Has anyone read Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God??? Just wanted to hear your opinions on the book before I get it

Thanks and God Bless

I haven't read that book, but here are some that our pastor recommends:

• Seeing With New Eyes: Counseling and the Human Condition Through the Lens of Scripture (P& R, 2003) by David Powlison
• Speaking Truth in Love: Counsel in Community (New Growth Press, 2005) by David Powlison
• Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave (P & R, 2001) by Edward T. Welch
• When People Are Big and God Is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man (P & R, 1997) by Edward T. Welch
• Blame It on the Brain? Distinguishing Chemical Imbalances, Brain Disorders, and Disobedience (P & R, 1998) by Edward T. Welch
• Step by Step: Divine Guidance for Ordinary Christians (P & R, 1999) by James C. Petty

• Carson, D. A., ed. Right with God: Justification in the Bible and the World

  Carson, D. A., Peter T. O’Brien, and Mark A. Seifrid, eds. Justification and Variegated Nomism.

  Forde, Gerhard O. Justification by Faith: A Matter of Death and Life.

  Johnson, Gary L. W., and Guy Waters, eds. By Faith Alone: Answering the Challenges to the Doctrine of Justification.

  Piper, John. Counted Righteous in Christ: Should We Abandon the Imputation of Christ’s Righteousness?

  ——. The Future of Justification: A Response to N. T. Wright.

  Seifrid, Mark. Christ, Our Righteousness: Paul’s Theology of Justification.

  Sproul, R. C. Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification.

  Stuhlmacher, Peter. Revisiting Paul’s Doctrine of Justification: A Challenge to the New Perspective.

  Vickers, Brian. Jesus’ Blood and Righteousness: Paul’s Theology of Imputation.theresurgence-20

  Bridges, Jerry, and Bob Bevington. The Great Exchange: My Sin for His Righteousness.

  Charnock, Stephen. Christ Crucified: A Puritan’s View of the Atonement.

  Dabney, Robert L. Christ Our Penal Substitute.

  Jeffery, Steve, Michael Ovey, and Andrew Sach. Pierced for Our Transgressions: Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution.

  Packer, J. I., and Mark Dever. In My Place Condemned He Stood: Celebrating the Glory of the Atonement.

  Peterson, David, ed. Where Wrath and Mercy Meet: Proclaiming the Atonement Today.

  Beilby, James, and Paul R. Eddy, eds. The Nature of the Atonement: Four Views.

  Boice, James Montgomery, and Philip G. Ryken. The Heart of the Cross.

  Demarest, Bruce. The Cross and Salvation: The Doctrine of Salvation.

  Denney, James. The Death of Christ: Its Place and Interpretation in the New Testament.

  Hengel, Martin. Crucifixion in the Ancient World and the Folly of the Message of the Cross.

  Hill, Charles E., and Frank A. James, eds. The Glory of the Atonement: Biblical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives.

  McDonald, H. D. The New Testament Concept of Atonement: The Gospel of the Calvary Event.

  McGrath, Alister E. The Enigma of the Cross.

  Morris, Leon. The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross.

  ——. The Atonement: Its Meaning and Significance.

  ——. The Cross in the New Testament.

  Nicole, Roger. Standing Forth: Collected Writings of Roger Nicole.

  Piper, John. Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die.

  Smail, Tom. Windows on the Cross.

  Smeaton, George. The Apostles’ Doctrine of the Atonement.

  ——. Christ’s Doctrine of the Atonement.

  Sproul, R. C. The Truth of the Cross.

  Stott, John R. W. The Cross of Christ.

  Tidball, Derek. The Message of the Cross: Wisdom Unsearchable, Love Indestructible.

  Wallace, Ronald. The Atoning Death of Christ.

  Wells, Paul. Cross Words: The Biblical Doctrine of Atonement.

  Hengel, Martin. The Atonement: The Origins of the Doctrine in the New Testament.

  McGrath, Alister E. Luther’s Theology of the Cross.

  Moltmann, Jurgen. The Crucified God: The Cross of Christ as the Foundation and Criticism of Christian Theology.

  Shaw, Ian J., and Brian H. Edwards. The Divine Substitute: The Atonement in the
  Bible and History.

  Tomlin, Graham. The Power of the Cross: Theology and the Death of Christ in Paul, Luther, and Pascal.

  A Commentary and Reference Survey by John Glynn by John Glynn.

  The best book on sex for married couples:

  A Celebration of Sex by Douglas E. Rosenau covers seemingly everything from oral sex to anal sex and toys.

  The best book on marriage for couples:

  God, Marriage, and Family by Andreas J. Kostenberger is THE theological book to read on issues related to marriage. The sixty pages of footnotes are worth the price of the book alone. In covering singleness, marriage, extended family, children, parenting, birth control, sex, homosexuality, divorce, and male pastors, there is nothing he missed. At Mars Hill Church we require this book for our premarital class and also our pastoral training. This book is large and for those wanting to start with something a bit shorter, Love That Lasts by Gary and Betsy Ricucci or Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas are also good.

  The best book on sex for husbands:

  Fidelity by Douglas Wilson is a straightforward, easy-to-read blow to the frontal lobe on everything from adultery, divorce, polygamy, celibacy, pornography, and more.

  The best book on sex for wives:

  Intimate Issues by Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus is a great book for women who have guilt, shame, lies, and similar issues that inhibit them from experiencing the full measure of joy that God intends for their sex life.

  The best book on the Song of Songs:

  Intimacy Ignited by Joseph and Linda Dillow and Peter and Lorraine Pintus is easily the best commentary and Bible study on the Song of Songs. The book blends rich biblical study with practical discussion points for married couples.

  The best book on sexual addiction:

  Addictions by Edward T. Welch is a great introduction to understanding all addictions from a gospel-centered perspective.

   

Wow, that pastor's list is extremely sectarian. It's pretty antagonistic and most Christians would not agree with its theological bent.

Bernice, I would recommend seeking some basic books within your own denominational tradition first, then exploring others. You might also be interested in investigating some books with broad interdenominational appeal, like C.S. Lewis' works (beloved by many Protestants, Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox Christians).

I'm sorry I can't tell you anything about the book you're asking about. :-)

Main Entry:

²sectarian

Function:

noun

Date:

1819

1 : an adherent of a sect 2 : a narrow or bigoted person

wow, that was harsh, you do not even know the pastor.  He is not a bigot and not narrow-minded in a bad way.  Our church believes we are all bad people, God is the only good One and He saves us from a an eternity in Hell that we deserve because of our sin.  Jesus died on the cross and paid for our sin and redeemed us, God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one and the Bible is God's word, divinely inspired.  If you agree with that, our pastor has no problem with you and loves you and calls our church to love our brothers and sisters in Christ.

C.S. Lewis has many wonderful works.  John Piper, John MacArthur, you can also try searching on Focus on the Family's website and seeing what they publish.  They have a lot of good resources.   Hmm... let's see, do you have a Bible yet?  The ESV is great as well as the NASB and NIV.  The amplified is kind of cool, just is more for in depth than a light read. 

I can try to think of more.

your sister in Christ

ps. our churches sermons can be located at www.marshillchurch.org  There's also links to other websites that have more resources and worship music.

I looked up the book and the author is a pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA.  A good way to know if it is a good book is to look at the church's website  http://www.cornerstonesimi.com/  and look into the doctrine.  I do this before reading a book to make sure I agree with what they believe before reading a book they have written. If you agree on the basics, then you can enjoy the book even if you may not like everything that is in it.

This is from their website:

We Believe:

The Bible is the inspired, inerrant and authoritative Word of God for the Christian faith
and living. (The Bible)

That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
(God the Father)

In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father and His personal return in power and glory. (God the Son)

In the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling every Christian is able to live a godly life. (God the Holy Spirit)

That all people are lost sinners and must turn to Christ in saving faith and repentance for
regeneration by the Holy Spirit. (Salvation)

In the resurrection of both those who believe in Jesus and those who do not believe: those believing to eternal life with Christ and those unbelieving to eternal punishment in hell.

I also noticed that you have wishlisted the Shack.  I also had and then I learned more about the book. This link has a little information about the book.

http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/doctrine/trinity-god-is/the-shack

wow, that was harsh, you do not even know the pastor.

First of all, not all usages of "sectarian" carry the same connotations. In your own dictionary, denotation 1 is closer to my usage than 2. Even closer to my usage: "Of, relating to, or characteristic of a sect.... Adhering or confined to the dogmatic limits of a sect or denomination."

Second, I called his list sectarian, not the pastor. I am not claiming the pastor is "bigoted." The list does represent an extremely narrow theological perspective, one which would exclude the vast majority of the world's Christians. I think a new Christian deserves to know that sort of thing in advance.

I did not make the comment to offend you further.  Have you read the books recommended by our pastor?  If not, how can you judge them.  I do hope that people who claim to be Christians believe the Trinity, believe Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected, and that the Bible is God's word, because without they cannot be a Christian.

if you believe these things, you are my sister in Christ and it's not wise to bicker over things like this.  I was simply trying to give her recommendations from a Godly pastor.  So truce?

Have you read the books recommended by our pastor?

A number of them. I've also read other works by the authors and publishers and am familiar with the theological themes (sola fide, forensic justification, etc.). That's the basis of my comment about the list being sectarian.

Otherwise, truce. :-)

Crazy Love by Pastor Chan is great.  It's challenging and real.  Probably one of the best reads I've had this year.  My husband and I have bought many copies to give away.  I

I have not yet read Crazy Love, but it's very high on my list of books to read.  IMO, that kind of book is exactly the kind a Christian (new or old) should be reading.  I also highly recommend Red Letters by Tom Davis.  Also The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns.  

I also enjoyed The Shack, and would remind people that it's a work of fiction.  I've heard William Young speak, and he's one of the most open, honest, and humble men I've ever seen. 

At first I really loved this book - then about half way through I realized that there is a lot wrong with it theologically and the author started to lose me.  He presents a God that won't judge us  - at all.  Wow - isn't that convenient.  The book throws out the ten commandments as unnecessary.  I found much of what the character Papa says to contradict the Bible and she ends up contradicting  herself. 

About the only thing I found redeeming in the book - excuse the pun - is the message to love one another which of course is central to Jesus's message.

The book had such promise - but it really is rather new age and shallow in its thinking - Not a book I would recommend to a Christian.

Check out the link mentioned earlier  - He makes some very good points.

I loved the Shack.  I certainly did not expect a work of fiction to be theologically correct.   It was a good STORY and gave me some things to think about.   I don't expect much more from fiction.

The author of the Shack Paul William Young did not set out to write a best seller.  He wrote the story for his children.  Somewhere along the line he showed it to a friend with a small publishing company, and a few copies were published.  People who read the book and enjoyed it spread the word. And more copies were published.  The rest is history.

But I do not think that Mr. Young meant for The Shack to be “Theology”.  We all have our stories.  The Shack is his story.  Different people get different things (positive and/or negative from this book).  I have read  The Shack..  I enjoyed it.  A big part of what I got out of this book is that God wants a personal relationship with us.  But still, the bottom line is that this is Mr. Young’s story.  It may not be everybody else’s story and that is OK.