The Call

Rating:
Summary: Superb and Profound Thinking!!
Review: "The Call" is one of the first books I've read by Os Guinness, and it was well worth it. He poses some interesting and provocative topics, all related to what our purpose in life could be. This is not an easy task, but he poses the question by introducing each chapter with lives of such historical figures as Yehudi Menuhin, Francis of Assisi, Picasso, Andrew Carnegie, and others.

There are 26 chapters in this book, and the author recommends reading a chapter a day. Of course, if you choose to read more than a chapter a day, you can get a little overload on the thinking process. And this is a Thinking Book. The second half of each chapter then applies the truths to which Mr. Guinness is referring to the Christian's walk with Christ. He refers to those who follow Christ not as "Christian," but "Followers of the Way," which I found to be incredibly refreshing.

Again, this is not easy reading, but overall, he credits many people with his premise, which is also biblical, and his references to Oswald Chambers' work is also refreshing. There is a study guide in the back to follow each chapter, and of special interest is the "Entrepreneurs of Life" at the very end of the book.

A splendid read, indeed, and well worth recommending at the highest level!!

Rating:
Summary: Captures the wholistic philosophy of God's call on the Xtian
Review: If you are looking for a "how-to" book you might be disappointed. Instead, Os Guiness gives us something much deeper, and so much better. He gives us the "Why" of The Call.

Approaching his subject with the important understanding that all Christians are called by God to serve Him and the Body in some special way Guiness uses stories like a great mural to show how others in Christianity and outside have answered a "call" in their life and found meaning, purpose, joy and left their indelible mark on history.

What I appreciated so much about the wonderfully written book is that Guiness uses story not only to put call in history but to call us to greater things. The book is not "dumbed down" to the modern reader like so many other Christian books, but instead he woos the reader to do the work of thoughtful reading and consideration.

The book is laid out so that each chapter is a complete thought and should be digested one a day with questions at the end of each chapter to ponder.

This book will be especially helpful for people at crossroads of life, career or at important life stages. Thank you Os!!!

Rating:
Summary: Radical, challenging and inspiring
Review: More than any book I have read on the subject, The Call recognizes the radical nature of Christianity and challenges and inspires readers to not settle for anything less. Mr. Guinness' main influences in thinking and writing on the subject are Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Oswald Chambers, and so this book could also have been titled "The Cost of Discipleship" or "My Utmost for His Highest".

This book does not give trite how-to's on what it means to be a follower of Christ, but rather examines the Biblical mandate to surrender ourselves to God's call in all aspects of our lives: in everything we do, in all that we own, and in who we are, all the time.

Mr. Guinness has obviously spent years thinking about and studying this subject (including prayerfully considering his own call), so the book is written on a very personal level. Mr. Guinness also peppers each chapter with relevant life stories from historical, literary and artistic figures to illustrate his points and show in what ways "the rubber meets the road".

Finally, I appreciate his suggestion to read the book as a devotional - one chapter a day, instead of huge chunks at a time. This ensures enough time for the reader to reflect on the profound points made in each chapter.

When I finished reading this book, I decided I need to read it every few years. This book should be a classic!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books on the Christian life available today!
Review: Os Guiness has captured the essence of the Christian life. It is centered upon the call to live in all ways to the glory of God.

I highly recommend this book to every Christian. This book will ring true to your heart because it rings true to biblical truth. In an age when there is so much to read that simply does not edify, this book stands at the top of my list of recommended reading!

I can't wait to read it again!

Rating:
Summary: So true to those who have been on the road of searching !
Review: Os guinness sagaciously described in words a journey walked by those who are serious about this life on earth. If you are a thinker who is not satified with "peer advice," you probably would feel this book very inviting. It is a very fun book for those who seek the deep bottom of the ocean of life. Going deep under the surface by no means equals to going down. Instead, searching for the fundamental meaning and the ultimate satisfication may motivate us to soar upwards -- if we allow the real answers to guide. The final answer may well indeed lay outside the human radius. The good news, however, is that it is not beyond our reach -- if we truly want to embrace the truth. Reading Guiness' "The Call" may help you to leave the plateau where you have desired to leave for a while.

(Ps. I have no personal relationship to the author or to the publisher. I just enjoyed reading it very much :-) Yet, I don't mind at all if I will get paid because of some good words I said about this book. :-)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book That Challenges You to Think and Evaluate!
Review: Some earlier reviews commented on the difficulty of the book's writing style. Personally, I found it to be mentally and spiritually challenging! I am concerned about how our hurried society has dictated not only how we live, but also how we think. God has given us a brain - we must use it!

Admittingly, the book is profound. However, when read devotionally ( a chapter a day like "My Utmost For His Highest"), the reader is encouraged to think about what was read and how to apply the chapter to everyday living.

I personally thought some of Guinness' better points were:

1. Be devoted to Jesus instead of your service to Jesus.
2. Be inner-directed by God than other-directed by the
opinions of others (what God thinks matters most!).
3. God calls us to a life of faith.
4. Deliberate spend time in solitude with God.
5. Glorify God in the ordinary things of life.
6. A sense of calling keeps us focused when modern-day
life threatens to tear us apart.
7. Taking God's call seriously means we will pay the
price of being abused and treated as fools by those
who do not understand.

All in all, an excellent read! To use the old saying: "be ready to put on your thinking cap" when reading this one!