Rating: 
Summary: Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time
Review: "My hope is to gain a fresh hearing for Jesus, especially among those who believe they already understand him" writes Dallas Willard in the introduction to "The Divine Conspiracy." He succeeds marvelously.Because I was raised by Christian parents, attended church regularly, and read the bible sporadically, I thought I understood Jesus about as much as he could be understood. Reading this book showed me just how wrong I was. I am now reading it for the third time and it is having the same life changing, paradigm shifting, thought provoking impact that it had the first time I read it. This book has helped me to understand, trust, and love Jesus more with every page and every reading. The chapters on the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount are pure gold. What I once thought of as a haphazard conglomeration of disjointed and impossible to obey "laws" of righteousness, I now understand as the purposefully ordered and penetratingly insightful explanation of the Kingdom heart that it is. If I could buy a copy of this book for every Christian and seeker of the Good Life I would. Since I can't, let me at least encourage you to buy this book and read it. It could change your life -- it did mine.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: Of course, the only "must have" book is the Bible. But this is a book many Christians should read. In this book, Willard makes the case that Christians have missed the point of the gospel. Instead of being about forgiveness, or mercy, or something else it is about one thing: the Kingdom of God. And in the Kingdom of God, all those other points are found in harmony supporting the larger concept. In this book, Willard develops this idea and spends a lot of time trying to show you the Scriptural evidence for his view. I found it very compelling, and very sound. Some of his conclusions I may not totally agree with but I found this approach and way of seeing things very refreshing and liberating. Also, Willard is not a theologian per se. In fact, he is a philospher. So you'll see a philosophical style of writing. I personally like it. But you won't see the pandering style of writing that many modern Christian books employ. Willard treats you as an adult, and an intelligent one at that. It is nice to find an author who doesn't speak down to you.
Rating:
Summary: Towards a more authentic faith
Review: An incredible read... Does take some time and effort to work through, but well worth it... Main point-- argues against the "Jesus Says..." (Spiritual version of Simon Says). For a long time, growing up, I thought the Christian life was a lot like that game Simon Says- except it was Jesus Says. The problem was, you could never do it. Read your Bible. Pray. Go there. Nope. Don't... We forget, Christianity is not- in its essence- a game of "Jesus Says..." In this book, Willard moves us beyond that... beyond rigid religion and into relationship... and, of course, shows us what that looks like... Based on the framework of the Sermon on the Mount, this book reminded me a lot of J.I.Packer's "Knowing God," if that correlation makes sense.
Rating:
Summary: An Absolute Masterpiece
Review: I am now reading this book for the third time. Much like the Bible, I find another pearl of wisdom every time I read it. This book has to be THE ONE ( next to the Bible) that has made the most impact on my Christian walk. Have recently purchased another of Dr. Willards' books but havent read it because I can't put this one down until I 'suck all the marrow of meaning' from it!! A must read for new and old Christians.
Rating:
Summary: Learn how to transform your heart, your life
Review: This book is a treasure, the most valuable book I have ever read, not counting the Bible. I say this for the following reasons:
1) The author shatters common assumptions which "consumer" Christians have about Christ's teachings. He shatters these assumptions by explaining what Christ actually taught. For instance, our primary goal should not be to change our behavior, but rather to transform the inner life of the soul, from which behavior flows.
2) He explains the reality of the kingdom now, that we are to live actively in God's kingdom now.
3) In later chapters he explains, based on what Jesus did, and taught, how we can pursue the transformation of our inner being, and truly live in God's kindom now. I'm just scratching the surface of this book. It is based on and includes many scriptures, and includes many quotes from
great Christians throughout history. Most importantly for me, I have noticed a change in me since I've read the book and become an apprentice to Christ. I have a strong confidence in Christ that wasn't there before. I sense His presence, He's real. I could go on and on. I'm giving this book as a gift to people, and have recommended it to my bible study group. Blessings to you.
Rating:
Summary: Pilgrims Line Up and Start Here!
Review: (...) I ordered it and after I started reading it have ordered five more for friends, two of whom are clergy. I was already a Christian, but now I'm on my way to knowing, living, and breathing Jesus. What a guide, what a gift! Dr. Willard encourages us, and clarifies and exalts the Scriptures. The best thing we can do now to heal our country after the terrible wounds of September 11 is to read this and give it away.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic in the Making
Review: "Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our enemy's [God's] will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys." -Uncle Screwtape, (C.S. Lewis, _The Screwtape Letters_) God would have us, each one, to both grow and to serve, to stand on our own two legs as his child, both enjoying a life of blessed hope and obeying the will of a blessed Father. Willard presents a classic in the making, an academic appraisal of (1) our eternal calling, (2) sin management, (3) the beatitudes, (4) imitating the heart of God, (5) investing in the heavens and escaping the deceptions of reputation and wealth, (6) a community of prayerful love, (7) on being a disciple, or student, of Jesus, (8) a curriculum for Christlikeness, (9) and the restoration of all things. The treatise is comprehensively systematic in its analysis of the Christian worldview, a sweeping brushstroke of "the soul's redemption and justification to discipleship and our growth in grace to death and the state of our existence in heaven" (Richard J. Foster, Foreword). It represents a Biblical call to growth. "I'm fully aware that the issues discussed here are of immense importance, yet it is all so understandable, so readable, so applicable. Perhaps I feared that a world-class philosopher would be unable to speak to my condition, but in this I was wrong. Again and again I found myself mirrored in Dr. Willard's insights into human nature" (Richard J. Foster, Foreword). Foster cites four striking qualities of the text: (1) Comprehensive nature; (2) Accessibility; (3) Depth; (4) And, Warmth. A deserving work of forthright consideration!
Rating:
Summary: The Mature Christian
Review: This book will open the mature Christian's eyes in ways never seen before. If you want to learn more about what "you think you know" try this book. Truly Willard has learned to think outside of the box. Well done with scriptural reference and really a must read for those wanting to grow in their faith.
Rating:
Summary: good food for the soul
Review: Dallas Willard points to the essence of the faith and gives excellent guidelines for building life long discipleship.
Rating: 
Summary: This book is too long!
Review: This book is about 300 pages too long. Most of the information is obvious, and extremely rudimentary. Because of the other reviews I thought that this would be a classic in Christian thought, and although I did find some nuggets I didn't think that it was worth wading through 400+ pages to find them. I would suggest AW Tozer's "The Pursuit of God". Short, simple, and full of nuggets.
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