands. Her writing is filled with such tangible honesty that I found myself walking beside her, often holding my breath, as she took me through a series of events that changed her life. Her openness to share all the intimate details brought me right into her world and her fresh sense of humor made me laugh through it all. Whether you are newly married, married thirty years, or just hoping to be a wife one day, I would recommend you read this book. Paula's insight overflows with seeds of wisdom. Take them, plant them, and then glean from the harvest for years to come.

May I Walk You Home? by Melody Rossi did so much for me in terms of being able to share the Gospel with people who are in very difficult times.
The times when people need God the most can sometimes be the hardest to share with them because they are so upset, angry or simply closed off. Not only in the cases of terminal illness is this book a Soul saver. I had a friend who was suicidal and without hope while going through a painful divorce he didn't want. By using the steps and ways I experienced in the book, I was blessed to be able to get my friend into the most important relationship in his life in the most important time. He is now saved; in this life and forever.
Thank You and God Bless You Mrs. Rossi

Melody had me from page one. Her story--her losses, moved me to tears. I also cried from joy as she cared and ministered to her loved ones. This book should be in every Christian's library. This book encourages and teaches people how to step out in faith and take a risk. I related to Melody's fear and applaud her courage to do what she was asked to do. I know if I have the opportunity to be an instrument to bring someone dying to Jesus, I'm better prepared for reading this book.

Death isn't exactly something we enjoy talking about, and we tend to put off the discussion until circumstances force us to face its reality. All too often, by then it's too late, or very nearly so. That's why, as soon as a loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, we need to get the conversation started --- and that's when a book like Melody Rossi's MAY I WALK YOU HOME? becomes an indispensable and invaluable resource.

Divided into four sections that parallel the journey from the initial diagnosis to the grief that lives on long after the patient has died, the book wastes little time and few words. Rossi chooses to plunge right in and offer immediate support and guidance to those who are reeling from the impending loss of a loved one. And she's wise in doing so. When a loved one --- or anyone in your sphere of influence --- is dying, you need help, and you need it now. Rossi packs a great deal of information and encouragement into this well-organized, 100-page volume. Caregivers should have no problem finding the help they need at the moment they need it.

The first section describes Rossi's experiences with the deaths of her parents, her stepmother and a close friend, all within a short time span, and how life came to be defined in two segments: before and after each diagnosis. That, she says, is to be expected, and trying to live from any other perspective is a form of denial. But she believes the post-diagnosis segment also can be a time of tremendous spiritual opportunity, a time when the dying --- even those who had been hostile toward faith --- are frequently open to God's activity in their lives. They experience that activity in any number of ways, with one of the most effective ways being our willingness to serve them and try to meet their very real needs.

Part two offers the tools you'll need to care for your loved one (and yourself), and here Rossi makes the journey metaphor a tangible one by describing the equipment you'll need: a roadmap to help you keep the destination in mind, proper shoes for the rugged path you'll be walking, access to GPS (God's Positioning System) for course corrections along the way, emergency information (in a chapter that includes one of the best suggestions I've seen for organizing vital data) and "traveler's assistance," guidance on creating a support team that can include friends and family, Internet groups, local chapters of disease-specific organizations such as the American Cancer Society, and --- the one nearest to my heart --- nonprofit hospice services. Like Rossi, as a hospice volunteer, the only regret I've heard caregivers utter with regard to hospice is that they didn't avail themselves of the service sooner.

The third section includes an important chapter on spiritual warfare, something too often overlooked in other books on death and dying. Those who are dying sometimes undergo such extreme personality changes that they send their caregivers packing; a normally docile patient can become hateful and belligerent, using language that would have made them blush only months earlier. (Whether or not this is a spiritual problem, if spiritual warfare is what it takes to get you through it, then I say go for it.) Chapters in this section also cover endurance, with a critically important reminder that caregiving is a choice; a look at God's covenants and how they apply to care for the dying; and the main points to consider when making funeral arrangements.

Part four covers the death itself and the grief that follows. Two of the most important topics in the book appear here: one, the spiritual topic of forgiveness, and the second, the physical signs of imminent death. The first is vital, because any lingering unforgiveness between you and your loved one robs both of you of the peace that the patient needs now and that you will need for the rest of your life. The second will help you not only to prepare for the patient's death but also to make sense of the sometimes puzzling behavior of one who is dying.

It's unlikely that you'll pick up this book and read it unless someone near to you is terminally ill. But you may want to make note of the title --- because someday, you may be in the position of caring for someone who is dying, and when that day comes, you may find that MAY I WALK YOU HOME? has become your constant companion. For those now caring for the dying, it's well worth reading --- even if death is imminent.

--- Reviewed by Marcia Ford

melody writes with such simplicity and grace. this book gives you the practical information surrounding the dying process that nobody talks about! it also gives you the emotional support and guidance that you need as you journey through a very painful and uncertain time. the are no road maps that help you traverse through the dying process. there are alot of books that teach about the birthing process but there are not alot of books that tell us how to walk through the dying process with someone and navigate our way through our own emotions surrounding the death. this book is that road map! you will find much needed information and support in the pages of this beautiful book.

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (6/07)

"May I Walk You Home?," by Melody Rossi, is a message written from firsthand experience. Ms. Rossi experienced the loss of her mother, her stepmother and father within a twenty-eight month span. God used Ms. Rossi and their fatal illnesses to guide all three in giving their hearts to Christ. Losing someone you love always hurts, but the pain is eased when you know he or she found peace with the Lord.

Ms. Rossi was given the opportunity to serve Christ and to serve her loved ones as they went through the dying process. She took them to "doctor appointments, ran errands, and made meals. She also showed them the love of Jesus Christ through her actions, prayer, and words." "Because Jesus came to the world as a servant, it makes total sense that He would use this technique as a powerful way to reach the lost."

This book is divided into four sections; each area is divided into chapters. The first section discusses the call to serve. We never know how God will use us or when. He uses the least likely. The second section is directions to lead you in your service. Having a loved one approach death will drain you spiritually, emotionally, and physically. The third section stresses that once you have begun this journey there is no turning back. You should think very seriously before you begin, for it will make demands on you. The last section discusses the "Journey's End." Ms. Rossi shares the physical, the spiritual and emotional changes that take place when death in imminent. There is a need to mend fences; there is an emotional acceptance and a physical letting go.

"May I Walk You Home?," by Melody Rossi, is simply written and easy to understand. Death is a topic most people avoid. However, Ms. Rossi offers practical guidance wrought through her own experiences. The cover is beautifully done with a leaf-strewn path. I learned much from this book and I am glad I read it. It is rewarding to know that Ms. Rossi used the knowledge she gained from the death of several loved ones to serve the Lord and assist others. I highly recommend this book to those working with Hospice, hospitals, nursing homes and those who know someone facing a terminal illness.

Kyle Strobel is conversant with the emerging church and with the classic church. He has high regard for the greats of spiritual formation books such as Richard Foster and Dallas Willard. Since I do too, I felt quite comfortable with this book, but challenged as well.

My Church is going through this life - changing experience together. I would recommend all to see that Jesus is a way of Life and NOT just something to do.

I knew I had to read this book when I read the author's invitation at the very beginning: "This book is an invitation to transformation...It is about a willingness to change our minds, our perspectives, and our vision of life, because how we see affects who we are and who we will become." He speaks about a journey of redemption as opposed to being a Christian who's "arrived". You have to leave your assumptions and presuppositions behind as you seek to be reformed and renewed by the transforming of your mind. The author describes in-depth the informers (tools) God uses to help us on our journey, which are the Bible, the Spirit, and community. I wish I'd had this book years ago, but at least I've read it in time to disciple my 5 children to have "Jesus as a way of life".

There is no shortage of books written to or about the Christian, yet there is a distinct lack of material that is honest, grounded in the reality of the church, and easy to understand without being oversimplistic. Kyle Strobel accomplishes just that. While reading I constantly found myself stopping and saying, "yes, this is it. This is what church and the Christian life is supposed to look like." It is clear that Kyle has thought deeply about these issues, studied them and has succeeded in presenting them in a humble, honest and accessible way. Well done.

In the introduction to this book, Kyle Strobel describes himself as both a "child of evangelicalism" and a "child of the emerging church." Unlike authors who find it impossible to move forward without killing their parents, however, Strobel describes a vision for spiritual formation and church life that is faithful to the best features of both of these perspectives.

Like many emergent thinkers, Strobel is convinced (and rightly so!) that the mere transmission of information cannot bring about the sort of inner change that should characterize the followers of Jesus. He invites us to understand the Christian life as a journey, to receive Jesus as our Lord and Master, indeed, to receive him "as a way of life." As he says on page 50, discipleship is not first and foremost "a call to right understanding" but "a call to right 'becoming.'" Strobel does not, however, reduce the Christian faith to a mere subjective experience or to a program for moral change. Rather, he argues that being formed in the image of Christ is a lengthy process of "worldview re-formation," a process that requires time and commitment. Most importantly, he argues, those who would follow Jesus must remain ever open to divine deconstruction of our assumptions and attitudes. "Jesus will take us on a journey through what we really believe about him, how we really think, and how much we depend on ourselves over him" (219).

This book really challenged me to re-evaluate my own life; I plan to read it again, more slowly, over the next few months. I would heartily recommend it to anyone who is thinking seriously about what it means to follow Christ in the 21st century. Its style makes it accessible to laypersons and pastors alike.

T. W. Hunt has done a good job of combining personal experiences with Biblical references to convey the process of attaining the mind of Christ.

I titled this review Expose because I think this is just what this book does. It exposes your inner nature. This is not for the NEW Christian. It would be a bit overwhelming.

As I went through the workbook I began to learn my pattern and ways of thinking. The book urges us or suggests ways that we can began to be more Christ-minded and it breaks down through scriptures Jesus Christ's ways of thinking. The author even gave some examples of his personal life experiences. There are activites in there that you can do to help you see your thought patterns. I think it made me more aware of how I really am. It's a growing tool for a Christian's walk, I would say, which is a lifetime process. Definitely a keeper that you can hold onto and refer to from time to time to re-evaluate where you stand and sort of check yourself.

I highly recommend if you are tired of drinking milk and are ready for solid food! Even for the seasoned saints out there, it really makes you check yourself if you allow yourself to be transformed and renewed.

This is a book that you need to take time/days/weeks/months to study, hand-in-hand with the bible. The Holy Spirit will convict you on what ever sins or weeds that need to be pulled from your garden.(mind) The lists that are recommended by Hunt, are an awesome tool to really get at those sinful thoughts and wants. Pray for courage to be fully honest with your thoughts and allow the Holy Spirit to do the awesome transformation of your mind and heart- to be closer to the our Savior.

This book is at the top of my "highly recommended" reading list. But, you don't just read this book - you get lost in it. The truths that are written within this book make you stop and pause in wonder. There is much to meditate and reflect on as you take in the words. A must read!

Like other reviewers, my copy of The Mind of Christ has been highlighted so many times, the pages look like they are in technicolor. Which is appropriate for how enlightening I found this book. T. W. Hunt uses examples from the lives of real people (including himself) to illustrate the life-changing principles taught, and lived, by Jesus. It helped me unlock not just the power of prayer, but the power of actually living the life of an empowered Christian. As a man thinketh in his heart, so also shall he live. I was particularly moved by Pastor Hunt's vivid description of the betrayal, trial, death and resurrection of Christ. Throughout his book, Pastor Hunt shows that our life won't always be fun and games, that real troubles come to one and all, but that having the Mind of Christ can help us successfully come through the rough (and good) times. Thank you for a helpful, inspirational book! Blessings to you!

This was such an excellent book. I picked it up at Urbana 2006 and read it that summer. I am working on going through my notes to teach a class on the subject of this book. I have recommended it to many people, but it is weighty. It is sad that so few people are familiar with Wright's work. He has done much in taking us back and grounding us in the story of the OT. For those interested, I highly recommend "Old Testament Ethic for the People of God." Again, weighty, but excellent.

I especially appreciate that this book takes into account the whole of the scriptural perspective, tota scriptura. I heartily recommend it.

a thorough approach to mission theology with Biblical explanations for the Author, characters, and setting

This is certainly the most impressive book on Mission to be published since Bosch's 'Transforming Mission' and will surely be Dr Wright's 'Magnum Opus.' This outstanding tome entitled `The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible's Grand Narrative' contains 581 closely reasoned pages and maintains that equally, the `proper way for disciples of the crucified and risen Jesus to read their Scriptures , is (both) messianically and missionally. ( p.30)

It should be noted that most books on Mission fail to provide an adequate O.T. basis for mission. David Bosch for example in his excellent book `Transforming Mission' gives us little if any. In this book however, Wright ( also a noted OT scholar as well as Missiologist) goes a long way to rectify this imbalance.

'The Mission of God' is not a light read but should be of great interest to all missionaries and Pastors as well as to theology and Bible students. Chris Wright has also designated that the royalties from this book will go to the to worthy charity Langham Literature.

John Goldingay, the author of Old Testament Theology, and professor of Old Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary writes of it:
"This marvelous book is all I hoped and expected, and more. . . .We are so fortunate to have the mature fruit of a lifetime's reflection on the missional nature of the Bible by this outstanding teacher, scholar and missionary theologian."

If you want an outstanding book on Mission which will be around for years to come: This is it!

I wish that I had had this book in hand many years ago. I've been on a journey of learning and discovery regarding the "metanarrative" of the Scriptures, and having reached a tentative understanding, I buy Christopher Wright's The Mission of God, and find that he has it all laid out for me. One of those books that makes you wonder why no one wrote it before and then makes you wish you had written it yourself. I have translated the New Testament into two indigenous languages of Mexico and have been forced to ask the big questions about what on earth God is doing anyway. It's been a great experience, and I think I'm finally coming to an adequate understanding of the good news of the Bible. I have read a lot of books related to the topic of The Mission of God, but none as exciting and stimulating as this one. And I don't consider Wright to be a great writer. What's great is the maturity and comprehensiveness of his thinking. A new perspective on almost every page. Wright has put it together for me. I'm reading it through the second time and have bought two copies to give to friends. All right, you may not be as excited as I am about the Bible's message about the coming of the kingdom of God, but if you are half as interested as I am, read this book.

If you are a church leader even thinking about multi-site, are multi-site or want to know what multi-site is - you need this book. Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon and Warren Bird have put togther a Master's Degree in multi-site in a readable and enjoyable book.

Geoff Surratt and team provide an amazing resource for any church considering a multi-site strategy. This book is extremely informative, asks probing questions to help you think through why you want to go multi-site, how to do it, etc. They provide great tools to help you create timelines and budgets. It has been a fabulous resource to help my church start moving aggressively toward our vision to go multi-site. Before reading the book, I didn't know where to start. Since reading the book I feel like I have a much better understanding of the challenges and opportunities and I have a better idea of how to get our church moving towards this goal.

A wonderful book that gets you thinking about a vital growth barrier- your facility. There is no one way to go multi-site, and I really like how this book shares the various different ways of expanding our church without either building a larger facility or starting another church altogether. A great win-win! We will definately be going multi-site and my leadership will be reading this book as a next step.

This book is right on and I believe completely that this is the way the Lord is moving His Church. In a time of mega churches, it takes mega dollars to make them happen. I see the multi-site church revolution as being a way where God takes awesome churches, doing awesome things and allowing them to grow horizontally vs. vertically for a fraction of the dollars. Our church is moving in this direction and it is so much more strategic than to build a bigger building. Thanks for the inspiration! Todd - Horizons Community Church, Ham Lake, MN.

The book is good, but comes across as a "how-to" manual, rather than as an opportunity to give testimony of the Lord's faithfulness. I'm sorry if that sounds cynical, but I'm not convinced that as Christians, passionate for the Lord's glory, we need that kind of approach as we seek new ways of creatively sharing the good news about Jesus.

Rita Sexton is amazing and so is her life story! No child should ever endure the abuse that she did. Not only were her birth parents abusive, but her adoptive parents were too. I was emotionally drawn into her story and could not put her book down! Even though it's a horrible story that needs to be told, Rita has proven that through her faith in God and perseverance she could overcome it all and she did. Her story is a memoir of a survivor. I highly recommend this book for everyone of all ages!

This is not only a book largely about strength through suffering, it's a lesson in forgiveness. Rita was hurt more times than I can count by people whom she should have been able to trust. Rather than holding a grudge against those whose cruelty she endured, Rita's faith in the Heavenly Father enabled her to grant them forgiveness.

This author has delved deep within her soul and with the guidance of her Savior, she has summoned up the courage to reveal and share her story of the battles fought and the battle won. Through faith and her long-standing relationship with God, she steps forward and offers inspiration to those who feel detached and lost. God has utilized this woman as His messenger and there is great clarity in her testimony. Her lifetime of abuse is now used as an instrument of courage and compassion. Her words reaching out, to touch other lives, offering light, hope and peace within, lifting the heart back to the original space God created and intended for all. I am thankful to her and the blessings of her story.
Trudy Wallack

Rita Sexton has opened her heart and life to her readers, allowing us to see into her past and how God has molded her into the sweet, Christ-like person she is today. Anyone who thinks they have an excuse to have a pity-party or blame God for their circumstances, needs to read this book and see the difference Jesus can make in a life surrendered to Him. It's one you will want to pass on to a friend. May God use this book to touch many lives! Thank-you, Rita, for having the courage to share and by doing so, to help others who may be struggling with similar untold stories.

This is a brilliant book. The story of Rita Sexton's courageous path to self-discovery and survival, as heartwrenching as it sometimes is, leads the reader on a journey that is ultimately joyful and laden with priceless lessons. An immensely moving, satisfying read, Journey is full of wisdom and offers an important message for those who feel crowded by darkness: Never lose hope.

Wonderfully organized and extremely useful content. I am using it as a class text to instruct parents at my church who want to know how to deal with social networks effectively with their teens. The author even provides a link to a custom MySpace page, where parents can look up the latest tips and additional information to make the most of their learning. As an IT professional with over 20 years of experience and uncle to two teens, I cannot stress enough the importance and value of this book to help parents and teens navigate through some of the perils and reap some of the benefits of cyberculture.

It's been a see-saw for me, "Let my 15-year-old have a MySpace/not..." But Mrs. Neal makes some really valid points for letting her have one, with my supervision of course! She spells out for even the most dense among us about how to work around MySpace, as well as making a VERY GOOD point about how it helps with their 5 developmental stages they're working through in their teen years on their way to be independent 'adults'. And how it's the 'mall'/phone calls/etc. of yesteryear.

Having made my daughter delete a MySpace once, I honestly had to apologize to her when Mrs. Neal has us (the parent/reader) answer a lot of questions pertaining to "What's your favorite _______ ?" And then in the next paragraph having us pretend she had authority over us and said "Delete it." It isn't like deleting a list, it's like deleting "us"/our identity amoungst our peers. Does that make sense? She says it so much better on page 99.

Anyway, I was glad I heard her on Jim Burns radio show "Homeward", and I was glad I ordered and read the book. I am ordering another copy for a friend of mine with a teen of her own.

GREAT book. VERY helpful. I have a 16 year old son who has a myspace. I have had one(A my space) since he has, insisting that I be a "friend" for monitoring purposes. Was I ever glad to find this book and know that I am NOT a lone ranger! I tell everyone about this book. NO parent should allow their kid on My Space without having a space of their own and really understanding what it is all about.

This book will help even the most computer illiterate parent navigate and understand My Space. You will be AMAZED at what you will discover about your teen and their world by exploring their My Space with them, as suggested.

I LOVED the insight into teens today..why the internet is so important to them. Lets face it, parents, the world has changed since we were teens! Dont be left in the dark...Connie has done the work for you. If you can read, you can navigate AND understand My Space! Get a copy today and enter your teens world!

The book is a good guide to technical aspects of myspace but really intends to remind parents to be knowledgeable of, and involved in, their children's lives. The contemporary reality is that myspace is often a significant part of a child's socialization and needs to be taken seriously. The book is straightforward, practical and broken down into sections. It can be used as either a cover-to-cover narrative or as a reference book. Good organization, abundant charts and graphics, and a large type font make it exceptionally user friendly. A good read.

LB

Perhaps it's inconceivable only to me, but, somehow, I've found myself the parent of a teenager this past year. And right on cue, my son is asking for all of the adolescent accessories--email accounts, a cell phone, and a TV and Internet access in his bedroom. I've conceded on the email account but the rest will have to wait. A teen should come with a Surgeon General's Warning. "Caution: Raising a teen may result in sleepless nights and increased anxiety levels."

If you're the parent of a teen, you owe it to yourself to introduce yourself to Connie Neal. Connie is an author and speaker who specialty is understanding "the intersection of parenting and pop culture." Connie is the deep breath that every parent needs to take before hyperventilating over all the challenge of raising godly children in the American culture.

Connie's latest book, MYSPACE FOR MOMS AND DADS, is designed to help busy parents understand the Internet phenomena known as social networking. "Social Networking" is using home computers and the Internet to connect with peer and to make new friendships. Some of the more popular social networking websites include Myspace and Facebook. Parents might be aware and wary of social networking due to a rash recent news stories that detail how sexual predators have used Myspace to connect with teens and lure them into face-to-face meetings.

Connie uses her calming logic and sanity to calm parents and to give them the tools they need to navigate this new world of social networking. Connie defuses the emotional charge surrounding social networking with her methodical treatment of the book. Part One explains what the history of social networking. Part Two walks as parent through the mechanics of setting up a "Myspace" account. In Part Three, Connie explains the draw of Myspace on teenagers. Teens use social networking to meet God-given developmental needs. Connie helps you connect with your teens' needs by reminding you of their basic relational needs to connect and to express themselves. Finally, Connie offers a Christian framework to Christian parents decide if Myspace is right for their teens.

One of the most valuable features of the book is a section that trains parents how to customize the Myspace profile to reduce the risk of teens encountering unsafe people or on-line "friends" with unchristian values. Parents will also be equipped with the proper questions to ask their teens to help monitor their healthy use of Myspace.

Readers familiar with Connie Neal's writing know that she is biased toward engaging culture and for using cultural trends to train discerning teenagers. Connie's "Walking Talk in Babylon" is her manifesto calling parents to train children capable of interpreting and discerning the cultural messages that surround them. Don't expect to hear a simplistic "Myspace is good" or "Myspace is evil" from Connie. Instead, she'll give you the information you'll need to engage your teenager regarding this important issue.

After reading MYSPACE FOR MOMS AND DADS, I'm not ready to give my teen permission to join for now. However, this will be a valuable guide to refer to when my oldest is a bit older and wiser

I've read Bill William's *Naked Before God* a couple of times. It's an incredibly painful chore, because the book is as honest an account of spiritual searching and physical suffering as I've ever encountered. Williams' ultimate concern is the problem of innocent suffering, sometimes referred to by theologians as the problem of evil. In a nutshell, the problem is this: how is belief in an all-loving God compatible with the presence of undeserved suffering in the world? It's the question raised by Job. It's a question that millions of people ask themselves in their everyday sufferings. And it's a question on which more than one person's faith has been broken.

Bill Williams faces the problem headon in a mode that I suppose can be called autobiographical-imaginative-theology. Weaving in stories of his own struggle with cystic fibrosis, fictional ruminations of walking and talking with Jesus as a disciple named Nathaniel, and scriptural/theological reflections on the problem of innocent suffering, Williams presents us with a one-of-a-kind meditation on what it means to be a fragile, suffering, frightened, but also occasionally angry, defiant, and hopeful human being. He pulls no punches in the book. At times his anger, his sense of unfairness, is overpowering. At other times, his gratitude for the slightest of blessings, the most trivial (to our jaded eyes) gifts, is equally overpowering. Ultimately, Williams awakens to the suffering God who loves, who knows what it's like to be a broken pot (p. 299), who lost hope in the depts of His suffering, and who still, in a mysterious way that even He, perhaps, doesn't understand, overcame.

There are few books that make me laugh out loud when I read them, and fewer still that make me weep. This one did both. It's not a feel-good book. But it is one that will touch your deepest core, and in the process move you closer, perhaps, to an embrace of the mystery of God and suffering. Bill Williams died shortly after *Naked Before God* was published. I remember him with gratitude each morning in my prayers.

This book reminded me of so much of my seeker readings. It breaks boundaries, synthesizes psychology and spirituality, connects our true nature with physics, and places us, non-judgementally, as limited, loved, children of God. When you stop wanting eternity, you realize that what you've got is pretty darned good!

I wish I could persuade everyone in the world to read this book. Although it is written in a Christian context, it is a book for everyone regardless of religion or belief or even lack thereof. It addresses the universal question of Why me,God? It forces you to face the world as it is and it forces you to face yourself and to accept yourself as you are. Not that you can't change or that you shouldn't change. You can and you should. Yes, there is pain and suffering in this world. Yes, it's terrible and unfair when it happens to you or to someone dear to you. Yes, there is no answer for it. I heard once that for a believer there are no questions, for a non-believer there are no answers. Put another way, for a believer no explanation is necessary, for a non-believer no explanation will suffice. I do not subscribe to the last chapter of the Book of Job where he is made whole and then some. I think some ancient Hollywood writer added that. I believe that Job's story ends with him sick and suffering----but loving God nevertheless. Life can indeed be very painful, more painful for some than for others, but God loves you and suffers with you. Read the book.

This book is unique in that it carries on a conversation between Jesus, the disciples, etc. with the author of the book in present time. The author has cystic fibrosis and diabetes in real life and is a character in the book as well. He is also a theologian and physicist which makes for an absolutely riviting book. He holds nothing back when questioning pain and misery on earth. The dialogue between all of these people - it will stretch your mind, and you will look at life differently. For the better. I have purchased this book to give as a Christmas gift. I wish I had enough money to send out dozens of copies to friends. It's that good.

This is the best book of theology I have ever read. God is present, loving and accessible. Bill Williams' broken body is representative of all the shame, guilt and abandonment that I have felt. I also learned a lot about cystic fibrosis and the difficulties and impossibilities it brings. I wish I could have met him. I wish there were going to be more books from him. I wish he could have been my pastor. An amazing book filled with wisdom and insight. Recommended for those who are questioning their Sunday School education, grappling with faith issues and those who want to know jesus (sic) as their savior and mentor. Although God is referred to by male pronouns (Williams explains his rationale in the introduction), this is a beautiful read for feminist theologians.