Love Beyond Reason

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Helpful, inspirational, simple. - Rated
Love Beyond Reason is a deeply moving book. John Ortberg uses the analogy of being a much loved but in need of some attention rag doll to great effect. A rag doll may be broken, scruffy, in desperate need of sorting out, but it is an object of great affection to its original owner. He writes "God doesn't just love you because He has to, He loves you because He wants to....God likes to love you."

He takes us through a very helpful chapter called "Love Pays Attention" which is so simple but true. "God notices things your mother has never even thought about." God pays attention to you, focuses on you, God sees. Through the 12 chapters, we journey through God touching the untouchables, being the Lord of the second chance, the teacher, leading us in "the roundabout way" because that is the way that is best. Many people have written about the desert or wilderness experience with God. This is also a helpful chapter on this subject, exploring how the word of God's love can often mean so much more in the barren places. To be loved when you are getting everything right, that's easy to believe. To be loved when you are getting it all wrong and "feel you may be more hindrance than help to whatever work God may be doing in the world" - that is simply amazing. That's grace. "That's life to someone who's dying."

His chapters on being safe in God's love and on the whole issue of hiding are just so wonderful. God as your protector, whether you can see it or not. God absolutely for you and fiercely defensive of you. His last chapter on The Ragged God speaks of God becoming flesh in Jesus, experiencing the raggedness of human life and in that we see His glory. "His glory is not just His power and might and majesty. His glory is that He would come to this corner of the universe....to a ragged people He could not bring Himself to discard. One day He laid aside His majesty and bliss and came knocking at your door. One day He came just for you."

This is a book that does what is says. It moves the love of God from your head to your heart if you will let it. It "frees and empowers you to love." I commend it to you.

Put this next to the Good Book - Rated
I like this book a lot - what I don't understand is the prejudice people have toward other books that they probably haven't even read. I noticed here in the reviews that hardly anyone agreed with the other reviewer on Tiffany Snow's book. Why? I have read it, and let me tell you IT IS A GODLY BOOK! And it rightfully deserves the other side next to the Good Book.
Jesus loves us and wants us to work together in uniting the world in his love and be amazed by the free gifts he gives us. We are a gift to one another, as is prayer and spiritual gifts. Reading is a gift also - though a natural one. Depending on the books we read, it can open up the heart and mind to a further understanding of Our Father. Or, it can shut it down. Which books will you destroy without opening the cover?

This book combined with ýPsychic Giftsý can change your Life - Rated
I really liked this book. I am an avid reader and would recommend adding this book to your must read list. Another book that really impressed me is Psychic Gifts in the Christian Life - Tools to Connect, by Tiffany Snow, pub. 2003. In this time of increasing awareness for the need to help our relationships, workplace, family, self and environment, these two books are at the forefront of giving us the tools to do so - not only by positive reinforcements, but in the case of "Psychic Gifts," showing we have a Divine birthright to access the supernatural in our lives, and how to tap into that. I encourage you to Keep Reading, apply what you learn, and be a force for good in your part of the world.

God loves YOU, and He loves you as you are - Rated
"Her name was Pandy," the story begins. Pandy was a doll which was once adorable, but now only a rag doll. There was no reason anymore to like Pandy. But the girl did love Pandy, and loved her so much that Pandy became lovable to anybody who loved the girl!

With pictures like this John Ortberg shows us God's love to "rag dolls" like us. A love beyond reason and comprehension, a love that simply is.

The book also retells several stories from the gospels. "Jesus touched the leper." Yes, go on? Read it again: "Jesus TOUCHED the leper!" A man carrying af deadly, horrible, contagious disease that had made him an outcast, a man you would not even like to see. But Jesus loved him so much that he saw him and touched him. He also healed him, but suddenly it doesn't look like the greatest miracle in the story.

Every chapter has something new to tell, every time showing new aspects of God's immense love for us. If you doubt God really loves you, let this book be an eye-opener. If you already know God loves you, read the book to learn more about how much this means. Highly recommended for anybody.

Excellent - Rated
This book combines readibility and humor with deep theological truth. John Ortberg left me wanting more.