Religion Books

I'm Kenneth Scott. Indeed you are correct concerning what you have written on the perfect passive tense of the Greek verb. You also brought up MATT. 16:19 as an example. Truly, just as the Greek verb emphasizes "kind of action" (called "aspect") more than time of action, you are correct in saying that the perfect passive verb indicates a completed action with results that continue into the present. Also, the passive voice in Greek (as well as in English)indicates action done to or upon the subject of a verb, not by or from the subject.

However, in Matt. 16:19 it is the Greek participles that must be analyzed; not the main verbs (bind or loose). Therefore, since the Greek participle is more involved than the verb it must be further elaborated. The participle "participates" in the modification of another part of speech: The participle is a modifier with verbal qualities. Hence it can be a verbal adjective, substantive or adverb while maintaining an active verbal quality. This means that as an adjective it will modify a noun with an attribute that is contemporaneous, simultaneous or habitual depending upon the nature of the noun; and the scope of it's modifying extends along with the scope of the noun (ex.: "the shepherds, SEEING the star, rejoiced."). Also a particple can stand alone as a substantive (ex."THE ONES SAYING these things are the disciples."). Finally, the participle can modify the main verb (ex."But you beloved,BUILDING UP yourselves on your most holy faith, PRAYING in the HOLY Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, AWAITING the mercy of our LORD Jesus Christ unto eternal life." JUDE 1:20- [here, "keep" is the main verb and the participles modify it adverbally by denoting the circumstances, means, manner or the "how,when" etc.. depending on context]). Here also, it's modifying extends in step with the scope of the main verb.

To determine the participle's function (adj. subst. adv.)involves three main things: 1) of course, context. 2)whether or not it is precede by a Greek article. 3) it's position in reference to the word, phrase or clause in which it modifies. POSITION: If attributive, it will conjoin with a noun that has a definite article(the), Greek doesn't have an indefinite article(a,an), and the participle may also have the article (if not, it must immediately follow the noun). If substantive, it will not immediately follow a noun with an article, although it will have the article. If adverbial, the participle must be in the predicate and it will not have the article.

Therefore, since in MATT.16:19 each participle is in the predicate position of it's respective sentences, each modifies it's respective main verb (bind or loose); thus,it is adverbial. Futhermore, since the PARTICIPLES here are in the perfect passive and there is a contrast between WHERE this binding and loosing occurs- earth in contrast to Heaven: the beginning of the participle occurance will be in the past with it's results effecting the full scope of the main verb's occurance; and since it's in the passive voice, it CANNOT be caused by the subject of the verb (Christ's disciples-apostles to whom He was speaking). for when the subject of the verb is the cause of an occurance or action then it is represented by the ACTIVE voice (not the passive). Finally, since the authority of Heaven is irrefutably sovereign over, and thus preceeds, earthly authority (ROM.13:1) and church authority (EPH.1:22-23;5:22-23) and since the participle is passive; the participle's modification of the main verbs (bind and loose) must represent the occurance of these verbs as NOT being caused by those on earth who bind and loose (the subjects of these verbs) but must be caused from Heaven beforehand with it's results influencing the binding and loosing actions (verbs) by those on earth. For this can be the only true interpretation of a participle with the passive voice and a perfect tense. So, i affirm that the translation of MATT. 16:19 in the LITV by MR. Green is accurate.

Each page has the source language word, and over each source word is the Strong's number. Below each source word is a literal English equivalent. Because the Hebrew reads from right to left, English readers can observe the syntax and flow of the original words as well as a severely literal translation into English below each original language word. This literal translation is so literal that it frequently does not make sense to the English ear and mind, but absorbing the differences and style is very informative and educational. A second literal English translation is placed in normal English left-to-right style in the far left margin of each page, written in beautiful, lean, precise, words. This left-margin translation is as arguably close as English can get to the source language and still make English sense, and reading it together with the severely literal translation below the Hebrew words gives the reader an appreciation for the interpretation that is necessary for even the most literal translations.

I am not a King James Only-ite, but I have come to appreciate the King James Bible as a highly accurate and beautiful translation written in the blood of martyrs. This interlinear uses the same manuscript family and thus has no troubling deletions.

The print quality is dark and even and the thick, opaque pages have no sheen under incandescent light.

The translation in the left margin alone is worth the price.

The publisher/translator of this version thinks he has a better solution to Mt 16:19 namely:
And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven. And whatever you bind on earth shall occur, having been bound in Heaven. And whatever you may loose on the earth shall be, having been loosed in Heaven.

The explanation they gave:

For centuries this verse has been misunderstood as giving power to the clergy over the laity with eternal consequences. The misunderstanding is fostered by the disregard for translating the exact tense of the verbs dedemenon and lelumenon. These are perfect passive participles and should be translated "having been bound" and "having been loosed", respectively. Both the NIV and the KJV translate these words as if they were in the future tense. The consequences of this common mistranslation have been disastrous throughout Church history.

However this is a misunderstanding of the Greek perfect passive meaning the same as the english perfect passive expression -- it doesn't!!! [note: following references can be found at www.textkit.com] The Gree perfect means an action finished in the present time, or expressing a present meaning [for a past action] [Goodwin,1900]; or an action completed in the past the results of which still remain or a present existing state [Nunn 1913]; denotes a completed action the effects of which still continue in the present or marks an enduring result often translated by the present [Smyth, 1920], or a past action of which the consequences remain [Green, 1911]. Thus the correct translations, respectively, for the verbs dedemenon and lelumenon, are "remain bound" (or "still be bound" or "(still) have been bound") and "remain loosened" (or "(still) be loosened" or "still have been loosened.") Thus the correct translation is :

doso soi tas kleidas tes basileias ton ouranon,
I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of the heavens,
kai ho ean deses epi tes ges estai dedemenon en tois ouranois,
and whom if thou shouldst bind on the earth will remain bound in the heavens
kai ho ean luses epi tes ges estai lelumenon en tois ouranois.
and whom if thou shouldst loose on the earth will remain loosened in the heavens

I will give to thee, the Heavenly Kingdom's keys. And whom if thou shouldst bind on Earth, will remain bound in Heaven. And whom if thou shouldst loosen on Earth, will remain loosened in Heaven.

Compare:
Douay Rheims (Catholic):

And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.

Even the Lithuanian with its more than sufficient participles gives just about the same translation:
Lithuanian (Protestant):
Tau duosiu dangaus karalystės raktus;
to thee I will give heaven's kingdom's keys;
ką tu surisi zemėje, bus surista ir danguje,
whom thou wilt bind on earth, will be bound also in heaven,
ir ką tu atrisi zemėje, bus atrista ir danguje".
And whom thou wilt untie on earth, will be untied also in heaven

I will give to thee heaven's kingdom's keys; who thou wilt bind on earth, will be bound also in heaven, And who thou wilt untie on earth, will be untied also in heaven.

The translator needs to go to school on his Greek. The emphasis in the Greek perfect isn't on what happened in the past, it is on the current result.

I own many different bible versions: the NIV, NASB, KJV, NKJV, NWT, WEB, YLT, the LITV Interlinear, and the ISR and JPS versions, along with many more digital versions on computer. The Literal Translation of the Holy Bible by J.P. Green Sr. is without a doubt my absolute favorite. I read it online and in the margins of my gigantic LITV Interlinear. It is rendered from the Masoretic Hebrew and the Textus Receptus Greek, two of the most reliable compilations of manuscripts and also the foundations of the beloved King James Version.

Another reviewer was correct in stating that word-for-word renderings are not hard to understand. They may be a little awkward when speaking aloud, but that is a small trade off for accuracy. After all, the holy bible was given to mankind for intense study, not for poetic repetition. That said, the words have been rearranged so as to provide proper english sentence structure and flow of thought, so the awkwardness is practically nonexistent. See for yourself at www.litvonline.com

There is bad news, though. I have not received my copy from Amazon, yet. And it has been about a year since I first tried. The book is out of stock, and I let my order expire after a few months of waiting. I ordered used copies twice, both to the same end. All the book dealers are waiting on the same printer, Sovereign Grace Publishing (owned and operated by Mr Green and his family), to spit out some copies.

It appears the family has run into dire circumstances for a few years now. Green Sr. is 87 years old, and his health and that of his wife is declining. He continues to proofread the "KJ3" (new name for LITV) and his son, Green Jr., and his two granddaughters do the printing work.

Green Jr.'s wife tends to their four grandkids (16/19/19/29 months) and works full-time. Two of their grandkids are twins, Jayda and Nidra. Both twins suffer from cerebral palsy. One twin though, Nidra, also suffers arm and spine deformities, disjointed hip, and a head disease of some sort. The kids also require up to four doctor visits per week. Read the announcements at this link:

http://chrlitworld.com/KJ3Update_020204.htm

Please pray the Father for this family. They are still trying desperately to publish this most accurate version of His word. After many vendor complications, and production costs, and attempting to outsource over seas to both India and China, they found a more affordable American printer/binder. But, the upfront cost to start printing the first run is $15,000. They are waiting on pre-orders, donations, and layman's income to reach this amount before any copies can be printed.

If you are hoping to acheive a copy of this version, you will have to preorder through Sovereign Grace Publishers (www.sovgracepub.com) or Christian Literature World (www.chrlitworld.com) and then sit and wait for others to do the same. That is what I finally did, and I wish I could afford to donate some extra cash. Maybe soon, who know?

Peace and love.

I have been following this work since 1976 when I purchase the book of Job in paperback for $1. Brother Green's work through the Holy Spirit has been nothing short of magnificent. This work is the actual translated words from the Hebrew-Greek texts all in one volume. With this translation, who can dispute the true and living God's word? This work is the answer to many prayers!

The book is great--a long-time favorite of mine. Funny and touching at the same time.

The only drawback to my book: it was the English translation; not the American one.

John

I fell in love with both the priest Don Camillo and his faithful adversary, Peppone the Communist mayor, when I was only ten, and since then have read all of the books, several times. After my experiences of being in the USAF in Taiwan in the 1970s, and now a permanent resident in mainland China's Fujian Province, I can appreciate the kinds of clashes that can occur between Communists and Christians--serious, but at times quite humorous also. I appreciate the zany humor but most of all the down to earth warm portrayels of both Don Camillo and Peppone. The author shows good and bad sides of both, and Don Camillo's conversations with Christ, who speaks to him from the crucifix above the altar, are priceless. After a few stories, one realizes that neither Don Camillo nor Peppone are the good guy or the bad guy, but simple ordinary people--and though enemies, they each sometimes go out of their way to help the other (though secretly, to save face). The cast of supporting characters, like skinny Smilzo, is also a delight.
The line drawings of the angel Don Camillo and the devil Peppone are, of course, priceless. Simple and to the point, they are the icing on the Don Camillo cake, and probably the reason why I draw cartoons on everything from greeting cards to my books on China--Amoy Magic, Fujian Adventure, Mystic Quanzhou, deng deng (which is Chinese for "etcetera"). I highly recommend not only Little World but all of the Don Camillo books in print.

This little book is filled with quick-reading short chapters which each impart a bit of wisdom and a moral or biblical lesson, and always with humor.

The story format is short tales in the ongoing feud between village priest Don Camillo and communist mayor Peppone. One of them often ends up bruised (literally or figuratively). At first blush it would seem like a good vs evil scenario, but really they are very much alike, and secretly sympathize with (even love)one another. Each struggles through life's choices from the perspective of his own situation.

One of the best parts, for me, is that each battle-du-jour includes Camillo's "consultation" with and reception of "advice" from the Christ image at the church altar. Rich stuff. Of course the image is not really speaking, and this technique is the author's metaphor for the working of the Holy Spirit in Camillo (or "his conscience", depending on your own theological perspective).

The theme runs throughout the book. Each chapter in pretty much a stand-alone story, although a few chapters are coupled, dealing with an ongoing incident. An entertaining little read that is a superior choice to those "thought-for-the-day" motivational/religious pamphlets. I read mine a chapter at a time when going to bed for the night. It gave me a truth to ponder as I dropped off . . . zzzzzzzz. Or maybe install a copy in your bathroom book rack. This book is very Italian and very Catholic . . . but you needn't be either to enjoy it (I'm not).

I was at a summer fair recently and browsing on the book stall when I found a very old copy of the Little World of Don Camillo dating from 1953. I had no idea what it was at the time as I'd never heard of it but i was intrigued by the blurb. this book is HILARIOUS! I kept laughing out loud and getting very strange looks! but it was worth it! I am now determined to find the rest of the books and read them although I am aware that they may cost me slightly more that my 25p find at the Fete! It's a brilliant book that transports you into another world with ease and lets you meet characters that you can believe in and love. A very well spent 25 pence!

Having first entered Don Camillo's little world at 10, I have returned innumerable times over the decades, and frequently given directions to friends, too. This little work is a masterpiece. There is more wisdom, faith, hope, and love, to be found in its pages than in many far more "serious" works of fiction. All of that is accomplished in a deceptively simple gem of literary style. Like any great work of fiction, it captivates the heart as well as the mind. It is impossible to spend time in this little world and not come away with a smile on one's face and hope in one's heart. The Little World of Don Camillo is ideal reading for anyone, of any age or condition, anywhere.

If you are looking for light reading, or an overview of this topic, you probably want a different book. However, if you want a very deep, intricate analysis of the philosophical foundation for the Catholic Church's view on sex, you will find it here. He is incredibly thorough, and he starts at "the beginning," using philosophy and reason to explain the Church's teachings, not the Church's teachings to explain why you should behave a certain way. Very insightful and helpful to those who are struggling to figure out why the Church says what she says.

Outstanding book. Real food for thought. It will still be read and discussed 100 years from now.

Great insight into what it means to be human while addressing sexual issues that have never been addressed in this manner before.

This book gives an excellent analysis of human dignity and its relation to the beauty of human sexuality as a gift, and from that gift is life. The book gave me an insight on how our culture has exploited our human dignity and sexuality, such as viewing people as "objects" (e.g. pornography); this book speaks the Truth and I love it! I highly recommend this book for anyone who plans to read Theology of the Body, teach Theology of the Body for Teens, as well as teach Theology of the Body in marriage preparation courses or young adults groups.

Pope John Paul II provides answers to questions many don't ask, and most don't know how to answer. This book provides a strong foundation to those who seek to do what is right in relationships (relationship with God, significant other, fiance/ee, or spouse). The authority and correctness of this book has made me, a life-long Protestant, take a second look at the Catholic Church.

This book is an interesting read, chock full of practical advice and fresh insight. More than helpful in building skills to overcome negative mindsets and emotions. Thanks, Joyce.

I just started reading this book and I am very pleased. My husband and I are starting a new church and I think everyone should read this book even if you think you're not an emotional person. This gives you very good insight on both points of views and I believe it will be beneficial to anyone that reads this book.

i bought this for my daughter for christmas. she's 24, very sensitive and emotional. along with prayer, it's helping her gain a new perspective on coping with her emotions and dealing with life issues.

And this is exactly what you learn how to do in this book. I found it to be extremely practical and helpful, as is Joyce Meyers way of communicating. I did not realize how much I was allowing my emotions to control me rather than the other way around, which I found to be where a majority of my problems stemmed from. This is foundational information.

There were definitely some positive aspects to this book. I should acknolwedge that I've purchased many other Joyce Meyer books such as Battlefield of the Mind, Beauty for Ashes, The Battle Belongs to the Lord, In Pursuit of Peace etc. so sometimes in this book a few sections appear repetitive in accordance with her other works. I believe she copy/pasted from a few other books in some sections.

I was somewhat hesitant to purchase this book after already purchasing Beauty for Ashes which I believe is her best book that she has written. What swayed me in the direction of buying this book was because I saw chapters entitled "Codependency" and "Healing the Child Within" which I was kind of shocked to see in a Christian book. Those are typically secular psychology concepts. I knew she would present those topics in a balanced, scriptural way so I was kind of interested to see how she would approach it. She talked about codependency being dependent on people, behaviors, or things (which is the tradition definition) rather than being dependent on God alone. I did not like anything with regard to codependency because I just viewed it as addictions or idolatry of the Bible. And I came to a realization that it was just not being dependent on God alone like we should, which I was happy to see Joyce agreed with. And "Healing the Child Within" I thought is a dangerous topic because it so conflicts with scripture, but I was surprised in the way she dealt with it. She talked about "becoming as little children" like Jesus said in the Bible. And she talked about all the good attrtibutes of children we should strive after as adults in a very organized way.

These two chapters I don't think taught me anything new however. So, having Beauty for Ashes already (which I would highly recommend) I probably would not prefer to have bought it. Don't get me wrong, if you've never bought a Joyce Meyer book before, this could prove to be a very excellent book as she does cover many topics like in Beauty for Ashes and if it's all unique material for you, this book may be one of the best ones you've bought (besides the Bible). But I believe Beauty for Ashes is more complete and more applicable to my situation.

I think Joyce's two most important works are Battle Belongs to the Lord which discusses the importance of worship and praising God for who He is, and the second one is Beauty for Ashes which talks about abuse and how to deal with negative things others do to you. Battlefield of the Mind is her most popular book, and I think that is quite good to, and should be had more as a reference for times when you find yourself slipping into certain thinking habits.

Sometimes Joyce releases too many books in my opinion (smile) so it's hard for her to find fresh material. Very balanced unique books which I've read so far are Beauty for Ashes, Battlefield of the Mind, and The Battle Belongs to the Lord. They each have unique content which she worked hard on. I'm curious why she felt she wanted to release "Managing Your Emotions" when she already had "Beauty for Ashes" out. I felt if there was a topic unique to Managing Your Emotions which wasn't in Beauty for Ashes, then she should've thought about yet a nother new release revision and added those unique chapters to Beauty for Ashes. Her big thing in this book however was not being led by your emotions in making decisions, but rather by faith and God's input. I acknolwedge that is a unique concept. But her chapters on healing broken emotions and shame and forgiving yourself and others are very similar to Beauty for Ashes, and basically she is simply elaborating and emphasizing Jesus's teaching on the mount! Jesus is the one who revealed this, but I like how she emphasizes it. Hope this helps.

I heard about this book via a Focus on the Family radio broadcast. I only read parts before giving it away as a gift, but I can tell this is a good one.

This is a great book for both Husband and Wife to read and study together. In it are discussed the issues that make difficult marriage and relationships. More importantly, solutions and practical advice are offered for each issue raised. The authors, two couples, are all Christian and are counselors, including marriage and relationships. I had a great 30 yr marriage that ended due to cancer and a two marriage that ended in divorce. I believe that having read this book would have made the 30 yr marriage more rich, and perhaps could have saved the two year marriage. I highly recommend it.

Great book even if you've been married several years or more- Makes a great wedding shower gift!

I received the books quickly and they were in new condition! I'm very impressed. Thank you!

Most Important Year in a Woman's Life, The/The Most Important Year in a Man's Life
This is an excellent resource book not only for newly married couples but for those of us who have been married for a long while. Some of the topics covered are: roles, friendship, money, sex, talking, dreams, inlaws and outlaws, etc. It shows you how to have healthy discussions about such differing points of view as: men have a tendency to want to "fix" whatever is bothering you and you have a need for your husband just to listen most of the time and validate your feelings. Women need to be heard from the heart not just the ears and women need to give their man the respect that they crave. I highly recommend this book to all newly engaged or newly wedded couples.

I am a huge Bible fan and spirit-filled Christian (certifiable Jesus-freak). I own several Bible is various translations and publishers (KJV, NKJV, NIV, Zondervan, Thomas Nelson, B&H) and LOGOS Bible Reference software.

I had heard of the Spirit-Filled Life Bible, and wanted one, so I got it, and I am not dissapointed. Pastor Dr. Jack Hayford, together with his team of gifted, well-known Bible theologians and scholars, along with elders from his ministry (Church On The Way), have put together one of the best study Bibles I've ever read. The combination of the accurate, nearly literal NKJV translation, relevant study helps, and comprehensive cross-references makes for a rewarding and fulfilling experience.

I love the Word of God, and I read the Bible a lot, and I can say that after thumbing through and reading some of the Spirit-Filled Life Bible I will never look at study Bibles the same way. Hayford's study topics, charts, and explanations, "Kingdom Dynamics" and "Word Wealth" study aids add a fresh twist to this Bible. They're (and the other study aids and helps), are easy to read, contextual, well-written, and thought out, and thorough. I've got a Thomas Nelson NKJV study Bible and it pales in comparison to this one.

Not only is this a great Bible content-wise, it's also well-constructed and appears to be of very high quality. Iwas very impressed with the fit and finish. The Bible is bound in British tan genuine leather, and is finished very well. Although the binding isn't smythe-sewn (which I prefer), the glue job is awesome. I have a B&H Bible that is touted as one of the better-quality Bibles, and the binding is already starting to peel where it's glued. The font is large enough, even if it's not the ultra-huge size 12-14, and the print quality is very good, sharp and clear. In the front is an appendix for the Word Wealth and Kingdom Dynamics; in back are the mandatory maps, and there's a small but reasonable concordance (my Nelson study Bible takes the prize for the best concordance, 195 pages long).

Overall, this is an excellent addition to my Bible collection. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves the Word of God, or someone who is looking for a comprehensive, easy to read, relevant, fun to reas, and interesting study Bible.

As if I thought the Word of God couldn't get any better, I read Jack Hayford's take on the Bible!

Among the numerous bibles on the market, by far my personal favorite for clarity and understanding of the Scriptures. Easy to read and follow, as well as a "connect the dot" style of formulated study throughout the bible. A great purchase I will not regret!

i purchased this as a gift for my brother. He is a real nut about having a quick way to look up words, their meaning and history... so he loved it.

This bible is awesome! I have always had a New King James bible but have never "studied" the bible before. A friend suggested this version and she was right! I love having a concordance. The word wealth "boxes" as you read are very helpful as are the sections before and after each book that truly teach, enlighten and guide in the Spirit. It also has everything a regular study bible would have. I highly recommend it!

This is a very easy to use study Bible. I wish I had had this 20 years ago. It sure would have helped with my early Bible Studies. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to understand and know the Bible.

I recently lost my boyfriend to cancer. After his death I was given "no death, no fear". Great book! It helped ease the pain. I wish I would have had this book before he died so we could have read it together. It is a simple book with very profund messages and helps take the fear away from the idea of death. Life continues...

Hanh quickly grabs the reader's attention and mindfully drifts off in euphamism and metaphor as he meanders over, under and through this difficult topic (difficult for most people).

Calming in his approach to death, life, beginning (no beginning) and end (no end), the author seems to have an excellent hold on his spiritual beliefs and his desire to share. For those of any and all faiths, death is a frightening subject, but Hanh paints a wonderful picture of immortality through all that a person touches in his/her life.

The only, and I stress only, misgiving I found with this short read are the over-used metaphorical analysis between human life and that of an oceanic wave. I wish the author could draw similarities shared by all breathing life organisms, rather than something as translucent as water (although I think I understand WHY he often describes life in terms of water).

I would certainly recommend this book.

I read this book after the passing of my Grandparents and it helped me deal with their passing. I recommend this book to anyone who is searching for answers about life and death. Great book!

This has been one of the most powerful books I've ever read. It helped me through the death of my father. My mother is now nearing the end of her life in this body and I'm re-reading it. I suspect that I will revisit it many times . . .

I first thought the book was simple and repetitive. But when I experienced a loss and re-read the book, I finally realized how profound this book really is.
I had been dealing with the subject of death for quite a few years. (I started with the book HAGAKURE, by Tsunetomo Yamamoto. You may or may not like to check that out. It's a more stoic approach to similar subjects). Anyway, I wanted to conquer the idea of my own inevitable mortality, so that when the time comes, I will handle it with grace. So, my approach was to prepare beforehand.
As I said, I was working on my OWN mortality. It never occured to me that I might also apply it to someone else. Someone I love recently died. That was the 1st real loss that I've encountered, so I was devastated. All those years of preparing myself didn't really mean much (though at the time, I thought I was ready and that I knew it all). I had already owned a copy of this book and read it several years ago. Feeling in the pits, I decided to pull the book out and read it again, as this time it is much more applicable (since I'm experiencing loss).
The book seemed so simple beforehand. It was a quick read. Thich Nhat Hanh also seemed repetitive; I felt bored several times. This, as it turns out, was my fault, not his. He is such a good teacher that he makes everything seem so simple. However, after someone I loved very much died, I re-read this book, and I realized how profound it really is. The reason why Thich is so repetitive, is because you need to drill it into you head so that you really understand it. It's like learning how to count to ten. No one is born knowing how to count to ten. But you drill it until the day when you know it all by heart. Trust me, this book is more profound than it seems; do not just read through it and think that it's all obvious and that you already know it. Reading and learning is not good enough; you have to experience it!
It's like this: death is not real. You cannot create something out of nothing, and you cannot become nothing from something. It's not the reality of things. (Physics will agree with that, for you scientists out there). The problem is that we're deluded. This delusion creates in us a false sense of reality, and that leads to our suffering. We fear death because we think we become nothing. We fear death, because we do not understand it. The problem is that we've learned the wrong way; we need to unlearn our delusions and see death as it really is: simply a change in form. Basically, it's moving on. We want to stay in one place, but the fact of the universe is that it is always changing. We are deluded into remaining stagnant in a universe that, let's face it, is not going to stop and wait for us.
This book helped me immensely in my loss. But it's neverending; you can't just reach a certain point and then stop; you'll lose it. You have to keep going. It's one of those books I will always keep with me. Get this book beforehand, and slowly introduce it into your life and try to apply it. Don't wait until you experience a loss. You will be too devastated. It's never too late to prepare youself for what's inevitable. It will greatly diminish your sense of despair. That much I can gaurantee.

This is a great book--full of real-life disciple-making from someone who is doing it. I'm amazed every time I go to Xenos. Denis McCallum, the founder and one of the two senior pastors at Xenos Christian Fellowship, is making active disciples from among non-Christian people. He's actually practicing what he writes about in this book. I've been in the McCallum home on two different occassions and each time, the home was filled with young people who they are discipling--jsut like he writes about in this book. Buy it, read it, and do what it says.

We purchased twenty copies which we used as a text book for a 13 week class at church, mixed men and women. The thrust of the class was to help the students know what is involved in finding, mentoring, teaching, and releasing a disciple in a one-on-one long term committed relationship. The book made a good back drop for the course in so far as it gave us a track to run on, since none of us had taught this subject before. As the teacher, I found several of the chapters to be spot on target and I used them pretty much exclusively for about half the course. Other chapters however were either weaker in content or just didn't cut to the specific deliverable I wanted to get across, so I supplemented with independent material. Several of my students had gone to the church website (Xenos) to check it out and were a little worried about the "casual" approach to ministering. Our church takes a more conservative approach and some behaviors that are considered culturally permissible, like smoking, course language, etc. we tend to frown on and believe the Holy Spirit through the process of Sanctification will cleanse the mature believer of. We therefore don't condone or model those behaviors in an attempt to woo the non or immature believer into sticking with us. Fortunately almost none of this came out in the book. Moreover, the book (and Xenos fellowship) rely heavily on "cell churches" which we also do not subscribe to. This method did come out in the book and so I had to customize the content for my class when it did. This was not a problem though. All in all, I'm glad I chose the book because it lived up to its "organic" name. That is, it got right to the heart of mentoring one on one, as opposed to many books I've seen that are more "clinical" or targeted to my own discipleship and walk with the Lord. This book definitely got us into the messy "human-ness" of one man pouring his life into another man, or woman to woman.

I really liked the book. It had the right theological framework necessary to grow God's people and care for the flock as well as providing very practical advise for helping those that want to engage in discipleship at different levels.

I found the section on professional counseling rather difficult. I lean toward Biblical counseling which empowers God's people to counsel at different levels. I cringe at the advise most people get when they see psychiatrists. The problem is real, however. You were brave enough to speak about it. I would think something not so sophisticated speaking about this might be more appropriate for the readers of this book.

Your section on quality conversation and friendship making will surely be helpful to some.

It is a good basic book that helps people trying to make discipleship work in their cell groups.
I already started talking about your book and will pass it on to some of our pastors

For a number of years now I've been working on a practical how-to book on discipleship. Dennis McCallum has beaten me to the punch with Organic Disciple Making. He's written the most practical book on how to disciple people I've ever read.

Time and time again I find myself saying, "Yup, he nailed that one; that's how it works." For example, early on the book covers the subject of modeling and its key role in making disciples. Later it delves into the practical questions of how you counsel and disciple through various issues or how you deal with blocks in their development.

For example McCallum distinguishes the difference between weakness and resistance and the appropriate response of a disciple maker. A disciple struggling with weakness generally needs encouragement, whereas a disciple who is resistant often needs confrontation and possibly discipline.

I loved that the book had a whole section on coaching and I loved that its counsel is both biblically grounded and rooted in the everyday experience of someone who leads 250 home churches. I've read so many books on discipleship and few drill down to address the questions ordinary people have as they struggle to help their disciples grow.

All of us who have committed ourselves to following Jesus and representing his name need to learn how to make disciples. It was the last thing he asked us to do before leaving the earth. If you as a Jesus-follower feel like you need help in learning how to do this in a way that feels natural, do yourself a favor and get Organic Disciple Making.

In the long tradition of The Lost Art of Disciple Making, Multiplying Disciples, and Disciples Are Made, Not Born, Organic Disciplemaking: How to promote Christian leadership development through personal relationships, biblical discipleship, mentoring, and Christian community is designed to do more than tell about the need for making disciples of Jesus. This is a book that painstakingly provides a path from start to finish.

This book has the potential to be used by small group coaches to disciple and develop small group leaders. With today's small group ministries launching groups with leaders just a step ahead of their members, this could be a very helpful resource providing a pathway for mentoring.

In its pages you will find more than stories of how it's working at Xenos. You'll also find the practical steps needed to begin a disciplemaking ministry in your own church. More importantly, you may find the inspiration to look for one life to pour into. After all, that is the point.

I read this book in several sittings which is unusual for me. I just couldn't stop and wanted to read some more of this fascinating story. It is a feel good story for the modern ages. If you are reading this you probably know about the former Beverly Hillls mom , twice divorced who was unable to receive Holy Communion from the Catholic Church, circumvented any road blocks and began her service for mankind(the most down and out of low people in La Mesa prison near Tijuana)and our Lord at age fifty. She produced her own habit and eventually was recognized by an official order. She has worked amongst the biggest drug dealers of Mexico, the murderer of Presidential candidate Colosio, the bloodiest of assasins and the peons who are just to poor to live in society and seek refuge in jail(now that is desperate)and the mentally ill. A prison in Mexico is unlike an American prison. Torture is common. She got involded in prison reform as well as changing men. Mother Antonia is unafraid of the toughest and meanest because she is a righteous woman and all who encounter her love and admire her. She lives in prison. She lives the same way the prisoners do. She walks and talks to the hardest of hard core. She gives them hope and transforrms many of their lives through the miracle of faith. This is an inspirational story that will leave you pondering your own existence; it is truly an amazing story that all should read as it will make you feel better about mankind. She is truly a living saint. Oh yes, there is a large print edition of this book available for the visually handicapped. God bless Sister Antonio and all who she touches.

This is a very inspirational book and helps people see how they can still be useful as they get older.

The Prison Angel is one of the most inspiring books I've ever read. Mother Antonia is so amazing that one would question the truth of her story if it weren't for the consistent witness and corroboration provided by all those who come into contact with her. She loves and ministers to everyone without distinction. This is a great book for teaching the golden rule.

This book touches your soul and uplifts your spirits. You would dare to judge another person after reading this book about a woman who could forgive and love the "unlovable." Very touching

Mother Antonia is an inspiration for us to see all people as fellow humans with similar needs - to be cared for, loved, and accepted. I appreciate that she paved the way to be valuable at an "older" age, and she welcomes women in their later years as valuable and able to serve others. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and passed it around among many friends.

Paul Jellinek's Promise to Mary chronicles the author's travels through the northeast, south, and Alaska, capturing the spirit of "Faith in Action," a loose confederation of interfaith religious congregations who mobilize volunteers to care for the elderly and homebound. Told in the form of refreshingly original vignettes, an engaging portrait emerges of care-givers and receivers. We see the lines separating them often blurred, with some drawn to this calling by traumatic life events, leaving an indelible formative imprint on their life's experience.

Begun in 1993 through a series of nationwide grants awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the groups were started through seed grants to fund a paid executive to coordinate the volunteer base. The author's visits reveal that most of the original 25 have flourished more than 20 years, melding into the bedrock of community service in their individual locales.

The author skillfully remains the unobtrusive central character, through whom these voices are heard. The human toll exacted over a lifetime is examined in stories woven in a distinctly compassionate literary style. The author's gently probing questions are genuine and heartfelt. He gives voice to those whose eloquence, stifled by their infirmities, reveals their quiet perseverance and he allows them to express simply stated life-affirming truths.

Dr. Jellinek celebrates the nobility and dignity of those who populate the book. The overriding tone is decidedly redemptive and hopeful. Stories of great courage emerge as the unsung heroes of local community service manage time and again to marshal their inner reserves, drawing upon a fragile yet durable support network woven of member interfaith congregations and faith communities. These are ordinary people doing extraordinary things, largely under the radar. The stories call to mind the importance of small deeds which loom large in the lives of those whom they touch.

The nonthreatening imprimatur of "church" is time and again the narrow margin breached by wary "forgotten souls" who tentatively reach out for much needed help. Their simple but profound acts of faith and trust are to what the program owes its success.

This book should be required reading, especially for those embarking on a career in social work or community service. To read it is to be infused with a sense of all that is possible and to have one's faith in humanity restored, through a rare glimpse into the heart and soul of some of the finest people one could meet. The author succeeds in focusing a deserving spotlight on those remarkable people who populate our everyday lives, but whose heroic deeds are largely unknown, except to those whose lives are quietly transformed by their gentle presence.

This is a book whose power lies in the gentle yet compelling individual stories which emerge, revealing the humanity which lies within all of us. It is also a compelling journey of personal discovery for the author as well as a wonderful historical record of Faith in Action.




Dr. Jellinek documents the sustained viability of what remains a simple but profound formula for success - ordinary people accomplishing the extraordinary, when artificial barriers to human compassion, in the form of preconceived stereotypes are ignored and people are free to relate to one another on the most basic level. By entering this world with Paul as your guide, you emerge hope-filled and humbled by the extraordinary compassion his journey reveals.

Paul's caring and poignant sharing of his journey across the continent and through the years with Faith in Action is one that will warm your heart and hopefully inspire you to look closely at your own community. I will guess that you won't look far to find your own Mary, Gracie, Harold or Eddie Mae. But stop and look farther. Find what it is you can do in your own community and with your own neighbors to help - with or without a Faith in Action project. Paul will tell you from his own experience as a Faith in Action volunteer for many years, that you will get so very much more than you give.

Thank you Paul for writing this important anthology once again proving what a small group of very committed people can do.

Paul Jellinek is a masterful interviewer and storyteller. The amount of depth and detail he was able to uncover in the lives of those he visited in just a few short hours is incredible. For those who take time to assist neighbors in their communities, it is an affirmation. For everyone else, it is compelling work of non-fiction that will keep you reading on and on. It is truly inspirational. I would recommend this book to everyone.

This is a book with a mission. It accomplishes its mission and then some. It spreads the word about Faith in Action, a successful, 15-year-old national program that brings together local congregations of different faiths to provide volunteer help to elderly and disabled individuals. Through interviews with administrators, caregivers and those they help, the book enlightens the reader about the program and its life-altering accomplishments.

The interviews, combined with the author's observations, provide keen insight into many of our country's great challenges--racism, poverty, crime, drugs, isolation, loneliness, abandonment. They also show how Faith in Action and its remarkable staff and volunteers take on these challenges and make a difference. The book is instructive, inspirational, and motivating. Undoubtedly, some who read it will become volunteers themselves.

The book's style is entertaining and captivating. The author brings us along on his road trip to contrasting parts of America where he conducts his interviews--New England, the South, and the Last Frontier of Alaska. Through his writing we share the scenery, weather, accommodations, and food he experienced--the good, the bad, and the ugly. (On the good front, I long for a piece of the "...best slice of pie I had ever had at a restaurant." Inquiring minds should see page 217.)

Each interview is a personality profile. We are introduced to a bevy of characters--some endearing, some distasteful, all remarkable. Among the favorites are the indomitable eighty-five-year-old Miss Helen; Sylvia, who once excelled in the study of mold spores and now excels in administering social services; Kim, whose hard life has transformed her into an expert practitioner of compassion; Jamie, a former wild child turned nurse with unique experiences involving death and dying; and Rodney, a former gang member who has yet to recognize his power and purpose.

The book has a rare attribute--a wonderful use of humor. There are more than a few laugh-out-loud moments. Always appropriate, humor is skillfully interjected throughout our journey with the author.

A Promise to Mary is reader-friendly. Because of its clever format--broken out by geography and interview--it can be picked up and put down as the reader's lifestyle dictates. It can be read in one sitting from cover to cover, enjoyed at the beach, or become part of a daily public transportation commute.

I owe a great deal to the book and its author. During my time reading the book, it became my travel companion, making my weekday commute a pleasure. My faith in the goodness of human beings has been reinforced. And I have added one more goal to my list of things to accomplish--becoming a Faith in Action volunteer. Thank you, Dr. Jellinek. Well done.

PROMISE TO MARY is a gem. With a narrative style that rings true, the very real characters are as complex and interesting as any in a work of fiction. The author's genuine, but realistic, empathy provides a welcome antidote to the "kumbaya"-tinged works common to the genre. It is enough to provide even the cynic with at least a modest insight into our shared humanity.