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Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Jonathan Edwards

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Short, powerful, vivid imagery, great read 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

One of the most famous sermons ever given by one of the greatest theologians of our recent time and probably the greatest American-born theologian, this sermon by Jonathan Edwards was intended to be and remains to this day profound and hard-hitting. Invited by the pastor in Enfield, Connecticut to come and speak to his congregation - a collection of apathetic, spirit-less people completely unaffected by the Great Awakening of 1734-35 in New England. Edwards, himself a pastor of the First Church of Northampton, Massachusetts, delivered this message on July 8, 1741 with the object of presenting the truth of the current condition of those outside the saving grace of God as being in peril and subject to the divine wrath of an Almighty and Holy God. It was said that as Edwards spoke, he was interrupted several times by people moaning and crying out, "What must I do to be saved?" And while this sermon has received heavy criticism since that day, it continues to proclaim the awesome wonder of our God and His incredible grace and patience for all mankind.

Edwards begins his sermon with a proper perspective of the state of the nature of man - fallen from divine grace, now subject to divine wrath. He writes, "There is nothing that keeps wicked men out of hell, at any one moment, except the mere pleasure of God." Edwards wants every man to know that their sin has condemned them to an eternity without God and writes, "As the heart is now a cesspool of sin, so if sin were not restrained, it would immediately turn the soul into a fiery oven, or a furnace of fire and brimstone." Using incredibly visual imagery, Edwards warns the unrepentant that their own efforts are worthless and insignificant at best to prevent their eventual demise into the pit of hell. "Your wickedness makes you as heavy as lead; it drives you down, with great weight and pressure, toward hell. And if God were to let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf. At that moment, you will see that your health, your own care and prudence, your best contrivance, and all your righteousness, have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider's web has to stop a falling rock."

Edwards ends by sounding his clarion call to all sinners - that their fate is an eternity without the grace of God. "When you look forward, you will see a long forever, a boundless duration before you, which will swallow up your thoughts and amaze your soul; and you will absolutely lose all hope or confidence of ever having any deliverance, any end, any mitigation, any rest at all."

This short, but powerful, sermon is an excellent reminder of God's sovereignty and His grace and mercy - as John Newton near the end of his life said, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior." Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God will be such a reminder to those who know the grace of God and will be a sound and clear warning to all others of their pending fate.

Editorial Review:

Here reprinted in booklet form is Jonathan Edward's famous sermon delivered at Enfield on July 8, 1741: Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.

Christianity and Culture

T. S. Eliot

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

T.S. Eliot: an astounding writer 4 out of 5 stars.
61 of 63 people found this review helpful.

T.S. Eliot is known as one of the world's foremost poets and playwrights, but this book shows him as a brilliant essayist, philosopher, and theologian as well. This book consists of two essays: "The Idea of a Christian Society" and "Notes Toward the Definition of Culture." In these two essays, Eliot displays his mental prowess by cutting to the heart of the issues of culture in general in the second essay and specifically Christian culture in the first. His analysis of these subjects is very orderly, well-thought, and deeper than most any written today, even by sociologists and the like who make a career of studying these things. Eliot breaks culture down into three subclasses: individual, group/class, and whole society. He begins with the individual level of society, analyzing personality characteristics and the like, and moves his way up into group/class and then to the whole society, giving an extremely thoughtful and insightful argument into how these elements relate. Although this book was written over 50 years ago and isn't the most conventional look at these subjects, many of the things Eliot asserts are becoming obvious in today's society, proving him as not only a great writer but also as an accomplished thinker. He goes into great detail on class, geographic regions, sects, politics, religion, and education in relation to culture and society. While the writing is a bit more verbose and difficult than the average modern reader is used to, it is extremely logical; Eliot carefully builds each argument one step at a time. This order makes it possible to gain a great deal of understanding if the reader is willing to wade through the text and ponder what is written. I guarantee that even though many readers won't necessarily understand initially or perhaps agree with everything Eliot asserts in this book, anyone who reads it will end up with a far greater understanding of the workings of society. I recommend this book to anyone who is willing to be stretched in an intellectual way and anyone who seeks to gain a great insight into culture at its various levels and as a whole.

Editorial Review:

Two long essays: “The Idea of a Christian Society” on the direction of religious thought toward criticism of political and economic systems; and “Notes towards the Definition of Culture” on culture, its meaning, and the dangers threatening the legacy of the Western world.

Like a Thousand Suns: The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living, Volume II (The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living, Vol. 2)

Eknath Easwaran

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Beautiful 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

The Sanskrit, the poem, then the real life example of how to apply this spiritual wisdom is so beautifully written. It doesn't matter how often I read, or how far between reads, every time I open this book it applies perfectly to my life. It is a text for leading the good life with modern day examples. I've given this book to more people than any other and am so grateful it was recommended to me.

Not quite as wonderful as Volume I 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I found this volume a slightly harder read than the first volume. The author gets a bit preachy on the subject of nuclear disarmament and handgun control. The contemporary examples he brings up in his commentary can't hope to match the timeless grandeur of the Gita verses, but this is a small criticism. Overall, I found this volume valuable. This book (which contains the famous verse quoted by Oppenheimer: "I am become Death, destroyer of worlds,") gets into Lord Krishna explaining to Arjuna the wonderful and terrifying sides of who he really is, and the Way of Love through which to serve him.

Editorial Review:

India's timeless and practical scripture presented as a manual for everyday use. This is the second of three volumes and contains: Introduction, Chapters 7-12 of the Bhagavad Gita with commentary, followed by a Glossary of Sanskrit terms. 456 pages.

God's Guidance: Finding His Will for Your Life

Elisabeth, Elliot

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

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

Elisabeth Elliot did a fine job writing this book. She offers a lot of spiritually-mature common sense. If you're looking for A-B-C steps to follow, this isn't that. It isn't a checklist on how to get what you want from God. But she has a lot to say that will open your eyes to ways God may direct you. It's one of very few books besides the BIble I would call important to everyday Christian living. I bought this last copy to give our daughter, and I hope she finds it half as helpful as I do.

Editorial Review:

Where should one go to find advice and guidance for all of life's difficult questions? "I have found in the Bible plenty of evidence that God has guided people," writes Elisabeth Elliot. "I find, too, assurance that he is willing to guide me. He has been at it for a long time. His hand reaches toward me. I have only to take it." In God's Guidance, acclaimed author Elisabeth Elliot offers insightful thoughts, observations, and biblical insight to show how and why God guides his children. With compassion and sincerity, she invites readers to draw closer to God so they can walk confidently with him. Now with a study guide included, this practical book will inspire Christians of all ages to come to God for the big and little answers to life.

The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living Chapters 13 Through 18 (Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living)

Eknath Easwanran

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Live life with intention. 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

The Sanskrit, the poem, then the real life example of how to apply this spiritual wisdom is so beautifully written. It doesn't matter how often I read, or how far between reads, every time I open this book it applies perfectly to my life. It is a text for leading the good life with modern day examples. I've given this book to more people than any other and am so grateful it was recommended to me.

Gentle and Funny 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book is so easy to read! The author presents examples of the Gita's meaning from many sources and is obviously widely knowledgeable. How often do you find yourself laughing out loud at deep spiritual discussion? You will here.

Editorial Review:

India's timeless and practical scripture presented as a manual for everyday use. This is the third of three volumes and contains: Introduction, Chapters 13-18 of The Bhagavad Gita with commentary, followed by a Glossary of Sanskrit terms. 520 pages

All Hallows' Eve

Charles Williams

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The subtle, christian forerunner to the Twilight Zone? 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This is a ghost story, but not a horror story. You may get chills reading it, but not always from "the creeps". On the other hand, you may finish it wondering just what the heck you just read. I submit to you All Hallows' Eve-- definitely not for everybody.

All Hallows' Eve is Charles Williams' last novel, written and set in WW2 England. It starts shortly after the tragic deaths of two women friends, Evalyn and Lester, in a bizarre collision, and neither is aware at first that they have died. They wander a weirdly deserted London separately for a brief time before meeting up, which gives the author an opportunity to focus on Lester's inner spiritual journey as she slowly confronts some unattractive truths about herself and her important relationships with her husband and her friends. In a separate but intersecting storyarc, Lester's surviving husband and his artist friend cross paths with a popular cult leader, Simon Le Clerc. This disturbing figure has a hidden past that is revealed only to us, the readers, as the plot unfolds. He is shaping up to be something not unlike an antichrist of sorts who is conducting covert, occultic experiments on the artist's love interest, Betty Wallingford, who is the daughter of one of Le Clerc's most devoted followers.

Williams makes use of Betty's nighttime passages to scratch the surface of an alternate universe which Evelyn, Lester and (presumably) other newly-deceased inhabit. It is simply described as the City, and although it bears a surface resemblance to London, it is more of an infrastructure to London, or perhaps the Platonic Ideal of London...possibly something more. Many things in this realm tantalize us with glimpses of hidden spiritual truths, and time itself seems to have no linear requirement; past, present and future flashbacks occur without regard to conventional order. I was left with the sense that I would have liked to discover more about this City, and as this is my first Williams novel, who knows..he may indeed refer to it in his other stories.

I'm not sure what sort of person would be best prepared to read this final Charles Williams novel. The author (an Anglican, or so I've read) clearly gives his audience much credit, as he allows us to draw our own conclusions about either the allegorical or the literal truths he dallies with along the storyline; he never force-feeds or "preaches". Somebody moderately educated in various religious history and/or theology would recognize a lot of the hints and references Williams makes along the way to telling his story. I wouldn't say that you must be a Christian to appreciate it, but it might help. On the other hand, I would only recommend this book to a mature Christian who has some direct study of the bible under his belt and yet a non-legalistic attitude toward their christian fiction. Certainly the reader would benefit from an ability to appreciate mysticism.

All Hallows' Eve was recommended to me by A Reader's Delight, which appeals to readers who crave rare literary treasures from various genres. Williams' writing style is rich and many-layered, so that I may have to read All Hallows' Eve several times to extract everything I should from it in time. Take that under advisement, and if the shoe fits, do try.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle

Editorial Review:

Charles Williams had a genius for choosing strange and exciting themes for his novels and making them believable and profoundly suggestive of spiritual truths. Beneath the brilliant and imaginative surface of his "supernatural thrillers" lies a concealed and meticulously thought-out Christian message.

Secure in the Everlasting Arms

Elisabeth, Elliot

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A must-have devotional book! 5 out of 5 stars.
30 of 30 people found this review helpful.

I normally don't write reviews until I've completed the book. In this case, however, I'm so excited to recommend this book that I can't wait! In the Introduction, Elisabeth Elliot explains this book is a compilation of short articles that have appeared in her newsletter over the past 10 years or so.

I've only read 7 of the 2-4 page devotionals, but each one was excellent, and 2 of those have been life-changing. God has used them to speak to me right where I'm at, in such a powerful way! I can't wait to read the rest of the book, but I'm savoring it, reading only a couple chapters a day, so it's not over too quickly!

The chapters that mean so much to me are "Shoes of Iron" and "The Future is Not Our Province". I spent two days of my journaling/Bible study/prayer time journaling about "Shoes of Iron" and looking up related writings in other devotionals, etc. The more I read and wrote, the more I learned. I expect "The Future Is Not Our Province" to similarly inspire me when I sit down with pen and paper. These two devotionals alone would be worth the price of the book! At the end of each devotional, Elisabeth includes a quote from a Christian writer, mostly from long ago. It's fascinating to see how the writings of someone who lived in the 1600's relate so closely to how God is working in my life today. These quotes and prayers are a good jumping-off-point to learning about Christian classics.

This book would make an excellent gift for either the serious student or a busy person who has limited knowledge and/or time to meet with God. The chapters are meaty without being difficult to understand.

If you haven't read Elisabeth's book "Through Gates of Splendor", you should do so! In it, Elisabeth tells the story of how her husband Jim Elliot and several other men were martyred in the jungles of Ecuador in the late 1950's by the Auca Indians who they were trying to reach with the gospel. Her faith is so inspiring and the fact that she took her young daughter back down there to work amongst those people is nothing short of miraculous.

If you enjoy "Secure in the Everlasting Arms" half as much as I did, you will be richly blessed! Please see my other reviews of Christian books and music.

Editorial Review:

Elisabeth Elliot is a woman set apart by the Spirit of God. Her voice has been a trusted source of godly wisdom and encouragement in our home for more than thirty years."--Dennis and Barbara Rainey, Family Life In a life filled with uncertainty, Elisabeth Elliot clings to the God who never leaves her side. Through the deaths of two husbands, a life of travel and danger, and the raising of her daughter as a single parent, God provided Elliot with a security that could not have come from relying on the world. Readers have a rich opportunity to join this former missionary as she recounts some of the amazing events of her life and her reliance on God.

Take Your Time: How to Find Patience, Peace, and Meaning

Eknath Easwaran

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Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

An uplifting and enlightening guide 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Take Your Time: How To Find Patience, Peace & Meaning is the second edition of a classic self-help text by spiritual teacher Eknath Easwaran (1910-1999), originally published in 1994. Written for readers of all religious and spiritual traditions, as well as those of no religious affiliation, Take Your Time is not about any form of dogma, but rather a blend of insights drawn from Eastern and Western spirituality, to apply to the problems of modern life. Chapters mull the importance of focusing on one thing at a time, balancing work, play, relationships, duties, and spirituality, setting aside time for meaningful relationships, and discovering our own real nature within - "We are not imperfect physical creatures. Our essence is spiritual, and our greatest need is simply to discover our real nature." Easwaran's eight fold path of Meditation, Mantram, Slowing Down, One-Pointed Attention, Training the Senses, Putting Others First, Spiritual Companionship, and Reading the Mystics (the writings of great spiritual figures and the scriptures of all religions) is an uplifting and enlightening guide to higher spiritual awareness and the pursuit of contentment in daily life.

Editorial Review:

Speeded up, fragmented, impersonal, and exhausting — that’s life in a plugged-in, always-on-the-go world. Many people want to step back and take a break from the chaos, but training a frazzled mind to embrace calm isn’t easy. For more than 40 years, Eknath Easwaran dedicated himself to teaching the skills of a gentler, more human way of living. Take Your Time offers his proven techniques for improving health, relationships, and productivity in the midst of a busy lifestyle. Drawing on his strengths as a meditation teacher, he combines timeless stories with step-by-step teachings to help readers slow down, stay calm, and get a sense of life’s true purpose. He shows readers that the key to a more peaceful life isn’t necessarily changing how they work or what they do, but how they think. With humor and wisdom, he invites readers to step back from the hurry around them and find new paths to joy and serenity.

These Strange Ashes: Is God Still in Charge?

Elisabeth, Elliot

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

She's earned my respect 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

I've always thought Elisabeth Elliot was an exceptional woman. But after reading this book, I have a new found respect for her. It is easy to say God is sovereign.But when you have sacrificed the comforts of modern life and served God on his terms, you earn a whole new level of respect. This is an encouraging book. I am not a missionary, but a homeschooling mom. And this book spoke to my heart. Ms. Elliot speaks of four lessons of faith. They are bedrock. The last paragraph says, "Christ is sufficient. We do not need support groups for each and every separate tribulation. The most widely divergent sorrows may all be taken to the foot of the same old rugged cross and find there cleansing, peace and joy." It is so easy to be overwhelmed with life's situations, to think I am in a rut. This book is an uplifting reminder that we are not to be knocked off course by lifes trials. But to look at them as an opportunity for God to once again prove that his grace is sufficient.

Editorial Review:

In her first year as a missionary to a small group of native women in the Ecuadorian jungle, Elisabeth Elliot faced physical and spiritual trials. In These Strange Ashes, Elliot captures the mysteries and stark realities surrounding the colorful and primitive world in which she ministered. More than just a recounting of her early days, this is a beautifully crafted and deeply personal reflection on the important questions of life and a remarkable testimony to an authentic Christian commitment.