Living Things Books

His opening paradigm (chapter 1) is remarkable. I remember it, even years later! And how he builds on that is excellent. One of his best.

Like some other Christian authors, Lucado has such a large library of books that deciding on one can be daunting for a new comer.
So, if you've never read anything by Lucado before, I recommend you start right here.
"In the Grip of Grace" is by far my favorite work by Max.
Enjoy!

Also recommended: He Still Moves Stones and When God Whispers Your Name

I was drifting from the church. I had (and continue to have) a different perspective on the church from certain issues. I was taking a "don't ask, don't tell" approach to homosexuality, basically saying, what they want to do is between them and God, and it's not the role of man to place judgment on them for that. And certainly not the role of man (or church) to LEGISLATE morality. But, before I get someone ripping my head off for that opinion, you can imagine that it isn't popular in the church.

When I read this book, I saw so many people in the Church in the role of the second brother in the parable of the river. The Fault-Finding Judgmentalist. And at that point I was instantly hooked into this book. I felt like this was someone who saw things from my perspective, whether he agreed with me or not. He could at least see what I was thinking, of this much I was assured. He doesn't mention any of those controversial topics explicitly, but I feel like the interpretation is valid.

Simply put, I came away feeling a greater love and appreciation for God, and feeling thankful for His grace that has saved me. I'm still more far from the Church than I would prefer. It will take awhile for me to find my way completely back. But guided by my re-growing faith, and books like this, I won't be gone forever.

My review is not meant to be a beautiful write up for Max, I am sure he is a great guy, but hey, even his insurance company has problems with him. (I must be a the judgemental type) This book helped me realize that no matter how hard I try or how hard I think I am trying its not good enough. I cant jump to the moon, I cant make it up the river alone, and I cant place a value of a sin and try to "repay it with good". I am helpless. The book made me feel uncompfortable and small, but compared to God I think thats exactly how we have to feel to even accept his grace let alone understand it.

I reccomend this book to anyone who is desperate enough to listen. Dont read this for entertainment, Max is funny, but not that funny. Read it if you want to change. I know I did.

Thanks Max, for allowing God to use you as His megaphone.

I have been a church goer my whole life and just went with the flow, never really in touch with God...until I read this book. I read it, and it turned me right around. This book will make you embrace the grace of an awesome God. If your life is off track this book will show you what is being offered to you, and if you've already accepted your forgiveness, this book will make you smile when you think of what an awesome God you serve. I love this book because it shows me how much God truly loves me and it sparked me into reading my bible daily and leading a different life. I love the joy that this book portrays that we Christians need to remember and embrace daily.

Is it ever a wonder that Max Lucado is truly anointed by the Lord to touch your heart? In 'No Wonder They Call Him the Savior: Chronicles from the Cross', Lucado gets to the heart of the matter. Even to his Irish friend, Ian who had been there and done that. Tired of religion and theology. When everything else seems empty. What really mattered? He wanted treasure. The answer: The Cross.

As it is written, from Paul in I Corithians, chapter 15.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures....

From the Cross comes Words spoken in the Lord's final acts. The words come from Luke, chapter 23. He spoke to all of us through time. He saw each one of us. From His suffering, His pain and His shame to our sickness, our sin and our doubt. His cry, "Father, forgive them." [Luke 23:34] was enough. To all the Bernhard Goetz's who lash out in anger for injustice. There is justice. To the criminal who died on the Cross next to the Savior there is hope. For those finding a way out there is pardon and forgiveness. To the solider or missionary who leaves loved ones behind. For Love is built NOT on passion and romance but on mission and sacrifice. That eternity is closer than any Good-bye, but in reality 'see you soon.' To all the Judith Bucknell's who cry in loneliness. He reached out from the Cross to your lonely heart. It was Jesus in his hour of abandonment, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' [Matthew 27:46]. When no one else loves you. He is going to love you. He always has. He was fulfilling prophecy. When you're tired and thrist. He knows that, too. God became flesh and dwelt with us to know everything we have ever done with compassion He carried it with Him to the Cross.

The witnesses who were there and saw the miracle of salvation. Even those who ran away. There was a great price paid. He sacrified His life. We all know what had happened that day. The message is in our tears. No education, maturity or religion can separate us from His passion. From the Cross' wisdom comes the open arms of undying Love and a place to come home to. Only that wisdom lies NOT as men sees it, but in Faith in the Power of God. The evidence in an empty tomb. So what does really matter to you? I'd say a living God in the flesh, making the most important decision in your life, to spread the news 'in an information age, NOT regeneration.' In Jesus' words, 'Will you tell them?' 'Will you tell them I came back and that I'm coming back again.' Will you?

NOTE: Contains a Study Guide at the end for each chapter for further study plus added notes. To Max, May God continually Bless you as you Bless us with your gift. In the Love of Jesus.

Anything Max Lucado write is an understanding of the Bible that helps a person to find it easily understandable. He makes it easy for people to read and under Jesus a lot better and plus his bible study at the end of the book makes it easier to share the knowledge with a friend

Is it ever a wonder that Max Lucado is truly anointed by the Lord to touch your heart? In 'No Wonder They Call Him the Savior: Chronicles from the Cross', Lucado gets to the heart of the matter. Even to his Irish friend, Ian who had been there and done that. Tired of religion and theology. When everything else seems empty. What really mattered? He wanted treasure. The answer: The Cross.

As it is written, from Paul in I Corithians, chapter 15.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures....

From the Cross comes Words spoken in the Lord's final acts. The words come from Luke, chapter 23. He spoke to all of us through time. He saw each one of us. From His suffering, His pain and His shame to our sickness, our sin and our doubt. His cry, "Father, forgive them." [Luke 23:34] was enough. To all the Bernhard Goetz's who lash out in anger for injustice. There is justice. To the criminal who died on the Cross next to the Savior there is hope. For those finding a way out there is pardon and forgiveness. To the solider or missionary who leaves loved ones behind. For Love is built NOT on passion and romance but on mission and sacrifice. That eternity is closer than any Good-bye, but in reality 'see you soon.' To all the Judith Bucknell's who cry in loneliness. He reached out from the Cross to your lonely heart. It was Jesus in his hour of abandonment, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' [Matthew 27:46]. When no one else loves you. He is going to love you. He always has. He was fulfilling prophecy. When you're tired and thrist. He knows that, too. God became flesh and dwelt with us to know everything we have ever done with compassion He carried it with Him to the Cross.

The witnesses who were there and saw the miracle of salvation. Even those who ran away. There was a great price paid. He sacrified His life. We all know what had happened that day. The message is in our tears. No education, maturity or religion can separate us from His passion. From the Cross' wisdom comes the open arms of undying Love and a place to come home to. Only that wisdom lies NOT as men sees it, but in Faith in the Power of God. The evidence in an empty tomb. So what does really matter to you? I'd say a living God in the flesh, making the most important decision in your life, to spread the news 'in an information age, NOT regeneration.' In Jesus' words, 'Will you tell them?' 'Will you tell them I came back and that I'm coming back again.' Will you?

NOTE: Contains a Study Guide at the end for each chapter for further study plus added notes. To Max, May God continually Bless you as you Bless us with your gift. In the Love of Jesus.

"Any serious study of the Christian claim is, at its essence, a study of the cross. To accept or reject Christ without careful examination of Calvary is like deciding on a car without looking at the engine."

As "pain pervades the dusty planet," we can at times wonder how our suffering can better us as human beings. We feel alone roaming down here while God seems far above, safe in his heavenly paradise.

This is where Jesus Christ appears. In his suffering, we can see God at his most human. When the consistency of life IS inconsistency, there is someone who understands.

Jesus died for people instead of taking revenge. He didn't retaliate even when he was facing death. He takes our sin on his shoulders and becomes the "death slayer."

Max Lucado is really writing to people who have broken hearts and who can find a lonely person simply by looking in the mirror. The land of promise is for those who endure the pain and suffering and are reborn.

I loved the story he tells about the puppy and how he explains guilt and forgiveness. He brings a human element to spiritual concepts. He also explains how we can't get rid of guilt ourselves, we really do need a savior.

A beautiful look at Christ, the Cross and why we need God.

~The Rebecca Review
Author of Seasoned with Love: A collection of
best-loved recipes inspired by over 40 cultures

Max Lucado has done a marvelous thing by blessing humanity with his portrayal of the Cross of Jesus Christ. In his own unique style of writing, the author takes you on a vivid journey of discovery as you see the Cross, and the characters who "surround" it, from a new light. Max Lucado has such a powerful ability to express himself in words. Tears filled my eyes as I was touched, transformed, and impacted by my Saviour through this book. You will be truly blessed!

Things Unseen is a book not about heaven itself, the author tells us, but about "heavenly-mindedness." He observes that this world is not enough for us. He writes about feelings that are both "laughter and mourning, spring and winter, homecoming and exile," longings that are really homesickness for heaven. He points out that we're all dying, and that we'd best all look up. This is not the only Mark Buchanan book I've thoroughly enjoyed, but it's probably my favorite. He really gets it.

Mark Buchanan's perspective on eternity is sound, biblical and very refreshing. I enjoyed the mixture of human-interest stories, his own life experiences, and his consistent and strong use of God's Word. I really enjoyed it and recommend it highly.

Christian or not, everyone should read it. It is such an incredibly soul stirring read.. and if you are a Christian, it will fill you with a warmth and understanding and a new appreciation for that feeling and "groaning" that Mark Buchanan refers to. This is a book I have read several times... and each time it is like a soothing balm. It clarified for me what it means to be "Heaven-bent". What an awesomely inspired book. :)

I also meant to add that I find it interesting that several people who reviewed this book, including myself, had it on the shelf for some time before reading it. God's timing perhaps? ;)

This is one of the more beautiful books I've read in the last few years. Over and again, it reminded me of favorite books from years past-- books by C.S. Lewis and Annie Dillard, for example, and St. Augustine's Confessions.

Thank you, Mr. Buchanan. This book has been a real blessing to me and made me think after reading parts of it, long into the next week and thereafter. You truly have a gift. I hope to see much more from you.

I sure don't see what the hype here was about.

I saw this book as falling into the same fallacious thinking as "The Secret" and all those books that want us to believe in some kind of magical thinking premise. It's the same sort of fallacy that has some evangelicals proclaiming that God wants you to be rich, and thus if you're rich it proves you're virtuous.

It's nonsense. If you want to argue that "Good deeds" cause you to get paid back in some way with good fortune of your own, then you're forced to also conclude that bad fortune results because you're a bad person. This is not only nonsense, but cruel nonsense.

Of course there are reasons for being moral and compassionate and doing good. But it's not because we expect things in return. It's because such a life is its own reward.

This book is an interesting new contribution to the field of positive psychology, which explores the idea that giving helps the giver as much as, or even more than the receiver. It can be clearly demonstrated that happy people give and, according to newly emerging research, it seems that happiness increases if you can learn to increase giving. One of the mechanisms by which this works is that giving increases the giver's self-esteem, and increased self-esteem results in less stress. The benefit of less stress is greater psychological and physical health resulting in longer and happier life. Givers score highly on all these benefits, suffering from, for example, less heart disease.

According to post giving, if examined closely, can be broken up into 10 different 'methods'. They are: (1) celebration, (2) generativity, (3) forgiveness, (4) courage, (5) humor, (6) respect, (7) compassion, (8) loyalty, (9) listening, and (10) creativity. These 10 methods of giving can be expressed in 4 different domains of life: (1) family, (2) friends, (3) community, and (4) humanity. Post devotes a chapter to each method of giving and each chapter contains inspiring stories as examples, a summary of facts identified by scientific research, detailed discussion of lessons that can be learned from the research, and many lists of helpful hints for incorporating giving into your life. Each of these ten chapters also end with a personality test which allows the reader to assess how strongly he or she expresses this method of giving in their current life. Together these tests make up the Love and Longevity Scale.

While this book contains plenty of reports of psychology studies it is written in a very interesting and readable way, and is very accessible to the general public. This book is so full of information, and has so many suggestions for personal development, that it is a little overwhelming on first read. I fully expect to be rereading at least parts of it in the near future.

Good Things Happen to Good People. Okay so we all know that that statement isn't completely true. All of you reading this review are probably pretty good people and likely you've had some difficulties and not so nice things happen to you. Life isn't always roses and sunshine.

Frankly, I hated this title but I liked the book. I feel like the title suggested that I get ready for some sort of sermon about how all the troubles in my life were caused by my own lack of perfection. However, once I started reading, I was happily surprised. I found stories of individuals whose lives were definitely less than perfection but who had rose above their situation to find a greater good in that experience. I believe that we experience everything for a reason and that often the most difficult situations lead us to important understandings about ourselves and the world around us. I think that often those darkest moments direct us to our passion. Illustrating this phoenix like potential in all of us is the strongest, most important point of Good Things Happen to Good People.

I am generally not one to quarrel with titles of books....I read for substance. But, I believe this title undersells the profound wisdom of this very fine book.

This book is all about "giving." A much more apt title would have been something along the lines of Bill Clinton's recent book "Giving, How Each of Us Can Change the World."

We live in an instant gratification, "what is in it for me?" world. This book is a powerful antidote.

Potential readers looking for a "me" centered prescription for success and happiness will undoubtedly be disappointed in this book. Head instead for the "Secret."

Those who believe in the importance of giving will find this a most useful manual for incorporating a giving orientation into everything we do, each and every day.

This book should be recognized as one of the best self help books of 2007. Regretfully, it isn't likely to be such because of a cover and title that paints it as academic. But, I am off to do my part to get this book more widely known. We need to get the word out. (Imagine if everyone who bought the Clinton book also read this gem!)

To Steve Post and Jill Neimark, my sincere thanks for writing a wonderful book. You have given us a gift and by doing so role modeled the power of giving.

Others have provided very valuble reviews worthy of your consideration. The "fire" called for in unlimited agape love...i.e "giving" is a simple formula for a better you and a better world. There are no adverse side effects. I shall use this as an inexpensive book with extraordinary value at our Institute for Religion and Health suggest it as a universal read. You'll be pleased you bought it. (and so will everybody you relate to after you read it!)

This book will give you peace and understanding to help you not just throught difficult times but for every day issues that we all face. Highly recommend this book.

Lucado is a unique writer of the evangelistic angle. In A Gentle Thunder he uses the gospel of John as a touchstone and each of his vignettes describes God's voice and our response in a unique way. He uses the ordinary and the unusual to creatively demonstrate God's faithfulness. Wile E. Coyote, hummingbirds, Cinderella, New Yorkers and a waiter/cat are a few of the unique characters that Lucado portrays in this book. Lucado's vintage Bible character portrayals, some rare moments he experienced as a missionary in Brazil, and the metaphysical side of a wedding reception with no cake makes the ancient come alive and the everyday become exciting. Lucado poignantly portrays how God will do whatever it takes to get our attention, but leaves the choice to us. That's the message of this book: the relentless pursuit of God. Despite the use of scripture and religious overtones, many people have been helped by Lucado's writing.
Trish New, author of The Thrill of Hope, Concepts to Ponder and South State Street Journal, Secrets of The Heart.

In this Book you will find God does whatever it takes to get our attention, alot of times not in the way we would expect Him to, but He does whatever it takes to pull us back to Him over and over again.

We may never understand what it is exactly He is doing with us, but we can trust His Heart and trust Him to do what is right.

If you need a reminder of His Love and an assurance of His strength and an example of His Kindness then this is the Book for you!

You will be blessed with His Gentle Thunder!

Max Lucado has written a devotional masterpiece that can attract the attention of any philosopher who is searching for the meaning of life or give insight to any clergyman who is in search of material that can supplement his or her preparation for a thought-provoking sermon.

I am generally wary of those who attempt to use individual biblical quotes to postulate their personal opinions and then formulate themes that they call daily devotions. In other words, beware of those who attempt to use scripture to "fit" their points-of-view.

Lucado, on the other hand, does the opposite. He presents a variety of stories that range from moral tales to historical accounts of triumphs and disasters, all of which parallel the fables and parables of ancient times, and while reading each chapter, one should conclude that if there is any point that Lucado is trying to get across, it is not for his own personal benefit; instead, it is this: we fail to realize that there are so many modern-day events in our world that make the works of the gospel writers just as relevant today as they were in the past and that many of these happenings brought to life are just as applicable to the so-called ordinary individual as they are to the famous figures who headline our daily news.

This book allows us to see God's word applied to situations we have been in and can relate to. Further proving the awesome power He has!

Fourteen tight chapters that extol the power, grace, and love of the cross ... Mahaney's book wants nothing less than the cross of Christ at the core of our beings. In theology and in practice, in faith and in works, in putting on Christ and putting off sin, the gospel must take center stage. "If there's anything in life we should be passionate about, it's the gospel...passionate in thinking about the gospel, reflecting upon it, rejoicing in it, allowing it to color the way we look at the world and all of life" (15). The book exudes with Mahaney's characteristic vigor. It is exuberant without being mindless. It's passion is rooted in a deep, biblical understanding of the gospel. It's only right then that begins the book (chapter 2 to be exact) with a meditation on investing Scripture with final authority rather than one's emotions. He proceeds with characteristic wisdom when he writes, "But if you trust your feelings first and foremost, if you exalt your feelings, if you invest your feelings with final authority--they'll deposit you on the emotional roller coaster which so often characterizes our lives" (36).

The majority of the book resonates with various subthemes of the major theme. He moves from a moving exposition of the Suffering Servant in Isa 53 all the way to the unfathomable loneliness of the Savior hanging on the cross at the end of His earthly life. Along the path, he explicates the wrath of a holy God against sin, the utter depravity of mankind, the necessity of blood-sacrifice by the God-man, and the soul-shattering obedience and love of Christ in drinking fully the cup of His Father's fierce wrath. I can honestly say that I was moved at each turn. Mahaney captivates our attention through well-placed quotes from other authors, concisely packaged dense theology, and frequent reminders of the love of God in the gospel. The last feature really balances the argument of the book.

When Mahaney gets to the cross and our lives, he doesn't disappoint. The "me" element of the cross is sin. He writes of who he identifies with the most on Golgotha: "I identify most with the angry mob screaming, 'Crucify Him!' That's who we should all identify with. Because apart from God's grace, this is where we would all be standing, and we're only flattering ourselves to think otherwise" (87). He strongly applies the cross to our sufferings with the result that assurance and joy overflow in our lives no matter what the circumstance. He also manages to tackle legalism and self-condemnation, two joy-robbing, cross-undermining sins that are quickly dispatched (but not with any sense of ease or casualness) with reminders as to the objective realities of the cross and our basic need to believe in what Christ has done. The simplicity of these chapters only elevates our responsibility to indulge ourselves in every aspect of Christ's death.

The penultimate chapter is the most practical. In it, he shares five simple ways that he's used to draw near to the cross each day. The five ways are:
(1) Memorize the Gospel
(2) Pray the Gospel
(3) Sing the Gospel
(4) Review How the Gospel Has Changed You
(5) Study the Gospel
Even here, in a chapter about our practice of the gospel, he ends with the reminder that apart from the empowering grace of the Holy Spirit, these five ways would be merely human deeds.


C.J. Mahaney, as always, is frank. He tells it like it is, especially about himself. The last chapter begins with the Christian equivalent of a smack: "I was smoking pot the first time I heard the gospel." His forthrightness about himself and his own sins don't detract from the message. They serve to enhance it. Such humility puts flesh and blood on what could otherwise be a very dry tome on the centrality of the cross to the Christian life. Instead, we are treated to a rich feast of devotional warmth, practical wisdom, and impassionateed urgency. May we never move on from the cross. May we move only deeper into its glories.

As a guy whose denomination tends to be very doctrinally oriented, this book is a tremendous breath of gospel fresh air. It's one thing to give a textbook definition for "justification", etc. It's another thing entirely to have one's heart opened to the implications of Christ's finished work on the Cross. This book will help you to appreciate and love Christ more. Please read it; cry occasionally; repent; and rise to embrace the Cross of Christ each day of your life. This book will transform you.

Mahaney has truly changed my life. I had the opportunity to express my gratitude, and the apparent humility and love in this man is overwhelming. He lives this life, and you can too. If you only read one book this year, make sure it is this one!

This is a book that is focused on the gospel. An easy read but does not sacrifice doctrinal clarity and orthodoxy. This is a great alternative to the "new" emerging Christian messages. Chapters on legalism and condemnation are particularly powerful. Great read for new Christians and Christians needing to kneel at the cross anew.

This book is truly a great one as C.J. Mahaney brings it all back to the cross. A lot of this book includes previous works, "The Cross Centered Life" and "Christ Our Mediator." I also had just listened to C.J.'s sermon from the 2005 Resolved Conference called "Interrogating the Legalist Within" so most of this was review. But if you have yet to read or listen to these, please pick this little book up, you will not be disappointed.

C.J. continues to bring out the cross in everything in this dissertation of the cross centered life. C.J. goes into understanding the cross in defining our lives, feelings (experience), God's love, Gethsemane, our part in the cross (sin), our suffering, legalism, condemnation (with much more) and then just the practical application.

C.J. gives five practical ways to live a cross centered life:

1. Memorize the Gospel: Memorize those scriptures that remind us of the gospel (2 Cor 5:21; Romans 8:31-34; Isaiah 53:3-6)

2. Pray the Gospel: Since the Gospel is the reason we can approach such a holy God, continue to pray the Gospel as a reminder of why you can speak to such an awesome God.

3. Sing the Gospel: Find songs and CD's whose focus in on the great and glorious Gospel and not on man. Those songs that concentrate on what He has done for us.

4. Review How the Gospel Has Changed You: Looking to your past, not for condemnation's sake, but for the reminder of mercy and grace

5. Study the Gospel: Don't only study books on the Gospel or only on the New Testament, but study the Old Testament and see Christ's fulfillment of It. Making sure that our studies don't leave the Gospel behind but builds itself upon It.

I would really recommend this to any and all Christians. Great reminders of how the Cross should impact our lives and how it has freed us from condemnation and the errors of legalism.

A classic from 1989 this book tells Christians how much God loves them. With the big idea of our lives are not futile. Our failures are not fatal and our deaths are not final. Each chapter of this book begins with an personal illustration from the author and then moves into the life of Christ. I have read this book at least three times. Each time I read it this book stirs me. I don't know how many tears have fallen while reading this book. If you have never read this book I strongly encourage you to do so. You will not be disappointed.

So easy to read and understand. The chapter tilted 'The Golden Golbet' gave me the simplest picture of God's love and grace for me. I have read this book three times and continue to give it as gifts to people I meet.

I bought the book as a gift, but decided to read it first to see if it was ok to give...I was certainly surprised, I was even brought to tears in a lot of chapters...especially when Max does a re-telling of the ruler's daughter in a modern setting. Wow!

Makes a great gift, for others & one's self!

I have several of Max Lucado's books, and have never been disappointed. This book puts Jesus death and resurrection in language and thoughts we can under today without losing the biblical meaning. He creates a clear picture and stirs up emotion. Most of the time he brings in someone else's point of view that maybe you hadn't thought of. I highly recommend this book, I read it every Easter.

In six hours Jesus accomplished his redemptive work and in so doing brought meaning to man's life. Max Lucado weaves contemporary stories together with Biblical events to bring a fresh and multi-faceted view of how people were affected by what Jesus did. There's the prodigal son, the woman caught in adultery, the widow of Nain, Lazarus, the thief at the cross among others. All saw new meaning to life, experienced forgiveness from God, and the promise of resurrection and eternal life when they came to the Saviour. The last chapter was the most touching and described the final glance as Max's dad lay dying, paralleling it with the final look by the centurion as Jesus died on the cross.

This book is inspiring and explains the anchor points that you should hold onto when life's hurricanes hit. That basically Jesus has done it all for you on the cross, and that your life is not futile, your failures are not fatal, and your death is not final. Jesus has purchased you with His Blood, and promises you forgiveness of sins if you come to him, and not only that, but eternal life. Therefore anchor your soul to the Rock of Salvation and He will hold onto you throughout life's storms.

Even though this was written long ago, the wisdom in this book applies across the times.

It's truly a shame that this book is no longer stocked. Since I first read it, back in 1990, I have recycled over 8 hours, per week, back into my personal life. This is the gift of this book. I learned that time management isn't simply a bunch of random techniques that allow you to spend more time at work. Instead, it's a set of a few effective principles that allow you to spend more time in your life. To play more. Visit more. Enjoy more. It's easy-to-read and easy-to-do. Within 7 days you'll see and "feel" the difference in your life!

I found this so useful that I bought copies for all my colleagues in my department and we used it as a resource for quick discussion meetings on how to save time. Full of practical sense.

Though it looks quite old fashioned to-day, it is full of sound advice that ar untemporal and international ... Hints are so well related to our human nature that you will appreciate this book whether you are chinese or from Albion (Michigan), the most beautiful small college in the world!

This is the first time management book I read. This book contains sections of practical advice to help you get things done. I consider it almost as good as "Working Smart" by Michael Leboeuf.

I purchased this book because it was recommended as a great follow-up to his book In Pursuit of Holiness. I'm glad I followed the recommendation. The Practice of Godliness made me see that all my efforts for God were being done with the wrong motivation.

Instead of putting God's honor as my prime motivation for serving Him, I was serving Him to win some sort of victory for myself. I had some sort of internal score card that I could check off.

I got so much out of this book that I'm off to read it again.

This book I think God (Holy Spirit) pointed to me in the used book store. It describes the different characteristics of being like God , and how to emulate Him. It takes no short cuts or easy routes, and lays down the difficulties that we (as sinners) all have in measuring up, but only through prayer, practice and the power of the risen Christ can we get there. The many passages from the Bible are used well thoughout.

'Make every effort to live in peace with all men.' (Hebrews 12:14)

Biblical based book that is easy to read and practical for today's lifestyles.

So says the first words of the back cover. And indeed, this book will do everything but force you to become godly. This part is going to be left up to you. The Bible says that the fruit of the spirit are obvious, and so it ought to be. Yet sometimes, in the American society at least, it has become most difficult to keep a Christian witness and remain devoted to God. And so often the joy of Christian living is lost as we enmesh ourselves in the everyday routines of our everyday wrolds. It need not be, and Bridges does a wonderful job covering some of the virtues of the victorious Chrstian life. My suggestion is to get the workbook, get together with several other Christians, and treat this as a Bible study. It makes for wonderful discussions, as I can attest as a Sunday School teacher of adults. This is a book well worth the read.

I was encouraged to find a book on spiritual growth that gets it right! Mr. Bridges' concepts rely very strongly on the work of the Holy Spirit to bring about success. He also encourages the reader to look up passages in Scripture that he refers to in the book by often only providing book, chapter and verse referances (without providing every passage word-for-word in his book).

I'm currently reading his earlier book titled "The Pursuit of Holiness". So far, it isn't quite as good as this one. Some of it comes off as a little legalistic, but there are a lot of good points in it as well. Mr. Bridges obviously matured between his writing of "Pursuit..." and "The Practice of Godliness". If you desire to live your life in a way that is pleasing to God, and want some outstanding pointers, read this book!

This book by Henri Nouwen helped me to understand prayer in a way that I never had before. It is wonderful.

I love this book. I found it in the midst of "a dark night of the soul" and I found it to be very inspirational. I was struggling with relationships and feeling hurt. Henri's writing helped me through that very difficult time. My friend and I joked that I was "working my Henri." I love that Henri is so real and so human. I love his passion. I give this book as a gift to people when I think they might need a little Henri.

As an avid reader of Henri Nouwen, I appreciate the care and integrity used in this compilation. I feel it gets at the sense of who Nouwen was and the sense of his spiritual journey. His compassion and humility shine through.

What an incredible, intimate, and loving writer. Prayers, as the book highlighted, lead us not to dwell on self-pity and struggles of life, but to a new dwelling place, God's Heart, where all wounds can be healed and hopes for the brokenhearted. Your new name is God's Beloved, not Failure, not I Can't; even when our heart and strength fail, this book will lift us up to the unconditional love of God and the power given by Him to live a meaningful and peaceful life! There is so much more to be explored and experienced with the power of God in life. Henri Nouwen lived his life well and has left us a wonderful legacy of how to depend on God and not be afraid to pray for everything.

Outstanding. This was written by a close friend of Henri Nouwen. She has done a wonderful job of collecting & editing. This book is a tribute to Nouwen, and will be a joy to read and use for meditation, perhaps during Lent.