This grace is the true message of Jesus. All faiths have virtues and creeds and justice and truth, but Jesus speaks merely of receiving the love that God has for us. Accepting it, not earning it or making ourselves worthy of it. And frankly, accepting something we have not earned or are not worthy of is not an easy thing for most of us. Little by little, Yancey guides us into a clearer understanding of grace by using stories, in much the same way Jesus did. We read stories of both grace and ungrace at work in people's lives. Yancey helps us understand that ungrace is that state of being in which self-righteousness and pride are a result of thinking that we have somehow earned God's approval and may now stand in judgment in his behalf.

 

The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom is a collection of passages from Henri Nouwen's journals, written during a period when his self-esteem evaporated, his energy to work disappeared, and God seemed entirely unreal. This is not a book to be read straight through: each short chapter takes time to digest.

 

 

 

The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming is a spiritual adventure story. A chance encounter with a poster depicting a detail of Rembrandt's The Return of the Prodigal Son set in motion a chain of events that enabled Nouwen to redefine and claim his vocation late in his life. In this book, which interweaves elements of art history, memoir, Midrash, and self-help, Nouwen brings the parable to life with empathic analyses of each character. Nouwen's absorption in the story (and the painting) is so complete that the father's challenge to love the son, and the son's challenge to receive that love, become Nouwen's own. And Nouwen's writing is so clear and his tone is so appealingly frank and humble that readers--no matter how far from home--will find hope for themselves in the prodigal peace Nouwen ultimately achieves.

Man’s primitive environment was the land of Eden. It was in that ancient garden where he first awoke in the face of God and uttered his first words—the beginning of the ancient language of Eden. The Ancient Language of Eden takes you on a unique journey back in time to the beginning of all things. There you will discover your mother tongue, a forgotten language. Experience the passion and power of the early days in Eden before the primitive language was ruined and eventually lost. You will fly on the wings of grace into the arms of Jesus where you will again discover the native tongue—the language of grace, mercy and love. In contrast to the ancient language of Eden you will weep as you watch how religion has destroyed the old language with cliques, clichés and icons. As you tread through the marsh of an old dead language you will gradually begin to experience the joy of your first words in the ancient language.

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Amazon reader review: The New Kind of Love by E. W. Kenyon creates a vision of the Love of God within you. After reading this book, you will see everything in the context of the Love of God. Love never fails!! The world operates under the system of selfishness. The Kingdom of Heaven operates under the system of selflessness. Kenyon focuses on the God kind of Love. This is one of his BEST books. The marriage that allows God's love to reign cannot fail under ANY circumstances!! This book applies to any person in any kind of relationship. Kenyon explains the differences in the three kinds of love: romantic love, brotherly love, and the God kind of love (agape.)
Kenyon's books are filled with Scripture and not just the ideas of a man. Please, read this book! It can change your life.

Amazon reader review: I am very fond of Kenneth Hagin's books because he writes from experience... He was healed and raised from his death bed when he was a youth. God has been using him in a healing ministry, and he knows God. God often speaks to him quite directly. This book has really turned me around. Hagin cites practical everyday experiences on how love works, and on how we can make love work. Loving our enemies is not something most of us would embrace, but Hagin shows how unforgiveness is actually detrimental to our own physical and spiritual being. He doesn't pretend to be above us, but cites examples of mistreatment to himself. We identify with him and are subsequently able to understand the reasons why we cannot react in an unkindly manner: It is for our own good that we bless our enemies though human reasoning will not help us understand why. Hagin sets forth the spiritual principles at work when we do what is contrary to human nature: We reap what we sow. Another principle that hits home hard is: to be judges of ourselves and not others. In his encounters with ministers, he has witnessed early demise because of those who are reluctant to be judges of themselves. All in all, Hagin teaches that love will keep us and our families in perfect health. This book is like a soaker hose: It drips wisdom about the second greatest commandment in everyday language into our hearts.

Amazon reader review: Brennan Manning is at his poignantly brilliant best in this work. I keep this book by my night stand and constantly quote it's contents. This book is about a love affair. A scandalous love affair between God (Hosea's God) and his people. It is a book that will make you squirm and may even topple your theology and cause you to lose your religious balance. But like the metaphor for Jesus Christ that the Lion implies, this book will pounce upon you and tear your previous notions about who God is to shreds then cradle you tenderly in it's arms and kiss away your predisposed fears. This is a book for grown up children. As Rich and Concrete as any book I've ever read. Thank you Brennan....again for "Relentless Tenderness"

Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is an illusion." You are God's beloved child.

 

Brennan Manning brings us from a lukewarm, distant faith to being close enough to lean against the breast of Jesus--the Great Rabbi--and listen to His heartbeat. Adapted from Brennan's best-seller Abba's Child, this moving devotional is a daily reminder to soak in our Father's relentless love. As Abba's children, we need only to define ourselves through His Son just as the apostle John did: as one beloved by God.

 

New Testament professor and Episcopal priest Countryman writes a marvelous book for theologically unsophisticated lay readers on the meaning of Christian Gospel, or "good news, " about the radically unconditional love of God. In ten chapters told in simple but profound language, he retells biblical stories and develops a theology, from "how God proposes to love you--without the least regard for what you deserve," to God's delight in seeing "you taking care of yourself," to the implications of this good news for Christians' relationships with their neighbors, the world, the Bible, and the Church.ove.

 

 

Capon's theme is the understanding of the Christian concept of grace through faith; he feels that this "mystery" is in this world, not some mystical experience of another realm. The popular idea that the goal of Christianity and the church is to make people "non sinners" is replaced, in his argument, with the understanding that God's grace makes people "sin-forgivers." This frees believers from living in fear of a god who is a CPA of sins and frees them to forgive others. Capon handles the topics covered in his dialogues with representative counselees with a light but not frivolous touch. His book is well suited for general collections and would be particularly appropriate for college students because of its treatments of contemporary topics.

 

Amazon reader review: Capon urges those of us who preach to keep our focus on what is most important, namely Jesus Christ. It's not about keeping the rules nor about holding the right doctrine. It's about being held in love by the God who made us and wants to save us by grace through Christ. If you only read one book on preaching this year, it needs to be this one.

 

 

 

 

Amazon reader review: There's an old saying: "Familiarity breeds contempt." So it is with the parables of Jesus. Everyone thinks they know what he is teaching. So much so, that the contempt committed is against the very heart of the gospel message. Instead of radical, liberating, and scandalous good news, we end up with warmed over ethics, served up on a bed of moralistic legalism, and covered with a layer of heavy-handed, rule laden religion. But that isn't what you get with Capon! Instead of showing age old contempt for the gospel of grace, Father Capon leads his readers to a new awareness of the eternal truth of God's generosity in Christ. It is like a rich delightful meal, that you savor along the way. Once you've feasted there, you can never go back to the "greasy spoon" theology so popular in the Christian sub-culture today. This is three books in one. Previously published in three separate volumes, Kingdom, Grace and Judgment was released in 2002 as one marvelous book. You will not find anything better on the parables of Jesus. Capon divides the teaching ministry of Jesus into three periods and correlating subjects: kingdom, grace and judgment. Each volume brings Jesus closer to the cross, and as it does, the intensity, drama and passion of his message grows exponentially. This as the advertisement says, is "not your Father's Oldsmobile." You will find yourself laughing out loud at the author's outrageous sense of humor, praising out loud for the divine author's generous heart, and weeping with gratitude for the mercy and grace of the crucified and risen Christ! This is the best introduction to the genius, wit and scholarship of Father Capon's works. Read this book and you will never see the gospels the same again!

Yaconelli has an annoying habit of speaking the truth. As an author, he changed the face of youth ministry over the past three decades with his honest approach to the challenges of today's youth. As former editor of The Wittenberg Door (now simply The Door), he and his staff humorously challenged what they saw as the church's many hypocrisies and inconsistencies. Here, Yaconelli explores the perfectionism that plagues so many in the church, an examination that is both challenging and deeply personal. He does an excellent job of naming some of the unspoken assumptions in today's church context, arguing, for example, that the church "has communicated that competence is one of the fruits of the Spirit." But even more effective are his vivid stories, where he gives blood and flesh to the idea of grace lost and found again in the church. The power of these stories makes the book reminiscent of Philip Yancey's What's So Amazing About Grace?, but Yaconelli's stories are more personal, many coming from his own congregation. His honest reflections on his own frustrations and deep feelings of inadequacy are unusual for a book about Christian spirituality. While he seeks to connect with and help Christians who feel secretly ashamed about their lack of discipleship, he may lose some readers who feel uncomfortable with such levels of honesty. Those who persevere will discover a wonderful treasure.

Amazon reader review: Love Letters from God is one of the best books I've ever read. I liked it so much I have ordered and given it to many close friends and family members. Author Bonnie Schulter has a real way of teaching one how to pray in a different, deeper way. I highly recommend this book particularly for anyone who may be going through a difficult time in their lives.

 

 

Amazon reader review: One of the most profound aspects of this book comes right in the introduction. John Ortberg mentions two types of love, a love that happens because of something seen of "value" in the beloved (talent, beauty, wit, etc.), and a love that creates value in the beloved (agape). The rest of the book is an explanation of how we are the beloved ones of God, and how we can live out that beloved ness in a world where we feel we have to earn it. Many of the ideas in this book are parallel to those of Henri Nouwen's Life of the Beloved, but Ortberg's style is different in that he offers many stories and illustrations so that the truths become more vivid. While the subtitle ("Moving God's Love from your Head to your Heart") is a bit of a misnomer because he doesn't offer practical steps to do that, but the book is really a focus on and testament to God's tremendous love for his people; and in that way it brings that truth to a deeper level in the heart.

Mike Bickle takes us back to the most important Commandment: Loving God. His review of Song of Songs is particularly interesting; through the imagery of how the groom is portrayed, we learn about the characteristics of God. From this, Bickle relates how knowing these characteristics can inspire our love for him.

 

Bickle is not a great writer, but he is an insightful and refreshing writer. Bickle's message is, however, powerful: Christianity would be well served if we all aimed first to love God with all our heart, soul and mind.

I think many church leaders from evangelical, mainstream and Roman Catholic churches today would be uncomfortable with this message. Yet like Mary and unlike Martha, we need to be at the feet of Jesus, bowing down, begging forgiveness and enjoying his presence. Correct doctrine, evangelism, social gospel, church activities are of secondary concern.

 

 

The Four Loves summarizes four kinds of human love--affection, friendship, erotic love, and the love of God. Masterful without being magisterial, this book's wise, gentle, candid reflections on the virtues and dangers of love draw on sources from Jane Austen to St. Augustine. The chapter on charity (love of God) may be the best thing Lewis ever wrote about Christianity. Consider his reflection on Augustine's teaching that one must love only God, because only God is eternal, and all earthly love will someday pass away:

Who could conceivably begin to love God on such a prudential ground--because the security (so to speak) is better? Who could even include it among the grounds for loving? Would you choose a wife or a Friend--if it comes to that, would you choose a dog--in this spirit? One must be outside the world of love, of all loves, before one thus calculates.

 

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David Seamands helped me to strengthen my conviction that the Christian life is about Grace, not about following the Law. This is an excellent book for people who are caught in the spiritual trap of feeling guilty for not being able to perform as well as they would like. The author clearly shows how accepting God's Grace is part of the spiritual healing we receive through Jesus Christ.

Amazon reader review: With wit, humor and exegesis, Capon evokes a bit of C.S. Lewis as he brushes past centuries of dry theologizing on concepts of grace and freedom, law and sin, and actually makes the questions fun. Describing his method as "theology by way of entertainment," he illustrates the radical nature of grace with a "parable" about an illicit affair between a promiscuous English professor and a graduate student, both married. Capon, an Episcopal priest, is determined to "separate the liquor of grace from the mash of mortality," and some may accuse him of excessive haste in setting aside the latter. His justification: "No mistake can hold a candle to the love that draws us home." Chiding the "grace-fearing spoilsport in every one of us," Capon argues that organized religion too often encourages us "to act more like subjects of a police state than fellow citizens of the saints."