5 comments about Institutes of the Christian Religion (2 Volume Set).

1. very good volume of the Institutes with lots of footnotes. a must for any Calvinist or those looking to broaden their knowledge of Calvinism and what it is all about



2. What can I tell you? John Calvin helped me get my spiritual compass pointing north again! He got the flab and plaque out of my man-centered doctrine and whipped it into God and Christ-honoring shape! Reading his 'Institutes' was like getting a top-flight seminary-level education for fifty bucks. (except that unlike seminary, Calvin will strengthen your faith, not undermine it)
   
   There are those who pick up the 'Institutes' for the first time and read it in the same way they pick up a Bible for the first time and read it. With preconceived notions and without the right historical (and spiritual) context. "It's too hard to understand. Too many words. Not relevant enough! Doesn't help me with my immediate problem(s). Doesn't add to the discussion (or debate). What is he talking about here, and why? He sure sounds intolerant! Have you got anything else?"
   
   The Bible was not written in a vacuum and neither was Calvin's Institutes. When you realize the unbelievably adverse historical and personal circumstances Calvin did his pastoral and theological work under, you marvel that he even had strength or will to write letters to his friends and even to princes, let alone lengthy biblical commentaries and bulky catechetical tomes (which is what Institutes is). So it's only natural that his works have frequent references to some of those volatile situations and events and important, paradigm-shifting movements going on at the time, and the persons living (and dead) who were his most vociferous enemies. Read Paul's and Peter's epistles and the Gospels (and even the Psalms!). They are peppered with denunciatory remarks aimed at their enemies. Biblical faith and Christianity are not for pansies, cowards or the faint of heart. Straight talk and direct verbiage based on unchanging truth will defeat error, heresy and the wiles of the devil to encourage struggling believers and bring comfort and relief to sincere seekers.
   
   If you have eyes to see, ears to hear, and the patience to remember that Calvin's Institutes was written first in Latin, then in French, then translated into English (and several other languages later)--and written nearly 500 years ago in a world much different from ours--then you will find an endless supply of useful and supremely-relevant spiritual wisdom and supernaturally-profound insights that will strengthen your faith and deepen your understanding and appreciation of the Scriptures and the unfolding of God's revelation to man throughout history, much more than you thought possible, and probably more than with any other book on systematic theology, ancient or modern.
   
   Let it never be said that Calvin's Institutes should be placed on a par with the Bible or that it is free of error and infallible! I do, however feel totally confident in saying that, for a better understanding of the historical development of Christian doctrine, especially during that epochal and turbulent period called "The Great Reformation," and for a more established perception of what is biblical and unbiblical in a world of proliferating opinions and conflicting positions on matters of religion and faith, Calvin's Institutes is invaluable. It belongs in every Christian's library, period!



3. Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion is a masterfully written systematic summary and defense of the basic tenets of Christianity. It is exegetical in substance, Christ-centered in focus, worshipful in tone, and polemical in style.
   
   Exegetical in substance - Calvin has been called the "father of modern exegesis" and rightly so. He pioneered the literal-historical-grammatical method of exegesis. This is especially true of his excellent commentaries, but also reflected in the Institutes. The final court of appeal for Calvin is Scripture. His arguments are laced with quotations from the Bible and one senses that Calvin was very hesitant to go further than Scripture in his surmizings.
   
   Christ-centered in focus - This has really struck me in my reading Calvin (I'm now in volume 2 of this edition). Calvin's Christology was robust and it pervades virtually every page of the Institutes. This is especially true in Book III, which is especially rich.
   
   Worshipful in tone - Despite what some people may think, Calvin is not a dry theologian. Some Calvinists could benefit from soaking in their fore-father - perhaps picking up some of his reverence and humility. Seriously, this book lifts my gaze to God. That's good enough reason to recommend it.
   
   Polemical in style - Along with everything above, Calvin was a polemicist, no doubt about it. This book is saucy! Calvin didn't hesitate to call his adversaries by name AND call them names. That may seem harsh to modern readers and leave a sour taste in some mouths. But even Jesus could call the Pharisees vipers and Calvin doesn't stray too far from his master in this regard. We should also remember the turbulent times in which Calvin wrote. He says in his preface that one of the reasons he wrote the Institutes was to make clear what young French pastors who were being martyred were dying for. Remember that his friends were being killed for their convictions before getting too critical of Calvin's language.
   
   This edition is probably the best available with helpful notes and an excellent team of scholars under J. T. McNeil behind the text. Calvin's quotations are documented and the text is keyed with symbols showing the development of the Institutes from its initial version in 1536 through its five reprints (the final in 1559).
   
   An excellent read for anyone interested in Reformed theology, historical theology, systematic theology or . . . just theology!



4. Calvin is insightful and indispensable for anyone who wants to study modern theology. I don't, however, mean to review this book on Calvin's merits, but only to lend 5 stars to the editors and commentators who made this edition. The notes are extensive, the indices are well compiled, the page-paper is smooth and of good quality, the typeface is pleasant, and the book itself is well constructed. This takes all the revisions Calvin made (from the Latin and French versions) and includes information concerning which revision is used or omitted in certain areas. The reason why this comes in two volumes whereas others can be condensed into one is because of the wealth of footnotes. If you're not interested in commentaries and other references, then they can easily be skipped; but for those who like to read other studies pertaining to Calvin's doctrines and gain a bit of insight into the earlier texts Calvin was drawing from, then these are very useful and well arranged.
   And I also need to note the clarity of the translation. While at times it may seem a bit archaic, in select areas it needs must be. If you look at other translations of the text, sometimes they're impossible for the modern English-speaker to interpret while hearing Calvin's voice. The translator and editors made an effort to use modern vernacular and avoid Latinate terms as much as is appropriate, in my opinion.



5. Lots of scholarly foodnotes, good introduction, and reliable translation. Truely recommend this book for serious studies.

5 comments about The Sickness Unto Death: A Christian Psychological Exposition For Upbuilding And Awakening (Kierkegaard's Writings, Vol 19).

1. Based on Kierkegaard's book, it is clear that despair is essential for a person to realize he is not a "self," and thereby turn to God; but many people choose to create a self on their own-they become a carbon copy of everyone else in the world. I was intrigued by Kierkegaard's insights. From what I understood, there are two possibilities a person can have: (1) There is the possibility of becoming the self that God intended for the person, or (2) The alternate possibility when one manufactures a "self" then for the rest of his or her life, strives to attain it. The "fantastic" is the result of one's idea of self that is always being improved and refined from the previous "self." However, a person can only have a self if God gives it to him or her. The "sickness unto death" is when the person does not realize this until he or she faces death and had lived a life in sin (sin was explained as the spiritual and actual position of a person in comparison to God).
   
   The person had a chance to live in "actuality," but instead was in despair and now is left with the "sickness unto death." Kierkegaard offered an insight to the human soul that ought to be the foundation to understanding the psyche of the Christian. His work is still relevant, and had probably ushered the Christian psychology movement into existence. It would be safe to say that he is a "founding father" of Christian psychology and was a very observant man. This book is not easy to read, but it is worth the effort.



2. where is God? this is the question i asked my self in my own suffering. kierkegaard's sickness unto death helped me understand where God is/was in my own despair. when i read kierkegaard i know i am reading something that was told from one's heart. kierkegaard really understands despair and he understands the struggle one goes through in despair. despair doesn't just happen to a select few. it touches us all. this book really saved me from sinking deep into my own despair. if kierkegaard were alive today i would send him a thank you note!



3. This is hands down the greatest book I have ever read, not including the Bible. I say that as a Christian and as an individual. I can understand how some choose to apply the concepts without the religion, but I personally think this would have infuriated SK.
   Again, not including the Bible, "The Sickness Unto Death" is perhaps the only literary work I have ever read that altered my life, either by perception or action.
   His elaborations on the various forms of despair should hit everyone, as there are several, each applicable to each personality.
   If anyone were to ask me to recommend a single work, this would be it.
   I must add, that I have not read scores of philosophy, only a handful. I say that to say this. This book may seem somewhat difficult to understand at first, but it gets easier the more you read and the more accustomed you get to SK's style. Once the first few pages regarding the definition of self have been comprehended, the rest falls beautifully into place.



4. As a student at St. Olaf College, I got Kierkegaard pretty much thrown at me. The professors Hong translations of Kierkegaard are the most erudite I've seen. They own the largest Kierkegaard library in the world... They know their stuff. It's definitely worth the extra money over and against the penguin translation.
   
   "The self is a self which relates itself to itself or is a relation relating itself to itself in the relation."
   Don't get too flummoxed by the first page, it gets better.
   
   One thing I like about Kierkegaard is that he knows how to WRITE. Other philosophers lose common literary skills that make writing enjoyable, for example, Kant. You cannot sit down and read 200 pages of a Critique of Pure reason straight, your head will explode. With Kierkegaard however, he is so enjoyable and fun to read, you hardly notice your're reading philosophy.
   
   This book however, I wouldn't recommend to beginners, I'd choose either "Either/Or" or "The two ages"



5. This was my first Kierkegaard book, and I can't imagine it'll ever not be my favorite. This should be everyone's introduction to him. It's short, sweet, beautiful, encouraging, exotic, convicting, brutal, and funny.
   
   Written by Anti-Climacus, K's very idealized Christian author who always does his best to expose externalisms in the lives of human beings--both Christians and pagans.
   
   I'm not going to get into a major discussion of this book here; you can do that on your own or peruse some of the other reviews on this page. I will, however, give a very cursory sketch of _some_ of his great ideas.
   
   1. It is written from an unabashedly orthodox Christian standpoint (orthodox meaning Apostles Creed). While there are a few passages contained therein that can be read like Arminian creeds, overall this book presupposes God's Word as Truth itself and thus is congruent mostly with what is later called Van Tillian apologetics (of course one could then say that Van Til had some Kierkegaard in him!).
   
   2. It is written to examine what faith, in its nature as an exclusively Christian concept, is. But ever heard that Kierkegaard hated doctrine, that he loved the irrational leap into blind faith? Forget it. That's Johannes de Silentio. The passion and power of his prose here, along with his journal notes as provided by the Hongs' priceless scholarship, show that when he lists "dogma" with the three essentials of Christianity (the other two are faith and paradox), he meant it! (It wasn't just Anti-Climacus's idea.) He even says that once people throw out the "thou shalts" and God's special revelation as what it is--that Christianity is dead. Once we make Christ into an event, once philosophers merge God and man together--that Christianity is dead. Very powerful stuff. Now what does this have to do with faith? Kierkegaard shows that all natural men put their faith in themselves--and they will despair forever as they autonomously insist that they are the source of themselves. What Christianity insists on in men's putting their faith in the Creator as the Bible commands. Faith in God is not irrational, Kierkegaard says; but it is the gospel, as so wonderful, so inexpressibly amazing, that cannot fit into the minds of rationalistic men. This is a huge distinction. And a wonderful one!
   
   3. It is written to examine thanklessness in those who don't look like they're despairing. This is where he attacks the Danish State Church. It's brutal and very convicting. I won't spoil it for you.
   
   Despair is the refusal of man to admit who he is--a creature of his Creator. It's hubris, it's solipsism, it's pride, it's fear of humiliation. But Kierkegaard doesn't stop there. He shows the solution; he shows Christ as the only answer, using Christ's character as manifested in the gospels to show that it is our rebellion that He saves all men from. In this way, Anti-Climacus is in no way judgmental or self-righteous.
   
   Another note: the Hongs are amazing. Write them a letter and tell them how amazing their work is. Each Princeton Kierkegaard book contains journal entries, an historical introduction, earlier draft changes, indices, &c.
   
   And one more: another reviewer was totally right when he said that some of this is so powerful and--yea-- beautiful that you won't know you're reading Theology. The passage starting with the hourglass on pages 27-8 comes to mind immediately.
   
   I only detract a star because of the ambiguity in certain places that has deceived many non-Christians into thinking that they're a-okay. And I've met a few of them, working at a bookstore as I did. It's written for Christians, so use your Biblical framework while reading it.

5 comments about The Healing Path: How the Hurts in Your Past Can Lead You to a More Abundant Life.

1. This book is a lighthouse to those who are dealing with various struggles. Dr. Allender communicates to the reader exactly how to begin travelling down that healing path. He will point you to where your focus needs to be, and help you through the process. I am so thankful that I chose to read this book!



2. Chapter 8 has so much to offer. Hope in the biggest since. I love what Dan Alender does with words. Some things require deep meditation. As I read I feel myself coming alive in a way I never knew before. And as I read I think of all the hurting people I know who could be helped by reading, actually taking in this book and allowing themselves to be consumed by it. True healing does come and joy returns, or for some who have never experienced true joy, will expereince it for the first time. I think everyone should read this book. I want to put it into the hands of all of my loved ones. It has done me good. I wish to share the good with others. Thank You Dan Allender, you are my hero.



3. As a Christian for 30 years and an evangelical pastor/US Army chaplain and licensed Therapist, I have read lots and lots and lots of books. This book by Dan is truely one of the most profound books that I have ever read. It is worth reading and re-reading. His stories and narrative portions put images and real-life flesh and blood on our living out the true power of the Gospel and Christ's love into our own real-life worlds.



4. "Don't waste your pain", says the publisher's note on the rear cover of "The Healing Path", a recent offering from the prolific and popular Dan Allender. Allender suggest that life inevitably entails suffering, and that the key is to suffer successfully. Suffering leads to redemption and life, but most suffer pointlessly and unconstructively, not knowing how to suffer properly.
   
   Healing Path wanders about to a great degree, as Allender ranges over what seems a disconnected landscape in what must be taken as his current reflection on the nature of the world and its suffering. He addresses in turn, 1) suffering as a sacred activity, 2) its pervasive nature, 3) aspirations toward healing, 3) the pain of betrayal, 4) the ubiquitous mistake of suffering improperly, 5) the value of living existentially, 6) the pain of powerlessness, 7) living with ambivalence, 8) fighting doubt with faith, 9) "redemptive living" at arms-length from conventional church forms, 10) a diagnosis of modern evangelical enfeeblement due to centralization, and 11) immersion in provocative cultural conversation as the best means of redemptive change. The result is a fairly incoherent and chaotic ramble through Allender's musings on the nature of a sinful world and his attempts to find integrative principles.
   
   Healing Path offers little by way of substantive reflection or practical remedy. The treatment of redemptive living makes almost no reference to Christ; indeed the entire book could have been written by a conscientious Mormon or moralist, so sparse are any references to Christian theological frameworks or Scripture. Allender attempts to integrate the discontinuous series of chapters by running a few anecdotes across the spans, but this effort largely fails.
   
   He captions subsections with such embarrassingly gushy titles as "Hearts That Embrace-The Dance of Passion", and follows with observations that seem to evidence his mood on the day he drafted the chapter. Some chapters read as if you found him sitting in the bright sunshine of his study with an inspirational piece of music playing. Other sections sound like you caught the author entrenched in morose reflection on a rainy Monday afternoon. In all, the tone is uneven and the purpose is difficult to detect.
   
   Allender may have reached the point in fame and stature where popular Christian culture requires nothing more of him than regularly released, mass-market soft-cover publications, offered in tandem, of course, with a small group study guide.
   
   "My calling is to intrigue, disrupt, and invite the other person to consider his heart," says Allender. Far better for pastors and congregations would be a rich exploration of 1 Peter, where Christian suffering is seen to precede a staggering, disproportionately large recompense, and promise conformity to the delightful countenance of Christ.



5. This is a very interesting book--after I read it I wanted to read all of Allender's other publications. He is a great author and this book was very hard for me to put down once I started! A great book for any Christian who has ever faced challenges in their life.

5 comments about Jonathan Edwards: A Life.

1. Marsden, George M. Jonathan Edwards: A Life. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003.
   
   There is almost a glut of material on Jonathan Edwards. That can be both good and bad. It is good that men are wrestling with Edwards's life and thought. A study of Edwards can renew intellectual life within the church. Furthermore, Edwards is being fairly studied by scholars outside the conservative world. This, too, is good. But there is always the question when a new Edwards book comes out: is there anything left to say? George Marsden thinks so. And Marsden takes his point of departure from other Edwards scholars. For all of the work on Edwards, the standard biographies (Perry Miller and Iain Murray) leave holes in some places.
   Thesis: Jonathan Edwards lived in the crossroads of intellectual and social history. He is a perfect representative of both streams of both European and American thought: he was a traditionalist who stood for authority, order, and stable values. Ironically, he also planted the seeds of the individualism that would later haunt evangelicalism. Even more paradoxically, the very cure (e.g., the Great Awakening) to the problem (e.g., spiritual decay and social stagnation) would later become another problem for religious America.
   
   There are two illustrations of Marsden's thesis from Edwards' ministry: the Great Awakening and the communion controversy, the latter will be examined in light of his political views. In both cases we see Edwards the traditionalist clash with Edwards the innovator. Edwards' instrumental role in the Great Awakening conflicted with other pastors in the region. Unwillingly, or unwittingly, Edwards inspired other men to rise up and carry on the revival, a task that also meant criticizing the status quo ecclesiology. Another example is Edwards' view on church-state relations (160). Was Edwards going to be the traditional Constantinian Protestant and favor a state-protected church, or would he encourage his people to be a holy congregation, called-out and separated from the world? It appears he wanted both. On p. 196 Edwards advocates a strong Constantianism. This clashed with his view on presenting spiritual evidences to the Lord's Supper. It is obvious why.
   
   Solomon Stoddard, Edwards' grandfather and the previous pastor, sought a mediating position with the Puritans demand for evidence of conversion alongside the painful fact that many people did not have that evidence. If they did not have that evidence, they weren't really in the covenant. So they posited a "half-way" covenant. There was still the nagging problem of evidence. Therefore, the parishioners would give evidence of moral sincerity whereas Edwards' demanded evidence of godly piety (368). It was Edwards' downfall (or heroic hour, depending on your point of view) to overturn this compromise.
   
   Evaluation:
   This book faithfully carries on the Edwardsean tradition. It presents a pastor who sought Christ-exalting power in the pulpit. Yet it is one of the first sympathetic books on Edwards to illustrate tensions in his worldview--tensions the Evangelical world is feeling today. Does a longing for revival and fresh power from the Spirit undermine certain stati quo in Reformed orthodoxy? Marsden's thesis leaves the reader wrestling and thinking on this question. Another fine point is Marsden's emphasis on the healthy sexual morality and love found between Jonathan and Sarah, especially in light of current confusion on sexual mores. I heartily recommend this book.



2. Above all, it's very nice that I can recieved this book very quickly with perfect condition (paperback).
   Among biography of Jonathan Edwards, this book is a masterfiece!
   I'm very satisfied with this order!



3. I was seeking information regarding religious teachings before the American Revolution and found a theologian's theologian. This was not a quick read since I was largely unfamiliar with Edwards' writings and teachings. I now have a "Great Awakening" anchor thanks to Marsden's treatment of Jonathan Edwards, his time, and his contemporaries. An important preacher at a particularly important time in the history of America. Brilliant presentation by Marsden.



4. This is certainly a good biography of the life and times of the great Jonathan Edwards. However, it does lack something of a the personal touch, especially about the days to day details of his life; his study and spiritual life. For a man living in the backwoods of America, lacking intellectual and spiritual companionship, he must have (and other biographies tell us) spent much of his days in his study, writing, thinking and praying.
   
   Although I am not of Edward's philosophical or religious persuasion, I found the description of his thoughts very illuminating, and at times, a little frightening. When everything that happened in his little town or in the turbulent times of US and world history are sourced back to the work of God; in most cases, God's judgements on the sins of the people, one wonders what sort of psychological damage he must inflicted in his poor flock! You almost feel, that for all his learning, he was still living in pre-scientific times.
   
   And you have to laugh where he refers to Hume's Treatise as a 'corrupt book'!But at least he read Hume and a number of other enlightenment philosophers; more than what can be said for the average pastor or preacher/'pop'writer today!
   
   This is a good readable work that does justice to a great, though in many ways, misguided, thinker.



5. This is a long book; the text alone is a little over 500 pages. In the ample space of those pages, Marsden very fully sets out virtually everything that is known about Jonathan Edwards. First and foremost, this is the story of a life. It is biography on a grand scale, in which Edwards' life is described, from beginning to end, in great detail.
   
   What is really marvelous about this book is how Marsden combines the professional objectivity of a historian with sympathetic understanding of his subject. This is very important, because Edwards is not the kind of person that just anyone could write about in a useful way. The events of Edwards' life are not very dramatic or significant. What makes Edwards important is his thought. He was a theologican and a philosopher, who stood on the point of transition between a world in which God still reigned supreme and the modern world of secular thought and scientiic belief. He was also a defender of Calvinism, in a world which was about to turn against Calvin.
   
   To write usefully about such a man, the writer needs to have a deep interest in theological and philosophic subjects, and Marsden does. I am not entirely sure what his own perspective is, because he keeps his own beliefs off stage, as is proper, but Marsden says that he is, and he plainly is, someone whose personal religious viewpoint is not too far away from that of Edwards. Marsden is someone to whom the issues Edwards wrestled with are still alive. He is thus able to bring alive Edwards' philosophic and theological concerns in a wonderful way.
   
   I, personally, do not yet know enough about Protestant thought to really be able to make sense of all of this. Much of Calvinism seems very odd to me. I am perplexed by such doctrines as the teaching that humans have absolutely no ability to merit grace -- not just faith alone, but the further teaching that what we believe and feel is not relevant either -- combined with the belief that we should exert ourselves greatly to be saved. If nothing we do makes any difference, where is our motive to work hard to accept God? I find all of this very perplexing.
   
   Marsden does not try to explain the larger Calvinist framework of thought to those, like me, who are bascially ignorant of it, so much of this material goes past me. One point that came across very strongly, however, is that Edwards -- in his own, odd Puritan way -- was a passionate mystic, as devoted to God as Saint John of the Cross or Teresa de Avila. I think, quite often, we find the Puritans repugnant, because their stress on God's anger is so foreign to us. While I still find that aspect of Puritan thought hard to sympathize with, I am glad to have someone show me that the Puritans -- in their own way -- were extremely sincere and zealous Christians.

5 comments about The Blessings of Brokenness: Why God Allows Us to Go Through Hard Times.

1. This book has been such a Blessing and a fraction of the original cost. The book looked like new and came in a
   timely manner.



2. When life deals a severe blow, it's one thing to hear "you'll be all right," but another to hear "you'll be blessed." "The Blessings of Brokenness" is a reassuring blend of grace and truth that ministers both to the emotions and to the mind. Stanley shares reasons, obstacles, processes, and blessings of being broken. While offering truth to hold on to, the book has the relational tone of a compassionate friend, rather than a detached, academic counseling guide. It's small size, substance, and tone make the book a good choice for giving to those in pain, including grief. (It's also available in audio, a format that could be useful, since sometimes reading even a small book might be too much exertion for a friend who feels like [...], pierced, pummeled, shattered, or just plain world-weary.)



3. Dr. Charles Stanley writes prolific prose about finding the blessing in everyday occurance. This is a comfort book. Buy it.



4. My son has been struggling with a broken marriage, and the resulting loss of his job, his home, and his pets, as well as the "one person who he thought would never hurt him, and the one who hurt him the most" for the past 9 months. It seemed there was nothing more I could do or say to get him through his days without extreme sadness and lack of self esteem. A good friend of mine suggested this book, and it has literally turned his life and his attitude around. I asked him if I could please read it when he was done, because I am so amazed that one book could have such an impact! Whatever Dr. Stanley has shared with him has certainly given him new hope, and I can't thank him enough for sharing his wisdom!



5. I write as a Catholic, who strongly disagrees with certain of Dr. Stanley's doctrines, such as his notion of eternal security, but I find that he offers very sound and wise advice in a number of areas of the spiritual life, and one of these areas is the problem of suffering.
   
   The main portion of this book walks the reader through the sufferings and profound setbacks endured by many of the great figures in the Bible, such as Joseph and Moses. Stanley's exposition of these stories, in themselves, is comforting to the suffering reader -- he sees that others have walked the path before him.
   
   Importantly, Stanley makes no false promises about escaping from suffering. While he encourages the reader to pray, and to maintain hope and faith, he does not offer false assurance that such prayer will inevitably alleviate suffering.
   
   Finally, Stanley offers a well-thought-out discussion of the benefits of suffering - how, painful though it can be, it allows us to grow in spiritual maturity.
   
   There is much else that can be said about this book. It is written simply and straightforwardly, but with penetrating insight and wisdom by a man who obviously has thought and prayed a great deal on the subject. It is also written with great warmth, and is a comforting book to read, reflecting, I'm sure, Stanley's long experience as a pastor.
   
   As a closing aside, I might mention that as someone who has been immersed in Catholic life, practice and sensibility since childhood, it seems to me that Stanley's take on suffering is very Catholic indeed! There is very little if anything in this book that is contrary to Catholic teaching on the subject -- whether formal doctrinal teaching, or the informal teaching found in the writings of the saints. The Lord has planted the thought in my heart that Charles Stanley should be a Catholic, and that is something I pray for.

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 Antagonists in the Church: How to Identify and Deal With Destructive Conflict.

1. I attended an outreach conference. This book was the first to sell out on the book table. Pastors think they are called to keep everyone happy. They have no idea about dysfunctional antagonists who first put you on a pedestal and then tear you down later when you somehow fail them and their agendae. Haugk counsels church leaders not to be paranoid, but to trust their sixth sense, too. Chapters four and five on the makeup and modus operandi of the antagonist are the key portion of the book. Sadly, antagonists, or potential antagonists, exist in every congregation. While this book will help you understand what is happening, it may not enable you to counter the destructive actions of that antagonist entirely. There is not always a happy ending.



2. No one who has had to personally dealt with antagonistic individuals in a church setting or watched the damage such people can create will be able read Kenneth Haugk's book with anything less that a sigh of relief in realizing that such people are not reacting to some failure in your Christian conduct, but would act this ways with anyone.
   
   The author provide excellent material and explainations for why these type of people must be meet with opposition from the entire body of the congergation and not just the pastor and church board members. This advise run contrary to the way most churches try and handle conflict doing their utmost to avoid involving the entire congergation and yet the method of involving limited personel leaves the congergations at risk and unwittingly plays into the hands of the antagonist who has no concern like you do about trying to protect the weak and nieve, indeed the antagonist has no qualms about recruiting just such ones as followers. In the author's words, "Turning the other cheek and letting the antogonist continue to behave disruptively is the wide and easy road that leads to destruction."
   
   My only real complaint is that the examples were mostly of congergational members being antagonistic. This is understandable as it is the most common situation, but dealing with an associate minister who was antagonistic it would have been nice to have a little more informations on leaders who become antagonistic.
   
   Most useful were sections on how to conduct interviews with antagonists. using authority, documentation, and to leave or not to leave.
   
   If you have ever had to deal with antagonists you are going to wish you'd had this book. If you are dealing with antagonists, you NEED the book. Finally if you are a minister or church leader, board member, etc. and haven't had to face an antagonist, praise God for his mercy and read this book so you can be prepared for what's coming. Rare is the minister or church that escapes them and blessed is the church whom's leaders and members are prepared to effectively deal with it.



3. I found this book to be very enlightening in dealing with antagonism in the church. It is well organized and well written and very informative. I am having my elders read the book so that they can understand the dynamics behind conflict and how to deal with it. I wish I would have read it years ago before some of the church discipline issues we have had to deal with already. Many of those issues could have been avoided.
   
   Frank



4. For a church that is in conflict, this book will help keep you sane.



5. An outstanding book. It describes these people perfectly. A must read for every Christian worker in today's society.

4 comments about Martin Luther : Selections From His Writings.

1. What a wonderful introduction to Martin Luther! If you're thirsty for his writings, this is the book you should start with. Searching for books by him usually turns up many expensive volumes, meant for preachers, not laymen. That's why I'm so glad I found this book. It's laid out perfectly, to give you a wonderful idea of who Luther was, the Reformation, and, most importantly, his theology. Every Lutheran should be firmly introduced to Luther (no matter how obvious it seems, it doesn't happen enough), especially those fundamentalists of the Missouri Synod and Lutheran Brethren who have drifted so far from him and the Gospel of Christ. This is a wonderful book. Take it from an ELCA pastor. This book will show you. I'm seriously considering giving a copy to each of my confirmation students every year. Let Grace reign, not legalism and judgement.



2. If you've never read any of Luthers works before, you should read this book. There has never been a stronger writer on the subject of faith, than Martin Luther -excepting maybe for moses or St.Paul.Try this book or "The basic theological writings of ML" -I am not lutherine.



3. Dillenberger presents a selections of treatises, Biblical commentaries, and sermons sensibly arranged with a good introduction. Two missing works were the Small Catechism and his speech at the Diet of Worms ("Here I stand ... I cannot do otherwise"). In three key works from 1520 "An appeal to the ruling class of German Nationality", "The Pagan Servitude of the Church" and "The Freedom of a Christian", Luther develops (re-discovers?) the doctrine of justification by faith and emphasis on Scripture. Luther steers from a legalistic life of a Christian ("Beware lest you make Christ into a Moses"). He vigorously attacks the practice of indulgences, Papal Supremacy and the papal court: "At present there is a crawling mass of reptiles, all claiming to pay allegiance to the Pope, but Babylon never saw the life of these miscreants". At times he practices his own demagoguery; of St. James he does "not hold it to be of apostolic authorship".

   Luther attempts to remove the differences between cleric and public classes by opening the Eucharist to everyone and his German Bible made Scripture available to German peasantry. Luther grants spiritual rights to the individual, and states importance of the Christian community, but he did not extend this politically, and should not be viewed as advocating political democracy. The "Appeal to the ruling class" was popular among the nobility because it provided justification for not sending money to Rome.

   After reading St. Augustine's Confessions, it is interesting to see how this Augustinian monk extends the idea of grace. The works on free will were the most paradoxical for me. He seems to argue both that without grace man is incapable of free will, but also that "God has taken my salvation out of the control of my own will".




4. I think this is just about the best introduction to Luther's writing around. It covers a pretty broad range of his writing, and seems to give a pretty good introduction to his theology and thought. Incidentally, "Freedom of a Christian" is worth the purchase price alone. It is simply the best discussion of faith and works that I have ever read. It is immenseley clarifying. I would recommend this highly, particularly since it is so inexpensive.

5 comments about Wounded Heart: A Companion Workbook for Personal or Group Use.

1. There are some insightful points made in this book, but it seems to turn every issue the survivor has into their own sinful shortcomings. Whether this has any basis or not it leaves the reader feeling completely invalidated, condemned, and frustrated. There is very little said that is compassionate. Also, the author tries too hard to impress the reader with his vocabulary in a very unpoetic way that is irritating beyond belief. On the Threshold of Hope is much kinder to survivors and offers more hope for healing and restoration.



2. I am so thankful for this book and the workbook. God has used this book, in my life, to reveal things within me that I did not know were there. I now realize that I went through life constantly protecting myself and functioning in a way that was completely unhealthy. My recommendation, to you, is do not pick up this book, unless you truely desire to be healed from the wounds of your past. Sometimes, before we can be healed, we have to be strong and be willing to face ourselves in entirety. It will take courage and strength. I would also recommend this book for anyone whose spouse or friend has been abused. It will allow a deeper understanding into what they are going through. I also believe that this book/workbook would be helpful to someone who has not been sexually abused, but has maybe been exposed to other types of abuse (mental,verbal, emotional, neglect) in their childhood.



3. This book broke open my heart for healing! An incredible writing of truth and got me in touch with my past that I was in denial about and my life today! I recommend it for anyone who is the least bit suspicious of sexual abuse in their past childhood.



4. The condition of the copies I ordered were pristine, and the speed with wich I received my order was very fast. I would and do recomend this vendor and Amazon to everyone.



5. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wanting to work through past sexual abuse (REQUIRES A WILLINGNESS TO STRUGGLE DEEPLY) or to understand the struggle of a loved one. Dan Allender writes with authority and gentle understanding. This book and the accompanying workbook have been incredibly valuable to me in dealing with my past abuse and understanding how to support other women who want to find healing. This should be a must read for pastors, counselors and anyone who is actively ministering to people.

5 comments about HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE.

1. this book is so informative on why hurt people hurt people. I never thought alot about why those people do what they do- with this book you will understand in more depth and clarity what is behind their motives and you will be surprised at the reasons. Sandra Wilson is an awesome author and her books are well worth the read.



2. Sandra Wilson has written a winner here. I read this book in 2004 and have decided to read it again.This book ministers and provides healing at the same time. It helps you to understand yourself and others.



3. If you are looking into human behavior and the "why's", this is an excellent book. Gave one to my best friend who is a counselor working with abused and neglected children and with families whose children are in foster care, and she can't order enough copies for her adult cients. Like me, she feels this is one of the best books available for understanding ourselves and others. I read and re-read it, finding myself, my family members, and my friends (but mostly myself) all through this book. Great insights for the lay person.



4. 
   Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com, 3/08
   The title of this book says it all, Hurt People Hurt People. People who have been hurt do tend to hurt others, sometimes knowingly and sometimes unknowingly. As I read this book, I kept thinking about people that have been sexually abused and the proven fact that most abusers were abused. "Hurt people commonly use anger to disguise and deflect their guilt and grief." We have all been hurt in some way in our life.
   Hurt People Hurt People deals with the emotional and spiritual hurts that scar people. I could relate to many of the statements in chapter three "Hurt by the Unprepared and Unavailable." Sandra D. Wilson writes in a simple easy-to-understand manner; she uses wit and wisdom to impart her message, offering hope and understanding. The healing that hurt people need may not happen overnight; it takes years for the hurts to heal, and only Jesus Christ can heal them.



5. This is an excellent book. A must read at least once and perhaps many times over.