Book Description
Here is a clear scriptural case for the classic (and sometimes controversial) Christian doctrine of predestination. Through this view of a truly sovereign God, readers will see how sinfulness prevents man from choosing God on his own; instead, God must change people's hearts.
Customer Reviews:
If This Is Simple, So Am I!.......2007-09-22
I eagerly read this book as part of a study on predestination due to the promotion of it as a "simple, clear" exposition of a complex subject. My experience was not so glowing. I could not even understand what Sproul believes on the subject! It vascillates between the presentation of various viewpoints to the extent that I could not follow the path back to "home base." Clear as mud to me.
Discouraged as I read these other reviews, I can only conclude that I need to read it again.
Theological and philosophical realm of Calvinism.......2007-07-18
I remember when I first sat down to read Chosen by God, I completed it the same night! At that time, I was diligently studying the scriptures and reading everything that I could on the topic of predestination. Sproul has a delightful writing style that should be enjoyable for practically everyone, even if you are not reformed in your soteriological views.
This book touches on the theological and philosophical realm of Calvinism. If you are beginning your investigation of the topic, or in the middle of it, this book will be rewarding. It is not like reading Augustine or Calvin directly, but then again, that is not the intent of this book. Sprouls ministry fills in where Sunday school leaves off and seminary picks up.
Sproul is a Calvinist, not a hyper-Calvinist, and can help guard you from drifting to far in you theology. This book has already become a classis in our day and will provide you with a solid introduction to the doctrine of predestination.
Ever learning, never able to "get it" -.......2007-06-13
Calvinist... Reformed... Arminian... Predestination... !
I can almost hear the Apostles saying, "I thank God I baptized none of you."
The reason why such debates run rampant is because people will ever insist upon haggling words over works. Since the only BIBLICAL guarantee we have is that we can know each other by what we DO, no matter how interesting they are (like this one) writing books is of questionable value.
Have any of you guys ever done the mighty miracles Jesus said we would do? If not, how can we argue so much about things we obviously do not have enough FAITH to understand... let alone collect royalties on?
Oh well - Feel free to keep scratchin' each other's ears ye Romans - the rest of us are out and about our Father's business...!
Dynamite Book on Election.......2007-06-03
This is THE book on election that every Christian should read. I can't recommend this book any more highly. It will radically change your thinking regarding the doctrines of predestination and election. The freedom that comes from understanding this book is awesome.
Checkmate for the Arminians.......2007-04-25
What is so abominable about the Arminian-style free-will (to be distinguished from `freedom of the will' as in Jonathan Edwards' treatise') doctrine(s), a.k.a., the doctrine of autonomous self, is that it is blasphemously man-centered, which though Prof. Sproul skillfully refutes, but fails to expose the self-idolatrous spirit behind it. Arminians want a god they can manipulate to serve them as their lackey. This is why they accuse the biblical doctrine of the sovereignty of God as equivalent to treating them as puppets, because they want God to be their powerful puppet to make much of them. Prof. Sproul skillfully, soberly, but also humorously expounds, defends and answers some, if not most objections in regard to the biblical doctrine of the absolute sovereignty of God beginning with an excellent treatment on the Fall and the original sin to divine election and purpose behind everything God does, that is, to the praise of glorious grace in Christ, not to make much of men. On the other hand, I wish there were more coverage on human responsibility, despite God's sovereignty, both taught by the Bible. Nevertheless, Prof. Sproul has done an excellent job, though I would not call comprehensive, in defending the truth, desperately needed in our days of prevailing human autonomy, often hidden in the phrase `the right to choose', but manifested in many ugliness and acts of barbarity, as in abortion and same-sex marriage, whose proponents hail as `the right to choose'. Their insistence on their right to choose in their fallenness results in nothing but evil and sin, which is why the doctrine of total depravity (covered in this book), justification by faith, and freedom of the will (barely covered in this book) are so precious and grand.
Customer Reviews:
A Tentative Recommendation.......2003-09-09
Gods Chosen Fast is a comprehensive survey of fasting as presented in the Bible. Wallis does three things: Firsts he pleads for the renewal of fasting in the church as a channel to regain its lost apostolic power; second, he tells us the benefits of fasting; and finally, he tells us how to fast.
I appreciate the chapter on freedom from Satans power. Like Neil Anderson, Wallis believes much of what troubles Christians today can be attributed to the release once dormant demonic forces as Gods Spirit is being poured out afresh. For too long the church has either ignored Satans role in binding Christians or has attributed demon possession to psychological pathos. Wallis commonsense approach to fasting was good. He points out that fasting has been abused in the past, but that abuse does not negate the biblical imperative to fast, or the power to be gained through fasting.
Unfortunately, after chapter nineteen, the book goes downhill. The chapter on health and healing was terrible. The evidence he submits for the healing power of fasting was anecdotal and the authorities he cites were suspect at best. On page 117 he quotes as a medial source a certain Herbert M. Shelton who writes for the Natural Hygiene Press. Does Wallis know that one can find a doctor to endorse almost any quack scheme? Where were the articles from the American Medial Association or the New England Journal of Medicine? His exegesis of the story of the Egyptian abandoned by the Amalekities who was revived after being rescued by David is amazing. How in the world could one attribute going three days without food for the poor man's revival? Did not the food and water David provided have something to do with the Egyptians regaining his health?
I give this book a tentative recommendation. It is of uneven quality and the documentation is weak. It does, however, present a much broader picture of fasting than Foster is able to do in his book (The Celebration of Discipline).
The Definitive Classic on Prayer & Fasting!.......2003-03-19
This book explores the depths and heights of fasting in layman's terms. Arthur Wallis shows the practical and spiritual side of fasting and how effective an agent-of-change it can be. I have never read a better book on the subject. A must-read for those who wish to embark on a prayer & fasting journey. God bless you as you read this amazing little book.
Complete, concise, informative, and interesting.......2002-10-29
My pastor lent me this book after I had questions for him about fasting. I was able to read through this book in one sitting, but it pretty much addressed all of my questions. It's quite enjoyable and easy to read. It's very biblically based, but it does address the physical side of fasting as well. It's very much worth reading!
God's Chosen Fast.......2000-01-20
This book is excellent! It is short, easy to read, accurate, informative, and challenging. It doesn't have the "fluff" of more modern American books, probably because of its British origin and its age, but it is every bit current and timeless. It is not just a discourse on fasting, but a guide to understanding the situations where fasting is appropriate, even necessary, and where it is not. It helps understand where fasting belongs in the overall message of the Bible. It also contains very useful information about the practical and physical concerns involved.
Changed my life........1998-10-22
Very balanced view of fasting, the how-to's and the benefits. Wow, what a tool.
Product Description
This is a two-in-one volume with both of Jacqueline Carey's top sellers Banewreaker and Godslayer. (Inside jacket: with her successful Kushiel series, Jacqueline Carey proved herself a force to be reckoned with in the fantasy field. Now she returns with another extraordinary epic, a shattering tale of gods at ware and the mortals they use in their deadly game.) Once the Seven Shapers dwelled in accord. First-born among them was Haomane, Lord-of-Thought, and with his six sibling gods, they Shaped the world and its children to their will. But Haomane was displeased with Satoris' Shaping, for he thought his younger brother too generous in his gifts to Men, who made war upon Hoamane's Children, the Ellylon. Though the First-Born asked his brother to withdraw his Gift, Satoris refused. So began the Shapers' War, which sundered the world and cast Satoris and his kindred to opposite ends of a vast ocean.
Customer Reviews:
An extraordinarily complex, moving achievement.......2007-07-13
Yes, I have read and loved all the Kushiel series; they are astonishing, wonderful books. Yet those who pick up the two volumes of the Sundering because they loved Phedre, and come away disappointed and complain the books fail to measure up, are missing the point entirely. These books are a different genre, and a different kind of accomplishment; they are a fantasy epic which is also a philosophical and ethical critique of the epic genre.
Of course, the similarily in narrative structure to the Tolkien epics is conscious and purposeful. Almost every character from the Lord of the Rings is found here: Gandalf-Malthus, Frodo-Dani, Aragorn-Aracus. Previous reviewers may have missed that the arguable "heroes" of this story, Tanaros Cavaros and the "Misbegotten" Ushahin Dreamspinner, are analogous to the leader of the Ringwraiths and Gollum. And Satoris Banewreaker, of course, is the Sauron who the Elves/Ellylon so lyrically claim to be bent on the destruction of all that is good and beautiful, working tirelessly "to cover all the world in a SECOND darkness!!!"
I wonder, how many of us who read and loved the Lord of the Rings ever wondered why Sauron would wish such a thing? Did the explanations of his motivations ever seem thin? Sauron was supposed to have created the Orcs "in savage mockery" of the Elves; a force of pure evil, needing no purpose other than destruction, with no desires, even in creation, except to mock and ruin. What Carey's epic is meant to show, and it succeeds beautifully, is that there are no such villains. There can be no races, such as the Orcs in Tolkien, without redeeming characteristics. To exist at all, especially to exist as a living community of any kind, living creatures must manifest certain virtues. The "Orcs" on the Sundering epic are ugly, certainly, and the "Elves" fear and despise them; yet Carey shows the Ellylon hatred and fear of the trollish Fjel as a product of their own limited aesthetics and the enmity between their races. The Fjel lack the beauties and brains of Elves and Men, yet they are real creatures, and therefore, in order for them to continue as a race at all, they must reproduce and rear their children, they must have some forms of love and loyalty. As this epic unfolds, the awareness grows in the reader that the "orcs" of Tolkien could never have been anything but a savagely distorted picture, a lie wrought by those who hated them from a distance. The power of the Ellylon to tell their stories with beauty, and thus inscribe their point of view as history, is explicitly thematized by Carey's hero Tanaros, who reminds the lovely Ellyl lady that every story has two sides, and that no Elf or Man has ever listened to the stories of the Fjel.
Tanaros himself stands as one of only two counter-examples; he himself is a Man, one who once served the ruling house of the oldest of Men's kingdoms. Once a hero in the best epic style, a loyal general who loved his king and his wife, now he is the most famous villain of his own race of origin. Long ago, he discovered his wife's new child to be, not his own son, but the son of his own best friend and beloved liege. The power of his loves fueled the violent madness of his hatred when those loves were betrayed, and he killed both his wife and her lover. Only in the service of Satoris can he re-discover loyalty and purpose, as only Satoris was willing to allow him the "dignity of his hatred" and allow him the chance to make a new life. The kingdoms of Men call Tanaros "Wifeslayer" the worst of comicbook villains, and see his service to Satoris as simply confirming how evil he is; a man who killed both wife and king could only flee to bad black Satoris in his evil dark fortress. Yet Carey shows us Darkhaven through the eyes of Tanaros as a haven, a place of beauty and dignity, and Satoris as the being who has given Tanaros sanctuary-- as well as a love that has never failed nor been untrue.
The Darkhaven of this epic, this Mordor, was built by Satoris after his first war with his older brother, who, wrathful at his younger brother's refusal to obey, burned the world with the fires of the sun and left Satoris wounded and scorched. Darkhaven is dark not to symbolize evil, but because light hurts as well as illuminates, and because fire is the weapon of the elder Shaper who believes, on thin grounds, that his own will is the entirety of truth and goodness, and that Satoris' refusal to obey him is the essence of wrong and evil. Darkhaven is guarded by Fjeltroll and staffed by madlings, and here is the poignant heart of Carey's vision. For Tanaros is only one of the ambiguous and complex heroes of this story. The other is his counterpart Ushahin, like Tanaros a byword for evil among the Elves and Men of this world, and like him a product of the very world and races who fear and hate him.
Ushahin Dreamspinner, unique in this fantasyworld, is half Ellyl and half mortal Man. The Ellyl, children of Haomane FirstBorn, are a race gifted with mind and heart, rationality and love, but immortal, and without the gift Satoris was asked to give to every other race: Desire. It was Haomane's command that Satoris withdraw Desire from Men which Satoris refused, the refusal for which he is called the Sunderer. Desire is an ambiguous gift, and one both Men and Elves find easy to blame for the crime one Man committed upon a daughter of the Ellylon; the crime of rape. Ushahin Dreamspinner was conceived in that rape, abandoned by the kindred of both parents, and almost killed in childhood by a crowd of other children with rocks. His appearance is all the more monstrous for the remains of remarkable beauty ruined, elegant bones shattered and ill set, wide-set eyes permanently dilated and crazed; he embodies all the horror of human cruelty and callousness, and walks in their dreams to show them the image of a child's fist with a rock breaking another child's face to bits. Called "The Misbegotten" by both the races from which he sprang, Ushahin serves Lord Satoris for the sanctuary Satoris gives to all the mad and broken of the world, those Ushahin calls to Darkhaven where they are safe and loved.
It is Satoris' relationship with Ushahin and his madlings that thematizes the true heart of this amazing critique of epic storytelling, this reply to Tolkien's brutal aesthetic of bright beautiful Elves versus nasty ugly orcs. When the lovely Ellylon lady arrives in Darkhaven and learns that it is a sanctuary for madlings, for all those beings broken and maimed by the cruelty of the world, she is of course appalled. The lovely, the perfect lady, of course she cannot fail to feel pity and mourn for the victims of cruelty and neglect who find safety and love in Darkhaven. Yet she protests they could be fixed, that Satoris ought to heal them and make them pretty again, a response that Tanaros shows in its selfishness with his reply: "To my lord Satoris, she is already beautiful." He loves them as they are, and finds the beauty they have in themselves, not needing to transform them into pretty elf maidens to find them lovely. Similarly, the Ellylon cannot realize the limitations of their own attitudes towards the half-elven Ushahin; they blame Satoris for not "fixing" him, never imagining that it is tghe Dreamspinner himself who refuses to be "healed" to erase the signs of what has made him what he is.
The Elves can only imagine beauty as being like themselves: perfect, tall, glowing with light, and above all, lucky. The scars of the unlucky, of all those who have been hurt, the stories of all those whose lives have been shaped by pain-- they can only see those things as flaws to be erased. What the limited aesthetic of the Ellylon cannot understand as valuable is the same thing that disappears in the caricatures of "orcs"-- the values and features of *life*. Life that struggles through pain and trauma, life that nurtures young, life that makes the best of ambiguity, life that goes on imperfectly.
It is finally an aesthetic of life with which Carey counters the simplistic aesthetic of epic in the Tolkien vein. In place of a god whose mysterious will must be obeyed as the definition of Goodness, we have a god who wishes only to live as he sees best, and survive the despite of his older brother's wrath. Haomane First-Born believes his own vision to be the definition of truth and reality, and his own will as the determiner of goodness. In such a belief-system there can only be one kind of choice: obedience is good, and defiance, evil. Counterpoised to that simplistic lie, Carey gives us a meditation on the nature of choice as life-determining, or choice and responsibility, of truth itself as ambiguity and complexity.
Good first half of a story. What next?.......2007-04-15
I love Jacqueline Carey's series about Phedre, beginning with Kushiel's Dart. It is one of my favorite stories. I also enjoyed The Sundering, though not as much.
The Sundering is a takeoff on Lord of the Rings, upside down. Sauron is the good guy here, and Gandalf is the bad guy. Frodo is a bit of a dupe, sent to destroy Sauron's power, even though Sauron was much kinder to him than the good guys ever were.
In this story, Gandalf's name is Malthus. "Mal" means something bad, as in malady. Frodo's name is Dani. He is accompanied by his uncle Bilbo, whose name here is Fat Uncle Thulu.
The dwarves are intact, but the elves are here called Ellylon, and are not as short as the elves of LOTR. Instead, they are the size of the elves in the LOTR movie, man-size.
Aragorn is in this story as well. His name is Aracus Altorus rather than Aragorn son of Arathorn. Same guy. Leader of the Borderguard, and the hereditary king. And as in LOTR he is scheduled to marry an elf, the Ellylon beauty Cerelinde.
Sauron, here called Satoris, isn't half bad. He inspires love and loyalty. It is his big brother Haomane who is the real pain in the butt. All of Satoris's brothers and sisters have ditched our world, gone across the sea, I suppose across the Atlantic Ocean to settle in America while the action of the story is in Europe, more or less, though Haomane's home is described as an island, not a continent.
Haomane wages unjust war against Satoris. On Satoris's side are Jackie's version of orcs or trolls, which she calls fjeltrol. They are big and strong and ugly. They are bigger than humans. But they have hearts of gold and are the good guys. The beautiful Ellylon are a bit of a load, conceited as all hell. So while Tolkein made it obvious who to root for because his good guys were cute and his bad guys were ugly, Carey turns that upside down for us. Ugly good guys, cute bad guys.
I was confused with some of her terminology. Souma. Soumanie. Marasoumie. Rhios. Half the time I barely knew what she was talking about when she mentioned these things. Apparently there is a lot of magic in her world, and the souma is a great source of magic.
Her characters are so interesting that I always wish the books were illustrated.
The main additions she has to LOTR are some new characters. Satoris (Sauron) has his three main helpers. I suppose they could be compared to the ring wraiths, and once in a while one of them is a Black Rider, but these three really aren't ring wraiths, and have interesting characters of their own. One of them, Tanaros, is the star of the book.
I enjoyed this book but it cries out for a sequel. Everything about the ending screams out SEQUEL.
A tragedy.......2006-05-27
This is an interesting book. The world is believable. the different races recognizable. It is told from the perspective of Satoris, the third born shaper of the world. He is supposed to be the bad guy that caused the world to be sundered.
And war is coming. It is led by the children of the first born shaper, Satoris' brother Haomane. They are allegedly the good guys. So now we have a classic battle between good and evil, only good isn't that good, and evil might actually be innocent of the charges against him.
I found myself cheering for Satoris as everything about him fell apart. I really didn't like Haomane at all. There are magical weapons, prophecies, but no one becomes all powerful that none can stand before him.
This is a story filled with rich characters, and they experience the spectrum of love, betrayal, honor and pride. This is good story and fine fantasy.
Recommended.
Book Description
Is God in Control, or Do We have a Choice? The seemingly endless debate between Calvinism and Arminianism continues to make its rounds throughout the Christian community. Polarized beliefs have dominated and divided the theological landscape of the twentieth century, while many observers wonder, "Does it really make a difference?" Chosen But Free answers with a resounding yes. But rather than pitting one strong perspective against another, this brilliant work presents a cogent and sensible moderate view, providing readers with one of the first books that convincingly affirms both the sovereignty and foreknowledge of God and the human responsibility to either receive or reject Him. Includes a response to The Potter's Freedom by James R. White. The Definitive Work on the Relationship Between Divine Election and Human Choice.
Customer Reviews:
Poor Logic.......2007-05-21
As someone who is currently trying to sort through the Calvinism/Arminianism argument, I approached this book with an open mind, and was quickly disappointed.
The first forty or so pages presented some good points, and lead me to believe that the author may have reached a solid middle ground in the argument. But soon after, he started diving off into illogical arguments, and presenting whole chapters on what other theologians believed about certain topics when what they believed matters very little in light of what scripture teaches.
The most illogical argument of the book was the author's idea that predestination is based in God's foreknowledge. Not a new argument, but the author tries to establish the point that since God can forsee the future, and since he knows what choices we will make, and his knowledge is infallible, we are destined to make those choices. He even goes so far as to say that God always knew that Judas would betray Jesus, and so therefore Judas was destined to betray Jesus. This is an offensive and senseless argument, implying that my salvation through Christ's death and resurrection are the result, not of a divine plan as pointed out in Acts 2:22-24, and again in Acts 3:17-21, but of one greedy man's decision to betray Jesus. Dr. Geisler is very good at stringing words together in such a way that it sounds like he is saying something very important and meaningful when in fact it is only nonsense.
Lastly, this is not an issue in which middle ground can be reached. It is one on which you eventually have to land on one side or the other. The search for a middle ground is headed up by men who are struggling deeply with scripture that contradicts their personal beliefs. So rather than giving in to what is a difficult truth, they attempt to reconcile that scripture with their current belief system, resulting in a confusing and illogical theological amalgamation that, like cotton candy, looks substantial, but is really only thin wisps of logic wrapped around air.
Insightful.......2007-01-21
A very well written book on a very sensitive issue in theology. Geisler touches the nerve of what separates many believers, but truhtfully exposes how both extremes are not only unbiblical but unrational. This is a great tool for anyone searching for some light to shed on the topic of pre-destination and freewill.
I'm pleased........2007-01-11
As a college student with no formal theoligical training, this is a great book for me.
This book explains everything I've wanted to tell my Presbyterian friends but didn't have the right words for.
The logic is water tight and scripturally supported.
A Great Help to Those Who have Been Wrestling with Calvinism.......2006-12-31
If you have been wrestling with the Bible's teaching on predestination and man's free will, I strongly suggest you read this book. It will be very helpful to you. Geisler does an excellent job comparing the teachings of Calvinism with the Bible and clearly demonstrates that there are many problems with Calvinism. But he doesn't stop there, he shows that there are problems with the Arminian views as well. This book presents a Biblically sound alternative to both extremes.
"A Balanced View of Divine Election?".......2006-06-16
OK, I'm sort of stuck between a rock and a hard spot with this one. On one hand, I think that Dr. Geisler has misrepresented the average Calvinist. On the other hand, I think that his own system, i.e., moderate Calvinism, is right on. Too bad he didn't just write a book expounding his own position and leave out the attacks against the other camps . . . the attacks could have been a separate book. In short, however, I think Geisler's position represents far more Calvinists than do the extreme Calvinists. Often people who claim to be "Calvinists" are really moderate Calvinists, they just don't know it, but when they are presented the facts, they often identify more with moderate Calvinism.
Book Description
The second book in the historical Kingpriest trilogy.
The Kingpriest trilogy chronicles the origins and development of a noted figure from the
Dragonlance Legends trilogy, linking this new series to one of the top-selling trilogies in the entire
Dragonlance backlist. Dragonlance is a rich world that lends itself to revisiting popular characters from prior series--an integral part of the publishing program.
Customer Reviews:
Nearly perfect DL trilogy.......2005-06-08
I have read a great many Dragonlance novels, and I've never felt the need to write a review for any of them. The reason for this depends on the books: the Weis/Hickman books need no review because the books speak for themselves; as for the others, most are neither amazing nor terrible, and even the mediocre ones are still enjoyable enough because they are afterall still Dragonlance. This trilogy is different.
To begin with, I've come to expect a certain amount of superfluity and a general disappointment in those novels whose endings are already known; this was the case, of course, with Lord Soth and virtually all of the Preludes sextet. The fact that Peirson manages to hold the reader's interest and give us an ending worthy of the Dragonlance name despite the subject matter was, to me, an amazing feat. These novels were probably the only DL books not writtten by Weis and/or Hickman that really moved me (there were parts that brought me to tears).
Secondly, I tend to be a stickler for detail when it comes to series fantasy. Don't get me wrong- I don't care so much about the minor details, like the location of Raistlin's school (different whether you read the Meetings sextet or the Raistlin chronicles, and for that matter, are we to believe Margaret Weis or the author of the earlier book?)- and at any rate, I view these contradictions as a normal occurence I would encounter if I were traveling across Krynn: the details of the same tale would be different hearing it from a citizen of Palanthas than from a peasant from Lemish, of for that matter from a Silvanesti elf or a kender. But the major details should agree: there should be no vallenwoods in Solamnia, 'Missing City' should not be on the mainland if there is in fact a city there at all, etc. Pierson took a great deal of care in researching the facts for his novels. I even cross-referenced with the Legends trilogy and could not find the slightest problem. Superbly done.
Pierson recaptures Dragonlance!.......2004-11-30
With Dragons of Summer Flame and the War of Souls, Krynn has seen some tumultous times, and one might argue that its fans have suffered the convulsions with it. Enter Chris Pierson, and now Krynn is revisiting its most tumultous time- the Cataclysm! Only this time, the fans are rejoicing.
Chris Pierson has managed to recapture Dragonlance from the brink of nonsense. His characters have something to say to the reader, and his writing never stagnates. He gives us tremendous detail, without making the details themselves the story. And his subject material couldn't be better. Simply put, he is the perfect writer for Dragonlance.
I have read the entire Kingpriest Trilogy twice over. It is certainly one of the best Dragonlance trilogies published in a long while. Dragonlance fans can only hope that Chris Pierson spins his future tales as endearingly as he delivered this Krynnish tragedy.
Somewhat disappointing.......2004-06-16
It was almost 4 star worthy but..
It wasn't what you envisioned when you heard this trilogy was coming out. It took me awhile to get into it & it was a little predictable. It did gain steam as it went on & the sly deceptions of Fistdantilus made up for its shortcomings.
A must for every Dragonlance fan.......2003-12-04
Even if you are like me and have read every single DL book in print, this one will keep you very interested and wanting more! I'm so excited that the 3rd book just came out! I cant wait to read it too. So that all the peices from all the other DL books fall into place with this final Book of the trilogy.
Meticulous, yet Vague.......2002-09-24
Truely reflecting the height of the Istarian-era and the height of the Forces of Light, this book gives a meticulous account of the inner structure of the Church of Istar and the Istarian Empire. The history of the Church is revealed vaguely and the rise to power of the "Lightbringer" is somewhat weak and unoriginal. This book foreshadows the obssession that the Kingpriest (the Lightbringer) has with eradicating the Forces of Darkness - which many know will only bring about his own demise. I look forward to reading the entire Kingpriest Trilogy, and this book does a good job in establishing the background necessarily for fully comprehending the vastness and complexity of one of the largest and most powerful empires in Krynn's history. I give it five-stars because it establishes so much history - I hope the following two books can be clearer and utilize the background information provided to us.
Book Description
God called Samuel to be his prophet during a time of crisis in Israel's history, a time when His chosen people had turned away from Him and were defiantly going their own way. Using the obvious parallels in today's world, noted scholar and teacher Henry Blackaby shows readers how God works in and through those he choses.
God spoke to Samuel again and again, shaping him through trials and tragedies Dr. Blackaby calls "defining moments." By studying Samuel's life, readers learn to recognize their own defining moments, and see how moments often defined in crises are simply the voice of God, calling us to His purpose.
Book Description
Samuel's life was full of incredible-and defining-moments as God shaped him and guided him. As readers observe how God moved in Samuel's life, they will recognize those moments in their own lives; moments that that are so different from the run-of-the-mill ones. God uses these "divine moments," which often come during times of crisis, to bring His purposes to pass.
By taking a glimpse into what God did in Samuel's life, Dr. Blackaby enables readers to define those critical times in their lives when God selects us as His chosen servants.
Customer Reviews:
Choosen to be God's Prophet.......2004-06-30
I used this book in the class I am sponsoring for Woven Ministries intitled Understanding God and His Covenants. It is a leadership class which stresses the foundations of Christianity in our service to God.
Henrey Blackaby's book "Chosen to be God's Prophet" is practical in knowledge for those interested in serious ministry. It is also useful for those interested in understanding the importance of being established in the Word for spiritual revival. As one who was used by God to usher in one of the great North American revivals, Henry Blackaby comes across not only convincingly, but also with credentials not to be ignored. Being rooted through three generations (four, if you count his children)of full time ministry in the church has given Mr. Blackaby insight that few Christian writers can equel.
I used this book as a reference for my final sermon to the class entitled "What it means to be Rooted, Grounded and Established in the Word". I found that the points Mr. Blackaby stresses were consistant with the teachings of scripture in the Old and New Testaments. In his reference to "Defining Moments" Mr. Blackaby stresses the importance of what defines our hearts now and establishes the path of our future. His reference to "remembering God's works" in our lives, and the importance of "fear of sin" were effective parallels to the wisdom to be gleaned from Isreals 40-year trek thru the desert. Mr. Blackaby's knowledge of World History and Judeo-Christian History blend well with his personal life experiences to show us credible insights for those interested in being set apart in their service to God.
The book's seriousness and candor twords sin and the importance of the Word may not set well with some of the Grace Only belivers, but it seams to be balanced within the confines of scripture.
I enjoyed the message of this book and I'm looking forward to reading Mr. Blackaby's book on Christian Leadership.
Book Description
Inspirational selections from the sacred literature of the world Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Native American.
Customer Reviews:
A wonderful book for spiritual uplifting.......2001-05-22
Since I believe in the existance of one God, I like this book a lot, because Sri. Eswaran does not focus on meditating on a particular belief or religion. This book shows that no matter which spiritual journey (path) you take, you end up in one place. The passages in this book are very uplifting.
life affirmation.......2001-05-18
eknath easwaran's books are all great .this one is particularly usefull for meditative purposes .in a world where flashy egotism seems so often to be rewarded-we can swim upstream.for a half hour every day we can repeat the beatitudes instead of lusting false boobs . after all we all know right from wrong .we are all that we see according to the gita . we have choices to make . as saint francis says in this book -it is in giving that we receive . let's let easwaran show us how to evolve by putting others first . let all the great sages in this book show us how to quit "selfing".
The key to meditation.......1999-01-25
Many forms of meditation exist. I chose Easwaran's because it's the most pragmatic. His thesis is that what one thinks upon, that he or she shall become. By meditating on a sacred passage from literature, then, the meditator transforms him- or herself into a person of high ideals. There are many other benefits to this kind of meditation--the mind slows down, and doesn't get angry or depressed as often; better concentration. God Makes The Rivers To Flow provides many passages, chosen by Sri. Easwaran, to memorize and use in meditation. It also provides a brief yet thorough explanation of Eknath's meditation style. (For a more detailed description, his book Meditation is highly recommended.) But don't take my (or anyone else's) word for it--if you want to aspire toward a more spiritual life, or if you just want to gain better control over your choices and circumstances, try this book and watch positive changes begin occurring almost immediately.
Average customer rating:
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Tracing Our Ancestors
Manufacturer: Artisan Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0934666520 |
Product Description
This book answers many of the questions about the racial origins of the Europeans who settled America and transformed it from a sparsely inhabited wilderness into the greatest Christian Nation of all time.Haberman traces America's ancestors back beyond western Europe ever eastward to their origin. The author also reveals the results of his long and arduous study and research that covers the location of the Deluge or Noah's Flood, the identity of the "Covenant Race", "the Golden Age of Phoencia", Drudic Britain, Ancient Ireland, the Throne of David and the United States in prophecy.If you haven't read this remarkable account of a "special people" who are rarely traced back to such an ancient period you owe it to yourself to read Frederick Haberman's "Tracing Our Ancestors."
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