This is a wonderful and very moving book that would be a wonderful gift for anyone in your family or friends. I bought one for each of my children and their families to have for Christmas and for anytime they need to be thankful for their family.

This book is so great and sad. I'm not very emotional and I almost cried. It shows how any sin no matter how great it is can be forgiven by God because He loves us so much. I also recommend other Max Lucado books like Cosmic Christmas.

I got this book for Christmas last year from my Aunt and I read it that night... it was such and wonderful story it made me cry. This book really makes you think about how important it is to have family and friends around for Christmas and all through the year. The way the book is desinged and the little truesures that it holds makes you want to dive right in the story and it leaves you with a deep feeling of saddness and happiness. And when i have children i am planning on giving this book to them and to have it out every Christmas so that others can read is heart-warming story. Merry Christmas!

I have a copy of Desiderata, eighth edition, published by Brooke House, Los Angeles, illustrated by Emil Antonucci. I would like to order copies of this edition. Is that possible? Life's lessons have never been so simply and eloquently stated. So many of us need to be reminded!!!

I can say my favorite author ever. What a statement while at the same time writing a way of life.... I have his first novel ever published from 1898, signed! He was amazing.

One of my favorite poems, a comforting and refreshing perspective on life's big picture. It purports to have been discovered in a church in the seventeenth century, but in fact it was written by a man named Max Ehrmann in the first third of this century. I have kept a copy around since elementary school (ever since I learned that Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, kept one in his office), and now keep one in my office at home and one at work.

I have taught Sunday School for nearly 15 years. I have always been critical of curriculum available for teachers. There are many good books but few with good curriculum. Walk This Way is the best book I have ever used! Tim Woodruff not only has a way of making the Beatitudes come alive, but his packaging of his message is brilliant. If you want to undertand the essence of the message of Christ, buy this book! If you want to share the Gospel with others, buy this book! If you are a teacher of young or old or in between, teach the Beatitudes and buy this book as your guide. It is the best teaching tool I have ever used.

Tim Woodroof has written a wonderful, thought-provoking book on the Beatitudes. The book is an excellent resource for preaching, teaching, and group discussions. I came across the book while planning a sermon series on the beatitudes and found Tim's creative approach, picturesque language, and writing style irresistable. Had I known about the book earlier, I would have used it as a study and discussion guide for the entire church to use as a compliment to the sermon series. There is plenty of material for class, discussion groups, and individual daily study. The book is not only strong on content, but on creative imagery, illustrations, and word pictures that help the message of the beatitudes come alive. It is also especially strong on application.

I've never read a book that taught me so much. Much of my life I skimmed over Jesus' first words to his disciples, but Walk This Way dove deep into the meaning that Jesus had for his disciples back then as well as for his disciples today. I believe this book is God inspired, and will help change your life concerning your relationship with Christ and the world around you. After reading it through 3 times, I am now using it as a study guide to teach a Sunday School class. The book does a good job in helping to facilitate discussions within a group.

As we grow up, no one tells us that we are "thing-makers" and "thing-users." No one tells us that some of the THINGS we make and use have turned into "master things" that no longer serve but rule the human. Jonesburg opens the human eye to reality of thing-making. Look around you --- whether it is the computer, the house, the office, the rules set by government, the police, teacher, food, and essentially anything else we can think of --- they are all "things" created by humans. Government is a "complex thing" made by humans. Education system is a "complex thing" made by humans. Workplace is a "complex thing" made by humans. We constantly interact with these "complex things," searching to satisfy our needs. Yet, according to Jonesburg, some time in human history, these "complex things" ceased to merely become artifacts made by humans to serve human needs, and instead turned into what Jonesburg calls --- master artifacts. Each master artifact uses a system of brute force coupled with conditioning exercises to control those who must serve than be served. The book is definitely an eye-opener on social structure. However --- it also leaves a very bad taste in one's mouth. It is sort of like the movie MATRIX. --- Have you seen it? Reading this book makes one wake up and find oneself chained to all sorts of super-things, super-machines, super-structures, each controlling and dictating some aspect of one's life. For those accustomed to serving the "masters" and having no "revolutionary genes," this would not be a good reading! According to Jonesburg, many never seek reality but only masters to serve.

Mr. Jonesburg provides for the reader an excellent tool for someone that is seeking to evolve to a higher self. In effect, his perspective is one of being outside of human society altogether, looking in. You could say that he is seeing things from a very soul-ful perspective. Having read his book, I am better able to understand semantics of words, and how labels are used by people, and as well, how concepts are utilized by people. He is correct in quoting Bhudda's three points- that suffering is because of the perspectives that we hold, and the belief systems that we adhere to.

His perspective has added much depth to my own personal perspective. If you are a free-thinker, this book has value.

P.S. You may wish to check to see if the library has this one before you buy.

The concepts presented in this book are verry inspiring and are presented clearly and to the point. Ways of living and dying presents an existencial viewpoint that shows how our tools are granted essences by us, allowing them to no longer be tools. they become entities which enslave us as the tools.

Max Lucado writes amazing stories for children and this one is no different. Through out the whole story you learn more about God and how He can and will be with you all the way throughout life's journeys. Every time i open one of his books I learn so much. Mr. Lucado's books especially poin out good Christian teachings in ways that children can understand the best. I can't wait until I read the rest of the book like this one. I read this book in about 5 minutes and I loved it. The story is a simple one but an amazing one. I grew up in church and the moral of this is one tha tI have heard many times already. Thsi story put it into different words that I know my children will love as much as I did. Each prince is given the chance to marry the king's daugher but first they must make it through the forest. No one has even entered the forset and then left it. THe king's special glute will guide them. If they loose site if it they will be lost. How do they make it though? Which one will make it first? Who will be thir one companion? So many questions. Read the book it is a childrens book made for all ages. Enjoy the lessons hidden within

Three princes are given the same challenge: Be the first to travel through the woods and arrive at the king's castle. The winner may marry the king's daughter. No one who has entered the woods has ever come back. Each may choose a traveling companion. Each has the promise of hearing the king's flute three times a day to help guide him. But only one will find out who will be with him all the way. This book captured the imaginations of all the boys in my class.

My kids asked for this again and again -- even the 6 and 8 year olds! I think "alphabet of feelings" gave them a way to understand what they were going through -- from to "brave" to "worried", "yucky" or even "zippy".

Although other reviews praised this book, I found it to be lacking in stimulating the senses of African American children and other cultures although the concept was great. As I began reading this book to my African American grandchildren, I didn't get past the 5th page before they were bored. They were not able to identify with any of the children displayed in this book, not even the children that were too busy to meet the king. I believe when we send an important message to our children through writing, that every child should be able to identify with that message. I am very sorry that I purchased this book for ($$) and if it is returnable, I will be sending it back. I definitely do not recommend this book for families looking to teach their children life's messages through cultural diversity.

I gave this book 4 stars because I haven't read it
yet, and I didn't want to skew the average, one way
or the other. Basically, I just wanted to post a
rebuttal to what another reviewer wrote.

To the charge made by another reviewer, that the
illustrations are Euro-centric, and children of
colour might find them dull and boring:

Regardless of their ethnicity, children MAY find the
illustrations dull and boring....But, content matters
more than style. The moral of the story is what one
hopes they will remember.

As a person of colour myself, I would feel more
comfortable giving my kids a Christian book, than
I would say, a "Little Bill" book.

Would you take poison if it came in candy wrapper?

Not to belittle "Little Bill," but Christian books
like these are all too rare, to worry about issues
of "cultural diversity" in illustrations.

That said,...Max Lucado, if you ever get a chance to
read this, you may wish to consider teaming up with
the following artists:

Mark Salisbury - A Trip to the Hospital

Andy Mastrocinque - A Visit to the Dentist

Jennifer Oxley - We're Going to the Zoo!

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE is a wonderful story that any child will enjoy because we all want to impress people--it's human nature. It is about orphans finding out they are going to be adopted by the king. They are very excited and don't know what to do. The townspeople tell them they need to prepare fine gifts to "impress him when he arrives," so each one begins working fervently preparing his/her gift. One of the orphans can't think of a skill/gift she has and goes to each of the other orphans asking for help. Each one is abrupt, sending her off saying they are in a hurry and don't have time to help her. The girl feels she has nothing to give and is very sad.

The king comes dressed in common clothes and the orphan who has no gift greets him and feeds and grooms his donkey. She sees that this man is very tired and offers him a place to rest. When he wakes up he then goes out to find his orphans and later returns to the girl caring for his donkey, disappointed because everyone was too busy to see him.

The king tells the orphan girl she gave the best gift of all...

There is so much beauty in this book. A valuable story for children to hear, understand and apply to their lives. I give JUST THE WAY YOU ARE a very high recommendation.

Soaring Heart