5 comments about Sacred Choices: Thinking Outside the Tribe to Heal Your Spirit.

1. This book is a difinitive work on how medical intuitives can help someone understand the roles of thought and our beliefs in our ultimate satisfaction with life. It helps one understand how our inner soul needs to nurtured and given the freedom from our societal conditioning to pursue happiness and fulfillment.
   
   This book comprehensively covers a definition of how intuitive coaching helps a person realize what their impediments are that one cannot see because tribal beliefs are subtle and so conditioned and ingrained that we hold them in our minds without knowing it. An intuitive can bring these into our consciousness and we can then "work on ourselves" and move forward with our lives.
   
   A fantastic book to show how you canot heal without pinpointing what you are thinking that is getting in your way!



2. I'm sorry, but I had to quit reading this book after page 25. Ms. Nani repeatedly regurgitates phrases and thoughts are are just plain common sense. This may be a good book for folks that need their hands held and reminded about behaviors, feelings, moments of self-doubt, etc., but attributing one's personal conflicts to some kind of competition between society (or the Tribe) and what your inner voice (also known as commmon sense or intuition) is telling you then proceeding to give you ways of quieting the conflict through the realization of these contradictions smacks of pop psychology and reminds me (at least) of a lot of realizations I made while as a young adult. We will always have contradictions in almost all parts of our lives and her approach to resolving them is naivé at best.



3. Amazing! It is so easy. Out of all the books I have read, workshops I have attended, this is the only tool that has worked for me. My life has totally changed and I resonate with joy and happiness. God sent us the most spectacular gift in Christel. We are so lucky to have her as a teacher. She is the real thing.



4. could give a bit more detail beyond the affirmations as to how to work past your past but overall a thought provoking, well written book.



5. This book will change the way you live your life. Once you rewrite your tribal beliefs you can begin to live your life in alignment with your spirit. What that means is that you no longer do things that are not raising your vibration or allowing you to be happy. For example, if you have a tribal belief that "blood is thicker than water" or that you must spend the holidays with family members who argue, are miserable, and who bring you down because "they are family and of course I have to stay with this ritual because what will people think if I don't come to the holiday gathering,etc?" You can rewrite this belief:"It's reasonable to believe that I can send a card to Aunt Milly and family with my love & blessings this holiday season and spend the time with a close friend instead." This lets my family know I love them(card)& I don't have to be in their drama, yet will do something that brings me joy & a high vibration to stay healthy & happy(be with my friend).

2 comments about Enjoy the Ride: How to Experience the True Joy of Life.

1. Reading the book and after hearing Steve in person got me to thinking. The title says it all. In a rapid paced lifestyle we tend to lose sight of enjoying life and the ride we are on. After reading this and listening to Steve it becomes quickly clear how much stress we put on ourselves and just keep adding it on. He brings home the idea of enjoying our ride. It is a must read and if you have the chance GO SEE HIM!!! Better yet if you own a company bring him in to speak.



2. I bought this book after seeing Steve Gilliland speak at our Staff development day. He is a phenomenal speaker and makes you laugh and cry at the same time. He really shows you how you need to just enjoy life and the experiences it brings. Don't be so critical of others and just "enjoy the ride". I bought this book for my husband who needed to hear something positive since his job has really been getting him down. This book is an easy read and I actually read it outloud on a car trip so that he would be able to benefit from the book along with me. If you ever get a chance to see Steve Gilliland speak GO!

No comments about Reordered Love, Reordered Lives: Learning the Deep Meaning of Happiness.

5 comments about The Greatest Salesman in the World.

1. I now know why this book has sold so many copies. This is a timeless book that will help you understand your place in the world. I wanted to read it for professional reasons but wish I had it long ago to help me with life in general. This is a great book for anyone. No matter where you are in your life.



2. This is an awsome cd and the author is the best. The shiping was great as well. I got this shipment 2 days before I expected it.



3. This book was a total waste of my time....Og Mandino spent almost the entire fist CD talking about himself before even touching the story of greatest salesman... I kept waiting and waiting to get something from the story until I just couldn't take anymore. I turned it off!! It was awful!!



4. This is an excellent book and I wish that I have read it much earlier in life. I think that this book should be read/listen by everyone even if you are not in sales.



5. This audio book is great! I recomend listening to the scrolls every morning on your way to work or while working out.

5 comments about Unpacking Forgiveness: Biblical Answers for Complex Questions and Deep Wounds.

1. I don't think that there are many issues that come up more often than forgiveness. I sense this every time I speak about it. I can sense that I'm talking about an issue that is real for every person who is present.
   
   Learning how to forgive isn't easy. Hurts often run deep; some situations that demand forgiveness are almost unspeakable. How does one forgive when the offense is so great, and the wound is so deep? To make things even more complicated, people who teach about forgiveness often offer conflicting answers. Not only is forgiveness difficult, but it's also frequently misunderstood.
   
   Given these difficulties, I suspect I'll be using Unpacking Forgiveness quite a bit in the coming years. It's written by a pastor - Chris Brauns - and it reminds me what good pastoral practice should look like:
   
   * It's biblical - I've heard a lot of opinions about forgiveness. Brauns, thankfully, is driven by Scripture rather than his own views. It's hard to find anything in the book that isn't grounded in Scripture.
   
   * It's clear - There's a lot of fuzzy thinking about forgiveness. I know; there was some fuzziness in my thinking when I began this book. For instance, many of us fall into a therapeutic model of forgiveness, which makes forgiveness about our emotions rather than a relationship. Brauns does a good job of untangling the issues and clearly communicating which approaches are right, and why it matters.
   
   * It's practical - This is not some abstract treatise. Anyone struggling with the forgiveness can pick up this book and immediately benefit. It answers practical questions about when (and when not to) confront, how to go about forgiving, how to respond to the unrepentant, how to conquer bitterness, and more.
   
   * It's sensitive - Brauns sometimes has hard things to say, and when he does, you can feel him wince. He's committed to telling the truth, even though he knows it's sometimes not what we want to hear. You get the sense that he cares.
   
   * It's gospel-based - Brauns takes us to the gospel. Human forgiveness is ultimately related to divine forgiveness, and rooted in God's grace.
   
   Bruans helps us understand that while we should always offer forgiveness and show love, forgiveness cannot take place until it is accepted by the other party. Forgiveness is more than an emotion; it is a transaction between two parties. This helps us avoid some of the problems that come from automatic, therapeutic models of forgiveness.
   
   In short, forgiveness is one of the most important, practical topics out there, and Unpacking Forgiveness is the clearest, most biblical and practical thing I've read. It untangles an important issue, and I hope it is widely read and applied.



2. This excellent and very Biblical book on forgiveness would make an excellent resource to be used for small group study. There are study questions and a quiz at the beginning. The topic is one that everyone has encountered the need to consider on a personal level.



3. What a wonderful reference of Scriptures coupled with powerful and compelling real life stories! Although there are many true life accounts and times when Rev. Brauns shares some of his own struggles, the teaching in this book was not based upon personal experience or opinion. Every point is very clearly backed up with plenty of Scripture references. It is not only for those struggling to forgive, but it is for every person who would examine themselves next to the Scriptures and expose heart problems that may lead to bitterness, pride, and unforgiving attitudes, along with the dire consequences of choosing them.
   Rev. Brauns makes the study of forgiveness uplifting and inspiring. By complimenting Piper's books with the same premise (God being most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him), Rev. Brauns gave me hope for the hardest circumstances that could be presented in life. The truth of Scripture so clearly laid out gave me every reason to want change in my life and want it because I know it is what will make me truly happy. The practical applications from personal example gave me a starting line and motivated me. I have taken truth presented in this book and have been able to easily apply the concepts gleaned thanks to this powerful work.
   I plan to read through it again as an in depth study.



4. You do not need to live long in this world before you will accumulate a nearly endless list of people to whom you owe forgiveness. Even young children quickly begin to sin against others and have to ask forgiveness (just as my two-year old had to seek forgiveness from her sister yesterday for tearing a page from her new Bible). And though Christians speak often of forgiveness extended to them by God, they speak far less often of forgiveness offered to others. In Unpacking Forgiveness, Chris Brauns provides "biblical answers for complex questions and deep wounds." And really it is only God's word that can unpack forgiveness, offering hope for true and lasting healing.
   
   Brauns offers teaching on forgiveness that counters much of the mainstream of Evangelical thought. Nowhere is this shown more clearly than in his discussion about the conditional nature of forgiveness. Where we are accustomed to Christians "forgiving" any and everyone, perhaps standing outside the scene of a school shooting with signs saying, "We forgive you," Brauns shows that this is not true forgiveness in a biblical sense. He distinguishes between a kind of therapeutic forgiveness that may make us feel better, and a genuine forgiveness that actually brings about reconciliation.
   
   The book is packed with illustrations, many of which are heartbreaking. You will read some stories that have been widely reported in the media (such as the story of the Willis family whose six children were killed in a van accident caused by a manufacturing defect) and others that will be new to you. But through each of the stories you will see remarkable examples of Christians both extending and receiving forgiveness.
   
   Brauns roots the human pattern of forgiveness in the divine model given to us by God. He offers the key principle that God expects believers to forgive others in the way that he forgave them. How, then, does God forgive? Brauns defines God's forgiveness in this way: "A commitment by the one true God to pardon graciously those who repent and believe so that they are reconciled to him, although this commitment does not eliminate all consequences." We see that God's forgiveness is gracious but not free; it is conditional (meaning that only those who repent and believe are forgiven); it lays the groundwork for reconciliation; and it does not eliminate all consequences. And this model of forgiveness, exemplified so clearly and so amazingly in the cross, is the pattern we are to imitate. Human forgiveness, then, is "a commitment by the offended to pardon graciously the repentant from moral liability and so to be reconciled to that person, although not all consequences are necessarily eliminated."
   
   The book continues into areas of application, asking when it is appropriate to simply overlook an offense and offering principles on how to actually go about seeking forgiveness and reconciliation. Brauns offers biblical wisdom on what to do if you find that you simply cannot forgive and he provides principles on responding to the unrepentant. He writes about bitterness, about the inability to get over a wrong committed and about those times that Christians simply cannot agree. A useful Appendix includes a grab-bag of questions and answers, and valuable ones at that (How can I be sure that God has forgiven me? How can I forgive myself? Should adultery always be confessed?).
   
   There are few things more unnatural and few things more holy than forgiveness. Living as we do in a fallen world, we are given endless opportunities both to extend and to seek forgiveness. In Unpacking Forgiveness, Chris Brauns eschews the easy answers and looks to the Bible to provide God's wisdom on how and when we are to forgive. Relying on his experience as a pastor and on his deep knowledge of Scripture, he provides what is a logical, well-illustrated book on the subject. With humor at times and appropriate gravitas at others, Brauns leads the reader first to understand and then to apply what the Bible teaches on forgiveness. Because it deals biblically with a subject of universal importance, any reader can benefit from reading Unpacking Forgiveness. I recommend that you do just that. This is an excellent book you will not want to overlook.



5. Many Christian people who have been offended wonder what to do regarding the matter of forgiveness. Didn't Jesus, looking upon His tormentors from the elevated view of the cross, while experiencing excruciating pain that they had caused pray, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do?" Based upon the example of God, how are we to forgive? Unpacking Forgiveness shines the wonderful light of God's Word upon this question explaining the principles of biblical forgiveness with great precision and clarity. We learn that forgiveness is not conditional but conditioned upon repentance and faith in Christ. In an age full of error and faulty theological thinking, this book represents the study of a pastor who has studied to show himself approved unto God, a workman who needs not to be ashamed having rightly divided the Word of Truth. This book will be a tremendous help and provide valuable answers on forgiveness to those who choose to unpack its contents. Michael Mosier 10/22/2008

5 comments about The Dance: Moving to the Deep Rhythms of Your Life.

1. The Dance is a great book. I enjoyed it from the first page to the last. Oriah is not just a writer; she is an artist, with a new perspective on life, and on events. Her thoughts flow smoothly, as if you were reading something you wrote, or something you already knew to be true. I am going to say it again, she is an artist.
   
   Some parts of the book, you won't help but read out loud to someone you care for. I did that with my mother, and some other times with a friend of mine. Both of them want to borrow the book.
   
   This book will help you dream, and here I will quote something from the author, as she wrote "To dream is to create the stories of how we live our lives, and these are the stories our children's children will remember. I write with as much honesty and frankness as I can, because I want to offer stories of being present with what is. I recite poetry when I speak, because I want offer beauty and the power of art to remind us of who and what we are. I share personal stories, because I want to cocreate a story of intimacy and cultivate our capacity for compassion in dealing with out human failings. I tell love stories because I want to learn how to love well." (p151)
   
   I will buy The Call, and I know it will be as good as the Invitation and The Dance. And hopefully one day in the future I will make it to one of Oriah's retreats.



2. Within the pages of this beautiful little book, the reader finds magic, truth, beauty and healing.
   
   As an author, Chinese Medicine & Healthy Weight Management, and healer, I recommend this book highly to my patients and friends, as well as to you.



3. I am a clinical therapist and use this book to inspire adolescent and young adult women in their journey! This entire trilogy is priceless for anyone who is interested in being blessed by watching another soul "unfold" and take flight! I love hearing about Oriah's metamorphasis... i can see her "grow up" throughout her trilogy! Watching her go full circle in her discoveries touches my heart and inspires my soul. She is human and she is courageous enough to share her story. I recommend you read all three... The Invitation, The Dance and The Call. Thank you Oriah!



4. In the world of self-help books, the message is often variations of the same thing - work harder to improve yourself; be kinder; be more loving; focus your attention; change, change, change.
   The Dance is quite different. Oriah asks you, "What if there is no need to change, no need to try and transform yourself into someone who is more compassionate, more present, more loving or wise? How would this affect all the places in your life where you are endlessly trying to be better?"
   I really loved this book because it encourages the reader to just be who they are, because who they are is just fine. It's not that the author doesn't believe in the power of change, rather she promotes the idea that the moment we let go of our need to become "better," then everything in life will simply unfold as it should.
   What I especially liked about this book was Oriah's down-to-earth manner of writing. Unlike so many other authors of the same genre, she doesn't pretend to have all the answers - in fact, she is rather self-deprecating. She gives examples in her life where she really did screw up, but I think that this makes her message more meaningful, and a whole lot more human.
   
   
   
   
   Zara Stevens
   Boy Meets Girl: A Pocketful of Wedding Stories



5. This is an amazing book. If you loved "The Invitation" you will love this book.

5 comments about The Teachings of Abraham Well-Being Cards.

1. It's not what you read or how much you read thats important - but being alive and staying on track is healthy for our mind - these inspiration keep me on track and when i talk on the phone to a friend i randomly chose a card which inspires me ... try it for your self ... Thanks Esther and Jerry "again"



2. I read all the wonderful reviews, especially the one from Janet, and decided to buy the cards but these cards do not reflect that quality. To me they look like they were done in a rush just to make money. The pictures on them are very cheap and there is nothing uplifting or inspirational about them. There is no booklet that would go with the cards which is a great loss. The text of the cards is sometimes inspirational but usually it is just something we heared already so many times. I so much lack vibrations that would carry you beyond the words you read, something that is always present when writting is channeled. I truly do not understand how Janet Boyer could write what she did about the cards. It is not true. There is nothing uplifting or new about them. Just sentences we know and ugly pictures. The author did not even made an efford to write a booklet for it.
   
   I feel that Janet Boyer must be a beginner in channeled teachings because no one who is familiar with channeled material could not call this a master piece. All these words has been written for so many times. For example "Omni reveals the four principles of creation" from John L. Payne is also a channeled book on the same topic. All the cards feel like copied from this book but without the original energy.
   
   I believed Janet and bought the cards. Me and my clients, we were very disappointed.



3. I just sat down and slowly went through the whole deck while listening to meditation music. Card by card, my spirits began to lift. I even found myself smiling and laughing a bit, which is kind of rare for me as I have been incredibly negative in recent years.
   
   I know now that I will use these cards a lot to lift my spirits and assist in my deliberate creation of my reality.
   
   These cards are great, because, after you have listened to and read some of the Abraham material, to the point where you understand all of the basics, then these cards will serve as quick and easy reminders on all of the points that Abraham makes.
   
   If you need your spirits lifted, this will definitely do the trick. And try it with inspirational, instrumental music, such as new age and hearts of space.



4. I now know when I'm being to assertive or not assertive enough; when to back off and when to move in. I'm already practicing a lot of the methology and will give it it's 5th star when I'm successful



5. My life seemed to be spinning out of control due to medical issues and job issues and on and on. I had read the book, "Ask and It Is Given" by Esther and Jerry Hicks and loved it. So, I expected no less from these cards. Each day, I randomly select a card and then I keep that card with me throughout the day, referring to it. It has both opened my eyes to what is wonderful in my life, and brought me amazing peace when faced with some obstacles. I believe that the card I get each day is given to me for a reason...and so far the cards are 100% on target. Highly recommend.

1 comments about Spiritual Combat: How to Win Your Spiritual Battles and Attain Peace.

1. This book is an extremely valuable resource in growing in the spiritual life. Everyone has their own obstacles that prevent them from growing closer to God. Dom Scupoli aids the reader in a step-by-step fashion on how to destroy those obstacles and temptations that come in life. He has us better know ourselves, while keeping the focus on God, that we may fight the good fight. Written in an easy-to-read format, anyone can win their spiritual battles with the help of this book. St. Francis de Sales read this book, and even carried it in his pocket for 18 years! A definite recommend!

5 comments about Forgiving Our Parents, Forgiving Ourselves: Healing Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families.

1. I always thought I was the one in the family who was *not* in denial - the one who called things as they saw them, but this book showed me that I too, had been in denial.

   I'd hit parts of this book that were so upsetting or so revealing that I had to set the book aside for a time and think deeply about what I'd read.

   And it relieved me of tons of guilt and shame I'd carried for years. Quite frankly, this book was an answer to prayer, but it took some wading through the mire and muck to get to the fresh, pure waters.

   After reading one chapter and doing an exercise, I recalled a painful incident when a family friend harmed me and I told my father about it and he didn't even want to hear about it. My father accused me of being a liar.

   Subsequently, I made some poor choices in life and I'd always kind of wondered how I'd wandered down that bad path. Stoop's book helped me connect some of the random looking dots and see what happened, why it happened, and why it is okay to forgive myself and forgive the others who let me down.

   First and foremost, this is a book about healing. The very last chapter though, is rich. It's a section you'll want to read again and again.




2. I always thought I was the one in the family who was *not* in denial - the one who called things as they saw them, but this book showed me that I too, had been in denial.

   I'd hit parts of this book that were so upsetting or so revealing that I had to set the book aside for a time and think deeply about what I'd read.

   And it relieved me of tons of guilt and shame I'd carried for years. Quite frankly, this book was an answer to prayer, but it took some wading through the mire and muck to get to the fresh, pure waters.

   After reading one chapter and doing an exercise, I recalled a painful incident when a family friend harmed me and I told my father about it and he didn't even want to hear about it. My father accused me of being a liar.

   Subsequently, I made some poor choices in life and I'd always kind of wondered how I'd wandered down that bad path. Stoop's book helped me connect some of the random looking dots and see what happened, why it happened, and why it is okay to forgive myself and forgive the others who let me down.

   First and foremost, this is a book about healing. The very last chapter though, is rich. It's a section you'll want to read again and again.




3. I thought this book just tread the same path as John Bradshaw (whom he quotes) with a few biblical examples thrown in. I didn't find anything in this book that I hadn't seen before.



4. Dr. David Stoop speaks in terms that may resonate with engineering-types.

   He describes families in a systems approach using language such as "homeostasis", "action-reaction", and "non-linear systems".

   As an example, we cannot react to a family problem/dysfunction in an "action-reaction" or "linear" manner. We must realize that each member plays a distinct role, essential for maintaining the homeostasis (i.e., thermostat) of the family system. Thus, each role must be examined prior to formulating a conclusion about the problem. He and James Masteller contribute many examples that support this hypothesis.

   This book is essential if you are dealing with any type of emotional malady--depression, anxiety, anger, bitterness, stress, etc. Chances are likely that these maladies have found root through a family dysfunction that may have occurred years ago!

   The workbook found in the book's epilogue is practical if one is *serious* about dealing with a dysfunction.




5. The real life examples in this book helps one to see the damage that have occurred within the family. This book will help adult children of dysfunctional families re-learn healthy ways of communicating.

1 comments about Crossing the Desert: Learning to Let Go, See Clearly, and Live Simply.

1. In his latest work, Dr. Wicks advises those seeking wisdom from the desert fathers and mothers to "read, underline, write out what we've underlined, study, think...absorb, practice." I suggest the same approach to Crossing the Desert. From the first chapter, Wicks continually draws parallels between the fourth century culture the Christian ammas and abbas wished to escape and that of the twenty-first century. He illustrates his points with stories from his personal and professional life and passages written by spiritual leaders and seekers of all faiths. With deeper, more focused reading we see that he is writing about total conversion and the freedom it brings, not simply offering a few add-ins for our bag of spiritual tricks.