This book instilled in me a passion for creation. I'm inspired to look for God there, and to have Him work in my life the same way He works in nature. Luci Shaw is so honest about her journey, comes across as a true person with lessons to share and experiences to inspire with!

More than just an exceptional collection of humourous and touching travel stories, this book explores the deep questions of faith, culture and community. The authors invite the reader in, as they process their many varied experiences, and refuse the all-too-easy temptation to arrive at pat answers. Four Souls challenges the reader to seek a life of purpose, to seek God more earnestly, and to expect Him to do far more than even just come through. Reading Four Souls has reignited my passion to combine relationship, ministry and vocation, and to wrestle honestly with what it might look like to really follow Christ. This is a book definitely worthy of gathering a few good friends, a good cup of coffee, and beginning your own epic journey together.

When I was a little tyke -- growing up in Portland, Oregon in the 1960s -- I remember riding in the back seat of our old Buick Special station wagon and speaking those four words all parents hate to hear come whining up to the front: "ARE WE THERE YET?" I guess it's hard to have "joy in the journey" when you're five and living Happy Meal to Happy Meal.

But while "ARE WE THERE YET?" may be the accepted mantra of car-bound toddlerhood, if we're still droning out those four words as we move into adulthood, we'll never discover that life was meant to be much more than the safe arrival at a series of destinations -- but that as T.S. Eliot said, real life, abundant life, epic life is about "discovering the meaning behind our experiences."

In their book "Four Souls", Trey, Matt, Mike and Jedd tell the story of how their "trip around the world" led them to discover some of what they were looking for and all of what they longed for. Are you tired of "self-help" books whose first-person narratives of angst and unearthing leave your soul more bare than it was before turning the first page? Then think about giving "Four Souls" a chance. I have a feeling it just might speak to you the way it's been speaking to me: with clarity, confrontation, and compassion.

Coming across a compass while you're lost in the woods would be the find of a lifetime.

Gregg Lamm / How blessed are those in whom God lives, whose lives become roads God travels. - Psalm 84:5 / paraphrase

"May the urgent things in life never get in the way of the important things." ~Trey

When four friends graduate from Westmont College in Santa Barbara and decided to change their focus, they find themselves considering the possibilities of a worldwide odyssey in search of a meaningful existence. Through their experiences they see the world in an entirely new way. Not only do they find themselves developing a heightened spiritual awareness, they find out what makes life truly important. They want their lives to have some eternal significance.

If you haven't traveled the world, you might not realize the absolute luxury of your life in America. If you have traveled the world, you may already realize that physical poverty does not equal poverty of the soul and physical health and wealth does not equal richness of spirit.

If you are looking for the larger picture, the meaning in life or think of life as a journey, you will enjoy this book. "Four Souls" chronicles a spiritual and literal journey around the globe. Mike, Matt, Jedd and Trey live and work with locals around the world. In each country they touch lives and encourage people who have varied religious beliefs. Their focus is not on one religion, but rather they bring a new sense of adventure to living a life with meaning and purpose and according to the principles of Christ.

They travel to:

Mexico
Guatamala
Russia
Egypt
South Africa
India
Bangladesh
Thailand
Vietnam

Through their travels, conversations, journaling, and real-life cultural experiences they have the dawning realization that the Epic life is the type of life that makes each day worth waking up for. This journey is just part of the process of turning them into the type of men they want to be.

"Snowflakes flurried in the darkness. Whereas the jungles and hills of Guatemala had teemed with movement and noise, chatter and kaleidoscopic color, these ancient forests smothered all sounds beneath their snows. But this realm did not feel less alive. It felt more so, like diving into a lake on a frost-covered morning. There was none of the mental dizziness caused by tropical haze and drowsy warmth. We felt as awake and sharp as the edge of a razor." pg. 106

The writing is often vivid and describes moments with fascinating creativity which shows great powers of observation. Throughout the book, journal sections explore the philosophical ideas each considers while traveling to unique places in the mind as well as the world. They compare the values and culture in America with how unique values are expressed overseas.

Their journey is complicated by overwhelming challenges. First, they must drive through hurricane damaged roads in order to get to Guatemala. They then narrowly escape the eruption of Mount Etna which wreaked havoc on the Sicilian countryside.

To add to the stress of the situation, they leave on their mission with less than the amount needed to complete the trip. They are ten thousand dollars short of their expected budget and then they have many unexpected expenses to deal with along the way. They must deal with corrupt governments, a riot in South Africa, crime and even guerrilla warfare.

They soon realize that America is thought of as a mythical land across the sea and that we have so much while the rest of the world struggles in impoverished conditions. Yet, as they travel, they find that hospitality is given in its purest form, that people live in the moment and the search for wealth is not as important as an emphasis on the beauty of human relationships.

There is also a moment of innocent romance where one of the friends gets a crush on a Russian girl. I loved the descriptions of the cuisine in each country and how the authors brought a sense of culture to each chapter.

"I would have thought that living without the conveniences of electricity, running water, or a car would give one less time for relationships. Surprisingly, I have found the opposite to be true. Wealth and material things so often detract from time for relationships. The complexities that come with more possessions-even while making life more convenient-often bind people to having bad relationships rather than free them to have good ones." -Matt

"What I saw today was just a minor incident, but I think it says a lot about the turmoil that South Africa is going through at this time." -Mike

"If Jesus is who He claimed to be, through, He is the Master of life! From what I've seen in those who really seek to follow Him, living as He taught leads to the epic life I want so badly-not necessarily life without trials, but one full of purpose even in the ordinary moments of everyday life." -Jedd

"Through this trip, we've experienced what an incredible gift it is to be taken in and taken care of. There's just nothing that conveys love and acceptance like an open home and hearth." -Trey

If you enjoy looking at life from unique perspectives, you will enjoy the "reflection sections" which are excerpts from each friend's journal. These sections give each author a moment in the chapters to express their thoughts at a unique moment in time. There are also pictures throughout the book, bringing a creative "travel journal" element to the work.

"Four Souls: A Search For Epic Life" will awaken in you the desire to reach new heights of awareness within yourself and show you there is still good in the world. You may also feel compelled to take this new awareness and channel it into practical ideas that could touch the lives of those you reach out to.

Reading this book made me feel closer to God and made me realize how much God wants to show his love to others, through us. This book will change you and in a few hours you will feel you have gained a new insight into the purpose of life.

I like this character in the first book and am glad she wrote the sequel about her. The history of the Harvey Houses is incredible! This is a well written story with romance and intrigue, just the way I like it!

I finished this book in only a few hours because it was so good. Ms. Peterson is able to draw you into her characters' lives from the beginning. In this book, Rachel (from a "Shelter of Hope") is faced with the trial of working with the man she was engaged to six years ago. With the added frustration of missing inventory, a scheming girl, and an overbearing landlady, Rachel has her hands full. However, by learning to trust again and not giving in when things look their worst, Rachel is able to move forward with her life.

Simone & Jeffrey O'Donnell, the main characters in "Shelter of Hope" play only minor roles in this novel, but the reader is given a look into their life--allowing for the first story to come to its full conclusion.

Hidden in a Whisper is a great book. I read the entire thing in one day. Never a dull moment. Along with the main plot, there is a mystery too, which makes it even more enjoyable!

Styled as a devotional that I read every night before I pray. Easy to understand, wonderful advice. I bought a copy for my whole family.

Evelyn Christensen's devotional breaks down the complexity of prayer into precious nuggets that offer sustenance to both the new Christian and the more experienced pray-er. She addresses prayer "closets" for personal praying, praying in groups, spiritual warfare, and many more. This is my favorite devotional on prayer, and I'm so disappointed that it isn't available from the publisher any longer. I have purchased it as a gift before, and the receivers loved it as much as I do.

In "The Safest Place on Earth" Larry Crabb attempts to promote and foster the formulation of spiritual community. He sees the vehicle through which our emotional problems may be solved as spiritual community rather than psychological therapy. The journey to spiritual community is a journey toward God that requires brokenness. That brokenness enables us to experience and share God's love. Crabb discusses the Biblical concept of "the new man" and "the old man" by using the analogy of the "lower room" and the "upper room." Crabb sees life in the "upper room" as being discovered through spiritual community, which is a mystical process. As such, this spiritual community is a miracle that is only experienced as we wait on God. Once you've know it, you will settle for nothing less.

As a firm believer in the need for spiritual community, I opened this book with high expectations; however those expectations remain unmet. Crabb shared some valuable concepts. I particularly liked the idea of employing "spiritual directs" in our spiritual formation. Yet for me, the book failed to offer any new and innovative insights into spiritual community or provide real answers for achieving it. In fact it seemed laced with a degree of pessimism and gloom that could leave some discouraged regarding the prospect of ever realizing genuine community. I know Dr. Crabb is eminently respected and has helped many in their life's journey, but I found the book less than satisfying.

For those of us who are unable to hide our sin and pain behind smiles, Crabb proposes a startling "new" model: a spiritual community that offers a higher level of acceptance and love, and a chance develop stronger, healthier passions to replace the sinful passions of our old nature. Underlying his message is the belief that we can't really change our sin nature-- all we can do is let Christ's love and the support of truly, non-judgementmal friends help us replace the bad with the good. This book challenges modern counseling in some ways-- but maybe it should be challenged. The author admits to idealism in his proposal of a spiritual community that gives us a place to be real... but it is an idealism toward which we must reach. For anyone frustrated with "churchianity" and desirous of true Christian community, this book is amazingly thought provoking.

I am in the habit of adding notes and references in the front of the books I read so I can return to specific passages when writing or researching issues. I can measure their impact on my thinking by the number of them, and the flyleaf of my copy of this book has little room left. A Psychologist by training, but more, a devoted follower of the Lamb who understands the disciple's journey into the shadow of the valley well, Dr. Crabb shares insights about the nature of the church that bring us back to consider what spiritual community means in real life terms. Larry's writing has the humility and the scars that come from being genuinely engaged in walking with God.

This is a timely book, combining an understanding of the intended intimacy of the church with the freshly awakening desire across Christendom for spiritual formation and direction in the church. In my notes I find definitions for things like: love; life and death; brokenness; mysticism; community; the church. He offers observations about what is lacking Psychology and in psychological theory, and he offers workable models for the church to develop the intimacy, love and community our Triune God intended in both our and the church's design.

If you are considering small groups, and wondering whether they should be evangelistic, or bible studies, or project based, Larry offers an alternative: building genuine community, intertwining lives in functional and useful ways that further our development and transformation. If you are working to develop an understanding our dual natures of flesh and His life within, Larry speaks clearly and usefully to these issues. Dr. Crabb's book is useful for an individual to study, giving us insights into deeper truths in practical and understandable ways. It is equally useful for a group to work through together in understanding the dynamics of community and in living together in ways that produce authentic change. But, most importantly, this is a book that speaks like the voice of a prophet to a floundering church, calling us back to a simple plan: community... I think this is the single most important book (outside the scriptures, of course) I've ever read. I can't make a stronger recommendation.

Grace and Peter's marriage started out as a matter of convenience, but at the time they both fully loved each other. But things don't always last. They have a small argument and one leaves the other.

Karen suffers a great loss and has to decide what to do next. She decides the only thing to do is to head north to the goldfields to find Jacob. With the help of Adrik Ivanov goes with them as their guide but he also has a hidden quest behind the journey.

Peter gets awful news and heads north to investigate but it's too late in the season to actually head north into the goldfields. So he has to wait out the winter with the awful news.

Tracie does a wonderful job in continuing the story of Grace and Karen in this book. Sometimes it's hard to continue a series with such a complex story line. Hopefully the next book will be just as good.

This book fits perfectly as the second in a trilogy. The beginning re-introduces you to the characters, and the end leaves you wanting to read the next book immediately. In between- there are disasters, secrets, and misunderstandings. Despite all of their hardships, the faith of the characters is deepened and strengthened.

These books may be formulaic, but Ms. Peterson writes very well, so the formula isn't noticed as much. The descriptions are vivid and the thoughts of the characters are written so well, I found myself slipping into the book and feeling what the characters were going through.

I ENJOY CHRISTIAN FICTION AND WILL CERTAINLY ADD MS. PETERSON'S NAME TO MY LIST OF FAVORITE HISTORICAL FICTION WRITERS. THIS BOOK, AS WELL AS THE FIRST ONE IN THE YUKON QUEST SERIES,IS VERY ENTERTAINING-A PERFECT DIVERSION FROM REGULAR ROUTINE TASKS. I ANXIOUSLY AWAIT THE THIRD IN THE SERIES AND HOPE THAT WILL BE OUT VERY SOON! IT IS SO REFRESHING TO READ GOOD FICTION THAT IS WHOLESOME AND NOT OFFENSIVE TO THE STANDARD OF LIFE THAT IS ALL IMPORTANT TO ME. I FREQUENTLY SHARE WITH ONE OFF MY TEENAGE GRANDDAUGHTERS BOOKS OF THIS TYPE AND DELIGHT IN HER ENJOYMENT OF THEM AS SHE LOVES LOSING HERSELF IN A BOOK AS OFTEN AS SHE CAN FIT IT INTO HER OTHERWISE BUSY SCHEDULE.

Carolina Adams is not afraid to show interest in education and machinery - in particular, she has fallen in love with the new railroad in Washington, DC. Her parents engage a tutor, James
Baldwin, to assist her in her studies, and James is also expected to court Carolina's older sister Virginia at the same time. However, no one counts on James falling in love with Carolina instead. I was disappointed that James and Carolina did not openly declare their feelings, which requires reading the next book in the series.

Great story line. The unexpected twists and character development truly made this book better than I expected. I definitely look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Distant Dreams is a wonderful book. I liked how it was not your usual romance. You had to deal with the society's rules of the time. I admire Carolina for her tenacity. I'm reading the second book now. Like I said, I like how it's not your usual romance, it doesn't turn out how you expect. I highly recomend it to everyone.

This story was ridiculous! Simone, the main character, could never exist in real life. She was way too perfect and innocent to have been abused her whole life. And she was far too logical about the reasons for her abuse as well. I was horribly disappointed in this book. Anyone who has experienced abuse as a child would know that Simone's scars would not be so readily healed, nor would she have reacted the way she did to the other characters in the story.

This book was interesting. I have been fascinated with the Harvey Girls for a while, but haven't had the opportunity to read much about them (other than watching the Judy Garland movie). I liked the way that Ms. Peterson wove historical elements into her fictional landscape. The country was a different place in the late 1800s and I believe that this story illustrates that. Simone's father held dominion over her in everyway until he sold her--and even then, still controlled her life through fear of discovery. Only with the redeeming power of her confession to God, love of Jeffery can she take back her life--but first she has to learn not only to trust again, but to allow people to become close to her.

A good book and I am going to pick up book 2.

I loved this book! I found myself on edge, wondering if she was going to be found. I love the romance and intrigue combination.

This book was recommended to me, but I was disappointed. Although it is a good book, it wasn't great. Perhaps my level of expectation for religious books has risen. The ideas seemed to be too general, although the first part of the book was good.

If you find yourself in need of a reminder of the basics of Christianity, or needing to learn them for the first time, then read this book. It makes a really good devotional book because it's based on Psalms 120-134...

The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of five is that it tends to get a little repetitive in spots. Otherwise it's a great book.

this book was my first experience with eugene peterson and it nearly blew me out of the water. it exposes so much of the lie that is in the american church. living the christian life is not easy. i used to feel so guilty because it was for me and all around was this lie that life would be easy if you just followed jesus. and also that following jesus was about me and my life. peterson takes us out of ourselves and frees us to experience true joy in this difficult endeavor of following god.

Yancey fills a necessary niche with those who have had experience with church which causes them to fall away and then fill a void that needs filling. However, his bottom line perspective of worship being God has an audience watching worshippers seeking His presence in their hearts is not what God seeks at all. God seeks those who worship Him in spirit and in truth. Thus, where is God in worship? In our heart? What would He want with that sin-filled, darkened, old thing? What He wants is "chesed," Hebrew word for "covenant faithfulness." Our inability totally to do "chesed" caused God to do it for us, incarnate, sacramentally in Christ. Thus, where is God for us? In the Gospel preached in its purity and distributed in the sacraments distributed according to His Testament. Yancey is yet to discover this. Maybe his void will lead him to this. Suggest Yancey and others still seeking God would read Gene Vieth's terrific spiritual journey: "The Spirituality of the Cross."

In this work Yancey traces his Fundamentalist heritage from a conservative WASP church in Georgia, through a Bible-believing seminary in SC, to his ministry at a multicultural church in Chicago pastored by an ex-Bob Jones University grad. By applying the principle of grace in a thoroughgoing way, he shows up the discrepancies of faith and practice in many churches and colleges of the Bible Belt and brings to bear the lessons from Jesus' condescension and ministry.

Unfortunately, Yancey quotes approvingly from Roman Catholic sources and shows a lack of discernment in that area. But overall, this book's a devastating critique of American Fundamentalism in the past several decades. It promises to be a powerful tool in the reformation of a movement that began well in the 1800s-early 1900s.

possibly the best book i've ever read. it is one i will keep and read again and again. i even bought one for a friend.