When GOD Winks: How the Power of Coincidence Guides Your Life

Book Description

It is not by accident that you just picked up When God Winks. Whether you call it synchronicity or coincidence, what brought you to this book today is worth remembering. In fact, you may have suspected all along that there is more to coincidence than meets the eye. These seemingly random events are actually signposts that can help you successfully navigate your career, relationships, and interests. SQuire Rushnell shows us that by recognizing our "God Winks," we can use the untapped power of coincidence to vastly improve our lives.

The author applies his compelling theory as to why coincidences exist to fascinating stories in history, sports, medicine, and relationships involving both everyday and famous people including Barbra Streisand, Charles Schulz, Oprah Winfrey, Kevin Costner, Mark Twain, and Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

Customer Reviews:

Quite Disappointing.......2007-09-28

This book was extremely disappointing. I was very excited about it. I've had times in my life when I KNOW the Lord has worked and I was hoping this book would help me be more in tune to the Lord's work in my life and help me see specific situations I may have missed. What a joke!!!

The book seems to be more of a manual for how to use coincidences to do what you want and feel good about it. Many of the examples of "God Winks" lead people to do things that our Lord would not approve of (one example being divorce).

But my biggest complaint is that the vast majority of the author's examples of "God Winks" comes from the rich and famous. I got the impression that the author apparently can not even relate to or understand the work of God in the average person's life. This mistake on the author's part could lead to a reader becoming hopeless rather than hopeful that the True God is working in their life.

I did not come away from the reading believing that the author knew and understood the True God of the Bible, though I did gain some benefit from reading the book. Reading it did remind me that God does work in my life in a personal way and that I need to always be looking for that work - and more importantly that I need to acknowledge, cherish and remember that work.

I would like to share two instances that I know God worked in my life. One could be considered a "coincidence" but the other is just God's work. And both are simple, average examples of the Lord working in an ordinary person's life. They do not describe any life-changing events, but they are God's work non-the-less.

1) My car - a Subaru Justy - was doing it's job getting my family of 5 around (two in car seats!). We joked about it being the clown car because we could all squeeze in and it looked funny; all of us piling out. The driver's side seat belt broke. We called to find out how much it would cost to fix and discovered that we really, really could not afford it, but what else could we do? Days later we received a letter in the mail informing us that the seat belts had been recalled and we could have it repaired at a dealership for free. What a BLESSING! This seems like a coincidence (or a "God Wink") but I took it for what it was....the Lord watching over us and taking care of our needs.

2) Shortly before my grandfather died we made a trip to visit him. He was my favorite person in the world. The whole time we were there (as other times before) I would get on to my boys for being loud and rambuctious. My grandfather would sit in his chair in the living room and seemed to be sleeping. He was very frail. I was afraid that my boys would bother him. At one point the boys came bouncing loudly into the room. As I was about to get on to them and scold them for being loud I looked over at my grandfather. He was sitting in his chair laughing! He was wasting away at the end of his life, yet he was enjoying his grandsons' romping around his house. That was pure gold to me. You can't call this a coincidence. You could call it a "God Wink", but after reading Rushnell's book I have an aversion to that term. God did move and speak into my life, but it was absolutely nothing like what Rushnell describes in his book.

I could give many more boring examples of how God has worked in my ordinary life. They probably wouldn't be as appealing as Rushnell's examples because they weren't coincidences on my path to being rich and famous. But they are real examples of a real God working in an ordinary person's life. And they didn't lead me to do something that God would not approve of, quite the opposite. All of the personal experiences I've had with God working in my life have led me away from sin and toward God.

All that to say that if you believe in the God of the Bible don't waste your time reading this book. Instead spend the time really thinking on and praying about how the Lord has worked in your life. Thank Him for it and rejoice!

titus2want2b

Inspiration in a Wink.......2007-03-16

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a quick read and has a lot of short stories to illustrate how God is making Himself known in our lives. I came away with the hope that the coincedences in my own life really are signs that God is touching my life.

When God Winks:How the Power of Coincidence Guides Your Life.......2007-03-15

Wonderful book! I've given copies to 20 plus friends.
Amazing how it helps you see life differently.
God Winks has changed the way I view everyday happenings.
Highly recommendthis book!

Love It!.......2007-01-30

This book is an easy read, but it makes you think about different events in your life. It also helps give you a new perspective on your life. I highly recommend it!

Everyone should read this book!.......2007-01-19

Great book for young and old. I encourage everyone to read this book. It really makes you think about your life and the path that we choose. Pay attention to the signs in life!!!

A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I am a missional, evangelical, post/protestant, liberal/conservative, mystical/poetic, biblical, charismatic/contemplative, fundamentalist/calvinist, ... anabaptist/anglican, metho (Emergentys)

Average customer rating:

An excellent vision of a Christian orthodoxy
a few good bits
The Best of All Worlds
A repentant look at Christianity
McLaren the theologian?

A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I am a missional, evangelical, post/protestant, liberal/conservative, mystical/poetic, biblical, charismatic/contemplative, fundamentalist/calvinist, ... anabaptist/anglican, metho (Emergentys)
Brian D. McLaren
Manufacturer: Zondervan/Youth Specialties
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0310258030

Book Description

By celebrating strengths of many traditions in the church (and beyond), this book will seek to communicate a â€œgenerous orthodoxy.â€

Customer Reviews:

An excellent vision of a Christian orthodoxy.......2007-09-29

I absolutely loved Brian McLaren's "A New Kind of Christian", a book that opened up a whole new world for me of possibilities of staying within the Christian faith, something on which I had almost given up. Rob Bell's "Velvet Elvis", in a different way, did the same. So I approached this next book by McLaren feeling exceptionally positive towards him and his writing.

I wasn't disappointed. However this book is very different than "A New Kind of Christian". Once you get past the amusingly-titled but a little wordy Chapter 0 McLaren goes on a tour through different denominations and styles within Christianity, highlighting the good points about them (as well as looking at the bad), showing what we can all learn from this part of the church, and taking those good parts in order to build them into a new 'generous' orthodoxy. It's a great idea and it's also good to read a book which is very positive about so many denominations.

Of course there are the negatives, and Brian says that he is from a particular part of the church and so perhaps he gives them a harder time (the conservative evangelical/fundamentalist wing). As this coincides very much with how I feel about that branch of Christianity that's no problem for me but I suppose readers from that tradition might find it uncomfortable reading at times. We're left in no doubt that McLaren is not a big fan of televangelists but he is a strong supporter of the green movement, that he is learning more to value the Roman catholic and Anglican ideas about liturgy and the mystical side of the church.

What works very well is that each of the different elements in the book (missional, evangelical, post/protestant, liberal/conservative, mystical/poetical, biblical etc) get their own chapter where he delves into that tradition/idea and often gives the history of the movement which was fascinating for me with many of these. He seems able to see the bigger picture with many of these denominations and, as usual in his style, he is positive about many things within them. It was good to read an upbeat book although there were also parts where, with Brian, I almost despaired. The chapter arrangement meant that I read this book over a couple of weeks, dipping into a chapter here and there, and it gave me time to mull over what he was saying and to think about the overall point.

I salute Brian McLaren for this excellent look at a generous orthodoxy (or at least working towards creating one), a church for our 21st century which learns from the mistakes of the past but also doesn't throw out the baby with the bathwater but picks up those good aspects of the traditions and incorporates them into our postmodern world. This was an excellent read, a book I am sure I will return to many times, and of course the author's humble writing style is, as always, appealing.

a few good bits.......2007-08-25

Its hard to pin this guy down. he doesn't seem to want to take a stand on much that is not PC. That does make him controversial.

His point about the Bible being narrative theology was well done, though I've thought about the Hebrew taking of the promise land in quite the terms he described. He seems to be open to evolution as an idea, which may bother some, but he doesn't really dwell on this. At one points he mentions that the substitutionary atonement was not in the original creeds and seems to infer that perhaps shouldn't be among our fundamentals (though he doesn't say this directly). Many others, including myself, see this as one of the very foundations of Christian belief and how one can practice the presence of God (which he calls us to) without experiencing this truth atonement puzzles me. I also am not sure what he has against the Patriarchs in the Bible bt he apologises for the fact that patriarchy is there.

His presentation of the Anabaptists was great. So was his presentation of Pentecostals and contemplatives, two groups that aren't often associated. He does sight the reformed faith as being a creed which led to slavery in the new world or at least justified it. As far as I know, it was the Northern part of America which tended to be of the reformed faith and the south (especially the rich slave owning ones) tended to adhere mostly to the Anglican Church. (I am neither)

I would disagree with one of his presuppositions, namely, that we need to change our message because we live in a dynamic context. I disagree. There is nothing new under the sun. The problems of sin, immorality, evil, depression that faced my parent's (and McLaren's) generation are the same today. Our reaction to them maybe different and our culture may be different, but our problems are the same and we need the eternal gospel preached to us, though perhaps in a different form, we need the same message.

The Best of All Worlds.......2007-08-22

Instead of criticizing and bashing those believers and sects of the Christain Faith who see and beleive things differently than he does, Brian McLaren takes a new and novel approach.

Instead of concentrating on and ferreting out things, views and perspectives that divide, sometimes little and insignifican things, he chooses instead to concentrate on things, views, perspectives, beliefs and actions that unite.

He seeks out and finds common ground of Christians of different persuasions...an impressive piece of work, as most of his books are.

Fresh, novel approach...a good addition to Christian thought and literature. An especially good book for those who are beginning to doubt and question the faith as a whole because of the actions of a fanatic few.

A repentant look at Christianity.......2007-06-06

So I had purposely put this book off in my "emerging/emergent" reading list until now because I was afraid of it. I was afraid of it because I heard all sorts of stuff about McLaren's views of scripture, atonement, doctrine, ec --- and I had heard that those views wouldn't jive with a good ole Lutheran boy such as myself.

They were partially right. There are some things in this book that I patently don't agree with because they're not really Scriptural. The whole idea of the Anonymous Christian is one of those ideas that I don't agree with that keep on popping up (an 'Anonymous Christian' is a Christian who doesn't know he/she is a Christian but is a 'Christian' by proxy through being led to do good works --- Click here for an explanation of the Anonymous Christian by Karl Rahner, one of the idea's main proponents) Part of that problem is alleviated for McLaren because he has a different view of Scripture than what I do, one that would be very comfortable in some of the more liberal branches of mainline protestantism.

Liberal theology is no new thing, however. Even the title of this brand of theology that tends to deemphasize Scripture and overemphasize acceptance shows its age. Putting "Liberal" and "Conservative" on opposite ends of a spectrum anymore is like putting "Communist" and "American" on opposite ends --- it still may be true, but it's missing the crux of the argument.

A Generous Orthodoxy seeks to momentarily deprive the reader of their security in their "spectrum opposite" thinking. It shows up on the cover --- an amalgamation of words that seek to explain who Brian McLaren is while being careful not to put him on a spectrum between "Liberal Protestant" and "Fundie" or "Heretic" and "Doctor of the Church."

Some have called this work by McLaren, "a manifesto of the emergent church." That's not what it is. It's a call to repentance that we should maybe pay some attention to no matter if we agree with McLaren on the atonement or not.

Manifestos and heresies often contain one thing that this book is very short on: answers. Don't read this book if you want "5 steps to a better church." First of all - answers don't sell nearly as well as questions do, which McLaren clearly identified when he put out his other book "The Secret Message of Jesus" alongside the DaVinci Code blow up. Instead, read this book if you're one of two kinds of people:
1. You're pretty sure that most everything your church body does and says is without error...even if you wouldn't agree to that sentence in public.
2. You would like to know what kinds of questions are fueling a national drop in church attendance across the United States.

Also - don't read this book if you're trying to figure out what Lutherans believe, because in the 3 or 4 times he mentions us - he gets us way wrong (i.e. McLaren says Lutherans go back and forth in between believing Baptism is a saving work of God instead of a human rite. Wrongo. Lutherans believe Baptism is God's Saving work, period.)

McLaren never went to a seminary. He's kind of a hack when it comes to some of this theological stuff.....ok, maybe amateur is a better way to put it than "hack." What McLaren is good at pointing out, however, is the dissatisfaction with "boomer-churchism" that has given us Emergent Village, Shane Claiborne, and Open Source Theology.

Oh...and no, I wouldn't give this book to an 11 year old to read because it has some glaring problems theologically - but it is hardly the "we're-gonna-burn-this-one-at-the-stake" kind of heretical work that everyone told me it was. Take heart, you're not going to go to hell if you read it as some might tell you, just don't swallow everything you read.

This book doesn't offer answers, but a call to repent. Honestly, that mirrors our own faith lives. We are called to repent because we know something is right. We know that we're not good enough inside to know what the right answer is. For answers we look to God. For questions, sometimes it helps to look at people we disagree with.

McLaren the theologian?.......2007-05-04

This reads like a theological autobiography with McLaren exploring the positive contributions of various theological perspectives. This is the main point of the book and as such it kind of leaves me wondering: What was the point? People who are generous probably already appreciate various perpectives, and those who are not generous will find in this book ample opportunity to attack McLaren on theological grounds - they have plenty of room to do so, because McLaren merely skates over many complex theological and historical issues.

That is why I was bored for the first 215 pages. I have mixed feelings about McLaren's appreciation for various viewpoints of Orthodoxy (and other religions, crf. chpt. 17). On the one hand Christians need to be generous and charitable. On the other hand, I fear that by appreciating all perspectives I wonder if we risk losing the real distinctives of any perspective. This feeds into our current culture's fascination for buffet style religion and doctrine: Take a little of this and a little of that and mix and match to suit your tastes. Fact: McLaren, himself, does not endorse this approach. But this goes back to my above question about what this book accomplishes.

But there is real genius in McLaren's writing and thinking, and this book is no exception. This first reveals itself at page 215:

"Each of these new challenges and opportunities requires Christian leaders to create new forms, new methods, new structures - and it requires them to find new content, new ideas, new truths, new meaning to bring to bear on the new challenges. These new messages are not incompatible with the gospel of the kingdom Jesus taught. No, they are inherent in it, but previously undiscovered, unexpressed, perhaps unimagined."

To conservative theological watchdogs this seems very threatening. However, the faith must be expressed anew in each generation. We can never be satisfied to pass down a doctrinal statement that is devoid of meaning and significance. This is all the more true in this generation where culture is moving at the speed of light. Frankly, I think most conservative theologians simply don't get it. They either are deficient in their understanding of postmodern culture or postmodern theory or both. But McLaren thinks outside of the box and understands the need to radically rethink how we express the Christian faith in the 21st Century. Unfortunately, as he himself would confess, he is no theologian. So, the more he wades into theological waters the more he is out of his element.

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GEO Book
Abbott explains how Natural Disasters occur
Natural Disasters
Natural Disasters makes geology interesting!
A great book for beginners interested in this topic!!!

Natural Disasters
Patrick Leon Abbott
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0073040770

Book Description

This book focuses on natural disasters: how the normal processes of the Earth concentrate their energies and deal heavy blows to humans and their structures. It is concerned with how the natural world operates and, in so doing, kills and maims humans and destroys their works. Throughout the book, certain themes are maintained: * energy sources underlying disasters * plate tectonics and climate change * earth processes operating in rock, water, and atmosphere * significance of geologic time * complexities of multiple variables operating simultaneously * detailed and readable case studies.

Customer Reviews:

GEO Book.......2006-03-16

The book has an excellent number of graphs and pictures and makes it fairly easy to absorb information through self-learning. Great tool with lectures. Sometimes a bit of a drag on the boredom scale depending upon the topic.

Abbott explains how Natural Disasters occur .......2005-09-19

Although Abbott could have done a better job of simplifying some of his explainations, he does a great job of breaking down the formation of Natural Disasters in easy to understand steps. He also provides briefings on real life natural disaster occurances.

Natural Disasters.......2004-05-07

I used this book for one of my Earth and Ocean Science courses at the University of British Columbia. Although I enjoyed the many good examples, I found that the text did not have a very good flow to it. I found some of it to be choppy, and some of the sentences to be quite unclear. I agree, the examples are interesting, but it seems like the text relies on those examples to be interesting. I think a lot of processes could have been explained better, as I thought the point from class notes I received from my professors did a lot better than the text in helping me understand certain processes. I definetely agree it's a beginner text though as the examples give a good indication that natural disasters only occur because humans have inhabited locations that often times threaten lives.

Natural Disasters makes geology interesting!.......1999-10-28

As a developer of geology and earth science college textbooks for major publishers, I've worked with a lot of excellent books. Patrick Abbott's Natural Disasters, second edition, is one of the most interesting, readable, informative, and engaging books available. It doesn't have all the four-color diagrams and photos, and doesn't need them. The book tells many fascinating stories that engage students (e.g., the Lisbon earthquake of 1755), relates these natural events to humanity, and offers outstanding short summaries of geologic phenomena and events (e.g., the K-T extinction). This is one of the few books I keep on my desk to illustrate geologic events and principles for friends and coworkers. Highly recommended!

A great book for beginners interested in this topic!!!.......1999-01-11

I just finished taking a course at Florida International University having to do with natural disasters and this book was the required text. I found the book very interesting and informative. The different forms of natural disasters were seperated by chapters and were very well explained. I found it very easy to learn about natural disasters using this book.

God Is Closer Than You Think: This Can Be the Greatest Moment of Your Life Because This Moment Is the Place Where You Can Meet God

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Outstanding!
Where's Waldo?
Not bad
Don't try so hard!
I Am Convinced!

God Is Closer Than You Think: This Can Be the Greatest Moment of Your Life Because This Moment Is the Place Where You Can Meet God
John Ortberg
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0310253497

Book Description

Every moment of your life is like a page in a Whereâ€™s Waldo book. God is there, the Scriptures tell usâ€”on every one of them. But the ease with which he may be found varies from one page to the next. God is closer than you think!

Download Description

Two works of art help John Ortberg think about the presence of God. One is Michelangelo Buonarroti's brilliant painting of God and Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. God is close. His hand comes within a hair's breath of the hand of the man. It seems to say that God is closer than we think-he's here, now, today, accessible to all who will but "lift a finger." The second work of art is Martin Hanford's cartoon character Waldo. He is on every page of the Where's Waldo? books, but he can be difficult to find. In the same way, even though God is present on every page of our lives, he's often not easy to spot. In God Is Closer Than You Think, John Ortberg examines this frustrating paradox of the Christian life. "When it is so easy to 'see' God all around me (in trees, in birds, in nature) why is it so hard to feel his presence-especially when I need him most?" Ortberg helps readers discover the secret to living daily in the reality of God's most frequent promise in Scripture, "I will be with you."

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding!.......2007-07-27

Ortberg is a master. Next to his book, If You Want To Walk On Water, You've Got To Get Out of the Boat, this was as good as it gets for relating to God in our limited human minds. Ortberg has tremendous way of taking ordinary stories, humor and life experiences and making them clear pictures of what Scripture communicates. Excellent, excellent book.

Where's Waldo?.......2006-11-10

I purchased this book for a small group setting and it fit the bill perfectly. Ortberg has a way of uncovering truth and in this book, encourages you to find Waldo, a God who wants to be part of your everyday life. I enjoyed it personally, was challenged by it and found the group setting enhanced my learning. I do look for God differently now since I've read the book. He is closer than we think.
I would have kept the orginial jacket cover. It focuses you to the subject matter much better.

Not bad.......2006-09-23

This book is a pretty decent book if you are interested in a mostly narrative style of discussion on Christian Living. Entertaining, well written, and clear, I would recommend it if you are looking for this type of book.

Don't try so hard!.......2006-07-19

This is a very helpful little book on how to find God in your everyday life. The discussion of Martha & Mary is particularly astute. My only complaint about the book is that Ortberg tries way too hard to be funny and even hip. (This is the first book of his that I've read, so I don't know if he does this all the time or not; I suspect he does.) Humor should be natural, not forced, as it is in this book. His attempts to be hip are merely pathetic. For instance, he quotes the line "The jerk store called & they've run out of you" attributing it to a friend of his. He obviously has no clue it comes from a Seinfeld episode! Still & all, a good book, though, for a Christian at any level.

I Am Convinced!.......2006-04-14

Upon a recommendation from my pastor, I picked this book up and I was not disappointed. John Ortberg writes with a Max Lucado approach. Taking everyday things and making us realize that they too have a place in our spritual walk. He challenges us to look for God in everyday occurences. His premise, as indicated by the title, is that God is more active in our everyday walk than we give Him credit for. In turn, he challenges us to do our part in praying that God bring His Kingdom to earth.

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Share the ambivalence
Ungenerous Hypocrisy
Generous? I think so
Generous indeed
This book proves only one thing

A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I Am a Missional, Evangelical, Post/Protestant, Liberal/Conservative, Mystical/Poetic, Biblical, Charismatic/Contemplative, Fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Green, Incarnational, Depressed-yet-Hopeful, Emergent, Unfinished CHRISTIAN
Brian D. McLaren
Manufacturer: Zondervan/Youth Specialties
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0310257476

Book Description

By celebrating strengths of many traditions in the church (and beyond), this book will seek to communicate a â€œgenerous orthodoxy.â€

Customer Reviews:

Share the ambivalence.......2007-09-28

The one thing I most appreciate about this book is how clearly MacLaren shares his own ambivalence and his own internal struggle over theological issues. His candor is something not always seen in members of the clergy, much less in people who are publishing about their faith.

If you don't like long, convoluted sentence structure (see Faulkner here), you'll likely have trouble taking much away from this book. I think it's unfortunate that his writing style does manage to make his ideas so much less accessible for some people.

Ungenerous Hypocrisy .......2007-08-30

McLaren takes aim mostly at the Evangelical culture and Lord knows we need to get smacked down, but what he fails to understand is how dogmatic, prideful and just plain wrong his spiritually enlightened comrades are on many counts. Case in point is his fawning over environmentalists while he takes hypocritical fundamentalists to task for using scare tactics. I've worked on an environmental issue for four years and daily witness unbelievable slander and misinformation being spread by the leading green groups who use junk science and emotion to lie. This is precisely what McLaren accuses overzealous evangelicals of doing and of course there's some truth to that charge. But the fact that he self righteously hails his environmentalist friends as noble and heroic exposes the weakness of this book, and McLaren's lack of credibility in general.

Generous? I think so.......2007-08-12

After reading this book as well as the reviews that were written here, this book appears to be a big mirror held up for the reader. Those who take themselves too seriously (you'll read many reviews by these folks), those who have built up a large, rule-based "religion", and watch-dog alarmists will not like what they read/see. Those who can take something simply for what it is (not what they want it to be), are open minded yet Biblically ground, and don't mind reading a book that will challenge some of their doctrinal and cultural biases, will thoroughly enjoy this book.
The reason I only gave it 4 stars was because some of the disclaimers in the book got a little old...although after reading the reviews here I can see why he needed to add them. The style of writing is very light...but occasionally almost too light.
In general, I thought this was a great book to sit down with other Christians and discuss and McLaren has some great thoughts on the church and it's direction.

Generous indeed.......2007-07-22

I bought this book because I am really interested in becoming more conversant in the new "emergent" or "open" theology. I suppose that McLaren does a good job of representing the prevailing emergent views, from what I have read in other places. But although his theology is "generous", one wonders how seriously it should be taken. It strikes me as a throw-back to the Jesus movement in the 60's, when people said, "all I need is Jesus". Well, isn't Jesus all we need in 2007? It's a kind of unanswerable question. Of course all we need is Jesus. Of course Jesus was generous and loving. Of course God's arms extend wider than the church is comfortable in admitting. But should we throw out the last two millennia of theology and buy something that we have "missed" until the last 10 years? I think not. This new theology is shallow, and a hair-breadth from Universalistic.

I find McLaren's book to be thought provoking and perhaps a kind of correction to some of modern evangelicalism. But this book, written by an admitted non-theologian with little theological training, must be taken with a grain of salt, at least. He is terribly prone to overgeneralizations, setting up "straw men", and misrepresentations of views other than his own. And his definition of "post modernity" and the resulting disdain for "modernity" is troubling. And is this book biblical? I should have started the review with that question... No, it is not. McLaren does little more than proof-text.

My enthusiastic advice: Do not read this book without some sort of balance or counterpoint readily at hand. D.A. Carson's book, "Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church" is a must read if you are going to read McLaren's works!

This book proves only one thing.......2007-06-19

The title of this book and the writing within proves only one thing: that Mr. McLaren is not a 'true' Christian in any sense of the word. One cannot have the Holy Spirit residing within and believe that their is any way to God other than Jesus. Also, unless Mr. McLaren repents and receives the One who died and shed His blood for him, he will discover that their really is a literal hell, something he states that he does not believe in. All true Christians must pray for this man who is being used by our enemy to deceive many.

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Galápagos on your coffee table
Visually stunning, comprehensively informative.

Spectacular Galapagos (Spectacular)
Tui De Roy
Manufacturer: Universe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0883638479
Release Date: 1999-09-28

Book Description

Over millions of years the story of the Galapagos has been one of birth, death, and rebirth, as volcanoes rise above the "hot spot" only to crumble back into the sea and be replaced by new ones. This cycle has given way to a "magic web" where antediluvian dragons sleep alongside gull chicks and, in the sun-baked interiors, gigantic cacti become the only source of moisture for birds and animals. These islands inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution when he explored them aboard the HMS Beagle in 1835.

A pairing of spectacular photographs and insightful text by the award-winning author explores this unique island setting, a collection of animals and an environment unparalleled anywhere on earth.

Customer Reviews:

Galápagos on your coffee table.......2000-08-31

I treasure the time I spent in Ecuadór's Galápagos Islands, "Las Islas Encantadas". Tui De Roy has managed to capture the essence of these wondrous islands as much as can be done photographically and make them accessible to everyone. A wonderful gift for those who love nature, or those who have been there.

For those who are going there, add Michael Jackson's book on the natural history, Paul Humann's book on the underwater and Barry Boyce's guide book. Tui De Roy's book will whet their appetite and serve as a vivid reminder after the trip is over.

Visually stunning, comprehensively informative........2000-02-03

The author moved to the Galapagos Islands at the age of two and spent over thirty years exploring their natural wonders: Spectacular Galapagos is an oversized presentation pairing a natural history text with spectacular full-page color photos of the Galapagos creatures, blending a coffee table presentation with scientific facts. Highly recommended: Spectacular Galapagos is an astonishing visual wonder in and of itself.

Happiness Is a Serious Problem: A Human Nature Repair Manual

Average customer rating:

"A moral obligation to be happy"
Best Book Ever on How to Live a Good Life and End Up Happy!
Easy read...enduring guiding principles
Good read
Happiness

Happiness Is a Serious Problem: A Human Nature Repair Manual
Dennis Prager
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Happiness | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0060987359
Release Date: 1998-12-09

Amazon.com

In this unique blend of self-help and moral philosophy, talk-radio host Dennis Prager asserts that we're actually obligated to be happy, because it makes us better people. Achieving that happiness won't be easy, though: to Prager, it requires a continuing process of counting your blessings and giving up any expectations that life is supposed to be wonderful. "Can we decide to be satisfied with what we have?" he asks. "A poor man who can make himself satisfied with his portion will be happier than a wealthy man who does not allow himself to be satisfied." Prager echoes many conservative political commentators in complaining that too many people today see themselves as victims; he submits that the only way to achieve your desires is to take responsibility for your life rather than blaming others. Whether or not you agree with that view, if you're willing to put some thought into achieving a happier outlook, you will find plenty to mull over in Happiness Is a Serious Problem.

Book Description

We are completely satisfied with nothing

There is little correlation between the circumstances of people's lives and how happy they are.

This is the repair manual we should have been handed at birth

When you ask people about their most cherished values in life, "happiness" is always at the top of the list. However, unhappiness does not seem to be the exceptional order to be happy, we first have to battle ourselves.

Happiness is an obligation--to yourself and to others

Not only do we have a right to be happy, we have an obligation to be happy. Our happiness has an effect on the lives of everyone around us--it provides them with a positive environment in which to thrive and to be happy themselves.

Customer Reviews:

"A moral obligation to be happy".......2007-10-16

The thing I like best about this book is that Dennis makes the point that (he thinks, and I agree) people have a moral obligation to be happy. He also makes this point in his "happiness hour" each week on the radio. Not only is it not virtuous to be wallow in ennui from all of your problems, or even the World's problems, its somewhere between unhelpful and downright destructive.

The follow-on to this is that being unhappy is easy, and being happy to some work.

Having made this point, Dennis addresses a number of things which can prevent us from being happy and what can be done about them. The individual sections are quite short (~5 pages) and the book is a very easy read. It takes somewhat more focus actually "do" this book, but its well worth it in my estimation.

Best Book Ever on How to Live a Good Life and End Up Happy!.......2007-08-07

I love this book! It is my favorite book on how to live in a way that you end up being happy. A key point is that if you focus your life on seeking happiness by focusing on yourself you will never be happy - a paradox the ancients recognized but we moderns seem to have forgotten. We seem to think that if we can just have the newest toy (read iphone!) that somehow we will be happy (the marketing folks have done a great job on us). I have bought the book for friends and I reread it often. When I'm blue, reading a few pages picks me up right away! My favorite story is the one about a beautiful mosaic with one missing tile. It is a work of art, but that one tile is not there. We all have missing tiles in our lives (his was not being with his kid as much as he wanted to due to his divorce). Some days when I obsess about what I don't have in my life (not material things, but things like an extended closeknit family living nearby, etc.) I think about the missing tile and it helps me accept my life, which is really great otherwise. Happiness comes from focusing on the mosiac not the tile that is missing. Now, I know this may sound simplistic, but there is really a lot of wisdom in all the simple ideas in this book. Read it and see!

Easy read...enduring guiding principles.......2007-06-13

I enjoyed most of this book. Included some solid takeaways, such as:

1) Prager doesn't define happiness, but basically equates gratitude with being happy. This has been useful to me in terms of not taking things for granted, and not expecting too much of myself or others.

2) Expectations of yourself and others are unnecessary, wasteful, and potentially hurtful.

Good read.......2007-06-04

This book offers practical and specific advice for increasing happiness. I found it to be a good reminder of the things we all already know but should put into practice more often. For example Mr. Prager relates in his book that comparing ourselves with others leads to unhappiness. I listen to this audiobook often to keep the advice fresh in my mind.

Happiness.......2007-05-13

A great book showing how and why we need happiness in our lives. Dennis is at his best in this short, vital editorial showing how we can become happy and why we are not.

Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World

Average customer rating:

Must Read
Engaging Style
Not DIY
interesting
Wonderful, Inspiring, Hopeful!

Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World
Alan Weisman
Manufacturer: Chelsea Green
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Sustainable Development | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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Conservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1890132284

Book Description

The eastern savannas of war-ravaged Colombia, known as the llanos, are among the most brutal environments on Earth, an unlikely setting for one of the most hopeful environmental stories ever told. Here, more than twenty-five years ago, an intrepid visionary named Paolo Lugari set out to create a village that could sustain itself agriculturally, economically, and artistically. He reasoned that if a community could survive in the Colombian llanos, it would be possible to live anywhere. The new village was named after the graceful river terns common in the area, los gaviotas.
The early inhabitants of Gaviotas soon realized that if they wanted even basic necessities, they would need to be very resourceful. So they invented wind turbines that convert mild breezes into energy, super-efficient pumps that tap previously inaccessible sources of water, and solar kettles that sterilize drinking water using the furious heat of the tropical sun.
They even invented a rain forest! Two million pine trees planted as a renewable crop have unexpectedly allowed the rain forest to re-establish itself. Paolo Lugari and the Gaviotans, in their quest to create a model human habitat, serendipitously renewed an entire ecosystem. This is why Colombian author Gabriel GarcÃa MÃ¡rquez has called Lugari as Â“The Inventor of the World."

Customer Reviews:

Must Read.......2007-03-15

This is an amazing story about an amazing REAL place... It is an obligated reading for all of those who care about sustainability and renewable energy and wonder whether there is an alternative for our society.
Read this and you will be full of hope and energy for action.

Engaging Style.......2006-04-04

This book shows people solving ecological problems as a community. Weisman engages the reader by showing the people involved, not only the ones with training in certain disciplines, but also natives with practical solutions for living in a Columbian village. Even the children got involved in problem solving in Gaviotos.

They have learned to live in a place where there are many dangers due to drug wars, yet their survival skills are exceptional.

I highly recommend this eye-opening book

Barbara Spring

Not DIY.......2005-03-14

The vision described in the book is inspiring and very hopeful. The idea is to use our ingenuity in ways directly adapted to our environment so that small towns can be self-sufficient. Along the way, very clever uses of wind and water are discovered and described. If the reader is looking for great general ideas or approaches, this book would be hard to beat. On the other hand, if you are a garage-tinkerer and would delight in building the clever devices described, this book is close but no cigar. The drawings offered in the book purposely omit the most important details required to fabricate the devices in a proper working form. If you are a tinkerer and want to build these "goodies," you have three options. In the U.S., you can e-mail with the "Sustainable Village" web site and get the plans (eventually---they are not quick in responding). You can contact the Gaviotas offices in Bogota, Colombia. You can, of course, also take the basic idea and think through the details for yourself. That could take longer and be a little more expensive---perhaps. If you primarily want the ideas and the inspiration, then buy the book, by all means. If you primarily want to tinker and build, go straight for the plans.

interesting.......2004-12-17

In 1998, journalist Alan Weisman collected and presented information about a little known, yet quite monumental, village known as Gaviotas. To get there, one must travel 16 hours by car from the nearest major Columbian city, Bogotá. Even then the path there is not a smooth one; rough, muddy roads and severe political unrest serve as some major barriers in getting to Gaviotas. So why then is such an arduous trip worth it; in essence, Gaviotas is yet another tiny village located in a generally uninhabitable region and possesses none of the modern modes of transportation or communication that we are accustomed to. While in a sense these aspects may be true of Gaviotas, it is also undeniable that this community holds as one of the most efficient, supportive, and thoughtful communities on the planet.
Started in 1971 by a group of Bogotá scientists, Gaviotas originally was created as a sort of scientific experiment, a reaction to the way things were - which clearly wasn't working. A Gaviotas saying goes "the real maturity in life is to realize your dreams" and the founders of Gaviotas did just that when they decided to create their own society. The harsh life and extreme poverty that had been rampant in developing urban areas paired with the blatant depletion of natural resources was enough to spark the idea that maybe there should be a change. Yet instead of trying to make changes in the system already in place, this group of determined individuals took on the radical notion of creating an entirely new, segregated, yet completely self-sufficient, place to live. And that is just what happened.

Wonderful, Inspiring, Hopeful!.......2003-05-06

It was one of the best books I've ever read.
Go get it right now!

God Is Closer Than You Think Participant's Guide: This Can Be the Greatest Moment of Your Life Because This Moment is the Place Where You Can Meet God (ZondervanGroupware Small Group Edition)

Average customer rating:

God Is Closer Than You Think Participant's Guide:
I guess I am a below average Christian
Excellent Small Group Bible Study
Nothing but fun reading
God Is Closer Than You Think

God Is Closer Than You Think Participant's Guide: This Can Be the Greatest Moment of Your Life Because This Moment is the Place Where You Can Meet God (ZondervanGroupware Small Group Edition)
John Ortberg , Stephen Sorenson , and Amanda Sorenson
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0310266394

Book Description

The story of the Bible is the story of Godâ€™s desire to be with his people. God is extending himself, stretching out to reach us and to fill our lives with his presence. Every moment of your life is like a page in a Whereâ€™s Waldo book. God is there, the Scriptures tell us, but the ease with which he may be found varies from one page to the next. God is closer than you think! A six-session guide to be used with the DVD curriculum.

Customer Reviews:

God Is Closer Than You Think Participant's Guide:.......2007-08-08

The product was great, I just ordered the wrong thing. Complete error on my part otherwise item was shipped in a timely matter.

I guess I am a below average Christian.......2007-05-04

Comments from commenter #2 crack me up. I have heard many folks refer to John Ortberg as "Dallas Willard Lite" or "Dallas for dummies." I have had the opportunity to spend time with both the author and his wife, and I find both his speaking and writing to be very refreshing to my mind, spirit and life. I find John's writing simple and practical. Is it Dallas Willard deep? No. However, it's more like a great message that you hear in a weekend service. One that you can see clearly how applicable it is. Also, for you to get the most out of this book, you need to have a sense of your own brokenness and fallenness. Otherwise, you will find it simple and for average or below average people.........which, if I recall, is the same peeps that Jesus TOTALLY hung out with and loved deeply. In fact, some of their names were Peter, James, John, Andrew, Thomas..............

Excellent Small Group Bible Study.......2007-01-06

Not sure what the other reviewers are talking about. I have been a Christian for years and am finding this study quite interesting. Ortberg is the moderator and is excellent at word pictures that stick with you. The study makes you dig into the Bible which is what you want in a small group. Studying on your own in between group meetings requires quite a bit of scripture look up and reading. There are great discussion questions. This study has definitely strengthened my walk with the Lord. Our entire small group really enjoys the DVD part and is getting alot out of the study. I highly recommend this for small group study.

Nothing but fun reading .......2006-10-06

This book is okay for fun reading. The observations offered by the author are slightly entertaining, and may be even quite insightful to the very easily-impressed and motivated readers. For example, using conductor and resistor as analogy is misrepresenting the physics and meaning of the scientific terms. The counterpart of conductor is insulator. Actually a resistor in an electrical circuit is the part that does all the work - that makes the light bulbs or pickle glow, for instance.

Using surfing as an example of overcoming failure is okay. However sidetracking to muse about sharks and dolphins is juvenile and distracting.

I suppose this book is targeted for the average person and below for marketing purpose

God Is Closer Than You Think.......2005-10-08

I believe I was mislead. I ordered the material. The description described that I would get the DVD, the Participant's guide and the hardcover book for the price of the item. When just the DVD arrived I felt disappointed.

Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why

Average customer rating:

Captivating Read
Where was his editor?
Apparently I am in the minority
Great book for insight into the psychology of survival
The Human Spirit

Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why
Laurence Gonzales
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Instructional | Hiking & Camping | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Nature Writing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Survival Skills | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

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Rayovac SPHLTLED 3-in-1 LED Head-Lite

ASIN: 0393052761

Book Description

The author delves into the science, psychology, and art of wilderness survival. His analysis is riveting, his conclusions startling.

After her plane crashes, a seventeen-year-old girl spends eleven days walking through the Peruvian jungle. Against all odds, with no food, shelter, or equipment, she gets out. A better-equipped group of adult survivors of the same crash sits down and dies. What makes the difference?

Examining such stories of miraculous endurance and tragic death—how people get into trouble and how they get out again (or not)—Deep Survival takes us from the tops of snowy mountains and the depths of oceans to the workings of the brain that control our behavior. Through close analysis of case studies, Laurence Gonzales describes the essence of a survivor and offers twelve "Rules of Survival." In the end, he finds, it's what's in your heart, not what's in your pack, that separates the living from the dead. Fascinating for any reader, and absolutely essential for anyone who takes a hike in the woods, this book will change the way we understand ourselves and the great outdoors.

Customer Reviews:

Captivating Read.......2007-10-06

This book is a captivating read. Once you start reading it you won't want to put it down. This is a must read for anyone venturing off of their couch and beyond the bounds of their metropolitan life style. Lawrence Gonzales provides real life examples of the human plight in our world where nature is king.

Where was his editor?.......2007-09-17

There is the potential for a great book hidden in this one. Unfortunately the authors ego hamstrings his own ability to bring it to fruition. A good editor coulda/shoulda done it for him. 60% of the book is the author's attempt to review the latest neuro- and other science explaining how our brains work when under extreme stress. 20% of the book is devoted to the completely superfluous stories of his own brushes with danger and palling around with famous buddies like Lyle Lovett and Lyle's Dad. That leaves 20% of book left for the meat - the real stories of real people in extreme situations. The science is interesting, but his attempts to synthesize wildly diverse fields is rambling, repetitious and often just boring.

Apparently I am in the minority.......2007-09-10

I thought this book was VERY poorly written and primarily a pontification of the author"s very boring, "oh and then I survived again aren't I amazing and wonderful, this little humble miracle that I am" *accomplishments*. Personal perspective is certainly valid, but not to the degree that he took it. I would have prefered to have heard other people's stories. I am a RN, EMT, trained as a wilderness first responder,climber, skier, trekker,runner, horsewoman, former river guide and I do not underestimate the value of his information and the importance of sharing it, but his style of writing and his boasting just turned me off. I say borrow it from the library, don't waste your money by buying it.

Great book for insight into the psychology of survival.......2007-08-28

I found this well written, informative and very enjoyable to read. If you are studying wilderness survival skills then consider this as the flip-side of your training. Studying the psychological aspects of survival is as important as the physical skills. This is a very good book.

The Human Spirit.......2007-08-22

There are a number of reasons why you should read this book. It is well written and engaging. It gives you an insight into the human spirit. And, the descriptive tales of survival when people are stranded in conditions that seem beyond hope are extraordinary.

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