Christian Living Books - Page 13

The confessions of St. Augustine (Universal library)

Augustine

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 46 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

In his own day the dominant personality of the Western Church, Augustine of Hippo today stands as perhaps the greatest thinker of Christian antiquity, and his Confessions is one of the great works of Western literature. In this intensely personal narrative, Augustine relates his rare ascent from a humble Algerian farm to the edge of the corridors of power at the imperial court in Milan, his struggle against the domination of his sexual nature, his renunciation of secular ambition and marriage, and the recovery of the faith his mother Monica had taught him during his childhood.
Now, Henry Chadwick, an eminent scholar of early Christianity, has given us the first new English translation in thirty years of this classic spiritual journey. Chadwick renders the details of Augustine's conversion in clear, modern English. We witness the future saint's fascination with astrology and with the Manichees, and then follow him through scepticism and disillusion with pagan myths until he finally reaches Christian faith. There are brilliant philosophical musings about Platonism and the nature of God, and touching portraits of Augustine's beloved mother, of St. Ambrose of Milan, and of other early Christians like Victorinus, who gave up a distinguished career as a rhetorician to adopt the orthodox faith. Augustine's concerns are often strikingly contemporary, yet his work contains many references and allusions that are easily understood only with background information about the ancient social and intellectual setting. To make The Confessions accessible to contemporary readers, Chadwick provides the most complete and informative notes of any recent translation, and includes an introduction to establish the context.
The religious and philosophical value of The Confessions is unquestionable--now modern readers will have easier access to St. Augustine's deeply personal meditations. Chadwick's lucid translation and helpful introduction clear the way for a new experience of this classic.

Here If You Need Me: A True Story

Kate Braestrup

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 82 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

No Depth - Reader's Digest 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Well written. Prose was warm, welcoming, open... like a chaplain. The author strikes me as thoughtful, introspective - a seeker. I liked her voice, her sensibility, her intelligence, her pragmatism, her joy and her sense of humor. Being a widower myself, I was especially interested in her book - though I rarely read spiritual (i.e. inspirational) stories. And I learned a few things. For example, I never considered the discrimination chaplains endure (regarded as part cop, part clown) or the intangible authority they posses (collar, prayer). But though sometimes engaging, the book left me flat. Sense the author intended to write about a spiritual quest, yet her story read more like a sermon (complete with parables featuring Samaritans and villains, triumphs and tragedies, morals and psalms). And like most sermons, there was insight - even wisdom - but no soul searching, no epiphany. In short, the author did not get personal. I was left feeling I did not really know anyone - not her family, friends, old husband, new husband, or even the game wardens. She mentions, but does not explore, why so many of her fellow students in seminary school had just suffered personal loss like her. Nor does she explore how or when she decided to start dating... the awkwardness of being a middle-aged mother & widow looking for a partner, sleeping with another man, and having to tell her kids about her new friend -- excruciating moments for most single parents. Finally it would have been interesting to delve deeper into the paradox of her new life. The author freely admits she would not be a chaplain if not for her husband's death. What if going back in time and saving her husband's life meant she would must go back to her old life and remain a full-time mom (no seminary, no new friends, no new relationships, no new husband) - would she give it all up? Or what if her husband suffered a coma (instead of death), then made a full recovery and insisted she go back to being a full-time Mom? Or what if the future was revealed and the author secretly learned her job would lead to an early death (e.g. accident)? Would she condemn her kids to face yet another tragedy? Or would she opt for a safer (and less fulfilling) job? I suspect the author would remain a chaplain in all of these scenarios. Is that righteous? Or selfish? What does that say her? And all of us?

Don't get me wrong, it's a decent book. But it could have been much more. The author quips she likes being a chaplain since it allows her to be interested in her ministry, but not invested. That's how she seems to have approached her book. She's interesting... but not invested.

Editorial Review:

HERE IF YOU NEED ME is the story Kate Braestrup's remarkable journey from grief to faith to happiness - as she holds her family together in the wake of her husband's death, pursues his dream of becoming a minister, and ultimately finds her calling as a chaplain to search-and-rescue workers. It is dramatic, funny, deeply moving, and simply unforgettable--an uplifting account offinding God through helping others, and of the small miracles that happen every day when a heart is grateful and love isrestored.

If..., (Questions For The Game of Life)

Evelyn McFarlane, James Saywell

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Not worth the money..... 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book has a few interesting questions, but for the most part, it was all things I had heard before.... just not what I was hoping for!

IF I had to recommend the Perfect books for any kind of Get-Together... 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The IF books are amazing. They're excellent icebreakers for all ages, great for spicing up holiday get-togethers with family, PERFECT for first dates or getting to know people, and wonderful resources for interviewing guests, celebrities, job applicants, etc!

I HIGHLY recommend the entire series... Just make sure you keep the IF3 & IF4 books set aside for separate situations. IF3 is GREAT for getting laid... NOT Great for learning about your grandparents' habits in the bedroom... & IF4 is perfect for grandparents... NOT perfect for getting someone hot & horny... LOL. Trust me on this!

Editorial Review:

In an elegant, two-color format, punctuated with intriguing drawings, If . . . poses hundreds of questions ranging from practical to maddening, moral to hilarious--which, if read alone, inspire self-exploration; if shared, spark fascinating discussions at gatherings, dinner parties, or meetings.

Who Stole My Church?: What to Do When the Church You Love Tries to Enter the 21st Century

Gordon MacDonald

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Nice Read 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The author of the book does a good job at highlighting the cultural shift that is taking place and how the older generations in the Church are reacting to it. This is not an academic piece. This narrative reads as a fictional account of a Church going through the changes that postmodernity has brought and asks itself how to deal with it. I found it valuable and a joy to read.

I can thoroughly recommend it!

Editorial Review:

Has your Church been Hijacked?

Millions of people in their fifties, sixties, and seventies feel their churches have been hijacked by church-growth movements characterized by loud praise bands, constant PowerPoint presentations, and cavernous megachurches devoid of any personal touch. They are bewildered by the changes, and are dropping out after thirty, forty, or fifty years in a congregation. It's a crisis!

In this fictional story, pastor and author Gordon MacDonald uses topical examples and all-too-familiar characters to reassure readers that it is possible to embrace change, and to demonstrate how that change can actually be a positive influence in their church. The church, he says, has always been in a state of change; it has been changing for the last two thousand years. It is time to embrace that change and use it further the Kingdom of God

Boundaries in Marriage

Henry Cloud, John Townsend

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Boundaries in Marriage 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I found the book most helpful in understanding the dynamics in a relationship and why a spouse can be hurt by things that would not bother me. It is so important to be truthful about feelings.

Boundaries in Marriage is a Must for every Marriage 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book should be read by every couple that is thinking of getting married, is married or has been married. This book is eye opening, spiritually uplifting and supportive. Anyone that has had a difficult time correlating the bible to everyday life experiences (marriage for this book), needs to read this book. Boundaries in Marriage is an amazing tool. An absolute must read for anyone.

Great book! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I found this book to be very helpful. It was hard to put down once I started reading it.

Very helpful 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I found this book very helpful. It gave me great tips to help deal with situations in my marriage. It helped alot even though my husband was not interested in reading the book with me. It gave me tools to learn how to approach situations and help resolve issues.

Editorial Review:

Learn when to say yes and when to say no--to your spouse and to others--to make the most of your marriage.

The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters

Charles W. Colson, Harold Fickett

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 51 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Color me ambivalent... 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I applaud the book in general for its concise presentation of the main tenets of Christian faith.
The uncritical acceptance (endorsement?) of Roman Catholicism, however, makes me wonder if the co-authors are aware of RC departures from the faith on important doctrines which, together with distancing Church devices, necessitated The Reformation.

Needed 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

In a time when Christianity is infected with "truth is what you want it to be today but it might be different tomorrow" and living the faith is some sort of magical mystery tour, Colson and Fickett's new book is much-needed and should be read along with MacArthur's THE TRUTH WAR. Colson/Fickett remind us that God did not mumble in His word. He spoke clearly and the truths of scripture are the same today as they were when penned through inspired writers.

Editorial Review:

In this powerful book, Chuck Colson and Harold Fickett identify the unshakable tenets of the faith that Christians have believed through the centuries—truths that offer a ground for faith in uncertain times, hope and joy for those who despair, and reconciliation for a world at war with God and itself.

Courageous Souls: Do We Plan Our Life Challenges Before Birth?

Robert Schwartz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 63 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Fantastic book! 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

With my mother dying I had a lot of questions about the journey of souls. This book is packed with a lot of wonderful information and gave me a sense of calm and made me felt more accepting of situations and people in my life.

Editorial Review:

Courageous Souls explores the premise that we are all eternal souls who plan our lives, including our greatest challenges, before we re born for purposes of spiritual growth. The book contains ten true stories of people who planned physical illness, having handicapped children, deafness, blindness, drug addiction, alcoholism, losing a loved one, and severe accidents. Because very different life challenges are often planned for similar reasons, readers who have not faced these specific challenges will nevertheless see themselves - and their motivations as a soul - in these stories. As readers come to realize that they themselves planned their lives, suffering that once seemed purposeless becomes imbued with deep meaning. Wisdom may be acquired in a more conscious manner; feelings of anger, guilt, blame, and victimization are healed and replaced by acceptance, forgiveness, gratitude, and peace.

Running with the Giants: What the Old Testament Heroes Want You to Know About Life and Leadership

John C. Maxwell

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

"You can't stay the same and learn at the same time." 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Buy this book on tape; it is only 90 minutes long, perfect for your commute to work. The questions for personal reflection after each section will be missing but if you like the audio then spend a few extra bucks and pick up the paperback for the questions if you think you are missing out.
This Maxwell book talks about finishing a marathon in a stadium with a crowd cheering you on. I have actually seen something like this at the Atlanta Olympics back in 1996 when the final runner was more than a lap behind and the race was all but over. The crowd cheered the loudest not for the winners but for this last lone runner. At each turn the crowd acknowledged the talent that got him there even if in comparison it wasn't enough to get him the gold. I don't think there was a dry eye in the stadium. Maxwell takes this type of encouragement a step further and brings 10 Biblical Giants down from the crowd one by one to help the racer (you). They are: Noah, Esther, an unnamed servant girl, Joseph, Moses, Rebekah, Abraham, Nehemiah, Jonathan, and David. Each has a powerful lesson to share with you. Don't pass this opportunity up. If you have ever thought to yourself it would be nice to have a mentor to help me along the way - Then this book is for you!
After completing this book you will come to realize that the real power of this book is not in its length it is in the way it will make you think and feel about your life and its purpose.

Become "an apple seed planter" like John talks about.

Editorial Review:

How would the legendary figures in the Bible advise us today? We're running the race of our lives and it's a long one. We need encouragement along the way-a cheering grandstand or a personal trainer or two. John Maxwell reminds us that even in a modern world, the greatest inspiration is still found within the pages of the Old Testament. In RUNNING WITH THE GIANTS, Maxwell brings those great personalities to life. David would remind us how to overcome adversity. Noah would tell us not to fear doing the impossible. And Rebekah would urge us to give and serve generously. Each of these and the many other biblical figures Maxwell examines can motivate believers toward their personal best in the marathon of life.

The New Economic Disorder

Larry Bates

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Best expose on the "real" economy in years! 5 out of 5 stars.
34 of 38 people found this review helpful.

Dr. Bates really exposes the truth behind our currency and banking system and how it affects all of us in our daily lives. This is a must read for all trying to make heads or tails of the turmoil in our economy today. While it was written five years ago, the information and basic principles it uncovers are timeless and will be as true one hundred years from now as they are today. If you are concerened for your financial future or that of future generations, you will find solutions to the economic problems that we are facing today. For those who need to know what to do to protect their hard-earned assets, this is again, a must read.
I am impressed with this book and recommend that every household read a copy. It should be required reading for all business and economic majors.

I THANK GOD FOR THIS BOOK AND THE KNOWLEDGE HE GAVE L. BATES 5 out of 5 stars.
23 of 37 people found this review helpful.

THIS BOOK EXSPOSES FED.RESERVE,OUR GOVN'T,BANKS AND ETC. IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN THIS BOOK IS REVEALED IN THE BIBLE. SOME FOLKS MIGHT THINK THIS BOOK IS A JOKE BUT THEY ALSO THOUGHT NOAH WAS A JOKE ABOUT THE FLOOD. DO THE INVESTIGATION YOURSELF?

Editorial Review:

In this startling expose of the financial wipeout he believes is prophesied in the Bible, economist Larry Bates shows how you can get your finances in order for the coming troubled times.

3:16: The Numbers of Hope

Max Lucado

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The bible verse that still shakes the world today! 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

As the title of Mr. Max Lucado's "3:16: The Numbers of Hope" suggests, this book is almost entirely centered on the most famous bible verse, John 3:16. Mr. Lucado's writing style is very easy to read and digest and his use of analogies throughout the book provide an excellent context to some of the deeper meanings of this simple yet so complex bible verse.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 King James Version)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 English Standard Version)

You see references to this verse throughout your daily walk. People at sporting events hold it up for the television cameras, etc. But have you really ever sat down and thought about the profound meaning of this short verse? That is exactly what this book tries to do. While it does go too deeply into theology, it provides an excellent platform to build off of. Some people have complained in their review of the book about the fact of a lack of deeper study but I don't think that was the intended audience of this book.

Jesus turned the world upside down with his teachings and many argue that this quote is perhaps the cornerstone of Christianity. Contrary to many religious theologies this verse points out the fact that you can't "earn" your way to heaven. How could you? How could you ever good enough in the eyes the perfect being? Instead John 3:16 shows the beauty and easiness to receive eternal life. And yet we as human beings take it and make it difficult.

This is the third book I have read by Mr. Lucado. The other two were Facing Your Giants: A David and Goliath Story for Everyday People and And the Angels Were Silent: Walking with Christ toward the Cross (Chronicles of the Cross). I would also recommend both of these books.

Editorial Review:

If 9/11 are the numbers of terror and despair, then 3:16 are the numbers of hope. Best selling author Max Lucado leads readers through a word-by-word study of "John 3:16", the passage that he calls the "Hope Diamond" of scripture.3:16 will have a large, multi-faceted campaign, including: Multiple licensed products to further extend 3:16 at retail; partners thus far include Hallmark, Dayspring, Kerusso, and Bob Siemon Designs; 3:16 curriculum and church musical in development; 3:16 consumer music CD featuring top Christian music artists; 3:16 as the centerpiece of a global ministry initiative launched worldwide via simulcast on Palm Sunday, 3/16/08; Unprecedented release in several languages, including Spanish, German, Swedish, Dutch, Korean, Japanese, and Chinese; and multiple ancillary publishing products to include evangelism booklet, DVD priced for giveaway, children's product, and gift book.