Not Ashamed of the Gospel: Sermons from Paul's Letter to the Romans Review

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(More customer reviews)Fleming Rutledge's work is always thoughtful, challenging, and exhilarating. Highest quality biblical interpretation, vivid illustrations, engaging literary allusions, passionate personal application, insightful social engagement--all offered in a wonderful use of language, herself. This collection of sermons on Romans comes from throughout the course of her ministry so far; giving a sense of her development as a preacher, as well. We have here an outstanding example of re-connection with Paul, specifically in a "mainline church" context. This volume provides an example of what preaching can and ought to be--and also is vital spiritual reading.

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Oceanic Mind - The Deeper Meditation Training Course: for Beginning and Advanced Students of Meditation and Yoga Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great book for readers who sincerely want to learn and apply the information. It is practical, covers many techniques, and gives much insight into the central and specific issues concerning the practice of meditation. The author's style is personal and humorous, making for a refreshing read.

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Twilight of the Gods: The Mayan Calendar and the Return of the Extraterrestrials Review

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(More customer reviews)In the past,I have read about ancient civilizations who made contact with alien forms but so far this book goes above and beyond. The author actually includes his own pictures of the sites he visited so the book has a lot of credibility for those who still are not convinced of these facts. There are too many coincidences of facts that make it impossible not to grasp the idea of aliens visiting the earth thousands of years ago. I'm looking forward to new material from Erich von Daniken. Great work.

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High up in the Bolivian Andes-4,000 meters above sea level-lies Puma punku, an ancient ruined city that simply could never have been constructed by its Stone Age inhabitants."Something here really stinks to high heaven," writes Erich von Daniken."In Twilight of the Gods," says von Daniken, "I document precisely what it was that left the first visitors breathless as they stood before the mighty stone blocks some 400 years ago. I will show you what archeologists discovered hundreds of years ago and demonstrate how much has been destroyed over the centuries. Intentionally."I will also prove that Puma punku was not built by any Stone Age people."And in December 2012, the gods will return from their long journey and appear again here on Earth. At least that is what the Mayan calendar would have us believe."The so-called gods--the extraterrestrials--will come again. We're headed for a 'god shock' of major proportions."But doesn't anyone with half a brain know that interstellar travel is simply impossible because of the sheer distances involved? And that extraterrestrials would never look like us?"Well, dear readers, I destroy these preconceptions. Systematically. One bit at a time."In his own inimitable way, Erich von Daniken picks these preconceptions and prejudices apart with a clarity no other author could manage.

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Setting Boundaries(TM) with Your Adult Children: Six Steps to Hope and Healing for Struggling Parents Review

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(More customer reviews)One day I was sitting in my recliner, not having a pity party, but just evaluating my life. I have a son who is a successful doctor. Another owns his own plumbing company. Another is sought after in the field of computer programming.
I also have two grown children that I sometimes refer to as my "gifts- that just keep on giving". These 'kids' are 32 (my youngest son) and 36 years old (my husband's bipolar daughter who is also on street drugs). If ever the Lord has spoken to me (and I know He has)..it was this day. Thoughts were flowing. "I don't know what NORMAL is. I tried to envision what it would be like to have a family gathering where my functioning kids could interact with the two 'outsiders'. What would it be like to not cringe when the phone rings with the next drama, to plan a vacation for me and my husband where we could just go and have a GREAT TIME without worrying about which one of them were having a crisis! I went on to the realization that "I am all USED UP. There is no more. There is NO joy in my life. No smiles. No laughter. No fun. No hope". Just me, waiting for the next round. My functioning children don't even KNOW me anymore because I have been so consumed with the two that require my time, energy, money and support.
Keep in mind, this was NOT a depressing awakening. It was LIBERATING! But I realized I needed a support system because it wasnt going to be easy to keep from falling back into my routine of "fixing" everything for every one else. I started looking for reading material and am so thankful that I ran across this book. I empathized with the author about her son - she and I shared the same feelings and some of the same experiences. The entire book just clarified to me what I needed to do to REALLY help these children. It reinforced the fact that this is not a selfish thing I am doing- it is the MOST GIVING,MOST LOVING, MOST UN-SELFISH thing I can do for my grown children - to quit trying to protect my grown kids from themselves and their consistent poor choices. I had been giving them just enough leash to see them get close to the fire and then I'd step in and try to salvage their lives. That day, I unhooked the leash and my grown kids are free to go. They know I love them but I am not available for any more drama caused by their irrational behavior and their poor choices. I am starting to live a life where I actually laugh a lot, I smile a lot, I am a fun, kind, thoughtful, interesting person and I have a LOT to give.
This book gives you the reinforcement you need wherever you presently are on your road to 'recovery'. I can honestly say that I have never read a book on this subject that so captivates me - every single page has reinforcement or encouragement or useful suggestions or motivation on how to make life begin again for YOU and also for the grown child who is getting ready to find out that it is time for him/her to grow up and take responsibility for their own decisions. I'm smiling as I write this because I know I'll never go back to those days and I have great hope for my son and step-daughter. They are in the shock stage right now - we're watching for signs that they will catch the next wind and soar like eagles. If they don't soar the first time, we'll be happy with just a flapping of wings. But they're going back to their OWN nest this time.
GREATEST OF GREAT BOOKS FOR THE PARENT WHO IS AGONIZING OVER THEIR GROWN KIDS CHOICES!

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What Can Be Found in LOST?: Insights on God and the Meaning of Life from the Popular TV Series Review

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(More customer reviews)What Can Be Found In Lost:
Insights on God and the Meaning of Life from the Popular TV Series
by John Ankerberg and Dillon Burroughs
I admit it! I spend way too much time on trivial stuff. Like TV shows. Like Lost.
Premiering with an eye-opening (literally) plane crash on a lush, South Pacific island, it has many intriguing characters. Jack, the brilliant surgeon, is a man of science. Kate is a beautiful criminal on the run, but can be counted on in a time of crisis. John Locke, a man of faith, apparently is healed of his paralysis. He believes the island on which they've landed influences their destiny. Sawyer, a con man, searches for the man who destroyed his family. Other characters include Charlie, a former rock-star addicted to heroin; Claire, a young very-soon-to-be single mother; Sayid, a former Iraqi soldier; and Hurley, who won the lottery and was in an mental hospital.

They soon discover they are not alone on the island. The Others, a group who have been on the island for many years, are led by Ben Linus. Ben calls himself a "good guy," but uses the "Losties" for his own (good-evil?) agenda.
Into it's fourth season, Lost presents many more questions than answers. I keep watching, hoping to find more pieces of the puzzle to solve all the inter-connecting mysteries of the characters and circumstances.Many internet sites have sprung up to help keep all the facts straight.Web logs (blogs) and online magazines such as tvguide.com and ew.com (Entertainment Weekly) have columnists that recap the show each week and give spoilers for what's coming next.

Aside from the action and good characterization, are the issues of faith that are such a huge part of the mystery. "What Can Be Found In Lost" looks at the issues as they are dealt with in the show. Then the book looks at them from a Biblical perspective.
These issues include:
the existence of God
miracles
the nature of good and evil
redemption
forgiveness
destiny
For example, the first chapter, Lost On God, relates a conversation between hero Jack and Other's leader Ben about the existence of God.
Ben: Do you belive in God, Jack?
Jack: Do you?
Ben: Two days after I found out I had a fatal tumor on my spine, a spinal surgeon fell out of the sky. If that's not proof of God, I don't know what is.
Ben's need was met, thus "coincidence (a spinal surgeon falling out of the sky) equaled purpose (to remove his life-threatening tumor)."
Referencing Francis Schaeffer, the book gives three possibilities for "Where did everything come from?" 1. nothing; 2. an impersonal random source; 3. a personal beginning by a creator, thus we have a purpose. The authors state, "Lost presents a worldview in which the everyday occurences of life have a purpose. Purpose, because it is intentional, suggests that someone is orchestrating these intentions." At the end of the chapter, the question is asked, "How can what seems like coincidence offer evidence for God's existence?" Also, "In what ways do the Bible's assumptions regarding God seem narrow or intolerant? In what ways do they make sense?" This would make a great small group study!
One character, Rose, a born-again Christian, asks the question, "What does God have to do to get your attention?" The show focuses on deep spiritual issues that our world (and the Lost castaways) must address in our everyday lives. It is not a "Christian" show, but deals with things we should know how to discuss.
"What Can Be Found In Lost" discusses the issues from the world's perspective, a Christian's perspective and includes questions for further speculation. It also includes a character guide and other show info to help explain what has happened so far in the story.

If you are a fan or just want to know more about it, I highly recommend "What Can Be Found In Lost" by John Ankerberg and Dillon Burroughs.

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What can Christians learn from one of the most popular TV series of all time?

In its first season, LOST averaged 15.5 million viewers per episode. The show features a cast that struggles withthe eternal issues of identity, conflict, relationships, and spirituality. Though the show does not have a Christian foundation or theme, there is much believers can learn about social and cultural attitudes and perspectives through its episodes-such as...

the selfish bent of human nature
the darkness of evil
the hunger people have for acceptance and success
the realization of our need for God
the hope for a positive future

Many of the problems and difficulties of everyday life are captured succinctly in LOST-making it a useful 'point of reference" for understanding how different people view issues of a spiritual nature. Ankerberg and Burroughs offer practical suggestions for Christians who desire to talk effectively to others about the various themes in the show.

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Sandman Slim: A Novel Review

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(More customer reviews)(This review is based on an advanced readers copy)
This is a dark and dirty work of fantasy, so if you're looking for elves, look elsewhere. Stark comes across as a complete hardass, but isn't completely unsympathetic, I mean, I'd want to see some heads roll if I were sent down to Hell, alive. Sandman Slim is unapologetically a novel of brute force, cynical dark humor, and visceral fun.
My synopsis barely covers the plot, which would be more entertaining to read in the book rather than me spouting out what at this stage in the game would be spoilers. There were a few plot points I saw from almost the opening pages, which only put me off a little bit as I read. However other plot elements, like the ENTIRE ENDING, totally took me off guard. I like a book that can surprise me.
For the squeamish out there, here's your warning: If you're devoutly religious and you don't like controversy, fiction, or thumbing your nose at God, Angels, Devils, what-have-you, this is not your book. If you don't like violence, unsugarcoated gut spilling, antiheroes that make goody-two-shoes nervous and other such nastiness, steer clear. However, if you're like me at all, and you like a good adrenaline infused read, go pick this up when it comes out July 21st.

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Italian Journey: 1786-1788 (Penguin Classics) Review

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(More customer reviews)In preparation for a trip to Italy, I began reading the accounts of famous travellers to that land: D.H. Lawrence, Charles Dickens, Tobias Smollett, and now Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. I had no great expectations but was knocked for a loop from page one.
Never before had I encountered a questing mind quite like Goethe's. Almost from the moment to left Carlsbad in September 1786, he was noticing the geological structures underlying the land and the flora and fauna above it. He sits down and talks with ordinary people without an attitude -- and this after he had turned the heads of half of Europe with his SORROWS OF YOUNG WERTHER. Here he was journeying incognito, apparently knowing the language well enough to communicate with peasants, prelates, and nobility.
One who abhors marking books I intend to keep, I found myself underlining frequently. "In this place," he writes from Rome, "whoever looks seriously about him and has eyes to see is bound to become a stronger character." In fact, Goethe spent over a year in Rome learning art, music, science, and even sufferings the pangs of love with a young woman from Milan.
Bracketing his stay in Rome is a longish journey to Naples and Sicily, where he becomes acquainted with Sir Warren Hamilton and his consort Emma, the fascinating Princess Ravaschieri di Satriano, and other German travelers. One of them, Wilhelm Tischbein, painted a wonderful portrait of Goethe the traveller shown on the cover of the Penguin edition.
The translation of W.H. Auden and Elizabeth Mayer is truly wonderful. My only negative comments are toward the Penguin editors who, out of some pennywise foolishness, have omitted translating the frequent Latin, Greek, and French quotes. I am particularly upset about the lack of a translation of the final quote from Ovid's "Tristia." In every other respect, this book is a marvel and does not at all read like a work written some 215 years ago. It is every bit as fresh and relevant as today's headlines, only ever so much more articulate!

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In 1786, when he was already the acknowledged leader of the Sturm und Drang literary movement, Goethe set out on a journey to Italy to fulfil a personal and artistic quest and to find relief from his responsibilities and the agonies of unrequited love. As he travelled to Venice, Rome, Naples and Sicily he wrote many letters, which he later used as the basis for the Italian Journey. A journal full of fascinating observations on art and history, and the plants, landscape and the character of the local people he encountered, this is also a moving account of the psychological crisis from which Goethe emerged newly inspired to write the great works of his mature years.

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ABCs of Healthy Grieving: A Companion for Everyday Coping Review

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(More customer reviews)
Author Harold Ivan Smith is an accomplished speaker, writer and counselor. If you've read his other books on grief and grieving (do a search right here on Amazon for several other very strong titles) you know that's he's right-on-target, wise, insightful and readable.
This book is organized into small sections. It's not intimidating; it isn't "too much" to deal with. Pick up a section at a time --- you'll be hooked by the quotes, the stories, and the author's gift with words.
Sensitive and timely, this is an excellent book for anyone who is mourning a loss. Buy it for yourself and your won't be disappointed.
Dr. David Frisbie
The Center for Marriage & Family Studies
Author of Moving Forward After Divorce: Practical Steps to * Healing Your Hurts * Finding Fresh Perspective * Managing Your New Life

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Nationally recognized grief educator Harold Ivan Smith brings over twenty-five years of professional experience in grief recovery to ABCs of Healthy Grieving. Seventy-two brief suggestions for healthy grieving, each two-pages in length and titled starting with a letter of the alphabet followed by an "I Can" statement, encourage those suffering the loss of a loved one to grow through grief spiritually and emotionally. One particular aspect of living with grief day-to-day is introduced with relevant quotes and short excerpts. Readers can read ABCs of Healthy Grieving cover to cover, or choose a single topic to help them through their day.

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Daily meditations for women who love too much Review

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(More customer reviews)This book, a daily devotional for we women who base our value on our love lives with our men is a real eye opener. I couldn't wait to read to the next day. It helps to see what you already deep down know in your heart to be true...it validates all the feelings that you have. For those of you that are dependant on men for completion...get this book.

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Stage Fright on a Summer Night (Magic Tree House #25) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book was great, my 7-year-old daughter really enjoyed it. The book successfully introduces kids to historical facts about Shakespeare and his theater, while also having a fun story about Jack and Annie and their adventures in "merry olde England". We eagerly await the next installment in the Magic Tree House series!

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Their Eyes Were Watching God Review

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(More customer reviews)"There Eyes Were Watching God," by Zora Neale Hurston, is widely acknowledged as a beloved classic of American literature. This novel is truly one of those great works that remains both entertaining and deeply moving; it is a book for classrooms, for reading groups of all types, and for individual readers.
In "There Eyes," Hurston tells the life story of Janie, an African-American woman. We accompany Janie as she experiences the very different men in her life. Hurston's great dialogue captures both the ongoing "war of the sexes," as well as the truces, joys, and tender moments of male-female relations. But equally important are Janie's relationships with other Black women. There are powerful themes of female bonding, identity, and empowerment which bring an added dimension to this book.
But what really elevates "Their Eyes" to the level of a great classic is Hurston's use of language. This is truly one of the most poetic novels in the American canon. Hurston blends the engaging vernacular speech of her African-American characters with the lovely "standard" English of her narrator, and in both modes creates lines that are just beautiful.
"Their Eyes" captures the universal experiences of pain and happiness, love and loss. And the whole story is told with both humor and compassion. If you haven't read it yet, read it; if you've already read it, read it again.

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Thanks: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier Review

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(More customer reviews)It is hard to ignore the large number of books written over the past few years on the nature of happiness. In the past year, I had an opportunity to read over a dozen of these "positive psychology" books and glance through quite a few more. Most of them summarize the same set of research studies on what makes people happy, why it is difficult to attain and sustain happiness, who is most and least likely to find happiness, and how these positive experiences can be cultivated. This led me to read Robert Emmons' latest book with some degree of trepidation. I wondered if "Thanks!" would offer anything new to my growing fascination of these topics. Even though I already knew a great deal about Emmons' work and the study of gratitude, I found this book to be remarkably interesting and a reservoir of compelling insights and practical tips. Let me detail a few reasons why this book offers something new and why it belongs on people's bookshelves.
First, many "positive psychology" books are written by therapists, counselors, teachers, journalists, and other people who read and summarize the writings of scientists. Their books often lack the enthusiasm, creativity, and wisdom that can only be found by those devoting their lives to a topic. Robert Emmons is the world's leading authority on gratitude. His research is responsible for much of what we know about gratitude. It becomes readily apparent that Robert Emmons has spent years thinking about gratitude, studying gratitude, talking to people about gratitude, and trying to understand how gratitude fits into the "big picture" of achieving lasting happiness in a world fraught with moments of pain, stress, and adversity. His passion and wisdom are evident on nearly every page. I could not imagine reading a book on gratitude written by anyone else.
Second, the information in this book is backed by scientific research. This is not a book based on the musings of one person or a few people who believe that gratitude is a good thing. It is also not based on a few studies conducted by one researcher. The information in this book is based on a careful summary of research conducted on thousands of people by a number of different researchers around the world. Taken together, these studies show that gratitude is one of the strongest contributors to happiness and meaning in life. But more than that, gratitude has been shown to strengthen people's social relationships, improve people's physical health, and motivate people to act in ways that enhances the quality of their moments, days, and lives. In addition to discussing his own research, Robert Emmons reviews and integrates the work of other researchers, philosophers, and literary minds. In a little more than 200 pages, "Thanks!" has quickly become the essential source of everything there is to know about gratitude (so far).
Third, it is spiritually uplifting. Emmons weaves in stories of real people sharing how gratitude played (or failed to play) a role in their lives. These stories add flesh, blood, and feeling to the wealth of science and wisdom in each chapter; they capture the true value of gratitude and the beauty of humanity. With these narratives and the easygoing writing style, it is easy to enjoy reading this book while outside in the grass on a lazy summer afternoon.
Whether your goal is intellectual stimulation, self-enhancement, or something in between, this book will make an immediate positive impact on your life.
Author of Curious?: Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life

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Sun Tzu: The Art of War for Managers; 50 Strategic Rules Review

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(More customer reviews)
The review which follows is of a book which I read when it was first published in 1999. I recently re-read it. Here are my reactions to it seven years later.
Many of those who read my reviews are owners/CEOs of small businesses. Whenever I receive an e-mail from one of them asking me to recommend books which will be of greatest practical value, I always include a choice of R.L. Wing's or Samuel B. Griffith's translation of Sun Tzu's The Art of War on the list. Occasionally, someone who has read The Art of War asks for a recommendation of related sources. There are several to select from, notably The Art of Business: In the Footsteps of Giants written by Raymond T. Yeh and Stephanie H. Yeh; two books by Mark R. McNeilly, Sun Tzu and the Art of Business and Sun Tzu and the Art of Modern Warfare; and this one, which I read when it was first published and only now am I reviewing. Here are a few of the reasons for my rating of Michaelson's book.
First, Michaelson has selected and then discusses 50 "strategic rules" suggested by Sun Tzu's classic. To facilitate and support periodic review, the key concepts are summarized on pages 169-190 and range from" Thoroughly Assess Conditions" to "Practice Counterintelligence." Don't expect any head-snappers. The greatest value of The Art of War is that it helps, indeed insists that its reader think strategically. (Please keep in mind that it was written 2,500 years ago.) Michaelson fully understands that. His purpose is to apply ancient concepts to major perils and opportunities in the contemporary.
I also appreciate Michaelson's provision of several reader-friendly sections such as those in which he quotes a passage from The Art of War and then offers a "translation" of its relevance, followed by a "Manager's Commentary" in which he recommends appropriate application of Sun Tzu's insight. Throughout his rigorous and eloquent narrative, Michaelson also includes checklists such as the one found on page 114 when he identifies "key ingredients" which are common to all growing organizations: customer focus by creating systems that deliver perceived value; selection (i.e. hiring) of decent as well as competent people; and then training them with highly-interactive learning sessions which are both formal and on-the-job.
Finally, I hold this book in high regard because Michaelson also includes 13 brief but insightful commentaries by senior-level executives who share their own real-world experiences. Fort example, Domminick Attanosio (senior advisor, Young and Partners, LLC) explains how a public pharmaceutical company developed a new delivery system to adjustable dosing of oral medications by following each of several of Sun Tzu's basic principles:
"Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight 100 battles with no danger of defeat."
"Travel where there is no enemy."
"Pursue one's strategic designs to overawe the enemy."
"An army can be raised only when there is money at hand."
"The general whose only interest is to protect his people and promote the best interests of his sovereign is the precious jewel of the state."
"The enlightened rulers must deliberate upon the plans to go to battle, and good generals generally execute them,."
"To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence."
Obviously, it would be a fool's errand to manage by slogans but even more foolish to ignore what can be learned from sources such as Sun Tzu's The Art of War. The knowledge these sources provide can -- and should -- guide and inform the careful selection and then effective execution of appropriate strategies and tactics. Credit Michaelson with a thorough understanding and brilliant interpretation of what can be learned from arguably the world's first management consultant.
Bravo!


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Organized around 50 rules for strategic thinking, The Art of War for Managers translates the strategic wisdom of Sun Tzu into powerful 10-minute lessons to enhance your business and personal success. "Michaelson is Sun Tzu's foremost student and interpreter. He brings home the business relevance of this ancient military strategist in down-to-earth language." Al Vogl, editor of The Conference Board Magazine "Brilliant work! The useful commentary in The Art of War for Managers brings Sun Tzu's timeless wisdom to a new level." Gen. Bill Creech, Author, The Five Pillars of TQM--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Mother Teresa's Secret Fire: The Encounter That Changed Her Life and How It Can Transform Your Own Review

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(More customer reviews)When we come upon the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta we are accustomed to hearing about her ministry to the "poorest of the poor". Her legacy is well known to people throughout the world for her globe trotting work helping the poor in the slums of Calcutta, AIDS patients, and other unfortunate people. Much is known about her life from Skjope of the former Yugoslavia to the streets of Calcutta, but far less is known about her inner life and motivation.
From Joseph Langford's `Mother Teresa's Secret Fire' we get a revealing portrait of her interior life. Centering on an intimate encounter with God on her way to a retreat while taking the Darjeeling train on September 10, 1946, Mother Teresa received a singular message from God about "His thirst" for souls. Noting that Jesus cried out "I thirst" before dying on the cross, Mother Teresa with a singular passion and who described herself often as the "pencil of God," elaborated about that thirst being not so much for water as a thirst for our souls.
Langford also expounds on this thirst. Tying the familiar events of Mother Teresa's life, including winning the Nobel Peace Prize, he gives light to her speeches, her journals and other writings which illustrate and elaborate what this divine thirst (or longing or ardent desire) for mankind entails. But once he establishes the prime mover of her inner life, he elaborates less about her life and more about her message. Having the support of scripture and the writings of formidable saints, Langford makes the case that divine thirst has been a theme of many a mystic's writings. (Who would not be taken by their metaphorical take on thirst from Psalm 42 "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God."?) Cogently, Mother Teresa's writings still convey God's message at a time when spiritual indifference and crisis seem to be coming to a climax.
Always returning to that ineffable encounter Mother Teresa had with God on the Darjeeling train, Langford manages to anchor his writing without seeming fragmented. The focus only improves during the reader's own journey which is enhanced by a meditation on the love of God and how our relationship to Him is seen as quenching Jesus's thirst when we return our love to Him. Sometimes he is too repetitive in the beginning about ideas that are sometimes hard for anyone to convey, but his clear improvement makes the sublime even more readable as the pages go on. One of the best passages comes late in the book where he reveals her written meditations about the Samaritan woman's encounter with Jesus at the well.
For its import and impact, this is clearly a five-star book, but for the presentation, I subjectively dock one star, yet I highly recommend this spiritual journey even for a few bumps along the way, which undoubtedly even Mother Teresa herself encountered on that Darjeeling train.

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Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Mother Teresa's birth with the book she wanted written.The great frustration in any national crisis is the sense of impotence, the inability of the individual to make a difference. And yet, we do have power, our choices do matter. In the end, Mother Teresa showed us the power of one the power of a single person, clinging to the Creator, to handle enormous change and turn it to good, and to become a luminous force in the darkest of times. Her lessons can prepare us, as no political plan or economic program ever can, to navigate the trials that await us with grace, and even to turn them into blessing. This is true change that lasts. This is genuine recovery, from the inside out."Anyone wanting to live and love without fear will want to read Secret Fire." ----Jim Towey, former Director, White House Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives"Secret Fire speaks to Mother Teresa's deepest motivations." --Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C., Postulator, Director, Mother Teresa Center, Editor, Come, be My Light

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The Nick Adams Stories Review

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(More customer reviews)To me, this book is so eloquent I am reluctant to review it because it will be impossible to do it justice.
It is a collection of short stories from earlier works of Hemingway. In each of them, a thoughtful reader can gain insight into Hemingway and him/herself.
The following is from "Indian Camp." In it, Nick is a very young boy, and, with his physician father, he has been present at a difficult childbirth and found the victim of a suicide. Dawn is approaching and he is in the canoe with his father rowing back across the lake.
Quote:
"Do many men kill themselves, Daddy?"
"Not very many, Nick."...
"Is dying hard, Daddy?"
"No, I think it's pretty easy Nick. It all depends."
They were seated in the boat, Nick in the stern, his father rowing. The sun was coming up over the hills. A bass jumped, making a circle in the water. Nick trailed his hand in the water. It felt warm in the sharp chill of the morning.
In the early morning on the lake sitting in the stern with his father rowing, he felt quite sure that he would never die.
Unquote
Regardless of how you feel about Hemingway, this is a poignant look into the soul of the man, and ourselves. Hemingway's family was plagued by suicide, including that of his physician father, and, like all of us, Hemingway was once a young child coming to grips with the idea of mortality, in a world still fresh and fascinating and frightening.
Other stories deal with the joys of a life full-lived, an appreciation of the natural world around us, and our "quiet desperation," in love, life, and death.
"The Nick Adams Stories" is high on my "Top Ten List."

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The famous "Nick Adams" stories show a memorable character growing from child to adolescent to soldier, veteran, writer, and parent -- a sequence closely paralleling the events of Hemingway's life.

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Workin' It: RuPaul's Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this mainly because I'm a RuPaul fan but was pleasantly surprised that it was packed full of great positive advice and life lessons. There are tons of photos of Ru that are fun to see as he's in all sorts of different looks. You'll learn a lot about Ru himself and some of his ups and downs in his life and how doing the right thing, positive attitude and networking can bring you great things in life. Of course there's plenty of style tips for both men and women so there's something for everyone in this book. Its a fun read that just gives you a great positive feeling and these days we all can use some good energy and feel good. I really enjoyed it!

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Hidden Value: How Great Companies Achieve Extraordinary Results with Ordinary People Review

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(More customer reviews)In Strategy Safari, Professor Mintzberg and his coauthors describe that most people approach strategy from one of 10 different perspectives, mostly ignoring the others. That book argues that we would be better served to integrate these 10 perspectives into a combined one. In Hidden Value, Professors OReilly and Pfeffer succeed in combining four of those perspectives in a valuable synthesis. The four that are combined here are values, which people to attract and retain, determining which core competencies to build, and the role of senior management in strategy development and implementation.
At a time when there are many excellent books out on how to find and retain top talent, this book aims to do something different. "Hiring and retaining talent is great. Building a company that creates and uses talent is even better." So after you have read all about Topgrading and other useful methods, read this book next.
The book is unusual (especially for one from Stanford professors published by Harvard Business School Press) in that it uses a structure designed to allow you to learn more than frequently occurs with straight exposition (thesis, followed by examples to support the thesis, and then a conclusion).
To do this, the authors found 8 companies that exhibited people-centered values in different industries to succeed in different ways. You are invited to peruse detailed case histories to get a sense of how these companies work. Following the eight is an example of a company with many similar approaches that was not doing as well, Cypress Semiconductor. You are invited to think through what's different. Later on, you also do mini-studies of People Express and Levi Strauss to see where they vary from the model that you have developed from the cases.
But if you do want to know what the authors think about the cases, their conclusions are summarized at the end of every chapter. Chapter 10 also looks at the overall model they discern.
They see a process whereby each of the successes starts out with a focus on people that is primarily employee centered. This focus often comes from the founder or the current CEO. The company then looks for people who share that focus. At some point, common values begin to emerge among the leadership and the rest of the company. The company continues to focus on coalescing around those values by hiring people with those values, and teaching the values to new employees. Values are reinforced everyday through communications, information flows, training, and rewards and recognition. This creates an environment of mutual trust and respect. Then the company looks at the core competencies that make sense in light of the people, values, and market opportunities and develop those core competencies The company then looks for new strategies that build on the core competencies. Senior management follows at this point in leading from and to reinforce the values.
The payoffs in the case histories relate to superior performance in key valued-added areas (which differ by case), reduced turnover of people which decreases cost of employment and improves performance further, trust and information flows that encourage useful experimentation, and consistency of focus which allows improvement to be greater and on-going.
The point of the book is that the "what" to do is pretty simple, but few people have the commitment and patience to handle the "how" to do it.

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