Searching for God Knows What

Searching for God Knows What
Average customer rating:

eh...

a must-read

Donald Miller gets it right...sometimes

Thank you Miller

Following Christ is a Relationship not a System

Searching for God Knows What
Donald Miller
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Study | New Testament | Reference | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Devotionals | Worship & Devotion | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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General | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Devotionals | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality

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ASIN: 0785263713

Book Description

In Searching for God Knows What, Donald Miller's provocative and funny new book, he shows readers that the greatest desire of every person is the desire for redemption. Every person is constantly seeking redemption (or at least the feeling of it) in his or her life, believing countless gospels that promise to fix the brokenness. Typically their pursuits include the desire for fulfilling relationships, successful careers, satisfying religious systems, status, and escape. Miller reveals how the inability to find redemption leads to chaotic relationships, self-hatred, the accumulation of meaningless material possessions, and a lack of inner peace. Readers will learn to identify in themselves and within others the universal desire for redemption. They will discover that the gospel of Jesus is the only way to find meaning in life and true redemption. Mature believers as well as seekers and new Christians will find themselves identifying with the narrative journey unfolded in the book, which is simply the pursuit of redemption.

Customer Reviews:

eh..........2007-10-06

This book was soooo slow starting out. It was definitely not what I was expecting from Donald Miller after having just finished Blue Like Jazz.

a must-read.......2007-08-31

You'll find yourself putting this book down frequently so that you can just think about some of the mind-blowing content that Donald Miller is pitching. Great stuff.

Donald Miller gets it right...sometimes.......2007-08-12

It took me a while to get used to the author's cozy stye of writing, but eventually I grew to enjoy it. It's messy and all over the place - just like life and very conversational. I've been reading some heavy theological stuff lately and this was refreshing. I loved the 'lifeboat theory'. His explaination of how the 'lifeboat' relates to the fall of man was probobly one of the greatest things that I've ever read. It really makes a lot of sense. I think everyone should read that chapter.

I was able to read the Bible like I used to after reading this book. And it's been months, maybe closer to a year since I was able to do that. The text was fresh to me. I saw a few things I hadn't noticed before. Since he eluded to the fall in the book, I thought I would go back to the beginning and read those chapters for the billionth time. I wasn't really expecting to see anything new. But I did. And it was real again.

I have to say I was cringing through a good part of the book. I know Donald Miller has had bad experiences with religion or the church in general, and with conservatives and republicans. I can certainly see why he holds those views. There are enough people in all of those camps whose examples could drive him away. I get the sense that the author feels that most Christians who are conservative republicans are less than intelligent and have been brain washed. That makes me sad. I can speak personally and say that I care about people living in poverty and under oppression. I care about the environment and about peace and about healthcare. These are important issues to me. And I *still* have to go with conservative views on just about everything. To me, conservative views and economic policy just make the most sense and it's not because I care less than liberals do. I can see how people who also care about these things hold to a liberal world-view. I don't think they are crazy or demented.

I agree with saying "NO" to excess govenment funding for programs to help the poor and needy and the oppressed. How does it make things right to steal money (via excessive taxation) from other people - wealthy people who have worked for their money and success - and give it to somebody else? How do handouts solve the problems in our society? I actually think it makes things worse for everyone involved, because it encourages dependancy and laziness. BUT... just like these problems will not be solved or helped with government funding, they will also not be solved by doing nothing! There are millions of broken, needy people in this country - in the world. How can we as Christians, who are called by Christ to feed and clothe and care for others, say no to plans for government funding and then not do anything else to help these people? We need to ask ourselves - "what am I *personally* doing to help them?" It is easier to say that we believe rich people should be responsible for taking care of poor people than it is to 'get out in the trenches' and do it ourselves. The Church -Christians, liberal and conservative alike, should be the ones ministering to the broken and needy. Jesus didn't give that job to Ceasar and the people of Rome. He entrusted that responsibility to his followers. The church needs to step up and live out their faith in this way. Once they start doing that, maybe the government can back off. I might start a speaking tour at local churches to get the word out. I'm very passionate about this. :)

Okay, enough of my rant....back to the book...(my previous thoughts actually do tie in to what I am going to say next - I just don't have a clear segue).

It seems to me that the problem is not with religion or today's church or conservatives or republicans or liberals or democrats, but it is with the need to understand the scriptures BOTH from a theological point of view AND from experience.

Without theology, the experience or relational aspect of Christianity is not grounded and is even dangerous. There is no expectation of an absolute truth and so all of faith is relative. Thus God becomes not who scriptures say he is but who I want him to be. It is particularly difficult to study the scriptures this way. Theology in the form of bullet points and fomulas (i.e. creeds, the articles of religion, the catechisms and things like the five points of Calvinism) is good and necessary. These things exist to give focus and steadfast understanding to our fickle feelings and experiences. In studying these things, the worshipper can stand on the shoulders of giants instead of presuming that he alone is a giant who can figure everything out himself.

Conversly, I would say that religion without relationship is dangerous in that it misses the point. Certainly God does not desire this. Scripture makes so many references to the act of offering sacrifices versus the offering of the heart. And yet He did not do away with sacrifices in the Old Testament - He required that his people sacrifice as well as call upon Him. In the new testament when Christ came to be the final propitiation for sin, He said that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Clearly the law (or religion) is important but it is not fulfilled nor has meaning without Christ.

Christianity does not work in an 'either-or' mentality -either religion or relationship. It is 'BOTH-AND'. Why is it that it is so hard to find a church that embodies this 'both-and' principle? It seems that they love to throw the baby out with the bathwater. The formulas, church history, tradition, creeds, systematic theology are all important. Much more important, in fact, than Donald Miller acknowledges. But without a true, ongoing, growing relationship with Christ, theology just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I think this was one of the author's main points and it is definately one I needed to hear. It is the responsibility of the worshipper to maintain an understanding of both at all times. This is such a difficult task. It seems to me that our finite minds just were not created to focus on all of that at once, but fortunately, God makes these things possible. I am constantly in this desperate struggle to remain focused on both. I have been concentrating almost exclusively on only one aspect of my faith. I needed to be reminded of the 'both-and' argument. That is why I loved reading this book.

Thank you Miller.......2007-07-11

If you liked Blue Like Jazz, you'll love the book. Thank you Mr. Miller for another great one, can't wait for the next.

Following Christ is a Relationship not a System.......2007-07-01

THANK YOU Donald Miller. This is one of the most important books you can read as a Christian. It inspired me to do an about face. That is look for the face of Jesus, not his rules, not his rewards, but ENJOY THE PRESENCE of our God. After reading this book, I actually laughed and played with Jesus. I petted the Lion's mane and He licked me back. We hugged after that.

How to Hear From God: Learn to Know His Voice and Make the Right Decisions

Average customer rating:

Must Have Book!
Love the book, don't love Joyce reading it
How to hear from God
AWESOME
Inspirational and Enlightening!!

How to Hear From God: Learn to Know His Voice and Make the Right Decisions
Joyce Meyer
Manufacturer: FaithWords
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0446532568
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Book Description

#1 bestselling author andwell-known speaker Joyce Meyer explains the ways in which God speaks- and teaches readers how to listen. In the hustle and bustle of today's busy world, sometimes it's hard enough to hear yourself think, much less to take a minute to stop and listen for the voice of God. But learning to recognize God's voice and the many ways in which he speaks is vital toward following his plan. In her book, Joyce Meyer reveals the ways in which God delivers his word-through signs, revelations, and internal confirmation-and the benefits of asking God for the sensitivity to hear his voice. By developing a tender conscience and attentive ears, readers will find peace and fulfillment as God governs each day, each step of the way.

Customer Reviews:

Must Have Book!.......2007-08-01

I really love this book (and love the audiobook even more - because Joyce Meyer really gets the point across with her great personality)

I'm not even a Christian and I love this book. It will help you tap into your inuition and learn right from wrong.

Thank You Joyce for such a wonderful book!!!

Love the book, don't love Joyce reading it.......2007-04-24

Wow was I disappointed... I love to hear Joyce preach! I love to read her books! She is so anointed! And she always speaks to me. However, maybe it's just me, but this audiotape wasn't the same. When she read the book she wrote, I found it to be dry and without life. How to Hear from God is another of her great books! Please don't discount the book if you didn't like the audiotape of it being read. I won't get another tape of her reading her books. I'll just continuing listening to her teaching tapes, reading her books, and watching her programs on tv and online.

How to hear from God.......2007-04-19

This book and the study guide that goes with it are helping me understand the word of God. Daily study with these, and other materials from the Joyce Meyer library, is enriching my life. I highly recommend it to anyone, especially those who are studying the bible alone, as I am.

AWESOME.......2007-03-26

I love this book! Joyce Meyer is one of my favorite authors/speakers/teachers. This book will put you on the right track in learning to do what's necessary in your life so you can prepare for a true and meaningful relationship with God. If you want to know Him better and be led by the Spirit, then buy this book!

Inspirational and Enlightening!!.......2007-02-01

I have read many of Joyce Meyer's books and I really enjoyed this book the most and in my opinion a very enlightening book as it really has helped me with my relationship with God and how he truly corresponds with us.
This is a must if you want to Hear from God!!!

Lord, I Want to Know You: A Devotional Study on the Names of God

Average customer rating:

LORD, I Want to Know You
An excellent study guide
Great for group use
Awesome Study
A disappointment

Lord, I Want to Know You: A Devotional Study on the Names of God
Kay Arthur
Manufacturer: WaterBrook Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1578564395
Release Date: 2000-11-21

Book Description

Enjoy the expanded and updated editions of the best-selling "Lord" Bible Study Series from Kay Arthur.  The "Lord" study series is an insightful, warm-hearted Bible study series designed to meet readers where they are--and help them discover God's answers to their deepest needs.

Discover the Limitless Power of God's Name.

        So much of our confusion and pain results because we don't know God -- who He really is, how He works in our lives.
        But with Lord, I Want to Know You, that will all change. When you know God more fully by studying His names -- Creator, Healer, Protector, Provider, and many others -- you'll gain power to stand strong. You'll find strength for times of trial, comfort for pain, provision for your soul's deepest needs. And your walk with God will be transformed.
        Let Kay Arthur guide you through the Scriptures in this deeply insightful study. Your daily time with God in His Word will introduce you to the limitless treasure available to you as His child. And these are truths you can share easily with others, individually or in small groups.

Customer Reviews:

LORD, I Want to Know You.......2007-10-05

An excellent book that helps us know God more deeply and intimately and to know exactly how He works in our lives. Kay Arthur takes us through all of the names for God and teaches what those names mean to us in this day in which we are living. She breaks the study up in small daily "doses". She is an exellent teacher and this book is more proof of that. I learned a lot from the book and I highly recommend it for anyone who desires to know God better.

An excellent study guide.......2007-06-01

We are using this as a group study for a ladies' Sunday School class. The content and questions have profitable depth and insight.

Great for group use.......2007-01-17

If your small group, Sunday school, or other group is looking for a great study that keeps you in God's Word and applies everything discussed to the real-world, this is a great book. I went through the study with a group of 7th and 8th graders and thoroughly enjoyed it. Packed with Scripture and great discussion questions, there should be no lull in the interaction among your group members. And what could be more beneficial than studying the names of God and delving into a deeper understanding of His character and attributes? Highly recommended.

Awesome Study.......2005-10-03

Great study---I have always enjoyed the teachings of Kay Arthur. Understanding many (but not all)of the facets of God, His names shows He cares for me in evey area of my life. In studying the Names of God, I can now pray and believe using specific names knowing that God is my salvation, peace, provider, healer........

A disappointment.......2002-04-23

This book is a study of the names of God. However, I found some of the commentary and discussion points a stretch - discussing sexual abuse when studying the account of Hagar.

His Names Are Wonderful: Getting to Know God Through His Hebrew Names

Average customer rating:

His Names Are Wonderful: Getting to Know God Through His Hebrew Names
Elizabeth L. Vander Meulen , and Barbara D. Malda
Manufacturer: Messianic Jewish Resources International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Messianic Judaism | Other Practices | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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Knowing God by Name: Names of God That Bring Hope and Healing

ASIN: 1880226308

Book Description

Uncover the treasures in God's Hebrew names!

Groups 140 names into eight sections-Almighty, Father, Redeemer, Shepherd, Spirit, Truth, Defender, and Faithful.

Each artfully designed page includes-the English name, the Hebrew name, the English transliteration, inspiring devotional thoughts, and relevant Scripture passages from the Complete Jewish Bible (both "Old" and New Testaments).

Amazon.com

God is not a person or a thing but rather a process, according to world-renowned author and spiritual leader Deepak Chopra. The purpose of this ambitious book is to assure readers that anyone can engage in this process--"it isn't a matter of faith, religious teaching, innate goodness, luck or some other mysterious factor," Chopra explains. "Our brains are hardwired to find God." This hardwiring is deftly explored as Chopra lists the seven ways humans know God and how they correspond to the anatomy of our human brains. He devotes a chapter to each of the seven visions of God: "Protector," "Almighty," "God of Peace," "Redeemer," "Creator," "God of Miracles," and "Pure Being--I am." In every chapter he asks and answers the same questions for the readers: "Who am I?" "How do I fit in?" "How do I find God?" The format works well, helping to tame this broad discussion while also illuminating the different personality types that are attracted to these seven different visions.

Fortunately, Chopra is a gifted narrator, able to make human anatomy and quantum physics understandable while also keeping spiritual and metaphysical discussions grounded. As he drifts through the cloudy realms of ESP, telepathy, clairvoyance, miracles, obedience, loyalty, evil, ego, addictions, and mentors, readers can trust that there is a competent pilot at the helm, deftly guiding this excellent book. Plan to take some time with this one. It is perhaps his best yet and as such deserves a slow and steady commitment. --Gail Hudson

Book Description

In the most ambitious and important book of his career, Deepak Chopra sets us on a path to the ultimate spiritual experience.

The bestselling author of Ageless Body, Timeless Mind and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success has written a groundbreaking exploration of the seven ways we experience God. These are shaped not by any one religion but by an instinct that is hard-wired into the brain. In this remarkable work, Chopra takes us step by step, from the first stage, where the brain's "fight or flight" response yields us the experience of a God who is an all-powerful parent, to the seventh stage, where the brain experiences God as pure being, a sacred presence that just is. All seven stages are available to us at all times.

In How to Know God, Deepak Chopra charts a fascinating course for us, as we explore mysticism, religious ecstasy, genius, telepathy, multiple personality, and clairvoyance, drawing insights from psychology, neurology, and physics, as well as from the great religions. The result is vintage Chopra - that internationally-celebrated blend of philosophy and science- applied to the greatest subject of all. This is the quest all of us are on, whether we realize it or not. This is the ultimate hunt, for as Chopra puts it, "God is our highest instinct to know ourselves." This remarkable book makes a dramatic, and enduring, contribution to that knowledge.

Customer Reviews:

Dull, boring, and nearly made me blind.......2007-09-30

If I had to depend on this book to help me know God, I would be in big trouble. It started out as a good read, and had some interesting points, but by the time I got to chapter 4, I was so confused and bored. I have never read any of this guys books, but was impressed with him on tv. I think this author is a must to avoid for me. Also, the fine print was so little, I felt like I needed to call my eye doctor.

A new perspective on God.......2007-09-27

This is a great book that will open new doors to the way you perceive the world around you.

Does God exist? If so, who is He, and more importantly, how can we get to know Him?

We evolved to find God. God for us is not a choice but a necessity. Almost a hundred years ago the great psychologist and philosopher William James declared that human nature contains a "will to believe" in some higher power. Personally James didn't know if God existed or whether there was a world beyond this one. He was almost certain that no proof of God could be found, but he felt it would deprive human beings of something profound if belief was stripped away from us. We need the hunt. God, it turns out, isn't a person; God is a process. Your brain is hard-wired to find God. Until you do, you will not know who you are (p. 14).

Is God Love? Dame Julian, who lived in England in the fourteenth century, asked God directly why he had created the world. The answer came back to her in ecstatic whispers: You want to know your lord's meaning in what I have done? Know it well, love was his meaning. Who reveals it to you? Love. What did he reveal to you? Love. Why does he reveal it to you? For love (p. 5).

If God is Love, either God is causing these diseases and violence we see every day or else he can't do anything to stop them. Which one is the God you want to accept? This is actually a hard question to answer. Whether you see God as an almighty judge who punishes and causes suffering on Earth or as a benign source of inner peace, he isn't exclusively that. When someone asks, "Is there really a God," the most legitimate answer is, "Who's asking?" The perceiver is intimately linked to his perceptions. The ancient Vedic seers put it quite bluntly: "The world is as we are. If you accept that the world is as we are, it is only logical to accept that God is as we are." Indeed, the whole universe is as we are, because without the human mind, there would be only `quantum soup', billions of random sensory impressions.

Therefore God is in the evil as much as in the good. God created both because both are needed. The saint sees the sinner inside himself just as the saint accepts evil as calmly as any other occurrence. If Hinduism is right, then trying to resist evil is ultimately pointless. The demons never give up. They can't, in fact, since they are built into the structure of nature, where death and decay are inevitable. As the Indian sages see it, the universe depends as much on death as it does on life. "People fear dying without thinking," one master remarked. "If you got your fantasy of living forever, you would be condemning yourself to eternal senility." Death is the escape route life has devised. It is the force that opposes evolution.

"If you spent every moment turning every thought and action to good," an Indian master told his disciples, "you would be just as far from enlightenment as someone who used every moment for evil." Surprising as this sounds, for we all equate goodness and God, the force of goodness is still karmic. Good deeds have their own rewards, just as bad deeds do. What if you don't want any reward at all but just to be free? This is the state Buddhists call nirvana, much misunderstood when it is translated as "oblivion." Nirvana is the release from karmic influences, the end of the dance of opposites. For example, wanting A or B is always going to lead to its opposite. If I am born wealthy, I may be delighted at first. I can fulfill any desire and follow any whim. But eventually boredom sets in; I will grow restless, and in many cases my life will be burdened by the heavy responsibility of managing my wealth. So as I toss in bed, worried about all these irksome things, I will begin to think how nice it is to be poor. The poor have little to lose. To illustrate, in 1918, long before anyone in England could foresee the importance of Gandhi, the noted scholar Gilbert Murray made a prophetic statement: "Persons in power should be very careful of how they deal with a man who cares nothing for sensual pleasure, nothing for riches, nothing for comfort or praise or promotion, but is simply determined to do what he believes to be right. He is a dangerous and uncomfortable enemy, because his body, which you can always conquer, gives you so little purchase upon his soul."

How do we each individually perceive God? In Buddhism, for example, God is experienced as eternal silence and pure being. Some masters experience God as Nothing; a void with no activity. If God has a home, it has to be in the void, otherwise he would be limited. In Christianity, God is viewed as compassionate and as Love, and hence all Christians will be forgiven and go to Heaven (Christ died on the Cross for their sins). Judaism views God as revengeful, and sinners will burn in hell with no one (such as Christ) to help them. God is symbolized in some religions as a monkey. Why would anyone worship a monkey, even a mythic flying one? Their face could be as devout as anyone praying to the Christian or Hebrew God. Are their prayers going astray because of who they pray to? Is it going anywhere at all? Some religions teach to worship the self. The anecdote is told of an English anthropologist researching into the beliefs of Hinduism. One day he goes creeping through the forest and spies an old man dancing in a grove of trees. In ecstasy the old man embraces their trunks, and says, "Lord, how I love you." Then he falls to the ground and chants, "Blessed are you, my Lord." Jumping to his feet, he raises his arms to the sky and cries, "I am overjoyed to hear your voice and see your face." Unable to stand the spectacle any longer, the anthropologist jumps out of the bushes. "I must tell you, my good man, that you are quite crazy," he says. "Why is that?" the old man asks in confusion. "Because here you are all alone in the woods, and you think that you are talking to God," says the anthropologist. "What do you mean, alone?" the old man replies. To anyone who worships God as the self it is obvious that none of us are alone. In the third century of the Christian era, an unknown heretic wrote, "If you can't make yourself equal to God, you can't perceive God."

So which God of which religion is the true God? The God of any religion is only a fragment of God. This has to be true, because a being who is unbounded has no image, no role to play, no location either inside or outside the cosmos, whereas religions offer many images--father, mother, lawgiver, judge, ruler of the universe etc... There are many versions of God. Each one is a fragment, but so complete as to create a unique world (p. 42). "You believe that you were created to serve God," an Indian guru once pointed out, "but in the end you may discover that God was created to serve you."

To illustrate how God only reveals a portion of himself at any one time, consider the following: Each blind man grabs a different part of an elephant. The blind man who grabs the leg says, "An elephant is very like a tree." The one who grabs the trunk says, "An elephant is very like a snake." The one who grabs the tail says, "An elephant is very like a rope," and so forth. The mind is unable to grasp the nature of God, the moral being that divine reality is too vast to be understood by thought, sight, sound, touch, or taste (p. 284).

Consider the following: There is a Zen story about two disciples who are looking at a flag fluttering in the breeze. One says. "No one can doubt that the flag is moving." The other disagrees, "No, it is the wind moving. The flag has no motion of its own." They continue this debate until the master comes along, and he says, "You are both wrong. Only consciousness is moving." (p. 187).

To know God personally, you must penetrate a boundary that physicists call "the event horizon," a line that divides reality sharply in half. What we do know is that God can't be on this side of the event horizon. Since the Big Bang, light has been traveling for about ten to fifteen billion years. If a telescope is pointed in any direction, it cannot receive light older than that; therefore an entity farther away must remain invisible. This doesn't mean there is no existence beyond fifteen billion years. Strangely enough, certain faraway objects appear to be emitting radiation that is older than the universe, a fact cosmologists are unable to comprehend. If the human brain contains its own event horizon (the limit of photons to organize themselves as thought), we must cross over to find the home of spirit.

One of the most famous of modern Indian saints, Sri Aurobindo, speculated that all human beings are on the road to enlightenment via a process of mental evolution. (The late Jonas Salk devoted many years to a similar theory that human beings were about to make the transition from biological evolution, which perfected our physical structure, to "metabiological" evolution, which would perfect our spirit.)

To close, consider the following:

When I was born and saw the light
I was no stranger in this world--
Something inscrutable, shapeless, and without words
Appeared in the form of my mother.
So when I die, the same unknown will appear again
As ever known to me. GATANJALI

I highly recommend this book!

look at small details before purchasing!! .......2007-08-30

Bought this book new think it was a great price until I received it. It is pocket sized and abridged. Not worth a penny! It was my mistake for not reading the full details. It would cost more for me to return the book than it is worth!

Unnecessarily Complex and Dull.......2007-08-30

I found the levels a bit contrived. This work didn't take me anywhere new. Deepak just cranking out another source of revenue rather than a real compelling new read with great insights.

My mistake.......2007-08-07

Did not read the fine print, this book is so small that I will be unable to read it without getting a headache. Total disappointment.

I Am Not But I Know I AM: Welcome to the Story of God

Average customer rating:

Excellent book
One of my favorites!!!!!!!!!
Gives you a little perspective...
Very Eye Opening
Fresh book on God's greatness...

I Am Not But I Know I AM: Welcome to the Story of God
Louie Giglio
Manufacturer: Multnomah
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1590522753
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Book Description

We wear ourselves out trying to be smarter, bigger, the center of attention. But dynamic communicator Louie Giglio’s latest book puts success back in perspective. When John the Baptist said that he must decrease while Jesus must increase, he was expressing the secret to astonishing freedomâ¦and incredible rest. This book will teach you the rich, meaningful lifestyle of being small. Free from the worries that used to strangle you, you’ll radiate the power of the God who is all the things you aren’t!

I am not, but God knows my name.

I am not, but He has pursued me in His love.

I am not, but I know the Creator of the universe.

I am not, but I know I AM!

If you see life as your own one-act play and history as your story, you could be in for a rude awakening when the curtain finally closes on your tiny taleâand you discover that life wasn’t all about you after all.

The real story of life is GodâI AMâthe main character and true star of time and eternity. He is at center stage in all of Creation, and He wants you to know Him by name. Knowing I AM means embracing your smallness in light of His greatness.

Savor the true meaning of life as you learn to work and rest in His power, spending your life for what lasts foreverâthe unending glory that is God’s alone.

Story Behind the Book

Louie Giglio recognizes a world and culture that keeps pushing us to be bigger, to be known, to be on top, to be at the center of everything. He encourages those who know how to right-size it all. Instead of pumping up their own programs, agendas, ideas, and plans, their goal is to keep getting smaller in order for Jesus to get bigger. Regarding themselves in relation to Jesus, they have the same goal John the Baptist had: âHe must increase, I must decrease.â

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book.......2007-08-23

This book does an excellent job portraying the reality of how big God is and that we as humans cannot begin to compare with him or fall into the notion that the world revolves around us. It was very encouraging reading material and glorified God in His majesty, as He is.

It was very stimulating and refreshing!

One of my favorites!!!!!!!!!.......2007-03-20

This book is great!! It really puts you in your place and sets a perspective for your life. It's not about us and our stories...it's about God's even bigger and greater story!

i am not

Gives you a little perspective..........2007-01-18

I heard Louie speak at a Passion conference and decided to check out his books, and this one was excellent. I liked it better than The Air I Breathe, but they are definitely on different topics.

This book focuses on humility in the truest sense, coming to know who we are in relation to God. Louie does an excellent job of going through examples of how we try to make our story the center of the universe, turning God into a bit player instead of the star. He is a very relatable guy, and I think it helps to hear someone who could very easily think they are a big deal to seriously discuss how we have to conciously overcome that mentality to be servants of Christ.

Very Eye Opening.......2007-01-11

This book has opened my eyes and heart to the greatness of God. I read it 3 times and then ordered 4 more for my friends. I believe it is a "must read" for any Christian.

Fresh book on God's greatness..........2007-01-10

One of Louie's great strengths is to see the greatness of God and then tell about it in a fresh and genuine way. Great book to help spur people on toward burning worship of Jesus.

The Threshing Floor: How to Know Without a Doubt that God Hears Your Every Prayer

Average customer rating:

$200,000
The Threshing Floor
The thrashing floor... the Prophetess knows her stuff!
Great
An eye opener

The Threshing Floor: How to Know Without a Doubt that God Hears Your Every Prayer
Juanita Bynum
Manufacturer: Charisma House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Prayer | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1591858038

Customer Reviews:

$200,000 .......2007-09-20

Now that she on her way to divorce she states on her site an emergence, she wants you to send her $200,000 bucks to build a new threshing floor. Too bad she spent Millions on a wedding that didn't take or she could have paid cash for her little emergence. hay wait how much was that wedding ring ??? pawn shop time !

The Threshing Floor.......2007-09-11

The Threshing Floor is an awesome book. Even though I already have a strong prayer life it offered me ways to make it even stronger. Juanita Bynum is truely an anointed woman of God who dont mind allowing the Lord to use her to reach out to others.

The thrashing floor... the Prophetess knows her stuff!.......2007-09-08

This book is a real knockout. This is solid information that will floor you with a punch of truth right to the face. Prophetess knows her stuff when it comes to empowering women and living your faith. And this book proves it. You just can't beat Juanita Bynum when it comes to hearing and the will of God. That's right you too can hear God's will, even if you have to do it with a cauliflower ear. Just like her ex-husband and current business partner Bishop Thomas Weeks, Juanita Bynum pulls no punches! So enjoy this hard-hitting look at the loving, intelligent and sophisticated manual for modern living that is the Old Testament, and don't forget to keep watching Miss Bynum and Bishop Weeks on your TV set! Everytime you tune in, you are giving that old Devil two black eyes! (And remember, if your man is mistreating you, Juanita Bynum would tell you to pack up and leave. But if you have a lucrative business enterprise together, don't go too far. Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer, don't you know.)

Great.......2007-09-04

The books were great, great condition just like it was advertised and arrived in a good time frame.

An eye opener.......2007-07-20

To God be the glory. This writing has blessed many in the Body of Christ, including myself.

Often times we don't really understand how to get a prayer through - this writing is a great revelation.

How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali

Average customer rating:

Union with God
Yogic Flying
A Gem of a Book
Get it for Isherwood's commentary
Beautiful Translation Captures the Essence of Yoga

How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali
Patanjali
Manufacturer: Vedanta Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Commentary on the Raja Yoga Sutras by Sri Swami Satchidananda

ASIN: 0874810418

Customer Reviews:

Union with God.......2007-06-11

This book teaches yoga in its true form. Yoga in America is not the same; it is Hatha Yoga that is used solely to have a healthier body. It is godless yoga. The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali reminds us the goal of yoga. How did the Western world forget that yoga means union with God instead of extensive stretching and standing on your head? When people talk to me about yoga, they don't see it as union with God. Yoga is a way of life, and can be applied in all areas. Hatha Yoga is body preparation, Bhakti Yoga is devotion, Karma Yoga is dedicated work, Jnana Yoga is spiritual discrimination, and even though it is not talked about in this book much, Tantra Yoga is using sex to reach this union! As you can see how yoga falls into so many categories and different aspects, of our life, Patanjali has created his own yoga: Raja (or Royal) Yoga, which incorporates all other yogas. When reading this book, you will see how, through yoga, anything can be accomplished. The power of God is omnipotent, ans through this union with Him, you will also have this omnipotence. This book is the manual to true yoga.

Yogic Flying.......2006-12-31

"How To Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali" (from my understanding)is required reading for anyone interested in beoming a Sidha and practicing Yogic Flying. The process of Samyama (concentration, meditation, and absorption) creates a clarity of mind that is highly focused. A fascinating study and is an essential reference for anyone who teaches and practices Yoga.

A Gem of a Book.......2006-09-16

The Yoga Sutras (thread of aphorisms) of Patanjali are one of the six darshanas of the Hindu or Vedic schools. "How to Know God" is a beautiful translation of those. The book is relatively short (pocket sized with just over 200 pages) and very readable. It offers one of the clearest explanations of the practice of yoga and meditation that I have read. It is surprisingly practical. I value it almost as much as I do "The Art and Science of Raja Yoga: Fourteen Steps to Higher Awareness: Based on the Teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda" and Osho's "The Book of Secrets: 112 Keys to the Mystery Within" as a practical guide to specific meditation techniques. For those who have a Christian background, the book references familiar Christian concepts, making the book all the more readable for the typical Westerner. While one can read the entire book in one sitting (and maybe this is a useful strategy for its first reading), I prefer to digest it slowly, contemplating and savoring each aphorism. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to enter into a deeper level of spiritual consciousness.

Get it for Isherwood's commentary.......2006-05-21

Patanjali's Yogi Sutras are well known now in both east and west. For a western mind, the commentary of Christopher Isherwood is especially valuable in interpreting and explaining the Vedantic approach, which is somewhat obscure in the original Patanjali.

It's a very small book, easy to pack around, and is great for quick reference.

Beautiful Translation Captures the Essence of Yoga.......2005-09-29

Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood have collaborated to create this simple and yet poignant translation and commentary of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.

The Yoga Sutras which were written approximately 2000 years ago and form the basis for the Yogic tradition. Originally, the Sutras were passed down orally (Sutra in Sanskrit means "thread")with commentary from the teacher or master. Isherwood is a masterful writer and clearly captures the essence of this tradition in both the cadence and style of the work. Much of the commentary is borrowed from greatly esteemed Vivekananda whose deep wisdom and honest razor sharp insight are true gift.

There are many translations of the Yoga Sutras, some arguably more literal, scholarly, and technically accurate. However, this work is one of the most accessible, and beautifully captures the essence and wisdom of the work.

Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God: What Every Christian Husband Needs to Know

Average customer rating:

A bit disappointed
C.J. Mahaney at His Best
Marriage as God intended it
Before You Touch Her Body, Touch Her Heart and Mind

Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God: What Every Christian Husband Needs to Know
C. J. Mahaney
Manufacturer: Crossway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Marriage | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1581346247

Book Description

âScripture illuminates the path of marital intimacy. The Song of Solomon shines brightly, showing us the way to the best sex we can possibly experience.â

âAs practical as it is profound, Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God may well be the best book on marriage I’ve ever read. I was motivated to love my wife more and broadened in my understanding of how loving my wife brings glory to God . . . this book is truly a treasure.â
Gary Thomas, author of Sacred Marriage and Sacred Parenting

âMen, if you are looking for a book that will give you a few easy tips for spicing up your sex life, look somewhere else. This book invites you instead to completely revolutionize your romantic relationship with your wife. It calls all of us to a more profound and deeply satisfying kind of countercultural sex than most of us have ever experienced.â
Bob Lepine, co-host of FamilyLife Today, author of The Christian Husband

âThere’s not a husband I know that won’t benefit from this book. This is more than a book for the bedroom. It will train you to romance your wife and set you on a lifelong pursuit of winning her heart. Wives, do yourselves a favor and buy this book for your husbands!â
Joshua Harris, author of Boy Meets Girl

Customer Reviews:

A bit disappointed.......2007-05-14

All of the things the other reviewers say about this book are true. It's worth having and gives a Biblically-based view of what marriage is supposed to be about. Mahaney goes to the Song of Solomon to show that God designed sex to be enjoyed--delighted in--within the context of marriage and give several suggestions as to how a man can help to keep that spark in the marriage and the bedroom.

However, I was a bit disappointed for a couple of reasons. First, it was rather short (check out the product details, not only the number of pages, but also the book's dimensions--it's kind of dinky). The main disappointment, though, was that I had already heard most of this before--from the author himself. I bought the book after hearing Mahaney's talk at a conference entitled "Sex and the Supremacy of Christ." I liked his talk and wanted to hear some more from him, so I ordered this book, but he had obviously used this book as the main source of material for the conference, and much of what was in the book was also in his talk.

So, as I said, the book is good and it's worth having. However, for a bit more money one might want to consider going to [...] and ordering the excellent cd set entitled "Sex and the Supremacy of Christ", which has eight cd's, one of which includes much of the material found in this book.

C.J. Mahaney at His Best.......2005-08-24

I felt a deep sense of deja vu as I read Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God. It took me only a few pages to realize that this book, in a condensed form, forms the basis for a chapter in Sex and the Supremacy of Christ (edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor). I had enjoyed that particular chapter of Sex and the Supremacy of Christ and felt certain I would likewise enjoy this lengthened version.

Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God is based loosely on the Song of Solomon. C.J. Mahaney shares my understanding of this book of the Bible stating simply, "It's about sex" (page 9). While many have attempted to allegorize Solomon's song, few have succeeded with any degree of credibility. "That's right gentlemen." says Mahaney, "Solomon's Song of Songs is an entire book of the Bible devoted to the promotion of sexual intimacy within the covenant of marriage. It's an eight-chapter feast of unbridled, uninhibited, joyous immersion in verbal and physical expressions of passion between a man and a woman" (page 10). Amen. So as the reader prepares to read this book, he must prepare to celebrate God's gift of sex. The author says, "The purpose of the book you hold in your hands is to lead us back into God's ideal of joyful, unashamed, indulgent, loving sexuality in the context of marriage" (pages 14-15). This book is directed primarily to men, largely because it is the husband's role (not an author's) to lead his wife into a fuller understanding of what Scripture teaches about sexuality. Mahaney will provide the foundation men can build upon to discover with his wife how sex and romance can be done to the glory of God.

Following an introductory chapter Mahaney uncovers the divine purpose for marriage. This, he teaches, is to reflect the relationship between Christ and the Church. He goes on in the next chapter to provide a piece of wisdom he considers the most important in the entire book: "In order for romance to deepen, you must touch the heart and mind of your wife before you touch her body" (page 28).

Several chapters follow in which Mahaney offers specific ways of touching a wife's heart and mind in order to build the type of relationship God desires for a marriage. Turning to the actual act of consumation, he follows Solomon's lead, providing little in the way of specific details that might read like a to-do list. Instead he invites us to study and understand the Song of Solomon to understand what Solomon meant when he wrote, "Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden, let its spices flow. Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits" (4:16).

The book concludes with a chapter written by Carolyn Mahaney (C.J.'s wife) addressed to women. It is the fifth chapter ("The Pleasure of Purity") of her book Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother.

With lots of humor (much of it self-deprecating), but also compassion and sensitivity, Mahaney sets forth some principles that will bear much fruit in many marriages. He is honest about his book. "Please don't make the mistake of thinking that simply by reading this book you are being changed. I wish it were that easy. But change does not take place until we apply what we are learning in very specific ways, at very specific times, and always in dependence on God's grace to make our efforst effective" (page 35). This book is just the beginning. Far from a "10 Surefire Ways to Make Your Woman Melt" kind of book, Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God will lead the husband to see his wife as a remarkable God-given treasure. It will help the husband learn to see his wife in color while everyone else appears in mere black and white.

While it may seem strange, this book refreshed my joy in being a Christian. I was amazed at the wisdom of God who saw fit to give us an entire book of the Bible dedicated to teaching us how to love our spouses in a way that honors Him. Truly His Word is sufficient! Truly it is relevant! I was thankful that He has provided teachers to explain the Word to us. And I was renewed in my gratefulness towards Him for providing me the priceless treasure that is my wife.

So men, buy this book. I cannot imagine a husband who would gain nothing from it. Women, buy a copy and slip it into your husband's hand with a suggestive wink. He'll get the idea. Read it, enjoy it, and most of all, put it into practice. Learn how sex and romance can bring glory to the One who created them for our enjoyment.

Marriage as God intended it.......2004-10-05

Sex - God created it, the world abuses it, and most Christians are embarrassed by it.

The way the world treats sex is like using a Stradivarius violin to hammer in nails - a thing of wondrous beauty misused and trashed beyond all recognition. For years Christian men have been conned by TV, Hollywood and the press that marriage and sex is about personal pleasure. We have lost the vision of what God intended in marriage.

CJ Mahaney's book returns us to the maker's instructions and restores a much profounder biblical perspective of romance within marriage as God intended it. He uses the Song of Solomon to illustrate how men should treat their wives. He puts the masterpiece of marriage back into its God-given frame, showing the significance of what marriage demonstrates - the relationship between Christ and his people. He calls Christian men to selfless sacrificial love, like Christ's love for his Church. He calls men to be leaders, a much-needed truth; and to be thoughtful caring servant husbands, possibly a more needed truth.

One of the great lessons repeatedly brought home is: "Before you touch her body, touch her heart and mind."

Too often men are more focused on their needs and pleasures. This is not what God intended in marriage - a selfless giving by each person. Mahaney then proceeds to illustrate what this means, and to help us men with the task of romancing our wives, and to develop marriages that go way beyond the physical side of the relationship.

This book is a must read for all married men. Some may find Mahaney's frankness startling, but he deals with this delicate subject without being crude or explicit. Mahaney's wife, Carolyn, has added an appendix, "A Word to Wives", which contains much of what we might want to say to our wives, but are afraid to.

Read this book, and put his suggestions into practice so that in a world where marriage is unfashionable and often self-serving, we will be able to live God-honouring, God-glorifying marriages.

Men, buy it and surprise your wife. Ladies, buy it for your husbands.

Before You Touch Her Body, Touch Her Heart and Mind.......2004-07-27

That simple phrase is what all of us men need to hear: "Before you touch her body, touch her heart and mind." Cursorily using Song of Solomon as an illustration of true biblical covenant love, C.J. Mahaney has written one of the most useful books that I have ever read.

This book is written for men. Men need to step up and lead in romancing the marriage. Therefore Mahaney asks that men don't read this book with their wives. Great intimacy, including sex is something that every marriage should be full of. If that is missing, it is primarily the husband's issue that he needs to fix. Then in chapter 2 he moves on to give the biblical God-given purpose for marriage from Ephesians 5: "A profound mystery, revealed to all to see."

My favorite chapters then follow (3-6) in which Mahaney lets the readers draw from his life experiences, his successes and his failures, to help us with romancing our wives, touching their hearts and minds so that then touching their bodies is so much more intimate, frequent, and amazing. These chapters have been so useful to me. I'm not going to ruin it for you by giving you any of the advice here. But let me tell you that just taking advantage of the advice that he gives and the motivation that comes knowing that greater intimacy better glorifies God has already had a very noticeable impact in the two weeks since I finished my first reading of the book...so much so that my wife has told me whatever I read has changed me for the better.

Finally he ends in chapter 7 with a mild exposition of Song of Solomon 8:5-7, "Strong as Death, The Enduring Power of Covenant Love." Marital love goes beyond just sex, but sex is truly only as amazing as God designed it to be in the context of marriage. Marital love is forever, it isn't dependent on sexual ability; it isn't dependent on perfection; it isn't dependent on emotions. Marital love comes for God and is a reflection of God's love for the church.

Carolyn Mahaney, C.J.'s wife wrote the an appendix, "A Word to Wives" which I haven't read but have been told by my wife is very good. I too have noticed a difference in her since she has read that chapter and the book from which it comes "Feminine Appeal."

I strongly recommend you read this book. I am in the middle of reading it a second time and plan on reading it and putting to action its suggestions until the day I die.

How to Hear from God Study Guide: Learn to Know His Voice and Make Right Decisions (Meyer, Joyce)

Average customer rating:

Great guide to the Word of God
Great Book
How to Hear From God - Study guide
Helpful Advice From Someone With Credibility
Pretty Good Lessons, but more funny then heart wrenching

How to Hear from God Study Guide: Learn to Know His Voice and Make Right Decisions (Meyer, Joyce)
Joyce Meyer
Manufacturer: FaithWords
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Inspirational | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 044669293X

Customer Reviews:

Great guide to the Word of God.......2007-09-13

Excellent 'guided tour' of the scriptures to teach about the leading of the Holy Spirit of God.

Great Book.......2007-07-14

Joyce is a wonderful speaker and author. I had never read any of her books till this one. It was an eye opening book for me. I discovered things that I did not know and I had a hard time putting the book down. It was easy to understand, it gives you Bible verses to look up so that you can learn as well are read her book. I would recommend this book for anyone wanting to know have a deeper understanding of what God "may" be telling you. Great book overall.

How to Hear From God - Study guide.......2007-03-20

Very Helpful - goes along very well with book.

Helpful Advice From Someone With Credibility.......2006-01-23

Joyce Meyer has overcome a lot in her life and her teachings are intended to help you get ahead in your own struggles. In this book she points out the myriad ways God speaks to His people. Keep in mind, Jesus said His sheep will hear His voice, so this is a scriptural principle. In the introduction she lays out some of the diverse ways one can expect to hear: His Word, nature, people, circumstances, peace, wisdom, supernatural intervention, dreams, visions, and the "inner witness." All these are mentioned in the scriptures. Throughout the book she explains.

This is not a book intended only for acquiring new information. It's a book for application of principles. There are reflective questions that help you to see how to tap into the lessons being taught. This book will help you grow spiritually.

Personal responsibility is an integral part of hearing from God. Meyer points out that Jesus told us to be careful how we hear, i.e., not just receive information by default, but be consciously in control of what we allow to influence us. All the ways of God are right and sure, and in hearing from Him, we learn the route He has for our lives. Listening is an active part of prayer.

Pretty Good Lessons, but more funny then heart wrenching.......2005-01-02

I really wanted to hear from God after reading this book. Like most joyce myer books, they dont change my life, but they give me an up front view of what I have to do - in order to please God and fix the problem. Great examples from the bible and stories but no direct instructions a young person (19) like myself wanted. I can truly say she never writes a boring book but this one didnt do anything for me personally.

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