Rating: 
Summary: Audio too hard to hear on speakers in car
Review: I am only reviewing the quality of the audio. I tried to listen to this book on tape through speakers while riding as a passenger in a Plymouth voyager. I could only recognize about 25% of the words. The man reading the book spoke in tones too low and without enough variation to be able to make out what he was saying. I and the driver had to give up listening after a while. I gave the book (not the audio) 4 stars on reputation. The audio gets only 1 star.
Rating: 
Summary: A Different Approach, to Reviewing "The Visitation".
Review: I enjoyed Frank Peritti's "The Visitation". And I was really interested in his discriptions of the pentecostal/charismatic circumstances of it's people and way of beliefs, practices and mindset. Travis was the real true hero here.
Describing the mindset and of this faith and it's practices, was a center piece of this book too.
The legalism, and hardshell fundementalist society that is shown here, along with the emotional antics and extremism, it's easy to see how a pastor, or even members of this faith could burn out, let alone develope mental problems.
I can't believe the first three centuries of Christianity, nor the early church founded by the Apostles and it's people and followers, and it's spread accross the known world at that time, functioned liked the description of the modern day pentecostal/charismatic churches of today.
It seems mental, emotional, and spiritual disorders of these people described in this book, is very much a part of this type of charismatic culture today.
Yes, I believe in the spiritual gifts and miracles of the early ancient Church that they possessed are true, but carried out with far more reverence, compassion and in a far better respectful way, than these baptised in the holy spirit, and speaking in tongues churches of today.
Just a simple viewiing of the antics shown by these T.V. evangelists, and there congregations, on christian television is quite obvious. Pastor Kyle in this book is also a good example of this.
It's quite obvious that Pastor Travis, the lady Methodist pastor, along with the Catholic Priest, have far more spiritual maturity in the story.
This book gives a very good insight into the charimatic/pentecostal society, and that's worth a great part of this heroic story of Travis and others, struggling against dark forces described in this tale.
This book deserves better notice by charismatic/pentecostal christians today. It might give them a better knowledge of themselves, that is badly needed.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!!!!
Review: I have read The present Darkness, The Oath, and than The Visitation. I loved the Oath and liked the action packed Present Darkness. But the Visitation went in-depth with the protagorist character which was Brandon Nichols. Frank showed us flash backs and give us pictures of what drew him to the point he is at. He felt that God had let him down and he would take his place. For the times he wasn't there or he didn't come when he was asked. He was abused by his father and actually nailed like God was on the cross. The hitchhiker, Angel, and the other one can't remember where the demons motivation and powering him. If you remember this was shown in-depth in The Present Darkness but with Angels Vs. Demons match. Than this takes us to Antagonist charcter in the story which would be Travis Jordan. Travis know something wasn't right about this guy and what was going on with the town. So he collect information about Brandon finally finding his painful past. I think I could write a whole book about the book. But it was just great and excellent a must read.
Rating:
Summary: Don't stop reading!
Review: I must admit that after reading the first 100 pages I was ready to put the book down because the plot develops slowly at the beginning of the book. I am glad, however, that I read the entire book. I would like to encourage anyone who decides to start reading this book not to stop reading because the book picks up momentum and develops beautifully in the last two-thirds of the story. After reading this fictional account, I understand how important it was for Peretti to slowly develop the characters. As the happenings in Antioch become more intense, I found it hard to put the book down. I really felt empathetic to the main character, Travis. His cynicism and faith struggle are something I think most people in their Spiritual Journey encounter. I look forward to reading some more works by Frank Perreti!
Rating:
Summary: Some great writing
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed the first two thirds of the book. The subplot outlining the background of the main character was beautifully rendered and true to life. I know that quite a bit of it was autobiographical for Peretti and its veracity shined through. His writing about Christian culture is somewhat reminiscent of Garrison Keillor with less cynicism and more sincerity. Unfortunately the last third of the book became increasingly and outlandishly ridiculous, ghoulish and formulaic. The chilling and thrilling non-stop action and lurid conclusion hurt an otherwise well crafted book
Rating:
Summary: Frank is keepin' it real
Review: I would not be surprised if this book is autobiographical, Peretti has so many stories to tell within the story of this book about being a young Pentecostal Christian, a struggling and poor new husband, and a founding pastor of a tiny church in the middle of nowhere. The main story arc--a man who seems to be Jesus performing miracles and drawing followers in a small town--is enriched by many of these stories that could be called "flashbacks" but truly they are the life of the novel. This is the perfect book for everyone who has held onto the truth when everything in life tells you to let go.
Rating:
Summary: false messiahs shall arise and deceive many
Review: I'm a big fan of Peretti's novels. This story is about the return of the Messiah Jesus Christ, who was prophesied to come again and bring peace and joy to the world. In a small town miraculous healings and other supernatural wonders start happening, but is this really Jesus Christ or a false christ named "Brandon" bent on deceiving everybody? Is he of God or the Devil? The pastor Travis Jordan learns of this man's true identity and must battle this "visitor" as well as his own feelings of spiritual inadequacy and doubts, to expose him as the fake he is. This thrilling storyline will keep you reading to the end.
Rating:
Summary: Peretti's best novel
Review: I'm on my second reading of this book. It is so dead-on in its portrayal of spiritual burn-out, church politics, and small town life. It is at once creepy, inspiring, funny, and scary. I recommend this book!
Rating:
Summary: Best piece of fiction I've read.
Review: I've read most of Peretti's other books but this is the best. I've read a number of reviews in which the reviewer complains that Peretti makes fun of particular denominations. I don't agree. Each denomination is made up of imperfect people. We all do things and act in ways that fall short of what God wants from His church. I spent a year working for the Anglican church. A good proportion of that time was spent serving a multi-denominational group of pastors. Some of the things that happened between the denominations in "The Visitation" could have been taken almost directly from those meetings! Peretti really knows his stuff. The story is drawn out at just the right pace. The way Peretti relates Travis' memories of his early life and his wife are heartrending. The drama pulls you along, urging you on. "Just one more page" became "just one more chapter" several times, getting up for work in the morning was hard work for a couple of days. Just two more words...."go"...."buy".
Rating:
Summary: Very possibly the best book I've ever read.
Review: Impossible to put down from start to finish.My favorite book by my favorite author.
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