A big YESSSSS for this book even though it is not a book to sit down and read anymore than I would sit down and read any other encyclopedia. Clinebell shakes up a lot of wholeness arguments by writing about the environment as well as about people. He is convinced that individuals do not receive healing or wholeness unless the earth is healed. He writes about pollution and the effects of lifestyle on the earth--the consequences of national political decisions and individual actions.

In a w ay this is a Bible for health and wholeness.

Howard Clinebell examines seven dimensions of well being and holistic health in Anchoring Your Well Being. The seven dimensions discussed are spiritual, physical, emotional, relational, work & play, crisis & loss, and environmental well being.

The book has a simple design: Each chapter opens with a series of statements designed to allow the reader to assess his or her health in the given dimension of well being. Then Clinebell delves into the content with the passion of a lecturer in demand.

Clinebell begins with spiritual well being and offers a number of insights based on biblical texts and reflections. Clinebell's various exercises in the seven dimensions allow readers to practice his insights. The "Baker's Dozen Suggestions for Relational Well Being" are of primo importance. Perhaps most radical statement is Clinebell's contention that personal wholeness cannot be achieved until environmental wholeness/justice becomes real.

Howard Clinebell is a United Methodist minister and a professor of pastoral care. He lectures around the world. I gained a sense of his lecture style by reading this book and found the work practical and practiceable.

A great text for students, pastors and other practising counselors. It contains goals every counselor should strive to achieve. Clinebell also describes the positive characteristics a counselor should portray . The methods and types of counseling are also spelt out in this book. This book is an invaluable guide for me, one which can be adapted to some of the situations in my country.

Dr. Chinula is wonderful in his approach to pastoral counseling in the black community. I suggest that every pastor require his/her satff to read this book.

I read Opening to God first as a book about prayer, then I discovered that Carolyn Stahl Bohler has actually written prayers and ways to engage in conversation with God. Simply taking the time to read and reflect and rest in silence with her guided prayer meditations allows me to hear the still small voice of God.

Most of Dr. Bohler's meditations are based on the four Gospels, episodes in the ministry of Jesus. She does include prayer meditations based on some Psalms and other Old Testament books as well as some of the New Testament epistles. I used one of the meditations with a church youth group. Dr. Bohler uses a meditation from a noncanonical Gospel. The meditation worked very well with the kids in the group, then they wanted to know where the scripture was located. "Gospel of Mary." "What's that? You mean the Song of Mary? The Magnificat?" "No, the Gospel of Mary." That led to conversation about the criteria for inclusion within the canonical ranks of scripture. Good conversations about the importance of scripture and the kids are continuing to read and reflect on the scripture and to study the history of scripture and the church. Excellent for a church in an urban setting!

PART 1: UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEMS OF CHEMICAL AND BEHAVIORAL ADDICTIONS Chapter 1: Who Are Alcoholics and Drug-Addicted Persons? Some Working Definitions Chapter 2: Multiple Causes of Addictions, Multiple Levels of Prevention Chapter 3: Understanding Drug Dependence Chapter 4: Behavioral or Process Addictions: Understanding and Helping Chapter 5: Understanding and Helping Those at Special Risk of Addiction PART II: EXPLORING SOME RELIGIOUS APPROACHES TO ADDICTIONS Chapter 6: How Religion Helps Low-Bottom Alcoholics and Drug Addicts Chapter 7: Alcoholics Anonymous: Still Our Greatest Resource Chapter 8: Other Paths to Recovery and Beyond Chapter 9: Psychosocial Dynamics of Religious Approaches to Alcoholism and Other Drug Addictions Chapter 10: Understanding Ethical Issues in Addiction and Recovery PART III: METHODS OF COUNSELING WITH ALCOHOLICS AND OTHER ADDICTED PERSONS Chapter 11: Preparation for Counseling Alcoholics and Other Addicted Persons Chapter 12: Counseling for Recovery and Beyond: Motivating and Beginning the Process Chapter 13: Counseling for Recovery and Beyond: Basic Methods Chapter 14: Counseling with Families for Recovery: A Systems Approach to Codependency Chapter 15: Developing Effective Addiction Treatment and Prevention Programs: A Strategic Opportunity for Religious Organizations

By using scriptures from the Bible, it might appear to some that this is good Christian teaching. But all the ideas are simply Eastern Thought attempting to be transfused into the gospel of Jesus Christ. This book is clearly in agreement with new age thought, and is in sharp contrast to what the Bible actually teaches. Salvation is not through our seeking out spiritual renewal through new learnings (page 64), but is only found in Jesus. I would only recommend this book to someone who knows what they believe and would like to see how Unitarian ideas have made their way into our "Christian books".

This book offers possibilities to revitalize any church because Clinebell writes in large ways about healing. By healing he means forgiveness. THis book accompanies a comprehensive work, but Clinebell offers here a number of tips and guideliness that are unavailable elsewhere. The FAQ section is like attending a seminar. Retreat and study models are also included. This book makes congregational outreach far more real because it is easy to establish a variety of relational groups. And Clinebell is comfortable dealing with the fundamentalists who do not share his vision--he may help these people grow.