General Practice Books

"Because God IS Love. Loving and being loved is what makes life worth living. Once you learn how to truly accept God's unconditional love for you and walk in love like Jesus did, you will discover the sweet peace, deep joy and unfailing strength that come with being willing to say, 'Lord, Reduce Me to LOVE!' " from the back cover of Reduce Me To Love by Joyce Meyer

I love this book...Joyce Meyer really boils down love in it and Every time I read from her book I am inspired to LOVE others more and more. Life is really all about LOVE!!


I am heading to bed and I think I'll pray myself to sleep asking God to "reduce me to LOVE!!"

That's SWEET~
-Michelle Berger, BuffMother!
www.BuffMother.com

Joyce Meyer knows how to make God's Word practical and applicable. In this book she brings the reader to the understanding that God is love and to truly be one that belongs to Him is to walk in love in practical, tangable ways. We are called to reflect His image, the image of Jesus. Loving those whom He has placed in our lives, whether friend, stranger or enemy, is to fulfill His will perfectly. Joyce gives advice that is simple and real-world. If we do not walk in love, reaching out to others in practical ways how can we claim to be a Christian?

I have read this book about 5 times now, and there is just so much in there you cant possibly get it all with just one read. This book as well as some other Joyce Meyers books have really changed my life. She is a top notch teacher and writer.

Overall this book is outstanding...the lessons taught in it are directly from the BIBLE so you can't go wrong!

There are basic rules of the universe,yet nowadays in our society there's very FEW who follow them...very few who give out unconditional love to ALL people at all times(especially without a selfish motive)and even FEWER who seek GOD and follow in the footsteps of GOD's will.

This is definately a book to be re-read over and over through the years and especially taught to our children as to make the next generation at PEACE rather than WAR.If only EVERYONE followed this simple advice and lived through SPIRIT rather than EGO,we would NEVER be at war again...Not with family,friends,spouses,children,and especially NOT with the WORLD and NOT with our own selves!...because GOD IS LOVE AND LOVE CONQUERS ALL!! GOOD WILL ALWAYS OVERCOME EVIL!! The more people that practice it, the closer we will be to finding peace on earth!:)

CAVEAT:The only thing I found "wrong" with this book is how she mentions that we shouldnt be part of any clique/group/religion because that "DIVIDES" us, yet then she continues to state how '"we Christians" are powerless as long as we are filled with prejudice'and "We Christians" etc. yet NOT ALL WHO READ THIS BOOK ARE CHRISTIANS! So I found that to be DIVIDING in itself!!(hypocritical) The BIBLE was NOT written only for the Christan people, It was written for ALL MANKIND,as majority of this book was taken from Psalms in the BIBLE. Therefore,I had to take 1 point off for that!

But besides that,the book is a wonderful read and I recommend it to all!

"One morning as I got up and went downstairs to make coffee, I felt God tug at my heart to make Dave a fruit salad. To be honest I did not want to make a fruit salad. The Lord spoke to my heart that serving God was actually serving him. I obediently made the fruit salad."

Reduce Me To Love is one of Joyce Meyer's favourites that I've heard being talked about for some time now. It is no wonder that when I was blessed by a dear friend with his book as a gift, I was on cloud nine, and anxious to finish everything I was reading just to start this book.

This book teaches us in great detail about love; a small word with such a deep and profound meaning.
It is the new commandment which Jesus gave his disciples: to love one another and by doing so, prove their discipleship.

Mrs. Meyer draws on her personal experiences as she demonstrates the many respects of love and it's purest motives.
What stays indelibly in my mind was how Jesus uses himself as an example in today's world. Whatever good deeds we do for one another, we actually do for Him and in the same light if we treat our brother with disdain we do it also to Him. We cannot get away from it, Jesus convicts us in the very name of love as he encourages us to walk in the Spirt. I would like to encourage all of those who love reading Christian literature to find this book fast and get back to loving God; the One who first loved us, before the foundation of the world.
Bless someone soon with this brilliant book.
Reviewed by Heather Marshall Negahdar (SUGAR-CANE)

Have you ever been involved in a conversation where you really felt heard? Where you felt that the individual you were talking to actually understood what you were trying to say? Where you didn't feel the least bit judged, belittled, or ignored? Sounds a bit like a dream doesn't it?

Sometimes it seems like most conversations are a waste of precious time. Trying to fill in the uncomfortable silence with small talk seems to be a pastime for many of us. Then, when we actually have a real conversation, we end up waiting for the other person to shut up so that we can make our point. The thought never occurs to us that we are missing out on over half of the dialogue and all of the experience.

I don't think that real communication has to be a far-fetched fantasy. In fact, after reading The Sacred Art of Listening I feel that it within all of our reach to really connect and make good use of the words we share. The notion is simple- to truly listen when others speak. The doing will take definitely take some practice but the result will be well worth effort.

Lindahl has written concise reflections on improving skills as a listener and knowing your own inner self better.

I find the mandala-like art meaningful as a centering tool, and I'm enjoying working my way through this lovely book. The book is meant to be used, not read.

There are practices included that may prove useful in facilitating retreats for spiritual growth.

Don't you just hate it when you are discussing something important and you can see that the person you are talking to is planning their response instead of listening to what you are saying? What about when you do the same thing? We all have a tendency to do this. Or what about when that small inner voice tells you that you should or should not be doing something? Do you listen? For a deeper more meaningful relationship both with others and with yourself you need to be able to listen and listen well. Listening is not the same as hearing. Sometimes I hear crickets at night, but I am so used to it that I have to actually stop and listen to really hear them and enjoy it.

Listening then is one of the key factors to positive, healthy relationships with others, yourself, your God, nature or whatever you want to have a relationship with. True listening requires practice. It requires slowing down and not responding immediately to a question but stopping to listen to how you really feel about the question. It requires a recognition that silence is just as important a part of a conversation as is speaking.

"The Sacred Art of Listening" contains forty meditative reflections about listening. For those who meditate deeper or better with an anchor on which to focus, each reflection has a mandala illustration on which to focus.

The author states that there are basically three qualities of deep listening. First is the recognition that silence is important. You can't listen if you are talking, even if you are talking inside your own head and planning what you will do later that day. The second quality is reflection. To listen well you have to reflect on what was said and what it means. What are the nuances of what was said? Was what was said the same as what was meant? The third quality is presence. You cannot listen well if you are not there. If your mind is somewhere else you are not present and therefore are not listening well.

Listening needs to be a part of a person's life if they are to have deep, meaningful relationships. The book is an easy read with well thought out reflections that are concise (two pages each) and yet insightful. A recommended read.

Profound stuff here! Most of us are born with the gift to hear. However, how many of us properly apply the skill of listening? I don't know about you but, I didn't learn this stuff in school. At least not to the degree explored in this book. And I do feel that the book's contents are critical on many levels. Every aspect of our lives can be enhanced by improving this one skill.

Let's talk reality here.

In conversations with others, we formulate speculations and opinions on what they are saying before they even finish saying it; sometimes finishing their sentences for them. Many times we are so busy trying to think of our refined reply (to make sure we look good or sound intelligent) that we really didn't comprehend what the other person was saying. Does any of this sound familiar? I know I have been guilty!

This book reminded me of a great quote by one of my mentors Stephen R. Covey, "Seek first to understand and then to be understood."

Another key point that I wanted to share is that we live in such an information-crazed society where we simply cannot get enough information. Rarely do we slow down enough to smell the roses and reflect on what we just heard, or read, or saw... whatever the information vehicle. We just steamroll passed and look to gather more information.

This book was a bit of a rude awakening for me in that it helped me understand that I need to slow down a bit, properly apply the power of listening, and improve my NOW.

This is a small book and probably can be read in one sitting, however I highly recommend that you take your time to properly absorb and reflect on each chapter - you'll be glad you did!

I truly enjoyed this book. It was for me an awakening. We get so caught up in daily life, we forget how to listen to our self, truly listen. How can we live a peaceful harmonious life if we can't listen to others, to ourselves or that creative wisdom within. It taught me that to understand anything one must be able to listen and to listen with a compassionate heart. This book gives simple yet poetic tools to understanding both the divine and daily importance of listening to ourselves,& others. It can be apllied to our work relationships as well as personal ones. The Illustrations are beautiful. I would love to have these prints hanging in my home. Fluid and strong, intricate yet simple, the perfect yin and yang balance. This is a book for OPRAH!!! Bravo to the Author and Illustrator.

This is a great little book that you can carry around with you and have a read whenever you have five minutes. I try to read a paragraph or two every day. Wonderful stuff to help keep you feeling positive and happy.

If you study this book and truly believe in God, and that God is absolute health, you can heal yourself without doctors or pills. I've done it.

This book contains helpful and enlightening approaches to life. Although I was not too spiritual myself during the time I read the book, I understood the author's messages and concepts. It is a pretty short read, but very full of information and I felt satisfied in the end. I am looking forward to viewing/reading more work from this author.

Little did I realise that after reading Autobiography of a yogi my life would have taken the turn that it did.Words cannot express my gratitude and thanks to Yoganandaji. Scientific Healing Affirmations is a great book to those who want to learn and feel the power of God's love. Yoganandaji tells us that we are all made divine beings and we can reach our true potential in life by focusing within and releasing our true beauty, strength, love and power. This book used properly will take you there, I'm just beginning to realise the power of having a strong will and conviction. Thank you

Way back in the 1920's long before Shaki Gawain and other proponents of affirmations and visualisation techniques spiritual Master Yogananda told us in simple poweful language how to use affirmations effectively.
His gurus had proven to him that mind can and does influence body and that it was possible to train the mind to do so at your will.
This book is easy to read but this is knowledge to be used in daily life.
Yogananda tells us that there is spiritual power in man's word and that you can arouse the life energy to cure what ails you.
I often read and re-read this book. I am grateful to my friend and author of "Wisdom From The Heart",Radha Singh for first guiding me to this precious little book.

This is an excellent book for those of us who have been practicing therapists and have a desire to do what we actually intended when we chose this profession in the first place. The book is well written. It provides a comprehensive discussion of the differences between coaching and psychotherapy or counseling. After defining what this new and exciting field is all about, the authors have given us newcomers to the field a wonderful manual to assist us in establishing a coaching practice. You couldn't really ask for more... unless you want even more of a headstart; you might enroll in Pat's Life Coach Training course, a 30 hour course which supplements the book. A complimentary introductory session is available by going to the Institute web site,...Life coaching is a natural evolution from traditional therapy practices. Moving into this field has transformed my life. Thank you Pat and Deborah!

This book goes far beyond helping therapists transition into life coaching. It gives the reader a very clear and exciting introduction to this new and upcoming field. It was my first real introduction to coaching, yet after training in the field and went back and read it again and got even more out of it.
The book explains the difference between coaching and therapy, and also helps the reader decide which is best for her/him. Exercises are provided to help the reader's decision making. The way the book is put together the authors quite effectively coach the reader toward the possibilities and the joys of coaching. They also spend a good number of pages on how to start a coaching business. I loved it. As an aspiring life-coach I say "thank you."

There are 3 kinds of people who must read this book:
1. Therapists who are looking to add professional coaching to their list of services or who are making a transition away from traditional therapy into life coaching.
2. Professional Coaches who specialize or want to specialize in life coaching.
3. Established Life Coaches.

There is something for everyone in this book, but particularly for these 3 groups of people there is NO BETTER BOOK AVAILABLE to help you make this transition in the fastest and most efficient way possible.

Pat Williams is one of America's Top Professional Coaches. In addition to his nationally recognized coach training program (lifecoachtraining.com), he is also on the board of the International Coach Federation (coachfederation.org), one of the top speakers in the field, and on the cutting-edge of standardizing and professionalizing the field of coaching.

I can't recommend this book high enough. I firmly believe this book should be on the bookshelf of every professional life coach.

This is a truly extraordinary book that gives the reader a guide to the profession of life coaching.

It is an eyeopening source of information, not only for the business of coaching, but also for the development of their relationships with clients as well as themselves.

Chock full of resources and tools, this A MUST HAVE!

This a an extraordinary book that belongs on the shelves (and in the heart) of every therapist AND every coach. Frankly, I've heard Pat Williams speak, so I fully expected to like the book, but even so, I was surprised by just how good, how inspiring, practical and helpful it is. Williams and Davis do a great service for mental health workers, counselors, social workers and Psychologists by affirming the power of what "we" do, and by expanding the boundaries within which we operate. At the same time, they also provide a great reminder for coaches of what WE do, how we do it, and how powerful it is!

The book is elegantly laid-out, easy to follow and powerfully practical. The heart of the message is that caring for and WITH people truly matters. Whether we are labeled as "mental health practitioners" or "spiritual ministers" or coaches, we all use highly sophisticated skills, some that are ancient and timeless, and others that are new and scientifically "proven," to help people transform their lives.

The book is directly aimed at "helping professionals." The message is that what mental health professionals do is IMPORTANT, even if insurance companies and (at times) our culture fails to appreciate it. Williams and Davis present practical, do-able paths that allow professionals to reclaim their independence and do the work they love and are trained to do well.

The exciting part of the book for me, as a Psychologist who has already transitioned into coaching, was the delightful, passionate reminder of what coaches actually DO! While this is an introduction or over-view of coaching, I found the reminders, the affirmations, and the passion extremely helpful. As "people experts" it is good to be reminded of how much we know, how skilled we are, how many "tools" we have in our toolbox!

I found the book easily readable, very well-thought-out, and helpful. I highly recommend it for (1) anyone considering entering the field of coaching, (2) mental health professionals who are tired or restless and looking for a new challenge, and (3) for coaches who want a helpful survey of the skills and strengths we bring to our work. All three groups will get a tremendous lift and find it a helpful read.

I truly enjoyed this book. Noel Piper has filled this book with her family's God-centered traditions. She had given plenty of ideas on how to do the same in any family. I'm keeping it handy so I can grab it anytime for some inspiration on making our family less self-centered and more God-centered.

This book is so well written and has so many great ideas and thoughts about traditions in our family lives. It has sent me on a journey this past year to make traditions in our daily lives. She talks about why traditions in our families are important, what they are and some examples from her family's traditions. I highly recommend this book!

wonderful book for every home--give as a wedding gift, anniversary gift, Christmas gift or any time you need something that others will treasure.

I'm a new mom and relatively new to the marriage thing as well. As we discuss how we want to raise our family, what traditions from our own backgrounds we want to blend, and most of all, our desire to exemplify our love for God to our children, it has been easy to get overwhelmed and discouraged. Noel Piper hits the nail on the head, the truth that our children can't "inherit" Christ from us but that the traditions we pass on can point them to a true knowledge of him. Instead of empty habits, we want to be intentional about our everyday and "especially" traditions, teaching our kids what we believe and why. Thank you, Pipers!

An incredibly insightful book filled with godly-wisdom. I'm greatful for having such sound advice on how to establish daily traditions and "especially" traditions as my husband and i begin our family. Noel does an incredible job at looking at how traditions can be used to point our children and our childrens children towards a passionate life of in pursuit of God. This is going up there with Gary Thomas' "Sacred Marriage" as my recomended reading for newly weds looking to start off their family and marriage with solid Biblical principles as their foundation. Thank you Noel.

Why hasn't America heard about this man? He's written one of the most powerful books on the accomplishments of prayer in our life time. It has sold more copies than "60 Minutes" Andy Rooney's book. College and professional football players (some of them All-Americans) have it. Tattered and wore copies of it are circulated by hand on Lagos Island, Nigeria, where one of the greatest revivals and Holy Ghost outpourings in the world today is occurring. I'd say all these people have found something valuable in a book God dealt with a man to write for three years before he gave in to the His will. I'm glad he did.

"Know how to make a lion nervous? Put him in a den of Daniels."--Dr. Martin Prine. The lions of life come in every shape, form and fashion, and many Christians struggle every day to overcome them. Fort Smith native, Dr. Martin Prine had a calling a few years ago to help others with that struggle, by teaching a way to beat the lions that attack characters, relationships, health and finances.

"God wants everyone to know this, to use it. He wants everyone to have a real, true communion with Him and to know how to keep the glory of God in their lives," he said during a visit where he brought me a copy of his recently published book, "The Treasury of Daniel: Victory Over the Lions of Life." In the book, Dr.Prine, who grew up in Fort Smith, began his ministry in the Navy in 1972 and together with his wife, Dr. Barbara Lange Prine, founded King's Treasury Ministries in Houston, sets forth a prayer plan to teach anyone how to slay lions and succeed in their life.

"Every man, woman and child has the same privilege in prayer before God. This becomes exciting to those who come to Him with their petitions and learn He really hears them and grants their desires," he states in Chapter One. But the book clearly points out that success is not obtained by merely praying. First, you must learn exactly what prayer is. "Prayer then, is one thing...asking. It is seeking and asking for something from God, knocking on the door of His treasure house until it opens...no matter how long it takes, or how many times the petition is asked. It's as simple as that. Asking, and asking alone is prayer." He continues throughout the book to set forth criteria for prayer and explains historical and biblical accounts of it.

Dr. Prine shares how to be informed about the power of prayer. He lays out how large to ask of God, how to pray in His will, what to ask for, the difference between current and memorial prayer and why that principle is important in the success of prayer. He also explains why prayer must be asked in Jesus name and that, at times prayer is not answered merely because God will in his time and in his way.

The book also offers alternative reasons for some unanswered prayers. "Many Christians do not receive what they petition God for because they fail to ask for definite answers when they pray. They ask ordinary prayers He cannot answer, and since they do not ask specifically, they become discouraged and cease to ask at all," Dr. Prine states.

The author also makes it personal. He talks about friends and acquaintances touched by prayer, about learning to pray, being a young Christian and the blessings in his life due to prayer. He gives an interesting account of how he found time to pray in his prayer closet while aboard ship in the Navy, and how many others on the ship came to Christ as well. He tells of learning many years later when he least expected it, how lives were still being touched by the prayers he prayed aboard that ship. He also opens the book with a story of a farmer who came across George Washington deep in prayer in the winter of 1778 in Valley forge. It sets a powerful tone to the book.

"God asked me to write this book. Every chapter, every sentence, every word of this book was given to me by Him," Dr. Prine said during the interview. "The Lord did it. He made it possible. As you can see, it's our heartbeat. We hope it touches the live of others as well." With passion like that, it's hard not to find the book intriguing.

I simply could not put "The Treasury of Daniel" down. Dr. Prine has a wonderful way of explaining scriptural truths from the Bible which I found to be very inspiring. This is a very valuable book--money well spent! I'm telling my friends about it so they may also share in what I've learned. There really are secrets in God's word, and the author must have spent years in learning them. I also throughly enjoyed the life experiences he shares with his readers as he covers each chapter topic. Each one is different, awesome, and a jewel. This is great reading for every Christian. It is a privilege to recommend this exceptional work for God.

This author has touched the essence of the entire Christian experience--Prayer. Without it in the daily life of the Child of God, nothing but a shell is left. With it they can do great exploits. This is why we encounter so much spiritual oppostion when we become devoted to it. With so many addictions in the world today, wouldn't it be splendid if the Church became addicted to the one thing that really matters in life--calling on the one who loves us the most, and having the right relationship with Him?

Bro. Prine has rendered a great Christian service by also including in his book, valuable information concerning the Catholic Church; which I have long been concerned about. His has used solid research material, and makes a compelling case which should be throughly examined by anyone with a sincere desire for truth. I feel it is a worthy topic due to the media exposure given the problems within the Catholic faith at this time.

This book will give strength and understanding to anyone with a hunger for a closer walk with God. Without reservation, I recommend this extraordinary book.

The Treasury of Daniel is a profound and powerful tool that I find myself returning to again and again to get that special gold nugget of inspiration. It truly has been an enormous strength and insight for me both personally and professionally as a minister. Dr. Martin Prine will quickly move to the top as one of the great influencers of this generation.

This book is a practical guide to living through suffering. The first chapter deals with looking at your situation to be clear on "who's fault is it?" Did you make choices that landed you here; was it someone else's fault; or was it nobody's fault -- just life as it happened. He doesn't bog you down in that -- he just wants you to look at how you got to this point so that you can use those lessons and move forward, even if it's still on that road you didn't want to travel. I find that there is a lot in common here with the Zen teachings that it's not the suffering that causes our problems, it's trying to avoid those sufferings.

I, too, am going through a separation now and while I was the one who packed up and left, this road certainly isn't the one I saw myself taking when I took wedding vows over 15 years ago. I can face that and move forward and this book has practical steps of how to get there.

The balance of personal stories with the Biblical background of the children of Israel seems just right. I can find myself in the stories and then see how my struggles are thousands of years old and common to humans.

GREAT BOOK -- would recommend it to anyone who finds themselves in a place they didn't want to be, can't get out of or want to walk through in a way that glorifies God.

I'm about halfway through this book and I'm enjoying Mark's perspective on life and how to handle potential hurdles.

I'm not quite finished reading the book, and I have already learned and enjoyed this book so much. It is an amazing find, for anyone, whether you're on a "hard road" or not. I would recommend it to anyone!

I read Walking with God on the road you never wanted to travel some months back and have kept it out because I refer to sections that I've highlighted when I need help with my impending divorce.

I found Mark's words and passages a source of healing and comfort. I hope that I can look back on my experience and email Mark with a success story someday. If you are currently dealing with a huge "why did this happen to me" situation this book is the one to read and re-read because of the many examples, biblical passages, and words of encouragement are well worth the book's price.

The name of this book is misleading. The title leaves the impression that this book will present deep insights into the mind of God on the topic of God and human suffering, when in fact, that is not the subject at all.

The title of this book should be "How to Walk with God on the Road You Never Wanted to Travel". Mark Atteberry makes it VERY plain and clear at the beginning that this is a HOW TO book, only, and not a book that seeks to answer the WHY questions.

The exodus of the Israelites out of the land of ancient Egypt is both the backdrop and the main source of Atteberry's material, which he uses to demonstrate the lessons he wishes to teach. Each chapter contains a mix of biblical scriptures along with his experiences as a pastor/counselor. His biblical discussions were much more helpful to me than his personal experience stories.

One of the important things this book drove home in my mind, is that a lifetime walk with God is a guaranteed certainty that the journey will be on a route no one would ever deliberately choose. Be careful what you ask for.....you just may get it!

On the other hand, it is an irritating turn-off that Atteberry uses the "Devil's gonna get you" mentality throughout his book. Living in fear of Satan is not a basis for righteous living. It is more important to live a life motivated by the love of God.

The way we pray is a personal reflection of who we are. I love how this book honors and explains diverse methods of prayer. There is no one correct way to pray. It would be dreadfully boring if there were only one correct way to do it. It makes sense to me that we could even use different methods of praying for different circumstances in our lives. This book gives lots of examples of how to connect with our God and our spirituality. I think it comes down to recognizing what resonates deeply within us. Our creativity is a blessing, a gift given to us by God. -Shouldn't we use our gifts to give honor and glory and thanks back to God?

I loved reading this book. It stirred me, reading about the different ways that people connect to God. In the chapter 'Ceremonial Costumes' it asks why some are drawn to costume or ceremonial clothing as a form of worship, and I loved the answer: 'Perhaps because it is a means of tangibly breaking out of everyday routine to mark, through texture and color, an entrance into sacred space.'

At the beginning of the 'Centering Prayer' chapter, there is a quote by Thomas Keating that says: 'We may think of prayer as thoughts or feelings expressed in words, but this is only one expression. Deep prayer is the laying aside of thoughts. It is the opening of mind and heart and body and feelings-our whole being-to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond word, thoughts and emotions.'

There are many prayer practices presented in the book and I loved reading about them and thinking about them. At the end of each chapter, there is a small section of suggestions for beginning the exploration, which gives you some things to think on or activities to try.

~Namaste~

I apoligize in advance for giving this book three stars, but in my collection it's a three, this is only because I prefer books with a little more meat. However, as a resource tool, and an introductory book, this is a great book. Oman Shannon covers over 50 different prayer practices, and covers them in a way that make them easy to understand and she offers suggestions at the end of each chapter on how to incorporate them into your daily life. This allows a person to start thinking about how prayer can be adapted into your own life.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a great introduction to prayer practices, or a great personal reference tool for thier academic or personal conquests.

Maggie Oman Shannon does such a great job of making devotion through prayer seen alluring, rewarding and even fun. I enjoyed learning about all the differnt methods of praying that I have heard about before but knew little about. Finding out about prayer bowls, tea ceromonies and prayer dancing was very interesting. Maggie shares many ways that whatever way of prayer we are interested in can become accessible to use immediately.

I enjoyed as the quotes from different traditions included and
learning about different cultures. The Way We Pray does a great job of giving the reader so many different ways to be spiritual that they can never get bored and always have more paths to explore. What an inspirational book.

Yes, this book is about prayer. It is a guidebook for the spiritual person to integrate methods from many different traditions and beliefs into their spiritual development.

Several aspects of this book that really makes it especially rich include the large variety of cross cultural practices including activities and ritual which you might not have necessarily thought of before as "prayer".

Oman Shannon reminds the reader that prayer practice is best moved beyond the realm of our "juice draining" early religious training and into the world of sacred intention so that we can truly encounter the divine.

Each chapter outlines another prayer practice and includes a feature called "Suggestions for beginning the exploration." This tool is especially helpful as it continues the integration process.... I mean learning about these practices is interesting AND actually using them takes them to the next level.

I found the sections on "Chants", "Milagros", "Mastermind Groups" and "Forgiveness Practices" to be among the most beneficial... although I am sure as different scenarios appear in my life, different chapters will be applied and utilized.

Prayer may take many forms and be for an infinite variety of reasons. In The Way We Pray: Prayer Practices From Around the World, Maggie Oman Shannon provides a "compendium of prayer practices with enough context to acknowledge the cultural traditions behind them, while offering an invitation for further exploration."

Oman Shannon is a spiritual director, and founder of The New Story, an organization that helps people discover the deeper purpose to their lives. She's also a writer and editor, with a previous anthology of healing prayers to her credit.

Although many of us think of being on our knees with hands folded in front of us as the way to pray, practices as diverse as fasting, haiku, meditation, storytelling, and visual arts can all be a way of prayer. Oman Shannon quotes Catherine of Siena with the thought that "everything you do can be a prayer." What you physically do is of less importance than your sacred intentions. She says that prayer can become the "enfolding fabric in which we live our lives, and everything we do has the potential to be prayerful."

She describes over fifty ways of offering prayer. Each description details how that practice developed and how it has been used throughout time. Then Oman Shannon provides suggestions of how each method can be used in contemporary times, for contemporary difficulties. Each description is finished with a section containing several suggestions as to how individuals can explore that particular means of prayer to determine if it's something they can use.

An extensive resource section is provided to assist readers who want to investigate a particular practice in more depth.

Alan Jones, Dean of Grace Cathedral, has this to say in the Foreword: "The Way We Pray offers us a treasury of integrating spiritual practices [and] they all have the power to open us up to a deeper and more generous reality." Readers will find the Oman Shannon has provided an invaluable resource for discovering the power of prayer in the way best suited to meet their needs.

Yancey's book does have many good parts. It hasn't changed my life but I don't expect a publication with one person's interpretations to do that.

You will see the author is biased. He understates the fact that religious organizations have become too political. If you believe the "religious right" is more of a religious wrong, especially with Bush-43 and other neoconservatives, you'll be better off looking for a different author.

Unfortunately, I'd purchased this book without knowing enough about Yancey's history. Use a search engine to check out his style and personal opinions before you make the purchase.

This book really did change my life by forcing me to look at the world around me and how I react to it as a Christian. Since reading this book, I have felt personally challenged to convey God's grace to others, particularly those that are "different" from myself. I think this is the best Christian book out right now and I have already given it as a gift to several friends and family members. If you are a Christian and have become discouraged by the negative reaction to Christians by non-Christians, read this book and help me start to change those stereotypes.

It is an easy, smooth and deep read !
Certainly helpful for anybody who wants to understand more of Gods grace we already recieved.
Go for it, it will change the way you see things, your first thoughts in the morning and your relationships.

Stunning, beautiful. All I hunger for. From Bear Grylls, author of 'Facing Up', published March 2000 Macmillans

How can I add anything to all the rave reviews of this book? Why does everyone love it so much? Two reasons: the fact of God's grace and the fact that Yancey conveys that grace in a well-written book that is moving and touching. Yancey -- praise the Lord! -- is one conservative Christian who understands that Christianity is about God's love and forgiveness and not about a wrathful, rule-enforcing God who forgives grudgingly. And Yancey has a way of conveying this message with art and feeling. I have already bought multiple copies of this book to give to friends. I consider it a must-read for anyone looking for God's love.

I liked reading through this book with my husband on a weekly basis. We took a long hiatus from it after the birth of our second son, but we finally finished.

It gave many suggestions on how to make things work despite the differences in men and women. Impractical expectations due to present-day media disappoints many in the marital bed. By being able to talk with each other and making your spouse happy, the selfishness we often feel can be overcome.

I only wish there were more Biblical references throughout this book as to how we should regard the other as more important than ourselves.

What a wonderful perspective on the sacredness and divine purpose of sex within marriage. This book is written well and has a good balance between practical knowledge and concepts - it will change your life and marriage if you let it, and I hope you do!

Great book! Information not learned anywhere. Must read if you are thinking of marriage, in marriage or trying to rediscover your marriage!

The McCluskeys understand and speak to the inextricable connection between body and spirit. They view sex as a form of communication, so it's natural that they focus on what's being communicated. It's at this deeper level, they contend, that most sexual problems and frustrations begin. And they can only be cured at the source-in the soul.

They avoid the degrading lingo that most people default to in discussions of sex. Each chapter begins with a character sketch of a marriage from Christopher's casebook, and the stories resonate, touching on issues all couples struggle through. My cheeks flushed as I saw my own mistakes woven through others' experiences. But the book's gentle tone makes this bearable.

With this book, the McCluskeys have set a new standard for the genre. Much more than a manual, When Two Become One speaks to and about the holy longing in each of us, a longing for God in our physical experience of each other.

I am newly married and found this book a bit disappointing. It didn't include anything on STD's, infections, birth control or address problems that you may run into. Because of these missing pieces it is not a book I would refer back to and keep on my shelf. The book does give recommendations for other book that we have read and we found those more helpful. I would recommend "intended for pleasure" instead because it is more complete.