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By Far the Best book I Could Ever Recommend - 8/30/2009 9:04:56 AM
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TruelyBroken4u
Posts: 30
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The best book that I could ever Recommend is the book Experiencing God. When God was teaching me alot and I remember asking for a book that would help me grow even more. When my church had a sunday school book lesson this was one of there books. After going through Experiencing God it has changed my view of what I thought I knew. Please read it if you haven't.
Michael
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RE: By Far the Best book I Could Ever Recommend - 8/31/2009 6:56:11 PM
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RavensDesires
Posts: 105
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Who is the author?
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RE: By Far the Best book I Could Ever Recommend - 9/10/2009 8:52:26 AM
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debilyn
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I believe that is Henry Blackaby. Our Sunday School class used the curriculum version many years ago. The book is supposed to be more like a personal Bible study version.
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RE: By Far the Best book I Could Ever Recommend - 9/10/2009 1:58:25 PM
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RJR_fan
Posts: 1168
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: RTP, in sunny NC USA
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quote:
The best book that I could ever Recommend is
Paradise Restored by David Chilton. It used the lens of Apocalypse to bring the whole Bible into focus. As I took to heart the biblical insights in this book, my life was transformed in all the most important ways. I acquired new confidence in my vocation. My wife was startled at how much better a husband I became. We began having children, and having astounding adventures with them. I found ways to encourage godly parenting with academic research. My income jumped from subsistence to professional.
It's amazing what God can do using a few good books, to help us better understand and apply The Good Book.
_____________________________
Blogging my way through the Turkish New Testament
Meet my beloved mentor, RJR
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RE: By Far the Best book I Could Ever Recommend - 9/17/2009 12:04:14 PM
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JoeyWest
Posts: 977
Joined: 10/1/2008
From: Alabama with a guitar in my hands
Status: online
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Barbarian Way
I'll be honest with you. When I first saw the title of Erwin McManus's latest book, THE BARBARIAN WAY: Unleash the Untamed Faith Within, my first thought was, "Gimme me a break! Unleash? Untamed? Barbarian? Is this a spiritual manifesto or the latest physical fitness fad?"
The cover didn't do much to alleviate my cynicism. It seems like youngish pastors these days are in a contest to exude as much hip-ness as possible, and McManus, pictured wearing black and standing on the double yellow lines of an urban street at night, looks like he's poised to take the "cool" trophy. Plus, he calls himself not only a pastor but also a "cultural architect." What's up with that?! Is being a pastor not enough for ya? Not cool enough?
I reveal my rather embarrassing lack of generosity to illustrate how far I've come when I say, "All hail the cultural architect!"
THE BARBARIAN WAY packs a powerful spiritual punch in a small package. Clocking in at 148 pages, the book urges Christians to throw off the yoke of ... Christianity, a polite religion that he says has stultified the true message of Christ and his vision for the lives of his followers.
"Somewhere along the way the movement of Jesus Christ became civilized as Christianity," he writes. "We created a religion using the name of Jesus Christ and convinced ourselves that God's optimal desire for our lives was to insulate us in a spiritual bubble where we risk nothing, sacrifice nothing, lose nothing, worry about nothing. I wonder how many of us have lost our barbarian way and have become embittered with God, confused in our faith because God doesn't come through the way we think He should."
As you've probably gathered from the title, McManus advocates a more romantic, adventurous, and arguably reckless paradigm for Christian living. He defines the "barbarian way" as being about love, intimacy, passion and sacrifice. "Barbarians love to live and live to love. For them God is life, and their mission is to reconnect humanity to Him. Their passion is that each of us might live in intimate communication with Him who died for us. The barbarian way is a path of both spirit and truth. The soul of the barbarian is made alive by the presence of Jesus."
But the defining aspect of the barbarian way is really fearlessness. McManus effectively argues that the Christian life is about a lot of things, but it's never about being safe --- emotionally or physically. It's about becoming strong via bold vulnerability, the call of Christ to engage with a dangerous world. It's not an insurance plan.
"For years I have made it my mission to destroy the influence of the Christian cliché, 'the safest place to be is in the center of the will of God.' God would never choose for us safety at the cost of significance. God created you so that your life would count, not so that you could count the days of your life," he writes.
He goes on to say, "When we fear God and God only, we are no longer bound by all of the other fears that would hold us captive. The fear of death, the fear of failure, the fear of rejection, the fear of insignificance --- all of the fears that we know by name and haunt us in the dark of the night become powerless when we know the fear of the Lord. And if this is not enough, we discover that perfect love casts out all fear. Not even God will hold us or control us by fear. When we fear Him, we in essence begin to live a life where we are fearless."
I think this take on the Christian life is especially gripping in this age of fear mongering. Politicians, news outlets, the neighborhood gossip, and even some pastors --- everyone does it. And there are things going on in our communities and in the world with which we do need to be engaged. But not from a position of fear. We need to engage the world with fearless love.
There are aspects of THE BARBARIAN WAY that I would argue, but mainly on points of emphasis rather than substance. For example, the barbarian way seems like "the Lone Ranger way" for much of the book. When McManus does get around to talking about community, I like what he has to say. But I think it could have used a little more prominence. And the premises of a few of his statements were suspect in my book, no pun intended. But basically, I'm nitpicking. McManus has ignited my spiritual imagination.
focus is on the fact that the christian faith should not be the simple quiet protected life. Thatb the call to be a christian is a call to risk, to live on the edge, with danger, trials and troubles. That the churh has become domesticated and it lack's appeal because of that.
It is out by Thomas Nelson ISBN 0785264329 Not only do I reccomend it, but they guarantee it, if you buy it and are not satisfied they will replace your money.
Some quick quotes.
"The claim to believe is simply not enough. The call of Jesus is one to action" p.5
"Perhaps the tragedy of our time is that such an overwhelming number of us who declare Jesus as Lord have become domesticated - or, if you will, civilized. We have lost the simplicity of our early faith. Beyond that, we have lost the passion and power of that raw, untaimed, and primal faith." p.12
"The barbarian way is abour love, intimacy, passion, and sacrifice. Barbarians love to live and live to love." p. 13
"The call of Jesus is far more barbaric that either of those. It is a call to live in this world as citizens of an entirely different kingdom." p.32
"your life is unique before God, and your path is yours and yours alone." p. 37
"Just do whatever Jesus calls you to do the moment it is clear to you. Do not procrastinate; do not hesitate; do not deviate from whatever course of action He calls you to." p.53
"When you join the barbarian tribe, you begin to live your life with your eyes and heart wide open. When the spirit of God envelops your soul, your spiri comes alive, and everything changes for you. You are no lobger the same." p.69
....
For those who liked John Eldreges "Wild at Heart" or "Waking the Dead" you will love this book. Take a risk and pick it up, you will either be challanged or angry. If your angry you can get your money back. If your challanged, who know's where it will lead you!
_____________________________
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR IT, FREEDOM HAS A TASTE THE PROTECTED WILL NEVER KNOW.
The Medic, the unsung hero on every battlefield. It is impossible to imagine the mental/emotional trauma inside a Medic, and there is no triage for that.
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RE: By Far the Best book I Could Ever Recommend - 9/22/2009 9:36:56 AM
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trevnelson
Posts: 3
Joined: 3/11/2008
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I highly recomend Wisdom Hunter by Randal Arthur, it is an amazing novel that I have read 3 times and definitely want to read again in the near future.
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RE: By Far the Best book I Could Ever Recommend - 9/22/2009 11:21:56 PM
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E_Lin
Posts: 1099
Joined: 9/14/2008
From: Cincinnati, OH
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Out of all the books I have read, by far and away the best book that I could ever recommend to anyone, would have to be J.R.R. Tolkein's "The Lord of the Rings". In my opinion, it is the most important work of fiction written in the last 100 years, and has been the inspiration for countless fantasy and science fiction stories and movies. And the best part is, you don't even have to be a fan of the genre to like the book.
There are many others I could recommend, depending on what a person might prefer, but LotR is the penultimate, and its appeal can stretch a variety of literary interests.
_____________________________
"Human beings make life so interesting. Do you know that in a universe so full of wonders, they have managed to invent boredom? Quite astonishing..."
- Death (from the book "Hogfather" by Terry Pratchett)
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RE: By Far the Best book I Could Ever Recommend - 9/25/2009 11:41:11 AM
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eterno
Posts: 47
Joined: 8/12/2009
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: TruelyBroken4u
The best book that I could ever Recommend is the book Experiencing God. When God was teaching me alot and I remember asking for a book that would help me grow even more. When my church had a sunday school book lesson this was one of there books. After going through Experiencing God it has changed my view of what I thought I knew. Please read it if you haven't.
Michael
I would have to suggest "The Naked Gospel" By Andrew Farley, Professor, Texas Tech University & pastor of Ecclesia (ek-la-see-uh) Bible Church. This book opened my eyes to the pure gospel message before Judaism, pharisees, or anyone else stepped on it. Get you Bible and prepare to see the messages of Jesus and the apostles as we were meant to understand them. My relationship with GOD, JESUS, and The HOLY SPIRIT will never be dull, doubtful, misunderstood again.
Dale,
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RE: By Far the Best book I Could Ever Recommend - 9/25/2009 11:44:45 AM
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eterno
Posts: 47
Joined: 8/12/2009
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: eterno
quote:
ORIGINAL: TruelyBroken4u
The best book that I could ever Recommend is the book Experiencing God. When God was teaching me alot and I remember asking for a book that would help me grow even more. When my church had a sunday school book lesson this was one of there books. After going through Experiencing God it has changed my view of what I thought I knew. Please read it if you haven't.
Michael
I would have to suggest "The Naked Gospel" By Andrew Farley, Professor, Texas Tech University & pastor of Ecclesia (ek-la-see-uh) Bible Church. This book opened my eyes to the pure gospel message before Judaism, pharisees, or anyone else stepped on it. Get you Bible and prepare to see the messages of Jesus and the apostles as we were meant to understand them. My relationship with GOD, JESUS, and The HOLY SPIRIT will never be dull, doubtful, misunderstood again.
Dale,
BY THE WAY..
If you can't afford to buy one, The E-book can be downloaded for free from the naked gospel website. Just click on the free e-book tab and enter "naked" in the authorization field.
Dale
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RE: By Far the Best book I Could Ever Recommend - 9/30/2009 10:33:40 PM
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thedivabrat
Posts: 1545
Joined: 6/15/2008
From: North and South
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Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.
I read this 20 or 25 years ago when I first began my journey with the Lord. It was a blessing for a new believer who was anything but disciplined and really did not even like the word discipline. I certainly could not understand the concept of celebration of discipline. I have reread it a couple of times and know I will read it again. Each time I read it I learn something new and appreciate discipline and the celebration of discipline more.
_____________________________
thedivabrat's place
My Blog Just Wondering (Facing Goliath 10/18/09)
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RE: By Far the Best book I Could Ever Recommend - 10/16/2009 2:58:21 AM
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Rebirthinger
Posts: 62
Joined: 10/16/2009
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I think that a good book is respectable sins.
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RE: By Far the Best book I Could Ever Recommend - 11/14/2009 7:13:15 PM
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TruelyBroken4u
Posts: 30
Joined: 3/6/2008
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Rebirthinger
I think that a good book is respectable sins.
Read that book as well and found it to be very helpful!
Michael
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