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Reaching For The Invisible God
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$ 11.99
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$ 14.99 |
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$ 3.00 (20%) |
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| Item Number |
12738 |
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Item Description...
Product Description
Author Philip Yancey asks the question How does a relationship with God work? and answers it with an investigation that turns up surprising and satisfying answers about life and communication with an
Outline Review
In a sea of books that promise certainty, award-winning author Philip Yancey (What's So Amazing About Grace, The Jesus I Never Knew) is not afraid to write about the mystery of belief, about letting risk and faith go hand in hand. Reaching for the Invisible God: What Can We Expect to Find? is Yancey at his best--wrestling with difficult questions and refusing to give pat answers. In our quest to know God, he offers this caveat: "The more personal conception of God we have, the more unnerving are the questions about him." Yancey quotes extensively from classic writers and sketches scenes of doubting biblical figures as he grapples with making sense of a God who is personal, yet sometimes so elusive. Six different aspects of the Christian life are explored: our longing for God, who God is, the Holy Spirit, our faith, growth, and spiritual transformation. In his explorations, he reassembles the difficult and perplexing events of life around an ability to trust in a loving God. Trust is pivotal. Admitting that God's style "often baffles me," Yancey leaves no doubt that his framework of faith is still in place, that he sees "evidence of (God's) long-suffering, mercy, and desire to woo rather than compel--I have learned to trust God." Here is the clear, concise writing mixed with deeply personal and authentic insights that won Yancey nine Gold Medallion Awards for previous books. Expect a 10th. --Cindy Crosby
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Item Specifications...
Pages 304
Dimensions: Length: 8.44" Width: 5.58" Height: 0.81"
Weight: 0.79 lbs.
Binding Softcover
Release Date Feb 1, 2002
Publisher Zondervan
ISBN 0310247306
EAN 9780310247302
UPC 025986247300
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Availability 17 units.
Availability accurate as of Feb 05, 2012 04:58.
Usually ships within one to two business days from New Kensington, PA.
Orders shipping to an address other than a confirmed Credit Card / Paypal Billing address may incur and additional processing delay.
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Reviews - What do our customers think?
 | One of his best Aug 31, 2006 |
While I am a fan of Yancey's work, I often find that his books tend to get a little tedious and repetitive about 2/3 of the way through. I also find myself wondering when he's going to stop rehashing the same doubts that he seems to always write about. Having struggles in one's faith is normal and good, by I often think he gets on a gerbil wheel and won't get off. Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised that this book didn't follow this pattern.
It was engaging from start to finish, and yes he does quote quite a few writers, but it's not like the book is nothing but quotations with a little writing in between.
For someone who is at a stage in their spiritual life where doubts are creeping from all sides, this is a good book to sit down and read. The only flaw I would point out is the abrubt way that he ends it. Maybe this was intentional, to illustrate some point. But other than that, it was a good book that I will probably pick up and read again some day. | | | | Excellent Book, Excellent Author May 31, 2006 |
Evangelical Christians are well known for throwing around `relationship with God.' But what does this mean? We have relationships with our spouses, with our children, with our bosses, with the clerk at 7-11, but all of these relationships are different. How does a relationship with the almighty, omniscient God work? As Evangelicals, we also like to throw around the term, "It's not religion, it is a relationship." But what does that mean? Yancey (the master question asker) asks these questions and many more questions that Christians ask themselves at some point in their `relationships' with God Almighty.
What I appreciate the most about Philip Yancey as an author is his humility. He writes honestly, and his books lack the thick layer of pride that often has to be scraped off many Christian books. I believe he does an excellent job answering some very difficult questions, but it is done with meekness and little hint of arrogance. The subject matter itself is one that requires humility to attempt to discuss for the concept of a relationship with an almighty God requires instant modesty for those entering this relationship.
Yancey brings up an excellent point in this book about how Evangelical Christians often abuse the concept of a relationship with God. Some see God as the big buddy in the sky. We often say things like, "God is telling me right now to....." Christians use these tactics to manipulate others. Who can argue with that? But does God really tell us things like that? We often set ourselves up for abuse, manipulation and disappointment when we sing praise songs like, "I want to touch you. I want to see your face." Yet the bible makes no such promise for us to touch or see God in this life.
Chapter three is an excellent section about doubt. Any thinking Christian has gone through serious doubts about their faith, their Bible or their God. Yancey has obviously gone through such doubts but comes to the somewhat dark conclusion that, "One of the strongest reasons I stay in the fold is the lack of good alternatives." Christianity has its logical `holes', but when stacked against any other worldview- it seems watertight. When you look at the alternatives as Yancey has, nothing compares to Christianity. And even though we don't have all the answers, there are paradoxes, and we cannot wrap our minds around some of our basic beliefs- Christianity is the only thing that makes sense of this world- logically and philosophically.
After the first two parts of the book, the last four hone in on the Christian's relationship to his God. Some of the chapters in the last half of the book are informationally slow and somewhat obvious. But there are some chapters that do an excellent job describing some deep spiritual concepts in regard to our relationship with God. Some basic, yet very important ideas that Yancey expounds on include the greatness of God, identification with God's son and the acceptance that is found in that identification, the ever attractive problem of legalism, and the power of free will. All of these concepts are tied closely to our relationship with God.
This book was great, one of the best I have read ever. The writing style was perfect, not to deep and not too shallow. Whenever I read books, I snag quotes and record them into a database for later use. I got over 70 out of this book, there were some real gems. I would recommend this book to any Christian- especially any Christian who appreciates thinking about some of the tough issues in Christianity.
| | |  | A painfully honest book May 8, 2006 |
I found Yancey's truthfulness to be refreshing. Whether you read this book as a Christian or someone just searching, you will find, I am sure, that Yancey is honest. In fact so honest that there are times that you feel like cringing. Why is Yancey revealing family secrets? Should he point out our weaknesses like that?
I learned a lot from this book. I learned that a relationship with God is a difficult one because it is a relationship between a finite being with limited understanding (me) and an infinite, all-knowing God. No wonder I have problems relating.
I suppose one of the most common questions people ask is, assuming God is, why he doesn't show himself to us? Yancey does not admit to have all the answers but what helped me to understand God's `reluctance' to show himself to us is that if he did it would remove our freedom of choice; we would have no choice but to believe. One of the wonders of this world is our free will.
I think for those who are honestly seeking ultimate truth, this book will go some way in pointing someone towards the Scriptures and ultimately Christ Jesus himself. In the end, what will matter is our individual relationship with this invisible God.
One gripe with Yancey was his reliance on Catholic authors. For an evangelical (if he is one), he leans so heavily on Catholic sources that one would think he was a Jesuit priest. But that criticism aside, I would highly recommend this book.
| | | | Keeping in real Apr 16, 2006 |
Ever noticed that God is invisible?
Philip Yancy in his typical "I'm on this journey too" style talks about what it is really like to be in relationship with God. He likens it to real life relationships, with Parents, Children and other adult friends. There are times of closeness and times things people feel more distant. Times for us to learn and grow up, and times when we help others grow.
The thing I like most of about the book is his emphasis of "keeping it real". Many people feel their faith, and relationship with God is inadequate or substandard. But really it is quite normal, and part of having a relationship with and invisible God. | | | | Honest account of being Christian Jan 11, 2006 |
| I really enjoyed reading this book because this book gave me a very honest, down-to-earth portrayal of what to expect from Christianity. I loved the author's numerous analogies a lot as I found them helpful in making me understand my relationship with God in a more tangible way. For anyone truly seeking to get to know more about God, this will prove to be an interesting pick. | | | Write your own review about Reaching For The Invisible God
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