A man's journey to the presence of God, told with honesty and thought provoking poems. Great book!
935361
I really enjoyed Steves From Out of the Sand and highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys poetry or is interested in the trials, failures and successes of a Christian walk.  Some of my favorite poems include Words, probably because taming my tongue has been such a lifelong challenge and I Still Call a reminder that no matter what you have done, God is still wooing us into a relationship with Him.  I also suggest you check out But Not and Drip.
From Out of the Sand chronicles through thought provoking poems and interesting stories, Steves struggles in life as he advanced to a closer relationship with God.  Since most of us have similar struggles, it was comforting knowing that like Steve described in his book, we are able to find solid ground and peace through Gods never ending love and grace.  Quoting Steve, Each of us has but one life to live, and it should be lived like a song with a sweet melody and works of life that matter.  Check out From Out of the Sand.
209200
This book was a great read - inspiring, interesting, and informative as it addresses questions we all face about God and how and why He does what He does.  The author comes from her own experiences as God walks her through numerous trials and suffering and through it all, becomes more real and personal to her as she faces the trying circumstances with which she is confronted.  It was hard to put down because she is able to draw in her readers and make them feel as it they were walking right there with her and having the same feelings and thoughts.  She does not pretend to have all the answers about God but she does not run from the hard questions or confusing experiences.  She is honest and real as she defends her intimate relationship with God and her spiritual journey.
2246797
Mark Rhoads has done an excellent job in describing the process of one's spiritual journey.  I have never read a book in this genre before and I feel like it was the right start.  It's a very easy and thought provoking book.  It made me pay closer attention to my thought process and the nature around me.

This book is wonderfully illustrated and the poems accent them.  I highly reccomend this book!
4589905
This honest, poignant autobiography gives the reader quite a lot of food for thought.  Beautifully written, this young neurosurgeon fighting cancer grapples with many of life's questions and priorities in ways that few young adults must do.  His story is touching, thought-provoking, and life-changing.  I'd recommend it highly to all!
737896
This is not a typical "how to" book in the religious or spiritual genre.  Rather, it is a memoir of the authors's quest to find his way back "home" in the spiritual sense.  He tells the story with a certain authenticity and desperation that really resonated with me.  Clearly, his path and mine are not exactly the same; no two paths ever are.  Yet, his successes and failures, wrong turns and doubts, all gave me hope that I'm not alone on this journey, and that all is well.

"Pastor" Dave is a wonderful, kind and caring man who was the pastor at the church that I grew up in during much of my childhood and young adult years.  He always was open to other viewpoints and treated everyone with love, respect and dignity.  I always held him in the highest personal regard.  However, after reading his new book, I now feel like I know him as a friend and fellow sojourner on the path home.  It's a beautiful story by a beautiful human being, and one that I will treasure and turn back to for years to come.
3301961
This book is an honest story of a pastor's journey of seeing life and the gospel with many different ways.  He went from fundamentalism to the emergent movement, and many places in between.  Finally, he's in a place where he understands the gospel and what it means to his life.
In my own life and ministry, I have gone through some of the same thoughts and changes, although not all of them.  There's a good chance that you have gone through some of the same thoughts, and you may be struggling with some of the same things right now.  It's an easy read, and I would recommend it to pastors and laymen alike.
4032922
In the prologue of To Hear the Forest Sing: Some Musings on the Divine, author Margaret Dulaney shares her struggle with learning disabilities and the observations of early teachers that saw her as a well-meaning girl with her head out the window. Her answer, in retrospect to those comments was, Of course my head is out the window. You have to be in the woods to hear the forest sing. Im glad that Dulaney not only heard the songs, but found the words to interpret and share the music.

The engaging and thought-provoking stories and reflections are eased into being by Dulaneys gentle flowing writing style. Finding the right words to describe a personal experience, particularly one with a spiritual inclination, is tricky. Religious beliefs are seen as private affairs and too much God talk can make people uncomfortable. You will find a fair number of discussions about God in this book. You will also encounter ponderings about prayer, the sacred and the divine, but with Dulaneys humor and light touch, I doubt that, no matter what your religious leanings, you will feel discomfort. You may, however, find dealing with the world a little easier and the burden of life a little less intense. For me, To Hear the Forest Sing proved to be just what my wise inner doctor ordered to face the daily challenges of our complex time on this planet.

Straight from my heartI highly recommend "To Hear the Forest Sing, either as a salve for a world-weary mind or simply an enjoyable read. Savor a chapter and let the authors passionate spirit re-ignite embers that seem ready to fade.
4714277
I enjoyed the journey Tom Mach provided for me with his poems. His words often evoked memories that sent me down my own private voyage. I can see me revisiting Machs poems as a way to boost inspiration and also foster a closeness to God.
 The books cover set the mood for a lovely adventure that is at times swift and at other times gentle and soothing. As I progressed through the poems I could see the power of water revealed both physically and spiritually.
  I was given a copy by the author and was so impressed I have purchased another copy to give to a poet friend. I recommend this book for poets and non-poets alike.
535359
This is a wonderful book, full of insightful thoughts that are very personal for the author.  Because the author relates his own spiritual convictions in such a personal way, always based in scripture, it leads the reader to relate these thoughts to himself and his own spiritual journey.  I have read this book several times, and each time I find a deeper spiritual meaning for my own life. I recommend it highly.
1821144
Well written book! The author is real, honest, and completely takes her readers on this spiritual journey called life along with her!
3800945
It's clear that years of thought and emotion were poured into this book.  The poems are both inspiring and thought provoking, and the visuals have the same effect.  It was a delight to read and I look forward to reading future works of his!
3178389
What a wonderful book!!! Very moving with beautiful descriptive writing.

This story is about Neil and his wife who were victims of a car accident. During the accident, God takes Neil on a journey through his life experiences and shows Neil that he was always by his side.

I went through many emotions and thinking about my own life while reading this book. It made me think about what really matters in life.

I really enjoyed this book! Can't wait to read the next one!
3591858
This book was a wonderful journey through the scriptures written like a good sermon. Steve uses great story telling to bring stories of scripture to life within your mind, he dives into Hebrew words in ways that build bridges from our culture to this ancient one, and he uses many real life stories to illustrate the concepts that he unearths.

BUT most important of all is what this book will unearth within your soul. Holy cow! This book takes you on a journey, but also illustrates the journey you are on. I found myself saying, "This right here describes where I am now!" Then it gives great insight on how to embrace the now, yet move forward on the journey.

All in all: Buy this book and read it. Be prepared to look at the reality of your soul, in all its beauty and brokenness, and embrace the gift that you are to the world, for our sake.
4958908
Jeff Pratt is a fantastic writer. He combines practical ways of improving one's relationship with God with his personal story. He is willing to not only talk about his successes, but also takes the reader into this journey by sharing his struggles with humility and vulnerability. Jeff dedicated his life to pursuing God and teaches wonderful ways of how one can connect with God in a deeper way. This book has been very relevant to me, as it is quiet counter-cultural to put away my distractions and take time to solely focus on God. I hope it will do the same to you, as you get into this journey yourself.
1485708
Talking With God is a book without pretense, written not by an expert trying to impart impressive knowledge, but by a man who is a fellow traveler on the journey to know and love Jesus more.  It's easy to read and easy to relate to. It breaks down many of the barriers that we often have in prayer, whether due to our upbringing, our pain and insecurities, or just wrong ideas about God.

Adam's authenticity shines through and drives the reader to lay down our preconceived notions and approach prayer simply, like a child, and experience the wonder of having a conversation with the Creator. He doesn't gloss over the tough questions, but leads us to bring those questions and struggles to God.

Whether you're looking for answers to questions of faith, new in your journey of following Jesus, or a long-time church goer hoping for something more, you'll find fresh and honest insight into prayer in this book.
3846896
This is not merely a book but an honest expression of a very sincere journey into an understanding of God. The type of honesty experienced in this book at times evoked feeling of beauty and wonder so deep the only appropriate response was tears. I don't know if Michael Gungor or any of the gungor musicians will ever read this review but what I would say to them is keep being authentic. As for the book, its best listened on the audible version in the stillness of the night or the noonday. I will forever use this as a conduit toward connecting to a deeper part of my emotions a place only God can reside.
3351697
W. Paul Young's narrative engaged both my mind and spirit in visualizing and expanding a personal concept of God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Although the story began and carried throughout its pages, the pain of loss, regret, guilt, Young's imaginative description of God, really made me think differently and more holistically about our Lord God.  Having a discussion with another person about the nature of God as represented in this book would be delightful.  I look forward to doing just that soon. I have purchased 6 copies, given all away, and need to order more.