5 comments about Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together.

1. On the surface, it is the old South meeting the modern North, the Rich meeting the Poor, but ultimately it is God's creation meeting Him at the Throne of Grace.
   You will not have a dry eye by the end of the book and it will change your life.



2. This book was the selection for book club - probably wouldn't have picked to myself. It makes a great dicussion (even has thought-provoking questions as the end) It is a true story - very inspiring and rather sad in parts. It is a story of forgiveness and faith.



3. It's a bit jarring to have two different narrators telling their stories, and Denver Moore's story is especially painful at first (when he's treated virtually as a slave in modern America), but this is a poignant book with strong and positive themes. I recommend it to anyone. Stories like this really give flesh to the Christian message of faith and charity.



4. Does anyone see a resemblance to The Soloist?
   
   I'm so bored with this book that I won't even bother looking up which book came first. Same premise: haughty self-centered rich white guy feels guilty for having money, befriends a black homeless guy for the wrong reasons at first, but learns to love the man in the end.
   
   And can anyone speak the truth about this book?
   
   The homeless man says all the profound stuff, turns out to be more worldly and wise than the rich man. The woman is an almost fictional Super Woman, who dreams about the homeless man and the great things he will one day do and forces her husband to befriend him. From then on, the rich man learns many life lessons and becomes a better person. Then the book turns into an easy tear-jerker.
   
   I read this on my Kindle and when I read the reviews, found that most gave the highest rating. But then I realized that many of the reviewers were mostly friends, family and members of the same church as the Halls.
   
   While I appreciate the family's tragic story and wish nothing but healing, strength and great faith to the Halls, I don't think it makes a very original book. I'm tired of making sure all the white rich people feel guilty. Can we move on to the next trend?



5. This was a beautiful story. What made it such a wonderful story is the truth that both men brought to the table in telling their stories. Both men experienced much tragedy, pain and disappointment in their lives. Yet Ron "turned the corner" and became "successful" while Denver's life turned for the worse. Denver was the furthest thing from what Ron would have considered a confidant and friend, yet in Ron's and his family's time of need, Denver was an unswerving source of support and strength. This book's message is to be open to everyone and assume nothing about anyone -- you never know where your next "blessing" will come from. And don't judge another until you have walked in his or her shoes, or, at least, until you have gotten to know that person -- and I mean really know them -- and understand where they have come from and what they've experienced.
   
   It was hard to put the book down, especially when these guys are pouring out their hearts for the reading public in such an honest and authentic way. This book has changed the way I view race, socioeconomic class, and judgmentalism.
   
   Regardless of your religion or denominational affiliation, this book is a must read for anyone who is a believer in faith, hope, the beauty of friendship, and the necessity of relationships (including the accountability they bring).

5 comments about The Love Dare.

1. I sought The Love Dare out of my personal need and desire to improve my marriage. As an Episcopal priest I had fallen into the obvious trap of meeting everyone's needs ahead of my wife's and family's. I promised to love, honor and keep her and was failing to do that properly. I found the book's counsel to be superb and it opened my eyes to my shortcomings and set me on what I feel is the right path to the true joy and love we should have in the covenant of marriage.
   
   Further, I feel this book's lessons on love are easily adaptable to any and every relationship we have. If we truly believe we are to Love God and our neighbor as ourselves, then that love will be patient and kind. It will never be boastful, arrogant or rude. It will hope all things, expect all things and endure all things.
   
   It is a Christian book and I am a Christian. With that confession, the book helped me to more fully understand the way the Lord wants me to love, as Christ loves me. Not just in spite of my faults, but undertsanding that love is often the means of correcting and healing those same faults and the wounds they cause.
   
   Powerful stuff! I commend it fully, and I regularly offer it to anyone who is struggling in their marriage.



2. I bought this book to use, not on my spouse, but on my class of kindergarten students. The daily discussions on aspects of love are applicable to many relationships. The dares need a little modification for my purpose, but so far they have all been relevant enough. I needed the Love Dare to turn over a new leaf and start being more positive, patient, and loving in my classroom in concrete ways. The Love Dare has helped me to see how I was the problem in my relationship with my students. Doing the dare has changed my attitude toward my students. I have a renewed desire to serve them and nurture them. I highly recommend persevering in the Love Dare.



3. How often do you find yourself having the same argument or what feels like the same disagreement with your significant other and you wonder why do we always end up here? Reading this book helped me to realize that in order to see change you have to be the change in your relationship. You've got to admit to yourself that you aren't perfect and that you aren't always right. Sometimes being a loving husband or wife means that you must make compromises even if it's difficult. Loving someone means loving all of them, warts and all which is how God loves all of His children. You begin to realize reading this book and performing the dares that it is hard work loving someone unconditionally and you begin to see how often you look for shortcomings and things to irritate you that your loved one does and how easy it is to overlook all the good and wonderful things they bring to the table. I recommend this book to couples who need help but also for couples who want to become closer and who want to learn to love the complete person. I can't say enough about the insight this book has given me into my own thoughts and actions and how they affect the daily interactions I have with my loved one. It has opened my eyes and with God's strength I hope to continue to use the principles and messages from the book to keep a positive, loving atmosphere for our relationship to grow in.



4. Hands down this is one of the best books I've read. I received one from my church, waited several months until my wife "forgot" about it. And then she got love dared. When I began the dare I thought it was just going to be 40 days of gimicky stuff to make my wife smile every now and then. After all I didn't have a marriage that was on the rocks. But, it is so much more. This isn't just some "improve your marraige in 40 steps program". It challenges YOU to do things for yourself. It challenges YOU to re-connect (or improve your connection) with God.
   So if you've read this far; you're probably wondering, "if I received this book how am I writing a review". Because I believe in The Love Dare so strongly I bought the book for two people who I felt needed it. And I'll keep buying more!



5. If you are truly ready to work on making your marriage better, this is a great book. However, you'd better be serious about it! There is a daily challenge and they are not always easy!

3 comments about The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life.

1. This book outlines the basic tenets of Ignatian spirituality and applies it to the different paths that a person can take spiritually. Fr. Martin does an excellent job of making spirituality more practical and available to everyone, not just those who are fortunate enough to know a Jesuit. If you're confused about spirituality and religion and everything in between, this book is an easy-to-read primer for how to incorporate your spirituality in daily life and how to find God in all things. I especially like the part about SBNR (Spiritual but not religious).



2. Fr. Martin has provided a wonderful guide for ordinary people who desire a deeper relationship with God. He provides a practical framework for people searching for more and delivers it in an immensely readable, never preachy, often funny way. I thank Fr. Martin for first teaching me that Saints were ordinary people (My Life With The Saints) and now for showing me how ordinary people can become Saints. (The Jesuit Guide).



3. If you are looking for a companion to take along on your spiritual journey, you couldn't pick a better one than Fr. James Martin, S.J. His new book is a marvel. It is clear and concise about all those troubling questions you always wanted to ask about God and finding God. It offers a map (thoughtfully provided by St. Ignatius of Loyola and built on by Fr. James) for seeing God in your life and putting into practice this wisdom. This includes simplifying your life, confronting the nature of suffering, how Ignatian spirituality helps with making decisions, how to become the person you were created to be, and more. I especially liked the part on role of desire--our hearts' deepest longings--and how they bring us closer to God. Add in Fr. James's flashes of incisive humor as well as various accounts from his personal journey, and you have a fine book.
   If I had one word to apply to this book (I considered "inspiring," "educating," "enlightening," and "transforming") it would be clarity. We are in great need of a clear thinker as we ponder together the nature of our humanity and who we are called to be while alive on this earth.

5 comments about America's Prophet: Moses and the American Story.

1. I haven't finished reading the book yet, but I'm really enjoying it.
   I've found out a lot about the Liberty Bell, some of the historic buildings, and the
   Underground Railroad, to name a few. It's a good read and is well researched,



2. Bruce Feiler is a fine, readable writer, and there are plenty of enjoyable snippets of history that you'll find in his book. His recounting of the Underground Railroad and his following a bit of the trail personally was a highlight. The flaw here is that his central thesis doesn't seem to hold a whole lot of weight. Feiler seems to practically bend over backwards to certify the high importance of Moses in American history. Sure, Moses' influence is important, but so are a myriad of other historical and fictional characters. I could make just as strong a case that Mickey Mouse or John Locke have served as the lynchpin of Americana. Revisionist history is fine when you have plenty of logical evidence to try ans support your these, but I just didn't feel that Feiler's thesis held up to scrutiny. Still, there are many fine parts of this book if you'd like to read up on some random bits of American history that sort of/kind of tie in with Moses.



3. This book is very unique. It's thought provoking and timely content is inspirations, evocative, and fascinating, told in great easy to understand details that is very satifying.



4. America's Prophet runs from the beginning of the American nation to the early 21st Century. In it, Bruce Feiler outlines how the first five books of the Bible have exerted a profound influence on the cultural and social tableau of the United States. From the earliest Europeans who saw themselves as contemporary parallels to the Jews fleeing from Egypt to the modern assignation of "savior" status to Barack Obama, he demonstrates clearly that for a Christian nation, the American people have drawn heavily upon Jewish iconography in the search for both a personal identity and a national credo.
   
   A compelling and enlightening review of one of the principle driving forces behind both the founding of the United States and the eternal need the American people feel to continually reinvent themselves.



5. This is a fascinating book about the influence of Moses on American life since the nation was founded. The story about the initially hesitant leader who confronted Pharaoh and lead the Israelites from bondage is thousands of years old, yet people are still compelled by it and use it to help them make sense of the world and proclaim the righteousness of their causes.
   
   People all over the world identify with the story of Moses, but Americans in particular have laid a claim on Moses' legacy and have invoked his name through crucial moments in American history. Feiler makes the point that in the absence of actual Jews, the first American settlers could see themselves as Israelites because they too were fleeing a pharaoh (England) and they felt that only divine intervention could have lead them to this new land.
   
   Bruce Feiler explores how Moses and his story have resonated with Americans from the Pilgrims, to the founding fathers, immigrants and African Americans both in slavery and during the civil rights movement. Prior to reading this book I had no idea that American icons like the Liberty Bell, Statue of Liberty and even Superman draw upon the story of this figure from the old testament.
   
   Moses was so important to the founders that Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson proposed putting the Hebrew lawgiver on the American seal. George Washington was called an American Moses for how he lead the fledgling nation through wars and civil strife. And although the founders may have seen England as Egypt and the settlers as the Israelites, the slaves who were so cruelly oppressed early on in our history more likely saw America as Egypt.
   
   Feiler makes the case that Moses has had more sustained influence over American life than any other philosopher or religious figure including Jesus. That point may be controversial, but it's definitely plausible given the depth of the author's research. I enjoyed this book and found it to be a relatively easy read though it's a bit slow in the beginning.

5 comments about The Secret.

1. This book is very inspirational. I like to think of the universe that it refers to as God, and I feel it is very biblically oriented. I loved it so much that I sent it to all my daughters.



2. The Secret
   Do you want to lose weight? Have a great love life? Be successful in your job? Get rick quickly? According to Rhonda Byrne, we can all have everything we want, by living the rules of life, given to us in her novel ¬The Secret. The Secret was written in 2006, and has become a worldwide phenomenon. With Oprah as a supporter and testimony giver of the realness of the secret, people all over the world are reading, and trying to learn how they too, can have all the things they have ever wanted in life.
   In her book, Byrne focuses on teaching the reader about the power of the mind. She explains that with constant positive thought, we can steer our lives in the direction that we want them to go. She believes and teaches that humans are eternal energies, constantly emitting and attracting energy, whether it is good or bad. The book teaches the reader that by focusing on only the good things in our lives, and the good around us, we will only attract good. She explains that thinking bad thoughts about others or about situations does nothing to hurt others, but it in turn, attracts negative energy towards us. Through the power of thought, Byrne attests "There isn't a single thing that you cannot do with this knowledge. . . . The Secret can give you whatever you want" (p. 11).
   The Secret gives many examples of how living this way of thinking has helped many people throughout history. Byrnes herself came across the secret to life, when she was having a hard time in her life. She began practicing positive thought, and began willing good things her way. After many instances of her positive thoughts coming true, she began to write down her experiences. These written experiences have transcended into the phenomenon that is "The Secret."
   This book has been very helpful to me in my life. Not only in attaining the things I want to attain within my family and my business, but also to help me live a happier life. With the help of this book, I have learned to become more "Zen" and less stressed out in daily life. This in turn has helped me to become a better father and husband.
   Don't get me wrong, I did not agree with everything Byrne teaches in the Secret. From a religious standpoint, I find some of what she writes to be very blasphemous and sacrilegious. She claims that we should thank ourselves daily for our lives, where I feel we should thank our Father in Heaven for our lives. On page 164, Byrne states "You are God in a physical body. You are Spirit in the flesh. You are Eternal Life expressing itself as You. You are a cosmic being. You are all power. You are all wisdom. You are all intelligence. You are perfection. You are magnificence. You are the creator, and you are creating the creation of You on this planet." I struggled with some of the contradictions to my beliefs that were listed in this book, but was able to change the wording in my head, to fit my own beliefs as I read it.
   Despite the contradictions to my religious beliefs, I feel that there is something to be said for positive thinking. The Secret, if followed closely, and practiced, truly can change your life. I have become a better family member, a better business owner, and a better friend, because of the secret. I would recommend reading this book to learn how you can have money, friends, and success, when and how you want it.



3. I love that the book was in great condition and the price i paid was a steal! thanks!



4. I saw the movie and wanted to give the book as a gift. It was very much appreciated. "A good read" I am told. I recommend this book to anyone who would like to make changes in their life.



5. God is a pinata. Naive optimism is the broom stick. This book (less than $20) removes your blindfold, so you can get candy, cars and supermodel dates to fall from heaven (ahem...I mean...the "universe"). Tell that to the teenager dying of stage IV cancer, the mom whose child is strung out on dope, and the guy whose job just got out-sourced to India. You have to be dumber than driftwood to believe any of this junk, let alone to pay $15 to have Rhonda prey upon your wishes for a better life. The sequel should be "Psst...You're REALLY Dumb for Buying More Snake Oil". Ask Rhonda how much $$$ from her millions in book sales she donates to charity? After all, the 'universe' stands ready to re-fill her bank account. Right???

5 comments about Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (And Why We Don't Know About Them).

1. "Jesus, Interrupted" covers not only the various contradictions in the Bible (and I should add that they aren't really "hidden" in the sense that suggests a conspiracy theory, they are simply "hidden" in the sense that most everyday people are not aware of them, though they are plain as day if you actually read the Bible) but also discusses who scholars believe wrote the various books of the New Testament (mostly *not* the names now associated with them), as well as investigates what we can actually know about the historical Jesus, if modern Christianity is even anything like what Jesus really preached, and how certain aspects of Christianity were created in the early centuries. Simply put, it covers a lot more ground than simply naming the various contradictions of the Bible. These contradictions are mainly in one early chapter, and the rest of the book discusses other related issues such as what I named above.
   
   The book is eye-opening for two reasons: 1) it's amazing how much of the Bible is contradictory or flat-out wrong, and 2) it's even more amazing that normal people just don't know any of this stuff. But that's where I feel like Ehrman didn't deliver on the subtitle (which, for all I know, the publisher may have stuck on later). There is really no discussion of *why* we don't know these things. In fact, Ehrman basically says "your guess is as good as mine" when it comes to why these things aren't taught to people. At the end of the book he offers a few reasons why we may not know these things, such as pastors choosing not to tell their congregation for fear the congregation would lose its faith, but these are simply guesses and are not a real discussion. I don't mind this, but the parenthetical subtitle creates an expectation that is not delivered on.
   
   But if you are interested in the topic of how the four Gospels differ from one another (he also discusses Acts and the Epistles), why they do, and what those differences mean, as well as the topic of what Jesus really preached versus what the early Christians decided to accept as orthodox beliefs, then I highly recommend this book.



2. While much of the material within this book is known by many, many folks, it is herein presented by Bart D. Ehrman in a very entertaining, edifying, and at times eye-popping style. The basic premise: the Bible came to us and was writ by man, not God. There are too many discrepancies and cross-currents of thoughts to believe that its every word is from the Almighty. The story of Jesus as told in the four Gospels in the New Testament is shown to be contradictory in a number of places and the truth of the historical Jesus and his ministry and mission has been turned and twisted to suit the needs of various factions of the early Christians. As I've said, although covered in other similar books, this one is cleanly written and moves along at a mostly compelling pace. I say "mostly compelling" because the Professor has a tendency to get repetitive at several points in the text to hammer home key points made at earlier places within the book. He may have to do so with his university students, but not with the readers of his book.
   
   Other than some overkill with certain points, I have one major problem with this work, however, and that is Professor's Ehrman's total lack of mention of the Shroud of Turin which is, in fact, an artifact that is far from being conclusively proven a hoax. One need only read Ian Wilson's several books on the topic or Mark Antonacci's superb and exhaustively, exemplararily detailed THE RESURRECTION OF THE SHROUD to realize that the artifact may, indeed, be the actual burial shroud of Jesus - and may even also offer some clues as to the Resurrection being an actual, historic event. (One theory being that as Jesus was brought back to life, some sort of radioactive burst may have been resposible for the scorched image on the cloth. Contrary to those who dismiss the mysterious Turin shroud, it is not a painting.) Most likely, Professor Ehrman discounts this relic as a hoax; however, he should still have addressed it in some manner since he says the resurrection - being an alleged miracle - is therefore beyond the range of the strict historian. (Historians should also speculate. What, for instance, may have truly happened to Saul on the road to Damascus to change him so drastically into Paul?) Also not addressed in these pages are the reality or mythology of the fates of the original Apostles of Jesus. Were they, in fact, martyred or mythologized by later-day writers whose works became part of the New Testament.)
   
   One other small point: on page 261 of the book under discussion, the good Professor has trouble conceiving a disembodied afterlife wherein one might recognize one's grandparents. He says that to be able to do so would "require a body." I disagree. I am visited by departed relatives in my dreams quite often. My body is asleep. The dream-world is a spiritual-cerebral phenomenon. Also, Ehrman - ever the strictest of historians, always walking the narrowest of proveable lines - discounts several scientific studies of the Near Death Experience which may, in fact, offer us a glimpse of a postmortem existence. Out-of-Body Experiences are also well-documented - and offer the conclusion that one need not have a physical body to maintain awareness or recognition.
   
   Anyway, for what it is, the book is very readable, very eye-opening and highly recommended. This is the first book I have ever read by this author - and looking at the list of several of his other works makes me wonder on his potential redundancy in covering much of the same ground. However, not having read anything else by the Professor, this one held my interest and will most likely hold yours if you are open-minded to the "reality" of Christian origins and Biblical history.



3. If you are the kind of 'Christian' who assumes that you can not possibly be "wrong" about your religious beliefs, then do not touch this book.
   
   If you are the kind of person who can make black be white, or water dry, then do not touch this book.
   
   Many people have expressed opinions that Eharman "does not adequately understand" or "misinterprets" or ignores "obvious explanations."
   
   But almost all the objections I read are quite typical of people stretching the limits of fact and reason to total incrudility to make sure their "religious beliefs" or their specific interpretations do not face any possible opposition. And many of the objections are wrong as to fact.
   
   It greatly disturbs me that the level of education in this country is so abominable. And further, that people go to such great lengths to ignore factual information to "maintain" the skewed "truth" that they "know." The scariest three words I ever hear is "God says so." And too often this kind of intellectual reversal of cause and effect, and "the Bible says so" therefore averything else is false, is all too often perpetuated by religious leaders leading their flocks into ignorant self-serving religion and preconceived erroneous "truth."
   
   BUT IF you truly want to try to understand the Bible within its true historic context -- trying your best to hold no preconceived ideas -- then this book is a very good start at examining the very basis of the Christian religion.
   
   IF you are a questioning Christian, and truly wish to understand the Bible then this is a very good start.
   
   IF you wish to be able to separate your "faith' from your "religion" then this book is a very good start.
   
   There ARE serious contradictions in the Bible. Both as to fact and to theology. (If you insist otherwise, then please this book will be useless. You will still be one of those who can make any fact "go away").
   
   However IF you are seriously trying to come to a TRULY MATURE faith, this kind of information about the Bible is ESSENTIAL.
   
   I absolutely find EHRMAN easy to read, clear in his thinking, and usually right on. (I disagree with a few of his conclusions, but this is only to be expected).
   
   And I am still a Christian. But definitely a better Christian for understanding the true relevance of what is written in the Bible.



4. Along with Marcus Borg, John Crossan, William Funk, and Stephan Petterson - to name a few - Bart Ehrman is introducing the historical critical approach to the gospel narratives that main line seminaries have been teaching for years. Ehrmann erudition on the history ancient-world and textual analysis is some of the best modern scholarship on the subject in print today.
   
   The author highlights what those trained in a historical critical methodology discover: the gospel narratives are rife with contradictory information. These contradictions are easily discernable simply by reading the narratives horizontally rather than vertically. Furthermore, the author discusses the disingenuous way the gospel narratives have been presented in churches often stifling the truth so to offer a homogenous picture of myth and legend rather than historical analysis of the texts.
   
   Ehrman also notes that the gospels have been used to reinforce the mythic underpinnings of organized religion fearful of authentic challenges to their hegemony. In this model the devotional aspects are emphasized to the determent of historic methods that downplayed. This dishonesty has been perpetuated until a group of scholars launched what has been referred to as the quest for the historic Jesus. Albert Schweitzer was one of the first scholars to look at the historic evidence and was quickly followed by a handful of German scholars. In our contemporary moment, the quest is now acknowledged as being in its Third Quest phase most notably advanced by the Jesus Seminar.
   
   Underscoring a modern plethora of scholarship and publication on historic research along with non canonical sources now being published and made available to a wider audience, is the undisputable fact that early Christianity was much more diverse than has been previously taught in the modern church.
   
   The primary sources discovered in Nag Hamadi (along with the discovery of other non canonical sources in Upper Egypt) of numerous other Gnostic texts, underlies the early church controversies of a political process to weed out non canonical sources. No amount of religious zeal, fundamentalism, or rigid authoritarianism can undermine the historic record of the primary sources now coming to light in our contemporary moment. Another interesting assertion the author makes is a general and growing consensus among biblical scholars is that those letters attributed to Paul are most likely forgeries included in the canon by early church fathers: those who did not have the benefit of the tools of modern scholarship to discern authentic authorship of the texts. The discussion on these proxy texts, forgeries and the agendas they served in the ancient world is worth the price of admission.
   
   Ehrman's chapters on Who Wrote the Bible, along with the Chapter on How We Got the Bible is particularly insightful and powerful, nor without too many holes in his analysis.
   
   This book is really a tour de force in modern historical scholarship that is convincing and meaningful for any person of faith. This book may place into question the specifics of faith, but it certainly does not undermine the teachings of Jewish peasant who walked the dusty roads of Galilee in the ancient world at a time of great social transformations. The teachings of Jesus of Nazareth are more likely to provoke authentic social praxis within given the devotional underpinnings and its foundations are now crumbling.
   
   This scholarship underscores a more existential call to action that empowers faith rather than leaving it personally impotent.



5. Loved this book. An excellent source from highly creditable author. Would recommend to anyone believer or non believer seeking the truth about biblical readings.

5 comments about So Long, Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us.

1. I am reading this book along with blogging on the Living Proof Ministries (Beth's site) and have found the book very insightful. I never have considered myself insecure, but have found by reading this book that my insecurities are covered by my control issues. I would suggest this book to anyone.



2. Next to scripture, this book should be a requirement in every home. even if you have absolutely no problem with security, the woman standing next to you likely does. Entertaining, simply spoken and couched in The Word. Well done, Beth Moore.



3. Being insecure about one's life does no one any favors. "So Long, Insecurity" is a motivational guide from Beth Moore urging women to rise up and shake off their insecurities. The advocated goal is to gain more control over one's life instead of wreaking havoc upon it. With a healthy dose of inspirational faith, "So Long, Insecurity" is a strongly recommended read for Christian women who want to stop feeling bad about themselves and live their lives.



4. There is something in this book for every woman. My 16 year old daughter and I are reading it together and it is strengthening our relationship with each other and with God. Opens your eyes to why we do some of the things we do, and helps you to end the destructive cycle of insecurity.



5. Everyone should read this book! How long have we suffered with insecurity when we don't have to? This is the gift I will be giving everyone this year.

5 comments about Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God.

1. Francis Chan tells it like it is in this book. He gets down to the nitty-gritty of the Crazy Love of the Father God for you & me, whether we know it, choose it or not.
   I am reading this book with a small group of like-minded Christian friends. We ordered the accompanying study-DVD, however, that has not arrived and we're onto the third chapter. We are quite certain our experience with the Crazy Love book will be enhanced by its use, once it gets here.
   To get anything from this book, you need to believe in God the Father, Jesus the Son & the Holy Spirit. You also need to believe that the Bible is the truth of God.



2. The chapter on lukewarm Christians is worth the cost of the book. Extremely convicting.



3. My initial reaction to Francis Chan's Crazy Love
   
   First of all, "Crazy Love" is a terrible and misleading title for this book. It is not about love (until, maybe, chapter 10, but by that point it is too late; too much damage has already been done). It is certainly NOT about God's love for us mortals.
   
   When a friend asked me about the book, this was my initial response:
   
   "I was hoping for a good read, but all I've seen so far (a bit more than halfway through) is an angry God. It's as if the title [Crazy Love] means, "'You are so stupid and such a failure and so incredibly lame, it is crazy that God, who is disgusted by you and beat up Jesus because of it, would love such a low-life as yourself.'"
   
   Here is another picture of my reaction to the book: The following are summary statements and reflections I made of each chapter. I wrote them down immediately after reading each- I was honestly summarizing and reflecting upon what I took from that part of the book:
   
   Chapter 1:
   Summary: "God is crazy awesome, stand in awe and fear of him."
   Reflection: "MISSING: the words `God is love.' This should have been first in his list of God's attributes, but that idea was missing altogether - instead God seems a bit angry."
   
   Chapter 2:
   Summary: "You might die soon, is your life a waste?"
   Reflection: "Didn't really like this chapter. It seems manipulative - wrong somehow. Excitement for life, not the imminence of death, should be our motivator. It seemed shallow to me."
   
   Chapter 3:
   Summary: "God loves you even though you're a stupid sinner."
   Reflection: "Again, don't like this chapter. It's OK, but weak. Not compelling. Still with the angry punishing God. Still will the `I deserve death and hell' junk."
   
   Chapter 4:
   Summary: "You suck at really following Jesus."
   Reflection: "He once more (again!) seems harsh. It occurred to me that Shane Claiborne frames the same kinds of things in a way I find compelling. Shane tells stories of living fully committed lives - this book just badgers me. This book makes me feel attacked; Shane [in Irresistible Revolution] makes me feel inspired and convicted and reflective of my life."
   
   Chapter 5:
   Summary: "You make God sick because you aren't good enough (you don't do good enough things)."
   Reflection: "More of the same: I make God angry. I make God sick. I make God disgusted."
   
   Chapter 6:
   Summary: "You need God's help to stop making him so angry and to stop being a pathetic failure."
   Reflection: "This is a small correction to the rest of the book so far. We do need the help of God in order to live fully committed lives."
   
   Chapter 7:
   Summary: "If you are not extremely generous, God will be extremely displeased with you (and you'll probably burn in Hell forever)."
   Reflection: "Ok, two in a row that are less bad - but still guilt-filled and `angry God' stuff abounds along with a `this life doesn't much matter' problem" (That last point, by the way, is a problem with Gnosticism creeping into the Church - it shows up when we disparage this world, the earth, matter in general, and think only "heaven" is any good... but that's a longer and different topic.)
   
   Chapter 8:
   Summary: "Being obsessed with God will/should change everything about your life."
   Reflection: "By far, the least bad chapter so far. Pages 132-3 are very good, in fact. But still contains the `angry God disgusting human' bit. Also, almost Gnostic in the way it focused on `heaven' rather than this earth/life."
   
   Chapter 9:
   Summary: "If they can do it, so can you; great stories of real people living for God."
   Reflection: "Finally something compelling - not shame/anger/guilt based..."
   
   Chapter 10:
   Summary: "Figure out what God is asking of you and do it!"
   Reflection: "This is more of what I expected from the book - but it is too little too late."
   
   The book, in general, feels like old-school hell-fire and brimstone preaching: "Point 1: God is bigger than you, Point 2: You are a stupid sinner, you make God angry, and you deserve death, Point 3: luckily for you, God might forgive your sorry self, but you better live right because, like I said in point 2, you are really rotten and deserve to suffer and die." That, as it turns out, is the basic outline of Crazy Love. I suppose if I were used to Puritan preaching (with famous sermon titles like "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"), I might not have been so bothered. But I was (and I still am). Perhaps it is my visceral reaction against hell-fire and brimstone preaching that causes me to dislike the book so much.
   
   Needless to say, I was unimpressed and disappointed with most of Crazy Love. It was NOT what I expected. I thought I'd be reading a book about God's wonderful, unfailing, increasable, CRAZY love for people. What I got was a book about how completely horrible I am and that God is very angry with me and it is crazy that he would love such a punk. But, despite my initial (and prevailing) thoughts, there was some good in the book, and to that good, I now turn.
   
   The better parts of Crazy Love
   
   The best part of the whole book is, without a doubt, chapter 9 and the second best part is chapter 10. Chapter 8 was also mostly good, and chapter 1 has some great things to say.
   
   Chapter 9: This chapter contains a number of true stories, stories of people who lived (or are living) their lives in complete surrender to God. The stories inspire, they contain beauty, and they demonstrate the wonderful variety of ways people might give their lives fully to Christ.
   
   Chapter 10: This is the second-best chapter. It does a descent job of communicating the fact that each of us will have our own story to live, our own calling to follow, our own choices to make. We should not try to live someone else's life, but our own. And that when one lives a life of love, it changes everything. Chapter 9 and 10 were more of what I expected. (Too bad they are only 20% of the book and come at the very end!)
   
   Chapter 8 is where the book stopped being so horrible. Page 132 contains a quote from Frederick Buechner. The encouragement to love even your enemies and even when love doesn't seem safe were very well done. However, the chapter was still not great, overall. For example, the chapter contains this lovely phrase, "[God] knows what we are, that we are disgusting..." That, unfortunately, (as I read it) summarizes the major thrust of Chan's theology and anthropology (that is to say, the way he views God and the way he views people): God hates me, I disgust God.
   
   Chapter 1: The best part of this chapter is the reminder to notice to whom we pray. God is wonderful, huge, creative. God has made an intricate, delicate, breathtaking world in which we live. We should remember this before we pray; stand in awe of the creator. But, again, there were some problems with this chapter. Chan overemphasizes fearing God, that God is about punishment, that Jesus was beat up and killed because God is so upset with me, etc.
   
   So What?
   
   I, personally, would never recommend this book to anyone. It seems that Chan is trying to shake up lazy Christians. That is a good thing. We need to be honest about our lives. Too many of us are caught up in materialism, safety, etc. Too many of us don't really listen to God, don't really follow Jesus, etc. Too many of us, to many churches, are asleep, and we need to wake up. But Chan's approach (and much of his underlying theology) I find offensive, shallow, antiquated, an not at all compelling.
   
   Instead of this book, I'd suggest two in its place: Shane Claiborne'sThe Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical (which, ironically, is recommended by Chan himself in Chapter 9) and Mark Labberton's The Dangerous Act of Worship: Living God's Call to Justice. Both of these superior books aim at similar thing as Crazy Love: to wake up a sleeping church. But Claiborne and Labberton both do it in much better, much more compelling ways.
   
   And for a book that communicates, in a powerful way, the crazy love that God has for us mortals, I highly recommend The Shack (Special Hardcover Edition) by William P. Young. It does a wonderful job of painting a picture of God as he truly is: Love.
   
   Allow me to end with this, my own words to you: God is crazy in love with you. You make him happy, just because you are you. God sings wonderful songs because of and to you. He weeps with you when you cry, he laughs with you when you laugh, he enjoys watching you smile (even if your mouth is mis-formed or your teeth are missing). God thinks your eyes are beautiful (even if you're blind) and that your skin is one of the best things ever (even if you are horribly scarred). God desires you. He not only loves you, he really, deeply, truly, and with no strings attached, LIKES you! You see, God IS love - it is his very nature. And you, you are the Beloved of God. You are the object of his affection. Allow that crazy love that God has for you to fill you up and empower everything there is about you. May you, filled with the love of God, become more fully human, more fully you. May you, motivated by the mind-blowing love of God, love other people and all of God's creation in the same way. May you see other humans, not as objects of God's wrath, but as objects of Gods unfailing love. And see yourself in the same light: you, despite whatever shortcomings, failings, or horrific things there are in your life, you are loved by the creator of the universe - God likes you and wants you. You are loved.



4. This book is a really good book. The author exhibits his gift of communicating with clarity and simplicity, while maintaining good content. Crazy Love is a very enjoyable book and it flows very nicely.



5. so many Christians see God as either this massive creator of the universe or as their buddy...few take the time to put together and examine the infinite love that God has for us that blows our perceptions of him out of the park. Francis Chan challenges both new and old believers to examine themselves and open their eyes to this "crazy love" that the God of our universe has for us.

5 comments about The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts.

1. Buyer beware. I thought I was ordering just one copy but was charged for 4. Didn't realize until I received them in the mail.



2. I borrowed this book from a friend, and then bought two copies to pass on, one for a wedding gift, and one for a struggling couple.
   This book is for those who have had failed relationships in the past, are struggling in a current relationship, or just looking to get closer to your spouse. The book is very helpful in recognizing what is important to each spouse and how to give each spouse what they need to feel loved. There is a quiz at the end that prioritizes the five love languages for each spouse. It is helpful to recognize which expressions of love will be most valuable to each spouse. One may prefer actual gifts, expressions of affection, or a simple act like making up the bed. It is really simple, but an eye opener to understand which forms of affection are most valued. My husband and I get along in general, and when we took the quiz we realized we are aligned on most of the 5 languages. Probably the "secret" to our success. I think it would be even more valuable for those struggling with love, because the book also contains exercises to try for a week, and then re-evaluate your relationship. Helpful book for growing closer. Each love language is fully described in a chapter in the book. It seems like common sense, but sometimes you just don't understand what the other person needs, and this book will help you "get it."



3. This book was recommended to me by a counselor. I/we ( my husband and I) found it to be enlightening. We passed it on to others who also enjoyed the book. Glad I purchased it!



4. It came in good shape and on time and it was priced nicely. No complaints from this customer.



5. I enjoyed Gary Chapman's reading of his book, his voice brought the words alive. I had no problem staying interested or understanding the message of the book. I spend a lot of time in my car and as I listened to "The Five Love Languages" I easily started to recognize where I had not been speaking love to my husband nor was I realizing his efforts to speak love to me. I also learned how this applies to all our relationships children, family, friends, etc. I have listened to Gary Chapman's "The Five Love Languages" several times not being bored at all. I would diffidently and have recommended this audio book to others along with telling them it is all so available in print which ever they prefer just get it, I assure you you will start looking at life from a different perspective. Cyndi A., Snohomish WA

5 comments about Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices.

1. This book shares a very interesting and captivating story about the last 30 years of the Israeli/Palestinian conflicts, the experiences of two separate religious worldviews, and the undercover operations or two radically different systems of government. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the Arab/Israeli conflicts or Muslim theology vs. Christian theology.
   
   I have read the few negative reviews of this book and find them unquestionably tainted by the reader's preconceived notions of the history discussed in this book or possibly even by the reader's prejudice against one or the other of the parties represented. They hurl accusations at the author which are unfounded because he simply would have nothing to gain by making all of this up. As anyone who reads the book will see, the Mosab Yousef's life may actually be in greater danger now after having shared this story. And his relationship to his family is certainly strained now as a result of his decision to follow the Jesus Christ of the Bible.
   
   So forget the few reviews, read the many reviews, and dive into this intriguing, factual, previously unknown history of the "Son of Hamas".



2. "Son of Hamas" has its truths, however, it is not entirely true, which makes it that much more insidious. Like a titillating supermarket tabloid it promises to satisfy itching ears, in this case the itching ears of Christians who want another reason to hate and demonize Islam. However, in reality "Son of Hamas" is little more than political spin, and in a conflict already characterized by hateful, politicized rhetoric, this will only add fuel to the fire.
   
   Christians should be wary of the economic and political motivations behind such writing. Men like Joel Rosenberg, John Hagee, Jerry Falwell, and now Mosab Hasan Yousef play on popular fears and stereotypes, and twist scripture to support political agendas.
   
   For those who want a more nuanced understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I would recommend a book like "The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy."



3. As an Israeli who suffered greatly from the conflict, and lost friends because of Hamas and fought fiercely against them. I wanted to create a positive change. Instead of revenge, I have the desire to help both societies to reconcile. Hamas and others add great obstacles and this author TOO!! He increases the deep enmity between Israelis, Palestinians, and the Arab world. The narrative is interesting and complying but this author want a kind of final war between the God of Islam and God of Christianity. It seems that he go against all Muslims who disagree with his new belief in God. ( he now practice Christianity) Watch his interview with Christiane Amanpour at [...]
   After this interview i did not finish the book...i do not want to help people who masked humanity with hatred.
   
   Among the people who suffer the most in both societies, feelings of passion and hate are not going to be easily broken. In addition, repeated exposure to violence over the years, coupled with stereotyping and skewed perspectives has overwhelmed the voice of reason.
   
   Yet, this author try to project homogeneous enemy entity while manipulating the mind of many people. Clearly Hamas lie and manipulate its own people and often kill for no reason. It is a terrorist group. No question!! Yet it is not all Muslims.
   
   Television and newspapers as well as this author often present Muslims in such general way that the viewers or readers, think that Muslims and in particular Arabs, are terrorists, although Arabs represent only 20% of the Muslims population in the world.
   
   The perception gap among Israelis and Palestinians and for this mater between West and the Arab world--particularly between Islam and the West--is obvious. One needs to bear in mind that soon, a third of the world's population is going to be Muslim. It is extremely important to understand this topic and find ways to increase multiculturalism and tolerance. There is no single remedy for this, but there are a few options. This book is not one of the remedies...
   
   The author hatred to Islam is obvious and he contributed to a representation of Islam as fanatical and incompatible with civilized western values. This kind of generalization applied only to Muslims, since crimes by other religious people were not put in the context of their religion, but in the context of their citizenship!! Islamophobia
   According to BBC just a few days ago "An influential Muslim scholar has issued a global ruling against terrorism and suicide bombing.
   Dr Tahir ul-Qadri, from Pakistan, says his 600-page judgement, known as a fatwa, completely dismantles al-Qaeda's violent ideology."
   In a statement, Dr. al-Zawahiru, one of the leaders of Al-Qaeda, said, "We are in a battle, and more than half of this battle is taking place in the battlefield of the media."
   This author does a great service to Al-Qaeda because he goes against all Muslims. There are terrorists but there are millions more who are kind loving human beings who happened to practice Islam.
   
   There is no doubt in my mind that religions and cultures do try to depart from their patterns of conflict as they face extremists' ideologies among their people. While there is some realization that cooperation between cultures and pluralistic societies is the way to go, there is also bigotry and intolerance among large sections in many societies. This is indeed intolerance. On the other hand, there are various unofficial dialogues taking place around the world as well as between Israelis and Palestinians. However, Muslims who understand and appreciate the West often feel alienated and perceive Western images of them as unjust and biased and this author just push for war.
   
   The social fabric of relationships among both societies is torn apart by decades and generations of hatred. Building new perceptions cannot happen overnight. This requires careful planning to create the mechanisms by which Israelis and Palestinians can meet and work together, but it is the only effective tool for neutralizing radicalization. People need a place to express the trauma of loss and grief, and both societies need to begin to see the human on the other side. Only then can the peace process avoid manipulation by leaders at the extreme ends of the political spectrum.
   
   We need people to speak out louder for peace among ourselves and to our leaders while striving to do so without violence and destruction but rather with love and understanding.
   Here is another example:
   An Open Letter and Call from Muslim Religious Leaders to:
   A Common Word between Us and You
   "Muslims and Christians together make up well over half of the world's population. Without peace and justice between these two religious communities, there can be no meaningful peace in the world. The future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and Christians.
   The basis for this peace and understanding already exists. It is part of the very foundational principles of both faiths: love of the One God, and love of the neighbour. These principles are found over and over again in the sacred texts of Islam and Christianity. The Unity of God, the necessity of love for Him, and the necessity of love of the neighbour is thus the common ground between Islam and Christianity. The following are only a few examples:
   Of God's Unity, God says in the Holy Qur'an: Say: He is God, the One! / God, the Self- Sufficient Besought of all! (Al-Ikhlas, 112:1-2). Of the necessity of love for God, God says in the Holy Qur'an: So invoke the Name of thy Lord and devote thyself to Him with a complete devotion (Al-Muzzammil, 73:8). Of the necessity of love for the neighbour, the Prophet Muhammad r said: "None of you has faith until you love for your neighbour what you love for yourself."
   In the New Testament, Jesus Christ u said: `Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. / And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. / And the second, like it, is this: `You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31)
   
   In the Holy Qur'an, God Most High enjoins Muslims to issue the following call to Christians (and Jews--the People of the Scripture):
   Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to a common word between us and you: that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside God. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him). (Aal `Imran 3:64)
   The words: we shall ascribe no partner unto Him relate to the Unity of God, and the words: worship none but God, relate to being totally devoted to God. Hence they all relate to the First and Greatest Commandment. According to one of the oldest and most authoritative commentaries on the Holy Qur'an the words: that none of us shall take others for lords beside God, mean `that none of us should obey the other in disobedience
   2to what God has commanded'. This relates to the Second Commandment because justice and freedom of religion are a crucial part of love of the neighbor.
   Thus in obedience to the Holy Qur'an, we as Muslims invite Christians to come together with us on the basis of what is common to us, which is also what is most essential to our faith and practice: the Two Commandments of love."



4. I was reading "son of hamas" on my way from the U.S to Israel. The book is very interesting - giving a unique insight of the way Palestinians live today in the West Bank. Reading the book I tried to put my self as an Israeli in Mosab's shoes as a Palestinian, Muslim and an enemy of Israel. No doubted he did a very brave, challenging and moral decision becoming an informer of Israeli Shin-Bet. I know for sure that the places, events and details given by Mosab (which I personally know) are very accurate.
   He gave me a rare chance to see how my enemy looks like and thinks like. He gave me the understanding that on the other side the enemy loves and hates, and in general - on two sides there are people who want to live their lives.
   I thank Mosab for the opportunity to love my enemy as a Jew.
   This book is a "must read" book for anyone who wants to understand something about the brutal and bleeding region called The Middle East!!!!!!



5. While 8-year boys in other parts of the world played with toy cars, Mosab threw rocks at Israeli vehicles. By the time he was 18, he was filled with adult-sized anger and revenge, and was armed with military-style weapons. "My father had never taught me to hate (Israel), but I didn't know how not to feel this way," says Mosab Yousef, son of one of the founders of Hamas. (p. 63) He was arrested, imprisoned, beaten and tortured, all while trying to finish high school.
   
   This honest book will grip the reader's heart and stir the spirit. Mosab writes from a unique perspective: his double-agent involvement with both Islamic terrorists and Israeli spies. The information about the Middle East conflict is current, intriguing, and sometimes terrifying. He writes to stir the reader's spirit to compassion for the oppressed Palestinians and Jews. He candidly shares his spiritual journey of how God drew him--a terrorist--to humbly accept Christ as Lord and Savior.
   
   As the oldest son, he had a special relationship with his father and held an important role in the family. When his father was carted off to prison, he willingly stepped into the paternal role in the family. For years, he financially supported his mother and helped raise his younger siblings.
   
   Upon his father's release from prison, Mosab became his body guard, personal assistant, confidant, student, and friend. He was responsible for his father's life--still a high-ranking Hamas leader--and they shared a close and mutually respectful relationship. To Mosab, his father impersonated the side of Islam that reflects humility, love and mercy. No one imagined the tie between this father and son could ever break. Until Mosab met Jesus Christ.
   
   "The old hatred that had driven me to buy guns and to plot the deaths of Israelis was being displaced by a love I didn't understand." (p. 204) Mosab writes further, "As is the case with many followers of Jesus, my public declaration of faith broke the hearts of my mother and father, brothers, sisters, and friends." (p. 243)
   
   On the eve of the release of this book, Mosab received word that his father and entire family disowned him. Mosab could not have penned a more poignant closing sentence to this book: "I love you. You will always be my father." (p. 246)
   
   This is a story of a young man's conflict and terror, and his courage to choose freedom. "Having a loving relationship with a God who would help me love others is not only the source of my freedom but also the key to my new life." (p. 249) What a testimony of the tenacity of God's love and the power of His Word!