Very compelling - offers insightful glimpse into the spiritual realm
343848
"When Dark Paths Meet" serves as a firm reminder of the REALITY of spiritual warfare and the need for Christians to not become complacent.  This book does not have a "preachy" feel.  Instead, it is a compelling narrative written in a conversational tone, where one man tells the story of his real life journey deep into the occult.  Most importantly, it also shows how God remains faithful by mercifully pursuing him and eventually leading him out of the darkness.

Very rarely do I read a book that personally impacts my life to the extent of "When Dark Paths Meet".  Reading this narrative has made me a stronger Christian. It has opened my eyes and created a renewed awareness of the importance of prayer, and the importance of constantly remaining vigilant against the enemy's attempts to cause destruction and havoc in our lives and our world today.

I noticed that one reviewer said she couldn't get past the "darkness" of the book.  It's true that the beginning and middle of the story do have a rather dark (even creepy) feel at times as the author details his descent into, well....the darkness. He does not hold back in describing encounters with demons and other supernatural occurrences.  However, the reviewer did herself a disservice by not FINISHING the story because she missed the powerful testimony of God's redemptive work (and even a supernatural encounter with angels) toward the end of the story.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to gain knowledge about the realities of spiritual warfare and the redemptive work of a loving God.
3130889
Love this book! Great insights and understanding of the spiritual realm. Greatly encouraged by this book! I highly recommend it to people who want a deeper walk and insight into the spiritual kingdom of God.
4874509
A great spiritual writing! An excellent read for anyone treading the spiritual pathway.
655834
As someone deeply immersed in the realm of Spirit (I'm a Unity minister), Thomas' "Flight of the Goose" is a wondrous journey into the Native Alaskan experience of spirituality. She accomplishes an understanding that would be difficult to obtain elsewhere. Showing a natural integration of mind, body and spirit through her characters, especially Gretchen, and the deep reverence for the animals in the natural yet stark environment of Alaska, Thomas gives insights to be treasured and applied to our own lives. Her sharing of the impact of Christianity on the Native people and the struggle to balance their Native spirituality with the Christian tradition is deftly handled. A thoroughly inspiring journey into Native spirituality and the important questions of life. I highly recommend it!
I'd love to see this one portrayed on the screen. She has much to teach  about love, life, perseverance of spirit and what really matters in life. I believe anyone interested in spirituality will love her book. I will definitely recommend this one to other ministers and seekers on the spiritual path.
3444540
Well worth reading and a history of a spiritual journey that will inspire you to examine your own words and then life you lead
3072108
I'm a pastor and this book was very challenging and insightful. Meditate and Declare was written by my mother. It wasn't easy to forget this because I could hear her voice in my head as the words came alive. The way this book is written echoes my Mom's personality and deep faith. This book is a practical and insightful look at the spiritual journey of the Apostle Paul. The book becomes very applicable as we are given numerous opportunities to stop and meditate or think about what we just read. Then we are given an oppertunity to declare the truths that God used Paul to write.  As unbiasedly as I can I want to recommend this book to any person who is seeking a closer walk with God. This book will challenge you and the truth's about God that are written will inspire you.
992627
I found this book of spiritual investigation and growth intriguing, fascinating and provocative. The collaboration between these soul mates is evidence that true love never dies.

Marcia Pollock contributed knowledge of the spirit world and Jerry Pollock wrote about his knowledge of the physical world. The Pollocks used Albert Einstein's equations of relativity to explore and reflect the energy of our God-given souls.

I know very little about the theories of Albert Einstein. I did find the thoughts expressed in this book very interesting. Mr. and Mrs. Pollock used examples from research and their own experiences to illustrate and explain their beliefs.

This is one of my favorite passages from the book. It reminds us that spiritual growth takes time and effort;
"In the course of life, humans seem to easily be able to darken their Divine souls. It is much easier to blacken your soul than it is to brighten it. Climbing the spiritual ladder takes time and energy. Living in the material world is impulsive".

This book might not be for everyone, but I recommend it for all who are serious about spiritual growth and development. This book will give you insight and guidance as you climb the spiritual ladder.
4728315
This book was a great read which gave a compelling insight into a life lived inside of a religious cult. Flor excels in her meticulous writing and explicit descriptions of what she experienced growing up. I expected a bitter recollection of her childhood, however, I was pleasantly surprised by the candid expression of her memories and feelings regarding a tumultuous time of her life.
4844073
Ruth H. Judy's book, Where My Soul Lives, does a great favor to those of us interested in contemporary spirituality that embraces the gifts of the Christian religious tradition but is no longer limited to a confining container.  Through her interviews with fifty people who see themselves as living their faith "outside the lines," alongside her own graced personal spiritual reflection, we get a rich exploration of spiritual life that often only spiritual directors/companions are able to witness.  Indeed, this would be a great resource for spiritual directors, pastors, formation educators, therapists, and all those who wish to accompany others in their spiritual journeys and psychologial maturity.  Where My Soul Lives does much to expand the boundary beyond the too simple "spiritual versus religious" paradigm and brings to my mind the developmental approaches to faith and spiritual life that does not reject what serves and supports through the church but is no longer restricted by earlier narrow institutional or dogmatic understandings.  Ruth Judy tells the stories of those who want their souls to stretch out into God's infinitely wide love and grace.
4256457
Ever since discovering the spiritual path more than 20 years ago, I've been drawn to read books related to the journey of self-discovery. Having read numerous titles in the category, I can sincerely say that these days it takes a special book to inspire me to read more than a few pages at a time. This was definitely that type of book, as I found various elements of the "conversation" between the soul and the brain to be both fascinating and thought-provoking. In addition, to me personally the information JB Lewis shares was both provocative and captivating, because it effectively compelled me to seriously question just about everything I've ever read about the nature of reality. While some aspects of the work are intensely metaphysical, anyone who has been on the path of spiritual growth for some time will certainly be able to handle it. I really liked this book.
1438696
A well written book that is insightful and inspirational.  I highly recommend it for people interested in the evolution of spirituality.  The author explains evoultionary spiritually in an interesting, clear way for better understanding. It encourages one to examine their belief system and spiritual practice.
3567479
Most of us are stuck in the first part of our spiritual life, the part that is about creating the structures and the container for who we will be when we start living for others and give ourselves for the sake of the world jus like Christ did.

Richard Rohr's latest work, is an amalgam of insight drawn from the Christian tradition, the field of psychology, epic poetry, and contemporary spirituality. There is no shortage of interesting analogies, fresh connections, and surprising verities in this book, primarily on the concept of identity, and the strong need we have as human beings to construct containers within which we can seek to understand ourselves, followed by the deeper calling to transcend and surpass that container in ways that both embrace and challenge our existing identities. Rohr presents an understanding of Christian spirituality that is defined by curiosity, deep humility, and expandingly inclusivity. However mildly controversial, it is compelling.

Rohr's most appreciated element of this title, is his incisive and insightful commentary on the ongoing journey that is both life and faith, as if the two can be divorced. Along the way, Rohr points out that most of the success that we find in the spiritual life comes through falling, or failing. I found myself disagreeing at times with Rohr's take on some area's of faith, life and maturity. Regardless, this is classic Rohr:- prophetic, wise and clear!
1138952
Psychologists, philosophers and the clergy have all had their own views and definitions of the mystical experience. Is it no more than a dissociative experience in which the boundaries of the ego dissolve like so much fairy gold? Is it another word for a form psychotic breakdown? Is it a profound sense of empathy with all living things? Is it a state in which we can unlock the most profound secrets of the universe? Or is it a God-given state of ultimate Union?

In this fascinating book, James Harpur focuses on the last of these possibilities. He defines the mystic as someone who has a direct and intimate experience of God from within. As implied in the title, his focus is on the two thousand year old tradition of Christian mysticism. He takes both an historical and ecclesiastical approach beginning first with the mystical experiences revealed through the writers of the Gospels, before going on to cover some of the personal accounts of a few of the better known saints, religious and spiritual leaders, as well as some of the English Romantic poets.

This book provides some extraordinary insights into the path of the human soul toward union with God, through the lives of and recorded words of Jesus, Meister Eckhart, Jacob Boehme, Saint Teresa of Avila, Saint John of the Cross, William Blake and Teilhard de Chardin and many others.

Though some of this material is available elsewhere, James Harpur provides us with many new insights. But it is in the epilogue that the book really shines. Here he brings Christian mystical spirituality into the present, with a discussion of some of the grass root and retreat movements that not only tap into these mystical traditions but also use them to inform a movement toward a belief in the interconnectedness of all life and its moral consequences: ecology, justice and peace. Harpur discusses many examples of such communities, including those in Iona in Scotland, Taize in France, and the Creation Spirituality movement founded by the former Dominican monk Matthew Fox.

Whether or not you follow a Christian path, if you are interested in the application of spiritual principles to your life and to some of the problems in our world, this book is well worth your time.

Highly recommended.
1903655
Books by and about people who have had spiritual experiences are everywhere these days. What separates Nancys book from most others is that Nancy has spent DECADES attempting to understand and integrate her experiences. Which brings up a second point: shes also had four major spiritually transformative experiences (one classic near-death experience and three near-death-like experiences). Thats a potent combination. While spiritual experiences of all kinds have things to teach us, people who have spent a lifetime attempting to understand and ground their experiences bring a depth of understanding to the table that is not accessible to people who are just beginning their journeys. This is especially true when theyve had multiple spiritually transformative experiences and are attempting, every day, to apply the insights gleaned from these life-changing experiences to the challenges of everyday life.

Bottom line: this book is full of pearls of great price. It offers seasoned insights about the purpose of life, the transformative power of Gods unconditional love, the challenging nature of the spiritual path, the need to listen to our own heart and follow our own path, the importance of paying attention to the little things in life, the power of prayer and dreams, and much more. I applaud Nancy for writing this book and, more importantly, living a life that brings universal truths alive.
983073
This was a great book. I think the author was very sincere in describing his near-death experience, and his report is very interesting and inspiring. In many ways, his experience is an affirmation of lessons taught in many religions: we are spiritual beings; our existence persists beyond this material, earthly realm; love is the essence of our bond to the divine Creator and to each other. I walked away from reading this book feeling renewed spiritually. I think the author's own background in science and medicine affords a perspective that speaks to our Western, science-trained minds.
  I read the book a few times, because it is easy to read and  there is much joy in its message. I found it helpful to make a list of the various family members and friends mentioned in the book, because without a list, I found it hard to keep track of who he was talking about.
2885886
Have you ever asked yourself how a seemingly ordinary man becomes extraordinary, and what the difference between the two is? Urban Mystic is a book that takes the reader on an extraordinary journey through this process. Ken Mellor's description of his quest for enlightenment is so compelling, it will entice you to keep reading, absorbing and digesting all that you can, until the very last word.

As with all journeys, the road Ken took to realising the Divine was a winding path - a path that faced him with many different challenges and took him to many different places, places that were both unknown, yet somehow familiar.

If your quest for your own enlightenment seems never-ending, with the occasional pothole to make sure you feel the ride and with signpost after signpost seemingly pointing in vastly different directions, you will appreciate Ken's journey. His narrative offers many practical suggestions, and inspires us with his determination to find the truth, which, once found - he makes an essential part of his being. Also, what he learns during his relentless pursuit of masterhood offers us guidance and help along our own roads - wherever they may be taking us.
2195245
I just finished reading your sensational new book, "The Jesus Factory".  I was only going to read a few chapters, but was continually drawn into the mystery and ended up staying up almost all night to finish it.  As an avid reader of psycho-spiritual writing, it was a pleasant experience to not only be entertained but given a wonderful opportunity to check into my personal priorities in my spiritual life.

  At first the title seemed to isolate it into just another religious book about Jesus, but it takes the reader way beyond that.  In my life I have encountered many levels of the practice of Christianity.  One is someone who was raised into it without any exposure to other paths.  The second is someone who encountered a personal challenge and in the process of seeking for an answer became totally absorbed into a Christian community, many times lead by a charismatic leader.  The third is what I would refer to as an "Authentic Christian", one that is sincere and does not take everything in like a sponge, but challenges and questions like the Apostle "Thomas".

  Any "Authentic Christian" will be moved and stronger in their quest, by reading this exploration into the human drama of Spiritual Congruency.

  Well done, I look forward to seeing how the "Authentic" mission develops in hopefully a full series of Psycho-Spiritual novels.

Sincerely

Dr. Vern Morgan
Destranologist