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A Hidden Wholeness - The Journey Toward an Undivided Life

5 stars (A book for everyman) - By everyman I mean, of course, men and women, young and old, retired and working, republicans and democrats, believers and non-believers. This is a book I wish I'd found years ago (before it was written)! Almost everyone lives the divided life. (I suspect the Dalai Lama does not). As Palmer notes, sometimes we have to -- this is a choice we sometimes must choose to make. One of the reasons I love this book so is that Palmer does not have rigid judgmental expectations of us (we probably are harsh enough on ourselves). He offers guidelines and explanations for the human condition, and some help on getting through. Parker Palmer takes a long time Quaker practice -- the Clearness Committee - and uses it to provide for everyone a Circle of Trust. This mutual support network is unusual -- it isn't an advisory committee but more support for listening to that inner voice which we may joke about, but which exists (you know, the one you should have listened to, that nagging feeling, that annoying little warning sign). One thing that makes us crazy is the denial of that inner voice, our true self, the divided side of self that knows the questionable aspects of our work life, the one we hush up so we can get by and make a living. This isn't just a teacher's issue or a spiritual issue. For some it may be a spiritual divide; for others, a more humanistic one. In any case, we become emotionally, mentally and otherwise unbalanced if our day to day movements and choices feel separate from -- or in conflict with -- our beliefs and values, and yet we deny that they are so. We do not allow ourselves to hear that inner voice, afraid of the changes we might have to make. We smush it down, despite knowing intellectually that anything you smush down in one area pops up in another. This book offers recognition of this conflict we are in, and gives us ways we can listen without, necessarily, having to make changes that will make us walk ou...
Jossey-Bass :: Religion & Beliefs :: Spirituality - General :: Spiritual life :: Religion - Prayer & Spirituality :: New Age :: Christianity - Christian Life - General :: Christ :: A Hidden Wholeness - The Journey Toward an Undivided Life

 

The Power of Now- A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

5 stars (Magical...and advanced!!) - This book is not for everyone...it is very advanced even though there are reviews that say it's dull and repetitive...don't read with the mind...listen with the being! He is a great spiritual teacher.. One of the very best. I have read many spiritual books and feel that I'm half way there...I totally understood the book from beginning to end. It's very simple and clear...so effective..it is my bible. But don't get confused...Eckart Tolle is telling you all the things you already know, but your mind refuses to accept! Remember, you are NOT your mind, you never were. I'd like to recommend a wonderful bit of writing from Ken Wilber entitled 'From here to infinity in 3 pages...' I think that's the title. He really is advanced..very technical, but he explains also about being! Well done to a brilliant writer. He is not talking from the ego, but from his being...to your being...and it's real, when you let it be. Don't try to understand it, LIVE IT! 5 stars (Transformative Audio-Book) - I listened to the audio version of this book over a one week period, mostly as I was driving around. It had a profound effect on my life. I have practiced and taught meditation for many years, and a few times at retreats I have entered what are called ecstatic spiritual states. Listening to this recording brought me back to those states each time. If they were written the words he is speaking might or might not have that power. I have never read the typed version, so I don't know if it is the writing itself. But I cannot justify removing even one star from my rating of this item. There is simply nothing to fault it for when it delivers more than what one reasonably expects to get out of a book. The book will give you an experience of what he is talking about. What more do you want? Isn't the point of knowledge to gain access to the experience? So what if your mind can't eloquently explain advanced spiritual theories to others af...
New World Library :: Spirituality - General :: Spiritual life :: Personal Growth - General :: New Age (Self Help) :: Inspiration & Personal Growth :: Body :: Mind & Spirit :: Audiobooks :: The Power of Now- A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

 

The Sacred Romance- Drawing Closer to the Heart of God

5 stars (...Out of the dark night he leaps like a stranger to cripple and to bless...) - My guess is that readers who think they already have a good handle on life and Christian doctrine will probably be disappointed with this book. Likewise, this book will disappoint readers who want to see concepts like faith, hope, love, idolatry, grace, election, predestination, etc., expressed in religious language with which they are familiar, and not in language (and metaphors) in which people of our culture commonly express what is important to us and what drives us. Many thoughtful, ardent, traditionally-minded, well-meaning Catholics, Calvinists, etc., will not like this book. Readers, however, who are desperately asking questions like, "Why do I have to hurt so much? When can I finally get out of the situation I am in? Why am I so burned out even though I have done everything I know to be faithful to Christ? How can I be so lonely? Why does this addiction keep re-surfacing? What is God doing here?" will probably find this book a God-send. I re-read this book recently at precisely such a time in my life, and it was wonderful. It reminded me that God is not after my religious devotion and doctrinal comformity, he wants my *heart*, the deepest center of myself, and that he may well invade my life in a way that hurts me, that strikes me as ruthless and devastating, in order to get it. God is committed to my sharing and radiating his glory--nothing less. Amazing. In my view, one of the best aspects of this book is its emphasis not just on what God has promised to share with us (beauty, intimacy, adventure, glory), but *when* he will share it. Yes, we get a substantial foretaste now, but our deepest longings will be finally, fully satisfied only when we see him. Until Jesus comes back, God will mess with our lives and our idols in order to make sure that we don't get distracted by anything less than the awesome destiny he is preparing for us. As eloquently expressed toward th...
Nelson Books :: Religion & Christian Life :: Christian Living :: Spirituality - General :: Spiritual life :: Religion - Christian Living :: Religion :: Christianity - Christian L :: The Sacred Romance- Drawing Closer to the Heart of God

 

Celebration of Discipline- The Path to Spiritual Growth- 25th Anniversary Edition

5 stars (The title is not an oxymoron) - The writer of Hebrews tells us in chapter 12 that no discipline seems pleasant at the time we are receiving it, but if we can receive it, learn from it, and apply it, then it will produce "a harvest of righteousness and peace" in our lives. Richard J. Foster gives his readers a beautiful and inspiring look at how spiritual disciplines work in our lives and cause us to become deeper and stronger people in Christ and His Word. In so doing, the process of discipline becomes precious--even joyful--to the mature believer who embraces it. There is a beauty in the simplicity of Foster's words and in the actions that he advocates. There are...to paraphrase a popular television exercise commercial..."no high impact gyrations, no tricky dance moves" here in this book. It's just good, solid, basic information that will bring about real results. But, it's far from dry. Foster is a patient and empathetic teacher. This special 25th anniversary edition is beautifully done, spare but elegant (a lot like the prose inside). This is one of those books that's not only a must for every Christian's bookshelf, but a must to read and apply. In a world full of noise and confusion, Foster offers a doorway into a "place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God." 4 stars (significant challenges...) - Since college, when a number of my dormmates read through this book, I have desired to partake in a 'Celebration of Discipline.' When a fellow brother suggested that I choose something that several of us could study together my thoughts we immediately thrust to this work. I knew I would need the accountability of a group to not just read but seek to apply the principals present by Richard Foster. The book is separated into 12 individual disciplines and further broken down into three groups, 'The Inward Disciplines,' The Outward Disciplines' and 'The Corporate Disciplines.' Foster opens with a warning, encouragement and guidelines for emba...
HarperSanFrancisco :: Religion & Spirituality :: Spirituality - General :: Spiritual life :: Religion - Prayer & Spirituality :: Religion :: Inspirational - General :: Christianity - C :: Celebration of Discipline- The Path to Spiritual Growth- 25th Anniversary Edition

 

Conversations with God - An Uncommon Dialogue Book 1

5 stars (Conversations With God (Trilogy): Book Review) - This is a trilogy capturing a dialogued communication by Neale Donald Walsh. Book 1. How many of us, and how many times have we asked the questions about Life, about God? Well, herein (CWG: book 1) lie the answers. While larger truths are described - that of God and Life, deeper truths are also discussed - that of Self (us). The talk covers human concepts of "right" and "wrong", "good" and "evil", karma, thought, the soul, reincarnation and many more. Damaging myths are laid to rest. But wait, it gets controversial too, religion and sexuality come into the picture, tasty reading indeed. I have one word for the book: Profound! ~~~~~~~~ Book 2 broadens the understanding of the Self to human society and geopolitics, touching on our education system and further covering the sexuality topic. This book answers questions to wars and starvation, delving straight into the root of our problems, some of which are our educational system and our accepted political and geopolitical systems. There are some topics or reflections which I personally find very hard to digest, and I also feel large parts of society will also struggle to accept - this being our sexuality. From this however it is suggested, though self evident, that things like rape become non-existent. Discussing geopolitical and society issues, the book brings disconcerting clarity to the states of us and the states of our nations, while also offering suggestions to evolve to states where we really want to be - that is if we as a nation think hard and deep to realize where or who we really want to be. If "state of human life" is a topic that grabs your attention - I highly recommend "Conversations With God, Book 2". ~~~~~~~~ Book 3 revisits issues from Book 1 and book 2 in much broader perspective. Comparisons are drawn to other beings, highly evolved beings, reflecting the primitive state of our species. In this the dangers of our self-destructive ...
Putnam Publishing Group :: Walsch :: Neale Donald :: Spirituality - General :: Spiritualism - General :: Spiritual life :: Parapsychology - General :: New Age :: Mysticism :: Miscellanea :: God :: :: Conversations with God - An Uncommon Dialogue (Book 1)

 

Light on Life - The Yoga Journey to Wholeness- Inner Peace- and Ultimate Freedom

Light on Life : The Yoga Journey to Wholeness, Inner Peace, and Ultimate Freedom...
Rodale Books :: Health & Fitness & Yoga :: Yoga :: Spiritual life :: Physical Fitness :: Health&Fitness :: Health & Fitness :: Hatha yoga :: Diet & Health & Fitness :: Douglas Abrams :: Light on Life - The Yoga Journey to Wholeness- Inner Peace- and Ultimate Freedom

 

Return of the Prodigal Son

5 stars (Glory!) - I found this book to be one of the best Christian books I have ever read, bar none. I facilitate the Adult Bible Class at my church. I read it in April or May and then we studied it in the class in June and July. I am still reflecting on it after all this time! I cannot describe what I liked about the book. I can only say that Nouwen writes to me where I am. So much of what he said seemed to be written just for me. 5 stars (Mysticism through Art appreciation) - If nothing else, Henri Nouwen takes the reader on a methodology of how to appreciate a painting, in this case Rembrandt's specifically. He takes us on an observation tour which transcends into our very hearts as we realize that there's much more to the painted story than the son; there's the father; the other brother; and other people watching. At some point in time we are all one or a combination of the characters diplayed. Nouwen brushes his words as Rembrandt brushed his oils. A wonderful experience, and a book to keep and reread. 4 stars ("You are called to become the father") - Nouwen skillfully navigates Rembrandt's masterwork and Christ's (arguably) most famous parable. In both he finds "the heart of the gospel": God's unconditional love for the world. The navigation comprises three stages: the story of the prodigal son, the story of the elder brother and finally the challenge to find yourself as the father/mother at the center of the painting. Each stage has its own crises, breakthroughs and ultimate redemption - with the possible exception of the elder brother whose decision to enter the father's love is left ambivalent. Towards the end Nouwen achieves his dynamic spiritual insights, sounding almost Buddhist when he announces, "There is a dreadful emptiness in spiritual fatherhood ... But that same dreadful emptiness is also the place of true freedom." We are ultimately left with a portrait of impoverished fatherhood that is as wise as it is compelling. "Rembrand...
Image :: Religion & Discipleship :: Nouwen :: Henri J M :: Subjects & Themes - Religious :: Spiritual life :: Return of the prodigal son :: Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn :: Return of the Prodigal Son

 

Life You-ve Always Wanted- The

5 stars (good as it gets) - I have read several of John Ortberg's books and this one is no exception. If you are truly looking to seek God and have a personal relationship with him in your life... but need help, this book (with your bible of course) can do just that... using it as Sunday school material in our church... they really like it.. 5 stars (The Life You Always Wanted) - This is a fresh look into how you live your faith and how you look at your faith. The book provides a simple look into several areas of your life and tips on how to live life to its fullest from a spirtual viewpoint. I found it to be very insightful. 5 stars (Book for practical spiritual growth) - This is an excellent book from an accomplished author. John Ortberg makes growing spiritually a realistic task, not some unattainable mission that only a priest or monk could hope to achieve. I highly recommend it. ...
Zondervan :: Religion & Christian Life :: CHRISTIAN LIVING SPIRITUAL GROWTH SPIRITUAL FORMATION :: Spirituality - General :: Spiritual life :: Religion - Prayer & Spir :: Life You-ve Always Wanted- The

 

Soul Searching- The Religious And Spiritual Lives Of American Teenagers

5 stars (A Non-Christian Nation) - Christian Smith and Melinda Denton have produced a wonderful analysis of the religious condition of teenagers (ages 13-17) in the USA. They collected survey data on 3290 teenagers and then followed up with more extended interviews of 267 of those surveyed. The initial survey gave an over all picture of the religious character of these teenagers including their affiliations, participation, beliefs and experiences. The interviews provided an in-depth exposure of what these teens really believe. As it turns out, the seeming wide-spread acceptance of religious life by teens (only 16% were "not religious") is largely to a vague, self-defined religion which the authors defined as: Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. The teens believed in a generally disinterested divine power who supervised a system to provide personal peace and prosperity for nice people, or perhaps to help them them be nice. They adhered to a religion that is helpful, but not entirely necessary. While there were those who could be described as believers in Christianity as defined by the Bible, and also those who denied any religion, the clear majority favored MTD. The book is a "must read" for any who would like to better understand the status of the spiritual interests of youths. It also is valuable for all who would generally understand American culture. While the authors make no such claim, it is likely that the youths' view of religion is likely the common view of our age. At the least, it surely will be the increasingly dominant religion as these youths enter adult life. For parents and youth workers who are interested in true spiritual life for their children, it shows the arena in which their own youths reside. It should stimulate good thinking and discussion of how properly to intervene in what turns out to be a huge spiritual void in the lives of professing spiritual/religious youths. This is an excellent book. 5 stars (The Best Resource Available T...
Oxford University Press :: Spirituality :: Adolescents :: United States :: Teenagers :: Spiritual life :: Sociology of Religion :: Sociology :: Social Science :: Religious life :: Children's Stud :: Soul Searching- The Religious And Spiritual Lives Of American Teenagers

 

A Course in Miracles- Combined Volume I- Text- II- Workbook for Students- III- Manual for Teachers

5 stars (Get the book!) - It will change your life, if you let it. It changed mine, and continues to do so. 5 stars (A Course in Miracles) - A great book that goes into great depth of explanation about life and the biblical meanings in life. 5 stars (No Matter What Your Path This Book Can Only Bring You Inner Peace ) - This is a three volume edition that comprises of the Text, Workbook for Students and Manual for Teachers. I must say that the teachings and messages are beyond profound, where there is so much truth that leads to inner peace. There might be a few lines that seem different, and it is great to question them and then read further to gain a deeper understanding. This book goes beyond religion. It is all of our divine birthright to our connection to God, Holy Spirit, where there is unfailing guidance at every moment of life. This book teaches this to you. It teaches the true meaning of forgiveness, how when we see each other as extensions of our self, we see the oneness we all share, and our divinity as equal spiritual beings at the same time. This text can lead to the end of all wars and suffering, because truth is revealed so simply. It is always the simplest truths that once understood lead to peace on all levels and in all areas of life. If some of the text feels different to what you have been taught, that is okay. Take all of the good that it has to offer and incorporate that into your understanding, so that light can truly dispel any seeming darkness in your mind that has caused you any anxiety, suffering or pain. This book is nothing short of a gift to humanity. I am going to quote from the preface of the book, so you can know "How It Came": "A Course in Miracles began with the sudden decision of two people to join a common goal. Their names were Helen Schucman and William Thetford, Professors of medical Psychology at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. It does not matter who they were, except that t...
Foundation for Inner Peace :: Spirituality - Course in Miracles :: Spiritualism - Course in Miracles :: Spiritual life :: Religion :: New Age movement :: Education :: Course in miracles :: Alter :: A Course in Miracles- Combined Volume (I- Text- II- Workbook for Students- III- Manual for Teachers)

 

The Gift of Being Yourself- The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery

5 stars (Christ-Esteem) - Benner tackles a topic fraught with heated debate from all sides. Secularist would tell us that there is no "sacred call" to self-discovery, it is simply a normal, human need. Some Christians would tell us that there is nothing "sacred" about self-discovery, it is an abnormal part of our fallen self-centered nature. Wisely, Benner traces the history of self-understanding through the writings of giants in the faith like Augustine and Calvin. These two historical theologians, along with many others, understood what we have forgotten. Created in the image of God, as we understand ourselves "Coram Deo" (in the presence of God, from God's perspective), God enlightens us to understand something more of Who He is. In other words, knowledge of God and of self, are intricately interwoven. Rather than a journey of self-esteem or self-discovery, the Bible invites us on a journey of Christ-esteem where we discover who we are in Christ and to Christ. In Christ, we are saints. To Christ we are adult sons and daughters. The journey, taken biblically, brings the focus back to God and others. As Luther taught, when righted with God, we are returned to our natural stance of arms lifted up to God in worship and arms stretched out to others in fellowship and stewardship. Benner first walks his readers through the journey toward knowing God. This foundation begun (for it never ends), he then shows how to mortify (put off) the old false self in the flesh and how to vivify (put on) the new true self in Christ. He rightly calls the process a "transformational" journey. Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," "Martin Luther's Pastoral Counseling," "Biblical Psychology," and the forthcoming "Beyond the Suffering: The Story of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction." 3 stars (good writing, great message. ) - yes, the message of the book is one no christian today can dismiss (even if they think psycho...
InterVarsity Press :: Spirituality - General :: Spiritual life :: Self-realization :: Religious aspects :: Religion - Prayer & Spirituality :: Religion :: Inspirational - General :: Chri :: The Gift of Being Yourself- The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery

 

Disciplines of a Godly Man

1 stars (Much too superficial for me. ) - [...] R. Kent Hughes provides us with another entry into the already very crowded market for Christian books that are a mile wide and an inch deep. He covers a tremendous variety of topics in an incredibly superficial fashion. The book reads more like a PowerPoint presentation with occasional witty anecdotes from the presenter. My disappointment with this book set in with the reading of the second chapter entitled "Purity." Now there's a topic that an entire book can be written on, but the author gives us a mere eleven pages, using the famous example of King David and his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba to present us with a five-point sermon on what David did wrong. He begins the chapter with the usual rant about how the church is no different from the world in regards to sexual sin (true enough). He then tells us about what David did wrong, and to conclude we get seven subdisciplines to practice in order to keep pure: "accountability", "prayer", "memorization" (of scripture), "mind" (don't look at pornography), "hedges" (keep away from women), "reality" (you are a sexual being), "divine awareness" (practicing the presence of God). Each of these subdisciplines gets a short explanation, never exceeding 300 words in length, and "reality", the shortest of the seven, is explained in mere 52 words. Brevity can be a wonderful thing, but there are times when it can come off sounding rather superficial. The problem is that all these subdisciplines will not work if a person has emotional and personal issues that need to be overcome first. Any man can partake of these seven practices and still fall into temptation with the greatest of ease, as long as there exists issues in the heart that have never been fully dealt with. Instead of dealing with the deeper issues regarding sexual sin, we get pat answers to apply to a wounded psyche, which is like applying band-aids to someone who is suffering from internal b...
Crossway Books :: Spiritual life :: Religious life :: Religious aspects :: Religion - Christian Living :: Religion :: Men :: Discipline :: Christianity - Discipleship :: Christianity - :: Disciplines of a Godly Man

 

The Book of Secrets- Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life

5 stars (Enlightenment / Liberation Made Easy) - Dr. Chopra has expressed, in a patient, loving way, how the mystic's path is becoming available to everyone ... through quantum physics, many ancient understandings of the sacredness of life are validated ... and it seems that here and now, for probably the first time in recorded history ... all of us can know ... all of us can become totally free of the fear of death ... all of us can become totally free of the negativities that entertain our mistaken identification with the mortal ego ... all of us can liberate the consciousness of our true identity ... that part of us who belongs totally to and lives totally in the timeless ... and, from time to time, manifests a life story for our learning and loving ... I recommend this book highly to anyone like me who has had difficulty in understanding the true meaning of liberation or enlightenment ... or who, like me, has had a battle royal between the ego needs and the soul's wisdom ... What Chopra has done could be called Enlightenment for Dummies but he has done this instead with patience, with love, and with gentle method. Good reading and practice for the paradigms now becoming universal to all peoples. 5 stars (One of the Best Books Ever Written) - The author of more than 41 books, 100 tapes, CDs and videos, Dr. Chopra is one of the world's greatest leaders in the field of mind body medicine. Through his latest book, Dr. Chopra continues to challenge the perception of the meaning of the mindbody health in our society by offering new and more empowering tools to access our innate healing powers in all areas of life including the physical, emotional and spiritual. In the words of Ken Wilber, one of the endorsers of this book (back cover), "The Book of Secrets is the finest and most profound of Deepak Chopra's books to date. Want the answers to the secrets to life? Let me recommend that you start right here." Formerly the Chief of Staff at Boston Regional Medical Cente...
Harmony :: Self-Help & General :: Spirituality - General :: Spiritual life :: Spiritual Healing :: Spiritual :: Self-Help :: New Age (Self Help) :: Meditations :: Life skills :: G :: The Book of Secrets- Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of Your Life

 

A New Kind of Christian- A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey

5 stars (WHAT IF CHRISTIANITY IS THE MOST DANGEROUS THING TO CHRIST??? ) - Christianity Today called A NEW KIND OF CHRISTIAN the most dangerous book this year to Christianity. This may be true, but what if Christianity is the most dangerous thing to Christ??? McLaren's book points toward a real and honest relationship with Christ like no other book I've read. It is culturally relevant without contradicting the Word of God. It IS challenging, but that is a good thing. It is a GOOD thing when someone makes you think outside the box. You don't have to be threatened by that or agree with what they said. Many of the reviews I've read about this book communicate fear, but NOTHING that McLaren said contradicted Christ's life and teachings. If we look at Christ, we will see that it was the RELIGIOUS PEOPLE he was constantly rebuking during his ministry. RELIGION is one of the most threatening things to Christ. McLaren encourages his readers to look to scripture and try looking past the self-serving institution we have created and given the name of "church". "Church" is not supposed to be the country club we've created it to be but a body of believers, seeking Christ. Read the book and genuinely ask Christ to help you discern McLaren's words. If it is not of God, He will give you the wisdom and protection from that. 5 stars (Thought provoking and honest...) - This is a great beginner read to bring in new ideas and theology that will help people who are struggling with how their faith is not only relevant, but also authentic and Christian in the postmodern world. This is an awesome book. 1 stars (A Familiar Kind of Heretic) - King Solomon told us in the Book of Ecclesiastes that there "Is nothing new under the sun." When we reach a time of spiritual crisis, like Brian McLaren's pastor, Dan did in this book, we can react in a number of ways. As Christians we should go back to our roots, to the Creator God, to Jesus, to His words in the Bible, to the people who love us. Or...
Jossey-Bass :: Religion & Christianity :: Christian spirituality :: Christian life & practice :: Spirituality - General :: Spiritual life :: Religion - Christian Living :: Relig :: A New Kind of Christian- A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey