Barry is a very well known, highly respected and extremely experienced spiritual director, retreat director, and psychologist who writes this text out of that wealth of theoretical knowledge and pastoral experience for spiritual directors and primarily for directors of Ignatian retreats. The title affirms a faith that God deals directly with souls and the director's task is merely to facilitate that relationship, assisting retreatants to clarify their desires, be open to God's self-revelation, and understand their unique role in the divine plan using imaginative prayer, feeling, discernment and previous touchstone religious experience. These themes and more are developed in this masterful text that would be profitable not just to spiritual directors but to anyone whose spirituality is Ignatian or based in the Spiritual Exercises.

First, a confession: I have not read this book cover to cover. This is more of a beautifully illustrated reference book giving the history of each Christmas Carol. It comes in a boxed set with 3 CD's (47 songs). The book has almost 100 beautiful Christmas images including Saturday Evening Post covers, Currier and Ives Lithographs, N.C. Wyeth, Norman Rockwell, Grandma Moses, ...even art from private collections and the Ukrainian National Art Museum. Wow!
When I leave this book on my coffee table, visitors ask where they can buy one.
I like the fact that I can look up the words to all of those songs that I keep playing on my CD player.

Where can I start? This book shares a lifetime of failure and triumph, of tears and laughter, and it is real life!! It has really practical ways to teach your children (and yourself!) how to love God with all their hearts. Carla shares her life with a tenderness and humility that only a mother that has been trained by God can. She does not tell you what to do but openly shares her own struggles and joys and encourages you to seek your own relationship with the Living God. Sometimes you will laugh at the silly stories that go along with raising children and sometimes you will cry as you relate to the heart of a mother seeking to lead her children down the narrow path. Without sounding too much like a cliche...You will laugh, you will cry. And hopefully you will cry out to God to make you a parent after His heart. I know it challenged me to do so and to daily look at what I really represent to my children.

The book also is written in a way that is easy to read chapter by chapter or to just flip open when you need some encouragement. It is written by a mother, but can benefit both parents as the father is steadily included within the lives of the children. You can look up a certain discipline and how you can apply it each age group. Overall, the book is most excellent book on parenting on the market. If you know someone who needs encouragement or some direction in their spiritual life and in their parenting, this is a book for you! Take the time and the money to make it a part of your library. You will be thankful!

What a great movement from theology and philosophy to the practical. If you think the current discussion about the Christian family within the popular media is missing the mark this book is for you. A powerful review of the biblical call to be in the world and not of it and how that applies to the family. The last three chapters give some great application of his survey of the biblical principles for the family. However, don't skip the first part it is necessary reading in order to get the basic foundation for the Christian family in the twenty-first century

I teach Old Testament Studies to sixth grade students and am always looking for teaching aids. This book is excellent! It has over 30 pages dedicated to Old Testament characters and another 20+ for New Testament. A brief explanation of the character and then an encoded puzzle message. My students have a great time figuring out the coded message. I strongly recommend for any Sunday School teacher grades 6 and up.

This book is a "must read" for parents of boys. My mother in law bought this book for herself and for me. She has already raised 3 boys so some of this she must have known already She and my father in law raised a boy-my husband into a man that has some great qualities and is very unique in his own way. This book tells you how to treat a boy and helps a new mother and father understand the importance of their task to raise a son into a strong, but sensitive caring man. I want all my friends with boys to read this.

I appreciated this book for its Christian perspective on a few of my favorite Shakespeare plays. The author explored not only the plots, but also the characters' relationships to Christ. The author made insightful parallels and comparisons between the characters and Christ and His church. I also appreciated the critiques of some of the film versions of the plays. I heartily recommend this eye-opening book!

For those pastors who would like to understand how to begin a stewardship camapaign, Watley's book on tithing is essential. He first helps the pastor understand the nature of stewardship: stewardwhip is not a campaign to raise money for a chruch, it is a campaign that teaches how to express our praise and thanksgiving to God for what God has already done in our lives through faithful giving. Those who hear the messages contained in Watley's book will undoubltly remark that their new understanding of tithing has changed their faith walk. Watley's messages expertly lead people to receive the tithing message painlessly. Believe me, hearing these messages preached and using the guidlines he suggests, will transform your church. It has mine!

Many talk about values or "family values". I have never heard anyone speak so clearly and with such wisdom about values and the root of values. Don't read this book if you want to keep your current paradigm about life and what is important.

A friend loaned me his copy of this book. Now, after reading it, I want a copy of my own. I also plan to give several copies as gifts. The authors offer guidance to parents who want to build their families based on Christian principles. The first half of the book discusses several approaches that help you deal with difficult parenting issues. The second half of the books offers techniques to build the basic skills needed to succeed.

If you are a parent who thought you were alone in building your family on a solid Christian foundation, this book will offer you practical advice and encouragement.