Book Description
By following the dramatic story of the "Amazing Grace" hymnwriter John Newton and the apostle Paul's own encounter with the God of grace, Jeremiah helps readers understand the freeing power of permanent forgiveness and mercy.
Customer Reviews:
Grace undeserved benefit, Wretch deserves punishment.......2007-09-07
Grace is a gift; Grace is undeserved; Grace is unmerited; Grace is received. Grace is illustrated through the lives of individuals who have received forgiveness and undeserved salvation. Amazing Grace tells about the love received when Grace is given; that love is defined through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The doctrine of Grace is given in Paul's epistles. Capture by Grace written by David Jeremiah defines Grace received through the lives of John Newton, the author of Amazing Grace and the Apostle Paul. This book will give the reader greater understanding of God's wrath, God's judgment, God's mercy, God's Grace, the atonement, God's forgiveness, God's provision for sinners and God's love. David Jeremiah explores the words of the song Amazing Grace and applies them to the lives of John Newton and Paul. The author details scriptural backing for the lyrics of Amazing Grace by quoting Paul's epistles. This book is an argument against sentiment or to diminish the song's meaning through the changing the word wretch. Both John Newton and Paul knew they deserved hell; both men knew they deserved damnation. No man should demand justice, but praise God that Grace can be received.
Grace available to all.......2007-09-06
"[T]hat saved a wretch like me" is a key phrase in the hymn "Amazing Grace." We are all familiar with the song from either church or television. I remember them singing it on an episode of Little House on the Prairie as well as an episode of Cheers. If I remember correctly, it is also the hymn of choice in funerals when bagpipes are playing. That phrase of the song highlights a key focus of this book, the gift of God's grace to everyone, including the least likely.
To highlight this focus, Dr. David Jeremiah breaks the song into parts to explain what it means biblically. To illustrate, he gives us the life of John Newton (who wrote "Amazing Grace") and the apostle Paul. Both men were some of the least likely of people to be given this gift of grace. Paul persecuted the early Christians, and John Newton was a slave trader.
The book's intent is to instruct us, so the author has broken this down into sections so that the reader can think about each part of the song. In this way, the book is more interactive. The reader will get more from the book if he or she takes a moment in reflection.
The book provides information about the hymn that may not have been known by most people (and I found very interesting), as well as some information about John Newton. The focus of the book, however, is Christian instruction.
Truly Inspirational.......2007-04-07
Weaving the two stories - the author of the beloved hymn and St Paul show that grace is truly AMAZING!
I am captured and love it!.......2006-10-21
What can I say that has not been said! WOW! I thought I knew the whole story of the song, I was wrong. I love getting the rest of the story!This book is a blessong!
Sola Fad.......2006-09-20
Promise Keepers, Prayer Of Jabez, Purpose Driven,...Captured By Grace. How many of these Band Wagons are we going to jump on ?
How about the GOSPEL !!!
Book Description
Elizabeth George’s Loving God with All Your Mind (more than 200,000 copies sold) has been revised and expanded. Elizabeth lets women know that loving the Lord involves action! Focusing on six main scripture passages, she helps readers understand what it means to truly—
- let your mind think on what is true about God and about life
- grasp and move toward God’s purpose for life
- trust the Lord in all things
Drawing on biblical wisdom as well as personal experience, Elizabeth helps women handle their emotions and discover inner peace that comes from focusing on what is true. She shares six powerful Bible truths that will help readers draw closer to God and know His joy and love.
Customer Reviews:
life transforming.......2007-09-14
This is a life transforming book if you apply it ;-). Really helped me to see how to deal with depression and how important setting your mind on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, whatever has excellence whatever is worthy of praise---these are the filters for our minds.
Loving Him is the Focus.......2007-07-12
This is a timely book dealing with the battle we all face in our minds of where our focus is, what the truth is, and dealing with reality as it really is, both earthly and heavenly. It is refreshingly practical and guides the reader to take a good look at the truth of the past, present, and future. Having just completed a women's Bible class using this book, the only criticism is that there was too much looking at us, not enough at God. We do need to recognize the reality of our own lives, especially to be able to find freedom, but if we are to love Him with all our minds and see the beauty of walking each day with Him, I found the focus not to be quite as consistently upward as most of her other books.
Learn To Love God.......2006-04-13
I love this book! Elizabeth George does a great job of teaching how to love God. Here's a quote from the book: "We need to sail on as we look ahead and reach forward toward spiritual maturity and the goal of loving God with all our mind. As we focus on God, He will guide our steps, empower our service to Him, and work in us the characteristics of Christ as He enables us to both meet the demands of the present and press on toward the prize. This is a great book and it has study questions in the back for each chapter.
This book was great!.......2006-03-31
I found this book to be very, very helpful in dealing not only with depression but panic/anxiety disorder. It offers up some very useful advice. I found the first half of the book more useful, but enjoyed the entire thing.
Suggested study........2005-09-12
If you are suffering from depression this is a wonderful study to redirect your thoughts to what "is true." Elizabeth George does a wonderful job having you take a closer look at God's Word. I found I am trusting my Lord Jesus more instead of my thoughts or what I perceive is true. Making the choice to believe the Word of God.
Book Description
When an expert in the law asked Jesus for the greatest commandment, Jesus' reply changed the course of history. With one phrase, Jesus amended the fundamental creed of Judaism and laid the foundation for his life and ministry:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind;" and, `Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Luke 10:27)
Discover how Jesus' revolutionary creed can transform your life.
Customer Reviews:
Completely Misses the Mark...........2007-08-30
What is billed as a book that will help you "discover how the Jesus Creed of love for God and others can transform your life" The Jesus Creed reveals more about the author's fascination with symbolic overtones and calls to a narcissistic faith, than the Gospel that proclaims the two Great Commandments of God. Built upon a call to living out the Shema (To love God with all and to love others as yourself, as affirmed and lived by Jesus Christ) The Jesus Creed seems promising at first. But that promise soon fades away as yet another surface driven effort to promote a kind of cobbled together, self-help gospel has been put to paper. Symbols and rituals become larger than life in The Jesus Creed and one wonders where the author believes that reliance on Christ in humble faith truly begins and the symbol that is supposed to point to it actually ends.
The Jesus Creed is a noble attempt by a sincere author to encapsulate the heart of the Christian faith, but it is an attempt that ends in utter failure. Absent is a serious discussion on sin and of the very reason we have need of a Savior and why, when we accept such a gracious Savior, we will spontaneously overflow with joy and love in response to what Jesus has done. There are a few sections (i.e. Restoring in Jesus) that quickly gloss over the great problem of sin, but soon the reader is shuffled off to view a confused explanation of restoration that seems little more than an elaborate "sinner's prayer" before any kind of needed depth is undertaken. Also absent is a serious discussion and call to the humility necessary to fully surrender to God (though the author devotes an entire chapter on surrender that falls hopelessly short) and to truly love one's neighbor. Again, a serious explanation and grappling with our sin and how the true Christian is driven to the feet of Christ is missing. What promises to be a call to a total surrender and the regeneration of a humble, meek and mournful spirit though obedience to the great commands turns out to be litany of sentimental stories and symbolic charms that are missing tangible, straight-forward and belivable examples that explains the magnitude, worth and need of an all glorious Christ.
One cannot surrender if one does not understand what they are surrendering from, and even if one comes to know, there is still the matter of our total helplessness. All of these central and critical issues are missing from The Jesus Creed. The Gospel is anything but man-centered or formulaic. The Gospel has God prominently on display from first to last as he displays his power, mercy and love towards a humanity that is completely undeserving. It is here where The Jesus Creed gets lost. The real "Jesus Creed" is found, of course, in the Scriptures themselves and sadly, very little of it is pointed to directly in the book. The ultimate message of The Jesus Creed seems to be a spirituality that is infatuated with anecdotes and symbols that almost invite the reader to just bend Jesus to every need, desire and whim, not an invitation to bow your knee to the Jesus who came and died and offers himself to all who believe. No doubt many of the book's anecdotes are weaved in interesting and colorful ways, but they often have little substance about the life of Christ, with what he calls us to do and what he asks of us tangibly. This of course is to love each other as he loved us, but not in some metaphorical or abstract way as this book advocates practically but in the gritty day-to-day ordinary life settings that requires real, painful sacrifice to produce real, authentic love for the poor, the sick, the needy, and the enemy. By doing so we thereby show our love for God as we are giving love to God (John 5:1-3) - the real Creed. Despite the painful irony, The Jesus Creed misses all of it.
JESUS CREED and A LETTER TO A CHRISTIAN NATION.......2007-02-16
Some say religion is like a sponge that soaks up every bias, prejudice, and sentimentalism- and there is much truth to that (see my forthcoming review of A LETTER TO A CHRISTIAN NATION). Scot McKnight has squeezed the sponge dry; his book THE JESUS CREED-LOVING GOD, LOVING OTHERS distills orthodox Christianity into the Jesus Creed which is Jesus' remarkable answer when asked "what is important." Jesus answered to love God and love others. This foundational creed is derived from the Jewish Shema, Deuteronomy 6.5-5, and from Leviticus 19:15 "Love your neighbor as yourself." McKnight writes, "It should shape everything we say about Christian spirituality. Everything."
Jesus' imperative to love God and love others was radical when Jesus taught and remains radical today or at least muffled under the cacophony of Christian credal contentiousness. McKnight, a professor and Christian biblical scholar, draws on his intimate knowledge of the Bible, holy land history and sociology to highlight, using stories from the Bible and his own life, Jesus' essential and uncompromising command to love God and others.
"What a concept," my high school students might say sardonically without knowing knowing what sardonic means! But McKnight is serious and insists that love God and love others must inform every interpretation of every Biblical verse and every understanding of Christian tradition. McKnight's teaching is gentle with fewer "rough edges" than Jesus' own, and the book is even humorous at times with stories and quotes from friends and contemporary entertainment media. Ironically, McKnight is teaching a not always well received message (MERE CHRISTIANITY by C.S. Lewis comes to mind as another distillation of Jesus' message that threatens the verse-interpretation obsessions of so many denominations). Jesus' simple command that McKnight names the "Jesus Creed" challenges contemporary (and past) Christian perspectives, caught up, as so many are, with worldly and political agendas.
McKnight combines historic settings and metaphor to beautifully bring Jesus' message to life. The table metaphor is one such Biblical setting and metaphor. The Torah required obedience to 613 laws, laws which defined "clean" and "unclean" in ways that sometimes made love of others difficult or impossible. The Parable of the Good Samaritan, for instance, required ignoring the perhaps dead- and therefore impure- Jericho man lying on the side of the road. The Samaritan, however, was willing to violate the law in order to fulfill the greater command to love God and love others. Jesus, in ways that astounded and provoked the elites of his time, welcomed all to his table (and ministry): women, who were marginalized by the ethos of his day, sinners of every sort, lepers, and all the untouchables of that society. Loving god and others meant love god and ALL others.
If the Jesus Creed, love God and love all others, is often hard to hear in the pronouncements of Christians and Christianity, it is even harder to live, witness the history of the church. This book with its simple and difficult message is recommended to all Christians who may have lost the path by following the extraneous, and it is especially recommended to all Christians and non-Christians who have been hurt and angered by those who lost the path and failed to express love and welcome. Possibly like you, my life has been touched more by the path-fallen messages than by the Jesus Creed, a message anything but mean-spirited.
McKnight also hosts a Jesus Creed blog (use your search engine to find it) where daily blogs include the tame, the topical, and the terrifying. Time and time again McKnight and his contributors wrestle with Biblical verses and Christian tradition, sharing their journeys, their doubts, their hopes and fears in ways so moving that any Christian or non-Christian would walk the extra mile with them. These blog pilgrims are sometimes as stripped naked wanderers in the wilderness searching for sustenance and meaning. And that sustenance and meaning comes not from their voluminous knowledge- these blog contributors are mostly professors, students and pastors dizzy with their book knowledge and interpretations- but from six simple words: love God and love all others. From the book and from the blog, one is constantly reminded- all interpretation must be informed by the Jesus Creed. Also, there is general blog agreement that Biblical interpretation must be informed by established scientific facts and theories, but that is another story, outside the scope of McKnight's book.
Another recommended book is A LETTER TO A CHRISTIAN NATION by Sam Harris, an atheist who attempts "to demolish the intellectual and moral pretensions of Christianity in its most committed forms," and quite successfully, I might add, except for one proviso. Scot McKnight, his book, and his blog escape and are not demolished by Harris' just criticisms. I think McKnight would agree with very much of Harris' critique, and I can't help but think that Harris would find the Jesus creed among the highest expressions of religion. In fact, had Christians learned to love God and love all others there would have been very little basis for Harris' book. However, it must be admitted that, with very few exceptions, Christians and all others, share in this deficit of universal love.
McKnight teaches all to love God by following Jesus along that path of loving others, and his pilgrim bloggers are a testimony to its truth. Harris succinctly shows how Christian dogma and prejudice has continually blocked many from loving others, often creating rancor and sometimes war- another undeniable truth. Somehow, perhaps, love and truth will overcome our history's foreshadowing of tragedy: a world divided into angry factions with weapons on every side that can extinguish the human experiment. These two books, THE JESUS CREED- LOVING GOD, LOVING OTHERS and A LETTER TO A CHRISTIAN NATION inform each other and give some hope that love and reason, indeed the human experiment, might prevail.
the greatest command.......2007-01-18
First published in September 2004, The Jesus Creed is already in its third printing, and the recipient of Christianity Today's Book Award for 2005 as one of the best books of the year to introduce people to evangelical Christianity. Clearly, McKnight, the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park College (Chicago), has struck a chord with a considerable reading audience.
The strength of his book is its focus on what is central to the faith rather than peripheral, and to present that central affirmation in a simple, which is not to say simplistic, manner. McKnight taught seminary students for eleven years before choosing to teach college-level students for the past ten years, and about half of these younger students are not Christian. I admired his ability to move from his capacity as a technical specialist who has written more weighty tomes to connect with people who know nothing at all about the faith. A number of other strengths commend this book. McKnight draws upon a wide fund of ecumenical sources--Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, mainline Protestant, Pentecostal, and evangelical. He uses story-telling to good effect by sharing real-life anecdotes from his personal, family, and professional life. His style is casual throughout, and for that reason entirely accessible. John the Baptist, for example, "was wired hot and a bit off his rocker, living in the wilderness, eating bugs, and calling the nation to repentance" (141). Being the scholar that he is, McKnight also roots his discussion in the Jewish context of the life and times of Jesus. Although his presentation is simple, at the same time it is comprehensive, guiding the reader through such issues as community, social justice, the sacraments, and so forth. Finally, I appreciated McKnight's book because he introduces his readers to sources from the ancient to the modern, and to points in between. You will learn about the early fathers, the medieval monastics, the Reformation Protestants, and modern-day writers from Dorothy Sayers to CS Lewis and Dallas Willard.
And just what is the Jesus Creed? It is Jesus's amended version of the Jewish Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4-9, the heart and soul, the sine qua non or quintessence of Judaism. When asked by an expert in the Law about the greatest commandment, Jesus answered with the Shema, adding to it Leviticus 19:18: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:28-33). In this short summary we have what Thomas à Kempis called "a whole dictionary in just one dictum" (8). In the rest of his book McKnight parses the grammar of Christian faith so clearly that few readers could misunderstand.
Loving your neighbor.......2007-01-02
The Jesus Creed - Loving God, Loving Others by Scot McKnight
Summary by G. Stephen Goode
From the Preface --
"A Jewish expert on the law once asked Jesus what was the most important thing for spiritual formation. Jesus' answer turned history upside down for those who followed him. This book is an invitation for you to explore Jesus' answer to that man. I call it the Jesus Creed, and what he said should shape everything we say about Christian spirituality. Everything."
Jesus knows what life is all about. He was born into a Jewish family and culture but he was more than Jewish. He took the Shema which was central to Judaism but he added to it to make it the Jesus Creed. It is simple, yet it will cost us our lives, living it out. Love God. Love others. It is central to who Jesus was and is the core of who we should/can become. Jesus gave us the Creed and a model to follow.
Dr. McKnight is a Old Testament scholar but he does not write like one. I have to admit that I sought out this book because of the loving others part. I think we in the church should be doing that better and more often in order to demonstrate the love of God to the Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, animist, to the poor and other unreached worlds. It also has to be integrated. Loving God and Loving others is like a coin. You cannot have one side without the other and yet it seems like we continue to get pulled from one side or another. Either just loving God or loving one's neighbor. We cannot do one without the other. God help us to be more like Jesus.
This book helped me a great deal as I started reading it during our response to the Asian tsunami. Loving God and our neighbor has been there from the beginning. Listening to those who suffer, entering into their grief and bearing their burdens helps us to fulfill the love of Christ. Compassion in the Jesus Creed is on every page of this book just like it is in the four Gospels. I think we forget that sometimes but Jesus did not. That is why He made it the center.
From page 117
"Jesus doesn't act in compassion in order to dazzle people into adoring him. He acts out of love and to transform the life of the grieving person. The widow gets her son back and has an income again. The prostitute's life is transformed from impurity to purity. Each woman of Luke 8 - Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and others - has a special story to tell about what Jesus has done: one tells a story of spiritual cleansing, another of physical healing, and others(if I may guess) of learning that Roman money is to be distributed to the needy, including Jesus. Wealthy women at the time of Jesus-- and these women were evidently wealthy -- did not pay taxes. Instead, if they had good hearts, they distributed their funds to charities. The chosen charity of these women was Jesus, whom they support and follow his entire life. It is these same women who become witnesses of Jesus' death and resurrection......"
So may we continue to love God and others and fulfill the same creed that Jesus did.
A Creed in the most literal sense..........2006-12-13
Scot McKnight does a fantastic job of showing what living the life Jesus calls us to live is all about. Using intense historical, religious, and personality background, Scot shows that Jesus central concern was for his disciples to live the kingdom life of loving God and loving others daily. He doesn't skirt around the fact that this kind of life is messy, and complicated. But he shows that Jesus lived that life for us, that it wasn't just his death, but his very life that was a sacrifice for us.
Book Description
Chuck Colson's Classic offers a penetrating and challenging look at the cost and joy of being a Christian.
Customer Reviews:
Christianity Makes Sense.......2007-04-01
This is an excellent book. It really shows you how being a Christian makes sense.
Mr. Colson gives an excellent argument on his experience with the Watergate scandal. He illustrates how if Jesus Christ were just a scandal, then Christianity would have caved-in with the apostles and the first believers long ago.
Neat book.
Loving God.......2007-03-28
This is a wonderful book whether you are Christian or not. It really depicts what Loving God really is. This book has helped me make my decision for Christ. There are many stories inside that really depicts the foundations for loving God. Chuck Colson has incorporated many wonderful testimonies that truly depicts how wonderful this God is.
Superb!.......2007-01-09
It is a must for christian reader. Very moving and crystal clear message of what constitute Christian message.
Stories on loving God.......2006-07-24
I appreciate Colson's heart and where he has been in his life. This book is chock-full of stories of his life and ways we can learn to love God. There were a few chapters that seemed to bog down, but overall it's a good read and worth the time.
Wonderful........2006-06-28
Inspirational writer, Chuck Colson, delivers a heartfelt and moving book about loving God. He refers to R.C. Sprouls "Holiness of God" dvd series, which is a class I'm taking at my church right now. I couldn't put the book down & read it in two days.
Book Description
You are invited on a most unique treasure hunt, a journey where you will discover the beauty of an exciting, intimate relationship with an awesome Bridegroom who loves you unconditionally, likes and wants your company and adores you. This journey will revolutionize the way you see yourself in God---and it will change your life. Prepare to encounter: God--His awesome, loving presence in your daily life God's power--His active, supernatural role in your daily life Your true identity in God--His view of you A fresh awakening and understanding of God's majesty--His plans to bring you to new heights of joy and peace that you never thought possible
Foreward by Tommy Tenney
Customer Reviews:
Discover a God who enjoys you!.......2004-12-14
This book is absolutely foundational for those who long to be fascinated by God and have confidence before Him. It is written by Mike Bickle, the director of the 24-hour-a-day International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri.
In this book, Bickle shares a very powerful twofold revelation: God likes, enjoys, and passionately desires those who have a sincere response toward Him, even though our love is weak. Secondly, our love for God is real and genuine, even thought it is immature. This truth has radically changed my view of God. He is not mostly mad or sad, but mostly glad toward us! After reading this book, I have been empowered to let God's passion for me fuel my pursuit of Him; this makes ALL the difference as I walk with Him.
Bickle writes with contagious passion about the burning heart of God for humans. He describes an ocean of divine love and inexhaustible affection. The passion in God's heart for His people is a fiery volcanic reality that is incomprehensible in its fullness.
In this book, Bickle gives practical suggestions on how to fall more deeply in love with God through meditation on His word, grace-empowered fasting, and "Harp and Bowl" prayer and worship with music and intercession. If you have never read a book or heard a message by Mike Bickle, this is a good introduction to His life message of developing passion for Jesus through the knowledge of the beauty of God. He develops the concept of our "bridal identity," in which we relate to the Father as a child and to the Son as a bride, with the Holy Spirit facilitating these relationships through revelation of desire and impartation of love.
Although Bickle is probably a better speaker than writer, the truths in this book are so fresh and life-changing that it is still very powerful. If you want to know you are enjoyed, if you want to be passionate toward and fascinated by God, if you long for beauty and success, impact and intimacy, this is the book for you! It contains an invitation to a Holy Romance that will change your life. I have not been the same person since encountering the message of this powerful book. If you have ever found God boring (and I admit, I did), the message of this book will radically change your view of Him!
For more information on the International House of Prayer, visit www.fotb.com.
A refreshing approach.......2003-04-01
Mike Bickle takes us back to the most important Commandment: Loving God. His review of Song of Songs is particularly interesting; through the imagery of how the groom is portrayed, we learn about the characteristics of God. From this, Bickle relates how knowing these characteristics can inspire our love for him.
Bickle is not a great writer, but he is an insightful and refreshing writer. Bickle's message is, however, powerful: Christianity would be well served if we all aimed first to love God with all our heart, soul and mind.
I think many church leaders from evangelical, mainstream and Roman Catholic churches today would be uncomfortable with this message. Yet like Mary and unlike Martha, we need to be at the feet of Jesus, bowing down, begging forgiveness and enjoying his presence. Correct doctrine, evangelism, social gospel, church activities are of secondary concern.
Wonderful Revelation of Enjoying God.......2003-02-18
Wonderful. This book gives a new understanding of how God sees us. One of the greatest thoughts the book mentions is that, once we are born again, God delights in us even in our stumbling. Not that He approves, but He still delights in us (which is a deep bondage breaker). The book points toward having a relationship with God where He becomes our "bridegroom" and we can have a deep intimate relationship with Him in which we are WHOLLY delighted and TOTALLY satisfied (which kills temptation.) Some may say that being wholly satisfied and delighted in God is only an ideal, but I have a friend that recently has been experiencing a depth of God that I never imagined, and is presented in this book. The only reason I gave the book four stars is that I felt it could have been more in depth, and could have been a little more scholarly. Overall though, the message that is portrayed has given me a deep hunger for intimacy with Jesus.
A Masterpiece of Revelation!.......2001-03-02
In this book, Mike Bickle masterfully details the paradigm shifts that God is instituting in His Church and in the earth. Mike acknowledges his own inadequacies, and the fact that there is much more revelation to be had in order to see the big picture, and he admits that his knowledge of what God is doing is limited. However, he says, "What little we do know is incredibly powerful." He explains how worship and intercession are married in the harp and bowl model that is being used at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. This book is a must-read for anyone whose desire is to "follow the cloud." It's a must-avoid for those whose desire is to maintain the status quo.
Book Description
Robert Lepine takes a closer look at the biblical job description of a husband and how that plays out in modern married life. He is the cohost of the popular daily radio program Family Life Today, heard in more than 200 cities nationwide.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent presentation of "God's Vision for Loving and Caring for Your Wife".......2006-06-20
Saturday I had the opportunity to once again read "The Christian Husband" by Bob Lepine. I first read this publication about a year ago after attending a Family Life Conference "A Weekend to Remember"and recalled it had been instumental getting our marrige back on track. This is an excellent resource! Bob Lepine spells it out simply, clearly, and biblically the qualifications of a Christian husband.
The information presented in this book by Bob Lepine was informative and right on target. Through it, God once again gently and graciously reminded me that as a Christian husband, I must continue to train myself in godliness daily through the spiritual disciplines in order that I may be a godly husband and thus be able to properly love my wife, nourish her, cherish her, and give myself up for her (Ephesians 5:25). Through daily prayer, worship, and reading of His word, I will continue to grow in His holiness.
The book explains how I must learn more clearly what it means to fear God, and how to respond to that fear by being alert, standing in the faith and being a man of courage who will fulfill the duties God has placed on me as husband. I highly recommend this book to all married men.
I also highly recommend it to single men so that it can help to reorient your thinking about the role to which God may one day call you to.
As the author puts it "I believe God wants to call each of us, as men, back to the biblical standard for how we live out the assignment of a lifetime - the awesome honor of being called a husband"
I love the closing paragraph:
A commitment to love our wives involves not only proactive, self-sacrificing love, but also the responsibility of being an agent of sanctification in our wives' lives. The goal of our love is to see our wives become more like Christ. I must be ready to die to self as I cleans her, nourish her, and cherish her. This is no job for some mushy, romantic, hormone crazed, self absorbed man. Only real men need apply.
Are you up to the challenge?
A Good Start to Make a Great Marriage.......2001-08-16
I have been a Christian for almost 17 years and married for almost 6 years, and this is probably the best book that I have read for men in a long time. It really shows us how to treat our wives, as well as, and most importantly, create a reverent, strong Christian home from the beginning.
I am putting the things that I learned in this book to practice everyday to make a better relationship with my wife as well as my Lord.
One of the things that is the most important in my life is how we should lead our families "into the prescence of God". That is one of the more difficult things for me, personally. But after reading Lepine's book, and seeing how very important it is that I am the spiritual leader of my house, I am trying it very hard. My wife and I pray at least 2x a day, and we are doing a daily devotional everynight.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their relationship with their wives while at the same time growing in the presence of God.
God's Vision? More Like Man's Vision........2001-08-04
This book has some wonderful, if typical, advice. Love unconditionally. Honor your wife, etc. But then the author makes sweeping statements with questionable biblical backing. He presents the husband as a "prophet, priest and king" in the life of his wife. The implication is that the wife is NOT any of these things--an unbiblical premise. The Bible teaches the priesthood of believers, not husbands. This book is the same nice-sounding but actually sexist rhetoric that can be found in hundreds of other books. Save your money and look elsewhere.
Creative, Funny, Insightful Look at Biblical Leadership.......1999-08-17
For his first book, Lepine tackles a tough topic almost as easily as Tiger Woods' first weekend at Augusta. With heavy doses of humor and an appropriate number of real-life stories, this life long broadcaster makes his point effectively: for a man to be successful in God's eyes as a husband, he must be a corageous leader spiritually and organizationally in the home.
Other books on manhood that I've read--Tender Warrior, The Masculine Journey, etc.--cover all of the male struggle. Lepine's book actually sticks to what it means to be a husband. I appreciate the focus.
His standards are high--calling to mind John Calvin is a tall order. I appreciate his honesty and the personal stories--Lepine is real, not made up.
My favorite aspect of the book is how Lepine moves from umbrella principle, to biblical support, to illustration, to (finally) personal application. He doesn't insult my intelligence with his application points; he calls me up short. I'm glad there's comic relief amid the moans.
If there's a weak point to the book (other than the dreadful cover), it's the section on the husband as "prophet." I have trouble connecting with the principle.
I've run across a somewhat self-published study guide as well.
Exegetically sound, practical, and provoking.......1999-05-29
I usually cringe when the co-host of some Christian program or another writes a book. It's just too trite and easy to see the motivation. "Let's see here, I'll just ride the coat-tails of my position and grab a few extra bucks for the kid's college..." Well, after reading "The Christian Husband", I can say that this book is the exception that proves the rule. The first tip-off was that this book wasn't about Y2K or the End Times, or even worse, a tired rehash of all the inside scoop about Christian radio or even FamilyLife Today. How refreshing!
Bob Lepine, somewhat better known as the co-host of the popular Christian radio broadcast FamilyLife Today, has delivered an excellent first effort in "The Christian Husband". Make no mistake; if you hold less-than-complimentarian views on the roles of husbands and wives, you might be more than a little offended by this book. Lepine unappologetically defends what he sees as the Biblical mandate for Christian husbands, while avoiding the typical panic stricken timbre of better known authors (read "conservative idealogues") in the Christian publishing subculture.
The book centers on four areas that author Lepine says are central to the role of husband. These are the husband as a prophet, priest, king and lover. Not content to speak in untested theories, Lepine delves into his own life history with surprising candor as well as the expected Lepine humor. If you are looking for "three steps to marital bliss" or "five habits of effective husbands", look elsewhere. The real benefit for the reader of this book will be in painful self-examination. Whether or not you agree with Lepine's views on the husband's role as prophet, priest, king, and lover, honesty demands that you do some extensive heart-searching (if you plan on offering any sort of viable alternative to his premise.) While there is not a lot of new ground plowed here, the real strength of "The Christian Husband" lies in it's concise, sequential, and entertaining presentation of this particular body of information.
Here's my personal quick opinion scale The Christian Husband, by Bob Lepine Ease of read: xxx basic premise: xxxx Exegetical precision: xxxx originality of content: xxx originality of presentation: xxx personal application value: xxxxx
Overall quick opinion scale: x = poor xx = mediocre xxx = average xxxx = solid xxxxx = profound, long term bookshelf value
I think this book was worth my time. It is not the flashiest book around, and certainly doesn't carry the "big name Christian author" moniker. Nevertheless, Bob Lepine's first book is, in my opinion, a beneficial resource to any husband who is trying to grow his marriage in a God honoring way.
Overall rating Solid to Excellent
Customer Reviews:
Great for understanding.......2002-10-31
Easy to read. Easy to understand. It demonstrates God's love and grace thru the gift of contemplative prayer.
A must read for anyone starting the journey. Of course everyone is in one of the 'stages' of the loving search: a "beginner, only a beginner, or just a beginner".
Provides examples on understanding Scripture at the allegorical level.
Warm, friendly, loving. Much more effective than 'great' theological disertations.
Perhaps Trappists are best off keeping silent.......2000-10-17
As one who loves the Cloud of Unknowing, my impression was that the author indeed understood that work very well - and assumed that readers would as well. Wishful thinking, indeed! This book is a series of loving, sweet, but rather unsatisfying meditations. It is obviously an attempt to make the Cloud understandable to any reader, but that is a task doomed to failure. The Cloud was written for one the author had judged to be called to the contemplative prayer that is a sheer gift of grace, and therefore assumed a strong liturgical and prayer life, an understanding of sin and virtue, etc. One could read this entire book and not have a clue.
Book Description
This wonderful book, in its friendly, informative tone, carefully explains Buddhist ideas — from key concepts like Emptiness and The Truth of Suffering to an in-depth and enlightening examination of the Heart Sutra — all in terms that will help modern Christian practitioners to deepen their faith, and Buddhists to revitalize and broaden their perception and understanding. Living Zen, Loving God holds immense value to anyone interested in interreligious dialogue and studies.
Customer Reviews:
AWAKENING TO LIFE IN ITS FULLNESS.......2006-08-14
Professor Dr. Ruben L.F. Habito is a professional teacher of religious sciences and spirituality at the Perkins School of Theology in Dallas/Texas. At the same time is an authorized ZEN-Master who underwent a very long and strict ZEN-training in Kamakura/Japan under Yamada Koun Roshi (1907 - 1989). Born in the Philippines in 1947 Habito is wonderfully nurtured with Eastern mentality a thought. In 1970 Habito came as a young Jesuit to Japan and was very soon discoveréd as one of the most brillant young teachers at Sophia University. Habito masterfully combined scientific work with meditative practice. He is married to a German sinologist and his the father of 2 beautiful boys.
Habito knows who to bridge and reconcile East & West, Zen-Buddhism and Christianity and unfolds a cosmic realm in which both religious traditions can be felt as non-separate. Habito has many ZEN-disciples all over America and is a highly respected capacity in spiritual guidance. According to Habito a profound enlightment experience will not keep people away from everydays' life, problems and conflicts. ZEN will bring people who are in search direct into the heart of the world. The Kingdom of GOD is at hand -- here and now. The very present moment at any time is the greatest challenge for all people walking on a spiritual path. Ruben Habito is a master who accompanies his disciples through the jungle of darkness and obstacles towards the peak of light and liberation. "Living ZEN -Loving GOD" is a spiritual masterpiece by which readers and practioners may be awakened to real life in its fullness.
Roland R. Ropers
Religious- & Transformative Philosophy
Chairman
International Gandhi & Griffiths Society
D 80337 München / Germany
What a wonderful book.......2004-02-28
Ruben Habito is certainly not a household name for many of us, and yet he is a prominent figure in the Zen tradition. He is a native of the Philippines, and the current Zen master of the Maria Kannon Zen Center in Dallas since 1990. Obviously the first thing which hits one when glancing at the title of this book is Thich Nhat Hanh's similar title "Living Buddha, Living Christ." In a sense the goal is quite similar. Habito has always been vigorous in supporting inter-religious discussion between members of various faiths. As a teen, he explains how he was drawn to the Jesuit order and later was sent to Japan on missionary work. He marks this as a major turning point in his life.
He was assigned to Kamakura, where he came to understand the language and culture. The priest who looked after him in Japan, Fr. Hand, was ironically studying at a Zen center there under Yamada Koun Roshi. Habito joined the sitting group, and found himself very much at home in Zen practice. He has since retained both of these traditions as his spiritual roots. In 1978, Ruben received Dharma transmission from Yamada Roshi. During the years between meeting Roshi and first coming to Japan, Habito had been there for almost 17 years. He'd experienced a lot of struggling being a member of two seemingly irreconcilable religious traditions. Christianity and Zen Buddhism. But through diligence and hard practice, he has been able to show people the path of a reconciliation between these two faiths. He remarks that it is his Zen practice that allowed him to come to clear and powerful understanding of Christian scripture. Led him to an EXPERIENCING of the gospels, not just mere intellectual understanding. This book is a must have for members of either faith looking for a way to open the table for dialogue, or to accentuate their faith with the best food of another tradition. This book was wonderful, enjoy it.
Book Description
Follow Me examines the kingdom of heaven, challenging you to examine the kingdoms you set up that keep you from truly following Jesus.
Customer Reviews:
Kingdom living here and now!.......2007-05-28
The absolute best book on the Christian life that I have ever read, and I've read hundreds of them! I have searched for years for someone to explain to me in plain English why it is that American Christianity is, for the most part, a powerless, fruitless, and meaningless existence. Jan Hettinga has done that and more! He's made it clear why and how to be set free from that kind of existence. I praise God for using Jan to write this book! I use it to teach Christians of all ages, from teens to senior citizens, and what a joy it is to see the fire that is rekindled within them when they recognize that their lives, lived out in the Kingdom here on earth, are filled with meaning and purpose! I cannot say enough good things about this book, and best of all, you can get a discipleship training program CD from Jan's church. I have it, I use it, and I give it and the book my highest praise! The best thing I can say about it is that it has made my bible reading and study much more perceptive and intense as I now "get it"! Thanks Jan!
Must-read on being a Christian.......2005-01-04
I have been a pastor for 11 years and I have yet to run across a book that better explains the gospel than Follow Me. In a day when too many Americans "pray the prayer" and put their life in cruise control, Hettinga offers in a very readable, profound, yet clear-cut manner what being a Christ-follower truly means. His chapters are short, to-the-point and well illustrated. He uses a lot of little pictures and charts to drive home his points. I used this book in my men's small group this past year (2004) and it revolutionized several of the guys in terms of life and purpose. All of the guys confessed to not being able to put it down, including the self-described "non-readers". Our group is a mix between seasoned Christians, brand-new believers and one seeker and they all found this to be a book that was must-reading!!
Compelling.......2003-05-30
Hettinga offers a compelling perspective on what it truly means to be a follower of Christ. He raises the problem with the evangelical gospel presentation and then redeigns it within the context of the Biblical concept of the "kingdom of God." Though sometimes bordering Lordship salvation, I think he is correct in reinserting the reign of Christ in the gospel presentation. When a person comes to Christ, he is giving up the reins. I recommend this book for any Christian who seriously wants to follow Jesus Christ in the biblical sense.
INCREDIBLE.......2001-07-06
What a fantastic insight to the Christian path! It is such an incredible blessing to have the most powerful and important relationship of our life explained in a "simpler" point of view. This book has made a dramatic impact on my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Follow Me is Commitment.......2001-05-21
Jan Hettinga gave me a copy of this book in 1996 but I didn't read it until 2000. Since then I have not stopped recommending it to my Christian friends. Its message of genuine commitment of servant to Master is desperately needed in our world today. I have purchased over 30 copies to give or sell to people whom I have urged to read it. It is a life-changing book for anyone who wants to get serious about living for Christ.
Books:
- Coming to Peace With Science: Bridging the Worlds Between Faith and Biology
- Communicating for a Change: Seven Keys to Irresistible Communication
- Creating Money: Keys to Abundance (Roman, Sanaya)
- Don't You Dare Get Married Until You Read This! The Book of Questions for Couples
- Entering the Castle: An Inner Path to God and Your Soul
- Entering the Castle: An Inner Path to God and Your Soul
- Epicenter: Why Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your Future
- Exploring the Worship Spectrum: Six Views (Counterpoints)
- Faith-Based Diplomacy: Trumping Realpolitik
- Father God: Co-creator to Mother God
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Hell's Angels: Into the Abyss
- A New Owner's Guide to Australian Cattle Dogs
- Stoning the Keepers at the Gate: Society's Relationship with Law Enforcement
- The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Fines
- The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21 Century Church
- 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life
- Track of the Cat
- Sexually exploited children: Working to protect and heal
- The Next 20 Years of Your Life: A Personal Guide into the Year 2017
- Stern's SourceFinder: The Master Directory to Human Resources and Business Management Information an
General
| Christian Living
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
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| Books
Turning Points: Moments of Decision in the Presence of God
A Bend in the Road: Experiencing God When Your World Caves In
Prayer, the Great Adventure
Escape The Coming Night
Grace Givers: Amazing Stories of Grace in Action
