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marieeya's review against another edition
5.0
When things in life have started to feel too familiar and too ordinary, or too hard and complicated, an intentional look back at the cross is sufficient enough to snap you out of life’s inconsistencies. Not to save you out of it instantly, but to help you find your balance again and buck up.
skyzyx's review
5.0
It's a Max Lucado book, so it's pretty much guaranteed to be 5 stars. Max does an excellent job of drawing out the most interesting concepts, events and nuances of the life of Christ that you rarely pick up on Sunday mornings. Good stuff.
margaretmechinus's review against another edition
5.0
The first book I ever read by Max Lucado. Someone handed it to me and said you have to read this. The writing was amazing. Christ came alive to me.
jradtke's review against another edition
3.0
This is a re-release of the book. I had never read it before. I really enjoy Max Lucado and decided to give it a walk through. Max Lucado wrote the original in Brazil, specifically Rio de Janeiro.
The book is based on the cry, "Don't give me religion, give me what matters." His response is that Jesus was killed, buried and resurrected, that part that matters is the cross. That windy "day when the kingdom of death was repossessed and hope took up the payments." In essence the book is a dissection of the story of the cross from the Bible and who this man Jesus truly was.
I really enjoyed the book. The chapters were short and concise. It was easy to understand and follow along with. There were many thought provoking chapters that allowed you to see the story in a new light. I believe that's a key to a good Christian book...to see the Bible in a new light and not darkness. My favorite chapter was the story told in one (maybe two or three) word sentences. Each sentence brought a specific image to mind. Then depending on how fast or slow you read through them, it would show you a different story. I think I read that chapter about 5 times before going on.
I read it as an eBook and as handy as it was, I didn't enjoy that aspect as much with this book. It was too complicated to use the Reader's Guide in the back of the book. This caused me to feel like I was missing out on something. It looks like all of my studies will still be in paperback form for my ease of learning.
My favorite quote from the book: "Prayer is asking God to watch ahead for falling trees and tumbling boulders and to bring up the rear, guarding our backside from the poison darts of the devil."
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The book is based on the cry, "Don't give me religion, give me what matters." His response is that Jesus was killed, buried and resurrected, that part that matters is the cross. That windy "day when the kingdom of death was repossessed and hope took up the payments." In essence the book is a dissection of the story of the cross from the Bible and who this man Jesus truly was.
I really enjoyed the book. The chapters were short and concise. It was easy to understand and follow along with. There were many thought provoking chapters that allowed you to see the story in a new light. I believe that's a key to a good Christian book...to see the Bible in a new light and not darkness. My favorite chapter was the story told in one (maybe two or three) word sentences. Each sentence brought a specific image to mind. Then depending on how fast or slow you read through them, it would show you a different story. I think I read that chapter about 5 times before going on.
I read it as an eBook and as handy as it was, I didn't enjoy that aspect as much with this book. It was too complicated to use the Reader's Guide in the back of the book. This caused me to feel like I was missing out on something. It looks like all of my studies will still be in paperback form for my ease of learning.
My favorite quote from the book: "Prayer is asking God to watch ahead for falling trees and tumbling boulders and to bring up the rear, guarding our backside from the poison darts of the devil."
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com
bookrecsondeck's review against another edition
4.0
Tells the story of crucifixion and resurrection giving new insight on peoples perspective associated with it. I suggest that he edit some details in storytelling because sometimes it’s too much and I miss the message
lwebster714's review against another edition
2.0
Max Lucado is a phenomenal writer, but I just could not fully invest in this book. I think perhaps I was looking for deeper meaning, but it was not there. After Lucado went through Jesus' time on the cross and what it may have been like for the different people involved, the chapters became unconnected to one another. To me this felt like it was a compilation of random devotional material. Also, there were some references to women in which their value lied in their good looks. I think this is a good book for people beginning to delve into Christianity or looking to reconnect.
jamiep's review against another edition
4.0
Great little book to work through during Holy Week.
From the chapter ‘Miniature Messengers:’
“There was one group in attendance that day whose role was critical. They didn’t speak much, but they were there. Few noticed them, but that’s not surprising. Their very nature is so silent they are often overlooked. In fact, the gospel writers scarcely gave them a reference. But we know they were there. They had to be. They had a job to do.
Yes, this representation did much more than witness the divine drama; they expressed it. They captured it. They displayed the despair of Peter; they betrayed the guilt of Pilate and unveiled the anguish of Judas. They transmitted John’s confusion and translated Mary’s compassion.
Their prime role, however, was with that of the Messiah. With utter delicacy and tenderness, they offered relief to his pain and expression to his yearning.
Who am I describing? You may be surprised.
Tears.
Those tiny drops of humanity. Those round, wet balls of fluid that tumble from our eyes, creep down our cheeks, and splash on the floor of our hearts. They were there that day. They are always present at such times. They should be, that’s their job. They are miniature messengers; on call twenty-four hours a day to substitute for crippled words. They drip, drop, and pour from the corner of our souls, carrying with them the deepest emotions we possess. They tumble down our faces with announcements that range from the most blissful joy to darkest despair.
The principle is simple; when words are most empty, tears are most apt.
...
What do you do when words won’t come? When all the nouns and verbs lay deflated at your feet, with what do you communicate? When even the loftiest statements stumble, what do you do? Are you one of the fortunate who isn’t ashamed to let a tear take over? Can you be so happy that your eyes water and your throat swells? Can you be so proud that your pupils blue and your vision mists? And in sorrow, do you let your tears decompress that tight chest and untie that knot in your throat?
Or do you reroute your tears and let them only fall on the inside?
...
And the tears of Jesus. They came in the garden. I’m sure they came on the cross. Are they a sign of weakness? Do those stains on his cheeks mean he had no fire in his belly or grit in his gut?
Of course not.
Here’s the point. It’s not just the tears that are the issue, it’s what they represent. They represent the heart, the spirit, and the soul of a person. To put lock and key on your emotions is to bury part of your Christ-likeness!
Especially when you come to Calvary.
You can’t go to the cross with just your head and not your heart. It doesn’t work that way. Calvary is not a mental trip. It’s not an intellectual exercise. It’s not a divine calculation or a cold theological principle.
It’s a heart-splitting hour of emotion.
Don’t walk away from it dry-eyed and unstirred. Don’t just straighten your tie and clear your throat. Don’t allow yourself to descend Calvary cool and collected...”
From the chapter ‘Miniature Messengers:’
“There was one group in attendance that day whose role was critical. They didn’t speak much, but they were there. Few noticed them, but that’s not surprising. Their very nature is so silent they are often overlooked. In fact, the gospel writers scarcely gave them a reference. But we know they were there. They had to be. They had a job to do.
Yes, this representation did much more than witness the divine drama; they expressed it. They captured it. They displayed the despair of Peter; they betrayed the guilt of Pilate and unveiled the anguish of Judas. They transmitted John’s confusion and translated Mary’s compassion.
Their prime role, however, was with that of the Messiah. With utter delicacy and tenderness, they offered relief to his pain and expression to his yearning.
Who am I describing? You may be surprised.
Tears.
Those tiny drops of humanity. Those round, wet balls of fluid that tumble from our eyes, creep down our cheeks, and splash on the floor of our hearts. They were there that day. They are always present at such times. They should be, that’s their job. They are miniature messengers; on call twenty-four hours a day to substitute for crippled words. They drip, drop, and pour from the corner of our souls, carrying with them the deepest emotions we possess. They tumble down our faces with announcements that range from the most blissful joy to darkest despair.
The principle is simple; when words are most empty, tears are most apt.
...
What do you do when words won’t come? When all the nouns and verbs lay deflated at your feet, with what do you communicate? When even the loftiest statements stumble, what do you do? Are you one of the fortunate who isn’t ashamed to let a tear take over? Can you be so happy that your eyes water and your throat swells? Can you be so proud that your pupils blue and your vision mists? And in sorrow, do you let your tears decompress that tight chest and untie that knot in your throat?
Or do you reroute your tears and let them only fall on the inside?
...
And the tears of Jesus. They came in the garden. I’m sure they came on the cross. Are they a sign of weakness? Do those stains on his cheeks mean he had no fire in his belly or grit in his gut?
Of course not.
Here’s the point. It’s not just the tears that are the issue, it’s what they represent. They represent the heart, the spirit, and the soul of a person. To put lock and key on your emotions is to bury part of your Christ-likeness!
Especially when you come to Calvary.
You can’t go to the cross with just your head and not your heart. It doesn’t work that way. Calvary is not a mental trip. It’s not an intellectual exercise. It’s not a divine calculation or a cold theological principle.
It’s a heart-splitting hour of emotion.
Don’t walk away from it dry-eyed and unstirred. Don’t just straighten your tie and clear your throat. Don’t allow yourself to descend Calvary cool and collected...”
More...