Joshua

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Summary: To know the Heart Of God!!!
Review: This book should be read by everyone in the world. It is a must!!! Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. IT made me Have tears of joy 3 times during my reading...then I went and bought 4 more of his books...all great...but the best was Joshua!! You have to read it.

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Summary: What a concept! Jesus in a different light.
Review: What if Jesus isn't this Holy being we often think he is, but a quiet guy that lives alone down the street, is an ace at carpentry and gives many of his woodwork pieces away, and enjoys a good bottle of wine now and then? A guy that challenges the town's most popular church. Sure, the Jesus of the old testament did those things, but the Jesus of current day? Well he would be a Promise Keeper who would NEVER touch wine, right? And he'd definitely have a wife and kids--and a respectable job, not some carpentry hobby. Read this book if you want a new view of who Jesus might be if he lived right now. On the down side, Girzone may be a good storyteller, but his writing lacks style and tightness. A good editor is all he needs.

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Summary: A spiritual rejuvenation
Review: Girzone has succeeded where many have failed. He has taken the story of Jesus and brought it into our modern world. He has done it without hitting the reader over the head with theology by incorporating his message into the weave of the story. The only bow to convention is when Girzone has Joshua perform a couple of miracles. Even without these miracles Joshua is someone I'd be proud to call a friend, In fact I wish the miracles were not in the book because they only serve to distance the reader. Until the miracles I was believing that Joshua could be my neighbor, or even me on a good day. If you enjoy a good chuckle intermingled with some crying you'll love this book. I see it as being another one of those books in the spirituality section of my home library I'll read when I need some inspiration.

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Summary: This book helped me feel even closer to Jesus
Review: For several years I have picked up this book for some reason, and then replaced it on the bookstore's shelves. I wrongly judged it to be a "Catholic" book, but I've been drawn to it again and again. One day I decided to purchase it. What I read was an interesting, enjoyable and intriguing story about how Jesus, under the name of Joshua, came into our midst in today's time, and how we treated him. The story started out somewhat slow, but a strange power kept me interested in the story--barely letting me put the book down. Joseph Girzone has done an excellent job of telling the story about a man trying to live in our modern society, and yet be true to his beliefs about God and Jesus' teachings. And he does it without cramming religious beliefs down your throat. It is not a "Catholic" book, but a book for anyone that would want to meet Jesus today as a man with incredible wisdom and compassion for his fellow man. Byron Kirkwood, author of the "Survival Guide for the New Millennium" and coauthor of "Mary's Message to the World."

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Summary: JOSHUA will renew your sense of hope and love through Jesus.
Review: Jesus has come back with a new name. Joshua is a modest carpenter who reaches out to the people of a small community. He helps then to open their hearts and minds to see beyond the labels and legalism. The miracles he performs will bring tears to your eyes and at times you can actually feel the love that flows from him. Father Girzone effectively captured the spirit of Jesus in this engrossing book. It will not only entertain you, but you will find yourself applying the lessons to your own life. This was truly an inspirational book focusing on the fact that Biblical principles can still exist today

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Summary: A modern day story of Jesus in our modern times.
Review: Father Girzone obviously knows Jesus personally. Joshua's gentleness, love and compassion for every person he encounters come straight from the pages of the Bible. His views on modern day religions and denominations are insightful and thought provoking. An excellent read for young adults as well as older adults

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Summary: Thought-provoking. What would happen if Jesus returned?
Review: If you have thoughts about religion and the state of Christianity today, if you want to read a heart-warming, beautiful story that will also make you think, if you've ever wondered what it would be like if Jesus returned, then this is the parable that you should read. Lovingly crafted by a retired Catholic priest this delightful read is as truly catholic (universal) a story as one could hope for. It shows great thought and concern for humanity and the state of religion in the world today

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Summary: Simply Written and Inspirational
Review: This book is about a modern man, who lives according to high ethics. Joshua does not care what other people think about his beliefs or convictions - he is truly a "Free Spirit" - happy with himself and his choices. He does not live ethically to follow some "rules" set down by others, he follows his own ethics, which are higher and stronger than the ones people seem to follow around him. He is a strong man, not a weak one. He follows his own ethics, rather than trying to make himself rich or popular, and ultimately, he has found true joy. Wouldn't we ALL like that? He is not some androgenous effeminate Christ figure, but a full, red-blooded, strong man who enjoys his glass of wine, breaking a sweat when he works, and the company of friends. It is all about living fully, according to our own highest ethics and truths.

Is it Christ? The implication is clearly that he is Jesus Christ, however, the author wisely does not say so outright. This allows us to see that any of us can live by the principles of "love thy neighbor" and have a happy and fulfilling life. Happiness does not come from a job, a material possession or a relationship. Joshua teaches us where we can find enlightenment, and how to lead enlightened satisfying lives where we are truly living, not going through the motions.

This book is easy to read, simply written so a 12 year old could understand it. It is also powerful and inspirational. Pick it up - it will take you an evening to read, and you will be glad you did!

Rating:
Summary: Valuable message, but a bit clunky
Review: Anyone interested in cultural values and how religion influences them could get something out of the the book. The story itself is interesting enough, but I found the overall script of the book to be a touch dull and too convenient. As other reviewers have pointed out, we don't learn about the title character through his actions or his relationships. Instead, we read his monologues, which are cast as windy, repetitive responses to unlikely questions. In essence, Joshua is more of a preacher than a servant, and the book reads like a collection of sermons.

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Summary: I couldn't be bothered to finish it
Review: What a waste of time and paper! In this book, Joshua appears outside the town of Auburn (not sure which state) and sets up a woodworking shop. Joshua is actually Jesus come back to preach. The only message he seems to be preaching, however, is "the rules the Catholic Church has are not what Jesus intended." He travels around the town, and people ask him random questions: "Joshua, what do you think of religion?" "Joshua, what about the Jews?" "Joshua, how did you get to be such a genius?"

I'm 10 chapters in, and here are the only events that amount to any plot, aside from these endless sermons. 1) Joshua makes a Moses statue for a synagogue (yeah, like that would happen!) 2) Joshua attends a party where the local Catholic priest gets drunk, while Joshua preaches to the people even more. 3) Joshua heals a little girl who has a fever.

It's just all too incredibly boring, and insulting to Catholics, to spend any more time with. Plus, it's really poorly written. Everyone in the town is "essentially good," and thus essentially interchangeable. We hear from the author that someone has a "prickly personality," but we never see a single example of this personality.

Desperately amateurish and mind-numbingly boring.