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Summary: Twelve Steps for the Rocovering Pharisee is for You if...
Review: Do you look at the title and hesitate for a moment thinking, "well, i'm not really a PHARASIEE?" If so, get this book. I got it because Brennan Manning recommended it, thinking, "well, this isn't my kind of book because I'm not one of these people," and whoa, was I convicted. Read it, learn it, inhale it, consume it. Trust me, you'll be a much better person after devouring these 170+ pages. I know because I now am. :)
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Summary: Every Christian should read this!
Review: I just finished reading you book, "12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee (like me)" and like me, too.Excellent!. It was one of the few books I have ever read that actually got richer as I read farther into it. Usually you kind of get the author pegged in the first couple of chapters. From that point on sometimes it feels like you finish it just to finish it. In your case, I found my desire to keep reading growing as I went on. Thanks. You write so well. My wife happened to ask me the other day, "Whose writing do you admire?" I said C.S.Lewis - and the next person who came to mind was John Fischer. You probably think that it is a violation of some universal law that I mentioned you in the same breath with "Jack." But I don't. Both of you give me the feeling of breathing pure oxygen. I usually react negatively to how so many churches use books in classes and small groups rather than getting people into scripture. But in the case of your book, I would make an exception. I wish every Christian would read this. In my small little circle of influence I plan to see what I can do to make that happen.
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Summary: A Call to Authentic Christianity
Review: If you are serious about making a postive impact for Jesus in the world today, "12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee (like me) must be read. This book is not about the latest in vogue idea to reach the church. It is a call to become what I believe Jesus asks us to be if we call ourselves Christians. That is, real, without the pretence of behavior that we think others or even God expects of us. If we all could as John Fischer shares in this book 'learn to see ourselves through other peoples eyes to see ourselves as we really are.' we could then truly impact the world with the reality of Jesus. Thanks John for causing me to look at myself to see what I am really telling the world about Jesus.
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Summary: Grace
Review: It's all about Grace. We don't deserve what we get. We must accept it or we will miss it. None of us will be perfect. Unlike the Pharisees who already are. Do we have to remind ourselves, why did Jesus die? I personally wrote to John Fischer and thanked him for pointing me back on that Narrow Road. I veered way off course because of all of the Pharisee mentality that I saw in the church that I use to attend. After reading this book, I feel good again about my relationship with Christ. It's about a relationship (Jesus) and not religion (Pharisee). The best book that I've read written on Grace. I recommend this book to all who are sick of religion. Thanks John Fischer! If you like the style of Philip Yancey and C.S. Lewis, you'll love the way John Fischer writes.
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Summary: A must read!
Review: John Fischer has touched on the one thing that I know I didn't want to fess up to. Hey, I've read the words of Jesus dozens upon dozens of times and it never sank in -- I'm a sinner in need of grace, period. Never one to leave "good enough" alone, I've figured out a way to add on to God's grace by putting my views, self-righteousness, and ego above nearly everyone around me. The difference between myself and a non-Christian wasn't the fact that I was saved by grace, oh no, it was so much more than that. I was a Christian and that meant I was superior in one way or another than those who weren't Christians. Then came John Fischer's book. A wake up call happened once I started reading this book and it's effects have yet to wear off. John Fischer has brought to life the words Jesus spoke so long ago in a very personal and blunt manner. There is no hiding from the truth in this book. It's hard hitting and yet, at the same time, a relief to finally realize I'm not the great, self-righteous person I saw myself as. I'm a sinner in the most real sense. There's a great comfort in not having to pretend I'm someone I'm not. A load has been lifted by the truth contained in this book. This book, as many reviews here have already pointed out, is not your typical Christian book. There are no easy answers to be found, just gut level truth told in a very personal way from a completely Biblical perspective. You will not regret reading this book.
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Summary: A must read!
Review: John Fischer has touched on the one thing that I know I didn't want to fess up to. Hey, I've read the words of Jesus dozens upon dozens of times and it never sank in -- I'm a sinner in need of grace, period. Never one to leave "good enough" alone, I've figured out a way to add on to God's grace by putting my views, self-righteousness, and ego above nearly everyone around me. The difference between myself and a non-Christian wasn't the fact that I was saved by grace, oh no, it was so much more than that. I was a Christian and that meant I was superior in one way or another than those who weren't Christians. Then came John Fischer's book. A wake up call happened once I started reading this book and it's effects have yet to wear off. John Fischer has brought to life the words Jesus spoke so long ago in a very personal and blunt manner. There is no hiding from the truth in this book. It's hard hitting and yet, at the same time, a relief to finally realize I'm not the great, self-righteous person I saw myself as. I'm a sinner in the most real sense. There's a great comfort in not having to pretend I'm someone I'm not. A load has been lifted by the truth contained in this book. This book, as many reviews here have already pointed out, is not your typical Christian book. There are no easy answers to be found, just gut level truth told in a very personal way from a completely Biblical perspective. You will not regret reading this book.
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Summary: Hi i'm John, i'm a recovering Pharisee!
Review: John Fischer is a honest-till-it-hurts kinda writer. He asks the questions no-one else wants to ask or hear. That's why this book is a must read. John helps us to look honestly into the mirror and recognise the 'pharisee'. Cleverly using the steps of AA, but changing it to fit a new context, makes for fascinating reading. This isn't a how-to book. This is a thought-provoking look into the mirror. Healing and recovery begins by admitting: "I'm a Pharisee, please help." This book is a welcome addition to Fischer's collection of challenging and thought-provoking books. "Hi, i'm Francois, i'm a recovering Pharisee."
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Summary: Pharisees Beware!
Review: Layer by layer, this book strips away everything that makes one a "good" Pharisee: self-sufficiency, self-righteousness, hypocrisy, legalism, perfectionism, a judgmental spirit, arrogance, selfishness, pride. What remains in the end is the true spirit of Christian life and service: utter dependence on God's grace, deep and ongoing gratitude for His salvation, renewed respect and compassion for other struggling souls, humility, honesty, faithfulness, generosity, patience, joy, amazement. This book is excellently written and shows profound insight into the parables and other teachings of Jesus, many of which were directed at the Pharisees of His day. Everyone who reads this book will be fundamentally better for it--even the truly recalcitrant Pharisee who may start the book thinking it was written about someone else.
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Summary: Help and Hope for the Pharisee (like me)
Review: Sometimes Christians (like me) begin adding things onto the gospel message. We believe that God can work only if He follows our guide lines. That souls can be saved only by following our steps to salvation. We tack these rules we make up onto other areas of the Christian life as well. In "12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee (like me)", John Fischer offers both help and hope for those of us inclined to behave in the same fashion as the Pharisees in Jesus' day. This is a MUST read book! It has made a tremendous impact and difference in my life!
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Summary: Correction Added
Review: The book recommended by "A reader from Maryland" below has a full title. It seemed strange to me the writer did not give the full title:
Surprised by Truth : 11 Converts Give the Biblical and Historical Reasons for Becoming Catholic
by Patrick Madrid
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