Book Description
When Faith Flickers, Stoke the Fire
No one sins out of duty. We sin because it offers some promise of happiness. That promise enslaves us–until we believe that God is more desirable than life itself (Psalm 63:3). Only the power of God’s superior promises in the gospel can emancipate our hearts from servitude to the shallow promises and fleeting pleasures of sin.
Pastor John Piper shows how to sever the clinging roots of sin that ensnare us, including anxiety, pride, shame, impatience, covetousness, bitterness, despondency, and lust.
Delighting in the bounty of God’s glorious gospel promises will free us for a less sin-encumbered life, to the glory of Christ. Rooted in solid biblical reflection, this book aims to help guide you through the battles to the joys of victory by the power of the gospel and its superior pleasure.
Customer Reviews:
Superior Joy.......2007-08-23
This is vintage Piper condensing his 'Future Grace' material for the benefit of battling temptation, with its offers of pleasure, with the the superior promises of the gospel.
life-changing book!.......2007-07-18
The thoughts in this book have revolutionized my Christian life, bringing deeper joy in Christ. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
We Sin Because It Offers Happiness: Don't Believe the Lie.......2007-03-04
Battling unbelief contains chapters excerpted from Piper's much longer and more complete work, Future Grace. In Future Grace, each of these chapters is accompanied by two or three chapters setting forward the promises of God that we are to believe and put our hope in in order to win the battle with sin. I highly recommend Future Grace, but if the 400+ pages of that book may be a little daunting for you, start with Battling Unbelief 162 pages to whet your appetite.
So I would recommend you not buy Battling Unbelief but instead buy Future Grace which is comparably priced, contains all of the chapters in Battling Unbelief and more. If you wanted to read what you would have read in Battling Unbelief, you will simply read the application chapters from Future Grace.
When I sin, I am believing a lie that there is more pleasure, happiness, or gain to be found in that sin than in obedience. Stated conversely, when I sin I am disbelieving God's promises. I am rejecting God and all that He claims that He is. Therefore, the ultimate battle with sin is not to be had at the level that most of us fight it at, trying through willpower to not do what our flesh is calling us to. The ultimate battle is one of believing or disbelieving God's promises. I must prize God above all things in order to not reject God and pursue sin.
In 8 chapters, Piper shows how this works itself out:
1. Battling Anxiety
2. Battling Pride
3. Battling Misplaced Shame
4. Battling Impatience
5. Battling Covetousness
6. Battling Bitterness
7. Battling Despondency
8. Battling Lust
So, as I stated above, I cannot recommend the content of this book highly enough. But I hope that you purchase Future Grace instead of this one and read it either front to back, or start with the application chapters and then read the rest later.
Piper says in the introduction of Battling Unbelief regarding the publishing of these chapters without the content that surrounds them:
"It is a risk to publish these eight chapters without the twenty-three chapters that surround them and explain the foundations and implications found in Future Grace. But I think it is a worthwhile risk. Many people move from application back to foundation rather than the reverse. So I am hopeful that discovering in this smaller book some of the ways faith works to liberate us from sin will send many readers to the larger work for a deeper biblical understanding."
I pray that either way you do it, the content of this book will help you and me to treasure God above all, believe his promises, and defeat sin.
[...]
Book Description
Is celibacy the only moral alternative to marriage? Should the widowed be allowed to form intimate relationships without remarrying? Should the church receive homosexuals into its community and support committed gay and lesbian relationships? Should congregations publicly and liturgically witness and affirm divorces? Should the church's moral standards continue to be set by patriarchal males? Should women be consecrated bishops? Bishop Spong proposes a pastoral response based on scripture and history to the changing realities of the modern world. He calls for a moral vision to empower the church with inclusive teaching about equal, loving, nonexploitative relationships.
Customer Reviews:
Living in Sin?: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality.......2007-01-29
Very insightful. The author has a great way of connecting common sense to life. Bishop Spong enables one to see the Bible from a historical perspective and bring new light to the scriptures.
Not making any sense.......2007-01-18
This is not a Christian teaching book, if it was written by some atheist I will give the book five stars, but to be written by some one proclaiming himself a priest and Christian I should give it zero star if I have this choice.The identity of the author is not clear, his ideas does not make any sense with the reality, There is a big difference between Love and sex but the author ignored this fact to deceive people with no religion or to the people who don't have a real background about Christianity, the Christianity never been anti women actually there are too many Christians praise Virgin Mary more than any body else, this is false teaching. The Christianity is against any kind of sex outside marriage including homosexuality so what is his point?, this is false teaching, and not representing Christianity at any level, again his identity is not clear the same as the serpent who deceived Eve with the familiar story we all know, if I compare I don't see much difference.
Thoughtful book.......2007-01-04
I think the book is beautifully written and intelligent.It is brave and to the point of the matter. I have enjoyed it very much indeed. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in realistic 21st century issues related to human sexuality. Very enlightening!!
Interesting critique of Christian ideas about sex.......2006-10-14
I think in the present time, one of the hardest issues the Christian world (and the world's religions in general) is grappling with is human sexuality.
I certainly would agree with many of Spong's points on regards to the extreme hatred towards homosexuals and women which has sadly, infected the monotheistic faiths especially. I certainly agree with him theologies which contain hatred towards gay people, women, or those who have sex outside of marriage, have no place in the postmodern world.
Reform is certainly necessary but also very divisive for many Christians. Certainly these issues are explosive for many since they seem to cut to the deepest issues about who we are as human beings. It also goes to the heart of classical theological mysteries such as sin, evil, redemption, God, marriage, and others.
I personally feel sex is a sacred gift and an essential part of our nature. However Spong seems to me to often have an unrealistically optimistic view of human sexuality and sexual relationships. By rejecting the idea of sin he also really ignores the power of sin to warp and destroy all of our human relationships, including intimate ones. Unfortunately people with an legalistic understanding of sin tie it too much to black and white interpretations of the commandments and the bible, when in fact sin is also very much about the choices we make and the effects these choices have on the people who are connected to us. Sin isn't only just about approaching the alter in the wrong way or doing this and not doing that, it is also about how we hurt others through our own selfishness and our shortcomings.
There is certainly a danger and Spong is right to attack the Phariseeism you see so often in fanatics and fundamentalists who try and settle every complicated moral issue, not by thinking and reflecting critically but by throwing down the Bible and saying 'God says so, in the bible.' But on the other hand, we can't eliminate sin from the sphere of the sexual since sexuality is central to human life but sadly all human life in this world is permeated by suffering, evil, and self-centeredness, as well as goodness, joy, happiness and love. Free love is wonderful until you get someone pregnant and then you must face the responsibility of bringing up a child; to be Godly is also to be good and virtuous and to always consider the consequences of your actions.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
Bringing religion into the 21st century........2006-01-22
I grew up going to church and believing in God, but somewhere along the way, the anti-female and anti-sex attitude, along with the intolerance of anyone who is or thinks differently from the established doctrine, put me off. I quit going as soon as I was old enough to make the decision, and on my best days, might consider myself an agnostic primarily because you can't prove a negative.
However, if there were more religions or even pastors with attitude like Spong's, I might still be going to church. He takes the Bible and the church's attitudes towards sex and sexuality of all kinds (heterosexual, homosexual, pre-marital, post-marital) and puts it into a framework that someone with a working brain can tolerate. He points out the context in which the Bible was written and the attitudes towards sex and women were formed - and says why they are not applicable and ought to be re-thought today.
Particularly interesting to me were the ideas of reviving the idea of betrothal, and of a church ceremony for divorce. The latter chapter almost made me cry - having witnessed painful divorces of family members and been through very painful breakups myself, the idea of having a ceremony to mark the end of the relationship surrounded by friends, friends who are then given a chance to remain friends with both halves of the couple, was very moving and appealing.
However, if you are a traditionalist, for this book to make an impact, you have to be open looking at things from a different viewpoint for a little while. You have to be ready to let go of a little security and prejudice and get to the compassion that is supposed to be the heart of Christianity. This isn't a human sexuality textbook - it is about humanizing religion and bringing the old attitudes into line with modern knowledge and reality. It takes courage to look at beliefs you hold dear and evaluate them objectively, and not a lot of people have the strength to do it. Spong does - do you?
Book Description
Dare to Go There
Although the cross is God’s decisive deed in human history, the full meaning of it is far too much for a mere human mind to grasp. But through Henry Blackaby’s careful examination, the cross becomes not a doctrine, but an experience. You’ll be overwhelmed with the utter significance of Christ’s death, leading you to a stronger sense of God’s power in your daily life. Steeped in the Blackaby distinctive of constant encouragement toward your personal experience of God, and firmly rooted in Scripture, this book exposes the tragic result of a casual attitude toward the sin in our lives that made the cross necessary. Learn to surrender to the deeper dimensions of the cross, so that nothing can block the Lord’s presence and power in your life!
Receive the reality. Discover the power.
Live the experience.
Jesus Christ died not so that you would recognize a historical fact. Or memorize a particular doctrine. Or continue with life as is.
No, Christ’s death was God’s decisive deed in your life, conquering sin once and for all. The cross beckons you every day, with power to transform every detail of your existence as you begin to see Calvary from God’s perspective.
Henry Blackaby leads you on an exploration through the deeper dimensions of the cross, ensuring that the further you go, the more you will: Deal radically and completely with sin Embrace true and lasting union with Christ Experience the fullness and reality of His victory in your life
Will you yield to God’s provision in His cross? Will you receive the power and presence of Jesus Christ? Will you dare to experience the cross?
LEFT FRONT FLAP
“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:27
The cross is not just His; the cross is mine, and the cross is yours. It transcends the physical dimension, and it transcends time. As you forgo your limited, human perspective, God’s complete and overwhelming, all-consuming love will envelop you. You’ll experience His blessings as they’ve never been seen, heard, or felt before—guaranteed. Because t he One who called you to bear your cross also goes with you. Every step of the way.
Story Behind the Book
"Our whole identity with Christ is found in the cross. It was there that God dealt totally with sin. And it is there that God intends us to be united with Christ in His death so that we would forever hate sin, abhor sin, and forsake sin. In our intimate relationship with Christ and His crucifixion, God intends for us to obtain His perspective on sin—to feel its horrors, as Christ does, and then to let God put sin to death in our lives—as He did in the crucifixion of His Son. The victory accomplished through Christ’s death and resurrection is the very same victory we can experience daily in our lives! " —Henry Blackaby
Customer Reviews:
What it is all about..........2007-09-05
We all need to hear this message. We have only one opportunity for victory over sin, and this book deals with it.
Everyone sins right? Well then it must be OK to sin.
No! It is not OK. The fact that other people sin is not a valid excuse. God did not send Jesus Christ to die in vain! By keeping on sinning we are blaspheming the name of God amongst unbelievers.
If all Christians experienced the cross with God the church would become the good example we need to be. We would be the light of the world. But most of all, those outside the faith would have a reason to believe that the Christian faith is alive and real.
We receive an alarming warning from Jesus in Matthew 7:21. Go read it and think about the implications of this.
Experiencing the Cross has the power to make you see the cross of Jesus Christ in a new light. It will set you free to start living as a true disciple of Christ. Buy a copy for yourself, and encourage others to do the same...
Or just buy it for them.
After you have read this book, ask yourself "Where is the evidence that my life has been transformed?" as Henry Blackaby encourages you to do. And be honest!
Not what I expected.......2006-08-15
Blackaby is better known for his book and study guide entitled "Experiencing God," from which he based his title for this book on the cross. If you come to this book, like me, expecting something similar to his previous work, you will be disappointed. Blackaby's book is short on profound insights or even new, engaging ways of interacting with old insights. His treatment of the cross is very basic theology on a layman's level. The style of the book is very propositional with only scant stories and illustrations--not very conducive to producing a touching sense of personal experience. For someone newly exploring Christianity, it may be a helpful book to understand the reason for Jesus' crucifixion. Blackaby's main agenda, however, seems to be trying to regain a sense of the importance of holy living in a Christian culture that sometimes doesn't take sin seriously. While this is a noble goal, and a needful corrective for some, a reading of his book may take many overly sensitive Christians even further from the joy of a grace-covered life that God wants to give them. Blackaby's emphasis will tend to reinforce in that kind of reader the guilt-ridden perspective that keeps them preoccupied with their failings, mourning their part in Jesus' death instead of celebrating his salvation. You can find much better books on the cross-shaped life.
Book Description
The must-have guide for any woman who’s ever thought about saying “yes” to the other big question: Will you move in with me?
More and more couples are choosing to live together before tying the knot—for convenience, to save money and, most importantly, to see if they’re compatible. While living together can be an exciting way to take your relationship to the next level, it can also present a host of new questions and challenges.
With its fresh, girlfriend-to-girlfriend manner, Shacking Up walks you through every step of the cohabitation process, from making the initial decision to breaking up or getting married. Beginning with a readiness quiz to help you decide if you and your honey are prepared to take the plunge, authors Stacy and Wynne Whitman provide a wealth of hands-on advice from lawyers, psychologists and financial planners as well as entertaining, true-life stories from couples with shacking up experience. Topics include: breaking the news to your family; managing and merging your finances; protecting yourself legally; real-estate decisions; and day-to-day dilemmas such as chores, privacy, and keeping the spark alive. Whether you opt for wedding bells or decide he’s not the one for you, Shacking Up is a stylish, empowering handbook for staying smart, savvy, and true to yourself along the road to happily ever after.
Customer Reviews:
repetitive.......2007-10-02
If you are in love with your man, skip the first hundred pages, which simply asks the reader: Are you sure you want to be with him? Assuming the answer is yes, you can move on to the actual shacking up part. This has some good info, but is drawn out for far too long. You can pick this book up in the store and skim the few useful chapters to get the main ideas. I gave up reading this book towards the end. I also read Unmarried to Each Other, which I enjoyed. Check out that book instead.
An essential!.......2007-03-30
This book is absolutely *essential* for anyone shacking up. Whether or not your family (or your significant other's family) objects, this book offers helpful hints on cohabitating for you and him. It is written from a young, insider point of view by a magazine author and an attorney knowledgeable in this area. This is NOT a boring book on cohabitation trends, but rather is an exciting exploration into issues to come as you embark into living with your significant other. I appreciated the authors' depth of knowledge and ability to relate.
Obnoxious........2007-02-23
Everything reviewer Lisa A. Lassner said below and more. This book is written like a neverending, obnoxious Cosmo or Glamour article. It tries to be "girlfriend to girlfriend" and it just comes off as ridiculous. Everything positive that I got out of "Unmarried to Each Other" was shaken by this book because of its "no legal marriage = no commitment" attitude. Devoting ONE chapter at the end of the book to alternative couples is just insulting.
It's light on research, light on footnotes and light on reality.
Seriously, get "Unmarried to Each Other: The Essential Guide to Living with Each Other as an Unmarried Couple" instead. Pair it with "Living Together: A Legal Guide for Unmarried Couples" and you have a winning combination that blows this book out of the water.
A Guy's Review........2007-02-02
My girlfriend and I decided to move in together a little while back and she asked me to read this book which she had recently purchased in anticipation of our decision. She said it would be a great conversation starter and a way for us to talk about things that we hadn't discussed before. I said "sure", and read it, and thought it was well worth my time.
It is written by women, and for a woman's point of view, but I thought it applied equally as well to guys.
From my point of view, the advice in the book was very good. I especially liked how real life examples were brought into play every time the author wanted to illustrate a specific point -sometimes for better, and sometimes for worse.
I like how the author talked about the financial commitments of a move-in (which can be as important as the emotional commitment). Couples often have a hard time talking about money, like it sort of debases the relationship, or is a taboo subject. But I believe that if you love someone, you should want to protect them, and you would want to make sure that if anything ever happened to you (or your relationship) that you'd both want to emerge whole to start again. No you can't plan for disaster, but you can plan for what the author calls "a bonk on the head which changes your personality forever which then leads to a parting of ways". It makes sense.
Does anyone ever intend to leave a relationship if they make the decision to cohabitate? I doubt it -but that's exactly the point. The book speaks about all the things you need to consider about timing, about commitment, and the views of your relatives. I would hope that no one ever broke up because they took a couple of months longer to rent a place together while they were sorting these issues out. Take a deep breath, read this book, and compare your experiences to those inside. If when you read it you feel closer to your partner, then great! But if you get a scrunchy feeling in your belly, then stop, take a step back, and wait a few more months while you talk through some of these issues.
And finally, I wanted to share some of the notes that I jotted down while reading the book...
"Be accountable for your feelings. A person isn't MAKING you feel sad, angry, or frustrated; you're ALLOWING yourself to feel these things. By taking responsibility for your actions and emotions, you'll give yourself the power to change the situation".
"When faced with a stalemate, evaluate whether the issue is more important to your beau, or to you. If it means more to him, give in. If you, don't back down."
"With problems, focus on solutions rather than the stuff that can't be changed."
Sound advice, and highly recommended!
Not bad.......2007-01-20
I feel that this book, though it brings up some interesting points (I was especially appreciative of the legal and financial advice), I found much of the covered topics to be for people with little common sense. Several of the women interviewed lived and stayed in relationships with men for years and years before even bringing up the idea of marriage, and then are devastated when they admit that they're not the marrying type. I am also of the opinion that if you are in a stable and serious relationship that is moving towards cohabitation, you should already know where your partner stands on marriage, children, or any possible future plan concerning your relationship. I get the feeling that this book is geared towards women who might not really know their significant others all that well.
Book Description
“Conventional wisdom,” says Roger Housden, “tells us that nobody goes to heaven for having a good time.” Seven Sins for a Life Worth Living, then, is a refreshing, liberating, and decidedly welcome dose of unconventional wisdom that awakens us to the simple delights and transformative joys of the world around us.
With elegance, gentle humor, and remarkable openness, Housden takes us along as he recalls his personal journey toward an appreciation of what he calls the Seven Pleasures: The Pleasure of All Five Senses, The Pleasure of Being Foolish,The Pleasure of Not Knowing, The Pleasure of Not Being Perfect, The Pleasure of Doing Nothing Useful, The Pleasure of Being Ordinary, and The Pleasure of Coming Home.
Housden writes, for instance, of submitting to the ultimate folly of falling in love, of celebrating our imperfections, of coming to understand the virtues of the Slow Food movement while enjoying an all-afternoon lunch in a small French village, and of discovering in a Saharan cave that, however extraordinary our surroundings, “we are human, a glorious nothing much to speak of”—and learning to be at peace with the notion.
Such pleasures may be suspect in today’s achievement-driven, tightly scheduled, relent-lessly self-improving, conspicuously consumptive culture, but surely the greater sin lies in letting them slip away moment by precious moment. “The purpose of this book,” says Housden, “is to inspire you to lighten up and fall in love with the world and all that is in it.” Reading it is a pleasure indeed.
“When you die,God and the angels will hold you accountablefor all the pleasures you were allowed in life that you denied yourself.”
Roger Housden, author of the bestselling Ten Poems series, presents a joyously affirmative, warmly personal, and spiritually illuminating meditation on the virtues of opening ourselves up to pleasures like being foolish, not being perfect, and doing nothing useful, the pleasure of not knowing, and even (would you believe it?) the pleasure of being ordinary.
Download Description
Roger Housden emigrated from England to the United States in 1998 and now lives in New York City and New Jersey. He is
the author of numerous books on cultural and spiritual themes, including the bestselling Ten Poems series. You can contact him at tenpoems@juno.com.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
A Great Read.......2007-06-14
I wound up purchasing this book as a gift and reading it from cover to cover in the span of two hours myself.
Amazing read.
lighten up and live longer.......2007-01-29
Chalk one up for the marketing department. When I saw this catchy title at our public library, I took the bait. Not that I'm sorry I read the book, but I was hoping for something more substantial given the promising table of contents. The seven sins worth living for are the pleasures of enjoying the beauty of the five senses, being foolish, not knowing, not being perfect, doing nothing useful, being ordinary, and of coming home. The good news, says Housden, is that no upgrades are needed to live this way, that if we can learn to be present in the moment and to each other, "life is already enhanced enough as it is." His stated purpose reminds me of a friend's joke: "Lighten up, you'll be dead a long time."
Our readiness to follow our culture's cues leads us astray. We pride ourselves on being important, busy, and driven, developing personas that, deep down, we intuit are at best superficial and perhaps even phony. If you asked most anyone, they would agree that a new car, an in-box stuffed with hundreds of emails, or a better address do not, ultimately, provide a deep sense of satisfaction, but that's not how we live. Religion, too, comes in for heavy criticisms in Housden's view; it generates guilt and all sorts of inhibitions. In selected portions of the book Housden shares from his own life how he has developed a more centered self that honors the inner journey as much or more as the outer journey. Throughout the book he sprinkles trenchant aphorisms regarding life lived more joyfully, more playfully, more fully. "When you die," goes one piece of advice, "God and the angels will hold you accountable for all the pleasures you were allowed in life that you denied yourself." Learning to be at home in the world and with yourself is no easy task; Housden gets you started.
Self indulgence brings suffering not happiness........2006-09-14
The advice in this book may be good for someone who is suffering from workaholism. For most people this book is worthless. Indulgence in pleasure only brings temporary gradification and an endless want for more pleasure.
The book is irritating to read as author comes across as a self absorbed braggart who manufactures tall tales. He divorced his wife to marry a much younger woman. The author stopped going to clairvoyants because they always predicted what girl he would meet and what house he would buy and so life became boring. Sounds like bragging fiction to me.
Selfishness & self indulgence bring suffering not happiness. The last thing people need is more encouragement toward self indulgence. Unfortunately seems to me that many therapists seem to encourage selfishness because it is what clients want to hear. Ever notice that people who have been in therapy for a long time are so self-absorbed as to be impossible to be with?
The real path to happiness is to divorce selfishness not your wife and to serve others. Much better books: read Pathways to Joy by Vivekananda or any book by the Dalai Lama or books by Ken Wilber.
Disappointing.......2006-07-12
I was looking forward to an inspirational read when I picked this book up and began reading. I continued reading hoping that it would become more engaging. I then found myself skipping pages, then chapters, just stopping long enough to read the quotes tucked among the verbiage and was relieved to finally come to the last three pages which I felt short changed the title of the last chapter. I guess if one was really bored and really hard up for something to read you might discover something that I didn't find. The author elaborates endlessly on what is obvious. We all have relatives like this whom we avoid asking questions or sitting next to at gatherings. Save your money and purchase something more worthwhile.
Loving it!.......2006-01-16
I am in the middle of the book at the moment and happened to stumble upon it in a bookstore weeks ago. I myself am 25 and can appreciate the idea of excepting all the pleasures that life has to offer. If we can all learn to follow the simple ideas of this book. Life would be a lot more pleasurable!
Book Description
Pride. Anger. Envy. Slothfulness. Lust. Greed. Gluttony. Is this an out-of-date list of sins preached against by a behind-the-times church? Or are these sins a challenge and a stumbling block for those of us who are living at the dawn of the twenty-first century? Pastor Ed Young, Jr. says, "I believe you can not only live what the world calls a 'good life,' but you can live what God calls a 'right life.' You can be free of the things that are hanging you up. But to be free, you can and must own up to the distractions described in this book."
Customer Reviews:
SOFT ,CATCHYAND QUITE DISTURBING.......2000-09-08
THE BOOK IS MADE EASIER TO UNDERSTAND AND ADAPT TO BECAUSE OF LIFES PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WERE USED TO MAKE POINTS CLEAR. I'M SENDING ONE TO MY SON WHO IS SERVING HIS COUNTRY. HE'S A ARDENT READER WHO WILL SURELY ENJOY ITS PRATICAL POINTS.
Book Description
We are all deceived, driven by selfish desires, and incapable of doing what we know to be right in our own human strength. Premier Bible teacher Dr. Erwin Lutzer explains the hopeful reality that change is possible through the sometimes painful process of God-given revelation and honesty.
Customer Reviews:
So true its scary........2006-11-16
This book blew me away, the more i read this book i have realize the fall of man is horrific beyond measure. just when you think you are a goody goody this book is a true reality biter.
this is my 5th copy because i have a tendency to share it with others.
The Truth=The Increasingly Bearable Lightness of Being.......2001-10-19
Pastor Lutzer has written a masterpiece on what it takes to be a true Christian. Often throughout the chapters, Lutzer refers to the opposing directions we must choose between: either continue to live in sin and thus enter further into darkness and despair or opt to change course and enter God's light and discover His very best.
Throughout the book, Lutzer does not offer senseless pop psychology frills. He instead gives accounts of what some have had to go through in order to repent of their past mistakes; among these testimonies are recollections of the peace that many reformed Christians are now experiencing, thanks to their ability to trust God enough to admit to others the ugly truths about their pasts and present situations and ,in result, come into the light.
Lutzer points out the consequences of our choices. He says that if you want to experience the joy of being a Christian, you may have to admit some very painful truths that you are ashamed of. He goes on to express that if for the sake of God telling the truth or just being honest is squeamish, it is not going to be so painful in the long run in comparison to what we will otherwise endure.
One of the best books in a long time.......2001-09-09
I've not only read the book, but I was part of the worshipping congregation at Moody Memorial Church in Chicago when this sermon series was preached in the Fall of 2000.
Pastor Lutzer is at his all-time best when he is preaching God's Word, and addressing the "issues" of humanity. That is what happens in "Why Good People Do Bad Things." Probably my favorite chapters are "Hearing Your Father's Voice" and "The Roots of Rage."
Profoundly simple, but very much directly-to-the-point, Pastor Erwin W. Lutzer pulls no "punches" and doesn't offer any simple fly-by-night solutions. What he does accomplish is an examination of many of today's ills among believers from a biblical perspective. That, in itself, is a refreshing change from the postmodern christianity that is plaguing so many Protestant congregations these days.
Book Description
The Workbook on the Seven Deadly Sins illustrates how sloth, lust, anger, pride, envy, gluttony and greed are ever-present in our individual lives and in society. An eight-week study, the book is soundly rooted in Scripture and illustrated by real-life
Customer Reviews:
Great group Bible study resource.......2007-04-03
We have used this workbook as a Lenten Bible study at my church this spring. There are about 20 people in the study and each person, at some point, has expressed how much s/he is learning and how much s/he enjoys the study. More than that, it has made all the participants more aware of the pervasive reality of sin in our lives, which has led to a greater desire for God's forgiveness and healing. The authors continually point to Jesus Christ and warn repeatedly about not doing things in our own strength or just "trying harder". They speak of the transformation that is only possible through surrender to the Holy Spirit. The study has convicted and inspired us on a personal level, but has also inspired great discussion of depth and insight.
I know of many other churches who have used this study (usually during Lent) and I have heard nothing but rave reviews. Frankly, I am shocked by a couple of the negative reviews here. This is a great tool for study and discussion. I would highly recommend doing this with a group. Again, I've only heard wonderful things from other pastors and church leaders who have actually used this resource in a church setting.
Surface skimmed here........2001-08-07
The authors express a lot of their opinions and personal points of view within this workbook, versus really convincing the reader about the true nature of sins. In reading through the different chapters, it is hard to find a complete separation in their writing between one deadly sin described and another - perhaps there isn't any, but perhaps that is where the discussion could lead. As a result it seems that the surface is skimmed repeatedly, but the real meat of the matter remains where it was before the workbook! As a workbook for discussion groups studying seven deadly sins, this workbook would probably create the same exact discussion for every session. Another result of the authors' bias would probably create a trail of condemnation versus a pathway for enlightenment concerning these sins. In conclusion, this work falls short of what it could have been.
I now know what the 7 capital sins are.......2001-07-07
Short workbook which covers the 7 capital sins. I gave 3 stars because the workbook seemed a bit short. I thought it should gone more in depth about the sins.
Very good and informative.......2001-02-26
I found this book to be easy to read. I, not being Christian found this book to be highly revolving around the Christian religion showing many Christian views. I think this book will be most effective if read in a group instead for personal use. Overall this book served my purposed sufficently and I think it was written quite well.
Book Description
Get Real, Become Focused, Begin Thriving!
You’re a generation of parents aspiring to excellence in every way, but you’re also just plain tired. You don’t need another parenting book promising perfection or another formula guaranteeing great kids; you need practical advice that shows how to deal with your and your children’s hearts. If you’re worn out from trying to do too much while giving your child every opportunity under the sun, if you’re striving to excel in every way but suffering from a lack of focus, this book is your solution. It will help you understand how your specific tendencies are common to your generation as a whole. You’ll embrace the positive qualities that enable you to parent for God’s glory. Lay a firm foundation and thrive as you raise up the next generation!
Wanna Do It Right
Without the Expert Advice?
Looking for practical, doable tips and guidance for raising today’s kids? Want to help them love God and be all that they can be (even if they don’t join the Army)?
If 70s and 80s bands (Run DMC), fashion (hot pink anything), and technology (music on cassette) bring back vivid youthful memories, Generation NeXt Parenting is the resource for you. Like secrets exchanged at recess with a trusted friend, this book offers helpful hints for raising your children during this exact time in history. Extensive research, input from hundreds of Gen X moms and dads, and a variety of Scripture references will help you navigate even the toughest parenting dilemmas.
“Chock-full of useful quotes from experts and everyday parents, this is a grace-infused handbook for Gen Xers navigating the parenting journey.”
Mary E. DeMuth
Author of Building the Christian Family You Never Had
“As a young father, I not only relate to Tricia’s message, but I’m very encouraged that there is a fantastic parenting resource for our generation.”
Jordan Rubin
Founder of Garden of Life and author of The Great Physician’s RX for Health and Wellness
PULL OUT QUOTE/STARBURST
This book is designed like a magazine (not because you miss reading Seventeen, but because no parent has time to read a book cover to cover) and includes: Quotes from fellow Gen X parents Stats Quizzes Sidebars Song lyrics Study questions
Story Behind the Book
“As a Gen Xer who graduated from high school in 1989, the way I parent is different from the generations who’ve gone before me. I want to do it all—find God’s purpose for my life, impact my community, support my spouse, and provide my children every opportunity available to them. My generation is serious about parenting—just look at all we expect from our children and ourselves! This book offers solutions to our unique questions and confirms that we can ‘parent right’—even if it looks nothing like the way our own parents did it. More importantly, this book focuses on seeking God’s Word and wisdom for answers to growing a new generation of God seekers.” — Tricia Goyer
Customer Reviews:
Chadron MOPS loves Tricia Goyer!!!!.......2007-07-12
If you can name the members of the "Brat Pack", wore leg warmers, or can still recite the lyrics to a Cyndi Lauper song, then this book is for you. Children of the 1980s are fondly referred to as Generation X. Tricia Goyer's book Generation NeXt Parenting explores the parenting styles of this generation. Tricia's insight from her own childhood lead her to change her parenting style to separate her from her baby boomer parents. This book is easy to pick up and start reading from where you left off. She has a style of writing, which incorporates original text, Biblical reference, quotes from other parents, and 156 other cited authors. She is able to bring each chapter together with an 80's song lyric which brought back a lot of my teen memories. In this day and age we are inundated with an overwhelming amount of how-to books. However, this book offers a practical approach to parenting with a study guide to develop your parenting skills. I would recommend it to fellow Gen X'ers.
~Heidi of Chadron MOPS
Boomers: great gift for your daughter.......2007-06-26
Okay, I admit it--I'm not a Generation X mom; I'm a boomer mom, but the mom of several in the next generation and now the grandma of one and one-to-be. However, I found Tricia Goyer's book engaging, immensely helpful, understanding and just plain fun. I'm giving it to my daughter--who often feels the older parenting books just don't "fit." The author has done extensive research on parenting, has lived the ups and downs of being a mom to several kids (one from her teens), and has studied and incorporated the wisdom of scripture. I highly recommend this book.
Wise, Yet Never Pompous.......2007-02-06
For a few years now I've been a fan of Goyer's novels, with their realistic details, believable characters, and fast pacing. "Generation Next Parenting" is my first introduction to her non-fiction skills, and I'm suitably impressed. Here, too, Goyer deals with believable scenarios and honest struggles that Christian parents face.
I am the father of two daughters, ages 12 and 14. My wife and I have parented from the onset with the belief that we want to prepare our kids for life, not just protect them from it. Goyer finds that balance in this easy-to-read book, offering encouragement and philosophical angles to raising children. The pages are rich with spiritual insight, Scriptural foundations, and bits of humor. The quotes from Gen-X bands (Chicago, Gloria Estefan, Talking Heads, etc) add a light touch to these sometimes serious issues.
If you're struggling with your own generational parenting style, if you're wondering how well you are doing in God's eyes, or if you're just interested in a wise, yet never pompous, guide to "getting it right," then Tricia Goyer's book is for you. (And don't forget to check out here great fiction titles!)
Thoughts from an Old GenXer.......2007-01-20
"Generation NeXt" turned out to be an intriguing read for me. I am on the line between Boomers and GenXers. Different sources have placed me in each camp, so if I'm a GenXer, I'm an old one.
My review will be from the perspective of an old GenXer with a teenager and young adult children. At times, as I read "Generation NeXt" I felt exactly that, old, but then I'd turn a few pages and identify with exactly what Tricia had penned.
Had I read this book when my children were younger, I think I would have gained insight leading to freedom from some guilt baggage I lugged around for far too many years.
Tricia's "Generation NeXt Parenting" is an encouraging pat on the back with plenty of spiritual and practical challenges tossed in. She doesn't take traditional problems and toss out advice on how to handle it as much as she covers the holistic issues of parenting and Christlikeness.
If you are looking for another parenting book that has an index and multiple tips on how to handle potty training, you won't find much in "Generation NeXt." However, if you desire to dig to underlying motivations on your part and your children's behaviors, there is help offered here. Of course, a lot of the advice is what we who call ourselves "Christian" know because it's preached from the pulpit, radio and other books. But it bears repeating until we "get" it. Tricia gives practical ideas for how to get on track or back on track spiritually so that you can be the parent God calls you to be.
I learned far more from "Generation NeXt" than I thought I would. Tricia peppers her thoughts with those from other struggling parents and facts regarding the unique building blocks GenXer's have been given.
I thought of several friends who have younger children who could benefit from this book and intend to get a copy to them.
Generation Next Parenting, by Tricia Goyer.......2006-12-25
In today's generation, Christian parents face more obstacles than in any other point in history, perhaps even more so than those early Christians who hid their churches in their homes. With the advent of cable television, the Internet, cell phones and seemingly omnipresent advertisements telling our children - and let's be honest, us - how to look, act, dress, live, and what to believe in, Christians are engaged in all out warfare for not only for our own souls, but those of our children as well.
It doesn't help that Christianity is more splintered than it's ever been. A line has been drawn down the middle, and sides have been chosen: there are those on one side who deride "cultural sensitivity" and "Contemporary Worship" as "watered-down" and departing from Scriptural truth, and those on the other side who sneer at folks still reading their New King James Bibles, calling them "legalistic" and "not with the times". Popularity of speakers and spiritual self-help books abound, to the point where recently, when a young lady was threatened by a burglar, she pulled out - not the Bible - but rather a popular devotional book instead.
So, there a skirmishes all around, one side pointing the finger at another, but one thing that cannot be denied is the almost overwhelming crop of young parents and even younger children who feel isolated and cut off from God. They are desperately seeking answers in a post-modern age that refutes the sovereignty of answers, and many of them feel desperarely alone in their fight.
Generation Next Parenting, by award winning novelist Tricia Goyer, is an excellent devotional - not self-help book, not sweeping craze built on well-meaning concepts and snazzy catch phrases. It's an excellent tome of guidance for today's young parents. Founded on sound, Biblical principles - using only three or four different translations of the Bible, rather than fifty - Generation Next cuts right to the heart of what it means to be a young parent today; facing challenges and worldly opposition that our parents and grandparents never had to face.
A big selling point of this book is Goyer's frankness concerning her own mistakes and downfalls in life; she's open and honest - sometimes painfully so (but in an empathetic, good way). For me, as a young "Gen X'er" parent myself, this made quite an impact: I can't count how many times I've read a devotional book by some award winning speaker, pastor, or theologian, and thought to myself - "Hmm...must be nice living in your world." However, throughout Generation, I laughed, I winced, I sometimes felt stirred, (no, I didn't cry - because of course, we men never do that....sniff.)
The book's format is unique, as well - filled with relevant cultural quips and anecdotes, (those of us secret Duran Duran admirers will feel right at home), it's laid out more like a study guide or textbook, rather than a...well...really big book with lots of words that'll never get finished in the middle of work, doing the laundry, feeding the kids, changing the diapers, (which this man does do), and running the kids to every practice and event known to man. But don't worry, "busy bees" - simplify is one of this book's loudest hearkening calls.
On a final note, MEN should absolutely, positively read this book as well. Though it's written with a decided slant toward the female reader, for too long Christian men have distanced themselves from the "messier" side of leading the home spiritually (and I do mean "messier" literally; my father always said he changed the required amount of diapers a man was supposed to - one for me, and one for my sister!). This book gives practical, ground floor advice for all parents who desire their homes to be Godly ones, and should be on every Christian "Gen X'er's" shelf.
Book Description
Every sin you commit grieves the heart of God and prevents you from getting close to Him. But in Go And Sin No More, Dr. Michael L. Brown reveals how you can overcome temptation and live a passionate life of holiness that will fin God's heart with joy.
Drawing on Scripture and his own experience, Brown presents twenty reasons not to sin-any one of which is enough to keep your faith strong and pure until Jesus comes again.
God And Sin No More is filled with practical steps and biblical guidance that will give you strength to boldly and aggressively banish sin from your life. Begin living a life that is pleasing in God's eyes and experience a deeper level of spiritual strenght, hunger and effectiveness.
Customer Reviews:
Balanced in grace.......2004-12-19
Many people who have been burnt out from a message of legalism should read this book. This book will restore the message of true holiness without the spirit of legalism. In one of his chapters he addresses a whole chapter on legalism. He defines what legalism is because there are many who have a misunderstanding what legalism is all about. He also addresses in another chapter on grace.
Powerful Words on Holiness.......2004-04-27
Dr. Michael Brown is a skilled writer. He does his homework on a subject and always fills his books with Scripture. This book is no different. Dr. Brown tackles the issue of holiness. This subject once could be heard in every English speaking pulpit but today we shy away from its teaching because of our pragmatic approach to ministry.
Dr. Brown challenges the Body of Christ to hate sin, love God, and preach the truth in love. Matthew 1:21 tells us that the Son of God was to be called Jesus because He would save His people from their sins. Many people want to be "His people" without being free from their sins. Jesus came to die for our sins (Galatians 1:4) and to set us free completely from a life of sin (1 John 3:6-9). How can we continue in sin (Romans 6:1-4)? We must pursue holiness (Matthew 5:48; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
A good book to stir you to change........2004-04-05
I have read this book several times, mainly when I feel I need a wake-up call. Michael Brown has written a powerful book here against sin and for holiness, something that is woefully lacking in the contemporary church. I like the way he challenges our choices in entertainment also, it's strange what professing christians choose for their entertainment.
He really paints an ugly picture of sin and gives some good practical advice on how to avoid it.
He quotes extensively from the puritan writers such as John Owen, and from Charles Spurgeon the great preacher of the 1800's. I highly recommend that you get your hands on as many books on holiness as you can and search your heart as society today is headed for hell and wanting to take you with it!
Thanks Michael Brown for writing this, it spurred me on to better things and encouraged me to study this oft-neglected subject. I also recommend the writings of Jerry Bridges on this subject, and check out the puritan sermons as well.
A much needed clarification of what it means to be holy........2004-01-05
Dr. Michael L. Brown has written a very easy to understand and Biblically based book on a subject that is underemphasized (if not totally ignored) and misuderstood by the majority (in my opinion) in the Christian community. His logic is clear and his Biblical support is without question or argument. I doubt any capable theologian would be able to challenge Dr. Brown on this subject.
By far, chapter 4, "The Fateful End," is the most convicting and heart-searching.
I would also recommend reading Charles G. Finney's views of sanctification in his "Systematic Theology" and J.C. Ryle's, "Holiness."
second to the bible this ones it!.......2000-04-13
What an awesome book! Straight from Browns own experiences and stories while digging deep into the Truth. I have not read a book so convicting and genuine. This is a must read for all Gods people in todays world, where compromise is the norm. It has help unveil the eyes of my heart to Gods Word, and straightens out all the decieving lies we believe as we try to be set apart in a culture that has given itself up to lust, greed, abuse, drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc. Jesus is coming soon and this book will help prepare you until He comes again.(but His Word should always be the First book we read)God Bless!
Books:
- Behold a Pale Horse
- Bird Songs
- Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality
- Buddhism For Dummies (For Dummies (Religion & Spirituality))
- Buddhism without Beliefs
- Catholicism for Dummies
- Catholicism for Dummies
- Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons
- Darkness Is My Only Companion: A Christian Response to Mental Illness
- Divine Intuition
Books Index
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General
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When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God--and Joy
What Jesus Demands from the World
Overcoming Sin and Temptation
Suffering and the Sovereignty of God
When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight For Joy
