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Book reviews for "Williams,_Christian" sorted by average review score:

Bob Dylan: In His Own Words
Published in Paperback by Omnibus Press (1993)
Authors: Bob Dylan, Miles, Christian Williams, and Chris Williams
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Starting A Dylan Book Collection?
This is really a (the) great book for the base of a Dylan book
collection. Each of the 112 pages comprising this paperback
has at least one photograph, and many pages have two or three!
In my mind the pictures alone are worth a binding of their own. They
include many of his co-workers, and famous peers. After looking
at all of them for the first time, you really get a "feel" for
the environment in which he has been working (living) for the
last 30 - 40 years.

The entire collection of quotes (quotes and pictures are all you get, folks)
are catagorized by a plethora of topics, which enables quick referencing,
so you really should learn ALOT about his PERSONALITY.
I say "personality" because the quotes are in
conversational mode, candid, ranginging from silly quips and
understatements to very sincere and thoughtful comments; the way
I imagine he shares with intimates. This is not a stilted,
unemotional, professional collection of aphorisms, and I feel better informed
as a result.

A must for any Dylan fan
Bob Dylan fans will enjoy this book that features over 100 pages of Dylan quotes on subjects ranging from music, the 60's, drugs, love, his idols, songwriting, and more. Everybody knows that Dylan was a wily and occasionally malicious interviewee, and this book reflects that. I laughed out loud several times at his witticisms directed back at the hollow questiosn that were put to him. However, there are some very pointed answers that he serves up here as well, that seemingly give a real insight into his persona, his life, and his views. There are also a lot of high-quality pictures. My only complaint is that the book is a little short-you can easily read it all in one setting, though it's probably a book that you'll go back to time and again to see what Dylan offered up on a particular subject-it would have been nice, for instance, if it had a section where Dylan commented upon particular songs of his, such as was done in the Leonard Cohen book in the "In His Own Words" series. Still, Dylan interviews are always hard to come by, and this is the best copendium you'll find featuring them.

Best Interview Book Around -- Fun
This book contains a compilation of Dylan's own words, transcribed from interviews, press conferences, radio, and TV shows. Complete with scores of pictures, In His Own Words is a must for any Dylan fan. Dylan dons persona after persona, and the results are quite entertaining.


Sunset Coast
Published in Paperback by Crossway Books (1995)
Author: Susan Devore Williams
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Wonderful! A keeper to read again and again!
After checking this book out from the library many times, I've decided I need to purchase a copy of my own before it goes out of print! I especially loved the way music was interwoven throughout the book. The characters are real people who make rational decisions (unlike many "romance" books). They grow and develop throught the book. I've just signed up for Amazon elerts to alert me when Susan D. Williams next book will come out. Soon, I hope!

This is one of my all-time read again & again favorites!
I loved the characters because they were the kind of people I'd like to be friends with & share with. I liked the gentle patience for the heroine as she grew, the fabulous descriptions of N. Calif., the mouth watering food, the decor, the unconditional love, & the priest...'just say Yes to God' is great wisdom. Where's her next book??? I keep looking!

loved its non-preachy style
I think this book is so awesome! I'm used to books that make the girl wait untill the guy became a Christian or vice versa, but in this book the woman becomes a believer after she receives a proposal from the guy. So its like she's accepting God because its the only solution for her life, not because the guy is giving her a spiritual ultimatum.


Your Work Matters to God
Published in Paperback by Navpress (1988)
Authors: Doug Sherman and William Hendricks
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Life changing
Looking for this book on Amazon, because once again my loaned out copy somewhere got lost in the shuffle. Not the first time this happened to me, for this book. That's ok - it's helping get the word out!

This book is amazing, it changed my whole perspective on work, forever. I read it over 5 years ago, and am still impressed at how well the authors articulated God's purpose for work in our lives. Indeed, it's a form of worship. Should be required reading for every Christian, really.

Integrates Two Worlds -- Church & Work
Finding the teaching of Martin Luther on the Christian call and vocation, Sherman investigates and prepares a seminary dissertation on this topic.

Well done expose on Romans 12:1-2, how Christians do not see their calls as whatever work God gives them to do, that there they are His ambassadors, to carry His light and let it shine through them in whatever endeavors God equips them to do.

Work was there for humans even before the fall into sin, and thus this book does a great service to the church when it encourages it to take this significant area of our lives and let it still be part of our God given stewardship.

I used this successfully as a Bible study. Sherman and his company at that time had great additional materials, including a video, etc.

To go more into the background of all this, see Gustav Wingren's "On Vocation."

God is interested in every aspect of your life
Many Christians think that God is only interested in the `spiritual' things like going to church, evangelism. For many years, I suspect such views lack something but couldn't prove why. Is it possible that the God who creates my physical body and brains be so unconcern that I need to eat to live and that work is needed to produce food? Isn't Adam commanded to work in the garden? If work is really irrelevant to God, why are we spending half of our waking lives at work?

This book has addressed many of the burning questions. Yes, God is interested in every aspect of your life - your body, family & work! You can integrate religion with work and business! God has something to say about why he wants you to work, what kind of job to do and how to handle the unpleasant aspects of work, anything you name it.

If you seriously want to glorify God every minute of your life, you should not hesitate to spend a few hours reading this book that can change your eternity! Books like this is rare!


As Iron Sharpens Iron: Building Character in a Mentoring Relationship
Published in Paperback by Moody Publishers (1999)
Authors: Howard Hendricks and William Hendricks
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The Marvel of Mentoring
I have yet to be disappointed with anything written by Howard Hendricks. In this book, he does a superb job of presenting the tremendous worth and transforming power of a mentoring relationship between two men. While these principles would also apply to a woman-to-woman relationship, Hendricks is writing to provide support for the Christian men's movement "Promise Keepers."

There are two sections to this work: how to find a mentor, and how to be a mentor. Hendricks emphasizes there are many more men seeking mentors than there are men who are willing to be mentors. He discourages actually using the title of "mentor" when establishing such a supportive relationship, for fear it will intimate one of the parties. Instead, he promotes referring to the interaction as what would occur between two friends. Hendricks also describes how to spot a mentor or a protégé, then how to avoid common pitfalls of such an arrangement.

For anyone seeking to learn from a respected male friend, or for someone seeking to invest his life-lessons of experience in a younger man, this book is simply invaluable.

Proverb of Solomon Rings True:
Prov 27:17
17 As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend
NKJV

Here, we have the example of keeping our friends in the light of God and this book elaborates on it. Discipleship is the key to good fruit in our life.
I am sure many of you know discipleship from the New Testament but do you realize it is as old as Time? God wanted to disciple Adam and Eve and in return, they would disciple the World. This book relates specifically to the "Men" doing the discipling.
I was pleased to see how much my life and Ministry changed after reading this book and listening to the voice of the Spirit of Truth. If you are a man in need of a closer walk, pick up a copy of this book and see if you too will be changed.

Overall, I would recommend this book to other men of God.
Subject: Re: Self-Selected Mentoring Book Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 21:29:56 -0800 From: "Bryan D. Souza" Organization: Clovis Unified School District Newsgroups: pep.gsep.ed639.chaka References: 1

Mike Menchaca wrote:

As you all know, your first reading assignment was to self-select a mentoring book from Amazon.com. You can thread your postings from here.

It will be very helpful to the class if you'd include the following: 1. Author and Name of the Book 2. Three Major Important Points emphasized by the book. 3. Why you liked the book. 4. Why you didn't like the book. 5. Overall assessment of the book.

QUESTION #1: Howard and William Hendricks (Father and Son Team) Building Character in a Mentoring Relationship: As Iron Sharpens Iron - 1995 (270 pages)

QUESTION #2: This book is addressed specifically toward men and is broken in 2 major parts with a Mentoring Action Plan located in the back of the book. Its release was scheduled to coincide with the 1995 schedule of the national Promise Keepers conferences.

Part 1 is for men who want to be mentored.

This part helps the reader to understand what character traits he should look for when trying to find a mentor: someone who is real, creative, and captures your heart. The book focuses on the mentoring that leads to spiritual maturity with numerous analogies and examples of what character traits a man needs to nature our souls. Hence the title which is derived from the Bible: "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens the other." (Proverbs 27:!7)

It identifies on p.63 "Ten Marks of a Mentor" The ideal mentor is a person who... 1. Seems to have what you personally need. 2. Cultivates relationships. 3. Is willing to take a chance on you. 4. Is respected by other Christians. 5. Has a network of resources. 6. Is consulted by others. 7. Both talks and listens. 8. Is consistent in his lifestyle. 9. Is able to diagnose your needs. 10.Is concerned with your interests.

This part of the book explains the benefits of having a mentor: helps you reach your goals and provides a role model. Where to find a mentor: at work, at college, or your church. How to cultivate a mentor relationship. The differences between a formal and informal mentoring relationship. The expectations both realistic and unrealistic. And taking personal responsibility for growing a mentoring relationship.

Part 2 is for men who are willing to serve as mentors.

This part of the book cites several examples of Biblical men (Paul and Barnabas) who felt inadequate about leadership, yet were very influential to the lives of numerous men. It explains the benefits of being a mentor: relationships, personal growth, and making a difference in the lives of other men. The roles of a mentor are clearly explained and "analogized" with several examples. On page 159 the book defines the mentoring relationship by using these practical keys to serve his protégé.

A Mentor... - is a source of information - provides wisdom (as guided by the Bible) - promotes specific skills and effective behaviors - provides feedback - coaches - is a sounding board - is someone to turn to - helps devise plans - nurtures curiosity

Then this part of the text goes on to state how to find a protégé, what to look for, and how to properly cultivate the mentoring relationship.

The Mentoring Action Plan found in the third section of the book is designed as a workbook to help develop Mentor / Protégé relationships in a thoughtful and practical manner. It focuses on the art of mentoring in a reflective way with discussion and activities that can be used a a primer for mentoring relationships.

QUESTION #3:

I enjoyed the many practical examples presented in this book. It is straightforward, easy to read, and can be life changing. It is one of those books that you want to go back and reread for insight and direction.

QUESTION #4:

This book is targeted toward a very specific audience. As a man and a Christian, I had no complaints with this book. However, if I was neither this book probably would not be very useful or convincing to me.

QUESTION #5: Overall, I would recommend this book to other men who are wondering how to create meaningful, Godly relationships with other men.


The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy: The Conspiracy and Coverup
Published in Paperback by Thunder's Mouth Press (1993)
Authors: William W. Turner and Jonn G. Christian LV
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WHO DID IT?
This book raises the issue yet again of a possible conspiracy regarding the 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy. The authors, to their credit treat the late Senator with respect; they do a good job of providing information about the Senator's professional and political career. In reading this particular work one comes away with a sense of the man who was killed in 1968; Robert Kennedy was considered by many to be Everyman's Advocate. He certainly was a man of strong convictions who appeared to be quite committed to his visions of a "more gentle" world; he was a man with whom many, particularly the disenfranchised could identify with.

The issue this work is concentrated on is the identity and motives of the assassin or assassins. The authors present a very strong and convincing argument of why they feel Sirhan did not act alone nor did he fire the fatal shot; the mysterious "girl in the polka dot dress" allegedly seen with Sirhan, and later allegedly seen fleeing the hotel minutes after the assassination, shouting "We shot him!" Did such a girl exist? If so, who was she and what was her involvement? As for Sirhan, there appears to be little doubt that he was involved to a certain extent in the death of Robert Kennedy; just how great that extent was and who else was involved remain open questions.

The biggest open question of all never knowing what Robert Kennedy would have accomplished had he not died. His untimely death in 1968 has left a painful void in history.

Clearly written, well done, but with what result?
Turner and Christian present a well documented, convincing story of why the RFK assassination needed independent review in 1970s or 80s. This book places a lot of questions at the feet of the LAPD, and perhaps also with the CIA. But the major question is why there was not more public outcry for a review of the investigation back in 1968 and the following ten years.

One wonders, now in 2003, what relevance is left to this book. After reading it, any reader should better understand how too blind a faith in our government and its agencies might lead to a loss of control over these agencies, with disasterous results. Will we allow history to repeat itself? At a time when significant diminishing of our individual freedoms is occurring, the histories of RFK and JFK might make us rethink how far we might want to go to battle terrorism. Even if you don't really buy-in to any of the conspiracy theories, the clumsiness of the investigations should provide plenty of reasons to want _more_ oversight of these agencies, not less.

A very convincing page-turner...too bad it's non-fiction
With all the "JFK Killed by Elvis" books on the market, one might overlook this wonderful book by Christiann and Turner. Like "All The President's Men", the book tells the story of a politician and journalist who dared to search for the truth in a maze of cover-ups and bold-faced lies. The authors provide convincing, simple evidence that RFK could not have been shot by only one man, let alone the feeble Sirhan Sirhan. Anyone interested in the RFK assassination, or in the political turmoil of the late '60's, doesn't know the whole story until they've read this fine book.


Into the Light
Published in Paperback by Rhino Publishing (01 January, 2003)
Authors: William C. Douglass, Alex Manyoma, and Christian M. Desharnais
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Eye Opening
I was amazed at the level of detail. It's heavily documented, which is refreshing in an alternative medicine book. In fact, if what Dr. Douglass says is true (and I'm pretty confident it is), then the mainstream medical establishment has a lot of explaining to do about why they have rejected and ignored light-based therapies that have produced excellent, well-documented clinical or double-blind results over the course of a century.

He also does an excellent job in not overselling his claims. He pulls no punches about when and where the therapy failed to work. When it does work, he also doesn't hold back in his enthusiasm. Some might be put off by this last fact, but I think his presentation is well-balanced, overall.

My only criticism is that, while most documentation is excellent, I wish the author had paid a bit more attention to completing all of his references. I have a second edition copy, which includes a reference on page 232 to something called, _AIDS - The End of Civilization_, Chapter 6. Unfortunately, there are no other descriptions of that book that I could find, such as who wrote or published it. I learned later that it was another book by the same author, but that fact should have been included in the reference.)

Another example of an inaccurate reference is on page 236, where he mentions a blue light therapy performed on a little girl in Chapter 14. Unfortunately, Chapter 14 is about a doctor with AIDS and how he has dealt with this personal crisis. It has no reference to either blue light therapy or the little girl.

Such mistakes aside, the overall value of the book is tremendous. I recommend it heartily to anyone whose mind isn't closed like a steel trap.

I also recommend another book by the author called Hydrogen Peroxide, Medical Miracle. The two books should really be considered companions of each other.

Factual history and indications of this excellent therapy
Dr. Douglass is a leading American expert on Photoluminescence (aka Blood Irradiation, Biophotonic Therapy, etc.). In this book he provides a great deal of very useful original source material from the early American clinical trials of this formidable therapy. He has travelled to Russia to consult with physicians there and includes some material from recent Russian sources as well. The book is written in an engaging style, with many insights into topics related to this therapeutic use of the chemiluminescent property of human blood cells. The abundant evidence from this book makes it clear that mainstream medicine has allowed an excellent therapy to slip through the cracks. Readers may also wish to consult George Miley, "Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation" and my "Healing Photons" as well as our Website--biophoton.com. Kenneth J. Dillon, Spectrum Bioscience, Inc.

Good read. Important Information about treatment
I rarely read a book all the way through as I have done with this one. Fascinating. Shocking (why has not the NIH done rigorous studies on light therapy? Full of hope.


Leadership on the Other Side: No Rules, Just Clues
Published in Paperback by Abingdon Press (2000)
Authors: Bill Easum and William M. Easum
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Leadership Clues to the Wormhole for Church Leaders
Bill Easum has made several important contributions in this book that makes it well worth reading. First, he forces us to think in fuzzy terms about the future of leadership by suggesting that ahead of us are clues rather than rules.

Second, he injects a strong element of postmodern thinking into the conversation that forces us to think in nonlinear terms. Third, he is clearly spiritual and Jesus-focused in his clues.

Fourth, he has a handle on leadership from an individual perspective, a congregational perspective, and the denominational or larger Church perspective. Fifth, he challenges church leaders about their primary client. Do they serve the congregation, or do they serve Jesus?

Sixth, he challenges the church at various levels to anticipate the kind of leadership that will be needed in the 21st century. Seventh, he has a clear focus on helping the church at various levels address the spiritual needs of 21st century preChristians.

Hold On Tight
Easum's book is about the dramatic and inevitable change of our era and the characteristics of effective leadership in this changing environment and in the era after this period of intensive change. The following is a brief description of the major thrusts of this book.
The demise of the Modern Age and Christendom is declared. Mr. Easum intersperses throughout the entire book, evidence of cataclysmic and permanent social change that is currently taking place. He demonstrates how the emerging generation learns and receives information differently than generations before it. He shares statistics that demonstrate major demographic shifts in the make up of families, in church affiliations, in education, etc. A new emphasis on spirituality and the value of emotion in the emerging generation is discussed.
The change is compared by metaphor to the "wormhole." This is a name given by scientific theorists for the gateway between entire universes. Mr. Easum contends that the change being wrought in our time is paramount to travel through a wormhole into an entirely new universe and time. Rather than giving this new time / place a name, such as "Postmodern" which describes what it is not; he compares it to the "Pre-Christian" time of the establishment of the New Testament Churches. This sets up the next focus of this book, life and leadership in the wormhole.
The majority of the book describes "clues" about leadership characteristics and tactics in the wormhole and in the resulting new era that Mr. Easum calls the OtherSide. The changes are so complete and being made at such a fast rate that concrete principles or rigidly defined characteristics of leadership become obsolete almost as fast as they are identified. Therefore, rather than provide such concrete definitions of leadership, he provides clues that help us picture what effective leaders and leadership activities and motives will look like during this change of eras.
One of the leadership clues discussed involves the creation of a "permission giving" culture. Easum uses another metaphor, DNA, to illustrate a church's having identified and communicated its mission and values throughout the congregation. All persons are encouraged to develop leadership skills and to participate in ministries that help the church "replicate" its DNA (move toward and accomplish its mission).
The end of each chapter (called Portals) contains a series of thought provoking, evaluation provoking exercises. They are entitled, "Journal Entries and Other Painfully Wonderful Experiences to Help You Feel and Think. These exercise, along with several suggested Internet sources, including one produced by the author, make the journey of reading this book interactive.

One of the best Church leadership books to be written
I am a former pastor who has been out of "full time" pastoring for about 3 years - now I'm a internet consultant. It's been interesting to look at church leadership from the pew again, and to see the weaknesses of our churches and of the leadership in them. This book has put into words what my heart has been from the since God first called me: truly equipping people to achieve their purpose as believers in Christ. It is radical. It is unsettling. But it's words are true, even in the business world, these principles can apply. And when the opportunity opens that I get back into ministry full time, I will begin to apply these principles of leadership.


Separated Brethren
Published in Hardcover by Our Sunday Visitor (1979)
Author: William Joseph Whalen
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Table of Contents
preface 7
I. America's religious panorama 9
II. basic differences between Catholicism and Protestantism 18
III. the Lutherans 25
IV. the Presbyterians 39
V. the Espiscopalians 49
VI. the Methodists 60
VII. the Baptists 72
VIII. the Disciples of Christ and the Churches of Christ 81
IX. the United Churchmen 89
X. the Quakers 96
XI. the Perfectionists 104
XII. the Pentacostals 108
XIII. the Seventh-Day Adventists 117
XIV. other Protestants 125
the Moravians 125
the Mennonites 127
the Reformed 130
the Christian Reformed 131
the Brethren 131
the Salvationists 134
the Convenanters 136
XV. the Unitarian Universalists 138
XVI. the Eastern Orthodox 145
XVII. the Old Catholics 152
XVIII. the Cultists 167
the Swedenborgians 168
the Spiritualists 169
the Unity School of Christianity 171
the New Thoughters 173
the Worldwide Church of God 175
the Hare Krishnas 177
the Scientologists 178
the Moonies 179
XIX. the Mormons 184
XX. the Jehovah's Witnesses 198
XXI. the Christian Scientists 207
XXII. the Jews 218
XXIII. the Muslims 226
XXIV. the Baha'is 230
XXV. the Buddists 238
church membership statistics 241
general bibliography 247
index 249

252 pages total

Essential reading for any Christian
Of all the books on my shelf, Wm. Joseph Whalen's Separated Brethren is among the most instructive and the least dispensable. This is the first book I bought after converting to Catholicism, but that is not why I treasure it. Its pages are now yellowed and its cover worn, but I treasure it because it has everything I want in a book. It is concise, easy to read, gripping and addresses an issue that anyone who seeks truth should examine if he is truly sincere in his search. Which Church is the true one? Whalen answers this clearly by presenting the facts of history.

Whalen's Separated Brethren is not apologetic in style, but it is apologetic in effect as it enumerates with certainty the post-apostolic origins of non-Catholic, Christian religions. Like Foxe's Book of Martyrs? Read this. You will be blown away when you see the other side of the coin. Are you a Christian who would like to see the early Church restored? Read this and find that She never died. She is, perhaps, unrecognizable, but only because She has grown more wise and beautiful.

Whalen also brings together in one volume the teachings of all the mainline Protestant traditions, as well as some cults and some non-Christian traditions. I would like this book to be in the hands of every Catholic who thinks that it doesn't matter which church you go to. They are NOT all the same.

A quote from "Critic" on the back cover calls this book "a masterpiece of synthesis." Well said.

"I have other sheep...."
"Separated Brethren" was first published 40 years ago and has been revised and updated twice since then. That this book is still around is proof of its being an excellent one-volume reference guide on religious denominations in the United States; I myself found this title very instructive and well-written. The book mostly concerns Christian denominations not in union with the Roman Catholic Church, yet author William J. Whalen includes non-Christian religions as well, such as Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, the Baha'i faith, and the better-known cults. Given the fact that Mr. Whalen is Catholic and Our Sunday Visitor is a well-known Catholic publishing house, the book compares the beliefs of the "separated brethren" to Catholic teaching, yet it is remarkably objective at the same time. Mr. Whalen does not fall into a condescending or critical mode; he simply discusses the origins of the different churches and describes their beliefs. He will at times provide slightly droll commentary on teachings that appear odd to mainstream Christians, especially teachings from denominations that claim to be Christian such as the Mormons and the Jehovah's Witnesses. A lot, though, has happened in the non-Catholic religious world since this third edition of "Separated Brethren" came out in 1979; take, for example, the merger of two major Lutheran churches in the United States; the establishment of ultra-traditionalist Catholic groups which have separated from Rome; the rise of Messianic Judaism; renewed debates in the larger Protestant denominations on matters of morality; increased defections of conservative Anglicans/Episcopalians into the Catholic Church; and the role of the Orthodox churches in a post-Communist Russia and Eastern Europe. All these events, plus the hopelessly outdated church figures some 20-plus years old, make it necessary for the book to be revised as soon as possible.


Silence on Fire : The Prayer of Awareness
Published in Paperback by Crossroad/Herder & Herder (2000)
Author: William H. Shannon
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PRAYING TO BE AWARE
Awareness is boundless. Awareness has no limits. Any limits of awareness that we experience are limits of our own contrivance, self-imposed boundaries that must be transcended. The content of awareness by its very nature excludes all that is not itself. Content is limitation. A given sound, for example, excludes not only silence, but all that is not sound, and all other sounds. However, it is seductively easy to view awareness in a conventional way, not only as something that is focused upon a given sound but as constituted by one's relationship to the sound. In this view, awareness itself is a category defined by its possible contents. This is tantamount to determining the limits of awareness. If we encounter a point at which our senses seem to let us down, or our mind boggles and we must retreat, we then interpret it as having reached the limits of our awareness. We experience it as an encounter with content or subject matter that cannot be grasped. What usually escapes our attention here is that awareness itself is not bounded. Once we do distinguish awareness from its objects, then the limitations of any given object or content of awareness do not in the slightest limit awareness. And if we realize that awareness is not limited by the contents of awareness, we need no longer experience the limitations of content as the limitations of awareness.

As soon as one can let go of the identification of awareness with its objects, or of the mind with its contents, boundaries vanish on every side. Instead of boundaries there is a new lightness and clarity. This is the boundless, this is emptiness, that which contains everything but is itself not anything. This is inner awareness and absolute reality. This is the pure essence of mind...This is the book's message, transcending to awareness through meditative prayer.

Gained a Renewed Understanding of Contemplative Life
My confessor(priest)gave me a copy after confession. I read it, got my own copy, and gave him back his. This book gave me "the philosophy" in ways no other reads ever gave me. The difficult part of writing a book on contemplative prayer and life is that you have to capture the un-capturable and write about the un-writable.

The book is sprinkled with anecdotes and stories that helped me gain insight into the philosophy and objectives (if you can say it has an objective). It contrasts Western versus Eastern thinking and how our driven culture stands in the way of living a contemplative life. This helped me drastically in my Christian walk.

The presence of God in the land of the living.
I am a lay person, uneducated in spiritual writing, but to the sincere I can assure you that this little book will ROCK YOUR WORLD! Father Shannon uses the theme "I will walk in the presence of God in the land of the living". I had always thought that referred to the land of the Living God (i.e. someplace else- from where I am!) The author assures us that we are in the land of the living, that the desire to seek God comes from God loving us! The desire comes from God and with our assent returns to God. Fr. Shannon moves the reader gently along a path of realization from I exist because God loves me to I am a member of the Mystical body of Christ and God loves me as a son, to God is the hidden ground of love and there is a great silence in the world that burns with His love - with Himself! Jesus said"I have come to destroy the world by fire" -Fr. Shannon lifts the curtain and lets you see...The Fire!!! (FR. Shannon if you read this review -please forgive any inaccuracies - I am a fan!)


The circle of love :
Published in Unknown Binding by Little Light Pub. Co. ()
Author: Angela J. Williams
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I'm waiting for the movie...
This is one of many African American "slice of life" family stories like "Soul Food" that I would love to see as a movie and I think others would too. Its a story of family love, challenges, and triumph. It is written from the heart of a daughter who shared a love with her mother and shares her legacy with others. It's an easy read for those that have little time to read for pleasure. Ideal for subway/bus commute to & from work, sitting and waiting to take the kids home after rehearsal/team practice, or at bedtime during that brief period before actually falling to sleep but not actually up for doing anything responsible or requiring too much effort. If you happened to grow up in New York with working class southern rooted parents and also grew up in the church with your family, you might find yourself "waving your hand" and "saying Amen" every now and then while reading this book--both my sister & I did :)

What A Blessing
This is a thoroughly enjoyable and touching book, full of warmth and character. Mrs.Williams becomes completely transparent to her readers and brings her family and experiences to life with such clarity that you feel as though you've known them for years. Even months after finishing the book I can close my eyes and still visiualize her singing with her sisters for family and friends. Her honesty, forthright style and attention to details make you feel as though you are sitting in yout livingroom catching up on old times with a good friend, someone you can relate to. I was really blessed by Mrs. Williams and The Circle Of Love.

I am honored and blessed to have "known" Pig
I was totally overwhelmed by the life of Mrs. Angela Upshur! I have learned so much about myself and my relationship with God and my family by experiencing her life. I find myself thinking I wonder what Pig would do about this. I know her and love her. Shoot I can't wait to meet her when my mansion is ready! She has shown me that it's okay to give your life to God, not to worry if people think your strange or a brick short. I was so blown away by her daughters also, and Cut. What a wonderful family to grow up in- what a great mom and dad. I more than felt like I knew and know you all- I felt like this book was written for me. It feels like Pig has her hand in my life too, I dont think I will ever be the same.


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