I would recommend Dr. Joy's book for all couples, at any time in their lives. As a former student of Donald Joy at Asbury Seminary, I can affirm that he speaks from his heart, and that what he says is Biblically sound. As a pastor, whenever I agree to perform a wedding, Dr. Joy's "Bonding," along with "Rebonding," and "Lovers: Whatever Happened to Eden." is required reading for the couple. Get it, read it, recommend it to others.

This book is wonderful in explaining bonding patterns of the human being. I'm glad that I have read this book before I started a family, but I wish I had read this in my teens. It would have saved me a lot of heartache. This is a must read for anyone who wants their approach to relationship to match that of Jesus'.

According to Karen-Marie Yust, professor of Christian Education at my seminary, Christian Theological Seminary, the book 'How to Use Camping Experiences in Religious Education: Transformation through Christian Camping' by Steven Venable and Donald Joy is about the only book available on the topic of Church Camping. It is a very brief book, some 120 small pages, and only briefly touches on many practical issues related to church camp planning, leadership, and implementation. Yet, as Yust says, it is about the only book available. True, more general guides on Christian education and youth ministry will talk about camping experiences as part of their text, but not in the systematic way that Venable and Joy provide here, and not with such focus.

In twelve brief chapters, Venable and Joy trace history, theory, and practice of church camp experience in a very practical way. This is designed to aid the current or potential camp leader or counselor, as well as give insight to church school and Christian educators who are interested and concerned about church camp experiences, and how they might fit into an overall programme of education and formation.

'How to Use Camping Experiences in Religious Education is designed to get you up and running as quickly as possible. Chapters 3-11 constitute the 'handbook' tools, each offering information on a specific aspect of religious camping. Each chapter ends with an annotated bibliography that points the way to other resources.'

This points to two primary strengths of this book. First, the chapters are brief, to-the-point expositions of specific aspects of church camps. How does bible study fit in? How does worship work at a campground? What makes a good camp counselor? These considerations form the core of the handbook text, which addresses the following topics:

oGetting started
oSmall groups
oCamp bible study
oWorship at camp
oCamp counselors
oRites of passage
oCreative programming
oChoices and strategies
oDeveloping a leadership team
oBackpacking

The last chapter is a special love of Donald Joy's, so he details the advantages and considerations of holding a backpacking experience camp. This chapter also shows the details one must consider when getting further involves in any kind of specialty camp.

A second strength is the bibliographic material at the end of each chapter, which gives a current guide to outside resources - knowing that this book doesn't provide all there is that needs to be known, it assists the reader in locating useful resources to build upon the broad principles provided in this text. The references are varied and useful on different levels; for instance, the bibliographic references for small groups includes three books of practical suggestions, but also includes an autobiography (of E. Stanley Jones) that helps illustrate through the life of a person the importance of small groups, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer's 'Life Together', a book that shows the overwhelming importance of small groups in the face of overwhelming obstacles and life struggles.

It is the combination of these features that gives this book real power. The suggestions are direct and easy to understand, but they are also open-ended in theory and practice, so that the reader will be encouraged to use these guidelines and ideas as a starting point, and not as an end or a set curriculum.

Through the book, the importance of community is highlighted. The formation of camp communities small and large, the importance of community spirit and feeling in and outside of camp, and the power that community can play in the education and formation of campers permeates all the suggestions and narratives.

'Community is not something to be taken lightly. During the time set apart for camp, campers and counselors alike are searching for meaning and significance, and they often find it in the unique bonds that they form with one another. The experience of community at camp is magnified when the homes, communities, and churches we come from fail to reflect and make use of this strength.'

Tying the theory and practice of church camping back to the example of Jesus in his wilderness reflections and wandering ministry, Venable and Joy show a biblical basis to the practice of camping. The authors show their enthusiasm most strongly in the conclusion, where they state they will continued camping ministry 'so long as we have breath'. Their final statement, 'Blessed camping!', is in fact what this book is to camping. A blessing indeed.

This is one of the best "small in size", yet "great in content" books that I have read on the subject of summer camping in my lifetime! It is filled with ideas, theology, and practical suggestions. The authors provide tips for the effective training of staff and counsellors, discuss the importance of small groups, deal with worship and Bible study in the outdoor context, and speak imaginatively and creatively to camping programs as part of life journeys. They include important sections on rites of passage, schedule planning, and backpacking. Each chapter ends with a solid list of resources. You could plan an entire camping program with the use only of this book.

I wish I had read this book when I was an adolescent! Written as a personal guidebook for his grandsons, Joy's book traces the steps for leaving behind the ways of childhood and moving forward comfortably and confidently as a man. His chapter on a healthy approach to sexuality alone is worth hunting down a copy of this book. Also commendable is the discussion of "Pair-Bonding", the twelve steps of developing a relationship with the person who will be your life-long mate.

This Christian-based treatise on how to empower adolescents to become adults provides parents with guidelines to serve as mentors to the young. Moral and value lessons lie at the heart of this survey, recommended for parents and anyone else who would work with teens and young adults.

This book deserves to be listed among the important works on developing faith. Are you seeking to help others lead others in learning about the Bible and the life of faith? Are you an educator and want to see how methods can be integrated with spirituality of education? Read this book to have an inspirational look at the possibilities in helping others.

This book uses secular studies and personal testimony to validate that christian principles are the best way for any man to lead his life. Fathers can use this book to help raise strong, satisfied, responsible, and sensitive sons.