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Title: About You: Fully Human, Fully Alive

Author: Dick Staub

Narrator: George Newbern

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 07-18-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

Publisher's Summary:

In About You, Dick Staub addresses irreligious, religious, spiritual seekers, and all kinds of Christians and shows us that Jesus came to satisfy our universal longing for a fully human life, not to establish a narrow us-versus-them religion. In short, Jesus didn't come to make us Christian; Jesus came to make us fully human. In a fresh exploration of the ancient Biblical stories of creation, fall, and redemption, Staub explains that salvation is not about going to heaven when we die; it is about a full and abundant life now. In practical, down-to-earth, language, About You deals with this concept on three levels: anthropologically (our common story and universal human needs), theologically (God's awareness and response to our needs), and practically (how we can attain and maintain a more complete and satisfying life).

Staub's previous book (The Culturally Savvy Christian) was selected by Kirkus Reviews for their 2007 Religion and Spirituality edition. This new book is designed to help those who are seeking a way to integrate both a fully alive spirituality and a fully alive humanity - a way that is embodied in the often-misunderstood life and teaching of Jesus Christ. This groundbreaking book illuminates the path toward becoming the best version of yourself.

Members Reviews:

Be The Masterpiece God Created in Yourself!

This is a "self help" book that shows us how we owe it not only to ourselves to be all we can be and achieve happiness in our lifetime, but moreover how we owe it to our Creator, to show Him our gratitude in USING those God given gifts within us. To sit around doing nothing and wasting each day hardly shows us to be fully ALIVE, and not using our talents to help others on their journeys hardly shows us to be fully HUMAN. This book also has the added benefit of showing the personal life events by Pastor Staub, who is living a most interesting, and rich life! I loved this book and KNOW you will too.

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Title: Everything New: Reimagining Heaven and Hell

Author: Jeff Cook

Narrator: Jeff Cook

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-26-12

Publisher: Subversive Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

Publisher's Summary:

This is a book about God. Not just any God, but a God worth believing in. It's a book about wrestling with death and fear and doubt--and hoping to find something bigger. It's a book about heaven. Often when we think of heaven, what comes to mind is escape.

According to Medieval art and modern cartoons, "heaven" is about leaving this world. Heaven is about getting as far away from what we and others have broken as possible. But this is a move of despair, and despair isn't healthy.

This is a book about hell. Sometimes we believe ridiculous ideas so long they no longer seem ridiculous. But we need to reimagine hell. The real God would not choose a world that could contain an everlasting torture chamber. Most of all this is a book about Jesus. Not the Jesus we see in bad Christian art, but the Jesus who emerges from a dark corner of history and can't help illuminating everything he touches. In this Jesus, we see a new kind of God. In this Jesus, we see a new future.

Members Reviews:

Excellent book!

This is probably one of the best books in popular apologetics I've read in a long while. Cook is a philosopher and he definitely is philosophical in his reasoning and argumentation, but this is not a technical, academic book. And as such, it's refreshing. Instead of arguing in the inductive, logical style of (too) much apologetics, he passionately argues for the beauty and attractiveness of Christianity and, specifically, Jesus from within, inviting readers to consider Christianity, not so much as a coherent philosophical system, but as a profoundly compelling view of the universe, life and everything. Maybe it was because I listened to the audiobook, but I came away with the feeling that Cook is the Rob Bell of Christian philosophy. I'd love to go to this guy's church! This one is going to the top of my list of books to recommend to friends interested in Christianity.

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Title: Relentless Pursuit

Subtitle: God's Love of Outsiders Including the Outsider in All of Us

Author: Ken Gire

Narrator: Bill DeWees

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-01-12

Publisher: Oasis Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

Publisher's Summary:

The marginalized and the ostracized; the sinner and the loner; you, me...and Jesus. We're all outsiders sometimes. Each of us has felt lonely in a crowd, or been passed over for a job opportunity, or been squeezed out by "friends". We've all spent time on the outside looking in. But take heart - Jesus will leave the 99 just for you.

Best-selling author Ken Gire weaves together stories from the Bible, history, and his own life to create a soul-lifting picture of a God who relentlessly pursues the outcast and disenfranchised - a God who became an outcast himself to bring his lost ones home. Let your eyes be opened to the one who will never fail to find you and embrace you as his child.

Members Reviews:

Gire's point that Jesus came as an outsider and died as an outsider while he engaged insiders who were actually outsiders demons

Gire does a masterful job at threading through the biblical theme of God's holy pursuit of mankind and the lives that we live. Gire's point that Jesus came as an outsider and died as an outsider while he engaged insiders who were actually outsiders demonstates God's wonderful divine reversal of the order of things. Definitely worth a read!

Five Stars

Great message, real and even raw in places. Profound truths we don't consider enough

Excellent book. It truly brought to heart that God ...

Excellent book. It truly brought to heart that God is there following. Even when I am at a dead sprint away from him! It also brought to home the understanding that the least of us are his greatest treasures.

Five Stars

Excellent and refreshing .

Another GREAT book from my favorite author

"I believe it was C. S. Lewis who said that the central human condition is homesickness, a longing embedded in us for our true home. After living like this long enough, though, the adventure of being a pilgrim, stranger, or foreigner in the world wears thin."

When I first received my preview copy of Ken Gire's Relentless Pursuit, I excitedly thumbed through it. I stumbled upon the above snippet, and with these two Gireesque-beautiful sentences I remembered why Ken is my favorite author. Through soul-stirring personal and epic story after story he helps to keep me in touch with my brokenness while reminding me that God is patiently waiting in the marrow of my pain.

If you've read one of Ken Gire's nearly 30 books in the past, you will be even more encouraged as he goes deeper into his own journey in Relentless Pursuit. If you've never read him, Relentless Pursuit is the perfect place to start. I was so moved by it, I have already preorder a copy for every Make Way Partners' board and staff member as well as an extra case for friends!

Kimberly L. Smith, author of Passport through Darkness and co-president of Make Way Partners

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Title: Jesus, God's Storyteller

Subtitle: Discovering Our Story in the Parables

Author: Megan McKenna

Narrator: uncredited

Format: Original Recording

Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-29-12

Publisher: Franciscan Media

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

Publisher's Summary:

All major religions tell truth through stories, says storyteller Dr. Megan McKenna. Her spellbinding stories help us understand the significance of the gospel parables and present universal truths that tell us what it is to be human, give us our communal identity, and instill hopes and dreams for the future.

"All stories are true. Some of them actually happened," says Dr. McKenna. The stories of Jesus, God's Storyteller inspire us to know Jesus more deeply, and through him, the Father he yearns to reveal.

In talk one, "Stories of God", Dr. McKenna invites us to listen, believe, and make these stories come true in our own lives. In talk two, "The Goats and the Sheep", she explains the purpose of parables and dialogues on the meaning of this parable of the last judgment. Talk three, "Mercy and Forgiveness", focuses on conversion and the reconciling, forgiving mercy of our loving God that pours from the story of the prodigal son. Talk four, "The Christian Community", centers on Eucharist and community.

This presentation was recorded before a live audience.

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Title: Calvary

Author: Solemn Appeal Ministries

Narrator: Lauren Mazzio

Format: Unabridged

Length: 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-25-12

Publisher: Solemn Appeal Ministries

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

Publisher's Summary:

For transgression of the law of God, Adam and Eve were banished from Eden. Christ, our substitute, was to suffer without the boundaries of Jerusalem. He died outside the gate where felons and murderers were executed. Full of significance are the words "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law/ being made a curse for us." Galatians 3

Members Reviews:

The best

This is one of the chapters from the book The Desire of Ages. Smithsonian said this was the best book ever written on the life of Christ. I cried seeing the veil pulled back on what our Savior went through for us. We are to contemplate the closing scenes of the life of Christ daily point by point and this CD is perfect for this. Doing so will increase your faith exponentially.

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Title: Who Is Jesus?

Subtitle: History in Perfect Tense

Author: Leander E. Keck

Narrator: Tim Lundeen

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-12-12

Publisher: University Press Audiobooks

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

Publisher's Summary:

In Who is Jesus?, Leander E. Keck discusses the quest for the Jewish Jesus of history and challenges listeners to think seriously not only about Jesus' historical existence but also about his ongoing moral and theological significance. Keck clarifies the difference between the way Jesus is presented in the gospels and the way critical historians portray him.

Keck looks initially at Jesus as a first-century Jew, conscious of the difficulty and importance of recovering Jesus' particular form of Jewishness. Taking issue with current assertions that Jesus did not expect the imminent arrival of God's kingdom, Keck contends that Jesus clearly expressed a conviction that God's definitive reign was impending and would transform the lives of those who responded affirmatively to his message.

Keck goes on to probe the meaning of the crucifixion of Jesus, in light of the biblical understanding of God's holiness. Keck concludes his discussion by looking at Jesus' role in the moral life of the Christian community. The book is published by University of South Carolina Press.

Critic Reviews:

"Written with clarity and insight, this work shows the significance of Jesus for faith as well as scholarship. Put aside all those other books and read Keck!" (Frank J. Matera, The Catholic University of America)

"The book is an essential addition to the library of anyone interested in the Jesus of history and his contemporary meaning. Take and read!" (Paul J. Achtemeier, Union Theological Seminary)

Members Reviews:

postmodern Christian historiography/ apologetics

the search for the "historical Jesus" is resurrected, with intriguing criticisms of most historians and theologians who have attempted to explain Jesus. Fans of the Jesus Seminary will be challenged. Traditional Christians may find the use of textual criticism and historical criticism offensive, but Keck's conclusions are purely in line with traditional Christian beliefs (regarding Teacher/Prophet role of Jesus, Messiahship of Jesus, Resurrection, the Church as "Israel," and other ideas). Most interesting to me is his explanation of Jesus as "son" of G-d, defining the term in context of Second Temple era.

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Title: The Gospel and Scripture

Subtitle: How to Read the Bible: The Gospel Coalition Audio Booklets

Author: Mike Bullmore

Narrator: Ben Hunter

Format: Unabridged

Length: 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-12-12

Publisher: christianaudio.com

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

Publisher's Summary:

A pastor outlines the relationship between the gospel and all of Scripture and suggests helpful strategies for reading and interpreting the Bible correctly.

When Christians read the Bible, they're often unaware of the ways in which their reading influences their interpretation. This is particularly evident when Christians are asked to show how the gospel is related to all of the Bible, not just the first four books of the New Testament. In this new booklet from the Gospel Coalition, Mike Bullmore brings clarity to the relationship between the gospel and all of Scripture.

Bullmore begins by laying a theological foundation for understanding the gospel and the nature of God's Word. He then outlines principles for seeing Christ in Scripture and discusses helpful strategies for reading and interpreting the Bible properly. This booklet is an important resource for all Christians who don't understand that Scripture and the gospel are inextricably connected.

The Gospel and Scripture offers a thoughtful explanation for point 2 of the Gospel Coalition's Confessional Statement. The coalition is an evangelical renewal movement dedicated to a Scripture-based reformation of ministry practices.

Members Reviews:

Very Helpful Primer on Reading the Bible Christo-centrically

Experienced preaching professor and pastor Mike Bullmore writes how the Scriptures are necessary to the gospel, and how the gospel is necessary to the Scriptures. Bullmore expands upon several well-articulated ideas in this little booklet:

Firstly, "While Scripture itself is not the gospel, all Scripture is related to the gospel, and the gospel is Scripture's reason for being. The gospel is the Bible's main and unifying message." In other words, if you read the Bible and miss the message of the gospel, then you completely miss the point of the Bible. The purpose of the Bible is to declare the gospel through all of its historical accounts, genres, prophecies, etc.

Secondly, "the Bible exists both because of and for the gospel. The key is that the gospel is the message of Christ. The Bible in all its parts points to and explains Christ in some way." God will accomplish His plans of redemption through the reading and hearing of the Scriptures, pointing to us to Christ, and salvation being accomplished through the working of the Holy Spirit through the vehicle of the Scriptures.

Thirdly, the Bible does these specific things:

1. It initiates faith: "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17).

2. It gives new spiritual life: "You have been born again not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God." (1 Peter 1:23).

3. It helps us grow spiritually: "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation." (1 Peter 2:2).

4. It sanctifies: "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth" (John 17:17).

5. It searches the heart and convicts: "The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

6.

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Title: Courageous Living

Subtitle: Dare to Take a Stand

Author: Michael C. Catt

Narrator: Maurice England

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-17-11

Publisher: christianaudio.com

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

Publisher's Summary:

In the new film Courageous (from the makers of Fireproof), four police officers are confident and focused when it comes to facing danger on the job. But leading their families at home in a God-honoring way? That takes courage. Because it is important to take a faithful, fearless stand in so many areas of life, pastor and Courageous executive producer Michael Catt offers Courageous Living as a closer look at biblical themes and characters that inspired the greatly anticipated movie. Catt brings fresh insight to stories of people in the Bible who displayed great courage when it would have been easier to play it safe. Catch a new wind of bravery in the bold accounts of Abraham (The Courage to Get Going), Nehemiah (The Courage to Face Criticism), and Ruth (The Courage to Face an Uncertain Future). There are also growth opportunities in the stirring stories of Moses, Elijah, Joshua, Daniel, Gideon, Nehemiah, Stephen, and Paul and Timothy.

Members Reviews:

listened twice in one week. lol.

definitely a book to keep referring to. I love it. I wish Audible would put more of his work on here. the narrator is the best. I dig it. most likely listen again this week. I wish there was more books that delve into the life of Joshua as well. He's a recurring topic in this work, but I want to know more. Guys, pick this up today. you won't regret it.

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Title: Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites... And Other Lies You've Been Told

Subtitle: A Sociologist Shatters Myths from the Secular and Christian Media

Author: Bradley R.E. Wright

Narrator: Bradley R.E. Wright

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-30-11

Publisher: Oasis Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

Publisher's Summary:

What if all the bad news you've been hearing about Christians isn't true? Here are some facts that may surprise you: Evangelicals are more respected by society today than they were 20 years ago. Divorce rates of Christian couples are lower than those of nonbelievers. The percentage of young people who attend church has held steady over the past 20 years. All these statements are true, yet weve been told the opposite time and time again. Why is the church being misled? And what is the true state of Christianity in America today?

Sociologist Brad Wright shatters popular myths by sifting through the best available data. He reveals how Christians are doing when it comes to everything from marriage and morality to church growth and public perception. While not all the news is good, it turns out there is a wealth of encouraging information that were not being told. Get the truth behind the statistics youve been hearing and how the numbers are being manipulated, and discover what is really happening in American Christianity.

Members Reviews:

Good overall perspective

Any additional comments?

I liked his non bias approach. It's very hard to do what he did coming from a religious background but I think he did a good job. Lots of facts and very general conclusion.

Title doesn't do the book justice

I was expecting another screed but from a right wing Christian perspective. After a second recommendation of the book I went ahead and listened. It was a rational, statistically based explaination of media both Christian and Secular. There is no sugar coating of shortcomings that do exist. It provides an excellent basis for critiqing statistics one hears from Christian leadership especially when they are trying to "sell" something be it a conference or a fear based call to action.

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Title: Road to the Resurrection

Subtitle: Explore and Share the Miracle of Easter

Author: Greg Laurie

Narrator: Ray Porter

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-23-11

Publisher: christianaudio.com

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

Publisher's Summary:

Here is a guidebook to the facts and circumstances surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. The listener will examine the people, places, and timeline of that first Easter. But more than that, we delve into the prophecies of those events, given hundreds of years prior, as well what happened after Christ rose from the dead.

Members Reviews:

Excellent walk through the resurrection

This book would be a wonderful read during the Easter season (or anytime). Greg Laurie does an excellent job of bringing new light to Christ's journey to the cross and resurrection. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in taking a deeper look into the people, places, meaning and purpose of Christ's crucifiction.

Too Many References

I didn't enjoy this audio and have found it a bit confusing at times. Sometimes it comes across as just a fact only audio and then it is something more like an evangelistic outreach tool. It is not very easy to listen to as its mostly scripture references which would be fine in print but comes across as rather dull in the audio format. The narrator Ray Porter is clear with his diction making him easy to understand, but he doesn't sound very interested in what he was reading, which made it hard to keep my attention. I would only recommend this to listeners who want a scriptural reference only guide to the facts of Easter, and maybe students who are doing an in depth study of it. I haven't come across Greg Laurie before and doubt I would look for anything else by him. Thanks to christianaudio.com Reviewer's Program for this copy.

The Basic Road to the Resurrection

This review first appeared on my blog, Jacob's Café.

Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Church in Riverside, CA, and host of the Harvest Crusades, released Road to the Resurrection as an exploration of the events surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Laurie is a dynamic speaker who has a strong focus on evangelism, and this is not missed in his Lenten tome. I actually really appreciated his acknowledgement in this book that traditional evangelism is not the only important element of the Christian faith.

But that is not the point of this book, which was only 2.5 hours in the audiobook version I reviewed. His goal was really to walk the reader/listener through some of the facts around the last days of Christ's life. If someone is looking for a very basic Bible study into the end of the Passion Week, then this is a good introduction.

I can only recall one new thought I gained from the book (a clever and realistic explanation of why John arrived at the empty tomb prior to Peter). The rest was rather basic. While Laurie attempted to engage in some critical thinking on elements of the biblical narrative, the arguments were pseudo-scholarly. For instance, in defending the fact of the resurrection, Laurie depending almost solely on the Bible. Unfortunately, most critics of the resurrection have no faith in the Bible, so his rebuttals would be worthless. This perspective is analogous to a Latter Day Saint using the Book of Mormon to convince a Southern Baptist about the nature of Jesus. It just doesn't work.

In summary, there was nothing wrong with this book, but I found it neither thought-provoking nor moving.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher.