I had almost given up hope. I've seen enough translations of the Tao Te Ching to last a lifetime. I'm not interested in learning how to apply Taoist philosophy to my career. What I want is to learn more about actual Taoism, about how Taoists practice and live. Just when I was about to give up any hope of ever finding the information I wanted, along comes Taoist Master Chuang. It's an excellent book, clearly written and filled with detailed practical examples of Taoist practices, ritual, worship, and magic. I especially enjoyed the author's vivid depictions of a slew of modern Taoists. Some of the images conformed to my preconceptions, and some did not. But all were fascinating. I also think the "history of Taoism" section is fabulous. This seems to be an insider's view, something that we don't normally see in typical academic works. All in all, this was a great surprise and a great book.

I have an MA in Taoism, and I'm considering going after my PhD. I've spent lots and lots of time reading through dusty books on Taoism, and I can assure everyone that I think this is one of the best. In an area where translations of the Tao Te Ching abound, this is one of the few works that provides real detail regarding Taoist practice. Instead of philosophy and spiritual fluff, this book really relates what it is like to be a Taoist in the world of dust. Only after reading and re-reading this wonderful book could I really begin to see how Master Chuang captures the heart of Taoism in concrete actions, and how he does this on behalf of his community. Everyone interested in Taoism should read this book!

OK, I was looking for some books on Taoism, and I found "Taoist Master Chuang." I read the other reviews, and decided that I had to read this book for myself. Without doubt I'm glad I did. Master Chuang describes Taoist history in a way that is so much more thorough and succint than in any other book I've read. Now we know how Taoists themselves view Taoist history! And the second half of the book, which deals with Taoist practices like mantra, hand gestures called mudra, magical spells to control spirits, etc., is without peer. This is no theorectical discussion, this is a detailed description of actual practice. It's about time someone wrote this book, and I applaud Michael Saso for doing so.

Hey there, This book is truely the best thing I have ever read. Why didn't XY think of this book 2 years ago when I came out??? Anyway I read this book from front to back and it's truely what every gay boi needs. I even bought one for my room mate's boi and he loves it. The Survival Guide was a great idea and no gay boi should be with out it.

When looking through this well thought out book, initially you find yourself constantly laughing at the silly phrases and images provoked. But at a closer glance, this book provides a responsible guide to help gay youth realize that for one, they are not alone out there, and offers advice and suggestions to help them make good choices. An amazing effort by an author that seems to have a sincere concern for this audience, using his influence and voice in the most positive way possible.

I have to say that the Survival Guide is the best thing there is out there that has been written for young teenagers that are coming out or need advice on any subject that deals with everyday society in the Gay World as people so call it. Benjie, Mike, Peter, and Brian are great people to write such a wonderful book. This book has helped me and i know will help all of my friends here in Kentucky. I sugest that if anyone gets a chance to purchase this inspirational book then do it. Thank you Benjie, Mike, Peter, and Brian for the help and support through your book. It has been a great help.

Love, John

The Diaries of Adam and Eve is one of my favorite books. It's so gentle, funny, and deeply true I find myself loaning it to friends and giving it as a gift whenever I can. If you've not read Twain since Huckleberry Finn was forced upon you in junior high, this is a wonderful way to start reading Mark Twain's work again. If you've been looking for something to restore your faith in the worth of that whole man-woman thing, treat yourself to this book.

"The Diaries of Adam and Eve" is a sweet, humorous and romantic piece and it had me laughing out loud one minute.......and crying the next. Mandy Patinkin and Betty Buckley are outstanding in their "reading" of Twain's words; actually, it's more a theatrical performance than a simple reading. Their expressive voices give life to Adam and Eve and provide us with complex characters full of wonder, innocence, wisdom, joy, and sorrow. There are so many wonderful passages throughout this book that I find something new to marvel at each time I listen. This recording will touch your heart.

Twain long had an interest in Adam and Eve. His renewed focus on Adam and Eve in 1893 was touched off by his writing calendar maxims for Pudd'nhead Wilson, in which the Edenic couple appear. After that novel, he began Extracts from Adam's Diary, and followed that with Eve's Diary. Now Don E. Roberts has collected these writings along with four others by Twain that concern the Edenic pair in one narrative. For many readers familiar only with Twain's tales about mischievous boys or cranky characters, this work, one of the great love stories of all time, will come as a real surprise. Whether you're interested in Twain or not, if your heart hasn't atrophied, you will love The Diaries of Adam and Eve. Roberts's profound love of the art of the book is evident in every detail, from the illustrated dust jacket, which features a rare 1902 Thomas Marr photograph of Twain at Quarry Farm on the back; to the Smythe sewn binding in gold-stamped Kennett cloth; to the high-quality printing on acid-free paper; to the eight beautiful illustrations commissioned specifically for this volume. I have the book and the CD. If you are just going to get one I would suggest the CD because of Betty Buckley's superb performance reading Eve's part. Twain translated Eve as saying "a loving good heart is riches, and riches enough". After reading this fine volume I'm inclined to agree with her.

The ubiquitous Internet is a double-edged sword. A major benefit is sharing information; a major detriment is the risk to customers of divulging private information. For e-businesses, therefore, privacy is a showstopper issue. This book was written to promote e-business success by helping organizations evaluate privacy needs, establish a privacy task force, use technologies to provide maximum protection, formulate privacy policies and procedures, implement and test privacy procedures, and monitor and modify privacy protection. This one's a winner--for companies that want to "win" at e-business.

This book has a lot of information about security in a world where lots of people and businesses are using the internet to conduct business. Internet is a far reaching medium with lots of security concerns on the information that is spread through this medium. The book brings to readers' attentions the regulations that have already been put in place throughout the world especially in the US and the EU where the use of internet and data security issues have reached considerable levels. Projections on the use of internet as given in the book for the coming years are quite alarming that proves the need for implementing procedures to ensure privacy of information on the internet. This book provides guidelines with respect to implementing a process to ensure privacy of information transmission and storage in the internet. It suggests that the use of technology is not the only solution to provide privacy on the internet. The book suggests a process with multiple stages. These include doing a lot of research, performing audits, develop policies and plans, and finally implementing the project. With widespread use of internet by businesses and individuals in areas of healthcare, banking and finance, this book is a must. I highly recommend this book to individuals who are concerned with privacy of their information on the internet and to businesses that are required to comply with rules and regulations mandated by governments on information security in the Net.

"Net Privacy" by Michael Erbschloe and John Vacca provides an excellent reference for understanding the privacy issues associated with Internet use. The book provides a comprehensive description on how sensitive corporate data is handled to in order protect consumer privacy and corporate liability. The book contains informative tips and techniques for securing privileged information from a business standpoint, and provides an understanding to the Internet user and e-business customer of the security precautions implemented today in the ever-changing e-business marketplace. The book goes on to provide a framework for the development and implementation of a corporate privacy plan. For an IT professional this process can be extremely useful in determining if you have each of the critical areas covered in order to protect corporate interests in an e-business environment. The book also provides great recommendations for corporate privacy protection in terms of mobile computing and Virtual Private Networking (VPN) environments.

This was the second book I've purchased as I was recommended by various hobbyist whom I have lots of respect for. When I started reading this book, first thing I told myself "Wow, how little I knew". I would highly recommend anybody who is getting started with Reef Hobby. This book shows step by step on how to setup your first aquarium. Even as little detail as how to setup the Live Rock, how can you create tunnel with PVC pipe, setup equipment chart and so on. I say, this is a must have book

... covers just about everything imaginable, and does so in such a clear & concise way that there is little point in my trying to cover it again.
I am truly impressed. This so-called beginner's book scarcely rates that category; this is the very sort of information that beginners REALLY need but oh-so rarely ever get until it is too late. Moreover, it is presented in a form that beginners can understand and digest with ease. Truly a gem, and destined to be a classic.
The checklists, the explanations which make the complex simple, the techniques, the wonderful illustrations, the tips & tricks, the lists of common mistakes to avoid, ( and which species to avoid ) and the truly useful advice make this book very complete. It's 140+ pages are chocked full of good information without a lot of "fluff"; it's truly "all-meat, no filler!"
If I had to recommend just ONE book for the beginning marine hobbyist, I think that this would be the one. I even recommend it highly to intermediate hobbyists. While it doesn't cover every single aspect of the marine hobby, ( not that any one book, or even any given dozen ever books could ) it aptly covers the most important things, and most importantly, it covers them in a way which will make it the most useful to it's target audience...

This is the best of several beginner books I've read on keeping a Marine Aquarium. It favors live rock for biological filtration (discovered fairly recently) that is much more natural and maintainable instead of keeping old style mechanical filtration. If you have just started doing your homework, and someone somewhere has recommended an "under gravel" filtration method to get you started, read this book first... let's just say you don't want to get too attached to your fish using the old mechanical methods. This book is not the end-all of aquarium keeping, just an excellent place to start.

Continual improvement is the key to survival in today's business climate, and as companies like GE and Motorola have proven, Six Sigma is a useful tool for ingraining the quest for perfection in an organization. After reading The Six Sigma Way, you'll probably be ready to jump out of your chair and immediately follow in these companies' footsteps by launching a Six Sigma initiative of your own. The authors, three consultants who teach firms to implement Six Sigma efforts, convincingly extol the money-saving and efficiency-enhancing virtues of the holistic approach. This book offers a lot of jargon and complex concepts, but the material is presented in easily understood charts and lists, and there are plenty of concrete examples. We [...] recommend The Six Sigma Way to managers who have heard wondrous tales of Six Sigma, but would like a more down-to-earth explanation of how it can be used and the benefits it offers.

I am a former GE Capital Black Belt and now Master Black Belt with experience at various companies in the process of implementing Six-Sigma Quality initiatives. I can tell you that I consider "The Six Sigma Way" by Pande et al as required reading for anyone who is even considering implementing or participating in a Quality program of this type. Whether you are an aspiring Black Belt or a seasoned member of the Senior Leadership Team, you'll find a lot of good ideas and advice on proactive Quality in this book.

"The Six Sigma Way" introduces these state-of-the-art tools and concepts in plain...and often entertaining...English (for the rest of us), as opposed to the other books I've read that are dry and full of high-level concepts and statistical formulas that are far too advanced for most initial Six Sigma efforts anyway. The book provides an easy-to-follow roadmap for setting the proper foundation of a Six Sigma program and for obtaining buy-in and support from co-workers and business leaders. You can pick and choose whichever higher-level tools and techniques your business needs once you have established this critical (and often neglected) foundation.

The book also promotes one of the more important aspects of the Six Sigma methodology that others seem to miss...that there is no single way of doing it! The authors recognize that every business environment is not the same, and that different aspects and techniques will appeal to different business cultures. One of this book's best features is that it very clearly spells out the principles involved with Six Sigma and then offers some practical ideas on how they can be successfully applied to a strategy for your specific business.

The authors also provide clear examples of what works and what doesn't. They include "case study" examples that are actually entertaining to read and that are likely to be encountered in today's business environment. At the same time, they have carefully contrasted the successes of Six Sigma to the TQM movement that preceded it. Instead of simply saying "TQM, bad...Six Sigma, good," as others have, the authors eloquently point out why certain aspects of TQM didn't work consistently. They go on to explain exactly what it is that Six Sigma does differently so that gains can be maintained for the long-term.

Finally, I have to mention something about how the book addresses the use of statistics in Six Sigma type initiatives. All too often, business managers operating in a high-paced environment hear the words "statistical process control" and they are immediately turned-off...believing that a statistical approach to business management is too time consuming, unresponsive, and probably beyond their math capabilities anyway. "The Six Sigma Way" helps lay this ambiguity and fear of statistics to rest by explaining the key concepts in ways that don't require a degree in math. They focus on the basic measurement and analysis techniques that can actually be used and understood by managers at all levels, and the authors communicate this in a way that can be followed by anyone who can balance a checkbook.

"The Six Sigma Way" is a wonderful guide to understanding proactive Quality programs; to designing and implementing a program for your specific business; and to maintaining that program over time. I am certain that you will find this book on every successful manager's reading list.

Over the years, I have worked with dozens of small-to-midsize companies, all of which were in dire need of improving one or more of the following: cost reduction, culture change, customer retention, cycle-time reduction, defect reduction, market-share growth, productivity improvement, and product-service development. You can thus understand why I was curious to know to what extent (if any) Six Sigma could be helpful to small-to-midsize companies.

By now we have become well aware of the success of Six Sigma initiatives at major international corporations such as ABB, Allied Signal/Honeywell, Black & Decker, Dow Chemical, Dupont, Federal Express, General Electric, Johnson and Johnson, Kodak, Motorola, SONY, and Toshiba. Once having read this book, I am convinced that -- with certain modifications -- Six Sigma could perhaps be even more valuable to small-to-midsize companies which, obviously, have fewer resources. What exactly is Six Sigma? The authors provide this definition: "A comprehensive and flexible system for achieving, sustaining, and maximizing business success. Six Sigma is uniquely driven by close understanding of consumer needs, disciplined use of facts, data, and statistical analysis, and diligent attention to managing, improving, and reinventing business processes."

The authors identify what they call "hidden truths" about Six Sigma:

1. You can apply Six Sigma to many different business activities and challenges -- from strategic planning to operations to customer service -- and maximize the impact of your efforts.

2. The benefits of Six Sigma will be accessible whether you lead an entire organization or a department. Moreover, you'll be able to scale your efforts, from tackling specific problems to renewing the entire business.

3. You'll be prepared to achieve breakthroughs in these untapped gold mines of opportunity -- and to broaden Six Sigma beyond the realm of the engineering community.

4. You'll gain insights into how to strike the balance between push and pull -- accommodating people and demanding performance. That balance is where real sustained improvement is found. On either side -- being "too nice" or forcing people beyond their understanding and readiness -- lie merely short-term goals or no results at all.

5. The good news is, Six Sigma is a lot more fun than root canal. Seriously, the significant financial gains from Six Sigma may be exceeded in value by the intangible benefits. In fact, the changes in attitude and enthusiasm that come from improved processes and better-informed people are often easier to observe, and more emotionally rewarding than dollar savings.

The authors organize their material as follows: Part One: An Executive Summary of Six Sigma; Part Two: Gearing Up and Adapting Six Sigma to Your Organization; Part Three: Implementing Six Sigma -- The Roadmap and Tools; and finally, The Appendices: Practical Support. According to Jack Welch, "The best Six Sigma projects begin not inside the business but outside it, focused on answering the question -- how can we make the customer more competitive? What is critical to the customer's success?...One thing we have discovered with certainty is that anything we do that makes the customer more successful inevitably results in a financial return for us."

If anything, it is even more important for small-to-midsize companies (than it is for the GEs of the world) to answer these two questions correctly and then track and compare their performance in terms of what their customers require. The well-publicized objective of Six Sigma is to achieve practically-perfect quality of performance (ie 3.4 defects for every million activities or "opportunities") and this is indeed an ambitious objective. Collins and Porras, authors of Built to Last, would probably view it as the biggest of Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs). In that book, they assert that the most successful and admired companies have the ability -- and willingness -- to simultaneously adopt two seemingly contrary objectives at the same time. Stability and renewal, Big Picture and minute detail, creativity and rational analysis -- these forces, working together,, make organizations great. This "we can do it all" approach they call the "Genius of the And."

Pande, Neuman, and Cavanagh suggest that all manner of specific benefits can result from following "the Six Sigma way." For example, Six Sigma generates sustained success, sets a performance goal for everyone, enhances value to customers, accelerates the rate of improvement, promotes learning and "cross-pollination", and executes strategic change. All organizations (regardless of their size or nature) need to avoid or escape what the authors refer to as the "Tyranny of Or." Here in a single volume is about all they need to seek "practically-perfect quality of performance." Whether or not they ultimately reach that destination, their journey en route is certain to achieve improvement which would otherwise not be possible.

This book really drove me crazy. At first I didn't like it much. But, I didn't want to stop reading it. I'm glad I didn't. It starts out like it's going to be pretty silly, you know? Then it takes a turn and the author takes you places you might not like. It finally hit me around page 200 what was going on. Then after I finished it some things kept coming back to in bits and pieces. The book is really much deeper than I thought from reading only the bginning part. It's also one of the most original books I've ever read. (The jungle room quicksand chapter was quite different!) A very good read.

I've never heard of Cameron Michaels. I never heard of this book. I don't know why I bought it but when I started reading it I couldn't stop. It was so cool. (Like quicksand!) I can't believe it turned me on like it did. Whoever this author is has a very good understanding of what a woman likes. I'm even checking the internet for resorts like the ARENA. I wish. A really great book!

I enjoyed this book on two levels. First, in was simply an enjoyable book to read; it flowed well, the charactors were well explained, if not stereotypical. A good murder-mystery with all the right charactors. But that is the "trap" the author set for us, the readers. On the second level, you can use the book to examine how easily you can be roped into your own fantasy world. Then you might not kick yourself so hard at the end.

I've read all of the wrestling books that have been written in recent years. I have also read the autobiographies by Lou Thesz and Bruno Sammartino. Without a doubt, Gary Michael Cappetta's "BODYSLAMS!" is the most revealing, most informative, most literate, funniest and even the most heart warming book ever written about professional wrestling.

Foley was careful not to tell too much about his buddies in the WWF. Chyna, The Rock and Goldberg also still on promoters' payrolls, haven't been wrestling long enough to lend a rich perspective of the wrestling game. Page avoids the truth about the behind the scenes politics that gave him his spot with WCW. And who cares what JR is cooking?

This book has it all. If you want a comprehensive look at how it all began, why wrestling is where it's at today and Gary's thoughts about how the game can be healthy in future years, then you must read "BODYSLAMS!".

Cappetta's behind the scenes stories provide an up close and personal look at dozens of current superstars, as well as many of the legends of this sport. Gary worked with them all. From Gagne to Hogan. From Bruno Sammartino to The McMahon Family. His profiles of Steve Austin, Ric Flair, The Undertaker, Buff Bagwell, Mick Foley, Abdullah the Butcher, Eric Bischoff and Andre the Giant are priceless.

Gary tells the full story about the night Mick Foley lost his ear. He was at the hotel fight between Arn Anderson and Sid Vicious and he holds nothing back. The portraits of Vince and Shane McMahon stand the test of time, given the way The McMahons now monopolize wrestling. And Gary's love of the game shines through on every page of the book.

If you have to choose one book that tells it all about pro wrestling, then "BODYSLAMS!" has got to be at the top of your list. Simply put, it's the best book ever written about pro wrestling!

I have read Dave Meltzer and Dynamite Kid's books, as well as both books written by Mick Foley, and I must say that Gary Michael Cappetta's Bodyslams is right up there with the others in terms of credibility and quality. While it may not be as funny as Foley or as dramatic as Meltzer, it's really not intended to be. It is meant to chronicle one man's 21-year journey in a business he has always loved, and is undoubtedly the most well-written of the five wrestling books I have read.

The stories flow well and really give the reader a feeling for what many famous and infamous wrestling personalities are/were really like, as well as the nature of the environments behind-the-scenes in the WWWF/WWF, NWA, WCW and AWA. Cappetta shares stories about Ric Flair, Vince McMahon Sr., Vince McMahon Jr., Mick Foley, The Undertaker, Verne Gagne, Bruno Sammartino, and scores of others in-between.

I would highly recommend this book to any fans of pro wrestling, past or present. You get an intelligent and honest view of the inner and outer workings of the business.

I was just suring around looking for an interesting site, browsing through a few search engines when I came across bodyslams.com.

While I'm not a huge wrestling fan, I have always been intrigued by the outrageous spectacle. As a kid I watched Hulk Hogan. From time to time I still tune in and am amazed at how pro wrestling has changed. And that's why I began reading through the bodyslams.com website, which supplies a closer look at what this book is all about.

Intrigued by what Gary Michael Cappetta had to say on this site, I decided to buy "Bodyslams!", which takes you behnd the scenes for an honest and intelligent look at pro wrestling, including the dozens of WWF and WCW wrestlers, promoters and colorful characters that Gary has worked with. It is an incredible list of wrestling stars inluding Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, Vince McMahon (Jr.& Sr.), Mick Foley, Ric Flair, Harley Race, Verne Gagne and on and on.

I also ordered "Fall For The Dream", Cappetta's script of fiction that is based upon the real people that Gary writes about in "Bodyslams!"

Once I picked up "Bodyslams!", I couldn't put it down. I read it in a couple of days. "Fall for the Dream" was just as fascinating, just as informative and just as entertaining.

I'd recommend these two books if you want to:

- know how wrestling evolved into what you see on TV today

- learn about the personal side of today's superstars and yesterday's legends

- feel what it was like to witness Mick Foley losing his ear

- experience the terrifying knife fight between Arn Anderson and Sid Vicious

- see how it feels to be on TV performing for millions and on the road (throughout North America and Europe) with wrestling superstars

- go on the road with Ric Flair, Abdullah The Butcher, Buff Bagwell, Vader, Steve Austin, Jim Cornette, The Undertaker, Sting, The Steiner Brothers, Dusty Rhodes or Jesse Ventura.

These books are for you if you are an avid fan or if you are just curious about this unique sub-culture.

Both books are intelligently and thoughtfully written by a man who has kept a healthy perspective about life, while living out his dream among wrestling insiders who are sometimes treacherous, sometimes warm and supportive. Both the good and the bad became Cappetta's disfunctional family.

And amazingly, Gary has maintained his love of wrestling after so many years of witnessing the underbelly of the "sport".

After reading "Bodyslams!" and "Fall For The Dream" I'd love the opportunity to sit down with Gary Michael Cappetta to find out more. (bodyslams.com tells about Gary's upcoming book tour and where you can meet him.)

I strongly suggest that you visit bodyslams.com (as I did) and that you read these two incredibly fascinating books.

What to say, what to say... the Elric saga is one of the most excellent fantasy series ever written. This is the first part, composed of the first three books, excluding Fortress of the Pearl, which was written after the six-book saga was completed. Nevertheless, it fits smoothly.

Elric of Melnibone - The flawless beginning of the saga. Elric of Melnibone introduces its namesake, his best friend Dyvim Tvar, his lover Cymoril, and his competent cousin Yyrkoon. This is, obviously, the first true advancement into the story; but as I mentioned before, it is flawless.

The Fortress of the Pearl - A sidestory, taking place between Elric of Melnibone and the Sailor on the Seas of Fate. Not as good as the other installments in the series, but a gem nonetheless.

The Sailor on the Seas of Fate - Split into three seperate, overall unrelated stories. Of course, all three fit into the current storyline, but each can be considered a seperate adventure. The first introduces Hawkmoon, Erekose, and Corum, three of the other incarnations of the Eternal Champion. The next two tell of Elric's adventures with Smiorgan and Duke Avan.

The Dreaming City - The conclusion to the plot that was set up through the entire first book (Elric of Melnibone). To say any more would spoil and excellent plot twist. Also, to mention, this is the first part of Weird of the White Wolf, the third book in the Elric Saga.

While the Gods Laugh - The second part of Weird. Here Elric meets Shaarilla, the wingless woman of Myrrh. Also, in this story, Elric meets Moonglum, his most faithful companion, and the one who stayed with the albino warrior the longest. An excellent story, simply put.

The Singing Citadel - Elric's first meeting with his long-lasting enemy (from this point on), the sorcerer and servant to Chaos, Theleb K'aarna. Here Elric also meets Yishana, who appears once more in the future Elric stories. The third installment in Weird.

My final word: Read it, read it, read it!

My favourite story in the Song of the Black Sword was the first one, Elric of Melnibone. It was so interesting. There was always something new that the author adds to keep on saturating your mind.

For all fantasy fans, read this book along with the rest of the Eternal Champion series.

Being my first adventure with Elric, an incarnation of the Eternal Champion, I was quite perplexed by Moorcocks approach to dark fantasy.

This book, Song of the Black Sword, contains three full length original Elric novels with the addition of three short stories that would most definetly become a burden to collect. Just having so much out of print or hard to find literature in one novel is well worth the price alone.

The most interesting aspect of these books for myself was not the massive genocide Elric commits with Stormbringer or the bizarre adventures he physically and metaphysically sets foot on , but the strong development of Elric himself.
He has changed the way that I view fantasy with such a dark hero.

I am so please to find the truth about tithing. Now my doubts about tithing has been answered. The author has done an outstanding job scripturally concerning tithing. I now feel freer than I have been in years of this subject. And I am happy to see that there are others out there who feels the same as I did. I want to thank Mr. Webb for this wealth of information on tithing. I recommend anyone who has questions about tithing to read this book, because it is a big eye opener. It has brought santity to my confused mind about giving. I was thinking correctly, but always felt like I was wrong because of the incorrect teaching I now know I received. There is a Pastor/Teacher Bob George, who did get me started on the correct giving and about tithing with his tapes, that was one witness and Michael L Webb is now two. I just thank my God for them for boldly coming forth in setting God's people free. FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD I'M FREE AT LAST, ESPECIALLY IN THIS AREA. MR. WEBB DON'T STOP.

Beyond Tithes and Offerings is a wonderful book! Many of the books and articles I have thus far read concerning this perspective of the tithe are often negative, critical and neglect to encourage the practice of true Christian giving principles according to the Word of God, which can only be effectively enacted out of a changed heart, filled with God's love and divine purpose. Beyond Tithes and Offerings is for certain a brilliant exception!

This book not only outlines clearly and simply the proper biblical context of tithing (in contrast to the traditional view taught in most churches today - including my own, yikes! hehe), but it presents a practical challenge to invite the Lord to come and inspire our motivation to give out of our abundance to supply the lack of others; not out of necessity or by compulsion, but out of love.

If you are one who perhaps has chosen a non-tithing position thinking that this means you are now exempt from a responsibility to give (even of your finances), this book will, on the contrary, prove you otherwise and challenge you directly in your faith and your relationship with Jesus.

Beyond Tithes and Offerings does not neglect the importance of understanding Christ's heart as it concerns our giving.

Since reading this book, in addition to my own personal Bible studies and prayer, I have experienced a revitalized sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and a fresh liberty in the area of giving that I had been missing before. I learned so much more than what tradition has taught me over the years (or perhaps I should say mis-taught). I highly would recommend this book to pastors as well as any Christian who would invite a challenge to their faith and the opportunity to grow in their understanding of God's Word as it applies to the subject of true Christian giving.

The motivation of this book is not to divide churches or turn members against their tithe-preaching pastors or from giving financially to care for the needs of the local church, on the contrary it encourages spiritual growth and attention to the reality and power of God's Word that needs to be wholly applied to our lives in every area. This book is not against giving, in fact it encourages it and pastors needn't feel threatened by the title. It is certainly not the common perspective of most church leaders and Christians in general today (and for many may be a little hard to swallow because it so severely offends the tradition many have religiously observed for years), but it is the biblical perspective and one that I believe has the potential to revolutionize the way churches operate today.

I especially encourage pastors to read this book, because, rest assured, probably a good number of your flock already are! It's going to make preaching the traditional tithe (with Scripture) a whole lot harder, as people begin to just read for themselves the simple truth revealed right in the pages of God's Word.

I want to commend the writers for a wonderful and uplifting book. On the surface this book is about money, but in reality it is more about the freedom and grace that we have as christians. Next to the Bible this is one book that has truly shown me the love and grace of God, this book has had a profound effect in my walk with the Lord. From now on I will be lead by the spirit in my giving and not lead by well meaning but mislead men or women.

My hope and prayer is that we who have read the book and realize the truth in it will have the courage and conviction to stand up for those who are less fortunate than we are, to not fear men but to fear God. Let us also put this book in the hands of men and women that are responsible for handling the money in our churches. As for me I am going to get a few copies and send them out to my church leaders, if they read this book and are not touched by it than I will know that their heart is not for the poor but for the money. Now I know the true freedom I have in Jesus Christ.

Once again I thank the writers for letting God use them in such a powerful way. And most of all I thank Jesus my savior for my salvation and for my FREEDOM.