5 comments about The Twelve Steps for Christians.

1. For that matter, the whole blame game is a bait-and-switch stunt. They will start off by telling you that it isn't your fault, alcoholism is not a moral stigma because it's a disease and you are powerless over it.
   
   " I was a sick person. I was suffering from an actual disease that had a name and symptoms like diabetes or cancer or TB -- and a disease was respectable, not a moral stigma!"
   The Big Book, Marty Mann, Women Suffer Too, 3rd Edition page 227 and 4th Edition page 205.
   But after you have joined Alcoholics Anonymous and become a committed member, then they will tell you that you are guilty and personally responsible for everything.
   
   The First Step showed me that I was powerless over alcohol and anything else that threatened my sobriety or muddled my thinking. Alcohol was only a symptom of much deeper problems of dishonesty and denial.
   Listening to the Wind, A.A. Grapevine, December 2001, page 34.
   It's all just a mind game designed to get you to surrender to the cult.
   
   Wilson was serially unfaithful to his wife Lois. Wilson 's affairs with women caused controversy and concern within AA and it was common knowledge in New York AA circles. His interest in younger women increased with his age, and caused Barry Leach and other friends of Wilson to form a "Founders Watch". People were assigned to keep an eye on Wilson during the socializing that followed AA functions and to separate and steer away those young women who caught Wilson's interest. Wilson, like many in his generation, could be sexist, but he was also "capable of treating the women who worked with him with dignity and respect". In the mid 1950s he began an affair with Helen Wyn, a woman 22 years his junior, "in duration, intensity and scope" this was different from his other affairs. Wilson at one point discussed divorcing Lois to marry Helen. Wilson with determined perseverance was able to overcome the AA trustees objections, and renegotiated his royalty agreements with them in 1963, which allowed him to include Helen Wynn in his estate. He left 10% of his book royalties to Helen and the other 90% to his wife Lois. In 1968 with Wilson's illness making it harder for them to spend time together, Helen bought a house in Ireland.
   
   Alternative cures and spiritualism
   In the 1950s Wilson experimented with LSD in medically supervised experiments with Gerard Heard and Aldous Huxley. With Wilson's invitation his wife Lois, Father Dowling, and Nell Wing also participated in experimentation of this drug. Later Wilson wrote to Carl Jung, praising the results and recommending it as validation of Jung's spiritual experience. (The letter was not in fact sent as Jung had died.)
   
   At a parapsychology meeting in the 1960s, Wilson met Abram Hoffer and learned about the potential mood-stabilizing effects of niacin. Wilson was impressed with experiments indicating that alcoholics who were given niacin had a better sobriety rate, and he began to see niacin "as completing the third leg in the stool, the physical to complement the spiritual and emotional." Wilson also believed that niacin had given him relief from depression, and he promoted the vitamin within the AA community and with the National Institute of Mental Health as a treatment for schizophrenia. However, Wilson created a major furor in AA because he used the AA office and letterhead in his promotion.
   
   For Wilson, spiritualism (communicating with the spirits of the dead) was a life-long interest. One of his letters to his spiritual adviser Father Ed Dowling suggests that while Wilson was working on his book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions he felt that spirits were helping him, in particular a 15th century monk named Boniface.[18] Wilson believed that the living could communicate with the dead and kept a "Spook Room" in his basement, where he along and others would conduct seances with a Ouijiboard, as well as experiment with automatic writing. Despite his conviction that he had evidence for the reality of the spiritual world, Wilson chose not to share this with AA.
   The Harvard Mental Health Letter, from The Harvard Medical School, stated quite plainly:
   
   
   On their own
   There is a high rate of recovery among alcoholics and addicts, treated and untreated. According to one estimate, heroin addicts break the habit in an average of 11 years. Another estimate is that at least 50% of alcoholics eventually free themselves although only 10% are ever treated. One recent study found that 80% of all alcoholics who recover for a year or more do so on their own, some after being unsuccessfully treated. When a group of these self-treated alcoholics was interviewed, 57% said they simply decided that alcohol was bad for them. Twenty-nine percent said health problems, frightening experiences, accidents, or blackouts persuaded them to quit. Others used such phrases as "Things were building up" or "I was sick and tired of it." Support from a husband or wife was important in sustaining the resolution.
   Treatment of Drug Abuse and Addiction -- Part III, The Harvard Mental Health Letter, Volume 12, Number 4, October 1995, page 3.
   (See Aug. (Part I), Sept. (Part II), Oct. 1995 (Part III).)
   So much for the sayings that
   "Everybody needs a support group."
   and
   "Nobody can do it alone."
   Most people do.
   
   And note that the Harvard Medical School says that the support of a good spouse is more important than that of a 12-Step group. But A.A. says just the opposite:
   "Dump your spouse and marry the A.A. group, because A.A. is The Only Way."



2. I was very pleased that the book was written by a group that remained anonymous and that they kept very focused on maintaining the integrity of the original 12-Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. This is not a Christianizing of the Steps. Rather it is the 12-Steps standing on their own, but cross validating the fundamental truths that are found in both Christianity and the 12-Steps. After all, the 10 Commandments and the 12-Steps have the same author. And that author is not Moses or Bill W. but a higher power God, that can free us from all of our various forms of self-will run riot.



3. A balanced, helpful guide to 12 step work. Best used in a group setting. I find the fourth step is particularly well written; it provides a good framework for the inventory. The group guidelines keep the discussion focused on personal recovery. A great way to implement Biblical principles in the daily life of the believer.



4. The book is an invaluable tool in the work I do. I recommend it to anyone who is struggling with any kind of addiction. This book was written by several men and women who did not want credit for it but that God would get all the credit. The profits from the book go to other ministries not a person for gain.



5. The Twelve Steps for Christians provides a study for alcoholics, addicts, etc. who KNOW WHO their GOD is. We have created a recovery group using this book that brings believers together in CHRIST for their recovery. The scriptures and CHRIST HIMSELF are the ROCK upon which we follow the 12 steps and change lives. It has been a welcomed ministry for our church and a blessing for the christian who needs to attend 12 step meetings,...keep their eyes upon JESUS and what HIS GRACE and MERCY have done for them, ...and practice becoming a truly new creature IN CHRIST.

5 comments about Jerry Falwell: His Life and Legacy.

1. Falwell was a vile bigot. This book is a cheap attempt to whitewash his true history as a racist con man who bliked the eldery and the stupid to build grand palaces for himself. It is also very poorly written.



2. The book explores the life and times of a man who boldly stood for truth. The last review by Jason shows who is the real bigot. Was Jerry Falwell perfect? The answer would be no. But anyone who knew him personally can see through the hyperbole that the "liberal left" spreads in the name of being "moderate". All I know is that if you are in the middle you get ran over from both ways! I believe that you can learn who the real man was over how he was portrayed. After all, Jesus was accused of being the devil by the people of his time. I think people will enjoy this book or his autobiography entitled Falwell.



3. I bought the book because I herd so much haltered from the media I wanted to know why.
   
   I now know why. Jerry Falwell devoted his life to one thing, to telling everyone he could about the love and salvation of Jesus
   
   He did it well, and he did it with no hidden motive. This is impossible to understand if you don't know Jesus. They tried everything to make him mad, to find him out, to uncover his weakness and he just kept smiling and telling them about the love of Jesus. There was nothing to uncover, he said he cheated no one, and he didn't, he said he hated sin but loved the sinner, and he did love them. He said he cared about people and when they checked carefully it turned out that he cared about people. That made them mad.
   
   Praise God
   
   Frank



4. I am from Lynchburg,Virginia therefore I am very familiar with Jerry Falwell and TRBC. I think the book portrayed Jerry just as he is and I am very proud to be from Lynchburg because of Jerry! I was glad that Mrs. Falwell set the record straight on alot of things and I hope people will remember the good things he did during his life time. I had to reach for the tissue box when he was offering the waitress a scholarship but that was Jerry through and through. I purchased another copy of the book for my dad for Father's Day and I have passed my copy on to my sister and neice. I hope everyone enjoys it!



5. I was lucky enough to attend and graduate from Liberty University. In the years since I've graduated I've gotten used to the need to be prepared for all reactions when I tell people I was one of "Jerry's Kids". The opinions are rarely middle of the road..either love him or hate him. I can say I loved him..He was a great role model to students, he seemed to be a great father and husband and he was exactly as Mrs. Falwell presented him in her book. It was great to hear her side of the story after all these years. The book was excellently written and once I started it, I couldn't put it down. I appreciated hearing all of their stories from their life, and the excerpts from folks who knew him well only added to the book. Whether or not he agreed with a person, he always showed a love for them...perfect example is Larry Flynt. I count it a privilege to have been able to see how God can use someone when they are completely willing to serve Him. Jerry and Liberty truly instilled in me the knowledge that anything is possible with God. I would recommend this book to anyone who thinks that the Jerry Falwell presented in the media is the only side of him there was. There was much more to him than that, just as there is with all of us.

4 comments about Lo mejor de ti (Become a Better You): Siete pasos hacia la grandeza interior.

1. I have not read the book yet, planning to return it. It was the Spanish version, bought as a Christmas gift. It is NOT in giftable condition. The bottom edge of the book arrived all tattered (as if the machine in the print shop had torn it up) I can't believe Amazon would send me a NEW book that was in such bad condition.



2. La forma que describe cada uno de los 7 pasos, es excelente. La forma como plantea cada una de las situaciones reales y los ejemplos que se deben seguir en cada uno de los aspectos de la vida, es muy bueno.



3. Joel change my way to think about LOVE, GOOD and LIVE... I can see a better future of my life and I learn how to keep GOOD in my heart... Great JOB JOEL THANKS!



4. I signed up fot the Amazon Prime Free Trial and this book came with the two covers damaged. It was pretty bad, because I wanted the book for my husband. That is why I did not renewed the suscription.
   On the other hand, the book it self is great and I recommend it to everyone who belive in God and all the blessings that He wants to give to us.
   Ana Villalobos

5 comments about Depression: A Stubborn Darkness--Light for the Path (VantagePoint Books).

1. Dr. Ed Welch has taken some "hits" even from within his own "camp" for this thoroughly balanced and biblical approach to understanding, facing, and dealing with depression. Welch is neither "gaga" over medical diagnoses nor "knee-jerk" reacting against the possibility of medical causes for some depression. In this, he follows in the train of the Church Fathers, the Reformers, and the Puritans who all recognized and even suggested the possibility of physical/medical causes for depression.
   
   Welch writes with a rare combination of compassion and challenge, buttressed by his spiritual theology of suffering--a sufferology. This is perhaps the greatest contribution of the book.
   
   Readers looking for a thought-provoking approach to depression that addresses spiritual, relational, rational, volitional, emotional, and physical issues, will not be disappointed by "Depression: A Stubborn Darkness--Light for the Path."
   
   Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," "Biblical Psychology," "Martin Luther's Pastoral Counseling," and "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."



2. Ed Welch is so talented in writing so that all readers, whether expert or novice, can relate and understand what he's talking about. I read so that I could better understand the struggles of a loved one going through depression and it greatly deepened my understanding and ignited my compassion. Highly recommended for anyone suffering from depression or loving someone who does.



3. Ed Welch has been gifted by God to write in a humble yet powerful manner that grips the minds and consciences of those who read his works. His books including "Depression" challenge our thinking and actions with the authority of Scripture and at the same time he points out the great hope and encouragement that we have from the same Scriptures. He writes in a simple yet profound manner that does not draw attention to himself but directs the readers' attention where it should be: on God.
   
   This is an excellent resource not only for those who struggle with "depression" but all people who go through difficulty and suffering in life. I guess that includes all of us.



4. Insightful. Short chapters make it ideal for small group/support group use. Catalyst for discussion.



5. "When you are depressed, how can you take a step, let alone a journey? When all vital energy is devoted to staying alive and just making it to the next hour, how can you add anything else - like hope - to your day?" So begins this wise and compassionate book by Ed Welch. Whether you are a someone who struggles with depression yourself, or someone who desires to help those who do, Depression: A Stubborn Darkness will prove an informed and biblically-faithful resource.
   
   The book is divided into an introduction and four parts.
   
   Introduction. The first three chapters are introductory and begin with an empathetic note, describing "How Depression Feels" (chapter two) with a number of actual statements from those who have experienced depression. This chapter will help give understanding to someone who has never personally battled with severe depression. "Definitions and Causes" are described in chapter three, which differentiates between "situational depression" (less severe) and "clinical depression" (more severe), along with lists of possible symptoms for each.
   
   Part One: Depression is Suffering. The seven chapters making up part one are Godward and hopeful, reminding us that depression is a form of suffering out which we can cry out to God for comfort and purpose. Welch doesn't try to make depression look less painful than it is. He faces it head-on. But neither does he let the lying voices of depression claim the day. Instead, he points the reader to God and Scripture (especially the Psalms), with gentle and hopeful reminders of God's love and sovereignty.
   
   Part Two: Listen to Depression. Part two is especially helpful as the various contributing causes of depression are explored. These include other people, "Adam," Satan (chapter eleven), and culture (chapter twelve). Chapter thirteen gets to "The Heart of Depression" showing that depression is a result not simply of the "outside events" that "come at us," but also our "internal believes and interpretations . . . that come out of us" (p. 123). To deal with depression we must learn to address the "spiritual allegiances" of our hearts" which give rise to imaginations, desires, motives, thoughts, feelings, and actions. "The curious path to true life" says Welch, "is to grow in both the knowledge of God's love and your own sin" (p. 131). Chapter fourteen continues with "The Heart Unveiled," with following chapters exploring other causes of and collaborators with depression such as fear, anger, dashed hopes, failure and shame, guilt and legalism, and death. With each of these, the author walks the reader through the fog of confused feelings onto the sure-footed path of biblical truth about sin and grace.
   
   Part Three: Other Help and Advice. In part three, Welch discusses medical treatments (chapter twenty-one) and gives helpful advice for the families and friends of those who are suffering from depression (chapter twenty-two). "To help a depressed person, you don't need expert knowledge. You do need an awareness of your own spiritual neediness, a growing knowledge of Jesus, and an eagerness to learn from others, including the person you would like to help" (p. 224). A particularly great chapter follows called "What Has Helped." It contains helpful insights from counselees about what first helped them begin to change, along with some specific strategies to try. The goal of the chapter is not to give an endless to-do list, but rather to "prime the pump" by giving ideas and strategies that have actually been helpful for depressed people. Chapter twenty-four is another honest, yet hopeful, look at "What to Expect" as one continues to battle against depression.
   
   Part Four: Hope and Joy: Thinking God's Thoughts. The book finishes with two chapters on Humility and Hope (chapter twenty-five) and Thankfulness and Joy (chapter twenty-six). Potential readers should not feel daunted by the twenty-six chapters; each chapter is short and Ed Welch is an engaging writer with an easy prose. It is obvious that Welch has done his research, but the book isn't cluttered by clinical language. More than anything, reading this book feels like getting good advice from an kind and caring friend. As a pastor who sometimes struggles with discouragement and sometimes counsels those with more severe forms of depression, I found this a grace-filled book, loaded with hope and wisdom. I highly recommend it.

5 comments about The Five Love Languages Gift Edition: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate.

1. The concept that love is a choice we make has been batted back and forth for many years. I remember the first time I heard that, in The Road Less Travelled, and it made sense. But what about chemistry? Some would argue that love is an indefinable connection between two people, and that it cannot be manufactured. Regardless of whichever philosphy you subscribe to, this book can be quite helpful in giving suggestions on enriching a marriage or a close relationship. It reminds me of the book How to Make a Man Fall in Love with You. You have to learn his love language, that is, is he a feelings person, an audio person or is he visual. Then you speak to him in that language. All of this is good, but it seems to me like it's a lot of hard work. If you want to find out how to truly make your spouse or significant other happy, try The Sensuous Couple's (Flip Over) Guide to Seismic Oral Sex. One side tells you how to give the best fellatio your partner has ever had. Then, flip the book over and it tells you how to give your partner the best cunnilingus possible. Don't tell me that won't drastically improve a relationship! Buy it with this book, and you'll be hitting the relationship lotto.



2. This book has been a great help in understanding my children's love languages and just people in general around me. I use it at work and with friends. It is a great help!



3. My husband and I both read this book in attempts to possibly understand each other better and to have a more "fairy-tale like" relationship. My hope was to read the mens edition and have it make more sense than the emotional ramblings of womens self-help books.
   
   This wasn't any better, the emotional concepts were just written out differently and in lengthy detail as if feelings were a foreign concept to men and that all women rely on emotions as their sole means of communication. It was almost like reading an idiots guide to not being offensive to women. Not every woman is the same, and not all men are the same. There are more than 5 types of people, so five general love languages probably helps some of that group but not all.
   
   The concept of a "love language" is nice but at the end of the day its not really that strange of a concept to imagine your mate probably has specific desires and needs that should be met. This book might be helpful if you luck out and your partner just happens to be among the 5 listed or even a combination of them.



4. I was introduced to this book by a woman I was dating. Had I know how successful the book would have eventually been for her I would have left at that moment. She was going through a divorce, and now believes this book saved her marriage.
   Either way, I finished reading the book as a single man. It did teach me a great number of things that were helpful to me. Granted a number of things in the book are semi common-sense, but it offered a different take on many every day things most people overlook these days.
   The things I learned I have applied in everyday life. The few successful relationships I've had since reading this book have been absolutely amazing. The vast majority of relationships I've had since reading this book have however have ended in disaster. Most women I have dated or even had a connection with have, for the most part, shown displeasure or, in a few cases, disgust at my knowledge of my emotions and "love languages".
   I do believe that one day the things I have learned may make a marriage great for me. But, for now, as a twenty-something single man it's just wreaking havoc on my love life.
   I would recommend, and do, the book to anyone who is married or in a long-term commited relationship. To those of you like me however, that just aren't at the point in life where settling down is a top priority, I'd advise avoiding this book entirely.



5. My husband and I read this book with several other couples during a marriage enrichment class. It helped us tremendously and we didn't even think we had any communication issues! I have recommended this book to dozens of people, and they all say what a positive impact it has on their relationships. It's definitely a must read for anyone interested in learning how to truly communicate with and express the right "love language" to their spouse.

5 comments about What is Reformed Theology?: Understanding the Basics.

1. A great book for those who wants to deepens in theology. This book is a must to any serious Bible student. With an easy to understand style, Dr Sproul explains the roots of Reformed Theology and its implications to christians of all times.



2. In simple words, this is a wonderful book. It will serve to straighten out a lot of mixed up Christians who, through little fault of their own, wind up with a disjointed view of Scripture and a serious misunderstanding of their own salvation, because they don't have a foundation in the fundamentals of Biblical doctrine.
   
   This book teaches orthodoxy as clearly and eloquently as I've ever read it or heard it preached. It's fair to say that the language is crafted, since Sproul has taught the subject in seminary for decades, and is completly familiar with the topic. His arguments are logical and well organized; they flow from premise to conclusion with such clarity that a novice can grasp the argument the first time through.
   
   This book makes my short list of must haves, both for it's impact and concise delivery in only 216 pages. Actually, its a masterpiece because it delivers exactly what its title advertises. If you have struggled to understand the Bible and the Gospel message, and just can't put the pieces together for an effective witness, step back, turn the T.V. ministry off, put aside the half baked theology of easy believism and man centered gospels, and return to the truths the Reformers burned at the stake to re-establish.



3. What is Reformed Theology? That really is a deep, honest question that has been lost in the majority report of evangelicals of the western world. While Sproul deals with the basics of Calvin's teachings, he also helps the reader see how the Reformed Theology flows from within the Scripture to form a matrix by which we read each book, each verse, each doctrine, and each truth of Scripture. An excellent introduction (and should be used alongside R. C. Sproul's DVD series by the same title). Sproul and others have helped us see past the titles of Arminian, Pelagian, Calvinism, et al and begin to see the golden threads of biblical understanding that have been a part of Christian instruction since the time of Augustine. Definitely a volume to devour several times. Each reading unveils more and more of the profound truth of doctrines that liberated the church in the early 16th Century. Get it and use it!



4. R. C. Sproul's book What is Reformed Theology? leaves no doubt as to what the book is about. It is an accessible, yet serious overview of the most essential facets of Reformed Theology. And Sproul, one of the foremost Reformed theologians known today, communicates his preferred system of doctrine lucidly and competently.
   
   What is Reformed Theology? is divided into two parts. Part 1 is called Foundations of Reformed Theology and has five chapters: 1) Centered on God, 2) Based on God's Word Alone, 3) Committed to Faith Alone, 4) Devoted to the Prophet, Priest, and King, and 5) Nicknamed Covenant Theology. Part 2, on the other hand, is called Five Points of Reformed Theology. Traditionally, the five points have been known by the mnemonic device TULIP, which has stood for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. While Dr. Sproul has not wanted to eschew the traditional terms, he has nonetheless opted for a revised list for his chapter titles on each of the five points. They are as follows: 1) Humanity's Radical Corruption, 2) God's Sovereign Choice, 3) Christ's Purposeful Atonement, 4) The Spirit's Effective Call, and 5) God's Preservation of the Saints.
   
   Apart from the two parts which make up the meat of the book, Sproul provides a lengthy introduction before Part 1 that gives the reader some important preliminary information about Reformed Theology. And in the back of the book Sproul includes a hymn by Isaac Watts, Chapter Notes, Suggestions for Further Reading, Glossary of Foreign Terms, Index of Subjects, of Persons, and of Scripture.
   
   His best chapters from Part 1 are Chapter 3, Committed to Faith Alone and Chapter 4, Devoted to the Prophet, Priest, and King. Sproul is on fire as he exposits the doctrine of justification by faith alone. And he does so without caricaturing or mischaracterizing opposing views, like those of Rome. And in Chapter 4 Sproul once again manages to get across the most seemingly confusing concepts with relative ease. It's not a breeze trying to present the orthodox position on Christ's dual-natures over against the heretical views condemned by the early church councils. Yet once again, Sproul shines.
   
   In Part 2, nearly the entire section is phenomenal with the exception of the final chapter called God's Preservation of the Saints. I found the final chapter to be the least convincing and well-supported of the book, yet I found Sproul's treatment of the other four points to be expertly written. It takes a special talent to communicate difficult subject matter like Calvinism is often thought to be. And Sproul does the job wonderfully, providing analogies, easy-to-follow arguments, precise terminology, and historical examples. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to better understand Reformed Theology.



5. R.C. Sproul's What Is Reformed Theology is a very clear articulate overview of what Reformed Theology really is. Sproul stays pretty clear of hairy and confusing details and sticks to the major origins, doctrines and objections. What you get in the end is an explanation that's hard to misunderstand. Now, reformed theology sits well with my understanding of scripture and personal experience and so for my own personal reading and encouragement, Sproul's work here was adequate and enjoyable. However, I have some grievances.
   
   I like to think that in my belief, I'm subscribed to scripture (I'd also like to think that if I wrote a book, it'd shine through; but who am I, maybe not). However, so far as my understanding extends, that lines up nicely with what people call Reformed Theology. So, I suppose by proxy, you could say that I subscribe to Reformed Theology. However, I also feel that my first commitment being to the Word of God, if I could conclusively say that my `theological camp,' were off base somewhere, I would abandon the camp to remain with scripture.
   
   I believe strongly that people ought to be believers of the Word of God, first and finally. The words they believe from men should be checked and tested against the Word of God and conscience. In Sproul's work, although I agree with what he says, he very rarely gives specific reference to scripture. Now, I'm certain some would say that it's because he wasn't trying to bog the writing down with non-essential information; he is interested in giving only a basic overview. The back of the book, in part, reads: "What is Reformed Theology is not a textbook but rather an accessible introduction to the beliefs that have been immensely influential in the evangelical church." I understand that this book is not a "textbook," however, unless people can substantiate their beliefs with the Word of God, there is little good reason to provide an overview, no matter how accessible it is.
   
   Sproul could have easily spared full biblical quotation and simply could have left biblical references following unqualified statements. Or even thinner than that, could very easily given us basic references which we could flip to the back of the book to find their biblical qualification.
   
   For this reason, I doubt I will recommend this book highly to very many people. While Sproul's information is good, it feels like he builds a platform for us to trust in the word of Reformed Theology, rather than the Word of God and that to me is both unacceptable and dangerous. Blind devotion to any theological camp is no devotion at all, it must be substantiated by the Word of God.

5 comments about A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I Am a Missional, Evangelical, Post/Protestant, Liberal/Conservative, Mystical/Poetic, Biblical, Charismatic/Contemplative, Fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Green, Incarnational, Depressed-yet-Hopeful, Emergent, Unfinished CHRISTIAN.

1. McLaren takes aim mostly at the Evangelical culture and Lord knows we need to get smacked down, but what he fails to understand is how dogmatic, prideful and just plain wrong his spiritually enlightened comrades are on many counts. Case in point is his fawning over environmentalists while he takes hypocritical fundamentalists to task for using scare tactics. I've worked on an environmental issue for four years and daily witness unbelievable slander and misinformation being spread by the leading green groups who use junk science and emotion to lie. This is precisely what McLaren accuses overzealous evangelicals of doing and of course there's some truth to that charge. But the fact that he self righteously hails his environmentalist friends as noble and heroic exposes the weakness of this book, and McLaren's lack of credibility in general.



2. The one thing I most appreciate about this book is how clearly MacLaren shares his own ambivalence and his own internal struggle over theological issues. His candor is something not always seen in members of the clergy, much less in people who are publishing about their faith.
   
   If you don't like long, convoluted sentence structure (see Faulkner here), you'll likely have trouble taking much away from this book. I think it's unfortunate that his writing style does manage to make his ideas so much less accessible for some people.



3. Can a Catholic find meaning in Baptist traditions?
   Can one find meaning in Protestant or Calvinistic interpretations?
   Can Protestants learn something about God by the way Catholics do things?
   
   If you have every thought these thoughts, you probably need to look at this book. Even if you haven't, it's worth the read. I don't know if I agree with everything he says in this book, but it has also been my experience that one gains understanding about one's own beliefs when he looks at the beliefs of others and converses with believers of different denominations or even different religions. Even if you disagree with someone, it can also make you look at things a bit differently. Sometimes it can cement your belief in something.
   
   McLaren's journey into orthodoxy of many Christian denominations is such a conversation. Do any of these Christian denominations have the sole claim to absolute truth? Could we gain some insight into our relationship with God by looking how other look at God?
   
   Read the book and see what you think.....



4. I found this book purely by accident(maybe) while searching for another. The title caught my eye first and upon closer inspection I decided this would be an interesting "read" given the place I was at in my own spiritual search. I found this book very educational and it is written as if I were listening to him personally. Brian did a great job of giving me insight into different religious beliefs(dogmas) and practices. This in turn helped me immensely by validating many of my own feelings on the practical ways of "living" my beliefs. He spent a little too much time apologizing at the beginning of the book but after finishing it I could understand the reasoning.



5. I was highly disappointed by the title of this book. McLarin says a lot without saying anything. If you want to get on the fast track to universalism, grab a hold of this book. While none of the "conversational" emergents will outright deny core Christian doctrines (e.g.the substitutionary atonement of Christ), they don't outright say anything - if you follow their path of logic you will arrive at a place that is anything but Orthodox.

5 comments about Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite.

1. Three years of research brings an excellent, well needed work to the subject of the influence of evangelical Christians in American society. D. Michael Lindsay does an outstanding job. I highly recommend it.



2. Having been touted in the Wall Street Journal and published by Oxford University Press, Faith in the Halls of Power by D. Michael Lindsay has the potential for broad readership, particularly among secular readers unfamiliar with evangelicalism and gospel themes. Accordingly Lindsay's newest work deserves close scrutiny from those of us in the evangelical community.
   
   Lindsey's book charts the rise of the evangelicals into leadership posts within the halls of government, Hollywood, Wall Street and academia. He rightly assesses (though perhaps somewhat overstates) this rise to prominence in American society as he summarizes hundreds of interviews he personally undertook with many evangelical leaders.
   
   But the book has a glaring weakness: Lindsay's starting point determines his conclusion. Lindsay is in essence a sociologist with a predisposition for the social gospel commenting on the rise of evangelicalism. Is it any wonder then that his recurring critique of prominent evangelicals in their supposed rise is their seeming lack of concern for the less fortunate in society? This reveals a theological bent that Christians should be about as their primary business helping the poor in this world.
   
   What Lindsay fails to understand, or at least convey through his book, is any sort of third dimension to evangelicalism, i.e. the believer's role as an ambassador for Christ in building His Kingdom, which is not an earthly one. It is a glaring oversight of the book, a purpose for believers' lives that must have been brought to his attention by the myriads of credible believers whom he interviewed.
   
   Why is this such an important distinction? Because as the believer seeks first the Lordship of Christ in his or her own heart and the winning of souls into His kingdom, there is and will be a consequential effect on society. Jesus' statement to His followers that "You are the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13) is a present active indicative in the original Greek, not an imperatival command. As believers grow in Christ likeness, they will affect their world - guaranteed - rather than setting out to effect their world as if that were their primary purpose. In this case, trickle down does in fact trickle.
   
   Rising to power to affect American culture is not the believer's primary cause or purpose. It is and most certainly will be, however, a reflection of their lives. As a non-evangelical, Lindsay doesn't quite get that distinction, leading the secular reader to fear that cultural conquest is on the agenda here - as if that were the sneaky reason evangelicals are rising to join the American elite.
   
   Lindsay's scope of research is impressive, but his conclusions are two dimensional, unfairly and wrongly leading his secular readers to feel quite threatened by conservative Christians.



3. This extensively researched book by Lindsay exposes the many misconceptions concerning those who identify themselves as evangelicals in Christian faith. Lindsay explores the range of how faith is lived out daily in places of power and influence not considered by "middle America" evangelicals. This book is an important read for anyone trying to navigate the multiple expressions of evangelicalism in the United States. While much media attention [often stereotyping Christians] has been focused only on "middle American conservatism," Lindsay challenges us to remember that any one subgroup of evangelicalism does not serve as the sole voice of authority on matters of Christian faith in America. Lindsay helps identify that interpretation of scripture and living daily for Christ is understood across a spectrum and not soley defined by any one group, organization, individual, or segment of evangelicalism. "Faith in the Halls of Power" invites us to see evangelicalism in its broadest and diverse expressions, from Falwell to Bono.



4. Influence - funny word, interesting concept. Michael Lindsay, professor at Rice University, examines the idea of cultural influence and how evangelicals - those who would say they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ - have exerted influence at the highest levels in our contemporary society. From politics to the arts, Lindsay found and interviewed literally hundreds of these evangelical men and women and explored their paths to influence. Lindsay notes that evangelical influence in the culture is undergoing resurgence - having taken a back seat to "personal evangelism" and the spiritual disciplines as the sole expression of the Christian faith in years past. Today, Christians do more than read their Bibles and pray - they vote, they paint, they teach in some of the leading universities, they run some of the largest companies...and many more are doing so as Christians than in the recent past. Of course, there was a day following the Reformation up until the time of our Founding Fathers, that it was commonplace for Christians to live and work as followers of Christ - but even recently the story of William Wilberforce once again raised the issue of Christian "ministry" and the idea of one's vocation as one's calling being the same thing.
   
   I found the book an interesting read and a great history lesson valuable for all Christians to understand. Having been raised in a Christian home that engaged the community, I remember learning as a young man that not every Christian believed it was their duty or even their responsibility to make a difference in the world in which they lived. The terms "cultural mandate" or "worldview" were not frequent or familiar to many Christians in the late `60s or early `70s...but today those terms are becoming more familiar and acceptable to the Christian community. Lindsay does a great job of exploring the progress this movement has made, not examining the movement itself, but its slow climb from obscurity and irrelevance to reasonable and relevant. As one employed in this venture at the secondary school level, I found that Lindsay's research stopped short of examining the issue to this degree and depth as he explored the college campus, but not below. I found the book to be interesting, helpful and encouraging and a worthwhile read especially for anyone seeking to make a difference in the world for the cause of Christ.



5. I have only read the first 20 pages. I wonder at this point if he will discuss the reality that people talk "religious talk" while at the same time motivated more for public attention, power and simply put, an exciting and well paying job. It would seem to me that preserving cultural values that are positive would be at the heart of seeking election to an office that might, note might, lead to change. Oh, I am a retired minister so I have a real interest.

5 comments about Chosen by God.

1. I am a big fan of R.C. Sproul, listen to his radio show every day, and have several of his books. When I turned to this offering from Bro. Sproul on the sticky problems of predestination and election, I was stunned - there's a lot of eloquent language here, but no explanations.
   
   If you're a Calvinist, this book just covers the basics of Calvinist doctrine and cites the verses to back it up. If you're not a Calvinist, there's nothing here for you. The verses which contradict Calvinism are not addressed and not mentioned. The book goes in circles for many pages and finally ends up not giving you any satisfactory answers on the subject. I know Bro. Sproul is capable of much deeper explanation than this, perhaps he just wanted to keep it simple, but in doing so, he failed to really address the question - are we chosen by God or do we choose God? Despite the title, the answer to that question isn't in Bro. Sproul's book.



2. This is an essential reading for any interested in deepens its knowledge in Theology. It explains with an easy to understand language the concept of God sovereignty and how his sovereignty can be seen in all creation and human life. The man free will is also discussed in the light of God sovereignty and how they interrelated to each other. This book is a must to any one who wants to understand the predestination theology.



3. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3M2OP7V1GSTQ0 I don't know why he includes the point about limited atonement at the end when it could go between unconditional election and irresistatble grace but it works. It is still a great book. It covers all five points of calvinism. It competes with Tulip. Tulip,: The Five Points of Calvinism in the Light of Scripture It is a great introduction to the reformed faith. Even Arminians agree that it is informative.
   



4. This is very good introduction to the doctrine of predestination. All of the major points are covered. There is excellent discussion of the relevant texts. Since the book is more of a primer, those seeking a deeper look into Calvinism would enjoy a more thorough book. This book is great for those open to the idea of Calvinism and those who desire an introduction. It probably will not convince the die-hard Arminian. If you want a more detailed discussion and a longer read, Boettner's Reformed Doctrine of Predestination is one of the most thorough treatments on the subject.



5. I have just completed my reading of reading R.C. Sproul's Chosen By God. Before I get into specifics, I would like to say up front that I absolutely loved this book.
   
   From the front cover, it's not difficult to decipher what this book is about. It's about predestination. Although the tagline may be a bit cheesy, "Know God's perfect plan for His glory and His children"; I think it might carry with it some slightly arrogant connotations, however, you won't find any of those inside.
   
   From the first chapter, Sproul documents, in brief, his own struggle with the biblical doctrine of predestination. In the beginning of the book, Sproul speaks mostly experientially. His own intellectual battle with previously learned doctrines that he was discovering didn't have nearly as much foundation as he thought. I was concerned in the beginning, he was speaking so much out of his own experiences, there was very little specific reference to scripture. He mostly just talked about ideas and his struggles with them, but didn't really qualify any of those ideas. I feared the worst. However, from the first chapter filled mostly with experiences, he beautifully builds eight more chapters saturated with scripture.
   
   In another book from Sproul, What Is Reformed Theology (recently reviewed), I had major issues with Sproul's omission of specific scriptural references for the sake of easy reading. This is in no way the case here.
   
   I'm generally a critical thinker. It's hard for me to ignore logic (that's probably a weakness some times). For me, this book fit like a perfect puzzle piece into how I generally receive and interpret information. Sproul builds, very clearly from scripture, a series of powerful and logical arguments. He argues extremely effectively for the reformed view of predestination, but at the same time speaks with a humble attitude that isn't likely to immediately turn subscribers of other theologies off.
   
   The book is written to be very easily read; just over 200 short pages. It is clearly not written explicitly for the seminary student. While I'm certain most Christians would benefit from reading this literature, Sproul almost certainly had the average reader in mind. He does an excellent job of making the point that predestination is not a theology only for the theologically elite (not a term I'm crazy about) but something that any serious bible believing Christian has to deal with, and how we deal with it bears heavily on how we interact with God and others.
   
   This book makes me want to make up a rating system for my book reviews so that I can give it really high marks. I am recommending this book to anyone who feels they'd like to try some solid food. I give this book 150 points. Also available in store at places like Borders and Barnes & Noble.

5 comments about Listening Hearts: Discerning Call in Community.

1. Six years ago, my priest used this book with a group of seniors at Gordon College to help us learn more about listening to God in the context of testing our call to ordained ministry. This book is simply incredible. God used it powerfully in my life!



2. I read this book about 10 years ago as I began to wrestle with questions of vocation. I felt called to ministry, possibly ordained ministry. I had far more questions than answers and didn't know where to begin.

   Recommended by my pastor, this book gave me a vocabulary and suggested a process for listening to who God calls me to be. It also offered important advice on the benefits of listening in the context of community.

   The book is accessible but rich. I found that individual chapters bear rereading at various times in my life. I attribute this to the prayerfulness of the authors, who used many of the discernment ideas they describe in the book to write the book itself.

   The bibliography is a list of classics on Christian discernment and spirituality that have stood the test of time. Many of the books listed in the bibliography have become important parts of my journey as well.

   I am glad I read the book and recommend it to others beginning or continuing their own discernment process.




3. Too many people see 'vocation' as a narrow thing, something that is designed only to ask 'should I become a priest?' or 'should I enter the ministry?' In fact, there are many ways of being God's servant and following God's call in the world, and the ordained ministries are but one narrow band of this. 'Listening Hearts' is designed to take a community approach to seeing what God's call is in the world.
   
   The word 'vocation' comes from the Latin vocare -- to call -- and thus has a wide range of meanings, biblical and spiritual, as well as outside accumulations onto the concept. The authors here derive inspiration from the Quaker practice of silence and reflection (a clearness process) as well as other spiritual processes, many of which are elaborated in more detail in works referenced in the bibliography, a great resource for those interested in issues of vocation.
   
   A call is different from a job -- a career can be a vocation, in the sense that it encompasses more than 'just a job'; teaching is a career and a vocation, for example. To be a teacher involves more than just being paid to be in a classroom; indeed, one can be a teacher without being employed as one in a school. The same holds true for God's call in ministry -- just as a career (again derivative of more ancient meanings, literally meaning a path one follows, like the career of the earth around the sun) can be narrowly defined or more broadly held, so too can a vocation to ministry be understood in terms of many aspects of living one's life. C.S. Lewis famously discouraged a friend from becoming a priest, fearing that it would cease to be a valid vocation and slip into the 'just a job' kind of situation.
   
   Communities, under the ideas presented here, are less susceptible to the kinds of self-deception that some are likely to experience in seeing themselves in certain roles. Are we hearing God's call, or our own desires and petitions? Similarly, ministry is not conducted in a vacuum: ministers act for and with others, and require the support of community for their actions to have efficacy and validity.
   
   There is a flaw in this, that is not covered in this book, but one hopes might be addressed at some point in discernment processes: the definitnion of community is never made clear. What happens when there are competing communities? What happens when the local church is at odds with the regional or national (or international) church? What happens when a discernment group at a local parish supports a particular candidate in a certain vocation, but the distant powers-that-be do not?
   
   Another issue that is not addressed in this text, which I feel (given the experience that I and many other have had in discernment processes) needs to be addressed is this: what happens when one is not dealing with a community of integrity? What happens when the rector or a particularly powerful congregation member blocks the discernment process from even beginning? What about institutional issues -- how does the 'listening hearts' process work for a Roman Catholic woman, given that their institution will not recognise a call to priesthood, however much the listening hearts group might see that call clearly? What happens when a hierarch in a local church decides for whatever reason he doesn't like someone, and so doesn't permit a listening hearts group to be formed? It is somewhat irresponsible (but unfortunately has happened, in this reviewer's experience) that the institution will on the one hand say that discernment cannot be done alone, without community, but then will refuse to be the community in which discernment should be done.
   
   The authors here quote an anonymously authored document on servant leadership, which said: to ignore or resist a call may fracture us further, widening the split between what we subscribe to inwardly and what we do outwardly. The authors undoubtedly meant this to mean for individuals that they should not ignore a call from God. They remain mute about what it means for a community to ignore the call, or be left in ignorance about a call. In that regard, this book has a serious flaw.
   
   These flaws aside, in any situation where the community does come together in honesty and love to address issues of vocation, this will be a useful and helpful guide, and I have recommended it to many, and indeed used it myself with the group I formed after I left my church, and found many wonderful revelations about myself, about the world, about the nature of vocation, and about God. I truly wish this might have been done in my own 'native' Episcopal community.



4. This book was recommended by my spiritual advisor. I was struggling with my call as a deacon. This book helped me look at the whole picture, not just a call in ministry, but a call in one's life. It clarified for me many things and I was able to see clearly the path to which I have been guided. It was also very helpful in how to help others discern their call.



5. The popular question, "Does God speak to us or tell us what we should do?" comes to mind when I think of the book, "Listening Hearts: Discerning Call in Community," Morehouse Publishing, 1991. We do live in an era of doubt, and Christianity or belief in God is lacking. Even among believers one wonders if one is following the will of God. In this book the reader finds ways to discover what God is saying for one's life.
   
   I came across this title as part of a one-day conference held by the Episcopal Church on discerning a call within community. The book was recommended reading by the San Francisco Bay Area organization (ECUSA). I read it gladly, and with interest. I want to know if I am doing what I should, and if I am meeting the needs of both my community and my Church--most certainly the will of God. For me, this is not an arrogant request, but a genuine one.
   
   The book is easy to read, informative, intelligent and direct. Its premise goes like this: "A call may come as a gradual dawning of God's purpose for our lives." Some may be surprised that lay people will want to respond to a call, usually thought reserved only for ordained clergy. I think call comes to the laity, too. We are under baptismal vows. If you are a Christian, or interested in knowing about God's will for you in work, service, prayer, even marriage, this is a worthwhile book. It is a book about ministry.
   
   Here is the rationale for ministry:
   
   "Doing good things--volunteer work, for instance--may not be ministry if God is not the motivating force--even if the person doing them is a Christian. On the other hand, if God is the motivating force, even those who do not consciously bear the name of Christ may participate in God's work. God used Cyrus, king of Persia, to release Israel from captivity, saying, "...I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know me" (Isa. 45:4). One task of the Christian, then, is to recognize, affirm, and celebrate Christ's reconciling action in others, including non-Christians. A true minister is "anybody who is the channel to others of God's love, and is willing to share something of the cost of that love; and whose eyes are open to perceive God's presence everywhere and in everybody." In The Rule of St. Benedict, this same thought for monks goes: "...the work of the monk is to accept and participate in the divine saving activity in our life." The quote (Terrence G. Kardong, OSB) from another book demonstrates that this request of God and us is for all Christians the same. It is a general request that "Listening Hearts" addresses.
   
   You can see that I like this book, and I like the fact that a group of people put it together, a team effort of its own which reflects the kind of book this is for people who may be living in a community or team setting. It is as if a whole group thought these were good things, and a way to hear what God is saying.
   
   One needs confirmation in the subject area of discernment and acts of discernment, so there is a need for a book like "Listening Hearts." The book suggests this confirmation by community, and offers a guide to the book's use by groups. The appendix titles: "Guidelines for Discernment Groups;" "Types of Questions to Raise When Serving in Discernment Groups;" "Suggestions for Recognizing and Encouraging Ministries;" "Informal History of the Project and the Research Methods Used" by Suzanne Farnham. Authors of the book: Suzanne G. Farnham, Joseph P. Gill, R. Taylor McLean, Susan M. Ward. This edition is, "With Newly Formulated Guidelines for Discernment," and the "Newly Revised Edition."
   
   Some chapters are shorter than others. "Supporting the Ministries of Others" is a shorter chapter, but a necessary one for a book like this. I say a book like this, because it talks of living in community: "Without support, ministry may become lost. Without support, we may become lost." It isn't the length of chapter that is important, nor the pithy nature of the text, but the direct and practical way theological matters are explained. There is a common sense to this book.
   
   To emphasize the quest for God as subject for man and woman, the introduction quotes Soren Kierkegaard (1835): "What I really lack is to be clear in my mind what I am to do, not what I am to know...The thing is to understand myself, to see what God really wishes me to do...What good would it do me to be able to explain the meaning of Christianity if it had no deeper significance for me and for my life?" "Listening Hearts" is an aid in this journey of finding deeper significance in life. Not too long, written in a readable manner for the general reader, the book is good for group discussion and for individual reading.
   
   I don't think the writers considered this book the end or maybe even the beginning of a book on the subject of discernment. But among those available, this is an excellent one to have on hand, to read. The intent is to help with a living a question of what God may want for us, as living the good and bad in our lives is a living in the tensions of life with God. "Thus we gain hearts to listen and respond to God's call."
   
   --Peter Menkin, Easter 2007