Book Description

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) is a towering figure in American history. A controversial theologian and the author of the famous sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, he ignited the momentous Great Awakening of the eighteenth century.

In this definitive and long-awaited biography, Jonathan Edwards emerges as both a great American and a brilliant Christian. George Marsden evokes the world of colonial New England in which Edwards was reared—afrontier civilization at the center of a conflict between Native Americans, French Catholics, and English Protestants. Drawing on newly available sources, Marsden demonstrates how these cultural and religious battles shaped Edwards’s life and thought. Marsden reveals Edwards as a complex thinker and human being who struggled to reconcile his Puritan heritage with the secular, modern world emerging out of the Enlightenment. In this, Edwards’s life anticipated the deep contradictions of our American culture. Meticulously researched and beautifully composed, this biography offers a compelling portrait of an eminent American. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A Must-Read Edwards Biography
George Marsden has written an excellent biography of America's preeminent theologian. The work is an even-handed account not a romanticized version of Edwards' life. Still Edward's impeccable integrity, devotion to God and astounding mental aptitude shine through the pages of the book. We not only get a look at EdwardÕs life but the times and culture that produced him and the one he interacted with as a pastor and scholar. This work will be the litmus test for future works on Edwards and a model for other biographers on how to write a lifeÕs story. The prose is fluid and keeps the attention of the reader from the beginning to the end. I highly recommend that those interested in Jonathan Edwards to place this book at the top of their prospective reading list.

Excellent! Everything You Want in a Good Biography
This excellent study on the greatest theologian/philosopher in American history is everything you would ever want in a good biography. George Marsden writes with an objective eye and at an even pace in this thoroughly researched, yet popularly written biography on Edwards. Much attention is given to the intellectual development of Edwards, and Marsden helps us see Edwards against the backdrop of the age in which he lived. There is also considerable focus on the Great Awakening, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. No one can understand Edwards without understanding something about the controversies in which he was enmeshed; and again, Marsden gives an objective account which is not unsympathetic to Edwards, but does not fail to recognize his feet of clay either. Towards the end of the book are several chapters introducing Edwards most important theological books, such as Freedom of the Will, Original Sin, History of Redemption, and The End for Which God Created the World. The book is carefully documented and indexed, but for all the detail it is an absolutely delightful read! I highly, highly recommend this book.

An Excellent Read!
I have a habit of buying biographies or checking out biographies from libraries. I rarely finish them. This biography I finish. It is very readable. Marsden covers Edwards's life and times very well. He addresses the theology and summarizes Edwards's writings. It is a fascinating read. I know very little about Church history in pre-revolutionary America and this book is a very good introduction.

A Lively and Likeable Life
Having read most of what Edwards has written, I now wish I could warp back in time to first read Marsden's biography. It's rare for a secondary source to clarify the meaning of a primary source, but Marsden does just that. For instance, Edwards' "Religious Affections," quoted by so many modern evangelicals, is understood by so few. Marsden captures the culture and context that motivated "Religious Affections" and thus explains its meaning and potential applications today. Though long, Marsden's style is lively; he rarely says more than is necessary. Perhaps the sheer length is why a few typographical errors remain in this first edition. That aside, Marsden has written what will be the classic Edwards text for decades. If you are a student of early American history, even if you care little for Edwards or the Puritans, "A Life" will enlighten you to shaping factors often overlooked in other American history texts.

An excellent and mostly fair biography
I loved reading this. It was a great companion to the recent uber-bestselling bios of Alexander Hamilton, John Adams and especially Isaacson's Benjamin Franklin. This is a great look at the way the country was changing, socially, politically, and especially religiously, right before the revolutionary period, through the eyes of a man who is considered perhaps America's greatest Christian theologian. Edwards seems to have grown in life as much if not more through his failures as his successes. That's a lesson we could all learn. However, although you don't have to be an evangelical to appreciate this book, I think it helps a little... 4.5 stars (I rounded up) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent Tribute to the Spiritual Colossus of Our Day.
This photojournalistic presentation of the pontiff is the best tribute to this spiritual giant of our day. An award-winning news photographer and an accomplished journalist together have brought out the best of Pope John Paul II through this documentation in words and images.There are, as many as 135 previously unpublished photographs in color, of the Pontiff from 1978 to 1995. Each of these photos by Gianni Giansanti, is a work of art in itself and all of them together take one deep into the personality of the Pope. The text written byMarco Tosatti who has accompanied the Pope on his pastoral visits for 14 years, is filled with information unavailable elsewhere. The book is organized into three sections: the Vatican, Private Life and Papal Travels. There is also an introduction that gives some biographical details of the Pope. This book paints a complete and true-to-life portrait of a Pope who has made a remarkable impact upon our times.

A pilgrimage in pictures
This book is beautiful from several perspectives. As a Catholic, I delighted in the glimpses of the Holy Father's journey through time and around the world.While certainly not a photography connoisseur in any sense, I thought the photos themselves were works of art and their large glossy reproduction enhanced their effect. I really enjoy the weight and texture of large 'coffee table' books printed on such good paper. The text accompanying the photos was a great, if (necessarily) short, history of the Pope and the Vatican up to 1996, which does not stray too far into debate over politics / theology / Church policy, without making the mistake of avoiding mention of controversy all together.I find myself going back to look at particular images, as they convey a great sense of the Church alive, even in countries where she is persecuted.The book as a whole left me with a much more visual sense of the Pope's mission and a greater respect for him as a man and a pontiff. I loved this book and while I don't, unfortunately, own it yet, I will buy it if I get the chance. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Wonderfully touching and tender!!!
I read this book for the first time when I was a very young girl, probably about 12 years of age. I loved it then and have always wanted to re-read it. I recently found another copy and just finished reading it. I found it to be even more wonderful now that I am fully grown and a mother myself. The book brought tears to my eyes and I will always cherish the reading of this book. I would love to see everyone read this book. It really puts things in perspective.

PHENOMENAL! Warm, touching, inspiring, and timeless ...
The first time I read this book, I was a young child. I loved it then, and love it just as much today. And I strongly believe that reading it made me a much better person by showing me that there is beauty and worth in every person, and meaning to every life, however short or beset by handicaps.

The book is written in the voice of Robin Elizabeth Rogers, a Downs syndrome baby (born to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Rogers), who died at the age of two. That baby was dearly loved, and deeply enriched the lives she touched. It begins with her birth, and ends when she leaves to go to heaven. The book is written in a very positive manner, rejoicing in the life she lived (and the joy she brought others).

I think this would be a wonderful book for virtually anyone -- and, IMHO, that it would make a thoughtful gift for those who have a handicapped child, or who have lost a child. For it emphasizes the beauty, worth, and meaning of each life, however short.

I cannot suffi! ciently recommend this book. I love it.

Touched my life in a very special way....
I received this book for my 10th birthday from my parents, many years ago. At the time, I was very impressionable and this book made a significant impact on my life. I learned then that what we as fallible humans consider to be "imperfect" according to our standards of ignorance and bias is usually the most precious of all things to God.

Now, I have a two-year-old son with Down Syndrome and I can relate in so many ways to this book. As I look back over my life and various correlating events that have taken place, I see that God was preparing me to be the mother of a special needs child all along. And it all started with this one little book.

Still touching lives
I doubt even Dale Evans knew how much this little book would touch lives. It was published in 1953 and my 6th grade teacher read the book to all of us in her class years later. Of course, we were all Dale and Roy's fans so we could not wait until the next day when she read another chapter. It is one book that I have read over and over again. It is amazing how Dale got Robin's message which was told from her point of view. If you want to read a book that is life touching, then read "Angel Unaware". The Bible verse from Hebrews is still my favorite verse.

"Angel Unaware" still comes through with gentle love..
A brief story of a child with Downs Syndrome, born to Dale Evans & Roy Rogers, this story reaffirms the obvious...God makes no mistakes, & uses all things to draw us closer to Him. ... Read more

Book Description

"I had an obsession with the Amish. Plan and simple. Objectively it made no sense. I, who worked hard at being special, fell in love with a people who valued being ordinary."

So begins Sue Bender's story, the captivating and inspiring true story of a harried urban Californian moved by the beauty of a display of quilts to seek out and live with the Amish. Discovering lives shaped by unfamiliar yet comforting ideas about time, work, and community, Bender is gently coaxed to consider, "Is there another way to lead a good life?"

Her journey begins in a New York men's clothing store. There she is spellbound by the vibrant colors and stunning geometric simplicity of the Amish quilts "spoke directly to me," writes Bender. Somehow, "they went straight to my heart."

Heeding a persistent inner voice, Bender searches for Amish families willing to allow her to visit and share in there daily lives. Plain and Simple vividly recounts sojourns with two Amish families, visits during which Bender enters a world without television, telephone, electric light, or refrigerators; a world where clutter and hurry are replaced with inner quiet and calm ritual; a world where a sunny kitchen "glows" and "no distinction was made between the sacred and the everyday."

In nine interrelated chapters--as simple and elegant as a classic nine-patch Amish quilt--Bender shares the quiet power she found reflected in lives of joyful simplicity, humanity, and clarity. The fast-paced, opinionated, often frazzled Bender returns home and reworks her "crazy-quilt" life, integrating the soul-soothing qualities she has observed in the Amish, and celebrating the patterns in the Amish, and celebrating the patterns formed by the distinctive "patches" of her own life.

Charmingly illustrated and refreshingly spare, Plain and Simple speaks to the seeker in each of us. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Oh man, I can't believe I'm reviewing a 20yo book
I read Plain and Simple when it was first published in 1991. I can't believe it took me this long to review it. Sue Bender, a Berkeley artist and mother of two with grad degrees from both Harvard and Berkeley, just up and left town one day and went east to spent time with the Amish. Not as easy as it sounds, folks, because the Amish are intensely private people who don't routinely welcome outsiders. Somehow, however, Bender managed to convince two families to take her into the folds of their farming communities in Iowa and Ohio. She was transformed - and in this book that reflects the plain and simple lifestyle of the Simple Folk, she explains why and how this transformation occurred and what it means to her now.
Bender had always lived a life of moving from one list item to another, checking things off from the top only to add more at the bottom. The Amish, not unlike the Zen Buddhists, savor and honor each daily task, finding meaning within the most mundane chores. A book as meaningful and beautifully crafted as an Amish quilt, Plain and Simple deserves to be treasured.

Insight into a personal journey...
Sue Bender's book "Plain and Simple" is a refreshing alternative to the usual Self-Help pap that overwhelms the genre. Instead of telling the reader what to do or what to believe, Bender simply spins out the tale of her journey to the Amish and then reveals the metaphor that the journey created for her own life.

This book is not a documentary on the life of the Amish. It is not a psychoanalysis of these people. It is not about which lifestyle is better. It is like reading someone's journal--the entries are personal and intimate. They relate to the author's life and her struggle to find a common ground between the Amish values and the values that her current lifestyle embraces.

I found the book to be very affirming of my own values and very thought provoking. As an artist, I was also interested to read about how her artwork changed as a result of this encounter. I applaud the author for having the courage to follow the "still small voice" and then to write about the questions rather than being tempted to write about the answers!

Profound for me. I needed this book. Read all three!
Sue Bender sometimes says the obvious, but she says it in an
accessible way, a way you can apply it. I read all three books
at once, in reverse order...and I found useful information in
each. I can't imagine reading only one of them...each was
part of the brilliant peaceful story! Thanks Sue Bender!

Simply a good story...
This is a little story about a woman who goes on a journey of self discovery. If you are hesitant to believe there is such a thing as "self discovery" and describe such actions as "selfish" instead, then this book is not for you. I enjoyed reading Sue Bender's story about her insights while living with an Amish family. What began as an interest in the Amish quilts became an obsession for her. She eventually finds an Amish family in Iowa who is willing to let her stay with them for a summer as a companion for the families aging grandmother. From the very beginning what Sue notices is not so much the obvious differences in clothing, lifetstyle and religion but the way this Amish community had deeper way of just being. Timelessness or being in the moment was something they displayed with each and every activity. "It was as if they had uncovered a way to be in time, to be part of time, to have a harmonious relation with time." The author comes to re-evaluate the life she has been living and asks many of the same questions we ask ourselves. There are no easy answers in this book, just observations to be read and pondered upon, to enrich and stimulate. What would be our answer to the ultimate question Ms. Bender asks of herself,"Am I a successful human being and not only a success?"

Disturbing.
If you are looking for a book on Amish theology, history, lifestyle or agricultural technique; look elsewhere. A five minute Yahoo search will yield you a veritable library of resources compared to this book. Surprisingly, there is ample information online about this oft misunderstood sect of Christendom.

The book did have a modicum of useful information, but not enough to warrant the mandatory single star.

I found the author's whining fits, pontifications and raging narcissism beyond nauseating. It was with great pleasure that I found myself at the last page.

Ultimately, this book serves not as a commentary on the Amish, but rather that of the disaffected Yuppie lifestyle the author is from. What the author found so utterly alien about the Amish wasn't their anachronistic culture, but rather that their of love of God and family exceeds everything else. ... Read more

Book Description

In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed tells a moving tale of her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America.

As a young woman in Cairo in the 1940s and '50s, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century--the end of British colonialism, the creation of Israel, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. Amid the turmoil, she searched to define herself--and to see how the world defined her--as a woman, a Muslim, an Egyptian, and an Arab. In this memoir, she poignantly reflects upon issues of language, race, and nationality, while unveiling the hidden world of women's Islam. Ahmed's story will be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled to define their own cultural identity.

An Egyptian woman's "richly insightful account of the inner conflicts of a generation coming of age during and after the collapse of European imperialism." --The New York Times Book Review ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Deeply insightful woman's journey between cultures
A courageous trip in search of identity of a woman's inter and intracultural challenges. Growing up in an affluent Egyptian family where the British and European culture was "fashionable", she was confronted by the changes of the revolution, political turmoil and nationalism and its confrontation to the European imperialism. Leila Ahmed is courageously and insightfully analysing changes that influenced a whole generation and challenged her to search for answers. She travels in time from Egypt to England and finally as an immigrant in the US. She objectively and sensitively tries to unwind the entangled conflicts of politics, religion, and culture, through her personal experiences. As an Egyptian immigrant woman, although from a different generation, I have learned from this book about the modern history of Egypt and identified with some of her experiences as well. This is an eloquently written book and a fascinating journey!

Deeply insightful woman's journey between cultures
A courageous trip in search of identity of a woman's inter and intracultural challenges. Growing up in an affluent Egyptian family where the British and European culture was "fashionable", she was confronted by the changes of the revolution, political turmoil and nationalism and its confrontation to the European imperialism. Leila Ahmed is courageously and insightfully analysing changes that influenced a whole generation and challenged her to search for answers. She travels in time from Egypt to England and finally as an immigrant in the US. She objectively and sensitively tries to unwind the entangled conflicts of politics, religion, and culture, through her personal experiences. As an Egyptian immigrant woman, although from a different generation, I have learned from this book about the modern history of Egypt and identified with some of her experiences as well. This is an eloquently written book and a fascinating journey!

Happy with not much
Is it because there are so few professional women who have been successful at crossing borders from the Muslim to the American realm that we apply different (low) standards to the work of someone like Ahmed? And are we applauding her simply for "getting out"?

Of *course* her English is "quite good" as someone else wrote in her/his review here; her training was in English literature. How she made the jump from there to becoming an expert in Women's Studies and then to being a historian of the medieval up to the modern Islamic world with no further ado speaks of the state of the field in writing women's history in general but especially about Muslim lands.

It appears sometimes that being born into a household where Grandmama spoke Arabic and being an ambitious female is enough to get published widely. Imagine the same thing happening in Jewish Studies. Just because she is a Jewish woman, anyone can write about Talmudic rulings on marriage and Yale will publish it? I don't think so. I realize these comments belong properly with L.Ahmed's _Women and Gender in Islam_ but they have a bearing on the autobiography as well. At least in the autobiography Ahmed is who she truly is.

I wish Dr. Ahmed well. Her _Border Crossing_ is a good read for anyone who has lived in Cairo. The elite were very Westernized in the 40-50's. The city was clean and orderly (and servants were cheap). The way she describes her home and the guests who come is vivid; the images are still with me months after reading the book. Dr. Ahmed has been on TV a number of times. She seems uncomfortable with her role as spokeswoman for intelligent Muslim women. When pressed, she (and many other women who formerly practiced their feminism *against* Islam) defends the Islamic tradition.

It is refreshing to read about kitchens, families and coming of age in a Muslim country in a pleasant style but I believe another generation will have to come who will be able to write in depth on Islam and gender in history. If those writers are highly trained, brilliant young women who perhaps have made the choice to observe Islam, *that* would be revolutionary.

An eye opening account of what it means to be a Muslim
I thought that this book was amazing. I've read many books about Islam but I think that this book actually gave me a sense of what it means to be a Muslim. Sometimes when reading about religions we often only get an overview of the practices and beliefs of a religion but we rarely hear from believers of a particular religion and how they incorporate the beliefs of their religion into their everyday lives. For me, it was also interesting to read about Egypt during the 40's and 50's because it was something I have never studied before. It was interesting to see the religious diversity in Eygpt and how quickly that all changed with the rise of Nasser. Another thing I had never realized that Egyptians practically had the title Arab forced upon them, but most would never otherwise identify themselves as Arab. I think this book really exposed me to a world and a lifestyle that I had never known existed, and I think this is a must read for anyone who is open to seeing a new perspective on their world.

A Border Passage
A Border Passage by Leila Ahmed is an interesting book and definitely worth your time. Within this book Ahmed confront issues of colonialism and differences between the Islam of women and that of men. The story is written as an autobiography as Ahmed recounts her childhood. The juxtaposition of the Egypt and England, where she goes to school, illuminates considerations of post-colonial loss of identity. A book that I strongly recommend for anyone interested in learning more about Islam. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

deserves 6 stars!
This is THE MOST AMAZING book on Mary Magdalen. Susan Haskins goes through the image/personna of the magdalen from the Biblical roots to our pop-culture. The primary references are excellent, it is well put together, it is PERFECT!

An outstanding ¿one-stop¿ resource on Mary Magdalene!
Haskins does an excellent job in bringing us virtually every relevant piece of useful information about Mary Magdalene. It's all discussed here -- Mary Magdalene in Scripture, non-canonical Christian literature, artwork, history, myths, and legends. An important work about an important historical and spiritual figure.

the "prerequisite" in today's search for The Magdalen
This is truly a brilliant dedication and devotion from Susan Haskins to the modern surfacing of Mary Magdalene. I believe that she has made an inspirational and scholarly entry into a field which is conspicously absent of female theologians. With this book as reference, the interested reader can find numerous starting points into the dark and tangled woods which, for two thousand years, have been blocking the paths leading to Mary Magdalene and a balanced spirituality.

The best place to start is here.
It's tempting to call Susan Haskins' book the most definitive work about Mary Magdalene currently on the market. So much information is presented that it takes awhile for the casual reader to wade through all of the details. The density of the information provided could place it in a "reference" category, but there is definitely enough serious research and intriguing conclusions to make reading it from cover to cover a worthwhile endeavor. ... Read more

Book Description

A gripping true life story, is undeniable proof that God can bring blessings out of the worst situations in our lives. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Reads like moving fiction
Heather Gemmen delivers the honest account of her journey from rape to restoration in Startling Beauty. Heather and her husband, a young white couple, were living out their convictions about racial reconciliation in a tough, predominately black, inner city neighborhood when their faith and marriage were tested beyond unbelievable limits. The author, who had also faced the stillborn birth of her third child and infertility in the year before being raped, details her raw struggle with racism, fear, marriage, loss, abortion, and faith. She trumpets the message that only God could turn a woman's worst nightmare into something beautiful.

The opening chapters of the book provide the backdrop for Heather's moving story. She retraces the steps that led her family into the inner city neighborhood where they lived and eventually caused them to question their wisdom and safety in such a move. During this unsettling time, Heather and her husband buried one newborn and tried to become pregnant again. Their local church, which was also committed to racial reconciliation, provided invaluable support in their struggles. Eventually, the Gemmens find peace in their circumstances and decide to stay in the neighborhood. But their peace is intruded upon one night while Heather's husband is away when a black man enters their home and rapes her. The author portrays each of these events with an honest admission of her feelings. The reader is given a rare and privileged glimpse into the window of another person's soul and the wrestling with thoughts that goes on in that private place.

Heather headlines each chapter with her private thoughts and battles. These thoughts are directed at her attacker, revealing what she would say to him if given the opportunity. In the prologue, the author describes her lack of courage to share her story: 'Do you see? Your few minutes of ecstasy haunt my entirety. Because of you, even words turn against me. How else will you rape my life?' Chapter seven walks the reader through the reality of abortion and the choices left to a rape victim. In the wake of such brutalizing, Heather must decide what to do about a potential pregnancy. She begins this chapter with the words, 'Do you have a conscience? Do you ever wake up in a cold sweat at night and wonder what you have done? I do. You have raped, but I attempted murder.

In the final analysis, Startling Beauty is real and unbelievable at the same time. Heather's account reads more like a moving work of fiction, though the reader is always keenly aware of the raw emotions that surround this very real story. At times the writing is flowery with overdone descriptions, but the story itself is riveting. Women will enjoy the author's straightforward treatment of such personal issues as intimacy, rape, loss, and birth. Men may find valuable insights into their role as protector and spiritual leader. Ultimately, Startling Beauty is an incredible story that champions God's ability to bring something beautiful out of the ashes of sin and destruction.
-- Jayne Walters, Christian Book Previews.com

A compelling story but not for the unemotional
Amazing story of a woman and her families brave journey through sexual assault, forgiveness and the brave choice to life over an easy way out.... there are several ignorant reviews from people who have not read the book - this book is not about race - this book is about having the courage and faith to overcome hardships in life - this is not a sympathy plea book - for the millions of women who have encountered sexual assault this is a journal of comfort and hope. From the opening chapter when Heather gives birth to a still born baby you realize this woman has more strength than you could ever imagine... God can use any situation for good -if we let Him lead.

Wonderful web of lies
What is the guarantee that Heather Gemmen was not having an illicit relationship with that Black man. And then when she got pregnant, she constructed these wonderful lies to fool her husband and the rest of the world and make profits from her lies.

Written with stark honesty and a poetic voice ...
Heather Gemmen and her family attended a church whose mission was to achieve racial reconciliation among the predominantly Caucasian congregation and the predominantly African American neighborhood. Often times this seemed like an impossible mission as Heather and her family struggle to cope under dismal living conditions. Heather herself feels self-conscious about the way she truly feels about her neighbors. Instead of reaching out, she wishes for alternative circumstances that would move her family away from it all.

One night Heather wakes to find an African American man in her bedroom. He ultimately rapes her, while her children lay asleep in their bedrooms. Despite her devastation, Heather becomes convicted in her heart about the morning after pill that is prescribed to her. "Wasn't this abortion?" was the question that plaqued her mind. After seeking the prayers and guidance from trusted church members and friends, Heather takes the pill. Unjustly Heather finds out she is pregnant - no doubt the baby in her womb - the result of her rape. Ironically, prior to the rape, the Gemmens wanted a third child, hopefully a girl.

With stark honesty and a poetic voice, Heather shares her story of restoration. After struggling and pondering over options, the Gemmen's decide to keep their biracial child - a beautiful brown baby girl. Heather's experience is a testament to the awesome power of forgiveness and love that can only be found through faith in God.

-- reviewed by Tyora Moody for Christian Bookshelf

The recent reviewers
[...] I thought it was a very inspiring story about how people CAN pull through utter hell-- but it also illuminates the fact that many rape victims can NOT. ... Read more

Book Description

A true and powerful story that rings with the excitement of prophecy being fulfilled before our own eyes. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

For the christian and Jew alike
This book is a very enlightening resource for both Jews and Christians alike. Stan's intensive research on the subject reveals what most believers know; if you read both the OT and NT and consider all the prophecies, then it is undeniable that Jesus is the Messiah. This book also touches on why there became such a seperation between early Jewish believers and gentile believers and why it has become such an obstacle today. For more on this subject read Telchin's other book abandoned which addresses the seperation in more detail from both a historical and theological perspective. This book is not damaging to the Jewish people;on the contrary, it tells of the true fulfillment of the Jewish faith!

Story of my life!
Telchin's book was recommended by my (recently) Christian daughter away at college. Her pastor thought I might like it ( I was sure she got into some cult)! Well, this 3-hour read began a journey for which I will hopefully be eternally grateful. The book is heartfelt, historically interesting and real. Highly recommended for Jews exploring Christianity, or Christians wishing more understanding of their Jewish friends. Some of my family's objections have been predictable (I bought each of them a copy). "Contrived, simple-minded, false premise." Its also interesting to note that each reader had little or no foundation in practicing Judaism, generally aspiritual lifestyles, even one athiestic Jew (always an oxymoron if you ask me). No, I'm not a Jew turned pastor, but this book opened my heart to deeper and meaningful exploration into bible study (New and Old), church attendance, and a Christian men's group studying methods of "authentic manhood" by Robert Lewis (a fascinating and vital program if men are ever to return to the spiritual leaders they were designed to be). Telchin's story opens the door for searching Jews to begin a journey towards acceptance of Christ as who he said he was, and who he was foretold to be.

Who Could Find Fault With This?
Here is the personal story of a man who explored his faith and discovered that it led him to Christianity. He was not proselytized. No one pressured him. He took his time and researched all the questions he could think of. He allowed each member of his family the privacy to do the same, and they all became Christians. Then they all paid the price of alienation for their new found convictions.

Join Stan Telchin in his quest for truth. This is a well written book that will arouse the imagination of any open minded reader. This book is easy to read and hard to put down.

A MOST EXCELLENT TESTIMONY OF AN AMAZING JOURNEY
Awesome book for Jews looking for a Messiah and also for Jewish believers! Excelent, Awesome book for Gentile Christians who want to acquaint themselves with the Jewish roots of Christianity.

Rare Gem of a book -- Hard to put down!
Extremely well-written and easy-to-read book. The author conveys the crushing blow his loving family felt as one of his daughters accepted Jesus as the Messiah. This father quickly went into action to begin the journey to reconcile his family. His stories move quickly from scene to scene and are very captivating. The ending is extremely heart warming as Stan Telchin describes success in reuniting his family. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In Nearer, My God, William F. Buckley Jr. turns away from the political concerns that form the crux of his reputation and offers a series of thoughtful meditations upon his Roman Catholic faith. Although the book is subtitled An Autobiography of Faith, only portions of it are strictly autobiographical. Other sections include ruminations on the controversies of the modern Church--such as the continued ban on birth control and the ordination of female priests--and an exegesis of Difficulties, a remarkable 1934 collaborative debate between a Catholic priest and an amateur theologian. ("The volume has slipped from regular use," Buckley writes, "and even from the memory of younger people, but it is not anachronized, though it takes on some questions that no longer vex the religiously curious.")

Buckley writes with consistent intelligence and precision; how, indeed, could it be otherwise? Even those who do not agree with him politically will be struck by the sensitivity of his spiritual inquiry, particularly in his elaboration of the distinction between contemporary Catholic practice and the enduring Catholic heritage. Nearer, My God serves as a splendid testimony to the maintenance of faith. --Ron Hogan ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A Returning Catholic
I just had to comment on this book. I have had it for a while and have been readking it slowly, piecemeal, for some time and am not yet finished. However, it, ( and other things) have already had the effect of my ordering other books on my faith, Roman Catholcism, in order to inform myself and prepare myself for my return to The Church in the not too distant future. I read the reviews here today, and i thought that the review specifically complaining about the author's having enlisted the help of Clare Booth Luce, Malcolm Muggeridge and Fr. Niehaus as members of his "Forum" was a customer review. I went to check the book on this point of fact : the first two of these were both dead before the author could ask them to particpate and so of course they did not. When I came back to this page, I discovered that the review in which this error had occurred was NOT a customer review, it was a professional review. The error was made by the reviewer for the Kirkus Review. Even if this is a minor point relative to what he was trying to say, I think that he should have been more accurate. Also that's not all that's wrong with that review, and other similar criticisms: there wasn't a thing wrong with the idea of his "Forum", nor with its content and presention, nor with his presentation of the opinions of others. Had either or both or Clare Booth Luce and Malcolm Muggeridge been alive and able to join his "Forum" so much the better. Also, I have yet to read "Experiencing Lourdes" but I seriously doubt that any of the criticisms of the chapter are valid. Further, I do not accept (thought I will have to live with) the abolition of the Latin Mass, nor do I think it had the intended effect or a desirable one. I attended, from 1st to 6th grade, a Roman Catholic day school that was also a convent in Ohio. We had Low Mass in Latin every day of the week before classes except Friday, and we had High Mass, which of course the whole school (1-12) sang in Latin, every Friday. We did NOT sound bad! No one was "reserved". It was the most natural thing in the world. I'm sure I wasn't the only one that loved it. I am sure I'm not the only one that misses it. The paert(s) of the book devoted to the current state of affairs in the preparatory schools dicussed was not boring, irrelevant or unimportant. For part of high school I attended a prep school in Massachusetts which has long since ceased to exist probably because their first headmistress, who had been there for years when I got there, was considered to be irrepaceable. She was a converted Catholic, and many of the teachers were Catholic. Attendance at a Christian church every Sunday was mandatory for all students and we were all taken to our respective churches on the schools buses. When I complained to one of the teachers and the headmistress that I was losing my faith, they got a priest to come and talk to me for an hour on a regular basis which helped at the time. So these things do matter. I count this book and this author among the helpful influences which are resulting (and will have resulted relatively soon, I'm sure) in my permanent return to The Church. I am thankful for these.

Brillian but lacking
As with any Buckley book, I relished in his command of the English language. I thoroughly enjoyed what he had/s to say. However, I find that the full title is not a sufficient, nor correct title. I refer to "An autobiography of Faith", not "Nearer, My God."

This was more of an academic exposition of Catholicism in the 20th century rather than a full experience of Buckley's journey as a Catholic. Being Catholic is very much more than being an academic about it. Catholic spirituality is very much an interplay between the mind and the heart - dislocate one from the other and only half, or even less, of what Catholicism is is irretrievable.

As a Catholic, I did find it very enlightening to encounter a person (or his writings) with regards the changes of Vatican II. I found much of apologetics very intriguing throughout the book. However, it really cannot touch St. Augustine's Confessions (and one can hardly expect even Mr. Buckley to attempt to).

It is a good book from which to learn but it sheds only a little light on William F. Buckley Jr. the Catholic. The best example a Catholic can give is not simply what is known about the faith, but, rather, how one lives that faith. Truly, an intellectual pursuit of the faith is vital but not all there is to it.

Helpful for your Catholic side
As someone who was raised in a nearly secular manner, later became an atheist, and recently converted to Catholicism, I can say that this volume was very helpful in understanding some of the more difficult aspects of Catholic theology. On top of that, Mr. Buckley's endless sea of references to other important religious works had helped me find a path to God that I otherwise would not have had. Despite some of the weaknesses of this book (It's not really an autobiography and a little boring) I'm still content with the purchase.

Exceptional Writing
Mr. Buckley is an exceptionally talented man; his writing is only one of many disciplines at which he excels. And even within this field he is an accomplished novelist, essayist, speech writer, author of monographs, and the author of a syndicated national newspaper column. This particular work could be legitimately characterized as theology although the author denies that he is so qualified. By his definition this may be true, but his level of expertise on Christianity, and on being a Roman Catholic far surpasses the knowledge the majority of the practitioners of the faith can claim.

I came back to this book for a second reading after Mr. Buckley was mentioned several times in the new book by Gary Wills, "Why I Am A Catholic". Mr. Buckley's working title was the same as that of Mr. Wills, but when his book was published in 1997 it had become, "Nearer, My God". Mr. Wills and Mr. Buckley had worked together with Mr. Wills having written for the National Review. Their personal preferences in the political sphere were to become incompatible, and the professional relationship ended.

"Nearer My God", is not as critical of the Church although it does raise a variety of questions about Vatican II, and the decline of virtually any form of religious instruction in education, public or private. Mr. Buckley shares the changes that have taken place at the preparatory school he attended, and includes at the end of his book a list of quite prestigious private schools generally founded by Christians, and their present course offerings that are devoid of anything other than religious homogeneity. The effort spent ensuring that any discussion/teaching is as far from any study of specific religions, is either laughable, or offensive depending on the reader's point of view. It brings to mind recent court rulings that took place within days of each other involving the constitutional issue of the separation of church and state. Within days two rulings were handed down, one stating The Pledge Of Allegiance was unconstitutional due to the words, "under God", and then within days a ruling that school vouchers could be used for religious schools was deemed legal. Genius or even common sense is becoming harder to find residing upon the benches of the judiciary. The decision regarding the pledge was particularly obscene as it was brought in an effort to bolster a child custody case, and not for any legitimate discourse on constitutional law.

Mr. Buckley is a devout Catholic, and while he may take issue with the decisions of The Vatican II Council, he does not attack the Church as an institution. The book explores the Catholic Faith in a variety of ways. He shares a brilliant discussion on a variety of points from the theologians Arnold Lunn and Father Knox. He then invited a group of familiar names that had either found, or converted to The Catholic Church as adults, Lance Murrow, Whittaker Chambers, and many more.

The discussions range from what either kept them from converting sooner, to which ideas finally made up their minds. There are discussions on all of the hot buttons currently at issue, and while these discussions are not devoid of feeling, they lack any manner of rancor.

This book is as lacking in fuel for animosity filled debate, as Mr. Will's work is filled with its opposite. Both books represent an opportunity to learn from extremely bright people who often share the same sources for their discussions. The books differ in the level of criticism and the manner by which it is presented. I have always felt that many readers are put off by Mr. Buckley's work as they feel attempting his work is a daunting task. Mr. Buckley has a brilliant mind and a true love of the written and spoken word. A dictionary at hand when reading his work is often an aid. I don't feel than anyone who has passed on his work would regret a change of mind. He is an original thinker, and will long be remembered for his contributions to literature.

Where's the Heart Behind the Mind?
I've always admired William F. Buckley, Jr. I've particularly enjoyed his Blackford Oakes espionage novels. He writes with dry wit, subtle satire, and entertaining characters. I was intrigued to discover he'd penned an "Autobiography of Faith." Although I was born Catholic, I was not raised Catholic. Nonetheless, I've appreciated many of the Catholic tenets and approached our differences with an open heart and mind.

With this in mind, I cracked the pages of "Nearer, My God." Buckley starts off with his early years and paves the way to understanding his background. I have no question of his deep belief and honest relationship with God. Unfortunately, he deviates from the autobiographical approach and turns the spotlight on theological and moral arguments regarding Catholicism. In a further departure form the autobiography indicated on the cover, Buckley leans heavily on the opinions and debates of others. I did enjoy the perspectives brought to the table. Some were eye-opening, others enlightening, a few disturbing.

What about Buckley's own journey of faith, though? He seems to have grown up with a set of views that he rarely stepped away from. I admire that. But instead of seeing a heartfelt struggle with God, I found within these pages a striving to validate that which he's always believed. For his benefit? For ours? Either way, the book did not live up to its promise. I can recommend it for the interesting viewpoints and debates expressed by Buckley's peers and forebears. I cannot recommend it as an "Autobiography of Faith." For satisfaction along those lines, I'd turn to Anne Lamott, Kathleen Norris, even the Pope's lucid books. I wanted to know the heart behind Buckley's mind. I didn't find it here. ... Read more

Book Description

This prizewinning biography provides the definitive account of Thomas Cranmer, archbishop of Canterbury, architect of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, King Henry VIII`s guide through three divorces, and ultimately a martyr for his Protestant faith. English Reformation scholar Diarmaid MacCulloch draws on new manuscript sources in Britain and elsewhere to create this vivid new study-the first on Cranmer in over thirty years. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Flawed Saint of the Church
MacCulloch's book provides access to the singularly foundational figure of the reformation in England. Most who recognize Cranmer's name at all know him only as the author of the first Prayer Book or the man who attained Henry VIII's annulment from Catherine. MacCullogh gives depth to Cranmer as a flawed yet faithful agent of the Church, one who sought with conviction the reformation of the Church of England but was also willing to slavishly follow his prince in order to achieve that reformation. The final chapter, chronicling Cranmer's fall and ultimate martyrdom, reads with the pace of a good novel. For Episcopalians and others with an affinity for the Anglican tradition, insight into Cranmer's life and thought is crucial, and MacCulloch presents that insight with skill.

Quality Biography
I am not much of a biography/history reader, but I was forced to read this hefty volume for a research paper on Cranmer (took me all of nine days, reading for several hours a day). This is quality, scholarly research, well-written and keeping a good balance between describing the events of Cranmer's life and career, and analysing his theological development. MacCulloch writes favourably about Cranmer, and his account is bound to inspire sympathy and admiration for someone who was a flawed hero, but a hero nevertheless.

Misleading information on Cranmer's theology--rubbish.
MacCulloch seeks to present Archbishop Cranmer as a radical protestant with little scholarly interest or knowledge of the early church, and also that the "via media" of Anglicanism that resulted from the English Reformation was contrary to Cranmer's radical protestant beliefs and is a "myth." While MacCulloch may have written a biography he failed to examine the source of Cranmer's beliefs and theology. MacCulloch claims that Cranmer's eucharistic theology stems from the Swiss Reformed tradition: one had only to read Basil Hall's essay in "Thomas Cranmer: Churchman and Scholar" edited by Ayris and Selwyn to see that this is demonstrably false. Cranmer was heavily influenced by Lutheranism as well as by the "exposition of the most holy and learned fathers and martyrs" of "the holy catholic church of Christ from the beginning" (Cranmer's words) and as such his theology clearly stands in the same line as that of Richard Hooker and Lancelot Andrewes. This sort of "scholarship" with an obvious ax to grind is perhaps the worst sort. If you want to know Cranmer's views on the Sacraments (as most Anglicans or scholars of the Reformation do) please read him in his own words in "A Defense of the True and Catholic Doctrine of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ" (if you can find a copy in the library) or in "Thomas Cranmer: Churchman and Scholar."

Heavy book, heavy reading!
As a descendant of the famous Archbishop, and a lover of biographies, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this tome. Well...as scholarly as the author's perspective, and as meticulous as his research, it was still a rather laborious read. Maybe in this case, less is more. Readers should prepare themselves for the long haul...Hillaire Belloc's biography is a much more enjoyable read.

Vast Scholarship
In an age of badly researched, "quickie" biographies, it is refreshing to read one by an author who does his homework with an almost maniacal intensity yet never loses the thread of the narrative or the sense of what might matter to the general reader.

This is an excellent book, and it gives a particularly strong insight into the complex personality of Henry VIII, to often portrayed as a one dimensional, lecherous caricature of a monarch. The author demands at least a nodding familiarity with Tudor England, but this is still a marvellous read for anyone interested in the origins of English Protestantism. ... Read more

Book Description

Raised in a strict, church-going family, award-winning writer Patricia Raybon was shocked to find herself struggling in adulthood with a lifeless marriage and an unsettling distance from God. She set out to rebuild her prayer life, searching for a connection that would transform her household and impact others. But as her prayer journey took off, life interrupted with a mountain of hard, personal challenges. Suddenly in the "school of prayer," the Christopher Award-winner and popular college professor found herself not only on her knees praying, but at her desk--writing this powerful, inspiring, funny, personal, brave, redemptive account of her quest to rediscover, in the midst of modern-day challenges, God's greatest lesson on life-changing prayer. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A real gem, with writing that is both fluid and substantial
"Prayer is an art. And maybe more than that, it's a calling," writes Patricia Raybon in I TOLD THE MOUNTAIN TO MOVE, a memoir on the most familiar yet most mysterious of the spiritual disciplines.

"'The highest part of the work entrusted to us, the root and strength of all other work,' [Andrew] Murray declared. Nothing, he insisted, should we study and practice more than the work of praying. And this praying, he said, which at first 'appears so simple,' turns out to be the hardest thing of all, because it's about developing a relationship."

I TOLD THE MOUNTAIN TO MOVE is a real gem. I have rarely read a book that made the intrinsically intangible spiritual practice of prayer something I could wrap my arms around. The writing is both fluid and substantial as Raybon blends her own hard-won insight with that found in classic texts written by lauded theologians including R.A. Torrey, Richard Foster, and Eugene Peterson.

Her journey toward developing an intimate relationship with Christ through prayer starts in mid-life --- when dissatisfaction stemming from a cold marriage, a frustrating mother, and disappointing choices made by her children left her feeling restless.

"I was in a standoff with a marriage gone dry, with a life drained empty. But this go-round, instead of pushing back, I would look up to heaven and surrender. Finally now, I vowed to learn, as Richard Foster put it, the real way to pray:

Pray so things healed.
Pray so things stopped.
Pray so things started.
Pray so things changed.

I was desperate, indeed, to learn all of prayer's little secrets, to master all of its hidden methods."

She proceeds to devour books on the subject and reflects on the lessons learned about faith growing up in her family and her church --- both African-American and in the '50s. And she does learn. "The more focused on God, in fact, the less I worried about my household's ongoing and never-ending dramas and irritations and problems," she writes.

But this newfound commitment to prayer is tested when Raybon's husband becomes desperately sick to the point of paralysis due to a tangle of malformed veins on his spinal cord near his brain stem. It continues to be tested as their younger daughter, Alana, abandons her family's Christian faith and dabbles in the Nation of Islam before moving on to become an orthodox Muslim.

Raybon presents an interesting-to-read picture of a woman wrestling with her own flaws and those of the people in her life, trying to learn to love. Women from different racial and cultural backgrounds as well as those from different generations than the author (as I am) will recognize themselves in her defeats, victories, and everything that comes in between. That she is able to capture what is universal about the Christian life for women would alone make the book a worthwhile read.

But on top of that, she presents a compelling vision of how prayer can inform and shape life. So often books about prayer are distant and all-too theoretical. As this author tells it, prayer is a well of encouragement, peace, faith, and hope, and those nice ideas take shape through the experiences she shares. I TOLD THE MOUNTAIN TO MOVE strips away our often-childish notions about what prayer is and makes it something vital and, while not easy, possible. The work it takes to dig that well is worth the effort, and Raybon provides the tools (honest lessons from her own experience, Scripture, other authors to read on the topic of prayer, etc.) and the inspiration to help you break ground.

--- Reviewed by Lisa Ann Cockrel

A Blessing
Patricia Raybon has opened her heart and life to share with others the love of Jesus Christ. I could not put this book down. Yes, it a guide to a better prayer life and communion with God but it is written like a novel, a real page turner for me. There were so many things that I could relate to in this wonderful book. Being a 55 year old white woman, I would have never have thought that this wonderfil Africian American woman could feel like such sister to me, but we are all sisiters in Christ and the words of this book just bring us closer together. I just want to say Thank You Lordfor guiding my hand to picking up this book. A big thanks to Patricia for sharing. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Mormons, painters, and Hell: Oh MY!
Terry Tempest Williams is first and foremost a naturalist. I say this not out of some secret biological knowledge of her, but simply as an extrapolation from her own writings. In her book REFUGE, she focuses on birds and the wild life preserve around the Great Salt Lake. The personal life bleeds out of the story of the natural in a way as to make the two seamless... and they are. In LEAP, Williams focuses her attention on the great triptych by Heronymous Bosch (El Bosco) - 'The Garden of Delights'. The triptych represents the three states of human (animal) existence as dictated by early Christian doctrine: Eden, Earth, and Hell. In each, human forms are involved - with an assortment of nearly unrecognizable creatures - in all manner of lewd, sensate, or holy activities. The painting perhaps is - for a naturalist like Williams - an unignorable bridge to a sort of philosophical incantation of one's own personal life.

Though the book is told in four distinct parts, there is little cohesion. Each of the first holds some resemblance to the corresponding frame of the triptych it is supposed to represent, but not effectively enough to be truly meaningful. Essentially, I detected three distinct modes of writing scattered unpredictably throughout the book: an anecdotal style dedicated to Bosch and 'el Prado' (the museum in which it is housed) related activities, confessionals of the author's past and experiences, and an unexpurgated glut of rambling free-style writing that I guess is supposed to be philosophical or poetic, but is just sophomoric. It isn't difficult to find TTW's strengths. When speaking of nature - real nature, not the nature of the painting - her talents soar. Sadly, these moments are few and far between. The anecdotes of both TTW's life and others around her are fun, but not really enough to warrant more than a quick aside. The bulk of the book is in fact made up of those aforementioned stream-of-consciousness writing exercises that read like a teenagers angst-ridden journal more than the thoughtful prose of a serious adult writer. While Williams' attempts here are magnificent... she gets an A+ on concept (and what a truly excellent concept) the book fails in her lack of confidence. There is a clear insecurity here. TTW is best when at her calmest, but she wants to beef it all up, to be a serious writer, a stirring writer, a philosophical and educated writer; she so desperately wants everyone to be wowed by what she is saying that the result is a bunch of nonsense that doesn't amount to anything. With all said and done, there is no revelation about the painting, no revelation about Mrs. Williams and her relationships: to her father, her husband, and her religion (Mormon), and no real revelation about what we are supposed to think about all this writing. It all ads up to a boring bit of artistic voyeurism.

Listen
You need not being a devoted fan of Terry Tempest Williams or Bosch, but you must abandon all thoughts of literary "tradition" while you read this. She's breaking tradition, linear thought, and countless other rules we associate with great writing. But if you open yourself--there is pure brilliance behind those pages. Passion behind her words.

Leap places a powerful grip on the reader as Williams takes you through the panels of the triptic, through her life and the life of the painting. What does it mean to surrender to your passions? An inquisitive look at at painting that will turn you inside out, take you in circles, through heaven and hell and somewhere along the way, you'll find restoration.

Intensely fascinating.
When do we ever take the time to stop and smell the roses, or to indulge our obsessions, or to give our inner voice the time it deserves? This author did all those things, and then went a step further in getting her observations and insights down. She's a smart and introspective writer and my mind is whirling from her journey with the painting. This is a risky book... she admits we may find her crazy, and I did at times. But being in her wild, cerebral, artistic zone was not boring or banal... this book is not a superficial beach read. It made me want to look harder and deeper at the world around me and to listen with attentive ears. Bravo! Bravo!

A disappointing digression
After recently reading the powerful memoir Refuge, I was eager to read Leap, but I was very disappointed. I guess I was expecting some profound insights into the painting by Bosch and Tempest Williams' interesting religious background, but instead, I found myself reliving a night school creative writing class experience I took years ago. For example:

"What am I not hearing? A loss of sight. What am I not seeing? Becoming numb. The dismantling of the self."

The writing in this book is terrible--it literally made my stomach turn. In fact, the scenes of "Hell" in the painting in the appendix were more palatable than the writing. Hopefully the apparent lack of interest in this book will motivate Tempest Williams to actively improve her considerable writing skills, focus more on her loyal audience, and develop a sense of humor--this gifted woman takes herself much too seriously.

She may seem mad, but she's inside my head.
Terry Tempest Williams begins this book with a brief artistic description of her Mormon upbringing in Northern Utah (something I can relate with), then a confession of an obsession with a painting--a secret she had kept "for fear of seeming mad." From this point on she touched just about every emotion that I have felt in my own "Paradise" (oh the security of "knowing" that you belong to a church that has all the answers), my "Hell" (very traumatic to ask the hard questions concerning one's faith and emerge in a world of total uncertainty), my "Earthly Delights" (to find the middle ground between Heaven & Hell, good & bad, do's & don'ts; to find the present--the beauty of where I stand), and my "Restoration" (to try to piece it all together without losing the roots of who I am).

T.T.W. assisted me in coming out of my hell and finding earthly delights when I first read her book "Refuge" several years ago; I have personally thanked her for this. Now she writes a book with the final chapter titled "Restoration." After reading this beautiful, rambling, amazing, disjointed, wonderful collections of words, I may seem mad in saying this, but she is inside my head. I loved this book. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the miraculous story of a music therapist who treats terminally ill and mentally handicapped patients with the medicine of music. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Notes Full of Medicine / A Spoonful of Notes
From laughter to tears and back again, and again. There is truly not enough to say about the author and her God given gifts she shares through Music Therapy. The book evidences the spiritual workings in lifes challenges and complexities that enable this author to touch, to empathise, to lessen pain, comfort families, bring joy, and to set to music a legacy for those walking through the fire. What an outstanding book of trial, coping, hope, love and triumph. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Divine Intervention
I just happened to turn on the TV at the perfect time! Donnie
was speaking about his childhood abuse; I could not change the
channel. During his interview I learned about Eternal Victim/
Eternal Victor.

I ordered it and read it cover to cover right away! The book
expressed the torment I knew the man I love had been feeling
most of his life. We were estranged at the time. I prayed for
the courage to let him know that I knew of his childhood abuse.

I decided to let him know by letter and send him the
book. He called me the same day he received it.

His abuse had been something he had never been able to
tell me and I learned about it only through praying to know
and then having the Holy Spirit awaken me in the night to
tell me.

My deepest thanks to Donnie for his courage to write and to the
good Lord above for guiding Donnie to write and getting the book
in front of me. May God continue to bless and instruct him.

I have decided most of our social problems stem from abuse of
children. We do need churches to be more forthright about these
issues. Donnie McClurkin is blazing trails! Hallelujah!

Our homosexual society at least does deserve the right to know
that they are only living half the life they could and that Jesus
will heal all your hurts. Mainstream media has promoted
homosexuality without knowing, much less giving real options or
bibically based facts.

This book has changed our lives. I fully expect things to only
get better for us and all who will read it. I am a woman who
loves an abused child of yesteryear. I intend to stand with
him as his healing continues and he becomes the husband he never
thought he could be to me.

Uncovering Hidden Truths of the Church
It is an awesome thought to know that we are not alone in our different struggles in life. I mean we KNOW that we are not the only ones to experience certain things but to actually read about it - and be able to IDENTIFY with what you are reading is truly mind-blowing as well as a deep and personal revival. Donnie McClurkin has done a marvelous job of telling his story and helping others who have gone through and are still going through to transcend from Eternal Victim to Eternal Victor. For a long time the church has been afraid/ashamed to embrace certain issues. Ergo, Donnie's approach to these "Personal Hells" is one that I believe the church has been waiting for. I fully recommend this book to everyone. Whether you have been hurt or not. Whether you are the prey or the predator. The fact is that we all have either been abused in some way or know someone who has experienced/is experiencing hell. For the abused this book will help you to rise above your past and live vicrotiously while letting go of the past. For those not abused this will help you to understand the secret struggles of others and become sensitive to wounds they might have - it also shows you how to be a genuine friend to such a person. Donnie, thank you for writing this book ---- it was way overdue.

UNCOVERING DIFFERENT TRUTHS OF THE CHURCH
Eternal Victim / Eternal Victor is an awesome book.. I'm in the military and i had duty the night i began reading it.. I ended up reading it all before i got off work.. Through his book, he ministered to my heart.. The fact of the matter is that he spoke the truth.. He dwelled on all things that happen in our every day lives.. I was very impressed by this book, and i hope to read all of his other books.. Once again, i recommend this book for anyone and everyone..

I Love Donnie
Donnie has an extraordinary testimony and I am greatful he was able to tell it. I recommend this book for it may be able to deliver someone out of the same situation if not similar.

All have sinned...
Donnie it took some courage to write about your life. I want to also recommend this excellent best selling novel that became my bookclub's book of the year. It's called "WAITING TO EXIT HELL." It really blessed me to know that if we put God first, then everything will fall in place. "Waiting to Exit Hell," is exactly what Donnie sings about in We Fall Down, But We Get Up. I almost got written up at work because I took a longer lunch break. I was reading "Waiting to Exit Hell" and I forgot all about the time. That book is so good til its hard to put down. ... Read more