This is a great book! We have so many books in our home that I hadn't even realized how great this book is. My mom had gotten it and I had totally forgotten about it until my 6 year old grabbed it for a car trip. There's a special section at the end talking about adoption and about how Jesus was adopted by Joseph.It discusses the virgin birth very well which, let's face it,can be a little tricky for any parent. The 2 different texts-large print for ages 3-8 and the smaller print for 9-14-is a great idea.

This is a wonderful book, with a Christian perspective on explaining sex to kids. It has 2 sets of text, one for younger kids and a slightly more advanced set for older kids. It touches on several areas including conception, pregnancy and adoption. It is definitely for the Christian family as it discusses Adam and Eve and Christ's birth among other things such as Christian morality. A wonderful starting point for discussion with your kids. My 2 girls (5 and 3) loved it when their younger brother came along.

The author employs the historic "trinity" of President Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, and their leadership in the Corps of Discovery as a kind of allegory from which he draws instruction on guidance. Most Christians seek the guidance of God; many are not sure how to obtain it, how to recognize it if they do obtain it, or how to cultivate obedience leading to life goals. Larry Christenson draws on his own life history of Riding the River (following the path illuminated by divine direction)to illustrate why people need the Holy Spirit's NOW Word in life situations as well as the timeless written Word of Scripture; how to meet and overcome obstacles; the place of common sense; the importance of will and determination; and a deep background of understanding the ways of God resulting from Biblical study. Christenson writes well, uses excellent illustrations and examples from the Lewis and Clark expedition and from rich pastoral experience. Many serious Christians have been waiting for this book.

The book speaks for itself. Not only has this piece been endorsed by Corrie Ten Boom, but it also has been recognized by a number of leading leaders in our society. Christian Research Institute recognized the book as a well balanced perspective no matter how you view this "controversial" occurance.

Great Book....and even if you do not agree on the subject by the end of the book. It will at least lead you to ask some deeper questions about the gift that you might not have thought of.

Also has a great lesson on ways to help our Quiet times with God.

I give it five stars because it is the BEST and MOST BALANCED book ive found on the subject.

This book is ideal for both young children as well as pre-teens. If you are looking for a christian oriented explanation of reproduction and birth this is it.This explains the true way God intended life to be! The book is written with the print in 2 different sizes,one being appropriate for the younger set, so the parents would have to read the book to them. It's a great book.

Larry Christenson's theology is profoundly flawed, particularly in regards to raising children. He resorts to scripture twisting constantly in the chapter "God's Order for Parents". In his third paragraph he quotes Hebrews 10:26, 27 and 31 and claims that these verses tell us how God treats his children. Read in context, these verses do *not* refer to God's treatment of His children - these verses refer to His treatment of his ENEMIES (see verse 39, or check a standard commentary). Unless a parent decides from the git go that his children are his enemies (an unbiblical position in light of 1 Corinthians 7:14), this book does not describe a Christian family.

He then goes on to commit the heresy of endorsing the claim that, "You can rear [your children] in Christian doctrine and culture, and by God's grace they will be 'born again': but if you do not train them to work they will never amount to anything for God or themselves or for you." The Bible tells us "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me", not, "Gee, your parents didn't raise you right? Too bad you'll always be a second-class Christian."

Christenson would have us believe that God's discipline is always punishment. For instance, Christenson says Hebrews 12:5-6 refers to a situation where God's "teaching is rejected or ignored." But the author of Hebrews is addressing Christians who are facing persecution, not Christians who are in sin. "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have no yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin." (Hebrews 12:3-4) The word translated "such" means "such as this, of this kind or sort." Once again, Christenson is completely ignoring context.

Hebrews 12:5-6 should be read in the light of "We exult in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces proven genuineness, and genuineness produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4), or "To you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Phillipians 1:29) or "No one should be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this." (1 Thessalonians 3:3), or "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:12)

Hebrews 12:5-6 is not a description of how God intends fathers to treat their disobedient children, unless God's choice to allow Satan to destroy all of Job's possessions, [do away with] his children, and destroy his health justifies Christians imitating God in those practices. Few of us will face as severe a "scourging" as Job did, yet the Bible makes it quite clear that Job was not being punished for any great sin.

Since there's no indication that Hebrews 12:5-6 is speaking of punishing people for their sins, Christensen is scripture twisting to use it in support of this practice. He further claims that "The Bible, however, consistently views love and fear as inseparable twins" And that "God's discipline of us, His human children, is calculated to inspire fear.... Fear acts as a catalyst for love. He who fears God most will love Him best."

How does a Christian parent reconcile these claims with 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." Or 2 Timothy 1:7; "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Contrary to Christenson's bold claim, the Bible does *not* "consistently view love and fear as inseparable twins" - it considers fear and love as opposites at least twice, as any concordance could have told him.

God does not want us to serve because we are afraid of punishment, which is one reason we are told repeatedly that Christ has taken our punishment. The reason 1 John 4:18 gives for why there is no fear in love is that, "fear involves torment." The word translated "torment" is used to refer to punishment - Christians should not fear because we are free from punishment. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:1)

Our fear of God may be partially based on the fact that He can punish - but it is not a personal fear that He will punish *us*. Contrary to Christenson's position, our children cannot earn God's approval by acting out of fear, because God specifically orders us to act out of love. "Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." (I Corinthian 13:3)

And what kind of wimp God does Christenson believe in? Christenson says that Christ disciplines us, but "He does not afflict us willingly." Excuse me? If God does not afflict us willingly, why does Paul tell us to "exult in our afflictions"? We should be glad that God is being forced into action against His own will?

Nonsense. Whoever it is Christenson is talking about, it is not the God of the Bible. "Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases." (Psalm 115:3) "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Phillippians 2:12-13) God will do His Work even in children raised by Christenson's book - but first He will have to free them of Christenson's false theology that makes the loving and all-powerful Biblical God into an angry judge whose ability to do much of anything in our lives is limited and controlled by man.

This book has been used in our church as a counseling tool as well as taught from the pulpit. It is one we recommend to all aspiring teachers and anyone who works with children and families in general. Pastor Christenson has provided exceptional information in this book. I highly recommend it.

The building stones of God's precious Word are being set in order in this book for getting and keeping a good family relationship with God's Power following.

The subtitle of this book is: "a practical guide to the spirit-led life". Larry Christenson uses many different analogies and stories to remind us that we need to rely on the Holy Spirit. "Back to square one" may sound depressing in the language of the world, but when it is a symbol of a new start, and a fresh infusion of God's Spirit, despair turns to hope.

This work is an enthusiastic encouragement and guidebook for charismatic renewal among Lutherans. However, it offers some dangerous theology. For example, it suggests that it's okay to make mistakes when first trying to prophesy--that everybody needs practice. However, this is contrary to Scripture. God takes false prophecy very seriously, but unfortunately Mr. Christenson does not.