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Summary: Eldredge does it again
Review: This is my favorite book of the year. Eldredge is challenging is as the Church to wake up and take responsibility in the war that is upon is. Quoting Aragorn's works to the King who refuses to fight in Lord of the Rings: Open war is upon you, whether your risk it or not. The Church in America has been asleep for too long. Thank you, John.
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Summary: The Worst Christian Book Ever
Review: Waking the Dead is filled with New Age philosophy, constant inappropriate movie references, and theology that is so weird that even the author admits that many of his friends have abandoned him over his wacko theories. He mixes New Age spirituality with Catholic mysticism and 14-century theology to come up with a virtually worthless book. It is a complete waste of money--I can't think of any redeeming qualities, except that he wants us to focus more on our "heart." Yet his claim that the heart is always "good" and that modern Christianity is wrong from proclaiming that the human heart is born bad is just plain unBiblical. And his constant use of The Matrix, Lord of The Rings, The Wizard of Oz and other fantasy references reduces his credibility to zero. Don't buy this book if you don't want to waste money.
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Summary: Must Read - Well Done
Review: While I am not of his particular religious persuasion I found the book right on and fascinating. Christianity needs to wake up and be for the masses and not the few and this book details what is going on. I found his work thoughtful, with real intent and it woke me up to some of the realities I have been feeling. It is my first Eldridge book but wont be my last. It is provocative and timely and a must read if you care whats happening to our world.
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Summary: The value of Christian community
Review: With all due respect to Rick Warren's "The Purpose-Driven Life," John Eldredge's "Waking the Dead" is equally if not more effective in describing our reason for existence - to be everything that God created us to be.What keeps us from living out this purpose? The lie that we're not good enough, and never can be good enough. Who promulgates that lie? The one who has the most to gain - God's enemy. We truly are engaged in spiritual warfare and we truly don't realize it. Eldredge makes a clear distinction between the desire of our "good" heart and the "flesh" by which we stray from God's path. He correctly points to our busy-ness as a symptom of our lifeless condition. And he stresses the importance of Christian community, drawing parallels with the Fellowship of the Ring and other bands of brothers and sisters who support each other in love. Eldredge has an extremely engaging style and writes with a sense of urgency that is appropriate to our human condition.
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Summary: At the top of my list!
Review: Wow! The subtitle for this book is "The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive." Having just finished reading it, I would say that the author has accomplished his purpose. I find my heart aspiring to greater glory (not a self-focused glory, but the glory of giving to this world everything God intended me to give), and also aspiring to become fully alive. But it's not just empty aspiration. Eldredge clearly and compellingly lays out all of the keys to getting there: coming to grips with how much Jesus accomplished for us to restore and release our hearts (Chapters 1-5), understanding the means by which God introduces this resoration to us--the Four Streams of Discipleship, Counseling, Healing, and Warfare (Chapters 6-10), the importance of being immersed in fellowships of the heart (Chapter 11), and the importance of guarding our heart above all else (Chapter 12).
The problem with much of Christianity is that so many of us only apply one or two of the Four Streams. I found this book to be very comprehensive in its approach. Does it give every detail about how to make it work? No, but it lays out the big picture as well as anything I have read, while doing so in a way that you don't have to be a theologian to understand. If you follow the advice of chapter 11, and become a part of a group of people who are trying to live this out, together you'll find this incredibly effective! Home run, John!
I predict that many of my friends will be reading this book soon!
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Summary: I'M AWAKE!!!!
Review: Wow!!! My eye's are open! In all my forty-one years I never looked at my life in this way and I'll be forever changed. I've given away three of these books and one audio book. It truly is a book that I'll pick up and read again and again. Praise God for John Eldredge!
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Summary: Waking the Dead by John Eldredge
Review: Wow, this book is so significant! Can't recommend it enough. I've already given away 4 copies of this book. One that ALL in the body of Christ should read. This book is the BEST book I've ever ready and along with the Bible would be the one other book I'd have to have.
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Summary: Trust your heart!
Review: You don't have a 'bad' heart; you have a 'good' heart! God has given you a 'good' heart - so when you feel in your heart a desire you can trust your feeling because it's a 'good' feeling - and therefore you can do what you feel because feelings that are counter to your heart must come from the enemy who doesn't want you to be alive - and so you should start doing what you feel and stand up for yourself so you can be a warrior and fight the 'good' fight from the 'goodness' of your own 'good' heart. Are you with me? Do you see how Eldridge's words are so sweet and subtle and appealing to the flesh? Where is the struggle with our flesh? Where is the struggle with sinful desires? Where is the struggle with feelings that are counter to God's will and word? Where is the Christian virtue that Jesus upheld of denying our selves in order to follow Him? When should I tell myself 'no' in order to say 'yes' to God? How can I determine if my passions are arising from my heart vs. my flesh vs. God's Spirit? This book is tremendously introspective and highly self-absorbed. Oh, it's written in Christianeze as Eldridge is very subtle in how he couches his religion of the heart. Eldridge upholds one enemy of the Christian - Satan - at the expense of the other two enemies -- the flesh and the world. As a result, his war is fought on one front while the other enemies are coming in through the back door. Brothers and sisters, be careful, be alert, stay on guard and discern!
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Summary: Enlightening book that touches the heart
Review: You must fight for your life, because whether or not you are aware of it, you exist in the midst of a war. This is one of the themes of Waking the Dead by John Eldredge. In it, Eldredge asserts that one of the major lessons of the Bible is that "things are not what they seem." According to Eldredge, the obstacles and suffering we all face are the result of humanity's enemy battling for our hearts. You have not blown it and God has not let you down, but this enemy daily attempts to prevent you from living in the glorious fullness of your redeemed heart, writes Eldredge. In Waking the Dead, Eldredge argues that God has redeemed our hearts, made them good according to his image. He also argues that most people fail to live up to their heart's redeemed state. Waking readers from the dead is about lifting them from the mire or status quo of their lives up to the level of the Spirit-filled life illustrated in the lives of believers in the New Testament. Throughout this book, Eldredge expands on a quote by the early Christian writer Irenaeus, "the glory of God is man fully alive." The problem, Eldredge says, is that Christians succumb to the pressures and emotions of this world and to the lies of Satan and fail to experience the abundant life. Through a plethora of references to scriptures, quotes, and to stories and movies such as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Wizard of Oz, The Matrix, The Perfect Storm, and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, Eldredge shares eternal truths of redemption and glory to illustrate the state of Christians in this world. He also shares many personal stories that relate how God has worked in his life and through his ministry. The emphasis of Waking the Dead is on four streams that Eldredge believes bring Christians to the abundant life to which God has called them. These streams are Walking with God, Receiving his Intimate Counsel, Deep Restoration and Spiritual Warfare. He expands the discussion of the four streams with a chapter focusing on the needs and blessings of Christian fellowship. Eldredge is trying to show readers that a closer relationship with God is available--a relationship bringing deep healing and freedom. In this relationship, the Christian can finally reach his or her full potential, becoming fully alive and bringing glory to God. Waking the Dead also includes a chapter offering specific prayers designed to help the reader experience the four streams. In Waking the Dead, Eldredge reaches deep into his soul and spiritual reservoir to share insights and references that will help the reader see his or her place in the heart of God. He comes to his points from so many different angles that he is sure to hit his mark with most readers.
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