General Practice Books

This book aims at providing an answer to this question. Included with the author's observations and experiences are arguments and explanations from 26 Jewish contributors who have either rejected Judaism or have never believed in it, including Prof. Sir Isaiah Berlin, Prof. Sir Herman Bondi, Prof. Albert Ellis, Prof. Adolf Grunbaum,Rose Hacker, Prof. George Klein, Dr. Henri Morgentaler, Prof. Jean-Claude Pecker, Prof. Ernest Poser, Prof. Howard Radest, Claire Rayner, Prof.Evry Schatzman, Helen Suzman, and Arnold Wesker. The author is concerned about the survival of the Jewish identity when Jews will realize that the religion of Judaism is obsolete and has the guts to face the problem head on. I found it of great help because it opened my mind to the realities of our day.

After reading this book I asked myself:
What would happen when more and more people will realize that there is no God, no Heaven or Hell, no immortal soul and no divine revelation?
I hope that also the Jewish Identity, like the English, the German and the American identities will survive, because like the
English, the Germans and the Americans also the Jews have their own country again.

Yes,people are naturally inclined to antagonise those perceived
as different. Religions offer the opportunity to validate antagonsims and confrontations through messages which cannot be doubted because they are revealed from an infallible source.
Without religion people will still confront one another, but their antagonisms will become open to human reasoning and compromise.

David Ibry, an Israeli born Jew, exhorts all Jews to face the traumatic fact that all religions including the Jewish Religion, are obsolete and that a Jewish Identity based solely on an obsolete religion will sooner or later become obsolete.
The author maintains that a really secular Israeli model, retaining the great Jewish history and traditions, but without depending on religious belief for its nationhood, would help to save the Jewish Identity in the Diaspora.

I think the most important aspect of this book, aside from the fact that it is well written and unpretentious is that it starts the dialogue-- the inner dialogue one has with one's self and the one between one Jew and another. Ibry astutely avoids providing pat, specious answers, instead throwing open the discussion to fellow Jews and admitting that it is, in fact, a brave new world. Recognizing that old traditions and sentiments are hard to leave behind, he reminds us that the Jews invented Judaism, not the other way around.

The questions and opinions explored in this book, while specifically addressing the Jewish dilemma in the Twentieth and Twenty-first centuries, should also have appeal to anyone who feels constrained by the implausibility--if not outright absurdity--of a deity as described in ANY western religious scripture.

If you're looking for a place to begin your transitional journey from theism to rational thought, done with wit, intelligence and emotion, this is the place to start.

I have both volumes of this book. It really boosted my prayer life. I love to pray scripture, and that is all this book is, sections of scriptures organized into daily sections and written like prayers. I love it, because it is simply God's word, not someone's theology or opinion etc., just God's word written to help you pray it back to Him. I use this book daily and have recommended it to others and purchased it for others.

I use this book and the Volume One for my daily devotions. Kenneth Boa makes the scriptures come to life. Volume Two is so personal, after reading the passages for the day I can think back to them, when I need to, during my day. It helps me to think about my faith and my relationships with others. There are three months of daily devotions so you can repeat them four times during the year. Also the book is small and can be carried in your purse or jacket pocket.

I have gone through this devotional guide several times and each one is a rewarding experience. Boa helps you to personalize the Scriptures to your individual needs. My copy is well-marked with thoughts, dates, and locations. Any tool that helps an individual grow in his or her relationship with God the Father through Jesus is to be commended. Prayer is two-way communication with God. There is a place for answered prayers in the back of this book. Both the Old and New Testaments are included in the readings. Intercessory prayer is part of the experience, i.e., he references Scriptures that pertain to praying for other people, including those in leadership. Jesus said the law is summed up in two principles, to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul and to love your neighbor as you love yourself. This book helps a person to do that on a consistent basis by getting one's thoughts aligned with God's Word and will.

The idea for this excellent compilation of personalized Scripture couldn't be more natural. "Praying the Scripture for spiritual growth," as the subtitle says it, can nurture a person's faith like no teacher's commentary can.

Author Ken Boa has advocated meditating on and personalizing Scripture for many years. In this book, he offers his own translation of many Bible verses, adapting them into a first person or second person perspective. In this way, a reader dwells on the Words of God offered as direct praise. Instead of reading, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" (Deut. 6:4-5 ESV), he reads, "O Lord my God, You are one. I want to love You, Lord my God, with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength." Instead of reading, perhaps passively, these words from Proverbs 23:4-5, "Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven" (ESV), Boa urges the reader to dwell on its personal application: "I will not wear myself out to get rich; I will have the understanding to cease. I will not set my desire on what flies away, for wealth surely sprouts wings and flies into the heavens like an eagle."

For devotional use, the book offers Scripture meditations in five categories for each day of a three month period. The categories are "The Attributes of God," "The Works of God," "My Relationship to God," "The Character I Want to Cultivate," and "My Relationship to Others." With a couple mediations in each topic, Boa encourages the reader to follow a 93-day pattern of thoughtful consideration and prayer, praising God with His own words and being confronted by His demands on our character.

That's the first half of the book. The second half is a topical guide to Scripture's affirmations of God's character and the Holy Spirit's work in us. Divided into the same categories listed above, this guide lists many more verses than are printed in the devotional section, which could facilitate longer meditation on God's glorious character and His teaching. For someone in the habit of reading through the Psalms and Proverbs every month, this book or it's companion, Face to Face: Praying the Scriptures for Intimate Worship, would be a great alternative.

I have a very difficult time keeping my focus while I am praying. This book has helped me so much to direct my prayers and keep them in a Scriptural context. It not only leads the reader in daily prayers of Adoration, Confession, Renewal (Scriptural reminders), Petition, Intercession, Affirmation, Thanksgiving, and closing prayers, but also has a weekly schedule of praying for yourself and others such as your church, your family, and world missions. The Scriptures are well-chosen for their subjects, as well as not chopped up so as to make them out-of-context. This book is for morning devotions, and there is a companion evening devotion book which is excellent as well.

What I like most about Ms. Peterson's book, Follow Your Heart: And Discover God's Dream for You, is the simple language in which she writes it. Actually, her message is a simple one too--Follow Your Heart-- but one most of us have great difficulty doing. In her book, Ms. Peterson teaches that we all have a dream, but we have to have the courage to believe we do and feel we are worthy of having it. Dreams aren't lofty, they're necessary to live a fulfilling life. I hope Judy Peterson writes more books about finding and following your dreams.

I highly recommend "Follow Your Heart" to women who are on a heart's journey of discovery. How many of you have had hopeful dreams and yet time slips by without giving more serious thought and respect to them? Judy Peterson effectively "catches" one in this ambivalent dance and gently guides and helps point us back to those unfulfilled desires while holding our hand as we dare to summon these dreams to life. Dare to live the dream. This book will greatly assist to this end!

"Follow Your Heart" is an inspiring approach to finding your inner self and the path that brings deep inner peace. This comes when you are in the center of God's plan for your life. This book led me on a remarkably insightful journey - I have read it over and over again, and discovered new truths and new depths each time. I highly recommend this book to anyone searching for more meaning in life!

'Amazing how, "Follow Your Heart" weaves together vision and reality. A sense of faith and belief in God, and in one's self is woven throughout the book. The real-life experiences cited elicit identification and renewed hope. Ms. Peterson's insightful 4 Stages of discovering and pursuing a dream are shockingly accurate! This book helped me realize that, after fifteen years, my educational TV/Internet show, SCHOOL TALK, is in Stage 4 and growing.

In this competitive, high-tech, hi-stakes-testing era, this book brings great balance to those with creative minds and seeking
hearts. 'Sadly missing in much of today's education. I recommend, "Follow Your Heart" to teachers, students, and all dreamers.

The best (and most interesting!) way to learn is from stories. Judy Peterson includes numerous real life stories of women sorting through their dreams and talents to find out who they really are and where they should go with that. She then helps readers apply the thoughts from these stories to their own lives. Inspiring!

The Forgotten Covenant has something for every one. Simple enough for those unfamilar with the Bible to understand and deep enough for those well versed in Biblical prinicple to gain new insight and revelation into the heart of the Father. This book will change you . It is the kind of book you will want to keep and read again and again. I consider it a must read.

This book makes simple the profound truth of Holy Covenant and truly engages the heart. It is a MUST read for seasoned believers and new believers in every denomination, as well as for those who are seeking reality and genuine relationship with their Maker. Begin your journey today!!!

This book makes simple the profound. It's a must read for the seasoned believer, the new believer, and those who are searching for reality and genuine relationship with their Maker.

This book sheds light on what it truly means to have a deep, personal relationship with God. All rules, regulations and religions aside, this book shows you God's heart and the very depth of His love. You cannot read it without it tugging at the very fabric of your soul and drawing you ever closer in your walk with Christ.

I know God as my Father, Lord and Savior, but it wasn't until I read The Forgotten Covenant by J. J. Woods that I came to the heart-stopping discovery that God is also my Covenant Partner. Wow! Talk about name-dropping -- I'm in a covenant partnership with the God of the Universe! With simplicity and skill, J. J. Woods explores the depth of God's unique covenant relationship with His people, its history, meaning and benefits, unlocking the door to abundant life for His covenant partners. Whether or not you are in covenant relationship with God Almighty, this book will change your perception of Him -- and your life -- forever.

This is one of the basic book to clinical pactitioners. is very simple to apply the criteria and is very clear to novice researchers.

This book is just incredibly good!!! It combined details with cool simplicity. A must have for researchers.

Although I have used this text as a reference (vs. reading it all the way through, or for a class) I have found myself returning to it often. In fact, I purchased it only because I had started to wear out the copy I had borrowed from a friend...and she was missing it because she used it frequently, too. The best aspect of this text is the way the authors use examples relevant to clinical research for nearly every statistical decision. No more extrapolating from educational research, medical research...I don't usually have that much imagination! Good book.

This is a book that I have used often through my graduate career. It served as a great textbook for a course I was taking and as supplementary material for other other courses on Statistics, Design and Research Methods.

Well-organized and easy-to-read, it has become my first line-of-defense for all things related to research design. It covers the material in adequate detail so you have a good jumping off point in case you need to grab your SAS manual or your Stats text.

Excellent text for students just entering the profession to hard core researches.

This book is a keeper. Easy to read and digest. This book has made me think the way I treat others.

As far as understanding the nature and power of forgiveness, this was a paradigm shifter for me. More importantly, it moved me to action, literally becoming a catalyst for mending, what was at the time, a seriously damaged relationship. I have not read a better book on the subject. Volf's a deep thinker, but he doesn't have his head in the sand. He writes from a place of humility and grace. And his understanding of the Gospel and what it makes us capable of becoming is so illuminating and life-giving. I hope I don't sound too enamored with the man, but his insights have proven to be very wise. I feel that I am in his debt.

Have you ever wondered what is missing in our culture? In our churches? In our workplaces? In our homes? In our "selves"? Volf offers a compelling diagnosis for one of modern culture's most significant and serious problems. I dare anyone to read this book and walk away unchanged. At the very least it will change your perspective, at best it may change your life.

Volf does an incredible service for the church in writing this. He is neither preachy nor condescending, but is thoughtful, articulate and weaves together a beautiful theology of forgiveness. This book fills a large gap in the thought and reflection of the church in America, and deserves careful attention to anyone wishing to follow Jesus.

This is a primer on the most gracious acts we can participate in: giving and forgiving. It is for Christians as well as those of other faiths or even no faith. The author sets out to explain first who is God and explains the difference between God's reality and his image. He then "...examines how to conceive of and live out two basic human practices, giving and forgiving."

Dr. Volf admits this is not a scholarly book, but says that "Most books I write, I write for myself, as s spiritual exercise almost." I found it a thought provoking study that requires contemplation rather than a quick fifteen minutes of reading before bedtime. I also see it as a basis for a Bible study class resulting in endless interesting discussions.

While Bible verse references are frequent, the author refers to the classics in literature as well as examples from movies. This book is not stuck in the stories of 2000 years ago, but in the reality of our times as well as those of Jesus.

Through each chapter the author defines the differences between God's acts of giving and our own, as well the differences in how we forgive. Early on he states with authority that "Faith is the first part of the bridge from self-centeredness to generosity." Dr. Volf's explanations provide a clarity which had me shaking my head in understanding many times. We all know it is good to give a gift, but as the author says, "When a gift is given, life becomes extraordinary because God's own gift giving flows through the giver." This is a perspective I hadn't considered, but it feels like the sun rising on a new day.

He goes on to address the question of why forgiveness is required and says it is a "...special kind of gift." He is not unrealistic and acknowledges how difficult it is. Examples from his own family show that it can be done, even in the most difficult situations. We can only hope to learn to forgive half as well as his parents did.

I challenge you to undertake the study of this subject. Give yourself the gift of knowledge and understanding, which will benefit those around you.

Dr. Volf, Director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture and the Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School, is a native of Croatia. He is the author ten books, including "Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness and Reconciliation" which won the 2002 Grawemeyer Award in Religion. "Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace" was commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury as the Official 2006 Lent Book.

I keep a copy of this book in the back of my cab. Passengers just keep coming back until they have finished it. It has funded the purchase of two 1977 beige Mercedes (with sprung leather interior). Thanks Eva, you have made me rich.

Je suis un admirateur de l'oeuvre de Madame le Professeur Steiner, dont cet ouvrage est, pour moi, le "cornerstone". Le texte est plus clair que cristal et m'a inspiré à poursuivre une carrière de "solicitor" en France. Il est accessible à tous de 7 à 77 ans et c'est surement le permier livre que je ferais lire à mon fils lorqu'il choisira sa future carrière. Bravo Eva!

This book is a "must-buy" for all subscribers to "Colonel Fabien Action Weekly". A very subtle analysis of the French Legal System. One can only regret the absence of a chapter on the "Gendarmerie Maritime". 40 bucks well-spent.

As I sit at my desk late at night, basking in the candlelight and stroking my goat, contemplating my semi-annual shave, it is Mme Steiner's oeuvre that I embrace.

This book caused me to flap my arms with delight.

Just finished Steve Amos book. He successfully brings you into the Wizard of Oz world of drugs. The book reads smoothly and Mr. Amos has the writing ability of an English version of Ireland's Frank Mc Court. With each page comes the desire to read more. His drug related stories are scarey to say the least. You want to reach in and pull him out of that world, to save him. In the end, however, it is Mr. Amos's words that open your eyes to what true faith and love in God really is. It is he, who saves you.

Here is a powerful testimony of God's ability to turn around even the most desperate of lives. Going from violent drug addict, prisoner and a thief to a bike-riding, God-filled evangelist, Steve Amos was miraculously taken from the pit of hell. Only a near-death experience convinced him that God was real. 'From the Pit of Hell' tells the true story of a man addicted to drugs, of a God who saved and transformed this life, and continues to change and transform lives today

This clear account of Steve Amos' life from which he was quite literally taken From the Pit of Hell, doesn't big up drugs or bad behaviour, it doesn't mince its words about where he has come from BUT does show clearly the grace of God on our lives and the love He has for us despite wanting to go through life as we want - regardless of the consequences.

I found this to be ultra-relevant to the 21st century. As an outsider in the modern world, this man's experiences spoke to me in a way that no person, regardless of whether I have met them or not, ever has before. I thank you, Mr. Amos, for helping me find my place. This is for all those For those of you who are lost or traped.

This account of Mr Amos' life is everything i like in a good book, it gets your interest, draws you into the story line, makes you worry for this mans sanity as well as his saftey, you start to worry about what is going to happen next, i contantly thought, "NO he's gonna get it in a minute," But this isnt you average book, its not a Stephen King Novel, its a true life account, and thats what made it all the more scary to me, Its real. But then i think to my self, I have met this wonderful kind man and although i dont actually know him very well, I still thank God for saving him. And I will keep his book on my shelf as I have this feeling that I will be reading it again! Miricles are real....

The Golden Booklet of the True Christian Life is a separate printing of Chapters 6 through 10 of Book III of John Calvin's magnum opus Institutes of the Christian Religion. As these chapters were considered to be among the more practical of Calvin's texts on the Christian life, they were printed separately as early as 1550. They consist mostly of short, pithy sayings on the Christian life. (Calvin at one point even says that brevity is his stock in trade!)

Calvin had a gift for writing short, often hard-hitting, and almost invariably profitable maxims that are also very quotable. To cite just three: "A sincere repentance from the heart does not guarantee that we shall not wander from the straight path and sometimes become bewildered"; "Everyone flatters himself and carries a kingdom in his breast"; and "The cross of Christ triumphs only in the hearts of believers over the devil and the flesh, over sin and wickedness, when they lift their eyes to behold the power of the resurrection."

If Calvin's brevity is a virtue, it's unfortunately also true that the chapters do not always hang together successfully. Occasionally, Calvin makes a jump from one topic to another with little-to-no transition. Modern-day editors have tried to soften this blow by adding section headings and even numeration to indicate changes in focus, but they do not entirely solve the problem. Readers, as well, may find themselves wanting more on a given topic than Calvin provides.

Another weak point is that Calvin tacks back and forth between asking Christians to look to the next life and consider this life of little account, and counseling Christians that they should thank God for this life. Admittedly, this tension dates back at minimum to the apostle Paul, but Calvin seems to be deeply conflicted on this matter. He counsels Christians that they should never hate their earthly lives, which God uses to sanctify and bless them, but he also calls this life "nothing but misery" and counsels Christians to long for death. There's a balance to be obtained here that's not quite in evidence in the Golden Booklet, despite Calvin's valuable instruction.

But such weaknesses do little to diminish the luster of this powerful collection. The Golden Booklet takes Christians on a journey to holiness as expressed through obedience, self-denial, taking up one's cross, living in light of eternity, and rightly living this earthly life. It does not pretend to offer a complete examination of these topics, but what Calvin does do, he does very well. Calvin's classic text -- whether read within the Institutes or as this separate printing -- is highly recommended for all Christians.

This book is written with sincerety and is heavily weighted in Biblical truth. It weaves together solid intellectual thought with a wholehearted drive for practicality.

Besides being worth its weight in gold, it is actually quite an easy read! This is a true gem pulled out of the period of the Reformation, and highly recommended for Christians of our era!

This section from Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion makes one hungry for more. Modern writers cannot hold a candle to the depth of Christ-knowledge that our older brothers had. Indeed, we are in a time of spiritual declension. But Calvin, Knox, Spurgeon, A.W. Pink, Asahel Nettleton, and others were "meat", whereas almost all of the latest titles available at the local "Christian" bookstore are mere "dessert"- sweet (sounding), but in the end empty, and unable to satisfy. No substance to them. I will say this as politely as possible: Put away your Max Lucado and your "Left Behind" (false eschatology) and get into God's Word, and then go and see how God taught the ancients. These men were not focused on making men "feel" good about themselves. No Arminian lightweights were they. If you read this booklet, and its content does not resonate within your soul, then you will have reason to fear that you have not learned Christ aright. This booklet is required reading for all in my household. Read it and see why.

May I also recommend www.graceonlinelibrary.org

This thin little book is no lightweight. It's a Trojan horse that delivers timeless substance from the Scriptures on how to think about and live the Christian life. It reaches head and heart, and so is extremely practical--without being a simplistic "how-to" book. I have used it in a number of one-on-one discipling relationships; its small size makes it manageable and appealing to busy people, but God uses its substantive and convicting teaching to affect lives. Buy a copy for yourself and another for someone you care about, and get ready for sharpening discussions.

How do you review a book such as this one? When I first read this book several years ago, it changed the way I thought and lived the Christian life. Now, rereading it some years later, it reminds me of just how foundational it was in my way of thinking of "the Christian life". Especially in the way it taught me (and others through me who I teach) how important and "normal" is suffering in the true Christian life. It is through suffering God conforms us to the image of Christ.

This is a volume taken from the third volume of 'Calvin's Institutes' and has been incredibly helpful for Christians for over 400 years! One of the things you will find about this book is how extremely easy it is to understand it, as well as practical (in fact it is almost like it was written yesterday). Oftentimes, it is easy to think that a book written originally in the 16th century would be both difficult and impractical! However, this book is biblically crystal clear as well as useful! I have given this book away often and I have only seen growth in those to whom I have given it! May it be a new book for you, or one you buy again for a friend.

I am constantly using and/or adapting exercises from this book for my classes. Like the previous reviewer, my only complaint is in the format. I wish it were larger and spiral bound, as my copy is getting very beat up from the copy machine! An essential in my resource library.

This book has many activities that can be done. It's a great resource to have in the library of an ESL teacher!

This book is packed full of useful grammar activities. They are easily classified according to grammar point and can be easily searched for use. I've used the activities numerous times, and there are a lot of great ideas in this book. The only thing that isn't so great is that the pictures have a late 70's or early 80's look, but it's not such a big problem since you can easily get pictures out of magazines or other such resources. Also, the English featured here is British English, so if you're teaching American English, you have to adjust some of the phrases or vocabulary. Other than that, it's great. Check it out.

I borrowed a copy from my ESL instructor while student-teaching. It is FANTASTIC. I have found that the activities proposed in the book can also be modified to fit another activity -- or to even get my own creative juices flowing. There have been times when I felt overwhelmed by all the good examples and couldn't pick just one. It's easy to carry and pack -- don't leave home without it!

Penny Ur's book "Grammar Practice Activities" is a neat little book with some simple, but very effective activities for a good range of grammar forms.

The activities can be used at a range of different levels, and cover everything from pair to group work. Some require some preparation, and they sometimes come with pictures and other materials. There are also some variations you can try for some, as well. They cover a wide range of grammatical forms, and that will keep the book useful for a long time. The activities are fairly focused on forms, and that means students will almost be forced to use the ones that you are practicing.

Perhaps the only problem I have found with the book is trying to photo copy some of the photos or pictures without damaging the spine too much. The small cover size means that the spine is pretty stressed when flattened out in a photocopier. If it is a heavily used book, you might want to keep a "master copy" of such materials to prolong the life of the book.

This book is simply a very useful, easy-to-use book. Ur has done a great job of presenting some nice activities that are easy to set-up, and very effective for the students. This is a wonderful little book that should be on any shelf.