Religion Books

Doug Moo offers a great exegetical and expositional commentary with the PNTC series offering on James. Well worth the buy, if you don't have a solid commentary on James. Nothing too crazy, and lots of compelling argumentation for his positions.

I have five critical commentaries on James (Lenski, Bruce, Woods, Martin, and now Moo). This one will more than likely be the primary source for me when I study the book in a critical fashion. He is thorough and that is what I want. If you are a preacher looking for something quick and in summary form, a smaller work might be more useful. For me, as a preacher, if I am in the circumstance where I need something quick I am already in trouble. I like the Pillar Series. Not long ago I read of one's review that was overly critical of the work on the epistles of John - I do not subscribe to that sentiment at all. It is a good series!

If you are looking for an answer to a question raised about the meaning of the book of Phillipians, you could not find a better treatment. This is a wonderful resource and fine treatment of the text. I used it in a series of sermons, and found it very easy to acess and get the gems of the book.

`The Epistle of James' by James B. Adamson, 1976, 227 pages in the series The New International Commentary on the New Testament; `The Letter of James' by Douglas J. Moo, 2000, 271 pages, a volume in the series The Pillar New Testament Commentary; and `James' by Ralph P. Martin, 1988, 240 pages, A volume in the series Word Biblical Commentary are all `full featured' and recent commentaries on the first of the short `catholic' epistles in the New Testament.

I find it amazing how different the material is in these three volumes. After 1800 years of commentary, one would expect a fair amount of uniformity in thinking about this short letter, but there is a remarkable range of differences in emphasis among the three.

Those of you who are familiar with the world of biblical commentary will recognize that all three are part of major series of commentaries. Adamson and Moo belong to series dedicated to the New Testament, while Martin's volume is an offering of a larger series on both Old and New Testaments. And, each volume is organized in a way to match the editorial style of their series. This is most clearly seen in Martin's volume, as his work is organized in virtually the same way as the much larger work on Paul's Epistle to the Romans by the distinguished scholar, James D. G. Dunn. This is no surprise, as Martin is the New Testament editor for his series, the Word Biblical Commentary.

Ranked by scholarly detail, Martin has the most and Adamson has the least, with Moo somewhere in between; but don't take from this that Martin is heavy on the Greek and Adamson has no original Greek. All three are specifically written for the scholar and assume that the reader either knows classical Greek or is willing to slog through all the Greek words and expressions. The irony here is that while Martin is the most heavily scholarly, it may also be the most accessible to the lay or strictly pastoral user, since this series divides scholarly observations into the `Comments' on each paragraph, while more general thoughts are spelled out in straight English in the `Form/Structure/Setting' section and later in the `Explanation' section following the `Comments'. Adamson organizes all his `special' or more technical topics in `Excursus' sections following his main commentary. I found this just a tad distracting, especially when I discovered some mistakes in references to these Excursus sections in the main text.

All three authors give us their own translations of the text, and all three agree on where the difficult phrases are to be found. If I were to pick a volume purely on the basis of their translation, I would prefer Adamson, as he seems to give translations that best resolve these difficult sections. But, in all three cases, the authors agree on where the difficulties lie and, in general, the nature of the difficulties.

In the three authors' introductory chapter on the author, themes, and canonical status of the letter, all three agree on the major points. They uniformly agree, for example on the belief that the letter does, in fact, represent the thoughts or writings of James, the brother of Jesus, who was head of the Christian Jews in Jerusalem up to about 62 CE. They also agree that the final form of the letter was rewritten and polished sometime in the early 2nd century, CE. The authors are also uniform in their citing Martin Luther's misunderstanding of James; however, I would give Luther credit for seeing scriptural support of many Roman Catholic doctrines, even if any sound reading of `James' shows that this support is probably stretching James points just a little too far.

On the major themes of the letter, I generally prefer Martin's emphasis on the three topics of `Wisdom', `Perfection', and `The Piety of the Poor' to the other authors' interest in theology and the law. James is clearly spending less times on these typically Pauline topics than he is on lessons for a Christian life.

Among all the other differences, it is most remarkable to see all the differences between how the three authors structure an outline of the short letter. If you didn't know better, you may think they were talking about two different writings. This is just a symptom of the fact that `James' is much less a theological argument a la `Romans' and much more a collection of lessons on prayer, right Christian behavior, and the implications of faith. This is consistent with the fact that the letter has much in common with the Gospels, especially the Gospel of Matthew (See Martin).

One last difference I detect between the three is the fact that Martin makes more connections to modern theology of, for example Dietrich Bonhoffer, while Moo and Adamson have more citations to the great reformers, Calvin and Luther.

If I had to pick only one of these, I would go with Martin's volume in the Word Biblical Commentary series. If I were interested only in pastoral interpretation, I would go with Moo or the article `The Letter of James' by Luke Timothy Johnson in `The New Interpreter's Bible', since both refer heavily to the standard NIV and NRSV translations. If your interest is in a scholarly study of the letter, you will probably want all three.

This is Moo's second commentary on the epistle of James. He wrote his first one in 1985 as part of the Tyndale series. This commentary is the result of fifteen years of reflection on that work. The content of this commentary makes it evident that this is the mature thought of a noted scholar on the letter of James. Those fifteen years left him more convinced "that the heart of the letter is a call to wholehearted commitment to Christ" (x).
Moo provides a lengthy introduction to this epistle (46 pages worth). This introduction includes the history of James in the church, nature and genre, authorship, theology, occasion and date, and structure of James. Concerning authorship, Moo holds that James, the bother of Christ, is the author. He presents arguments against this traditional view and then answers them. The section on the theology of the book is a feature more commentaries would do well to include. He dates the writing of the letter around the middle of the 40s AD. This is important because the date of writing has great implication on the relationship of the letter to Paul's teachings. Moo does not place a ridge structure on the letter. Instead, he finds "several key motifs" which "are often mixed together with other themes in paragraphs that cannot be labeled as neatly as we might like" (45). Denying the assertion of some commentators that the letter has no unifying purpose, Moo argues that the central concern of the letter is spiritual wholeness of the readers (47).
Moo's analysis of the text is insightful. His word studies are well done. He presents a wide range of possible meanings but uses the context to determine which meaning is James's meaning. Moo also does a good job in showing James's relationship with Paul. James is not writing against Paul. James means something different by faith than does Paul. They are addressing different problems.
The format of the commentary is user friendly for the most part. One helpful aspect is that Moo's introductory notes precede the verse by verse exposition of major points and most sub-points. Moo transliterates Greek words making the commentary usable to those who do not have the advantage of knowing Greek. One slight critique concerns the chapter divisions. The chapter divisions of the commentary are based on the chapters of James. This is fine, but the table of contents is broken down by his outline. One would whish the editors would choose a method of division and stay with it. The only other criticism is that Moo's writing style can be difficult at times. These two minor criticisms in no way change the fact that this is a masterpiece. It is short at only 251 pages not counting indexes. Anyone from a layperson to a scholar will benefit from this commentary. This reviewer would recommend it without hesitation (something he does not do often).

Worth buying and seeing his movie -- a great self-help book for any one of any age.

This guidebook by Dan Millman has useful and wise information for everyone. This book is not your typical trite self-help book that's been rehashed 1000 times.

Dan Millman has done extensive training in meditative disciplines, mystical practices, and other endeavors in the search for enlightenment. While he found these practices to be highly inspirational and wise, he also realized that these practices didn't do any good if you couldn't perform your everyday tasks in an enlightened manner. Thus-Everyday Enlightenment.

The book offers 12 practical and well thought-out-of areas or gateways to pass through for optimal growth as a person emotionally, physically and spiritually. Some of the gateways are: self-worth, money, health, emotions, taming the mind, trusting your intuition, sexuality, love, and serving others. As you apply the suggestions in each chapter you'll find yourself becoming more successful with that particular gateway. When you combine all the insights and wisdom you've learned from the gateways you can't help but live in a more satisfied way.

Dan makes it clear that none of us are ever going to perfect these gateways. They serve as signs and guides to lead us on the path of continual improvement. After all, enlightenment is what you do in the moment. In other words, it's the moment-to-moment awareness and actions that we bring to the present that make us enlightened. No one is ever completely enlightened-they just act more enlightened than others in their day-to-day affairs.

I found many of the anecdotes in the book to be inspirational. Especially inspirational was the chapter about serving others. There are many wonderful stories of people doing extraordinary acts of kindness to help others. If you don't find these moving you might want to get your pulse checked.

The wonderful thing about this book is that Dan writes in a clear fashion that is highly accessible to anyone. He also offers practical examples that aren't just fancy esoteric abstractions. Another thing of importance is that the information in this book doesn't depend on your personal beliefs, sexuality, religion or anything similar. The information rises above factional differences to a unified place that works for all humanity. However, you have to have the effort and willpower to apply the lessons taught.

What makes Dan's writing so impressive is that from these common bonds of enlightenment that apply to all of humanity he elaborates on them in a way that has personal meaning. He doesn't preach to people but accepts them as they are and shows them a path to take. He realizes that everyone's path is a little different but at the same time it's the same as well...The paradox of enlightenment. Read this book for yourself and start applying the techniques and lessons contained therein. This will open up a move vivid picture of reality that creates happiness, enlightenment, and awakening.

I needed this book like a nearly dead,confused,thirsty traveller wandering aimlessly through the parched desert needs water.
Over the past 2 1/2 years I have read, referenced, and reread this book countless times. I also bought the book on tape and often listen (sometimes just a chapter) for an easy self-centering. Thing is- I'm the sort that rarely watches a movie twice and if I love a book I might read it again- in a couple years. I can't get enough of this timeless wisdom- truly a map to concious living.

All I can say is this is the only "spiritual read" and "self help" book that I gravitate back to time and time again. It truly covers every pittfall and challenge to the human condition.

Thank you Dan Millman- I'm so very gratefull for you!

This book takes you up the summit of our selves, step by step through well yet openly defined pathways that lead to some consciousness which is all you'll need to keep coming back to-awakening through reading is the ideal experience and why we should do so. Each chapter or gateway has several short to mid size sections that makes it great for commuting and chewing on nuggets of wisdom. This too I found through the library web catalog quite gratefully while this book includes the Peaceful Warrior workout that also makes it worth buying so we can learn and pratice enlightenment through all our day to day actions.

Dan Millman has placed the most practical guide I have seen for living the ins and outs of the real world. We can't go sit on a mountain or retreat to a lake hideaway to revive ourselves. This book tells you how to live the 8-5, rush hour traffic, life while maintaining yourself physically,mentally and emotionally. This is what everyday enlightenment looks like.

This book is excellent guidance on how to communcate effectively with your son, yet also applicable to other family members. John's brillantly grounded approach works. He provides tools to break the cycle of frustrating circular arguments and reoccuring confrontations, which quite frankly, works with anyone. I've circulated the book amongst friends here in England, France and the States and the feedback has been the same, "can I keep this copy for future reference?".

I was hooked right away reading John's descriptions of boys who were so similar to our son. I was so encouraged that someone could see our problems and provide a reasonable plan to help us reconnect.

John identifies 6 ways that we parents repel our sons - Reacting, Micromanaging, Lecturing, Moralizing, Reiterating and Threatening - and then outlines what to do instead.

He provides a couple of invaluable tools: 1. Speaking to your son in a 90 second window, and 2. Using shoulder-to-shoulder communication. Both of these tools maintain connection and avoid your son's withdrawal.

John says at the end of every chapter, "And then the chase is on." It's chokes me up each time I read it and realize that all of the time, effort and resources spent are all worth it for the sake of my son.

Miraculously John Davis came into our lives during our son's and our family's power struggles in high school.
We learned and grew because of John's strength, wisdom and love. We are forever grateful and recommend ANYONE who knows a teenage boy to read this book and follow it.
There you will find your heart and your son can be the man he strives to be...noble, tender, worthy.
Mandy Vogel
Baltimore, MD.

As a single mother of a teenage boy, I was deeply moved by the empowerment of this incredible book. Author John Davis reveals the struggles and adversity his young clients have faced and the victory each of them have worked so hard to achieve! His vision and dedication to working with young men is inspiring. This book provides essential tools for every parent dedicated to developing the character of their sons (even daughters!) as well as guiding you through the process of overcoming the "very real" challenges our sons face in today's society (drugs, alcohol, sex, anger, peer pressure). John Davis is an authentic writer ~ his book is poignant, emotional, uplifting, raw, and very direct in teaching parents what to look for when there is a breakdown, either physically, emotionally or in communicating with your son. After reading this book, I have a clearer understanding in knowing how to "reach" the heart of my son and the best way to respond when challenges arise! John Davis has given all of us an incredible resource!! I have no doubt "Extreme Pursuit: Winning the Race for the Heart of Your Son" will be the marker in which all other parenting / relational books will be compared!

I'm a 23 year old student at Seattle Pacific University, I'm healthy, active, emotionally intelligent, and I have a wonderful relationship with my parents. I'm not bragging, I promise, it's just that I didn't always have these skills. This is a sincere thanks to John Davis for being a key player in my life when I was at vulnerable ages and places. You see, I'm a graduate of John's 2Xtreme counseling program. What this means is that much of who I am and many of the skills I've acquired, came directly from my relationship with John Davis. When I was struggling with finding healthy ways to connect with my family as a teenager, John and I were hammering out concrete ways for me to talk with my mom and dad. When I started making bad decisions in high school, John and I went to work on those issues. I was blessed with a friend who walked through the pain with me, and mentored me back to a place where I could start making positive changes in my life. This is the most concise testimony I can make about John's work. There's so much more that is needed to do the man justice, so here's my email address: aldrin@spu.edu I feel so strongly about furthering the message of John's work that I will gladly return questions from parents.
While reading Extreme Pursuit I was taken back to the office where we used to do our sessions. I was taken back to the literal cliffs that we rappelled from together. I was taken back to the Andes that John and I actually climbed together in the summer of 2003. I was taken back to the times when John and I had nothing else to say, so we just cried instead. And I'm not ashamed to say it. I'm also not ashamed to say that when I saw my name in John's book, I was giddy like a school girl. I'm seriously passionate about this message because it's a manual full of tools and advice that literally changed my life, and in no small measure. Know that this book is not a quick fix for you and your son. It never is with kids like us. This is an opportunity for you parents to crawl down into the adventurous and sometimes painful adolescent years that are so poignant in a boy's life. Trust me, your son wants to be your friend. He wants to make you proud of the young man he's becoming. The wealth of knowledge I find in Extreme Pursuit can help foster the relationships that are most important to you, and to your son.

I found this book phenomenal - an absolute must to anyone wishing to learn and understand God's word. It will help lay a solid foundation of understanding on which the rest of God's word and God's plan will sit.

This book will answer every question you have concerning the sequence of (and details of) yet-future prophetic events and God's future plan for mankind. The author with ease, points out God's teachings straight from the bible and inserts nearly all scripture text being discussed. He uses the King James bible translation so if you prefer NIV or NASB (etc.) be prepared to open your own bible while reading this book. This book is captivating, intriguing and amazing. This book also has some amazing content within its Appendix. This book is a must to anyone wishing to understand God's word.

Wonderful!The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events, Revised Edition

Arnold Fruchtenbaum is one of the best scholars of Judeo-Christian Scripture I've found. His books should be among the foundational works for evangelical Christian thinking. Jewish readers would also gain insights into Christianity and historic Judaism by reading his works.

A comprehensive study of Eschatology, that is as about as good as it gets. The exceptionally in-depth study of not only the scriptures, but how to study the scriptures, is a must for any serious follower of Yahushua (Yeshua) Hammashiach. Dr. Fruchtenbaum's grasp on the material, truly seems inspired, and I believe will allow most readers to get a firm grasp on "end-time" prophecies as well as help them receive the peace and hope that these prophecies are meant to provide. There is an accompanying study guide now available at Dr. Fruchtenbaum's website at [...], that makes for a marvelous Sunday School or Bible Study course on Eschatology.

This is a WONDERFUL verse by verse explanation of the Book of Revelation! Most people don't realize what a truly Jewish book the book of Revelation is, it is only hard to understand IF you don't understand the OT. Dr. Fruchtenbaum is a Messianic Jew and the BEST teacher to explain the Scriptures from a Jewish perspective. What other perspective SHOULD there be? Jesus was a Jew, lived and taught the Jews, etc. So a Jewish perspective to one's Bible study is imperative if one is to understand the Bible - and ESPECIALLY Revelation.

Footsteps of the Messiah makes Revelation and end times Scripture clear and understandable in every day language. Dr. Fruchtenbaum thinks of everything.........so he included in the back of the book a Scripture Index, so you can look up ANY other Scripture and go directly to the page on which he talks about it!!!!

Great intro to the concept of home education with a heavy emphasis on the Charlotte Mason method. I re-read this little treasure regularly to keep myself on track. Loving books as much as I do tempts me to compile quite a list of Books We Must Have for School. The CM way of thinking ensures I stick only with the best, the essentials. I highly recommend it!

I first read this book because it was written by Susan, one of Francis and Edith Schaeffer's daughters. Little did I know that it would become the foundational book to becoming a homeschool parent when I decided to take my youngest child out of the public schools.

One doesn't need to be homeschooling their children to appreciate this book. Susan writes in the same warm and friendly way as her mother. However, if one is homeschooling and using the Charlotte Mason "method", this book is an essential volume to have in your library.

If you're a Charlotte Mason fan, you can't pass this one up. It is my favorite book on Charlotte Mason & is full of wonderful parenting advice. Really, all parents are teachers, not just homeschooling parents. This book offers great insight for all who spend time caring for children.

As one preparing to homeschool, this book was this kind of thing that has been spurring me on to ponder, philosophize and dream about both the general approach I will take, and the beginnings of many specific ideas.

For those who are disenchanted with the high pressure standardized-testing mentality prevalent in classrooms today, this book explains the educational philosphy of Charlotte Mason. It is God-focused (Susan is the daughter of Christian apologtic Francis Shaeffer), natural, and relaxed. It is a must-read for any classroom teacher, homeschool parent, or school administrator.

A good read for anyone interested in knowing more about the teaching of Jesus, and the spiritual side of Christianity that is not typically discussed at standard sermons.

This book may or may not augment one's devotions. Its thrust lies not in devotion but in hard core practice: this is a man who speaks from what he has grokked, not that about which he has opined. One is stunned by the Light.

If you're serious about your search, grab this book. If you're looking to make your devotions prettier, surely there are a lot of little pamphlets out there that will do that job.

Do you want pretty? Go elsewhere. Do you want real? Grab.

Oh. Do you want canonical? Fuggadabboudit!

Wow!

There is something about this book that is saying far more than the scholars and modern academia is saying. Not only is it stylistically more interesting to read, it's practically and directly spiritual!

I'd been looking for a way to find SPIRITUALITY in the West, rather than stale dogmas, and real methods to feel connected with God, Divine Spirit, or whatever you want to call it in a practical and meaningful way. This book addresses those needs quite directly, unlike the scholars writing about Gnosticism who, at best, address those issues indirectly. I used to look up to the Eastern systems of metaphysics because they had a rich tradition of meditation and spiritual contemplation that I always felt I needed, but couldn't really connect with. But this author is coming to show me that such a spiritual richness and depth may also exist in the West!

The best part about the book is its practical use! The chapters are direct responses to each line of the Gospel of St. Thomas. There is a contemplation following each of St. Thomas' 114 sayings. This allows me to read in order, out of order, re-read sections in a nice, relaxing way as it fits into my busy schedule. Plus, each contemplation is good spiritual food for thought, so that I can read a contemplation, look back on Thomas' line and contemplate it myself to glean a little more on my own. It's the perfect book for anyone that has been looking for something more directly spiritual about Gnosticism, and more practically useful as good, solid food for one's truly spiritual considerations.

To quote Stephen Davies: "It all depends on what you mean by Gnostic. If you mean by Gnostic the belief that people have a divine capacity within themselves and that they can come to understand that the Kingdom of God is already upon the earth if they can come to perceive the world that way then Thomas is Gnostic.

"But if you mean by Gnostic the religion upon which the Nag Hammadi texts are based, a religion that differentiates the god of this world (who is the Jewish god) from a higher more abstract God, a religion that regards this world as the creation of a series of evil archons/powers who wish to keep the human soul trapped in an evil physical body then no, Thomas is not Gnostic.

"This differentiation is very important, because some scholars reason that if Thomas is Gnostic (in the first sense) then it is Gnostic (in the second sense) and, as they believe,Gnosticism (in the second sense) is a second or third century heresy, they conclude that the Gospel of Thomas is heretical, late in date, and without very much historical value in regard to Jesus of Nazareth."

Why are there so many authors who claim The Gospel of Thomas is Gnostic? It isn't......it is another denomination of Christianity that was suppressed 1800 years ago.

One of the Nag Hammadi manuscripts, the Gospel of St. Thomas is non-canonical gospel. In this gospel, Jesus is a mystical teacher--never as a savior. No miracles here, just an emphasis on his words as teaching. It professes the achievement of enlightenment through realization of self, a most Eastern twist on things. The text itself is mainly in the form of, "Jesus said xxx." Interestingly enough, very much like the set of "Confucius Said"'s from the Analects. It is generally rejected by mainstream Christians but it is a most interesting read for sure. This particular copy that I read has commentary and expansion on each of the versus of the gospel. I would give it four stars.

It's a masterpiece for body and soul! One ought to read it to understand more about us before life. Carlito

The general assumption of people of the modern era has been that we must look for and search for and wait for God. The image is of Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot'. God has disappeared and is not part of our lives and we have to wait for God to return. Or if we are real searchers we would not wait, but would make the effort ourselves looking in various aspects of our experience to find the ultimate religious meaning.
But Heschel's premise here is the opposite one. God is actually looking for us. God wants us. I remember speaking with one of the most loving teachers of Hasidism of modern times, the late David Herzberg of blessed memory. When I asked him about the meaning of the religious concept 'Avodat Hashem' service of God' His answer surprised me because it was different from anyone else's. He said it was God's service, God's work what God does to help and connect with us. This is very much like what Heschel is saying here. God is calling out to us ,God is Present as the Kotzker Rebbe says 'wherever we let God in'.
Heschel was a great poetic and religious soul , who feels and teaches God's searching for , and connecting with us.
This is a tremendously inspiring and thought- provoking work.
I will only say one more word. That as a ' poetic thinker' Heschel's meaning is something suggested and sublime, something we cannot be sure we understand.
What we can understand is the underlying tone of holiness throughout this work.

I think Heschel revealed a lot of himself in his works--more than other writers, perhaps. He seems to me to be very emotional regarding his opinions and beliefs. He came from an Eastern European Hasidic family whose ancestor was the Great Maggid of Mezerich. He was a leader in the Civil Rights movement as well as the Vietnam anti-war movement. He was on the faculty of the Jewish Theological Seminary, JTS, (of the Jewish Conservative movement). This is rather humorous, I think, since he was obviously quite the idealistic Liberal. He had a reputation as a mystic, causing him conflict with other JTS professors. He was a very forceful personality. IMHO he was very much a literary expressionist--putting his feelings into writing. He was also quite poetic--his books include many clever and beautiful turns of phrase. However, much of what he writes comes off as if they are sermons, as if he KNOWS. I respect his views, but don't often agree with them. This book doesn't read like philosophy to me (you can read "Between Kant and Kabbalah" by Mittleman on the Jewish philosopher Breuer, for example). As a scientist, I object to anyone dismissing the contributions of science in virtually any arena. Certainly psychology is a player in anything involving humans. As a mystic, I certainly agree that the Divine is ineffable. But people translate their contact with the Divine into human terms--mostly reflecting their individual propensities, biases, views, etc. That secondary process is psychological/scientific. Indeed, such communications have been compared to radio and television with a transmitter and receivers. Furthermore, research into ESP (Dr. Rhine etc.) shows considerable applicability in understanding the processes involved in communicating with higher powers (e.g. God). In addition, Heschel insists that the Bible be understood in terms of Biblical people. Certainly, such an approach can provide an historical or hagiographical context for the causes that produced beliefs and documents (e.g. The Torah). But, it is essentially irrelevant to today's individuals attempting to apply such beliefs and documents into their lives. It is obvious that praying, studying Torah, putting on Tefillin, etc. excites and completes Heschel, but that doesn't mean they do for everyone--and certainly not identically. He makes the common human mistake of assuming everyone is like him (or should be). I humbly disagree. Nevertheless, he did provide a differing point of view to be considered as well as a couple of good quotes for my collection.:
p. 317: When superimposed as a yoke, as a dogma, as a fear, religion tends to violate rather than to nurture the spirit of man. Religion must be an altar upon which the fire of the soul may be kindled by holiness.
p. 361: Every act done in agreement with the will of God is a mitzvah.
Mostly, however, I have to say (though I'm sure it will upset some people) that I found this particular book very boring. I liked "Moral Grandeur & Spiritual Audacity" better.

Plato wrote that virtue is knowledge and knowledge is virtue. If Plato's Republic was to succeed, society needed all of its citizens to be like Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. This, of course, was not the case in Plato's time - and most definitely not the case today. The wisdom of Heschel, as he so eloquently expresses in this timeless book, is needed now more than ever.

Heschel did not wait for God to give him grace, because he knew that his actions were more important than words. Heschel felt compelled to act upon his commitment as a citizen and as a Jew. The result being that Heschel's spiritual life set an example for his generation and generations to come.

In Heschel's own words: "Religion becomes sinful when it begins to advocate the segregation of God, to forget that the true sanctuary has no walls. Religion has always suffered from the tendency to become an end in itself, to seclude the holy, to become parochial, self-indulgent, self-seeking... ."

Each page and every word in this great work gives us important wisdom. Heschel challenges us to strive for the ideal but insists that we never forget the realities and injustices that surround us. (Jerry Marcus is the author of three novels: "Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Zev," "The Salvation Peddler," and "The Last Pope.")

When originally published, this book was seen as a breath of fresh air; it doesn't "analyze" religious thougt. Rather, it forces the reader to examine his own feelings towards G-d.

Heschel, often though of as an academic with a Hasidic background, was rather a Hasidic Rebbe with university training. This work, along with his other popular books (as opposed to the scholarly ones) is written in the form of a series of Hasidic discourses at a comfort level to the reader as if he were sitting with the Rebbe at the Third Sabbath Meal and absorbing his wisdom.

The central theme, the centrality of belief in and devotion to G-d, is often overlooked in contemporary Jewish literature; many veiled (and no so veiled) jibes of contemporary religious practice and life are meant to drive home the point that "it's about G-d and man", not about buildings, organizations or other agendas or programs.

Like the Kotzker Rebbe, Heschel's hero and spiritual father, Rabbi Dr. Heschel was able to cut through the gloss, fluff, and veneer to get to the root of man's belief in and relationship with G-d.

I love fairy tales, and this story is a most excellent example of the genre. It follows two children on their journeys through Fairyland and their interactions with various fantastic people and creatures. I loved the pure innocence of the story and found it very captivating. The narration was also very excellent and energetic, making this story a very good listen.

While The Golden Key may not be my all-time favorite book, it certainly has a strong connection to the book that I treasure most of all (well, second to the Bible). You see, George MacDonald, author of The Golden Key, was in fact the mentor of Lewis Carroll, who wrote my favorite non-Biblical book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. That's a very powerful and indeed shocking connection if you ask me. But you can kind of see it if you look closely. I mean, the kids in the Golden Key grow both old and young. Alice in Wonderland grows big and small. Kinda similar there.

Yet, I did not know about the relationship between the two books until AFTER I had finished The Golden Key and decided to do some research on its origin. I simply read The Golden Key like I would any other book, and developed some commentary on the work as a whole that I would now like to communicate:

First, the book is very short. I finished it in two days. And because its so short, events move incredibly fast to make room for heavy amounts of whimsical feeling and fantastical description.

But again I have to go back to the Alice thing. I noticed how SO many sentences in the story turned the reader upside down and made him say, "huh?" It was as if the Fairy World did everything it could to stay all out of whack. Whether it was to make speech that could be heard without ears, or to make the oldest people in the world look like little kids, the topsy-turvy nature of everything couldn't help but instill an amazing sense of awe. Truly, The Golden Key opens eyes to such incredible abstract possibilities of the imagination, and perhaps even life itself.

The out of whack sense of awe, while wonderful in this book, developed into full maturity in the Alice books. While The Golden Key merely mentions things that make no sense, the Alice books actually attempt to explain the senselessness of senseless things.

I hope I will always have a special place in my heart for MacDonald's prototype of Alice in Wonderland. Oh, if we only knew how much the imagination behind The Golden Key has really changed the world. I think we would all be very surprised.

I purchased this book as a Christmas gift for my 20-year-old daughter. It was one of her favorite books as a child and she frequently checked it out of our local library until it disappeared from the shelf there, never to be seen again. She was very excited when she saw that she had her own copy and she took the book back to college with her after Christmas break. Although I haven't actually read the book myself, I can tell you that my daughter thinks it is great!

This book is like a drink of the freshest, clearest water on the brightest, bluest spring day you can imagine. It was lovely every step of the way, somehow beautifully sad and wonderful at the same time. With the aid of the creatures of fairyland, mistreated Tangle and adventuresome Mossy go on an enchanting journey which takes them straight through to a wisdom and sense of wonderment that is somehow greater than that found in adulthood (or childhood). George MacDonald truly had an eye for the worlds of fairy, and an unsurpassed talent for expressing beauty in all things. The stories are not always meant to be understood, but deep in that inner place in one's heart, they make sense.

An earlier reviewer mentioned the difficulty of understanding the imagery of the story and another suggested (perhaps rightly) that the golden key represents Christ. C.S. Lewis believed it represented "the talent for loving", and having read the book numerous times, especially to nephews and nieces, I agree. Without giving away too much, notice the differences between Mossy's and Tangle's journey after their separation (physical death), especially how they saw the Old Man of the Sea. One might need to have read more of MacDonald's works (especially Unspoken Sermons) to get at his view of how love affects our ability to "see". His "At the Back of the North Wind" contains another wonderful example when North Wind explains to Diamond why she had to appear as a dreadful wolf to an old woman.

Max Lucado is an artist! He paints pictures with his words. All his books are like that, but this one is superb!

We are using it as a women's group study. It lends itself wonderfully and quite easily to this venue. I have never seen the excitment and participation in a small group that this book has generated. But most exciting is the growth of the each women's understanding of Who God is to her (and who she is to HIM) presented in a unusual perspective. The result has been a steadily increasing sense of awe and trust and surrender ~ and a very obvious deepening of each woman's relationship with Him. I would highly recommend this book as a wonderful small group study.

Thanks, Max, you have blessed us ~ again!

With this book, I was lead through the Lord's Prayer and the House of God and understood more of what it means to live in "God's House." Max Lucado is a WONDERFUL author and such an inspiration! Thank you a lot. This book is a great devotional book, or a great book to just read for enjoyment.
~Kristen

Each Chapter has its very own message, and each really opened my heart with great understanding to God's love. I plan to purchase this book for my family members as a Christmas gift.

Lucado takes the Lord's Prayer (our Father, who is in heaven...) and breaks it down into many little parts - giving each part a "room" in the "great house" of God. It shed new light on the Lord's Prayer and I haven't looked at it the same.

Absolutely terrific writing. Classic Lucado - descriptive, prescriptive, and very emotionally connected to the reader. It is written in such a way that Max is the tour guide showing you all the rooms and how we can have a place there.

If you're looking to reconnect with God or for a breath of fresh air in looking at Scripture, this is a great book.

I have just finished this book and it was wonderful! Rev. Lucado has a delightful, conversational style that makes for easy reading. It's almost like having your own personal Bible teacher.
How often we take the Lord's Prayer for granted! We repeat the words mechanically with little thought to their meaning. Rev. Lucado puts these timeless words in a new perspective, bringing fresh meaning that will touch your heart. His description of Heaven brings both comfort and longing to the soul. A must read for all Christians whose view of God's Heavenly Kingdom is somewhat blurred!

This book is written from the heart for those who are seeking comfort and meaning in their grief journey toward healing. Easy reading and numerous short sections help the reader cope with the struggles of the moment or day by guiding the grief work toward healing. Scripture verses, haiku and healing recommendations for grief all in one.

In Grieving God's Way, Margaret Brownley opens a window, letting a fresh breeze clear the clouds of the mind. Her book guides you through the dark hours, showing ways to embrace the daily wonders. Margaret writes, "If we have done the work of Grief, sooner or later, we will want to break out of our cocoon and move on with life."

Diantha Ain's Haiku gives a lyrical view of life. Her Haiku brings humor, beauty of the world and hope.

None of us in this life are allowed the luxury of escaping the loss of someone or something we love. If there is life, there will certainly be death. In this exceptional work, Grieving God's Way,author Margaret Brownley helps us to understand the grieving process and leads us upon the walkway to peace.
In her writing she is open and frank about our grieving experience, yet she laces each expression with comforting Scriptures and insightful wisdom from the Lord.
She shares topics such as, "the Healing Power of Prayer, To Hope Again, God The Beacon, and Where Is God?" She takes some tough subjects and questions that those grieving are certainly screaming out, and gently but with deep conviction speaks the assuring words that are so desperately needed to be heard.

Grieving God's Way is a book written with a fresh approach to dealing with such a personal, intimate and unapproachable emotion, grief. In this work, we find hope, encouragement and a glimmer of peace for the future. I recommend this book and know that the words within it's pages will help bring healing to many.
Shirley Johnson

"Sometimes compassion
offers only outstretched arms
to unburden grief." ~ Diantha Ain

Margaret Brownley is the author of 23 books of fiction and this is a book where she deals with her own reality in all its pain and conflict. She is also the founder of a Bereavement Care and Grief Center. Through her own experiences and the experiences of those around her she has learned a great deal of practical information she now offers to anyone who has unresolved grief and wants to find their way back to their lost joy.

"The soul seeks to grow, to question, and to understand, and this constant search plunges us into dangerous waters and hurls us into hostile space. It's the soul that demands answers from God." ~Margaret Brownley

Grieving God's Way is divided into four main sections that include healing in the areas of Body, Soul, Heart and Spirit. The book starts with gentle breathing exercises and continues through a process of healing each section of hurt and confusion. You will find a place to relax into an understanding that calms and comforts the soul.

The importance of writing, prayer, exercise, getting outside in the sun, lighting candles, remembering good memories and heart-healing ideas are presented with care in a nurturing environment of beautiful writing. I have read many books on grief, but this one is my favorite because it addresses issues in easy-to-read sections and is written by an author who truly understands the grieving process. Grieving God's Way is a very personal journey into the heart.

"Tears comfort the soul
washing away our sorrow
one drop at a time." ~Diantha Ain

~The Rebecca Review

Brownley gets to the core of grieving. Her insight is believable, as she recognizes the agony of the persons grieving. The book is laid out addressing 4 sections of our being as we grieve. It is not necessary to read sequencially, rather where the need is at the moment. The haiku is also very instrumental for remembering details of each section. I depended on the help I knew I'd receive each time I opened "Grieving God's Way".