Reviews (28)

One of my favorite books of all time!
This book delves deeply into the heart issues behind many of our actions. In reading this book, I was most convicted about allowing my circumstances to dictate my behavior. Nancy speaks heavily on the responsiblity we each have to find our joy in Christ and not in our circumstances, which is something that's good for every women to be reminded of.

Outstanding book for all women
This is one of the most succint and direct books I've ever read for a woman who wants to live a Godly life.I loved it so much that I bought one for my mom and best friend.She is direct and clear with her writings and I felt that it applied to all Christian women who desire to truly walk the walk.Life applicable.
Lies Women Believe
This book had a lot of extreme views.Demoss generalizes constantly.I felt she twisted scripture to explain her point of view.I did gleam some good out of the book.I am a fairly new Christian and I felt it was more harmful then good.I felt it could give a Christain women a feeling there are only absolutes to God's way, that we are not individuals.I felt it weighed me down more than lifted me up.I had to go back to God's word and study because at times I felt the study was toxic.I think Demoss is very biased and narrow minded.I would especially not recommend it if you are a new Christian.I also about group study I would only recommend it if you are with seasoned Christians who are willing to be objective about this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christian Life    2. Christian women    3. Christianity    4. Christianity - Christian Life - General    5. Christianity - Christian Life - Women's Issues    6. Religion    7. Religion - Christian Life    8. Religious aspects    9. Religious life    10. Truthfulness and falsehood    11. Women's Studies - General    12. Religion / Christian Life   

Reviews (5)

Meaty enough to read this year and next
This is a great devotional book, and I am not usually one that finds devotionals set up like this very interesting. It is set up to have a reading each day during Advent, Christmas and through to Epiphany, and the readings are all written by people like C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, Kathleen Norris, Annie Dillard, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, etc.This is no, "What was the innkeeper thinking" sort of advent reading book.It is thoughtful and insightful and has a lot to say that ties into the preparative nature of advent, that is the preparation for the messiah's return.The writings vary in length and type from scholarly writings to musings to poetry or introspection. The readings are meaty enough, too, that you could certainly read them this year and again next year and they'll still be good.

Much more than Advent and Christmas reading.
I really shouldn't write a review yet, because I haven't finished the book. I'm doing so in hopes that people will buy the book in time to use it this year. This is an excellent book of essays, a few poems, and some sermons. There are some very "heavy hitters" in the mix--check out the table of contents. I have only read through December 2 so far, but it has been a very rewarding journey just a few steps down the path. I particularly love the piece by Karl Rahner (1904-1984), a German Jesuit and theologian. It is very cutting edge theology for its time and even for today, and it reads beautifully and powerfully. Henri Nouwen is also excellent, along with Sylvia Plath's poem.
Watch For the Light
I have not read the book as it is to use during Advent and Christmas and the readings begin on November 24, 2005. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Devotional    2. Holidays - Christmas    3. Religion    4. Religion - Inspirational/Spirituality    5. Spirituality - General    6. Bible readings or selections    7. Personal Christian testimony & popular inspirational works   

Editorial Review

Prince Arjuna faced a dilemma that many face sooner or later--whether to take action that is necessary yet morally ambiguous. The difference is that Arjuna's action was to wage war against his own family. With the armies arrayed, Arjuna loses his nerve. Krishna, his charioteer and incarnation of divine consciousness, begins to teach him the nature of God and of himself, that Arjuna can attain liberation through union with God, and that there are several available paths. And so the most famous and revered of all Hindu Scriptures goes on to teach the paths of knowledge, devotion, action, and meditation, becoming the seed for all the Hindu systems of philosophy and religion that followed. For all of its profundity, Eknath Easwaran manages to translate the Read more

Reviews (29)

Words of Khrisna
I am going to buy this book and read it. I am going to compare it to the New Testament writings. I will compare the words of Khrisna with the words ofChrist. Which words have the path of salvation in them and which words are a lie? This question is of all others the most important.
A scholarly yet readable translation makes BG relevant today
No wonder this is the best-selling translation of this Indian classic work! Easwaran gives a full introduction, putting the Gita into the context of the literature and traditions of the time, and showing how it relates to modern philosophy. Sanskrit concepts that are quite difficult to translate into English are explained carefully, as is the relationship with Yoga. The translation itself is vivid and convincing, and the book is cleverly divided, with each chapter preceded by a clear explanation of the difficult concepts to come in that chapter.

Required For Any Library of Eastern Theology!
This slim volume in my opinion, should be, along with Easwaran's translation of the Upanishads and Dhammapada, on the shelf of every student of Eastern Wisdom. The translation is beautiful, somewhere between prose and poetry, and the introduction, and chapter openings are especially helpful to Westerners unfamiliar with Hinduism, and the non-physical schools of Yoga. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Hinduism    2. Religion    3. Religion - World Religions    4. Mind, Body, Spirit   

Reviews (14)

Excellent!
I highly recommend reading this book. The passion for being a missionary starts here in Jim Elliot's life. Don't miss this wonderful story and testimony of Jim's passion for witnessing about Christ.

A once-in-a-lifetime book
The insight, sensitivity, and nobleness of character found in these pages would be notable if they were found in the words of a novel.The fact that they also serve as a historical record and the loving tribute of a devoted widow make them profound.The challenge offered to the reader by the example and set by Jim Elliot further enhances this book to palce it among the very finest I have ever encountered.

Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot
Shadow of the Almighty is by far the best biography I have ever read!!!It has been said that "You will be the same today, except for the people you meet and the books you read", I have found this to be very true in my life.
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Subjects:  1. 1927-1956    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Christianity - Christian Life - General    5. Ecuador    6. Elliot, Jim,    7. Missionaries    8. Religion    9. Religious    10. United States    11. Christianity    12. Elliot, Jim    13. Religion / Christian Life   

Reviews (16)

This book Changed My Life
This book is one of the most profound books i've ever read in my life.It has helped me bring meditation into my life, which has truly transformed me and my life for the positive.This book is great for anyone, advanced or beginner to meditation, or for anyone in general, even if you don't plan on practicing meditation.This man has a wealth of knowledge that we could all benefit from.I highly recommend this book!!

Tools for Wise Leadership
Sri Easwaran teaches us in very practical ways how to live our best life. He also provides practical tools for dealing with challenging people situations, stress, and for gaining mastery over our internal environment.
Meditation
This is a great book that helped me to still my mind, which was no easy task. I read several other books on the subject of meditation but this is the one that worked for me. He also addresses doing one thing at a time and being present with it. I highly recomend it for people who have trouble meditating. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Meditations - General    2. General    3. Meditation    4. Meditations    5. Philosophy    6. Prayer    7. Religion    8. Spiritual exercises    9. Spirituality - General    10. Mind, Body, Spirit    11. Spirituality   

Reviews (6)

Amazing thought and insight...
Edwards is known for the greatest sermon ever told "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and most people stop at that sermon and don't read further.These two volumes are vast and comprehensive and not for one who wants to casually read Edwards.These two volumes are still in his original venacular and have not been contemporized like I have seen with other works. They include sermons, thoughts and letters that Edwards wrote on various topics, including his two most popular "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and "Freedom of the Will" and many, many more.
A note regarding the Works of Jonathan Edwards
This is not a review of The Works of Jonathan Edwards, which at any rate is simply outstanding and which nearly every person -- Christian and non-Christian, elder and young convert, apologist and truth seeker, scholar and layman -- would likely do well to read and digest, but rather a note for those interested in purchasing the currently listed, two-volume Hendrickson edition (ISBN 1-56563-085-8).
An amazing collection
Freedom of the Will, Religious Affections, The End for Which God Created the World, The Nature of True Virtue, Original Sin Defended, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God...they're all here and much more! These are some of the most influential Christian writings of all time. The resurgence of Calvinism (Neo-Calvinism) and the tremendous rise in Edwardsian studies in both Christian and secular academia make this two volume set of his works an essential addition to anyone's library (both scholar and layman, Protestant and Catholic, Christian and Non-Christian). With nearly 1000 pages in each volume, there's more here than you will probably ever read. However, because of so many discourses, treatises, and sermons, the print size is fairly small...this is in order to fit all of the material into the two volumes. Other than that small drawback, this is an excellent set and a great value. The multi-volume Yale collection will cost you over a thousand dollars, while all you'll ever want is in this collection.Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - History - General    2. Christianity - Theology - General    3. Missions & Missionary Work    4. Religion    5. Religion - Church Life    6. Christian ministry & pastoral activity    7. Christian theology   

Editorial Review

Eliot's poetry ranges from the massively magisterial( The Waste Land), to the playfully pleasant (Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats). This volume of Eliot's poetry and plays offers the complete text of these and most all of Eliot's poetry,including the full text of Four Quartets. Winner of theNobel Prize in Literature, Eliot exerted a profound influence on his contemporaries in the arts generally and this collection makes his genius clear. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Still Point of the Turning World
I'm not at all rating this book five stars; that's my rating for T.S. Eliot's plays. This book was the typical library edition and has everything wrong with it: the cover of an old, wise Eliot (why not a young maverick one?), "Complete" in the title when it's not at all complete, big, heavy, hardback and way too literary looking for the passing reader to crack the cover.
A pleasure to own!
His language is effortless in its flow and it is conducive to deep meditation in its style. After reading 'Prufrock', and the 'Hollow Men' I got the sense that this is something truly withstanding and classic - one of our bards of the 20th century.
Practical Cats, Etc.
This was the first time I've read Eliot since college, when I read The Waste Land. I was stunned this time around, and particularly found Practical Cats riveting. His ear for language is extraordinary. Why have so many post-modern poets abandoned rhyme, rhythm and sound in such a lyrical medium? Loved it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American - General    2. English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    3. Poetry    4. Poetry / Single Author / British & Irish   

Features

• Audiobook

Subjects:  1. Audiobooks    2. English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    3. General    4. Poetry    5. Unabridged Audio - Drama/Poetry    6. Poetry / General   

Reviews (29)

A Must Read for the Missions Minded
Through Gates of Splendor is a gripping account of the true story of 5 missionaries martyred in the jungles of Ecuador. Sound familiar? That's because it's the same (basically) story recently popularized by the film End of the Spear.
Excellent too!
This book is very good. I recommend it for all the readers that look forward for an encouragement testimony. If you have not read "Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot" yet, I suggest you should start with that one first. Through Gates of Splendor is like the second part of it. Read them both you will see why.

My friends besy picks
I baught this book for a friend and he injoid it very much. Thank you Amazon ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Christian martyrs    3. Ecuador    4. Huao Indians    5. Indians of South America    6. Inspirational    7. Inspirational - General    8. Missions    9. Missions & Missionary Work    10. Religion   

Editorial Review

According to Eknath Easwaran, if all of the Buddhist sutras had been lost except the Read more

Reviews (21)

Interesting introduction to Buddhism
I have bought both this book, and for comparison, Byrom's rendering, and I suspect that Easwaran's translation is better. The verses are numbered, and Mara (the Buddhist version of Satan) is there in the verses, while Byrom apparently mistranslates it as 'desire'. Otherwise I cannot judge which translation is better.
Buddhism
You must rememeber. Buddhism is not a religion OR a belief system. Buddhism cannot tell you the way it can only point you toward it.

A lifetime companion
It simply is my most used book. I started just reading it, beginning with the elaborate introduction written by Easwaran. It gives an extremely insightful picture of what sort of person Buddha was and how important and inspiring he was in his own days. The translation itself is more than just a modern and appealing translation. I think the spiritual wisdom of Easwaran gives this translation an extra value.
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Subjects:  1. Buddhism - General    2. General    3. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    4. Religion    5. Buddhism   

Reviews (5)

An Incredibly Easy Way to Relax and Focus
My husband read this book, and recommended that I read it as I mostly confidently, though sometimes stressfully, waded through the challenges of opening my own small business.Within the first few short chapters, Mr. Easwaran gives you a tip for remaining calm and focused, that is as easy as repeating the same few words silently to yourself.Like most of you, I have my family, friends, church, and colleagues for support, but many times, I just want to "take care of myself," get past the hurdle immediately before me, and move on.Using one of the mantra's suggested in this book has helped calm my mind.With a calm mind, I'm able to get in touch with what is really important to me, and make sound, positive decisions.The author then goes on to suggest some additional concepts which I found to be very thought provoking, including, reminding me of the part I can play in life by offering my services to society.

Valuable but rigid
Helpful information about the concept of mantram.Interesting explanations, though some are contradicted by other sources.Methodology is rigid. Rigidity aside, a valuable read.

Excellent book
It is profoundly liberating to learn that a simple word or combination of words is the key to healing one's self and one's relationship with others. I work in numerical algorithms and I am constantly reminded of how the most enduring algorithms are often the simplest. This book changed my life, I sincerely hope it does yours too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Meditation    2. Psychology    3. Religion    4. Spirituality - General    5. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques   

Reviews (3)

A Great,well Crafted Compendium
Theevidence that there is no substance in matter, that all is Mind, and Mind is ALL.
A very uneven collection
Mary Baker Eddy threw together a number of booklets and newspaper articles which she had written for this volume. The quality and value of them is very uneven.

it goes with Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures
It has MUCH inspiration and answers questions in a different and sometimes similiar way about the application of Christian Science.Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Christian Science    2. Religion - Contemporary Issues   

Reviews (20)

Edition Brings More to Wasteland
Norton Critcal did it right with this edition.With enough essays and criticism to help anyone get a deeper understanding of Elliot's poem, this edition is a must have.Rainey's essay on the publishing of the poem is particulary interesting.

A Modernist Masterpiece
I read The Waste Land and find that most poetry that comes after it is self-indulgent, limpid nonsense. The Beats? Who are they? Rubbish, all of it. Philip Larkin? Wimpish nonsense. But TSE and Ezra Pound, there you have the meaning and message of modern poetry. Since them and then, poetry has gone downhill into the personal, the confessional, the onanistic. Poetry MUST be difficult, not accessible, not transparent and easily understood after one reading.

Truly one of the best.
One reviewer claims that this is marred by some of Eliot's unfurtunate preducices. But how come you don't say something like that about O' Henry. We can't just stop reading authers because you we don't like their views. Someone calls hemingway looking forward? If that's looking forward I'de rather look backward. Hemingway has no concept of lyricism what so ever. Most of the people that reviewer named justly loved Eliot. Eliot is not looking nesscarily towards the past, but towards what we have made out of the present. In name of progress, we have destroyed nature and good part of our souls. To call Eliot Conservative at the time he wrote the poem would be redicoulous, the first draft according to one of Eliot's biographers, was absolutly a expression of Relavtism. One critic accused him being a Nihilist.
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Subjects:  1. (Thomas Stearns),    2. 1888-1965    3. 1888-1965.    4. American - General    5. Eliot, T. S    6. Eliot, T. S.    7. Eliot, T. S. (Thomas Stearns), 1888-1965    8. English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    9. Literature: Classics    10. Poetry    11. Waste land    12. English    13. Poetry & poets: from c 1900 -    14. Works by individual poets: from c 1900 -   

Reviews (109)

A Masterpiece
It is interesting the way the world is changing. This book was "way out there" 150 years ago - even 100. Maybe even 20. Today, most people I listen to tend to agree with the premises of the book if terms are modern and understood. The world is approaching the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy while not giving her credit. And that is OK. Apparently she never expected for all people to become Christian Scientists. She seemed to know that whatever Truth is, if it is truth, people will arrive at it by different roads and that is fine. It is interesting to me that people are approaching what Eddy said so many years ago, and most are not members of the Christian Science church.
Thought-Provoking and Radical
Science and Health opens with this wonderful statement: "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings."It ends with a chapter called "Fruitage" which is filled with testimonies from people who experienced Christian healing just by reading this book.Written over a hundred years ago, this book is still relevant to today.
A book for everyone regardless of religion
With so many people in search of true spirituality, Science and Health has shown exactly what that is and how close God is to each of us. I can heartily recommend this book to all seekers of Truth! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christian science    2. Christianity - Christian Science    3. Christianity - Denominations    4. Health    5. Religion - Denominations - Religions    6. Religious aspects    7. Self-Help    8. Spirituality - General   

Editorial Review

Formerly a professor of Victorian literature, Eknath Easwaran discovered the treasures of wisdom in his own native India and began to pursue them with a passion. He has since studied them, practiced them, and moved to America to share them with the Western world. In his translation of Read more

Reviews (13)

A Required Book For Any Collection of Eastern Wisdom
This book, along with its companion translations of the Dhammapada and Bhagavad Gita, also by Eknath Easwaran, should be required for any serious student of Eastern Wisdom. If you can't afford Swami Nikhilanandas multi-volume set of complete translations of every Upanishad, and even if you can, you should also have this volume on your shelf.

Excellent abridged version
On Upanishads:
Excellent translation
The author reaches the heart of the writing. The passages bring a calm, peacefully deep understanding. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Hinduism    3. Philosophy    4. Religion    5. Spirituality - General   

Editorial Review

Elisabeth Elliot's story centers around one pivotal question: "Does God want everything?" Her emphatic answer--"Yes"--is what makes Read more

Reviews (89)

Well written, good point, tough reading (male perspective)
After I finished reading this book (which took my about a week, I didn't want to rush through it), I took a look at the one star reviews here. Not to discredit anything that they all have said, but I don't believe that any of those people read the book to the end. One person says that she doesn't believe that Jim was not attracted to his "beloved Bett" and used her to fulfill his selfish needs. If you want a rough translation of a few chapters from the Song of Solomon, read the chapter entitled "Love Letters." You'll then realize why many pastors didn't give sermons from that book up until recently.
Life saver
I am an African who first read Elizabeth Elliot's book "Passion and Purity" when I was a newly divorced mother of four.I was in my early thirties then and lived in Africa. Although I was raised as a Christian, I have never heard that it was possible to not date as I was influenced by western songs and western movies to think that dating was the norm.What I found, much to my surprise, when I started dating as a single mother, was that my body was different - perhaps because I had given birth.I could not control myself when I when I started being physical with a man.I had to go all the way, even though I was a Christian.My biological urge was greater than my sincere convictions about Christ.Then I read Elizabeth Elliot's book, and the light came on!!!!
The Value of Listening to Wisdom from Our Elders.
The wisdom that Elizabeth Elliot provides for her readers in this and her many other titles, proves our societies need to stop pushing aside the "aged" wisdom of our Parents, Grandparents and wise people of their generation.This woman who is portrayed in the film "End of the Spear", knows through the deep sacrifice of losing her young husband, Jim Elliot, how to 'bring one's love life under Christ's control'.Instead of wasting her life in ongoing self-pity, she strikes out to minister to the needs of the same Auca tribe that killed Jim and his fellow missionaries.Then as life goes on she meets another love in her life, Addison.After being married a only a few years they discover Addison has terminal cancer and he only has a short time to live.Once again, after Addison's death, Elizabeth does not turn to anger, self pity or blaming God.Instead, this woman who has lost two men that she loved deeply within a short period of time, turned to helping other women who had gone through similar situations to see how important it is to put Christ at the helm of one's life and allow Him to control the sometimes painful side of a person's love life.Then once again God brings another wonderful man into Elizabeth's life and they were married.Imagine the doubts that haunted her about losing another beloved husband and friend.Instead Elizabeth brought her love life under Christ's control and left it there, as she knew that, because of her previous experiences, she could trust him to control her love life more than any other mere human."Passion and Purity..." is no mere collection of thoughts on this subject by one who feels they have some ideas on the subject.Nor is it a treatise by an individual who has researched the subject well.It is the wisdom of a woman who has faced those challenges, personally, not once, not twice, but three times.She speaks from experience and wisdom that I have never seen before.We need more writers of her depth and experience.Thank God for Elizabeth Elliot! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christian life    2. Christianity    3. Christianity - Christian Life - Interpersonal Relationships    4. Elliot, Elisabeth    5. Inspirational - General    6. Religion    7. Religion - Singles    8. Religious aspects    9. Sex   

Reviews (6)

According to John Piper
Although the Bible says not to love the world and its imperfect ways, John Piper is apparently quite comfortable with the worldly definition of men and women: that is, that men are superior and meant to be leaders over women. You know, there's a reason that Christ told us not to be worldly; the world, ever since the beginning, has had its own way of distorting God's perfect design and His plans for a peaceful life for us. The definition of women as followers and men as leaders is a classic example of one of these distortions, and yet why do so many believe it? Piper seems to think that women naturally love men being in charge of them and that men naturally hate women leading or teaching them. As an example, he gives us the image of a female umpire over a male baseball team and calls this unnatural. I can see why this would be unusual, but unnatural? Women have been educated teachers for centuries; in fact, that used to be one of the few professions we were allowed, and now suddenly we shouldn't teach anyone with male organs? Even if it's just teaching young boys to play ball? Honestly, what IS it that makes insecure men like Piper terrified and repulsed by the idea of a person teaching if they happen to possess a womb? If a man hates the idea of being taught by a woman simply because she IS a woman, his reaction is caused by a sexist society or upbringing that has lead him to think female leadership is unnatural, not by some natural instinct that tells him it's wrong. Sexism, like racism, is taught and learned, not inborn from God. I almost find it amusing how Piper assumes that inflated male pride is a God-given trait. Such discrimination needs to be eliminated, not encouraged as normal and healthy. Piper also makes the assumption that women are born with a natural happiness to follow and are only too glad to obey; this belief especially made me certain that he needs to step out of his sequestered existence and see what women are really like. Submission is no more inborn than sexism; girls who believe it's their lot in life to follow a man have been taught to think so. On the other hand, if you raise a boy and a girl, treat them equally and give them all the same opportunities, you can bet that by the time college comes around, your daughter will NOT turn to you and say, "Well, rather than going to college, I guess it's time for me to find a man that I can happily obey till the day I die!" No, girls do not come up with such ideas on their own; we are born, as men are, with a natural desire to lead our own lives. Women should marry because they want joyful partnerships, not someone to obey. I hope that Piper and people of like mind will learn to overcome their sexist beliefs and see women as we truly are.

Impressive
I was very impressed by this small booklet. Piper goes through this controversial issue and lays down a solid framework for understanding Biblical manhood and womenhood. Doesn't miss the point of the Fall
1 Corinthians 11:7Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Topical Studies    2. Christianity - Christian Life - General    3. Christianity - Christian Life - Men's Issues    4. Christianity - Christian Life - Women's Issues    5. Christianity - Education - General    6. Religion    7. Religion - Christian Life