5 comments about Saving Levi: Left to Die . . . Destined to Live (Focus on the Family).

1. This book shows true love and compassion in the world today! It was such a joy to read how God works through each of us. Levi is truly a blessing!



2. This book is a must read for anyone considering adoption. This true story will broaden your perspective. I could not put it down and read it in 3 days!



3. I loved reading this book, in fact my husband and i read it together and we both were struck by the simple powerful honesty of lisa's writing. How amazing to watch with her as a hundred different people give love not just to one special little man; but then also pass that love on to those of us who are inspired to do the same just by reading their wonderful story. I would sit beside her and listen to her tell the tale again and again and hope it never leaves me the same!



4. This an awesome book that clearly illustrates the power of God. I read it in one sitting, with a box of tissues. It's definitely a favorite! I would love to read more books by this author.



5. This is a wonderful heartwarming story about a strong little boy and a determined group of people who would not give up on him. Once you start reading the book I found it hard to put down. It was a very easy book to read. I really enjoyed looking at the pictures as it added so much to the story. I also enjoyed reading about the cultural differences that they encountered in their every day lives while living in China. Having adopted a child from China myself I know what a difficult and lenghtly process it can be at times but in the end it is so rewarding.

5 comments about Journals of Jim Elliot, The.

1. "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

   And so was Jim Elliot, martyr at the hands of South American Indians who later gave their lives to Christ. In this, his autobiography via his journals, we see the life this young man led and the preordained road that led him to gain what he could not lose.

   "The Journals of Jim Elliot" had a profound effect on me as a young man as I happened to be at a similar stage in life as Elliot during most of the pages. What I found on those pages - the lifeblood of a man fully sold out to God - changed my life.

   A long book, "tJoJE" calls anyone who wants to know how to live a committed Christian life throughout the slow unfolding of Elliot's life. As an encouragement to young men, it is peerless. Its only detraction is due to the very nature of the autobiographical style as derived from journal entries. While you see God's hand moving in Elliot's life, sometimes the nature of the entries is lost, slow-moving, or repetitive. Such is the style of the book.

   However, what I found most helpful in reading this book is the stark contrast between Christian practice of fifty-plus years ago and today. Elliot was distinctly a man of his time, but he was not alone in his complete surrender to God. He was surrounded by many people who were like him. How he lived, thought, and died seems foreign to today's Christians. In fact, he shares more with a Christian of two hundred years ago in David Brainerd than anyone you typically find in a pew today. His example is so profound that it is hard not to feel that something has changed in the last couple decades. Somewhere there are men like Jim Elliot today; I hope I can find them and learn from their examples, as well.

   Anyone who stays with "The Journals of Jim Elliot" will find a great reward in its pages. It has always been one of my favorite Christian books. If you want a book that offers something different, it is a soul-stirring story made more compelling by its truthful historicity.




2. I'm a native missionary kid from India, and I would love to read this book. I searched and tried every possible way to get it in India, but couldn't. To buy online, the shipping charges are unaffordable for me. Do you know of any store that ships to India? I would deeply appreciate your help. Jim Elliot's life has been a challenge and example to me



3. This is a very impressive book. It is the honest writings of a hero to many. In the book, you see that he was just like the rest of us and that he had a great passion for God. I certainly hope that more will read this book to get a glimpse of what a life turned on to God can do.
   
   This book in many places is very good for personal devotions. There are also many sections that are great expositions of scripture. This book is biographical, devotional, and expository.



4. I bought this book not for the theology, but for the practical struggles revealed in the day to day life of a man of God as he sought to live by faith and find that very special Will of God for his life beyond salvation,separation and surrender.
   
   I would recommend this book for any saved person that wants to be encouraged to live daily in the will of God, for the Lord Jesus Christ, in a world that from a religious and secular stand point knows nothing of or very little about a real meaningful relationship with our risen Savior.
   
   The journals of Jim Elliot demonstrate, that inspite of the real daily struggles we all face, it is possible to live by faith in His written word and not just on mere feelings that can change from day to day.



5. When I was a student at Moody Bible Institute in the late 1960s hardly a missionary conference would go by without someone quoting Jim Elliot, a missionary who had been martyred by the Auca Indians. The quote was always the same: "He is no fool who give up that which he can never keep to gain that which he can never lose." This is a powerful quote and one worth repeating. He was saying to those that believe - everything on this earth is temporary and will pass away; what is done in the name of Christ will stand forever.
   
   What a surprise to learn that as a college student Elliot began keeping a journal and did so until his death. This in itself is mind boggling. The fact that the journals are now available is even more mind boggling. His wife, Elizabeth has taken all of his journals and with the exception of a total of two to three pages of total content has presented them to us as a legacy.
   
   There are hundreds who would say that Jim's story as told by Elizabeth in her book, "Through Gates of Splendor", was responsible for them dedicating themselves to Christian work of various kinds - especially missions. This book more fully reveals the man, who along with his flaws reveals an incredible heart. A heart that wanted to know God and who wanted to fulfill God's plan for him.
   
   From every-day life as a college student to the trials of being a missionary in a remote jungle - it's all here for you to read, reflect - and perhaps find some inspiration and guidance.
   
   Armchair Interviews agrees.

5 comments about No Price too High: A Pentecostal Preacher Becomes Catholic.

1. "No Price Too High" is the true story of Pastor Alex Jones' movement from being a lifelong Pentecostal to being baptized a Catholic (with his wife and 50% of his congregation) in 2000 at the age of 60. In doing so, Jones had to abandon his career, the church he founded, and face innumerable personal and professional obstacles.
   
   Jones' journey towards Catholicism began with a Wednesday night Bible Study when he asked participants "How would you like to get into a time machine and go back two thousand years to the time of the early Church?" They liked the idea so Jones' embarked on an investigative journey into Church history - a journey in which he discovered the writings of the Apostolic Fathers, Apostolic Tradition, and the truth about the Catholic Church.
   
   Jones' provides ample details about his theological "conversion" and the difficulty of accepting a Church he believed all his life to be "not Christian." He shares his experience of coming "face-to-face" with authentic Christianity as it was handed down by the Apostles to the first generation of bishops, the Apostolic Fathers. And why he could not turn back.
   
   While "No Price Too High" highlights what he misses and the barriers presented by the US Catholic Church to non-euro centric cultures, Jones has, through recent travels, experienced African (has many of the those things he misses) and Eastern versions of the Church. He has found the Catholic Church to be truly one and catholic (universal).
   
   Jones does not claim the Catholic Church to be perfect and without its problems. He knows that there are "imperfect people (in the Church) with hidden agendas and imperfect people struggling with racism, duplicity, immorality, injustice, hypocrisy, and spiritual lethargy" - the usual list of human failings. But as a former pastor of two Pentecostal congregations, he knows that all who work in any human endeavor encounter the same human failings!
   
   "No Price Too High" closes with a narrative by Jones' wife, Donna, detailing her difficult journey towards Catholicism. She was "purely Pentecostal" and did not follow blindly.
   
   Alex and Donna Jones' inspirational story will be of interested to spiritual seekers, particularly Catholics who have left the Catholic Church for Evangelical and Pentecostal churches and non-Catholics enrolled in RICA programs (required for entry into the Catholic Church). Seeing the Catholic Church through the eyes of the Joneses, who had to dig deep in abandoning their lifelong-held faith, will be an eye-opener for seekers and/or those who are confused about the Catholic Church.
   
   Alex Jones serves today as a Deacon in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.
   
   
   
   



2. This book very simply glorifies horrible things done by a misguided man. It's not that he became a Catholic that is so troubling, but rather what he did to his congregation in the wake of his missteps. He destroyed a church, broke up a family, and hurt more people than I can count. So what's the next step? Write a book about it and profit from their misery.



3. Before I heard Alex Jones speak in person for three hours I had no intention of buying his book. I thought I could get his message by listening. I did get it - and I wanted more. Because the book was written "as told to Diane Hanson", it is very much like he talked. I did laugh a lot more while hearing him because he has a great sense of humor, and a gentle but dynamic delivery, which for me added much to the impact of his message.
   
   Other reviewers have done a good job of outlining the content of the book. What I want to add is that for me Alex Jones articulated what it is that brought me back to practicing my faith, and keeps me there, in spite of many challenges I find in the lack of responsiveness of much of the hierarchy and missing some of the very dimensions of spiritual life that Alex Jones had in his previous Church. I would strongly recommend this book to any "cradle Catholic" for an enriched perspective of what they have received by being born into Catholicism. Hopefully, some day we can keep what we have received and have it further enriched by what Alex Jones has to share with us.



4. A famous convert from the past century, John Newman, once quipped, "The fathers made me Catholic." Karl Keating, author of Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on "Romanism" by "Bible Christians", called the Fathers of the Church, "The most dangerous men in Christianity." Alex Jones knows what they meant. Alex was a successful evangelical pastor with a respectable congregation of pentecostal Christians when, in the late 1990's, he began to explore what the early church was really like. Following the discipline of a good historian, Alex began to dig deeply into the primary sources of the Apostolic Fathers and what he found called him to action.
   
   The actions Alex began to take seemed simple enough at first. He would share his findings with his congregation and make changes to their service to more closely align it with the early church. It did not take long for his congregation to notice that there was something all too familiar in these changes. They realized the early church had not disappeared as they had supposed but that it was not in the cultural norms of their experience either. Instead, the early church had changed little. In fact, the early church service was alive and well in the Catholic church. Alex's world began to fall apart. His congregation began to see where things were leading in some case faster than he did himself. Attendance began to dwindle. Good friends began to leave. Those who remained felt compelled to action as well - some could not hold back any longer when Alex informed them what he had to do. Many who had listened to what he had learned from the Fathers were compelled to the same action as Alex and his family. And in one day more than 50 evangelicals from Alex's church converted to the Catholic faith together.
   
   The cost was high for Alex in particular. Relationships with his congregation, friends, and especially his family, were strained to breaking in some cases. But Alex was determined that no price was too high in pursuit of the truth that he had discovered. If it would cost him everything, he knew he had to have an authentic relationship with Jesus or no relationship at all. God intervened once more in his life and brought his family through in victory over those challenges together.
   
   With the pathos and joyful strains to be expected of a charismatic preacher like Alex, he conveys his story. But it does not stop with only his testimony. Following his story, his wife, Donna, shares her own story of learning to trust where God was leading. Both had to challenge their own assumptions and biases. Both grew to love the church they once distrusted and even feared. Neither knowing where the road of faith would lead, both learned from those most dangerous men that it led to Rome. Their story will stir the hearts of fellow evangelicals to follow the Fathers and saints who have gone before. It can stir the hearts of Catholics to a new sense of the treasure they have in the ancient tradition of faith. Be careful, Rome's revival fires might just touch you too. It reminds us of the lyrics to that old evangelical revival hymn:
   "Revive us again;
   Fill each heart with Thy love;
   May each soul be rekindled
   With fire from above.
   
   Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
   Hallelujah! Amen.
   Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
   Revive us again.!"



5. The book plots the story of Alex Jones', a black Pentecostal minister's, conversion to Catholicism. The story is familiar and I agree with his logic: simply, that the Catholic Church is the oldest Church and the true successor to the Church Fathers. Anyone who looks at the facts will find there are no real arguments against this: "To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant."
   
   My gripe with this book is that Deacon Jones doesn't really prove to a critic's satisfaction why the Apostolic Church Fathers views aren't merely 'interpretation' too, over against the fundamentalist view that they are presenting the pure Bible. He tries but I don't think he fully succeeds or spends enough time pointing out that fundamentalists DON'T read Scripture in a strictly literal and non-interpretative manner.
   
   I used to be a 'Pentecostal'. a white Pentecostal and yet having read Jones I actually think my Elim Pentecostal denomination was really "second wave" charismatic. Jones' Pentecostalism was the hard-core 'real deal'. I was genuinely shocked to read of Jones' account of racism from U.S. whites in the mid-twentieth century, and the African-American Christian's quite understandable embitterment. It's very interesting to read of Jones' post-conversion struggle to assimulate into a largely Eurocentric Catholic Church in America.
   
   This book is no triumphalistic pro-Catholic spiel. Jones' story is a true human interest story about the struggles of converting from lively, emotionalistic "soul religion" to an often stagnant but historical and intellectually legitimate Catholicism sadly marred by nominalism and Eurocentric practices. This book wasn't quite what I expected. I felt a bit down after reading it.
   (Being English I've posted this review on the U.K. site too)

5 comments about The Barn at the End of the World: The Apprenticeship of a Quaker, Buddhist Shepherd.

1. The Barn at the End of the World: The Apprenticeship of a Quaker, Buddhist Shepherd by Mary Rose O'Reilley is a beautiful and insightful memoir. There is something to be learned, pondered over, and highlighted for posterity on almost every page of this book. O'Reilley's humor and down-to-earth honesty regarding spiritual and personal matters made me feel at home, even in unknown territory. While reading this memoir, I learned to pause, remember, and cherish my own breath, to accept what is and what is not.



2. In the past 15 years, I've read two, "personal memoir"-type books by women writers that totally blew my doors off: Terry Tempest Williams' "Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place" and Mary Rose O'Reilly's "The Barn at the End of the World: The Apprenticeship of a Quaker, Buddhist Shepherd." Very different books, at the end of the day, but both women think and write from deep religious traditions in their lives. Likewise, both have an abiding love for "the land," concretely and metaphorically, so what you hear at the end of that same day are calm but passonate voices that make you listen, make you want to listen hard to the observations, but with sense of deep fulfillment for the experience of it.
   
   As for "Barn," I am neither a Quaker, a Buddhist, a farmer, a teacher nor an "older, adventurous woman" (as one reviewer suggested would be the type of person who would enjoy "Barn"). SO WHAT! "Barn" is a truly a banquet of wise and penetrating insights into the essence work (and working with and caring for animals in particular), of friendship, love, responsibility, accountability to yourself and to others, silence, mediation, the sacred, and, ultimately living honestly. There is much humor, gentleness, and "character" (for want of a better word to describe her inner strength) in the 90-odd "chapters" (some as short as 1 page) that are more like mini-essays on discrete but interrelated topics, so much so that I found myself going back, often, re-reading passages, savoring her prose and her insights, shutting the book, just letting the writing sink in. "Barn," resonated with me (an "semi-older, adventurous man") on more levels than I could ever have predicted. I'm a big fan of Thich Nhat Hanh's work, so the chapters recounting her experience at Plum Village and Thay's "dharma talks" were an added "bonus." Give it a shot, and take your time reading it; it's worth it.



3. I found this book boring. Her message was good, but her delivery did nothing for me.



4. My first impressions of this book were that it was weird. That really describes the first section and a half of this book. It *is* weird reading about the excrutiating details of sheep farming coupled with deep religious insights. But it was weird in a good way, like waking up one morning in the middle of the winter at 6 AM and having the sun already be risen. The further along in the book I went, the more I enjoyed her weird combination of sheep farming, Buddhist retreat, music, and Quaker imagery. I found myself thinking about what she just said constantly; quite frankly, it was an absolute inspiration to me, especially when she starts delving into her life at Plum Village. Her format also makes the book easy to read. You can pick it up for just 5 minutes at a time. With some memoirs, the format of short essays makes the memoir feel disjointed; with this one, it makes it feel whole. I've read many memoirs and many spiritual/religious books. If I had to give a list of my top 3, this book would be on it.



5. I beg to differ, as one of the earlier reviewers stated, that this book does not offer spiritual fulfillment. I found it awakening many slumbering treasures that I have neglected over the past few years, caught up in other things in my life. I thought it was a delightful treat. I would agree that there is little to no spiritual direction, but it does not purport to be an "owner's manual" for any spirituality.
   
   I would also kindly disagree about its lack of plot. While the writing is more stream-of-consciousness than one typically expects for an autobiography, there is a movement throughout the book which one can follow, and it is not to "nowhere."
   
   I am not a shepherdess myself, and there were times when I thought "ew" (get it - ew/ewe - pun intended!) when presented with graphic descriptions of sheeep husbandry, but it was all part of parcel of the journey. This is definitely one of those books in which the joy is in the journey, and thank you, Mary Rose, O'Reilly, for taking us along!
   
   I was fortunate enough to have found this book in a happy happenstance. I was waiting for colleagues at our local quirky microbrewery on a Friday after work, went over to the shared bookshelf and pulled this off. I intended to return it when I finished, but I think I will donate another book to their library, as this one is too precious to let go! I intend for it to be one of those few books that I re-read over and over.

5 comments about The Life and Work of Muhammad (Critical Lives).

1. I've heard of Yahya Emerick before, and own the Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam, so I was pretty sure when I found this book in my basement that it would be a good read. I wasn't wrong, either! Besides having an absolutely gorgeous cover (which I always judge a book by :D), it is an easy, pleasant read and contains some really valuble information.
   
   The Prophet's (PBUH) life and personality is portrayed very well in this book. I really admire how Emerick was able to blend his personal, religious, and political life together, giving us a very multi-faceted and well-rounded view of what the Prophet was like. For Muslims and non-Muslims both, it contains information that is sometimes little known about the prophet and Islam. Highly recommended!



2. 
   I enjoyed reading this book very much. I felt as if I were right there with the Prophet pbh and the companions. I felt as if I were experencing every trial, victory, and defeat. Very well written reads like a narrative. Not political, choppy, wishy washy, or even biased. One is able to get a clear and fair understanding of the wars, executions, culture, and tribal customs of that time. I also appreciated the way Mr. Emerick was able to discuss the Prophets pbh lineage with out getting lost in translation or the details. I also felt he addressed belief issues by explaining the difference of opinion amongst scholars concerning the trip to the Dome of The Rock, not leaning toward either arguements. Which is why I felt he was fair. He didn't try to butter up the reality, hide anything as if something were wrong. If you're looking for a book to read about the Prophet Muhammad that will give you a clear understanding of who he was, and what his message was, I recommend this book. If you need an eman or faith boost I recommend this book.



3. Yahya Emerick has written a masterful and gripping account of the incredible life led by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). His ability to keep the reader interested at all times is the key to this book. He keeps matters simple yet accurate without getting lost in the overwhelming topic literature that exists out there. Just like another reviewer mentioned earlier I too felt like I was right there with the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions. The tone and the content are consistent and give a fair, balanced view of the background that led to many events. A classic example of the author's writing ability is displayed in the inspiring and almost poetic narration of Al-Miraj and Al-Isra. The book also maintains its balance while educating the reader regarding the Prophet's personal, spiritual, political and uniquely influential life.
   
   The only section of the book that deviates from this incredible uniformity stretches roughly from page 154-160. The content here regarding the prelude to the Battle of Badr (missed attempts at attacking Abu Sufyan's loaded Meccan caravan) and the Prophet's actions is rather questionable in light of the authentic material available on the matter. This very small but crucial part of the book seems out of place as it ascribes actions far less than prophetic to one (the Prophet) who had such a close relationship with God and His angel Gabriel.
   
   Overall this is the finest account of the Prophet's life that I've read so far; far more interesting than Martin Lings' book and far superior to the book from Karen Armstrong. Highly recommended.



4. Beautifully written in a story like formate, which was easy to follow and visualize. I would highly recommend to all readers interested in this topic!



5. This is a book for believers. I found its treatment of Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians unfair and, frankly, uninformed. A quick example: the author casually discards the Persians as idolators, whereas the Sassanids, for all their faults, were noted iconoclasts. This book may be well-written, but it is not well-researched.

5 comments about The Autobiography of a Tibetan Monk.

1. I've read a few books about the sufferings of Tibetans by now, but still, this book managed to affect me and make me stop and think. Again and again. First of all, how has nothing changed since this book confirmed that China is continuing to do all it can to wipe out the culture, religion and spirit of Tibet? I know I have responsibility to speak up about this (and I will) but I still can't believe that higher powers up there did not stop China by now.

   Anyway, back to the book- Palden Gyatso is the image of courage, compassion and inner strength. I read passages of how he was tortured and bullied and then would flip to the inner photo of this tiny, frail man-astonishing! I see now that the determined and strong look on his face at the UK Independence rally co-exists with the gentle, loving portrait on the cover and it's a wonderful combination. This book reminded me that it takes deep courage to stand up for who you are and what you believe in but there is no greater purpose for each of us than to aim for that goal with all that we have.

   Read this book to better understand why Tibet needs our support but also to re-instill your own will to be a decent,kind and courageous human being.




2. This is a great book. I am an activist for Tibetan independence and knew much about the atrocities taking place in Tibet since 1949, but this book put a face to the facts. I highly recommend this book if you're interested in Tibet, Buddhism, or in learning about a remarkable man who went through horrible oppression and has emerged gracefully.



3. This book is a testimony to the endurance of the human spirit, able to overcome the most nefarious system perhaps the world has ever known. The fact that Palden Gyatso is able to relay his story to you and me is nothing short of a miracle after what he had to endure for years inside China's prison system undergoing "reformation." The stories of torture, starvation and freezing nights will stay with you forever and make you question how strong your own beliefs are and whether you could do what Palden Gyatso did. I do not wish to reveal too much, but will say that calling the story compelling is a vast understatement.
   
   This book is as important now as ever. China has the 2008 Olympic games and yet these brutalities continue to occur. Not to mention the fact that China is now relocating Chinese into the Tibetan region, threatening forever one of the world's great cultures through dilution of the society and culture.
   
   Buy this book and see both the horrors of mankind and also his greatness in what he can overcome. If you like this book, I would also recommend Ama Adhe's book from a woman's perspective in the same system. We often hear the word hero, but rarely is it so appropriate as it is in describing these amazing individuals.



4. I recently met Palden Gyatso at a Dalai Lama teaching and bought a copy of his book there, mostly as a way to support him. Though I read all the time I rarely finish a book as I usually lose interest 2/3 of the way through and move on to something else. But this book was an exception - incredibly interesting and inspiring - I finished it very quickly.



5. An American friend was profoundly moved by the suffering she saw in Tibet recently...as red china gears up for the Olympics.
   Palden Gyatso's is an incredible story of suffering and faith.
   Tibetans' face an ongoing now 60 year struggle to retain their heritage and to not be `disappeared' up by a communist regime.
   When I was much younger I read a book `With God In Russia"..this is its buddist counterpart!
   What struck me about the other reviews is that they don't mention we the free world ESPECIALLY THE USA is now on the hook to Red China!
   AND IT CAN HAPPEN ELSEWHERE!
   MAO KILLED 60 MILLION...OR SO THAT'S THE NUMBER I READ....the other accountas of the book don't take this into account..what happened in Russia/china/tibet/Vietnam/north korea can happen elsewhere.....and china grows richer and stronger year by year.

No comments about American Jewish Women's History: A Reader.

5 comments about Born Again.

1. Colson's version of what happened during Watergate is a self-serving, sanctimonious whitewash of what he did and what he was responsible for. As the self-syled " Go-to guy" when something needed to be done. As Howard Hunt's boss, it defies belief that he was ignorant of what went on. He managed to get away without any responsibility for what he was surely guilty of and plead guilty to a crime of his choosing, which he hoped not to serve any time for.Surely to be "Born Again" he needs to tell the whole truth rather than this sanitized version.



2. . . . as readers of my reviews have probably figured out. I have been familiar with this book for many years, but only recently have I taken the time to sit down and read it through.
   
   "Born Again" is an honest and forthright admission of sinfulness and forgiveness, tracing Mr. Colson's path through Watergate and prison to the freedom in Christ he now enjoys.
   
   To the best of my recollection, this is the first book to be published by one of the "Watergate figures". Magruder's book came out shortly afterward, and Haldeman wrote two (contradictory) books on the subject. I wonder if the Charles Colson of 2005 would view the events of 1972-1974 as the Charles Colson of 1976 did. I wonder if he would have made some of the same choices now as he did as a brand-new Christian (with a great deal of guilt on his conscience).
   
   Regardless, both as an "insider's account" of the Nixon White House, and as a testimony of how Christ can change a life, "Born Again" is definitely worth a read.



3. "Born Again" is the story of Chuck Colson's life from the Nixon presidency to his release from the Maxwell AFB prison facility with some comments on his early life.
   
   The first 250 or so pages deal with his time serving Nixon and of the circumstances that led to his accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord. The book's last 100 pages or so deal with his relationships with other prisoners in the Maxwell facility.
   
   Indeed, some skeptics question whether Colson had a true conversion and is using the book to promote himself. If so, then why does Colson mention a positive change in relationships with his political enemies after becoming a Christian? Indeed, one of his strongest supporters (Harold Hughes) was a Democratic senator from Iowa (Colson was a Republican). Oh well!
   
   The book flows freely and is intensely interesting. "Born Again" reflects the popularity and enjoyable reading of other Colson books. Whether you are a Republican or Democrat (sorry political junkies, God is neither!), a Colson supporter or hater, a Nixon supporter or hater, you will enjoy Colson's "Born Again".
   
   Colson's prison experience was not wasted. God used this time to burden Colson with the need to minister to prisoners today through the worldwide Prison Fellowship ministry. Yet again, God can take something good out of something bad.
   
   Read and enjoy the book and be challenged to realize that despite your background, God can work great and mighty things through a person who is surrendered to Him!
   
   Highly recommended.



4. Charles Colson resembles the adulterous minister in the Scarlet Letter. Before his parishioners, Arthur Dimmesdale confesses error freely but gives no specifics. Colson too confesses overweening pride, but gives no, or few, specifics. And where he gives specifics, he confesses no error. He denies involvement in Watergate but acknowledges defaming Daniel Ellsberg, an action that he alleges is no crime. In fact, he says he had to convince the judge to allow him to plead guilty to obstruction of justice in connection with the Ellsberg matter even though technically he broke no law. Colson did nothing, saw nothing, said nothing. He is a great sinner in the abstract but not in the concrete.
   
   His conversion seems to be genuine but limited. He went from being the grandest political operative to being the grandest sinner. After he found Christ, rather than going home, falling to his knees, opening his heart, and closing his mouth, he went to White House prayer breakfasts and discussed his conversion on "60 Minutes." He surrendered all but the spotlight.
   
   An interesting autobiography still. The portion in which he writes about his prison experience sounds authentic.



5. There are a lot of lessons to be learned from Born Again, and Colson shares them as opposed to teaching them, with the fresh, excited style of new convert so that the reader if he is a crusty old saint (like me) is carried back to the days of his first love.
   
   The book is part political insight, part Wartergate/Nixon history, but mostly testimony, and the testimony of God dealing with and finally saving someone who wasn't particularly looking or particularly worthy or even, in spite of prison coming on, particularly desperate. The issue and focus of the book is on God dealing with man, and the backdrop is Watergate and prison which makes it interesting to a broad spectrum, but the focus is always on the gift of the cross. Colson is a decent, in fact, pretty good writer, and unlike many Watergate figures apparently did his own writing. It still flows, but flows within a framework of authenticity as opposed to slick ghost-writing. I've read a few other of his books, but this is the cornerstone, and it is probably worth reading even to the secular because it was such a pivotal story. Not many testimonies become movies, even Billy Graham movies, and that sort of underlines the significance. Probably to the late 70s and early 80s what Cross and the Switchblade was to the earlier Jesus Freak era. I really enjoyed this book, it both informs and inspires. Critics looking for some disavowal of everything America and conservatism stands for will be disappointed, but again, that's not what the book is about- the politics are merely a vehicle for the story of redemption, and it is spiritual and not political redemption.

5 comments about One God Clapping: The Spiritual Path of a Zen Rabbi.

1. I admit that I'm biased since I have twice met Rabbi Lew when I attended religious servics at his synagogue in San Francisco. I liked Rabbi Lew's book and found his spiritual journry to be engrossing. We all have our own spiritual struggles and being able to eavesdrop on someone else's helps us focus upon our own. Rabbi Lew was raised in a secular, politically leftist household and though he retained his political liberalism, he attained spirituality and a strong belief in God, starting with a legnthy immersion into Buddhism that evolved into a return to Judaism. Rabbi Lew is not one to do things half way. He was fully immersed in his Buhdism and sort of rose in the ranks of that community. When he rediscovered Judaism, he became so immersed that, as the oldest student in his seminary class, he became the top student, totally devoting his life to his goal to become a Rabbi. He also shares his family struggles in this book. I must conclude by disagreeing with another reviewer who feels that Rabbi Lew did not illumnate his reasons for leaving Buddhism. In fact, I think he was very clear: he felt that his life was subject to a doctrine that was too dogmatic and too controlling of his individuality. At least, that's what I gleaned from my reading of the book and, the reason seemed to be rather clearly stated.



2. This book has been a continuing source of inspiration on my spiritual journey. I am going through the process of converting to Judaism and hold a strong interest in Zen meditation, Yoga and a mindful way of life. The stories told in One God Clapping touched my heart, my soul, and my intellect, and gave me the sense that I was reading about my own life. Rabbi Lew offers up a heartfelt glimpse into the experiences of his life with a warmth and honesty that speaks a universal truth about humanity. I laughed. I cried. I re-evaluated my priorities and I loved it. Well written with a fluidity that makes the reading experience delightful, this is one I will read again and again. Mazal Tov to Rabbi Lew!



3. Rabbi Alan Lew discusses his rich Brooklyn childhood, his family's move to largely anti-Jewish suburbs of Westchester, his studies at Penn, his marriage, his move into Zen and ten years in monastic contemplation to fulfill his spiritual yearnings, and his return to Judaism and the rabbinate. This is the story of his integration of the East with the West. It's about Jewish karma, and the reclamation of spirituality. It's about why so many Jewish youth turn East in their spiritual quests, experiment with Eastern religions and worship the exotic (sometimes just because it is exotic). This book is both easy to read and interesting. I also highly recommend a little book of wisdom by a young Jewish/Buddhist author named Taro Gold titled "Open Your Mind, Open Your Life."



4. I have never written a review before, feeling that until I became an author, I should keep quiet. However this book has moved me to reevaluate. I have never seen such a rambling, self involved, free association, represented as a "spiritual path" in all my years of reading spiritual books of many varities. The author never stops talking about himself, and a myriad of unconnected and unexplained bits of memories to mention anything of substance about ANY spiritual traditions, other than in passing. I question whether anyone so staggeringly self-involved has benefited from any "spiritual path". I wouldn't think of this as even an interesting autobiography, since it seems more a pedantic chronology of events about HIMSELF, than a celebration of the "others" that accompanied one along the journey. Perhaps good cathartic journaling for the author, but a great pretender as any sort of spiritual guide. Very disappointing! I feel I have completely wasted $16.95. For a useful and intelligent autobiographical type discussion of one's journey through religious traditions, and helpful comparisons, similarities and differences, try "The Unexpected Way" by Paul Williams; "The One Light" by Bede Griffiths, or "The Other Half Of My Soul" compiled by Beatrice Bruteau.



5. An interesting, easy to read narrative of the author's journeys. I can't say I learned all that much about why Rabbi Lew returned to Judaism, except that most of his decisions come from the kind of flashes of insight that are not easily reduced to words.
   
   He did, however, explain reasonably coherently why he was attracted to Conservative Judaism rather than to Orthodoxy - a somewhat unusual phenomenon, because baal teshuvot (Jews who have "returned" to religious observance) generally veer towards Orthodoxy. Lew explains that because of his Buddhist experiences, he was comfortable with the rigorous spiritual practice demanded by halacha. But he was not comfortable with the ideological demands of Orthodoxy; while many baal teshuvot choose an ideology first and seek to alter their practice to conform to that ideology, Lew chose the practice long before he was certain about what he believed, and thus is more orthoprax than orthodox. He writes when he was in rabbinical school and contemplating switching to Orthodoxy, an Orthodox friend told him "There's a right way to think and a wrong way. That's what Orthodox means- the right way to think." That is when Lew decided that Orthodoxy was not for him.
   
   Although I found most of this book to be merely interesting rather than riveting, there were a few "wow" moments here and there. Some examples:
   
   1. His explanation of cults and other religious mistakes: "If a person shows any sign of spiritual power whatsoever, they [Americans] immediately fall to worshipping him. The idea that someone could be spiritually powerful but also evil or venal, or simply crazy, is beyond their ken . . . because spiritual power is somewhat rare in the West, when most Americans encounter it for the first time, they are utterly defenseless."
   
   2. A wonderful story about a service at JTS (Jewish Theological Seminary) on Yom HaShoah: Professor No. 1 speaks at length about his horrifying Holocaust experiences, and concludes "I don't see why we should remember it at all"- his point, according to Lew, being "If we really remembered the Holocaust, there would be no way to contain the horror." That night, it was announced that the son of Professor No. 2 (also a survivor) was being engaged. Normally, the students would sing a congratulatory song, but they were too shocked by Professor 1's speech. Professor 2 then yelled "You better sing ... The whole point is, they tried to finish us off, and they failed. I'm the only one left in my family, and now my son is going to get married and have chidren, and my family will continue." The students sang, needless to say.
   
   3. A wonderful quote from Louis Finkelstein: "Judaism is very difficult. It demands more of its lay people than most religions demand from their priests. Most people complain that today's Jews don't do enough, that they aren't observant enough. But I think who's holding a gun to their heads?"

5 comments about The Heart of the World: A Journey to Tibet's Lost Paradise.

1. The Heart of the World: A Journey to Tibet's Lost Paradise takes you on a journey into canyons when no one as recorded before...breath taking..



2. A fantastic book for readers who are interested in learning about Tibetan Buddhism, the Tibetan culture and the Tibetan way of living, and readers who enjoy visiting and / or reading about exotic places on earth.
   
   I picked up this book right after a trip to Tibet with my 4-year old son and truly enjoyed reading it. It took me deeper into the land that I had just visited by illuminating a bit about its history, its incredible natural beauty, its people's belief system and, most importantly, the interconnectedness of all. It is a well written book and Ian Baker has done an outstanding job of getting the reader very close to the actual experience.
   
   Connecting with nature is certainly a powerful way to get connected in life and, once connected, the ultimate discoveries are often of the hidden secrets in one's soul.
   
   If you are not convinced about reading this book, I highly recommend viewing the related photos on hollot's site (find the site by doing a search on "hollot + sardar" since amazon does not allow posting URL's).



3. Ian Baker, explorer and Buddhist scholar, narrates a sequence of incredible journeys to the Tsango Gorge in Tibet, the hidden and inaccessible Beyul Pemako.
   
   The book can be read on many levels: as an engrossing adventure; the depiction of a man's passion, determination and endurance to achieve a goal in the face of incredible hardships; rarely described Tibetan customs; and the contrast between the spirituality of the Tibetans and the materialism of the Chinese who were penetrating the area at the same time as the author.
   
   The thread that weaves the narrative together is the inner journey that unfolds as Baker traverses the sacred geography of the area as revealed by Buddhist texts, Tibetan lamas and the experiences of the author and his team. Backed by historical textural references and oral traditions, the author encounters the living, pulsing presence of this landscape in the form of the body of the dakini goddess Dorje Pagmo and her energy centers or chakras. He and his team successfully access the throat of the goddess, the hidden gorge with its long-sought waterfall.
   
   After his arrival at the waterfall, his journey culminates in a visit to the sacred site of Gompe Ne on the banks of the Tsampo River where he enacted, as countless pilgrims before him have, a birth-death-resurrection using the sacred geography of the site.
   
   I was constantly reminded of experiences in the Andes, especially Peru and the Andean Path, where the exchange of energies between man and the natural world and its sacred landscapes create spiritual alchemy and inner spiritual transformation.



4. 
   I just started to read this book but found that this guy is getting involved in smuglling rare animals in Nepal. Read all the follwing news about this writer. And lets boycot his book!!
   
   1) Police recover illegal treasure trove from house of National Geographic writer
   
   KATHMANDU, May 23 - The Metropolitan Police Crime Division Hanumandhoka Friday said that a police investigation unearthed a large number of wildlife items and artefacts of archaeological significance at a house rented by an American national at Baluwatar in the capital.
   Working on a special tip-off, a police team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sher Bahadur Basnet on May 17 raided the house of Rajesh Maharjan which was rented by US citizen Ian Baker and recovered the items from the house.
   
   A police statement released during a press conference in the capital today said that the police team recovered the illegal items from Maharjan's house at Kathmandu Metropolitan-4 in Baluwatar.
   
   The statement added that after the recovery Maharjan informed the police that Baker had also stored more items at a rented house owned by one Khewang Norbu in Naxal.
   
   The police have also sealed off Norbu's house.
   
   Police informed that Baker, who has been living in Nepal for the last 24 years, had stored statues of archaeological importance, vestiges of various wild animals including skin, skeleton and statues in the Baluwater residence.
   
   The police have arrested Maharjan, while Baker is still at large.
   
   Reportedly, Baker was a features writer for the National Geographic and News Week magazines.
   
   2)
   Illegal items hoarded by American seized
   
   KATHMANDU, May 23 - Metropolitan Police Crime Division, Hanumandhoka confiscated dozens of illegally possessed artifacts, idols, wood craft and huge materials of endangered wildlife from the rented apartments of US citizen and legendary writer Ian Baker, who is also a contributor to National Geographic and several other magazines.
   Ian Baker, who has been reportedly staying in the country for over 24 years, was found to illegally possess a huge collection of archeologically important materials, including skeletons, statues and skins of wildlife in his two rented apartments located at Naxal and Baluwatar in the capital.
   
   Acting on a special tip-off, a police team raided a house of Rajesh Maharjan at Baluwatar where police recovered a huge cache of such materials.
   
   Police said they arrested house owner Maharjan, who told them that Baker also possessed illegal materials in another rented house at Naxal.
   
   Following the information from Maharjan, who is said to be an aide of Baker, police sealed the house. With the help of experts from Department of Archaeology and Kathmandu District Forest office, it was revealed that those materials were archeologically important, some even dated back to prehistoric times.
   
   On Thursday, police also seized dozens of artifacts, statues, skeletons, skins of wildlife, among other things. Senior Superintendent of Police Upendra Kant Aryal, chief of Metropolitan Police Crime Division, said the recovered materials were one of the largest collections ever confiscated by the police in the country.
   
   However, police said they were yet to ascertain the intention behind collecting those materials. During interrogation, Maharjan told that Baker had gone to Thailand after storing those materials in the house. Police said Baker has been absconding since police raided his two apartments.
   
   The country's law has banned people from possessing, buying and selling archeologically important materials. On the other hand, the CITES (Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild flora and fauna), to which Nepal is a signatory, also terms buying and selling wildlife body parts illegal.



5. 
   In this beautiful and gripping travelogue Ian Baker seamlessly ties together the story of his life-long obsession with the Tsangpo Gorge, the landscape history of the almost completely unknown Pemako region of Tibet (China) and that part of Tibetan Buddhism pertaining to the Tantra discipline and the Dorje Pagmo cult.
   
   Ian Baker is a well known photographer and explorer that has lived in Katmandu (Nepal) for over two decades, an inquisitive mind with a great culture and, from what seeps out from his writings, a sincere and well meditated Buddhist faith or at least a convinced respect for the beliefs of the populations among which he has chosen to pass his life. Recently he has been having some problems with the Nepalese government for a collection of artifacts and wildlife trophies but the story is still pending. However, in 2004, when the book was originally published, he was an inspired prophet of Buddhism, ecology and ancient Tibetan traditions.
   
   To understand the format chosen by the Author to narrate this engrossing ecological/adventurous/religious experience of his travels and discovery it is wise to refer to Simon Schama's "Landscape and Memory" that extensively explains man's relation to landscape during the ages and through different civilizations.
   
   Tibetans have always had a particular and deep bondage to their mountains, lakes and wild-life. Bon religion antecedent and integrated into the more modern Indian imported Buddhism (VII-VIII century A.D.) was a highly animistic religion. The Pemako region of Tibet, now divided between China and India, has always represented the body of the goddess Dorje Pagmo, with the mountains incarnating the breasts and the rivers the chakras of the deity and was believed by many to harbor the land of Shangrila. The concept of trekking on the landscape or as the Tibetans put it making a pilgrimage to particular power or magical points or beyuls (secret places) is actually an act of prayer. According to ancient beliefs "beyuls" have been established or discovered by Padmasambhava, who introduced Buddhism to Tibet, but continue to be revealed by scripts hidden in caverns by the Guru Rinpoche. In this way the landscape is an autonomous revealing source of religiosity. Only a precise knowledge and a longtime practice of this discipline at last consents the discovery or a better documentation of the unmapped part and the waterfalls of the Tsangpo Gorge, always known to the inhabitants of the Pemako.
   
   The geographical riddle of the hidden waterfalls of the Gorge had been longstanding. From the explorations of the pundits and the adventurous lords and scholars of the Raj looking for the possible passes into India (remember Kipling's Great Game), an unmapped tract of the Tsangpo River shows an unexplained difference of altitude from the down stream river Brahamaputra in Assam. Baker reviews the entire history of exploration of this tract of the main river of the Tibetan plateau, describing the personal history of all the explorers and their achievements. Particularly fascinating is the story of the Kingdom Ward - Crawford expedition that lead to the discovery of many unknown plants. Literature and science have questioned the existence of the waterfalls, but only Baker has give the definitive reply. Actually he has been eight times in the region, but the book extensively describes only three important trips from 1993 to 1998.
   
   Another interesting aspect is the marvelous and extensive review of the botanical and zoological diversity of the region, that is a real treat for those interested.
   
   The book has over 200 bibliographical references and many notes at the end of each chapter, more than 100 historical photographs and many by the Author and an ample glossary of Tibetan terms.
   
   The narrative style is discontinuous because it skips through many years. The day by day journal parts relative to the expeditions are a little repetitive and slow going but in certain points this represents an advantage because it consents the reader to get into the mood for example of the terrible meteorological conditions and the terrifying leeches and moreover the repetition of the sometimes puzzling Buddhist traditions, texts and phraseology allows a better comprehension.
   
   The final impression of this long book is that of summary of the achievement of a lifetime and as such it should be enjoyed and respected. Definitely recommended for those interested in geography, Buddhist traditions, adventure, and travels.