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Summary: FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD ALMIGHTY I'M FREE AT LAST
Review: The first Eldridge book I read was Journey of Desire. It filled me with hope for I was looking for purpose in my life. Next, I read Waking the Dead and I wept as I learned that my heart was good. Later, I read Wild at Heart which taught me about the delicate condition of a man's heart and the similarities we (men and women) share. Last, (I'm still in the process of reading), I'm reading The Sacred Romance. These books have taught me that my destiny lies in my relationship with Jesus Christ. Reading these books has helped me to draw closer to God in a way that I never thought possible. Life has become a joyful adventure and every day I feel less stressed and fearful. I Thank God for John Eldridge; for his God inspired books that have given me a new outlook as a Christian. I now look forward to church, Bible study, prayer. I finally, truly understand how much God loves me and because of the way John explained God's love for me, I no longer feel duty in being obedient to God, I feel priviledged and joyful!!!
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Summary: One of those books that change your life........
Review: The is the second book by John Eldredge I have read and they are both very powerful. (I read The Sacred Romance first.) It falls in the category of the books and movies and songs that change your life forever. John writes to your insides and those insides need to hear his message--- desperately, in almost all cases I'm afraid! I found myself being afraid for the Church which seems so far along the "dead" path much of the time. I would caution readers that to read this book is to be challenged to really find out what is in YOUR heart, and the journey is never easy since we have spent however many years we've been here hiding it and running from it. In the most fundamental way it is so refreshing to hear that I am OK, not perfect mind you, but OK. In fact, I'm so OK with God that He rescued me (and all the other "me's" throughout time). What would happen if we lived like we believed He didn't have ANY OBLIGATION to rescue us?-- HE LOVES US!!!!! HE LOVES ME!!!!!!!!!!!! No, its not a dream, He really does. What an awesome way to live and an awesome book. Thanks, John!
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Summary: The quote from Nelson Mandela...
Review: The quote from Nelson Mandela in this book, was unfortunately originally written by Marianne Williamson, a well known New Age writer who promotes the ideas in a "A Course in Miracles", a New Age book.
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Summary: self-centered and hedonistic
Review: The thing that stood out to me was Eldridge's emphasis on human pleasure.I'm reminded of CS Lewis's quote that humans are far to easily pleased with worldy pleasures and as a result do not seek after the eternal glory found only in God's mercy, love, and grace. Eldridge is satisfied with far too little -- rock climbing, hiking, fishing. He pursues the good at the expense of the best. There's nothing inherently wrong with these things. In fact all things are permissable, but not all things are beneficial. I believe this book becomes a means of rationalization to pursue whatever entertainment a person wants. That is, after reading the book a person could say, 'I want this "*****" [fill in the blank], God wants me to be happy, therefore I'm going to get it.' At best this is selfish and childish -- at worst it becomes very dangerous. Don't get me wrong I believe there is a time and a place for material things, for pop entertainment, and even for rock climbing. However, the healthy Christian perspective is to look through all of those things and towards the God who provides them -- giving worship to Him. Instead Eldridge becomes near-sighted as he focuses on his passions, his heart, and his desires. In the end there is no room left for self-sacrifice, self-denial, and the pursuit of the servants heart.... all of the things that constitue loving others and christian maturity.
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Summary: A Must Read for All Seeking the Lord
Review: This book is AMAZING. Like Wild at Heart? This almost seems like it should be a prequel to Wild at Heart. A must read for ladies, as well as men. In my training of volunteers in the ministry, I suggest this book prior to leading in the ministry. Loved it, couldn't rant and rave more. On my top 3 list of books ever.
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Summary: awesome book about God's love and Grace
Review: This book really packs a powerful messages about spiritual warfare and how we are under attack and do not even know it. Like they say in the Two Towers movie when the King does not want to risk open war: open war is already upon you whether you wish it or not! John really shows how true this is for Christians. Please do not pay attention to some of the people who reviewed this book especially in fact one person who apparently only read the first chapter and so doesn't even say what the author says in the book. John is a great writer who really has a gift to sift through the surface dialog and get to the heart and our hearts and what we really struggle with and why. I think his message is one hundred percent what Jesus and the Bible say, he just uses some examples which people don't understand how they could be Christian. But don't be swayed by them, focus on how aligned John is to God and Christ, and you will see past the shallow people who are afraid of looking at themselves the way John does. Read this book and all his books for how great they are at showing the real side of faith and how great God is and what he has done for us. God Bless.
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Summary: renew your faith
Review: This is a great book! Eldridge takes you through a journey of how to re-commit your heart back to God and what really matters in life. His writing style is very easy to follow and he is very culturally "aware." Many of his ideas are expressed with examples he shares from movies such as Braveheart and The Matrix." I was especially impressed with the emphasis he adds to being in a small group. Everyone interested in the small group "idea" should read this.
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Summary: Wake up out of the fog most Christians live in
Review: This is a great book. The book reads like a conversation with the author. I read it over a weekend and have re-read it since. "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy but I have come that you may have life and have it to the full". Jesus words in John 10:10 set the stage for the core of Waking the Dead.
Is there a thief, an enemy trying to keep us down-actually at war with us?
Can we have life to the full or just clean up our act as best we can and just look forward to heaven? Read all about it in Waking the Dead--let your heart come fully alive!
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Summary: Too deep and too close to home for most
Review: This is a powerful book, and not one that avoids controversy. Let's start with perhaps the most debated premise of this book: "The heart is good". The first reaction of many I know is to quickly exclaim that this is heresy. Well, perhaps not. Lets look at what he means when he says the "heart is good". First, he is referring to the "redeemed heart" specifically. Using the backing of Scripture (Romans 10:9-10, Ezek 26:36, John 3:7, Gal 6:15, Luke 8:15, Luke 6:44-45, and more) he claims that our hearts are transformed through Christ. This is an entirely Biblical concept. Second, the heart is not the same as the flesh. Eldridge acknowledges that "part of me doesn't want to love my neighbor..and it is that part I must crucify daily" (page 130) and "Yes, we still have to crucify the flesh on a daily basis" (page 76), and even "I take up my cross and crucify my flesh with all its pride, unbelief, and idolatry" (page 224). Obviously, Eldridge understands and acknowledges that the flesh is sinful, so what does he mean by the "heart is good"? One example is found in Romans where Paul speaks to this very issue: "It is no longer I myself who do it, but sin living within me..For in my inner being I delight in God's law." Romans 7:17-22. (page 76) If it is "no longer I myself" who sin, and my "inner being" delights in God's law, then what exactly is his "inner being", and who is "no longer I myself"? Paul speaks of his redeemed heart and the battle with the flesh. It is critical to note this distinction. The third element is that our heart reflects God's glory. On page 75 he states that "we were created to reflect God's glory, born to bear his image, and He ransomed us to reflect that glory again". See Romans 8:30, Romans 2:29, 2 Cor 2:4-6, and the discussion in Chapter 4. Nothing in this book would indicate Eldridge is speaking of human glory, or some sort of humanistic agenda as he has been accused. In fact in a prayer he uses (page 176) he states that "I confess here and now that it is all about you God, and not about me", and "I surrender every aspect of my life totally and completely to you" (page 174). He states that "every morning we bring our lives fully back to Christ and under His Lordship." (page 174). The fourth element of his claim that the "heart is good" is one we have to look at subjectively. Eldridge is speaking of brokenness and its profound impact on our walk with God. The examples of brokenness found in his own life and the lives of others (pages 136, 144, etc) give us some insight into the lie we come to believe: namely that even after redemption we are not capable of being transformed. So deep is this lie that we are bad and unworthy that it keeps us from really living for God. In fact CS Lewis acknowledged (page 212) that "when Jesus told us to love others as we love ourselves it would be a horrible command if the self were simply to be hated." This is a powerful book, though his writing style may not be for everyone. Eldridge wants to really get close to the heart of the matter, and in doing so uses some often radical concepts as illustrations. However, a deep read here shows a solid Biblical foundation and humility, not humanism.
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Summary: Some reviewers didn't actually read the book
Review: This is an inspired book. It gets to the heart of our faith, and tackles the issues most surface-level Christians do not want to look at. I know a few people who dismissed it because it doesn't fit the shallow version of reality they would choose to live in. One review in particular, which states that this book "misleads the living" is simply full of errors and misquotes. One wonders at the motivation behind someone who would choose to run and hide from the probing truth that Eldridge wants us to look at. People like that should stick to the meaningless platitudes of books like "A Purpose Driven Life" where all issues of faith, reason, emotion, and the deep psychological struggles we face can be reduced to a few bullet points that play well in equally shallow mega-churches. Buy this book, and breathe deeply the message to look within yourself and find out what keeps you from really committing to God. God wants all of us, not just the freshly scrubbed face (mask) many so called Christians living in western suburbia would like to present as the truth.
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