5 comments about Girl Meets God: A Memoir.

1. I had never read a memoir until Girl Meets God and what a great way to start! This was like dessert every night and was easy to pick up right where I left off. I loved how she felt that she was being pursued/wooed by Christ - what a wonderful, loving picture and yet she recorded the crazy things most of us think but never say! I felt comforted by her writing and found myself repeating chapters to really capture that feeling.



2. It was wintertime and I was speaking at a woman's conference in Charlottesville, VA. At my booktable aside from books I'd written, the church also had a few books they loved including this brand new, first book written by one of their church members who happened to be at this retreat. I bought GIRL MEETS GOD and took it to my hotel room and started reading it that night. I got hungry so I walked in the snow to a cool restaurant/pub and read the book at dinner under the little lamp at my table. I stayed at that table until the restaurant closed at 11pm because I couldn't stop reading, I was so absorbed in the story. I went back to my hotel room and finished the book by 3 in the morning. It was THAT good. I had the privilege of meeting Lauren Winner the next day at the conference. Needless to say I was a bit intimidated because I was such a fan. This was written better than any favorite fiction book I've read. If you want to cuddle up and enjoy a story, read GIRL MEETS GOD.



3. GIRL MEETS GOD tells of Lauren Winner's Jewish upbringing, the Orthodox Judaism of her college years, and then her conversion to Christianity as a young adult. The sections and chapters of this book are organized by and named after both Jewish and Christian holidays. This memoir is partly a love story, with Jesus as the hero. It is partly a story of traditions, both Christian and Judaism. It is partly a story of community, and Lauren's love and respect for the people, both within in Judaism and Christianity, who shaped her spiritually.
   
   I loved reading this. Lauren Winner is a very passionate woman, and when she writes about spirituality, family, friends, love, and books, her enthusiasm is all over the pages. She really brings the reader into her life, showing how her spirituality affects everything from her academic development to her thoughts on sexuality. I felt like she was my new friend, although a friend who is greatly more intelligent and academic than I am. I highly recommend this.



4. So there I was slogging through a young author's account of her conversion from Judaism to Christianity, complete with a multitude of "foreign" phrases that should have annoyed me, but...fascinated me. The insight Lauren Winner offers into the Jewish experience on her path to accepting Jesus is thought-provoking, such that I don't believe I'll ever read the Old Testament again without a deeper appreciation for the Jewish people and their culture. Okay, so I wasn't slogging...



5. For months I'd asked for this book at my local library; the clerk said it was constantly being renewed, or loaned out. The author is held in high regard among the younger intelligentsia in our shared Episcopal Church, so I hear her name checked in conversations with like minded people. Thus my excitement at obtaining the book and the earnestness of my review. The author and I share many traits, not the least of which is high emotional temperature/flair for theatrics, also propinquity of age. And she seemed to be the type of girl who could be my future wife. That helped, a little...
   
   To her credit, the author writes lucid, at times compelling, prose, and knows her way around story arcs and cultural allusions. Her didactic artifice is far less successful. I was less interested in her conversion, from Reform, into, and out of, Orthodox Judaism than trying to understand why she ultimately chose Anglicanism. She just didn't give me a convincing rationale, unfortunately. Disturbingly, in a volume that purports to be about "something" substantial, even trying to find words in our language to describe, for example, "meeting" the God of Israel, the author displays the same sublimated cynicism and detachment from reality common to our generation. Her self-centeredness (when it's not "about" her, it's "about" her reactions to things she learns "about" herself from those around her) will not serve her will in her chosen discipline, religious studies, which requires empathy. Everyone except for her is a stereotype, even the "Sarahs who snubbed her", the Orthodox guys who wouldn't marry her because she's a convert, and even the "some man" she lacks the self-control to avoid having sex with (again? those details are superfluous, honey). She has the capability to be an effective spokesperson for our generation's desperately needed call to renewal, but if she just keeps on using her spiritual winnowing as a resume builder, her future students/readership would so easily be able to tell. We all aren't THAT obtuse!
   
   Pity, I liked her better as a Jew (well she halachically still is, but I digress...). This is because she mirrors my affinity for Judaism (historico-moral significance and imperative, the "religious" aspect, if you will; far less the "cultural"). Reading her story reminds me that just because I lean so far off to left of post-modern Christianity, it doesn't equate that I'd eventually fall off into a life of running around Crown Heights screaming out, "Mazel Tov!".
   
   I could actually still do this while remaining a Christian, but that is another matter entirely.
   
   With her conversion to Christianity, she just lost that "spark", that specialness, I can't explain it. Sometimes when she would talk, it reminded me of my (long ago,as yet undegreed) college days when I was a Judaic Studies major in Boca (of all places). There was this girl who went to a Messianic synagogue in one of my classes and I thought to myself, "finally, a (not unattractive) girl who could talk intelligently about our desire to live as the first Christians (all Orthodox Palestinian Jews, as if we forgot...oh wait, we did) lived and thought." Well, she turned about to be "just" another gentile, like me. How disappointing! I paused several times reading this book, as if to say, "Aha, Lauren Winner seems like she's trying to be something she's not, a gentile". Like ships passing in the night, she and I.
   
   The fact that I have a call to (what I naturally assumed was the Episcopal) ministry complicates my relationship to the ideas expressed in this book. The author, to my chagrin, immediately subsumed some of the WORST traits of our people (clannish behavior, pretense of ecumenism, over-reliance on the Prayer Book - I'll never forget the college professor who, upon hearing an obscure cite on my part, said, "An Episcopalian that KNOWS the BIBLE?") and so on. And I would let the author know that I have suffered much for the Episcopalian cause from other Christians (that I'm "pagan" b/c I read my prayers out of a book, "Every time your church is in the headlines, it's only because of something 'controversial', etc). I would suggest that the author can't just take, take, take, from Anglicanism without, too, defending it.
   
   She seems far too deferential to evangelical Christians, and their "poise" and assurance of ownership. This I found troubling.
   
   Her "Jewess at the foot of the cross" persona I found distasteful.
   
   If I didn't care about her and the subject matter, I might suggest that writing a "memoir" in your twenties is silly, nay, capricious and arbitrary.
   
   A seeming defense of the ultra-evangelical wing of the Episcopal Church (even with all she knows, and don't worry, she'll remind you every two pages) is what finally put the mechitza between us. As someone who is stuck in a diocese that is increasingly tilted towards a reactionary "low church"/conservative evangelical theology and clergy, I can say that it's not all romance and fighting for the "purity" of the faith. In fact, this polarization is the main reason the Episcopal Church and I are on the outs.
   
   Because among other things, the local priest implied I was too liberal...too "Jewish". "You must bring your practice in line with those of the church". That being said, the only way I could see the author outdoing even herself, is to discover she has a call to the priesthood (like her "rescue fantasy" you learn about in the book, she also flirts with this idea, too) and she ends up teaching at the same seminary where I might eventually study for the ministry. No, I think that may actually happen, knowing our affinities.
   
   Pair this up with "A Jew Examines Christianity" by Rachel Zurer (it's scarce, try interlibrary loan) for a more nuanced approach to some of the theological/"parting of the ways" pining the author insists on doing.
   
   I think she is trying not to convince herself, in her words, "This Christianity thing isn't working". Maybe some of the syntax of the book wouldn't seem so hysterical if she proffered to be more stable.
   
   You should read this book. But as for me, I ask, UCC, have you any room at the inn?
   
   Hope you got something out of this.

5 comments about The Life of Milarepa: A New Translation from the Tibetan.

1. This book is a very great book that one can not read it fast. One needs to digest the information. I am very happy to have been told by my teachers to read this book. I am so surprised that libraries don't carry such a great book. After I finish my book I donate it to the library so other people can benefit from it. If you are an spritual person and you are interested in growing your soul read this book.



2. This is a treasure of a book and is very sacred in nature. There are two editions of this book, the first in 1977. The introduction reveals the history of the text and its translations, and the fascinating history that surrounds the text. See "The Life of Marpa the Translator: Seeing Accomplishes All", by Chogyam Trungpa, for further information regarding its history (both texts were written by the same man). Anyway, the first English translation became available early in the 20th century by W. Y. Evans-Wentz.
   
   I am recalling most of this from memory, so my apologies go out to those who find my data incorrect. I highly recommend the new english translation of "The Life of Milarepa" for anyone seeking the life of saints.



3. The book quality - new, but not excellent material. Prompt delivery. Thought as a gift, so I had hoped for more. If bought for personal usage, would have been OK.



4. I think Milarepa was one of the highest levels of enlightened beings ever existed on the planet. Considering the Miracles he did. He is one of the recent enlighten masters, and all this happened a few hundred years ago. He has received little Attention compared to Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed and Khrishna. There is defenately a lot to learn from this book, and what he did is worth reading about.



5. As Milarepa tells his story, one of his disciples interrupts him and says that compared to Milarepa's effort, all of our spiritual practice and effort seems like a banal pretension.
   
   I tend to agree. The story will rekindle your dedication. A great book to get if you are feeling down or if it seems like your spiritual quest is too hard or going nowhere.
   
   It will rekindle your Inner Fire if you give it a chance.

No comments about Standing in the Light: My Life as a Pantheist.

5 comments about Out of the Depths.

1. The story of John Newton's life is remarkable and fascinating and I was eager to read this book. I cannot complain about the facts presented in the book, only in the way they were presented. The story was told in almost sterile and unemotional language. This may be because John Newton recounted his history in a series of letters and it can't be expected that he would make it read like a novel. I still feel like I don't know the man John Newton, I just know about him.



2. After seeing the movie "Amazing Grace" I wanted to know more about John Newton and his experiences. There are some spiritual gems in this book but, even though this autobiography was updated to 21st century language, I found Newton to be overly pious--even feeling worthless.
   
   I was hoping for more details on his years as a slave trader but the sensitivities of the time probably prevented details that modern readers expect.
   
   Although I was disappointed in some ways, I didn't expect many of the moving spiritual thoughts Newton expressed. Maybe some of his experiences not described were so sinful and embarrassing that was the reason he didn't go into detail.



3. John Newton's story is totally absorbing and in some ways shocking for the times in which he lived! He was quite the wild man and yet, in his sin, God saved him. After reading this book it brought the true meaning of Newton's words in Amazing Grace to life. Truly, how sweet is the sound of grace to a sinner so depraved and so destined for hell. Hallelujah for such an 'amazing' book! Christians need more of these kinds of biographies to inspire and strengthen us in our faith. Read this book and rejoice!



4. Reading stories of how a sinner's life can be changed when he turns the leading of his life over to God renews my faith.



5. While the mention of the name John Newton (1725-1807) will probably elicit a blank stare from most people, there are very few people who are unfamiliar with Newton's most famous composition - the hymn "Amazing Grace." Those familiar with the hymn most likely do not know that - prior to becoming a minister and a composer of hymns - Newton was a slave trader, a scoundrel, a ruffian, etc.

   This book is Netwon's autobiography. I recently read it in one sitting and must say that I was incredibly humbled by Newton's account of his life. (This book broke scabs off of my heart that I thought were petrified!) There is no way that one can read this book and thereafter not have an added appreciation for Newton's lyrics (e.g., "amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me").

   Newton's story puts flesh on the verse: "[God] determined the times set for [man] and the exact places where [man] should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though he is not far from each one of us." (Acts 17:26-27)

5 comments about John Newton: From Disgrace to Amazing Grace.

1. This is one of the best books I have read in the past 12 months. It is tightly written, full of insightful anecdotes, and paints the life of an ordinary man that God used to make an extraordinary impact on the world in which Newton lived...and beyond. Even if you are not a regular reader of christian biographies (like me) this one is worth picking up.



2. Mr. Aitken's book takes us through John Newton's amazing life, and I found myself very pleased to read the story of Newton's role in the abolition of the slave trade through his influence on his friend Wilberforce (who served in Parliament devoting his life to abolition) as well as his own testimonies to the British authorities. Further, his Christian devotion to William Cowper helped that troubled man get through many dark periods -- even suicide attempts -- and he, Cowper, became one of the leading lights of 18th century English literature.
   Also, his devotion to and love for his wife, Polly, is also heavily accented in this work. It was a 43 year love affair, despite the fact that many found her to be unattractice and somewhat deficient between the ears. Also, they never had children. Nonetheless from the day he first set eyes upon her until the day of her death, she was his one and only.
   Rev. Newton also demonstrated singular devotion to hymnody in worship services which was suspect in high Church of England circles at that time. He showed a sympathy for and interest in some of the religious enthusiasts of the day that rankled some of his Church of England contemporaries, but his charitable attitudes seemed to win over those who needed to be won over, and the cause of Christ was served mightily by the man until he was in his eighties (he was exceedingly long-lived for a person in that century).
   The author is thorough in his treatment of the above themes, but the work is a little too cooly detached for my taste which is why I have given it a four rather than a five. It's filled with facts, yet the texture of the man doesn't really come across. I would have liked a chapter on Newton's theology, a chapter discussing the themes and lyrics of his hymns, his role as a preacher other than his impact on the famous individuals Wilberforce and Cowper, and some more personal touches that one usually finds in good biographies, whether one learns his favorite food, his reaction to issues of the day (other than slavery), and some critique of his writings. He was a pastor for so many years, but one comes away with scant sense of the man.
   Despite these shortcomings, I highly recommend this volume. It's worth every cent. As one reviewer notes, it shows that there is definitely room for Christian involvement in politics that one sees clearly after reading this volume. Christian statesmen are still needed.
   Likewise, I was pleased at his caring and patience for his desperate and suicidal friend Wm. Cowper. He did not assume that because Mr. Cowper was not walking around cheery and seemingly joyful all the time that he was not saved. Too often today Christians are ashamed to say they are sad,and many are disconsolate, yet are made to feel guilty about this. Christ told his disciples to "be of good cheer," but we are not rejected by Him if we are not.
   Read this book and learn from it, but don't expect literary flair or an analytic treatment.



3. What I Enjoyed:
   
   Aitken does a wonderful job of putting together the life of Newton into a beautifully weaved story. One of the literary features that makes this work shine is the inclusion of Newton's letters. Sometimes it feels as if Newton is writing his own biography. One of the temptations in writing a biography is to portray the subject without many flaws and often times almost above human status. Part of the beauty of Newton's story is that he was such a great sinner. The more that we can see Newton as a great sinner the more it points to Christ as a great Savior. Aitken keeps Newton human.
   
   What I Disliked:
   
   In as much as Aitken shines on displaying Newton as a great sinner, I felt that in expressing latter half of Newton's statement ("...Christ is a great Savior") Aitken dropped the ball. Newton would be disappointed to find that a biography on himself did not have at its center the magnificent work of Jesus Christ. One standard I apply in reading biographies is this: after reading the biography, do I want to learn more about the man or am I driven to know Christ more. After reading this, I want to know more about John Newton. That is not altogether bad but a very important part of the story played a flat role. Newton was the main character when it should have been Jesus. Because of this we miss discovering what it was that made Newton tick.
   
   Should You But It:
   
   Nonetheless, it is a great work on John Newton and will serve the reader well. My hope is that it only introduces the reader to Newton and inspires you to pursue more of his work, because therein one might see and savor Jesus Christ. Should you buy it? Yes. Should it be the only Newton book in your collection? No.



4. Jonathan Aitken has written an excellent biography, one of the best Christian biographies I have read. Newton is a great subject for a biography for he had a long and amazing life. Aitken is well qualified to write about "From Disgrace to Amazing Grace". He writes with style. His chapters are refeshingly short and to the point. The story is thrilling with "many dangers, toils and snare". One looses counts of the dangers from which the young Newton escapes. It is the story of a great sinner who was found by a great Saviour. Aitken tells the tale with real spiritual as well as historical undrstanding of his subject so that in concluion he can point the reader to spiritual lessons to be learned from Newton's life. For example. God's timing is not ours. Newton had to wait six years from applying, to be finally ordained as an Anglican minister. His marriage is an exemplary and touching story. Newtons spitiuality and prayer life are a real challenge. Aitken shows how faithful and inovatory Newton was as a pastor and how he helped many, especially his best friend William Cowper. Without Newton there would have neem no great poet only a forgotten suicide. Similarly, without Newton we would probably not have has Wilberforce, politician and reformer. Aitken also tells the story of Newton's famous hymn, its composition and rise to fame. Aitken faithfully relates Newton's faults too. His support of the American rebels had to be withdrawn but one is led to understand why many in England, especailly non-conformists, were suppporters of the rebels. Newton was an eirenic man who eschewed party labels and associated with Christian irrespective of denominational labels. This is a great biography and I hope we will have more from this fine Christian author.



5. The story of John Newton's life is one of my personal favorites. Like most of us, Newton's journey to his destiny was filled with false starts, obstacles, and a good deal of regret. Perhaps of all the biographies that I have read, the story of this man's life resonates most with me as genuinely truthful and truly inspiring.
   
   Most people may not initially recognize the name of John Newton, that is until it is noted that he wrote the hymn Amazing Grace. Despite that it was written over 200 years ago, Amazing Grace is the most sung, most recorded, most played song ever. Not bad for a creation that was meant only to serve as a simplistic way to teach scripture to Newton's congregation in Olney.
   
   Perhaps this song resonates so deeply with so many people because the words reflect John Newton's own extremely troubled life journey. Newton spent many years of his young adulthood completely lost. Career wise, he had no idea what he wanted to do and seemed bent on rebelling against everything that was given to him. The only thing he seemed to excel at was creating havoc. His greed and resentment led him to do horrible things including becoming a slaver.
   
   After a series of what Newton perceived as divine interventions, the man slowly began realizing that he needed to change his life. After a lot of false starts, Newton turned his life around and dedicated himself to God's word. In his lifetime, he became a bestselling author bringing religious material to the masses. His frank testimony about his actions in the slave trade was also significant in the abolishment of slavery in Britain.

5 comments about Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman.

1. The movie made from this woman's life, The Inn of the 5th Happiness, was great. This book is even better. There are more miracles told of, and of course it is free of any Hollywood add-ons. This is the story of a parlor maid who feels a call, of all things, to go to China. She meets only discouragement and is told by a local missionary board that she is not qualified. But Gladys audibly hears from YHWH that she is to go. She saves her pennies and takes a train, alone, from England to China!
   
   On the trip Gladys just barely escapes being abducted by greedy and lascivious (to put it mildly) Communists who think she could be useful as they think a missionary is a machinist. When she gets to China - where she speaks not one word of the language - all she has to greet her is a 73 year old missionary living in virtual poverty who had prayed for a young woman to come and replace her. Good thing. The elderly lady died in about a year. Gladys became an inn keeper for mulemen, and a government foot inspector (the Chinese law was saying women could no longer bind their feet.)
   
   Wherever she went she preached the Gospel fearlessly and won many converts, including the local Mandarin who became a great friend of hers. Along the way she gave up her dream of one day marrying and having her own children. But she had plenty of children - I think about 20 officially, some abandoned, orphaned, or bought from those who were going to sell them for evil purposes. She also managed to get 100 children - 3 to 16 years old - over "impassable" mountains, mostly alone and mostly with only the meager food they could beg in their war ravaged area. They needed to reach a Christian missionary orphanage and did so - though at the cost of Glady's health in many ways. As always, people who give up all to follow Abba's call are very humbling, and when they triumph against all odds, we are inspired. What was also encouraging to me was that Gladys was not a bulwark of faith every minute. She sometimes questioned our Heavenly Father, and called out to Him in desperation like all the rest of us. And just as with us, He often answered her prayers at the very last minute!
   
   Though this little missionary had many hardships and trials, I'm sure she would not trade with those of us who sit reading her story in luxury in our climate controlled homes, with full bellies. I guess only those who live so fully dedicated to Yahusha ever really know what true adventure is, or what the truest fulfillment really is.
   
   "When the saints go marching in" I would guess this humble little lady will be among those placed at the head of the line.



2. What an amazing woman - I first heard her story as a radio drama on Moody radio, and was so facinated I had to read her life story. If only there were more like her today, what tremendous growth the kindgdom of Christ would experience!



3. THE BOOK ITSELF WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I ENJOYED READING THIS BOOK. IT WAS HARD TO PUT DOWN. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR ANYONE.



4. This is an amazing book that I happened upon by accident. I have shared it with others who were impressed when reading about the life of this unassuming missionary. It was truly inspirational. I highly recommend this book.



5. Get this book!!!
   You won't be able to put it down, there are many books and even a movie (made Hollywood style, which Gladys didn't like) but the movie let me know about Gladys Alward
   
   But this book, written withe the help of a Christine Hunter, gives Gladys Alward's story in her own words!

5 comments about The Spiritual Man (3 volume set).

1. If you really want to experience a deeper walk with Jesus Christ this book set is a must read.



2. "Many Christians are born again and have participated in the Lord's resurrection but lack the manifestation of the power of the resurrection." (p.51)
   
   According the the Scriptures, "a complete person is a tripartite being, a person with a spirit, a soul, and a body." (p.6)
   
   Watchman Nee reveals how Scripture teachs us that man is spirit, soul, and body. Nee explains how God created man to join His Spirit with man's spirit (i.e. the eternal center of a man). The spirit is to govern the soul of a man (i.e. thoughts, emotions, will) and then the body. He calls the spirit of a man the "inner man"; the soul--the "outer man"; the body--"the outermost man." Before the inner man is regenerated by the Holy Spirit, a man's spirit is inopperative. His spirit is there, but in fact... it is dead! The soul then tries to function as only the spirit can do. Thus, the soul coupled with the power of sin... produces flesh! Man is then a frustrated being.
   
   Nee submits that most Christians live a "mixed" life. Many Christians are unaware of this divine created order of God. Therefore, many believers can not distinguish the difference between the spiritual life and the soulish life; a life powered governed by the spirit and the life ruled by man's own natural life. The Christian life is to be a Spirit-led and a Spirit-driven life. The Holy Spirit has regenerated the spirit of a man and is to continue to be the power that controls and governs him.
   
   However, many Christians allow their soul to interfere with the Spirit's work. Again, this produces flesh! The Spirit is hindered from joining with man's spirit while the soul of a man is not in full submission to the Spirit. It is any wonder why many believers live a defeated life. They are trying to produce in their natural life what can only be birthed from the Spirit at work in the spirit.
   
   Nee speaks from experience. There is absolutely no way a person can speak on this subject with not having first identified its activity in their own life. Nee wonderfully describes the battle going on in each Christian. Our soul wants to govern, but the Spirit must rule for God to be glorified in us.
   
   I have yet to read a book such as this. It has taken me over a year to read volume one in "The Spiritual Man" three-volume series. It's depth into the biblical teaching of the tripartite nature of man and the nature of God is unparalled to any book I know in the past or present.
   
   Skimming over the book every time I would pick it up to read again... I saw how Christ had been at work in my life. At first I was overwhelmed by the depth of spiritual meaning and how I was to see this expressed... if ever... in my daily life. I was relieved to find that the Lord was working out my new-found knowledge into spiritual exprience.
   
   I know why Nee states in the beginning that "the enemy hates this book." If the Christian can ever apply these spiritual truths to his own life... there will be nothing that stops him from fully expressing Christ's life in the power of his resurrection. What at first may seem like spiritual arrogance... turns out to be a truly humble man writing of deep spiritual things he learned in experience and articulated by the grace of God.
   
   Volume one unveils the mystery behind spirit, soul, and body... and teaches readers how to continually be mindful of the diviine order God has set in place for us to walk in Christ's life. If you want to know the true meaning of "denying self" in order that you might know what it is to "take up your cross daily"... then this spiritual masterpiece is for you.
   
   I highly recommend that you begin reading this book right away. If I was to recommend reading another Nee book before this one... it would most definitely be The Release of the Spirit by Nee. This book would work as a great precursor into what Nee unfolds in volume one of "The Spiritual Man".
   
   I do not see why any believer should wait to read this book. It especially should be read by new believers... lest you learn the Christian life in many errors and needlessly walk in the wrong direction spiritually. The spiritual truths in this book need to be discovered immediately following new birth in Christ. Reading this book sooner than later will save you much heartache and aimless wandering from the divine spiritual order of God.
   
   Once you have read Nee's insights into the spiritual order of things... the Word of God will come alive to you in ways never seen before. By the Word of God and the work of the cross... we shall be governed by the Spirit of God!
   
   I look forward to reading the next two volumes.
   
   I also recommend reading:
   The Normal Christian Life (Hendrickson Christian Classics)
   Christ the Sum of All Spiritual Things
   The Centrality of Jesus Christ (Works of T. Austin-Sparks) Volume One
   The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine
   Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ (Library of Spiritual Classics, Volume 2)



3. This book was a wonder to read and inlightnment to things I did not know. The book is well written and it explain in full detail with reference scriptures to confirm what it saids.
   
   I will recomend this book to other to read and get an understanding for their spiritual concerns.
   
   Thanks for your speedy shipping and you on hand books.



4. This is a monumental work by NEE 80 years ago! The book has stood the test of time. This is probably the most comprehensive work ever done on the subject of 'Soul, body and Spirit'.I believe Nee's work was inspired by the Holy Spirit truly. In Volume 3, Nee description of "The phenomenon of Passivity" and symptoms such as Inactivity, Lack of concentration, Loss of memory, Indecisiveness, Flashing thoughts etc., are very typical of what psychiatry calls as "Attention Deficit disorder" in the present times. These psychological symptoms are also typical of TOXICITY in the body especially "Heavy metal toxicity(eg., Mercury)" .My guess from Nee's description of his "frailty" and "sickness" is that he possibly had symptoms of toxicity. Nevertheless, I am convinced by his arguments that these are attacks from Satan through evil spirits. Medical science still does not have adequate explanations for the causes of illnesses such as ADHD and Chronic sicknesses such as Chronic Fatigue syndrome ,Fibromyalgia,Environmental illnesses including Multiple chemical sensitivities, Heavy metal toxicity etc many of which having psychological symptoms such as what is described in Nee's book. ( I know this from my medical education)
   
   I highly recommend this book to be in the arsenal of every Christian especially those who are facing Spiritual warfare



5. This book is such a wonderful tool in learning the difference in the mind, body, soul and spirit yet how they all work together with the Lord. It's a tremendous study for anyone seeking information of how the entire person is relating with God and with themselves. Tremendous understand of the entire spiritual being. A recommended reading for everyone seeking knowledge in their walk with God. Helps you to understand self!

5 comments about He Leadeth Me.

1. Purchased book as gift for departing Catholic Father, I hope it is a good book as that was the image I hoped to convey. Sorry, I can't review contents for you, but there was no time for me to read it first.



2. I read this book on a retreat and had to buy it. The message of trusting in the will of God is so strong. No matter how many times I read this I know I will be helped each time.



3. Matthew Kelly (see [...]) recommended "He Leadeth Me" by Walter Ciszek, S.J., to me as it had a significant influence on him and his spiritual journey. The book has also had a profound influence on me - so much so, that I cannot get it out of my mind.
   
   In "He Leadeth Me," U.S. born Ciszek recounts his life as a Catholic priest who enthusiastically volunteered for preaching the gospel and administering the sacraments in communist Russia and ended up spending twenty three agonizing years in Soviet prisons, including five years of solitary confinement in Moscow's feared Lubianka prison and fifteen years of hard labor in Siberian prison camps.
   
   Upon his return to the US in 1963, as part of an exchange for two convicted Russian spies, Ciszek was asked over and over again how he survived. "He Leadeth Me" is his response. This book is about the faith he discovered and the simple truths he learned by trial and error. Truths he came to appreciate only after much anguish of soul and a great deal of prayerful reflection; truths that sustained him through the years of doubt and darkness, of hardship and suffering.
   
   The learned truth that threads its way throughout the book is that no one can know greater peace, no one can achieve a greater sense of fulfillment in his life than the man who believes in the truth of the faith and strives daily to put it into practice. "A spirituality based on complete trust in God is the surest guarantee of peace of soul and freedom of spirit."
   
   There are moments of crisis in every life, moments of anxiety and fear, moments of frustration and opposition, moments sometimes even of terror. Only by a lively faith can man live in peace among the tensions of the world. Faith is the fulcrum of our moral and spiritual balance - our powerlessness to solve the problems of evil, sin, injustice, suffering, and even death will not be a cause of despair or despondency when we have an unshakable trust and confidence in God.
   
   After great anguish, doubt, and repeated resistance by Ciszek, he submitted to the will of God realizing that every moment of our life has a purpose, that every action of ours, no matter how dull or routine or trivial it may seem in itself, has a dignity and a worth beyond human understanding. No moment can be wasted, no opportunity missed, since each has a purpose in God's plan. We need to strive to know God's will and to do it each day of our lives - working this out with constant effort and attention to just those persons and circumstances God presents to us each day. He expects no more of us, but He will expect nothing less of us, and we fail in our promise and commitment if we do not see in situations of every moment of every day of His divine will.
   
   God asks for the complete gift of self...absolute faith in His existence, His providence, His power to sustain me, and His love perfecting me. While it sounds all too simple, one quickly learns how difficult it is when they try to put it into practice. "Is this too simple or are we just afraid really to believe it, to accept it fully, to yield ourselves up to it in total commitment? This is the ultimate question of faith, and each must answer this for himself. But to answer it in the affirmative is to know peace, to discover a meaning to life that surpasses all understanding."
   
   "He Leadeth Me," first published in 1972, is a classic and continues as an all-time best seller. Ciszek has written a powerful testimony that will challenge your view of life and, possibly, a source of a transfiguration. "It is my hope, indeed my prayer that what I have learned and come to understand so slowly and painfully might be of service to others. God is a most patient teacher, even to the most stubborn of students."



4. Just a fantastic book. I am not sure what I can add to further comments already added other than this book hit the spot for sincerity, truthfulness, and captivity of worthwhile imagination. I have just sent it to a friend that teaches English in Libya as I am assured that a wonderful book like this can only enhance her "desert experience" abroad as well.



5. I started reading He Leadeth Me because I thought it might have some interesting thoughts on God and suffering, as a general concept. I had no idea, however, how very applicable Fr. Ciszek's hard-learned insights would be to my day-to-day life as the average American stay-at-home mom.
   
   The wisdom he learned after five years in solitary confinement and 20+ years at a Siberian slave labor camp is not just how to grow closer to God in the face of great upheaval and suffering, but how to know and live God's will in the face of the frustrating, the humdrum, and the mundane.
   
   I can't recommend this book highly enough to everyone -- whether you're experiencing great suffering or just frustrated by the daily grind, you will undoubtedly find Fr. Ciszek's story life-changing.

5 comments about I Surrender All: Rebuilding A Marriage Broken By Pornography.

1. Clay and Renee Crosse have co-authored this autobiographical account of the journey that they have endured through Clay's early success in the Christian music industry, his descent into pornography and the damage that ensued in his career and his marriage, and the restoration that God has brought into their lives. The most striking and helpful part of this book is its brutal honesty. The Crosses have clearly decided that they can serve others most effectively by being fully transparent about their struggles. That certainly includes Clay's struggles with the sin of lust but also includes places where Renee admitted her own spiritual weaknesses. It never seemed like they were sharing too much detail, but their candor is most helpful and all too rare in a Christian subculture that seems to prefer stories of artificial perfection.
   
   Another strength of this book is its readability. Their writing style is very conversational, and it is an easy book to digest. It could probably be read in one or two sittings, but I enjoyed reading it over the course of a few weeks by reading one chapter each night.
   
   There are a few weaknesses, to be sure. The readabilitay of the book is connected to its informal writing style, which also makes it feel almost amateurish at points. Some of the conclusions that they drew concerning big spiritual issues seemed overly simplistic, as if Christians need only to read the Bible and pray more, in which case God is obliged to fix all of our problems. Again, a bit of literary nuance would have clarified some of those finer points.
   
   Also, the shared authorship of Clay and Renee, while providing us with perspectives from their two very distinctive journeys, seemed a bit jarring at times, as they bounced back and forth from one to the other. And there were times when they seemed to remain a bit smug about the early success that Clay had, making sure to point out just how wildly popular he had been. Maybe that was simply to juxtapose their current situation from where they had been, but it felt a bit pompous.
   
   These critiques aside, I'm glad to have read this book. The Crosses have done the Christian community a favor by telling their story. Though this book has some weaknesses, it is good to hear a story of two lives, filled with severe pain and wrecked by sin, that have been restored, though not perfected. Many Christians would do well to learn from Clay and Renee.



2. It was like being able to talk to a friend about the situation. I really appreciated how both sides got to talk separately about their own view of this conflict. It really opened up lines of communication between my husband and me with honesty and not playing the blame-game.



3. This is an eye-opening book for anyone to read. It's a very descriptive walk through a lovers life torn by a sexual addiction (which is much more prevelant than it is thought of).



4. This is a really good book for those husbands who struggle with Pornography, and also for the wives to read...it gives you a Godly perspective of the realities and consequences of the destructive nature of pornography. There are too many cases where marriages are destroyed because of the evil nature of pornography, and the fact that it is so accessible on the internet...this is one of those books that gives a true account of their lives from both the perspective of the husband and the wife. Buy it, you will find it is a very good jumpstart to accountability for your husbands struggle. This is a good companion to use but please be aware that counseling is most important in helping your husband "beat the porn" rap....



5. Unfortunately the use of pronography by both men and women is exploding and draining marriages of the emotional and psychological energy needed for marital bonding. In this book, I Surrender All, both Clay Crosse and his wife describe the devestating effects internet pornography had on their marriage and their slow and painful journey to marital wholeness. A great book for couples to read together. It allows husbands and wives to sometimes reveal their own feelings, through reading Clay and Renee's accounts, that they might never have the courage to say to one another otherwise. This is a wonderful book for all couples, and especially for Christian couples, to use in working this this growing problem.

1 comments about Ratzinger's Faith: The Theology of Pope Benedict XVI.

1. Associate Professor Tracey Rowland, Dean of the Melbourne John Paul II Institute, is described by Cardinal Pell in the foreword to this book as making progress towards "becoming Australia's leading theologian." Anyone who has read her 'Culture and the Thomist Tradition: After Vatican II' will understand that she is a theologian of substance. Those who read 'The Theology of Pope Benedict XVI' will see why she is indeed becoming a leading theologian, not just in Australia but in the English-speaking world.
   
   For her present work demonstrates a profound grasp of the wide-ranging theological work of Pope Benedict XVI and of the theological and philosophical schools within which and in contradistinction to which he has written. No one book can hope to encompass his theological achievement, but certainly one finds here a reliable and sympathetic introduction to it. For serious students of Catholic theology and indeed for those seeking an insight into Pope Benedict's vision of the Church's role in the modern world, this book is a must.