What It Takes to Get to Vegas
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Fun, wonderfully narrated,exciting,hopeful, and tragic
  • Underdeveloped and Confusing
  • Great writing bogged down by heavy-weight stereotypes
  • A struggle to get respect in the Barrio, excellent.
What It Takes to Get to Vegas
Yxta Maya Murray
Manufacturer: Grove Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0802137377

Book Description

What It Takes to Get to Vegas has been described by The Arizona Republic as "a juicy tale of ambition, passion and grit that is as much fun to read as a good trash talk session with your best friend." Growing up among the championship hopefuls and alleyway gladiators of East L.A., Rita Zapata sees in boxing a ticket to something better. At eighteen, she's earned the title "Queen of the Streetfighters." Then she meets Billy, an enigmatic, intense fighter from Mexico, who begins systematically clawing his way to the top. Their passionate connection gives Rita two things she's never had: real love, and respect in the neighborhood. From the alleys off Cesar Chavez Avenue to the carpeted suites of Caesars Palace, Rita learns exactly what it takes to get to Vegas, as Billy turns out to be the best thing that has ever happened to her -- and the worst. In exuberant prose sparkling with wicked wit, Yxta Maya Murray has given us a sass-talking, big-hearted heroine with a story we will not soon forget. "Frenetic, bittersweet, and often hilarious ... Rita Zapata is who Holden Caulfield would want to be if he were alive in 1999." -- The Boston Globe; "From the get-go, [Yxta Maya Murray] pulls you into her latest book with its flowing Spanglish and bittersweet observations." -- Seventeen; "Somewhere between a telenovela and the passion of St. Theresa de Avila ... precise, hilarious, and swinging ... Rita's world dance[s] around beside us after we put the book down." -- New Times LA; "Murray's elegant prose beckons those who fear this land of urban blight to venture into it, to stay a while and meet its citizens ... Stellar." -- Los Angeles Times Book Review

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fun, wonderfully narrated,exciting,hopeful, and tragic.......2006-07-01

Rita Zapada is a beautiful young girl raised by a very attractive mother who has a reputation around town. Her and her mother both saw themselves somewhere else besides having lots of kids and being poverty stricken in east LA. They were both beautiful and used this to get men. However, those men used them and ultimately got them nowhere, until Rita meets Billy, who gets her into places she would never imagine. Rita's character is lovable, funny, tough. With this book written in spanglish it's way fun to read and feels as if she's talking right to you. The end was very surprising to me and I would've never expected that climax. It was a great book that I won't soon forget.

2 out of 5 stars Underdeveloped and Confusing.......2001-07-10

The characters were a little bit underdeveloped and shallow, and Rita's character was all over the place. I could never really get a clear portrait of her besides the fact that she had a serious identity problem. I also found it hard to keep up with all the different "Divine Drive" women and Ruben's boxers, and eventually lumped them all together as one group. Billy's mysterious aloofness was never explained. And why was her relationship with Dolores the focus of the narrative at the end and beginning of the novel but not developed throughout? The melodrama at the end.......seemed like an easy way out for Murray to me. It all became very unrealistic.

Although these inconsistencies and Murray's annoying metaphors and similies kept me shaking my head in boredom, it was a delicate portrait of life and culture in the barrio. And although the characters can be seen as stereotypical, they may very well be accurate depictions of the typical barrio men and women. If Murray had let us into the minds of more of the characters and perhaps written this novel in the third person instead of the first, it might have been more enjoyable to read.

3 out of 5 stars Great writing bogged down by heavy-weight stereotypes.......1999-11-11

I was hooked by the first few pages of Murray's fast-paced, street-wise story of Rita. Murray's writing is fresh, powerful; she made me care about Rita -- in the beginning. The novel seemed to wane in the middle; Rita's mom disappears almost as soon as she is introduced, then re-appears suddenly -- although Rita supposedly still lives at home as an adult. The men and all the women of the barrio are stone stereotypes who could've been created by just about any Anglo writer. And while I understand that the stories of the Ritas in el barrio should be told, I wanted something more than the stereotypical 'hot-mama, promiscuous Latina.' These characters have been done to death -- it's time for them to die. Why is it that in order for a woman (fictional and real) to get to the top or to get respect, she has to spread her legs? With respect to the previous reviewer (C. Guerrero "Dreaming in Cuban"? ), for the sake of the children who have yet to escape, I certainly hope this isn't what it takes to get out of the ghetto. As a professor of law, as a Latina, as a woman, does Murray want us to believe this of her? Hopefully, she will incorporate some positive attributes into her next barrio character or perhaps she should 'write what she knows.' And if she really came from the ghetto-barrio, she would know that sometimes good things -- and good girls -- do come from bad surroundings.

5 out of 5 stars A struggle to get respect in the Barrio, excellent........1999-08-09

In this new novel, we continue to see what it takes to make it in the Barrio, and how perceptions are created without any input from the person being most affected by it. Murray captures the cruelty and joys of life on the street and on the lower rungs of Mexican social life. Very good.

Seeds of Betrayal (Winds of the Forelands, Book 2)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Seeds of Betrayal
  • Continues to Intrigue
  • INTRICATE SERIES TALE CONTINUES
  • This is an excellent fantasy series
  • unbelievable except for the ending
Seeds of Betrayal (Winds of the Forelands, Book 2)
David B. Coe
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

EpicEpic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 081258998X
Release Date: 2004-04-06

Book Description

The realms of the Forelands are in turmoil as a result of the machinations of a powerful conspiracy of sorcerers, members of a race called the Qirsi, pale-skinned folk feared by those in power. Though many refuse to acknowledge the possibility of a conspiracy, a handful of Qirsi and nobles realize that the time has come to take action, even at the cost of their loves, their honor, and even their lives.But the rebels don't know of each other's actions, and the tenuous threads holding the realms together are starting to unravel. With the death of a king, nobles gather to choose a new leader, and deadly power springs from a most unexpected source. As new alliances form, former enemies become unlikely partners.But who can be trusted in these new alliances, and who will be swayed by love, jealousy, or pride to betray their new allies? For more than the future of the realm is at stake. The future of the entire Forelands is in danger, and a 900-year-old grudge may lead to civil war. Those who wish to prevent it must place their hopes in a reluctant assassin, a few Qirsi and nobles, and the one man who may be able to defeat the leader of the conspiracy....if he can survive long enough to do it.

Download Description

Powerful conspiracies, magical treachery, and secret alliances threaten to push the realms into war in this exciting sequel to Rules of Ascension. Sorcery, betrayal, and assassinations lead to fear, guilt, and unexpected acts of courage, forcing characters to question their assumptions about the very foundation of their world.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Seeds of Betrayal.......2007-02-09

The first book of this series, "Rules of Ascension", ended with Tavis heading south to hunt for Brienne's true killer, while other plots and intrigues swirled around the various nobles and their courts. In "Seeds of Betrayal" the scope grows wider, as Coe shows us new countries and cities and introduces us to literally scores of new characters, each with their own background, prejudices, and goals. He keeps the action rolling with more murders and a doozy of a plot twist right in the middle. He also spices things up with some hot lesbian sex (actually more like lukewarm lesbian sex) and drops ample hints of further conflicts to come.

The biggest problem with the book is the vast cast of characters. There are too many to remember the names of, and the viewpoint shifts so often that some of their stories lose cohesion. We may get a chapter about a certain pair and then never hear from then again for two hundred pages. By the end I was losing track of even the most basic information, and had trouble recalling which ministers were loyal, which were disloyal, who was double- and triple-crossing who, and which assassins were being paid to wax which victims. Additionally, Coe's world is somewhat short on texture. The new castles and cities we encounter all feel almost identical to all the others, without distinct cultures. Place descriptions feel particularly perfunctory.

The book's saving grace may be its most memorable character, the archvillain who we finally meet for the first time. Duusan, a minister with particular powers and an advantageous position at an important court, is a menace worth reckoning with. But he also stands out for his attitudes, his intelligence, and his understanding of the psyche of friends and enemies.

4 out of 5 stars Continues to Intrigue.......2006-03-28

As much as I enjoyed Rules of Ascension I was even more impressed with Seeds of Betrayal, the second volume in David Coe's Winds of the Forelands series.

This volume dramatically increases the political intrigue, which I tend to appreciate more after reading George R.R. Martin's brilliant Song of Ice and Fire series. The traditional sword and sorcery elements are still present, but they play a lesser role. Rules of Ascension showed readers a glimpse of the events and politics facing the Forelands, but Seeds of Betrayal kicked the door wide open. Coe introduces a host of new characters and courts, and shows us the threads that connect them all. Nothing happens in a vacuum. This volume illustrates how events in one kingdom play out in another, and how a carefully manipulated string of events can throw them all into turmoil.

I admire Coe's ambition, but hope he hasn't overreached. The characters from Rules of Ascension could have used more development prior to introducing a whole new group. Seeds of Betrayal also gives readers a much closer look at the Weaver behind the vast Qirsi conspiracy. Unfortunately he comes off as a bit one-dimensional. This is a character that would have been more effective had he remained more enigmatic.

Despite a few bumps in the road, Seeds of Betrayal is another fine chapter in a very engaging series that should appeal to most fantasy fiction fans. Expect to be entertained, and you will not be disappointed.

4 out of 5 stars INTRICATE SERIES TALE CONTINUES.......2005-10-31

In his second novel, SEEDS continues with the massive conspiracy of a race of albino wizard like beings against the human nobility. At this point, some of the humans are on to the conspiracy but they are mostly in the dark. The tale, which focused on one set of duchies, has now mostly shifted to another set of duchies (there are several and many names to keep focused upon).

The best way to view the story is to imagine a lot of petty kingdoms with dukes as vassals to these kings. The first book focuses on several of the dukes of one kingdom as well as other characters who come into and out of the tale. There's also a race of albino type beings who have short life spans, practice magic and lost big time against the humans in a war from long ago.

I would say the character complexities are close to that of George R.R. Martin's fantasy series. Coe spends a lot of time developing such characters, and, like Martin, he's big on believable History of the realm.

PROS

(1) At heart this is a murder mystery and conspiracy tale, so, if you like such things, this is good.

(2) Complex characters;

(3) No long typical fantasy tale journeys where it gives the characters and excuse to bore us with the rules of magic or a long, boring tale of Historical stuff that could have been spread out in the novel.;

(4) He doesn't follow the typical fantasy archetype adventure which is refreshing.;

(5) Lots of interesting Historical detail which feels different and not a rehash of previous fantasy books; and

(6) Magic is low and not like some bad RPGing game.


CONS

(1) There are a ton of names and places to keep track of, but, if you hold out, it's worth it b/c it makes the story more complex than the simple tales. If you prefer the simple ones, and, that doesn't mean you're stupid by the way, then HARRY POTTER or ERAGON should do nicely. It's too bad the book doesn't have an appendix of names and places but this is probably more a decision of the publisher than the author.;

(2) If you want to spend all your time with only one main character, then, this is surely not the book for you.; and

(3) Not a ton of battles, although there are a few, so, if you need a lot, this isn't it. Think intrigue more than hack and slash/break the door down/charge style.

5 out of 5 stars This is an excellent fantasy series.......2004-11-15

It may no be in the same category with George RR Martin or Tad Williams when he is at his best, but I would say this series is very very good and worth purchasing for anyone that is a fantasy aficienado. I do not want to put any spoilers in this evaluation but suffice it to say that there is action and in both booksin this sereis there is that wanting for more that all of us love and hat at the same time

4 out of 5 stars unbelievable except for the ending.......2004-08-06

Seeds of Betrayal follows David B. Coe's Rules of Ascension, Book One of the Winds of the Forelands. This book contained all of the plot developments that the first had, added on some more from a different part of the Forelands, and lived up to its title's hype.

Tavis and Grinsa are now searching in Aneira for Brienne's killer and are figuring out more and more that there is a much larger threat to the Forelands than just Cadel, Brienne's assassin. The Eandi nobles in Aneira and Eibithar are finally realizing that the Conspiracy is not some hoax but reality, because of the many connections between the high profile murders occuring throughout the two realms. At the same time two Quirsi women in Aneira and one in Eibithar are ready and willing to oppose the so called Conspiracy, although they are not the only ones.

Enemies must become friends, and friends must become enemies, for the Forelands to stay in peace. David B. Coe did an excellent job again, but the ending seems to be a prologue for his next novel. His first in this series easily stood alone and hinted towards the next installment, but this one doesn't seem to end. It just stops. I am still anticipating the rest to come in the series and throroughly enjoyed this one even with the ending.
Seeds of Betrayal
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Seeds of Betrayal
    David B. Coe
    Manufacturer: Tor
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover
    ASIN: B000MVR5D2
    Universal War ARM X: The Road to Betrayal
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • ArmX The Road To Betrayal Review
    Universal War ARM X: The Road to Betrayal
    Peter W. Smorynski
    Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    Action & AdventureAction & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 1412011477
    Release Date: 2006-07-06

    Book Description

    Prepare yourself for an anime-infused sci-fi action-drama! ARM X is an all-new, original novel in the tradition of the Japanese Mecha Genre!

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars ArmX The Road To Betrayal Review.......2007-07-26

    I have owned this book from about the first week it has come out. After reading it a couple of times I can honestly say it is a well written book. If you like Sci-fi then you will absolutely LOVE this book. The author has a unique style of writing that after a few chapters, keeps you hooked on the book. Can not wait for the sequel.
    Ragnarok, Vol. 7: Seeds of Betrayal
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Ragnarok, Vol. 7: Seeds of Betrayal

      Manufacturer: Tandem Library
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Unknown Binding
      ASIN: 1417683317

      A Will to Live: Clear Answers on End of Life Issues (The Shepherd's Voice)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        A Will to Live: Clear Answers on End of Life Issues (The Shepherd's Voice)
        Jose Gomes
        Manufacturer: Basilica Press
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

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        ASIN: 193031406X
        Release Date: 2006-12-27

        Product Description

        Archbishop Jose Gomes, renowned expert on death and dying issues, explains what every Catholic needs to know in order to effectively and morally prepare for the inevitable death of our loved ones and even ourselves. With changing values and modern medical technologies to deal with, this booklet explains how to approach end-of-life issues and prepare for death in a way consistent with our Catholic faith. You will learn the answers to these important issues and more: What dignified death means to a Catholic. Why euthanasia, even if well intended, is murder. What the culture of life really means. Whether a Catholic should have a living will . Which medical practices are immoral. Pope John Paul II s criteria for ordinary vs. extraordinary means. What is morally mandated for palliative care.
        My Prince Will Come: Getting Ready for My Lord's Return (His Princess)
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • Get This one!
        My Prince Will Come: Getting Ready for My Lord's Return (His Princess)
        Sheri Rose Shepherd
        Manufacturer: Multnomah
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

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        ASIN: 1590525310
        Release Date: 2005-09-12

        Book Description

        Your Knight in Shining Armor Awaits

        When a royal princess is rescued by a brave prince, every girl’s heart pitter-patters at the thought. But women of all ages can easily miss the glorious truth that Jesus is the Prince who has already chosen her and is waiting at her door. Such an occasion is motivation for you to be at your best—healthy in every way! Now, as encouraging as it is practical, My Prince Will Come equips every woman to start living today a life of incredible freedom from the past, joy in the present, and hope for the future! Sheri Rose Shepherd’s message has been empowering women to become their best self, while inspiring them to confidently embrace an eternal view of themselves, for more than ten years. This is the third book in the acclaimed His Princess series.

        What a Day That Will Be!

        It’s the moment you’ve waited for all your life.

        Hopes and dreams long buried suddenly come alive;
        heartache and pain melt away;
        your eyes meet and you’re overcome with joy.


        It’s a love story beyond the most amazing fairy tale.

        A true Happily Ever After…all for you!

        Your eternal reign will begin on that day because your Prince
        loves you and paid the ultimate price to call you

        His princess.

        Come now, and get to know your Prince,

        understand your royal calling,

        live with passion and peace,
        and prepare for that glorious day…

        when you finally meet Jesus—your Prince—face-to-face.

        Story Behind the Book

        “This inspirational, motivational, instructional guide contains in written form the message that I have been delivering for the past ten years to over 100,000 women. My Prince Will Come is a practical tool for women preparing for Christ’s return to take us home. It reveals how to keep an eternal view in the midst of daily life. I’ve certainly learned that when I am not proactive, Satan will attack me in whatever area of my life that he can. I want to help women not only be on guard against the enemy, but show them how to proactively pursue their relationship with their King.”

        —Sheri Rose Shepherd

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars Get This one!.......2006-05-22

        As an avid reader of Christian books (maybe thousands of them), I ordered this book along with Sheri's Prayers from Your King, and I cried all the way through chapter one. I feel the Holy Spirit has revealed an area in my life : not really believing I am loved - looking for approval from others and God. I am moving toward a new freedom...please, ladies give this book opportunity for God to speak to you.
        I Will Give You Shepherds =: Pastores Dabo Vobis: Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Addressed by the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, to the Bishops, (Publication ... States Catholic Conference. Office for P)
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          I Will Give You Shepherds =: Pastores Dabo Vobis: Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Addressed by the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, to the Bishops, (Publication ... States Catholic Conference. Office for P)
          John Paul II , and Catholic Church
          Manufacturer: Hunter Publishing (NJ)
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

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          ASIN: 1555865194
          When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God--and Joy
          Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
          • A Helpful Tool in Treating Spiritual Darkness
          • Good resource
          • Worthy of More Than What 79 Pages Delivers ...
          • Compassionate and insightful
          • BREAK LOOSE FROM THE BONDS OF DEPRESSION
          When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God--and Joy
          John Piper
          Manufacturer: Crossway Books
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Audio CD

          DepressionDepression | Mental Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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          ASIN: 158134919X

          Book Description

          John Piper examines depression from a spiritual perspective, guiding and encouraging those for whom joy seems to stay out of reach. Unabridged on 1 CD (1 hour 14 minutes).

          Customer Reviews:

          3 out of 5 stars A Helpful Tool in Treating Spiritual Darkness.......2007-09-19

          When the Darkness Will Not Lift is a short (79 pp.) book written to encourage those Christians who are dealing with spiritual melancholy (depression). John Piper writes, "My aim is to give some guidance and hope to those for whom joy seems to stay out of reach." (p.12) Piper also writes to instruct believers as to how to help those who are encountering times of spiritual darkness.

          By Piper's own admission this book is not intended to fully treat such a subject. I think this quote should be considered before anyone jumps all over Piper for not `dotting all his I's"

          This book began as the final chapter of a larger book titled When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy. I hope that if this small book proves helpful, readers will consider what is in the larger one. There are crucial foundations in that larger book which are not included here." (p. 13)

          In "treating" despair Piper advises that we "start with despair. Despair of finding any answer in yourself. I pray that you will cease from all efforts to look inside yourself for the rescue you need. I pray that you will do what only desperate people can do, namely, cast yourself on Christ." (p.21)

          There are great practical exhortations throughout the book for those in despair or not, but particularly for those who are afflicted. In the following chapters Piper reminds us that We are not alone, a reminder of the prevailing faithfulness and power of God; Fold not the Arms of Action, a call to constantly be thankful and offering praise so as to produce joy; Does Unconfessed Sin Clog Our Joy?, an exhortation to confess our sin to God and others that we may `unclog' our joy; The Darkness that Feeds on Self-Absorption, a call to evaluate patterns in our lives, inspecting for self worshipping tendencies that produce despair.

          The one issue that I had was the treatment of the `darkness' in general. What is it for? I sometimes got the impression in reading the book that the goal was to have the trial removed. It is not the removal of the trial that brings the joy but the presence of Christ in the trial that is my joy. This is why in James 1 believers are commanded to "count it all joy when you encounter various trials" this of course is because of the presence and power of Christ in conforming believers into his blessed image. This is akin to what Paul dealt with in 2 Corinthians 12.9-10. I have joy when I realize that even within a trial I am in fellowship with the Sovereign, Good and Glorious King of the universe. I know John Piper believes this, as I have heard him say it elsewhere. However, it just didn't seem to come out as clear in this book for me.

          Overall I like the book, as I do with most of what John Piper writes. I love the emphasis upon the supremacy, sufficiency and beauty of Christ. I also was thankful that Piper acknowledges that issues of emotional pain are not only valid but also kind of messy. I am often discouraged when I hear folks dismiss emotional pain as either invalid or sinful. Piper acknowledges it and tries to help.

          This book will no doubt prove valuable for those who are afflicted and to help other believers to be more helpful. I would also recommend Piper's larger work, How to Fight for Joy.

          4 out of 5 stars Good resource.......2007-06-08

          This is a great book both for those who are going through a dark period in their life, and those who care about them. The only confusing part I found about the book is that it switches back and forth between addressing the depressed person and then the person who might want to counsel them. This is especially true towards the end of the book. Also, the author quotes some writings from several hundred years ago and uses the original Old World phrasings and spellings -- making some of the passages hard to read and understand.

          However, I really like how short the book is. When someone is depressed, the last thing they want to do is read a long book. This is short, sweet, and to the point. It's up-lifting without being "syrupy". It's never condescending to the reader, and brought up some biblical passages that I had not thought about previously. Overall, I recommend this book.

          5 out of 5 stars Worthy of More Than What 79 Pages Delivers ..........2007-05-02

          When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God--and Joy

          John Piper does not waste words nor space in filling this book with things other than scripture explaining the root of depression and Christian ways in assisting those afflicted with hopelessness, bitterness, and sadness. Darkness is the main impetus that keeps a depressed soul down, riddled with the falsehoods, accusations, unconfessed sin, tormenting harassment, and undeserving condemnation from the evil one himself. Secular "pep talks" with your counselor or therapist and antidepressent medications will only put bandaids on wounds that are really spiritual, not physiological, in nature. Hence, the prescription lies in the pages of the Holy Bible, where the true spiritual weapons are provided by God to combat the enemy's tactics to keep bound a wounded soul. And Piper just says which scripture can best be read to an afflicted individual, releasing him from the bondage of the enemy's lies (ie. Confessing Sin to One Another - 2 Corinthians 5:21, Jesus Does Not Condemn, Satan Does - Romans 8:33-34). Once those chains are broken, one can experience true joy, a fruit of the spirit that springs forth "like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not." (Isaiah 58:11 KJV). In fact, this is what God created us for, to overflow with joy so that we may spread His word! Hallelujah! "Joy in Christ thrives on being shared. That is the essence of Christian joy; It overflows or dies." (Piper, page 65). We, as apostles to Christ, must "fight for joy in this fallen world of pain and suffering", while ministering to those who have no hope (Piper, page 79, in quoting 2 Corinthians 6:10). To read this book, draws me nearer to Piper's other writings, realizing that this book was originally a chapter in a much more expansive work. However, this book alone will be the better investment, over even one session with a secular counselor. Five Stars!

          5 out of 5 stars Compassionate and insightful.......2007-03-20

          John Piper has once again blessed the Body of Christ with his latest book, When the Darkness Will Not Lift. A small volume, portions of which are drawn from other of his larger works, it is its succinctness, I think, which enhances its impact.

          The Introduction lays the foundation for what follows by discussing the nature and essence of spiritual darkness. Piper then moves into an eminently helpful treatment of justification, how it "severs [the] root of misery;" sanctification, and how confusing the two will kill joy in the believer.

          The rest of the book is a tightly-packed, compassionate, insightful, practical, biblical tool for helping those who "wait for joy." Piper touches on the physical/medical aspect of spiritual darkness, "the ground of assurance when we cannot see our faith," "when a child of God is persuaded that he is not," doing our duty in the midst of darkness, the place of thanksgiving, unconfessed sin, the role of Satan, and the danger of self-absorption. Don't be fooled; at a mere 79 pages, this is not a fast read. You will want to go slowly and drink deeply, and also to benefit from the other sources noted. - Pamela Glass, Christian Book [...]

          4 out of 5 stars BREAK LOOSE FROM THE BONDS OF DEPRESSION.......2007-03-07

          Piper's book, which is an expansion of a chapter in When I Don't Desire God, offers comfort and guidance to those experiencing spiritual darkness.

          The six chapters explore topics such as the physical causes for melancholy, waiting in darkness, fighting for joy, how confession of sin leads to freedom, and how to break loose from the bonds of self-absorption.

          This book is helpful for anyone who has suffered from depression - and it's a good resource to have on hand to offer those needing encouragement. You can read this entire book in a pdf format from Piper's ministry website, Desiring God.

          --Christian Women Online Book Buzz
          Wherever the Shepherd Leads, I will Follow: We can learn a lot from the dumb animals called
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            Wherever the Shepherd Leads, I will Follow: We can learn a lot from the dumb animals called
            Dinah R. McFadden
            Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

            GeneralGeneral | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
            ASIN: 1594574235
            Release Date: 2004-04-27

            Book Description

            When God created man and woman, he created us in His image and gave us dominion over all creatures in the earth. With this dominion, we sometimes tend to rely on our strength abilities rather than God. When He created the sheep, He created them with a total dependence and reliance on the Shepherd. In our daily walk with Him, we can learn a lot from the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep.
            BARCLAY WILLS' THE DOWNLAND SHEPHERDS.
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              BARCLAY WILLS' THE DOWNLAND SHEPHERDS.
              Shaun & Richard Pailthorpe (editors). Payne
              Manufacturer: BCA
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Hardcover
              ASIN: B000O8QHC8
              Downland Shepherds
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                Downland Shepherds
                Barclay Wills , and Shaun Payne
                Manufacturer: Sutton Publishing
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Hardcover

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                ASIN: 086299408X
                His will alone: The life of Mother Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, Foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
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                  His will alone: The life of Mother Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, Foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
                  Antonio Ricciardi
                  Manufacturer: Printed by Castle-Pierce Press
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback
                  ASIN: B000INH8MM
                  His will alone: The life of Mother Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, Foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (Frances Siedliska)
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                    His will alone: The life of Mother Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, Foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (Frances Siedliska)
                    Antonio Ricciardi
                    Manufacturer: Printed by Castle-Pierce Press]
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Unknown Binding
                    ASIN: B0006Y05SM
                    Mi Principe Vendra/ My Prince will Come: Preparandome Para El Regreso De Mi Senor/ Preparing for My Lord's Return (Su Princesa)
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      Mi Principe Vendra/ My Prince will Come: Preparandome Para El Regreso De Mi Senor/ Preparing for My Lord's Return (Su Princesa)
                      Sheri Rose Shepherd
                      Manufacturer: Zondervan Publishing Company
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Hardcover

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                      ASIN: 0829747168

                      John Main: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series)
                      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
                      • Worth reading for the serious Christian
                      John Main: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series)
                      John Main , and Laurence Freeman
                      Manufacturer: Orbis Books
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Paperback

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                      Similar Items:
                      1. Word into Silence Word into Silence
                      2. Moment of Christ: The Path of Meditation Moment of Christ: The Path of Meditation
                      3. Silence and Stillness in Every Season: Daily Readings with John Main Silence and Stillness in Every Season: Daily Readings with John Main
                      4. Bede Griffiths: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series) Bede Griffiths: Essential Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series)
                      5. The Light Within: The Inner Path of Meditation The Light Within: The Inner Path of Meditation

                      ASIN: 1570754152

                      Customer Reviews:

                      4 out of 5 stars Worth reading for the serious Christian.......2006-08-14

                      If you are a practicing Christian and would like to gain insight into your faith, this book is essential reading. If topics like meditation, and mantras frighten you, do not read this book. If you would like to see where Eastern Wisdom meets with the Wisdom of the West, then consider reading this. Main, according to the back book jacket, "pioneered the practice of Christian meditation. His genius was to recover a way into the contemplative experience for ordinary people within the Christian tradition." That's what I enjoyed most about this book- Main always is, first and foremost, a Christian. I have always been interested to, and sympathetic towards Buddhism, particularly in their tolerance of different faiths and interest in working with different religions towards similar goals- helping others, and trying to prevent violence throughout the whole world through education and understanding. Unfortunately, I agree with the Dali Lama that we should stick to the religious systems of the cultures we were born into because they connect with us in deep psychological ways. Thanks to John Main I need not feel isolated within the Christian community. Main understands the need to connect directly with the divine through meditation and that is what he emphasizes in these essential writings. Here are some examples of his wisdom: "The first step in conversion is allowing ourselves to be loved." "We come to know and love God because we allow him to know and love us. This is the alchemy of love." "The saint is not superhuman but fully human." "To be silent with another person is truly to be with that other person. Nothing is so powerful in building mutual confidence than an easeful and creative silence. Nothing reveals inauthenticity more dramatically than silence that is not creative but fearful." "Real prayer is not our prayer but the prayer of Jesus himself. That prayer is, even now as you read this, flowing in our hearts. Our prayer in this vision is our life force." "Learning to pray is learning to live as fully as possible in the present moment." "It requires nerve to become really quiet." "The experience of poverty is only the beginning." "In meditation we declare our own poverty." "The essence of all poverty consists in this risk of annihilation. This is the leap of faith from ourselves to the Other. This is the risk involved in all loving." "By stillness in the spirit we move in the ocean of God." "Our theories can make us impotent and self-important, like people with a car manual but no car." The words of John Main end with something the Dalai Lama and all people all over the world can understand and agree with- "The reality is that we are not isolated. We are one with the One. We are one with all." The 3 sentences before these powerful closing sentences remind us how Main is well within the Christian tradition in saying what he does: "Because of the incorporation of the whole- an incorporation that has both material and spiritual dimensions- every experience in the human family influences the whole. This is why St. Paul calls the early Christians to 'weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.' Violence, injustice, and all suffering anywhere within the Body of Christ affect and implicate us all." How many Christians you know say these things? If they had any maturity, they would. They would realize as Main writes that "Much of our religious response is indeed based primarily upon our beliefs. But I have come to feel that what we 'believe' is not really that important. Belief is like the tip of the iceberg. What matters is faith. For the Christian this means our deep commitment to Christ to the power of self-transendence, at the very bedrock of our being." Read this book. It may change your relationship to God. And that would be a great thing.

                      Books:

                      1. Zane Grey's Laramie Nelson: Other Side of the Canyon (Gunsmoke Westerns)
                      2. A History of Christianity (2-Volume Set) (Volumes 1 & 2)
                      3. After the Funeral: The Posthumous Adventures of Famous Corpses
                      4. America 2014: An Orwellian Tale
                      5. Anna in the Afterlife (Library of Modern Jewish Literature)
                      6. Arturo's Island: A Novel (Italia Series)
                      7. Beautiful Inez: A Novel
                      8. Bitter Lemons of Cyprus
                      9. Breakfast in Babylon
                      10. Breath and Shadows (Ballantine Reader's Circle)

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