Rating: Summary: enjoyable reading! Review: Christ came to give us life, not religion, and Ken Gire expounds on this concept. He offers reflective "windows" in his own life that he has observed and encourages us to look for our own. Since we all don't share an audible Moses experience, learning to hear, see, and experience God comes in all shapes, sizes and colors of our lives. Gire points to these practical areas, such as art, movies, stories and more. Learning to reflect and ask questions helps us to see God and experience Him in new ways. This book was a treat that spoke to my soul. I hope Gire follows it up with another!
Rating: Summary: sherylval@aol.com Review: I loved this book and promptly ordered all his other ones. Whether you are atheist, agnostic, spirtual, etc. this book will open a window to your soul. I am a Chiropractor, a writer and lecturer on spiritual principles and read over 120 books a year - I think Ken Gire is one of the best writers I have ever read. This morning I began his book The Reflective Life - as I tore myself away from it to get ready for work - I reflected again on what a great writer he is. In Windows of the Soul he talks about his "dark night of the soul" so to speak, in regard to his passion for writing - thank God he stuck with it for spiritual writing is truely his calling - His writing is profound, humble, simple and stirs the heart. Read this book - you won't be sorry.
Rating: Summary: WOW Review: I loved this book. My mom had been telling me to read it for about a year, and I finally did. I only wish I would have picked it up sooner. This is a book for everyone at every spiritual level. I am telling everyone I know to read it. It is a book to add to your collection.
Rating: Summary: On some levels insightful, but bad theological foundation Review: I purchased this book off the shelf as its artistic references in the description attracted me to it. I soon discovered the value of Mr. Gire's wisdom, compassion, and his own personal knowledge of an intimate relationship with God that evolved through his own personal experiences. This book came at a time in my own life when, a few months earlier, I had suffered a sudden tragedy that resulted in the death of my husband of 11 years. This book, and its quiet reflective nature, brought me peace during many sleepless nights. I found the thoughtful wisdom inspiring, and appreciated his knowledge of literature and history. I have purchased several of his books since, and have been blessed by each one.
Rating: Summary: On some levels insightful, but bad theological foundation Review: I think it's obvious there's nothing wrong with observing our world and the happenings within it and speculating what God's perspective might be. And there's nothing wrong with contemplating a piece of art, literature, music, or film and recognizing in it symbolic correspondence to transcendent truth as revealed in Scripture. And author Ken Gire does this well. If he had left it at that, I probably would be as enthusiastic about this book as the next reader.However, in "Windows of the Soul," Gire goes a step further and teaches that such endeavors are actually communications from God, "moments of revelation." The book is Gire's attempt at giving Christians insight into how to perceive such "revelations." Gire goes as far as to imply that such "revelations" possess an importance equal to that of the Bible, even referring to them as "God's word." Gire implies that Biblical revelation sometimes fails to satisfy our spiritual longings because, through it, "we are fed the experience of others. But they are not OUR experiences. I can read a psalm about David crying out from a cave in the wilderness, and I should read that psalm, but it is not MY psalm. It is not my psalm because it is not my cave, not my wilderness, and not my tears." Thus, Gire feels a need for a new category of revelation. I sense Gire is well intentioned, but I believe, in this respect, he's teaching a form of mysticism, not Christianity. [Webster: "mysticism - the belief that direct knowledge of God, spiritual truth, or ultimate reality can be attained through subjective experience (as intuition or insight)"] And while I recognize that the defense of these ideas isn't the primary intent of his book, the theological extrapolations Gire offers are tragically sloppy and at times involve the assignment of new, unorthodox meanings to Biblical accounts and terminology. Some might suggest that Gire's paradigm is just an elaboration on the concept of "general revelation," the Biblically supported idea that the world implicitly communicates certain things about God and His nature. However, the variety of channels described in "Windows," as well as the content of the messages Gire speculates they deliver, far surpass the traditional understanding of the nature and role of general revelation. (And Gire writes as if he's aware that what he's proposing is unconventional.) READER BEWARE : I believe it is accurate to say that Ken Gire is advocating a theology and discipline not taught in Scripture. When it comes time to contemplate the "furniture" of life and apply Biblical teachings to what you observe and experience, "Windows of the Soul" does document some good exploration in that regard. However, when it comes time to hear God speak, don't let anyone convince you God's revealed Word in Scripture is insufficient for the task.
Rating: Summary: Excellent Review: In 1998 I reveiwed this book by writing the following: Ken Gire is one of the most expressive writers of our day. His words paint a picture of our soul. Words that are simple, yet profound. Gire shows us how we can experience God through different avenues that intersect our daily lives. Don't be surprised by the tears that come to your eyes, they are tears from God showing you an area of your life that may need to be explored, understood or enjoyed. This is a book that you will continually want to come back to again and again. I continue to read this book and find it as refreshing as the first time. I disagree with the review from Hooterville. Ken Gire is very sound theologically and his work reflects this. Ken encourages us to look for new ways in which we can discover God. There is nothing mystical about discovering new ways for one to grow in their love for God and in their love for people.
Rating: Summary: A book that will grab your heart from the very beginning. Review: Ken Gire is one of the most expressive writers of our day. His words paint a picture of our soul. Words that are simple, yet profound. Gire shows us how we can experience God through different avenues that intersect our daily lives. Don't be surprised by the tears that come to your eyes, they are tears from God showing you an area of your life that may need to be explored, understood or enjoyed. This is a book that you will continually want to come back to again and again.
Rating: Summary: The best Review: This book really changed my way of viewing EVERYTHING in the world. The things that seemed so trivial before, now have a meaning, and reflect Christ's glory. A must read for Christians who want to grow more and who want to experience God more in their lives.
Rating: Summary: Inspiring and thoughtful Review: This is a wonderful book, more than worth your time to take up and read.
Rating: Summary: challenging and inspiring Review: Windows of the Soul is a challenging book on the little things our God uses to show us His will and way. Ken uses great imagery and illustration to keep the reader involved through every page. As one reads this book, he sees an entirely new perspective emerge from his imagination, and is challenged to look at life in a complegely new way. Ken unfolds a world of wonder right before the reader's eyes, and tells how the reader can make that world remain just by looking at the "Windows of the Soul" that God brings into our lives. This book is definitely one of the top 5 I have ever read.
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