The Search for Significance by Robert S. McGee

The Search for Significance by Robert S. McGee ISBN: 9780849944246 Trade Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson Released: July 17, 2003

Source: Bought at a library book sale.

Book Description from Amazon:
Robert McGee's best-selling book has helped millions of readers learn how to be free to enjoy Christ's love while no longer basing their self-worth on their accomplishments or the opinions of others. In fact, Billy Graham said that it was a book that "should be read by every Christian."

In this re-launch of this timeless classic you will: Gain new skills for getting off the performance treadmill. Discover how four false beliefs have negatively impacted your life. Learn how to overcome obstacles that prevent you from experiencing the truth that your self-worth is found only in the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of Christ.


My Review:
The Search for Significance is a study about what we usually do to try to feel significant versus the truths in God's Word about where to find our true significance. Those who hope to find happiness and significance through meeting certain standards or gaining approval from certain people will find that it doesn't last.

This book helps you to identify where you currently look for significance, explores the Bible for the truth about how God sees us, and teaches us how to replace lies with truth. This is truly a life-changing book, and I've read it several times. While this book focuses on where we find our self-worth, he has two other books that cover finding peace and finding freedom from insecurities, addictions, etc. Id' highly recommend these books.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Wounded by God's People by Anne Graham Lotz

Wounded by God's People by Anne Graham Lotz ISBN: 9780310262893 Hardcover: 240 pages Publisher: Zondervan Released: September 3, 2013

Source: Review copy from the publisher through Booksneeze.com.

Book Description, Modified from Booksneeze:
Anne Graham Lotz uses the story of Hagar and stories from her own life to help people move past their wounds and into the joy and fellowship of God’s presence. As Hagar’s story unfolds, readers discover that wounded people often become wounders themselves. Anne knows from experience that wounding is a cycle that needs to be broken and, by God’s grace, it can be. Many have had similar experiences. Wounded by God’s People will help them begin a healing journey.


My Review:
Wounded by God's People is a Christian Living book about forgiving and healing from deep hurts. The target audience seems to be Christians who have been so badly hurt by other Christians that they are deeply bitter and angry and have completely rejected the church or even God.

From the first few pages, I'd expected more of a Bible study with a focus on how we shouldn't reject God based on how God's people act. So I'd expected a focus on what God is like (compared to his people), but the book focused more on how we ought to respond to Christians when they hurt us. There were some points about how God pursued and had plans for Hagar, but the focus of Anne's stories was more on forgiving others and healing.

Each chapter had two main parts: Anne's speculative retelling of the Hagar story and Anne's stories of how she's been hurt and what she found helped her to heal from that hurt. Hagar's story was mainly used to point out the different ways a person might feel when hurt by one of God's people.

The book was generally easy to follow, but I got stuck on things like God being in the darkness and God using hurt to plow us deep so fruit can grow. I didn't really follow how she was getting that from the Bible, but probably I simply wasn't understanding her metaphors.

To be honest, I found The Search for Peace by Robert McGee to be easier to follow and more helpful in leading me to forgive and heal from deep hurts of all kinds. But others might feel that Anne's book speaks to their hearts and touches them where they're at.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

The Prophet and the Messiah by Chawkat Moucarry

The Prophet and the Messiah: An Arab Christian's Perspective on Islam and Christianity by Chawkat Moucarry ISBN: 9780830823154 Hardcover: 327 pages Publisher: IVP Books Released: February 2002

Source: Bought through Half.com.

Book Description from Goodeads:
In an age of media distortion and widespread stereotypes, Christians and Muslims need a greater understanding of each other's faith. What do Christians believe about the Bible? What do Muslims believe about the Qur'an? And what do both Christianity and Islam have to say about Jesus and Muhammad?

In this evenhanded and conciliatory book Chawkat Moucarry calls Christians and Muslims to engage in genuine dialogue, urging them to relate to each other with true humility and respect. In a straightforward fashion he describes and compares the central doctrines of Christianity and Islam, explaining key beliefs and debunking common misconceptions.

Christians who read this book will learn much about Islam. Likewise, Muslims who read it will discover why Christians are convinced of the truth of Christianity.


My Review:
The Prophet and the Messiah is a book exploring what Christians and Muslims believe. While it does take points that Christians and Muslims are likely to have conflicts of belief and misunderstandings about, it does not try to convince one side or the other to change those beliefs. It's more an attempt to clear away misunderstandings so that Christians and Muslims can have informed discussions about the other's faith.

While it was interesting and informative, I've read similar information in other books that presented it in a way that I found more useful. I'm not sure if it was the more formal, scholarly tone, but I found myself skimming over much of the material. If you simply want to be informed, then this may be more in-depth that you care to read. If you regularly come in contact with Muslims and want to discuss faith with them in a low-conflict fashion, then this may be helpful.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: A link to Amazon so you can read an excerpt using Look Inside.