No comments about Benedict XVI: An Intimate Portrait.

1 comments about The Journal and Major Essays of John Woolman.

1. A classic in Christian engagement with the world, by a Quaker minister best known for his role in convincing others in the Society of Friends - as individuals and as a group - to withdraw from the slave trade and stop holding slaves. Woolman also contributed insights into the nature of war and conflict, wealth and simplicity, right livelihood and spiritual humility.

   This is the definitive edition - as in, this is the one that scholars and serious readers want, with a solid introduction, explanatory footnotes, and notes on which passages were changed along the way. Woolman based his Journal on personal diaries, rewriting and editing it with his Quaker audience foremost in mind. His essays apparently were aimed for a wider audience; they show his familiarity with Enlightenment trends that many Friends ignored. The essays "On Keeping Negroes" and "A Plea for the Poor" are included in this edition.

   After his death in 1772, the Journal has passed through the hands of a succession of editors, including Quaker poet and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier, whose edition can be found on the web. From one generation to the next, Friends and others have rediscovered John Woolman and cherished his sweet reflections on human relations and Divine leading.

5 comments about Dipa Ma: The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master.

1. I have always heard that Dipa Ma was a vegetarian. The author writes that she is not or implies that she is not. She misquoted Dipa Ma who was in fact a vegetarian.



2. Dipa Ma's life, practice and high level of attainment is truly inspirational. If you're looking for a book that will teach you the basic tenets of Theravadin Buddhism, this is not it. But, if you're looking for a powerfully inspirational story of a profoundly loving, compassionate master who transformed and inspired many Western practitioners this book is great. It really brought tears to my eyes and I keep rereading it and my wonder never ceases. It has good pictures and can easily be read in an evening. I've bought and sent copies to all the women in my life. Buy it, read it and enjoy!



3. This is an excellent read, very inspirational and well worth the price. I think some of the reviwers slightly missed the point - whilst Dipa Ma probably didnt eat meat, Theravadin Buddhists are not vegetarian because like the Buddha himself, they rely on alms donations for food. There is no prohibition on eating meat or fish in either the vinaya or the sutras, monks and nuns in Thailand and Burma are mostly meat eaters. As for the change in title, its really just a reprint with colour photos and a new publisher - its not done to rip anybody off, the newer version I think is a better tribute to Dipa Ma's spiritual legacy. Anyhow, for anybody wanting to read about a lay meditatior who was highly acomplished and masterd the siddhis (spiritual para normal powers), the janas (absorbtions) and three of the four paths to nirvana, this is the book!
   
   Other highly recommended books to people who enjoy this one are "Life of a Siamese Monk" by Richard Randall and also Maha Bowas facinating biography of Ajan Mun, a Thai forest monk who attained nirvana and passed away in the late 1940's. Maha Bowas book is given away freely and a great read, I think its also on the internet.



4. It was really great to read a life story of a great woman Buddhist teacher. Great meditation encouragement!



5. I have to give great thanks to Amy Schmidt for taking on the task of creating this book. If she had not, then many people in the world would never have heard of Dipa Ma and experienced if only indirectly her liberating story. Her gentleness and compassion shine out of every page, and the humble simplicity of her practice make it accessible to anyone who wants to explore it. A truly special book and I recommend it without hesitation.

5 comments about Blessed Miguel Pro: 20Th-Century Mexican Martyr.

1. BLESSED MIGUEL PRO--20th-Century Mexican Marytr. Ann Ball (author of Modern Saints). 119 Pp. PB. 48 Illus. Fast-paced true Catholic adventure story of the famous young Jesuit who was executed in1927 for the "crime" of being a Catholic priest. His underground ministry via bicycle, narrow escapes, great sense of humor and saintly heart. A gripping and inspiring story for all ages!



2. Thank you Ann Ball for bringing to life for us this beautiful saint in such a beautiful way. Truly inspiring.



3. The life of this great martyr and St is filled with so much laughter, danger, fun and excitement. It tells the story of a brave young man that dodged the police in the time of the persecution in Mexico to bring the Sacrements to the dying. His life ends in the most heroic way, after serving God and man on earth, he became a martyr for Christ. He is a shining example of what a true Christian should be. He is my hero. His life is so humorous and exciting you won't be able to put the book down. This is definitely the greatest book. I would recommend it for everyone, young and old.



4. I enjoyed reading this book so much because my father had talked to me about that era in Mexico. What a beautiful person Miguel Pro was. This would make a great movie! A lot is written for such a small book. Couldn't put it down.



5. Miguel Pro was one of the greatest priests of his country and of the Catholic Church. Refusing to go to exile in another country, he stayed in Mexico City and helped countless souls with the Sacraments of the Church.
   
   The book is brief but very informative about his life. I hoped that one day he will be canonized a saint.
   
   Viva Cristo Rey!

5 comments about The Narrow Road : Stories of Those Who Walk This Road Together.

1. This is an heirhoom edition which includes the text of Brother Andrew's world-wide best seller, God's Smuggler, plus snatches of other stories of the Persecuted Church. Also a CD of Jars of Clay. Highly recommended.



2. The book, The Narrow Road, by Brother Andrew and Jars of Clay was inspiring. Brother Andrew tells his life story of serving God through the smuggling of Bibles and spreading the word to those who do not have access. His life story is incredible in how he put his life on the line every day just so that other would hear the Word of God. Jars of Clay also journeyed to China and Vietnam to lead services in the underground churches. The experience did not only teach the people there, but Jars of Clay themselves. What greater an experience that to witness first hand, the martyrs for Christ in China and Vietnam. The many stories throughout the book were so inspiring also. Account after account displayed the unending compassion these people had for Christ, and how they would stop at nothing to live for Him. I would highly recommend this book. The stories never get old, and the compassion of one man is jaw dropping. Page after page unravels the coming of nations to Christianity and how one man can make such a difference.



3. Brother Andrew strikes many a harmonious chord in this latest book of his. His stories of people are fascinating and how God uses the simplest people to accomplish His purpose. Wonderful reading material for anyone needing a boost to their faith in God's promises!



4. Though I have published thirty-one titles on the Biblical roots and history of the Early A.A. Christian Fellowship, my efforts have, of late, turned very specifically to the simple program developed in Akron by the pioneer A.A. Christian Fellowship. Its ingredients were abstinence, faith in the creator, obedience, growth in fellowship through Bible study and prayer, intensive work serving and helping other alcoholics to get straightened out. The more I looked at the early program--as distinguished from the one fashioned by Bill Wilson in his basic text published four years later in the Spring of 1939--the more I could see the believing and healing that were an integral part of the astonishing early A.A. cures. In despair, those wretched individuals turned away from booze and to their Creator for deliverance. They did it by accepting Christ. And they were not only cured but said so for a decade. Those observations took me to the books on believing and healing. The Narrow Road and the story of Brother Andrew's relentless efforts to serve his Creator by smuggling Bibles to foreign areas where they were far from welcome--even forbidden--this book was at the top of my reading list on trust in God. The Brother Andrew part of this title presents a cogent reason for believing that God is able and willing to do what He promises to do. And that is where Brother Andrew put his mind. Believe and receive. The story contains great language on this matter of truly believing that God can and will keep His promises. This is a belief factor that is fast vanishing from the alcoholic treatment picture today though it was immensely important and necessary to the unusual success of the A.A. pioneers between 1935 and 1938. Over and over, Brother Andrew put his trust in God and believed that God would enable Him to serve and love through Bible distributions, despite overwhelming obstacles. This is a book of commendable service and value.



5. The Narrow Road is a reprint of Brother Andrew's `God's Smuggler' that has been distractingly repackaged by the Christian alternative band, Jars of Clay. When a friend lent me tNR, I must admit that I was cautiously put off by the overt graphical `hipness' of the book design. This has apparently been conceived as the `cool' contemporary version of God's Smuggler. More distracting than the gussied-up look and feel, are the story-in-story-vignettes that have been dropped into many pages. These disjointed side-stories often feel artificial and even dubious (i.e., a Muslim boy of the Comoros Islands thinks he has a romantic interest in a certain "very beautiful" Christian girl but eventually decides that he has actually been interested in studying the Bible with her father); it seems that some of these questionable snippets have been composed and interjected essentially because the design scheme demanded them. Style dictates substance; this isn't worthy of Brother Andrew's autobiography.
   
   Sorry for the long complaint. Unfortunately, it wasn't merely a digression; the superimposed design features get in the way here. At least that is my opinion. Brother Andrew's story, printed and reprinted since the late 1960's using the title `God's Smuggler,' is a fast-paced and fascinating first person telling of Andrew's courageous work behind the Iron Curtain. The story itself won't let you go, the pages almost turn themselves, you'll probably read it in two or three sittings. Contained in The Narrow Road is a "five star" story ("God's Smuggler"); but you might want to read a different edition.

2 comments about The Word of the Lord Is Upon Me: The Righteous Performance of Martin Luther King, Jr..

1. The Word of the Lord is Upon Me is perhaps best described as a biography of the rhetoric of the century's greatest orator. Rieder mentions that part of the aim of the book is to reclaim the true Martin Luther King from the shallow appreciations of St. Martin that occur every January. King's medium was speech, and he was less saint than maestro, sampling from cultural traditions across the spectrum, recasting, remaking, and retelling.
   
   Through King's words -- often plagiarized, borrowed, or written by others, then spoken in his inimitable voice and made his own -- Rieder's academic study and close reading becomes compelling. Rieder has a keen ear for language, bringing out the subtle nuances in the maestro's recombined rhetoric in beautiful prose of his own. "Righteous performance" in the book's title captures the extent to which King's inspired prophecy was carefully calibrated; his themes and voices often reflected the audience; and he was always keenly aware of his desired effect.
   
   The one thing missing from the book is the voice of King himself, the instrument that animates the pages. As Rieder points out, absent his voice the words themselves can be uneven, as in King's published work, which was invariably heavily edited for white audiences. King's genius was in speaking to audiences across racial lines, connecting with each within their own tradition, and then analogizing that with the African-American struggle with civil rights. King did this with audiences from Southern Afro-Baptist congregations to Reform Jews, from white liberal Protestants to the AFL-CIO, bringing his audiences into his fold by the power of his charisma.
   
   He was able to reach all these disparate listeners in part because he himself contained multitudes: his love of opera, weighty theological discussions, and language were no less authentic than his love of soul food, his bawdy sense of humor, or his deep belief in the redemptive power of a Christ who loved all humanity regardless of race.
   
   (Full disclosure: Jonathan Rieder is an old friend.)



2. This book is very informative. In this time where sounds bites seems to define who we are, this book takes a deep look into Dr. King's complete "personhood". A must read for those who want to understand Dr. King complete ministry.

5 comments about Rolling Away the Stone: Mary Baker Eddy's Challenge to Materialism (Religion in North America).

1. Very few books make me want to read to the end. This one did. Someone could actually use this to deepen and widen their faith of God as taught
   through Christian Science. I could return to book and reread it. As Mrs. Eddy said to understand her was to understand Christian Science. So I
   highly recommend this work. This is not light reading it more like a textbook. But I like that if its well done. Deep thinkers well enjoy this
   read.



2. For those who remember Stephen's articles for the Christian Science periodicals, this is classic Gottschalk. In other words, it is highly detailed, well researched, well thought out, and tends to be much more theologically based than the writings that come out of the Publishing Society. He also has a marked tendency to drift from his focus on occasion, and to get side-tracked onto peripheral lines of thought. In general, a candid and thorough look at the later years of a remarkable life. More analytical and less folksy, this book belongs alongside the biography by Gillian Gill - as both a supplement to it, and as an effective insider's look from someone who truly understands Christian Science theology perhaps even better than many at The Mother Church.



3. Stephen Gottchalk's writing is articulate and illuminating. A fascinating book which I could hardly put down. Very inspiring and enlighening at times. He thoroughly understood his subject and brings forth his vast and detailed understanding to the reader in a way that is easy to comprehend. It clears up fallacies and inaccuracies . It is an important book for sincere readers.



4. Steve Gottschalk has done another thorough job of research into the life and times of Mary Baker Eddy. His careful analysis is greatly appreciated.



5. This book is for people looking for the meaning of life, a meaning to be found only in the search for God. It explains the quest of Mary Baker Eddy, Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science at the end of the 20th century, a new Christian denomination, but also a way of thinking and living. Very scholarly, very interesting for people who feel concerned by "the new paradigm".Rolling Away the Stone: Mary Baker Eddy's Challenge to Materialism (Religion in North America)

5 comments about Finding Home: An Imperfect Path to Faith and Family.

1. Finding a Home (literally and figuratively) for Jim Daly was not an easy task. Jim was the youngest of five children. His parents had met at Alcoholic Anonymous and alcoholism became an ongoing theme for the couple, particularly for Jim's father. Realizing that she had to choose between her children and her own issues, Jim's mom left his father and fled with the children. She had to work several jobs at a time just to make ends meet.
   
   Then tragedy struck. Jim's mom got sick. None of the kids really understood what was going on until cancer took her life. At this point, in their step-father abandoned them and left them to fend for themselves. Finding a place to live was difficult enough but the real trouble was finding a home.
   
   Finding Home is a wonderful read. The author's purpose for writing the book is to share his life lessons with the reader. In this, he provides a very open and honest story. He has been extremely careful to show his life in a balanced way: the good times and the bad times, his mistakes and his misjudgements, and the many times when grace stepped in. Extremely inspirational.



2. Jim Daly's early years read like the start of a sort of horror story that gets worse and worse a time goes on. If you have struggled with anything and become discouraged, get this book and see what faith can do for you (as it did for Jim Daly).



3. This was an excellent book. The author shares so much of his own personal life - much of which was heartbreaking. But he also shares how he was able to rise above his past to become the man God wanted him to be. This book will give you hope that you, too, can rise above your own past and have a fulfilling, life of purpose.
   It was definitely worth reading. I'm putting a copy in my church library to share it with others.



4. Jim Daly and Bob DeMoss have combined their gifts to produce an excellent book for married couples and parents. Well-written and positive, the book constantly points us to enduring values --- and thus away from the stress and strain that so often sidetrack us.
   
   How do you see past the daily grind? The answer is a change of focus: Daly shows us what we ought to be thinking about, looking at, and considering as we raise children, manage a career, and forge a family.
   
   A great wedding gift --- helps new couples think about these issues on a pre-need basis. An excellent anniversary present --- shows couples how to unite around common goals and common ground.
   
   Well-written, encouraging and always realistic. A hope-filled book that lights your pathway to the family God wants you to be!
   
   Dr. David & Lisa Frisbie
   The Center for Marriage & Family Studies
   Authors of: Raising Great Kids on Your Own: A Guide and Companion for Every Single Parent



5. Jim Daly's book is not just inspirational. It's important because it is real. It is as real as the chipped linoleum floor of a crummy kitchen in a lousy apartment building. And that's about as good as his future looks. How he overcomes betrayals, heart aches, deaths, and a slew of disappointments is amazing.
   
   It is THE amazing grace in the end that sends this story into a realm that couldn't just happen without some divine help.
   
   Focus on the Family is lucky to have this guy. He's the real deal. He's the genuine article, not fake, not flattering, not unfamiliar with real struggle. He knows how important a family is because he didn't have it.
   
   This would be a great movie; uplifting and meaningful...something movies have not been in a long time....and it's so gritty even Focus on the Family could not handle it.
   
   This book took courage and bravery to write. Read it because it will impart these traits to you.

5 comments about Light Force: A Stirring Account of the Church Caught in the Middle East Crossfire.

1. In a recent conference, Brother Andrew said that terrorists are not born but made. He adds that they become terrorists because no one cares for their souls. Light Force is a book that prompts its readers to be concerned about the souls of terrorists. It also wants its readers to be involved in the struggles of their brothers and sisters in the Lebanese and Palestinian churches.
   
   Light Force is a fair book that is not marked by any mindless emotionalism. Instead, it reflects a strong commitment to Christ, to supporting God's people in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, to loving both Arabs and Jews, and to evangelizing Muslims.
   
   In four parts, the book introduces a world marked by horror, violence, and death. We see this world through the eyes of Brother Andrew who travels throughout Lebanon and the Palestinian territories seeking to encourage the churches in these dangerous areas. As he travels, he meets courageous evangelical men and women who love God wholeheartedly and serve Him in the midst of very depressing circumstances. This could be the unique contribution of this book for it unpacks before its readers the stories and struggles of many faithful Lebanese and Palestinian evangelicals who are committed to following Jesus Christ. Through their lives and struggles, the reader considers the dwindling numbers of Christians in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, and the escalating influence of Muslim fundamentalists.
   
   Most of the book deals with the Palestinian Evangelical church and its context. It focuses on the contributions of Bethlehem Bible College, the Palestinian Bible Society, the Jerusalem Alliance Church, Musalaha, and the Baptist Church in Gaza. Brother Andrew meets with the leaders of these ministries. He encourages them and inspires them to be faithful in the midst of trouble. He also listens to their needs and through "Open Doors" partners with them in prayer and financially.
   
   Last, the book presents a unique Christian perspective concerning Muslim fundamentalists. On the one hand, they are not mindless, nameless, or faceless terrorists. Instead, they are hospitable friends and hurting people. On the other hand, the authors emphasize that they don't condone any terrorist actions. Their words and actions lift up Christ without demonizing or dehumanizing Muslim fundamentalists. They see that doing the former properly demands a deep and sincere love for all Muslims. Such love seeks to visit these Muslims, hear their anguish, and respectfully present the living Christ to them.
   
   By the time, the reader finishes this book, he or she will be informed, inspired, and prompted to be involved in remembering their brothers and sisters in the Middle East, in reflecting on their eschatological/theological positions in light of the Middle Eastern church, and in responding with love to Muslims, Jews, and Christians in the Middle East.
   
   Yohanna Katanacho
   PhD Candidate @Trinity International University



2. In our newspapers, we tend to read a great deal about the Jewish people and the Muslim people--but what about the 15 million Christians who are caught in the crossfire of the Middle East? It's a story the media doesn't often explain. Brother Andrew with the excellent writing of Al Janssen tells a riveting story of the Middle Eastern Church. The faces become more than names but memorable people whose stories will burn into your hearts and minds.
   
   I was very moved to read this paragraph in the book, "The Church was the only hope for the Middle East, not because she had a better program or more political insight. She didn't. What she had was a way to bring people from both sides together based on the work of one Man whose birth two thousand years ago would be celebrated in a few days. His light still shone through believers here in the Holy Land. Many didn't understand the light. Many covered their eyes and refused to acknowledge the light. Others attacked the light and tried to put it out. But surely there are those who realized the bankruptcy of a peace process that had brought no peace for fifty years. For those who were willing, they could see the answer--Palestinians and Jews meeting at the foot of the cross." (p. 313)
   
   I highly recommend Light Force. It is excellent.



3. Light Force is a real eye-opener, presenting the plight of Christians caught in the crosshairs of the Middle East battle. Christians are right to support Israel--obeying God's command to "bless them." At the same time, we should not ignore our brothers and sisters in Palestine who are often lumped in with the worst of the terrorists and jihadists.
   
   Kudos to Brother Andrew for having the courage to share Christ with Hamas leaders and other dangerous men. He's right when he says that this is the only way to change the world.
   
   Fortunately, for Christians, we have hope. Jesus is our only hope for peace and stability in this world.
   
   I would encourage American believers to read Light Force, if only to help them realize that not all Palestinians are terrorists. In fact, most aren't. Most just want to live their lives as we do.
   
   God bless Brother Andrew for his life and work.



4. I bought Light Force because I enjoyed another book about Brother Andrew called God's Smuggler. Light Force chronicles the middle east climate through the eyes of Brother Andrew, Palestinian Christians and Israeli Christians, and Muslims, from not long after Israel became a nation through 2004.
   
   This book opens my eyes to the suffering of others based upon race and religion in a captivating way and offers readers an interesting story as well as a fresh perspective on the mideast crises.
   
   I couldn't put the book down.



5. If you have not read any of Brother Andrew's books, start here then proceed w/ the rest. Very insightful. He exhibits a view of the Middle East through Christian eyes that everyone should read. It does not matter if you're Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Christian, Black, White, Red, Purple; reading this will change your heart. Brother Andrew grasps hold of the human soul and exposes what GOD's Children are experiencing in one of the most chaotic places on EARTH!

5 comments about Wounded Prophet: A Portrait of Henri J.M. Nouwen.

1. This book seems to heave a big, weary sigh of regret that Nouwen failed, in some way, to benefit from his own giftedness. I would caution the biographer (and those who read this otherwise worthwhile selection) that Nouwen's ability to survive as long as he did, fighting to love, to write, to share, and to be loved--all while maintaining his vows--is proof that his message worked something akin the miraculous in his own life. Other souls with as much innate neediness and wounding as Henri could have easily gravitated into a world of hatred, cynicism, drug-use, alcoholism, promiscuity, and eventual suicide. I've seen it happen many times. We've ALL seen this scenario played out before us in millions of tragic lives. The sheer fact that Henri remained in the realm of the living, and accomplished genuine sharing and love despite his deep wounding, is stunning proof that his God have him good advice, that Henri took this advice, and that its power kept him primarily in a world of Light... against excruciating emotional odds. The glass may look half-empty, but sometimes it's merely half-full, friends. As to the question of whether or not Nouwen was gay, I don't think it matters one bit. What DOES matter is that Nouwen himself never felt the need to make a public, worldwide pronouncement about such an orientation, nor publicly debate how such an orientation may have affected his writing...one way or the other. In light of THAT reality, persons of true integrity might wish to maintain a similarly appropriate silence on that subject, at least in Henri Nouwen's personal regard. This work is yet another prime example of how impossible it is for any biographer to truly get inside the essence and soul of any subject--no matter how penetrating their research or how noble their intentions. That said, the author gives us an otherwise good pass at Henri's life and a look at some of the things that probably made him tick. But steer clear of judging the ultimate state of souls, no matter what the exterior, Michael Ford--especially those as complex as Nouwen's. THAT kind of biography can only be written by God.



2. This book seems to heave a big, weary sigh of regret that Nouwen failed, in some way, to benefit from his own giftedness. I would caution the biographer (and those who read this otherwise worthwhile selection) that Nouwen's ability to survive as long as he did, fighting to love, to write, to share, and to be loved--all while maintaining his vows--is proof that his message worked something akin the miraculous in his own life. Other souls with as much innate neediness and wounding as Henri could have easily gravitated into a world of hatred, cynicism, drug-use, alcoholism, promiscuity, and eventual suicide. I've seen it happen many times. We've ALL seen this scenario played out before us in millions of tragic lives. The sheer fact that Henri remained in the realm of the living, and accomplished genuine sharing and love despite his deep wounding, is stunning proof that his God gave him good advice, that Henri took this advice, and that its power kept him primarily in a world of Light... against excruciating emotional odds. The glass may look half-empty, but sometimes it's merely half-full, friends. As to the question of whether or not Nouwen was gay, I don't think it matters one bit. What DOES matter is that Nouwen himself never felt the need to make a public, worldwide pronouncement about such an orientation, nor publicly debate how such an orientation may have affected his writing...one way or the other. In light of THAT reality, persons of true integrity might wish to maintain a similarly appropriate silence on that subject, at least in Henri Nouwen's personal regard. This work is yet another prime example of how impossible it is for any biographer to truly get inside the essence and soul of any subject--no matter how penetrating their research or how noble their intentions. That said, the author gives us an otherwise good pass at Henri's life and a look at some of the things that probably made him tick. But steer clear of judging the ultimate state of souls, no matter what the exterior, Michael Ford--especially those as complex as Nouwen's. THAT kind of biography can only be written by God.



3. Ford's book about Henri was one of the most honest and open books about one of our great spritual leaders and author. I have read many of Henri's books and they have all been very life changing. They have a greater meaning now that I have a deeper understanding about the man who wrote them. As I sat down and began to read this book, I could not put it down. I read it in two evenings. I felt as if I knew Henri personally, and I even wept when I came across the chapter about his death and funeral. It was so hard to read even knowing that he had passed some time ago. I felt so sad because of Henri's struggle to know God's love intimatly and in its fullness. He truly knew how to show love but struggled with receiving it. I'm sure that this book may be too open about Henri's life and struggles, and some people may have a hard time with that. But I felt that by knowing Henri's weakness and struggles, that the messages he wrote about in his books became even more powerfull to me. Knowing that just like me, Henri is just a failable human being searching for the love, intimacy, and acceptance that we all are looking for. He knew that the path and the direction to receiveing God's fullness was through Jesus. His passion and love in following Christ at all cost to him personaly is something that we can all work on. Henri Nowen was truly given a great biography by Michael Ford who had the integrity to be honest and forthcoming in his book. Henri shall be a dear friend to me now because of this wonderful book and I hope all who have a chance to read this would make that wonderful investment in your own life. You will be moved and inspired as you read. This is a must read for all.



4. I've found much inspiration from Nouwen's spiritual writings and was hesitant to read his biography, because I didn't want to separate the singer from his songs. Michael Ford did just that; he exposed the humanness of a writer that I thought to be exclusively spiritual. Ford paints a sensitive and colorful portrait of Henri Nouwen. He neither condems his frenetic, unsettling character nor canonizes the personality of an intensely gifted spiritual writer.The biography is a well-written account of a life of conflict that evokes admiration, humour, sympathy, annoyance, and irritation. Ford performs a wonderful balancing act offsetting the faults and flecks with abundant virtues.

   Nouwen's personal conflicts are revealed with such spiritual intensity that would have gained approval from The Wounded Prophet. Ford describes his dependence on others for love, recognition, even praise; his restlessness and inability to remain focused, except when writing; his tumultuous anxieties, which eventually led to severe depression; and the perpetual questioning of his sexuality. Ford has introduced me to someone whose company I would not enjoy; loud and animated, always distracted, unable to make a pot of coffee or launder his own shirts. But I also met a man whose life of unbounded love and compassion exceeded anything he wote.

   Michael Ford has written a truly spiritual book about a truly spiritual person.




5. Michael Ford does not consider his book on Henri Nouwen a biography as much as a portrait, and I believe he is correct in saying his book is the latter. While it does contain biographical information, it accomplishes far more than that. We get to know Nouwen from his writings, from interviews with colleagues and friends, and from his public speeches. We discover a man of great faith, dedicated to helping others find God in their lives. We also meet a gifted writer and a man of both intelligence and talent. We meet a man who loved others deeply but did not always feel loved. We also meet a man who was authentic. He never wrote at people, but for people, and often had to learn the lessons he was trying to impart. We do not meet a perfect man, but one who had struggles and difficulties throughout his life. He knew what it meant to be loved by God, what was required of one who followed Christ, but never claimed perfection.
   
   Ford's book is an excellent introduction to Nouwen, and will no doubt inspire those who have never read Nouwen's works to do so. It will also be of benefit to those studying Nouwen's writings. Ford does not paint a rosy picture of the man. He writes honestly about his faults and struggles. The only criticism of the book could be he tries to hard to defend Nouwen, who really needs no one to defend him. His writings and witness to faith are all the defense he needs. Still, this can be excused since it is also evident that Ford has great love and respect for the man.