Unstuck: Your Life, God's Design, Real Change
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Cole had an impeccable research and behavioral studies career, which God is now using to build up the church. After his conversion, he conducted a groundbreaking study that shows regular and frequent Bible interaction (4 times a week), not even prayer, service, or worship alone, brings about spiritual growth and maturity in a believer. Ross joins him with a career in Christian publishing. Both have life-changing stories of mercy and grace that brought them into a thriving relationship with the God of the universe! Whether you're not a believer, or you act like an insider but knows something's missing, read Unstuck. Then follow the advice to read and interact with God's word daily, and let the Holy Spirit speak into you mind. The power of God is available to redeem you, give you joy and hope, and use your life to make a difference and bring glory to Him.
February 18, 2013
engage the Bible at least four times a week
What if we could get unstuck from the things holding us back, making our faith ineffective? These authors argue that engaging God's Word is the key to getting unstuck.
Their book comes as a result of a survey of more than seventy thousand households between 2005 and 2011. They found that American Christians, on the average, have five Bibles per household, yet the majority don't read it regularly. (57) The study showed that our lives are dramatically different when we engage Scripture four or more times a week. (56) (Four times a week is the tipping point.) The authors have relied on this research to give proven methods of spiritual growth.
This book is a 45 day journey into engaging the Word. âÂÂNeglecting God's Word is the main reason believers become stuck spiritually, get disconnected from God, and are prone to losing ground to all kinds of damaging thoughts and harmful behaviors.â (58)
The first part of the book reveals what goes wrong for most of us. They they look at the relational way of experiencing God's Word (receiving, reflecting, responding). The last part of the book shows how to apply the principles of biblical engagement.
This book has been designed so that it is not just another book about the Bible. It is a manual for engaging the Bible. They give lots of examples of people who have become unstuck through doing exactly that.
If you are ready to stop reading the Bible and start engaging it (receive, reflect, respond), this book will help. Remember, engage the Bible at least four times a week!
November 16, 2012
Better than its title!
UNSTUCK by Arnie Cole & Michael Ross is a book about the Christian life. It is geared towards Christians themselves although it would certainly serve to enlighten and help non-Christians along the right path-toward Christ Himself.
This is another one of those based-on-research books which, in my opinion, are eye-openers and should be heeded. One has nothing to lose in doing that although I know that God does not base His operations on research, polls, statistics and such. Thankfully! However, for us humans (who are rather limited in our knowledge of many things), research can come in pretty handy at times. Authors Cole & Ross use this to the advantage of showing us where our weak areas are, where we need to make change and, most importantly, HOW to do that. Very practical suggestions are given to prod us along in the right direction, if indeed that is what the reader needs. If he doesn't, then this information can be used to prod and help others along their Christian walk.
At first, I was a bit discouraged and turned off by the title. What in the world? I thought. After getting into it I could somewhat understand why that title was chosen but I still think a more attractive one would have been better. What about "Return to Joy" or "Back to God" or even "Out Of A Rut". Unstuck is just so...uncouth (lacking in polish and grace according to the Merriam-Webster Dic.).
Because of that, I give it a 4. In spite of that, I give it a 5. The store you bought it from will profit from your buying but you will profit from your reading.
(I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. 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 CommissionâÂÂs 16 CFR, Part 255.)
November 15, 2012
Be encouraged, be inspired, be changed by ENGAGING
WhatâÂÂs this white book with a traffic light?...Pick it up...Take a look...Unstuck?...What an interest-grabbing title with a simple subtitle that ends up truly summing up the heart of the book. Now flip it over to read the overview on the back...âÂÂDo you ever want more than just an âÂÂokâ walk with Christ?â Those peeked my curiosity as a challenge also arouse inside of me: Is this book for real? Are Cole and Ross talking about having a real relationship with a real Saviour or just adding more to my âÂÂChristian check listâÂÂ?
That concern was addressed quickly. And their statement from research was very straightforward... âÂÂChristians grow through relationship, not religion. We stall when we focus on impersonal formulas and empty habits.â (pg. 49). Ok... IâÂÂm liking the book so far...
Unstuck is divided into sections to explain why change is needed in our lives, what the authors and the research found works, and how to apply it to our lives. In their words, Part 1 is Why We Stall Out, Part 2 is The Powered by Four Solution, and Part 3 is Engage, Untangle...Grow! Cole and Ross explain the Powered Four Solution as engaging (rather than just read) the Bible at least four times a week with this mind-set - âÂÂGodâÂÂs Word to us is how we hear from and share two-way conversation with our Creator. ItâÂÂs our personal connection...Relationships need consistent connections in order to growâ (pg. 139). They urge us not to approach our devotional times with a primary focus of info-gathering. However, we need to engage and look for connection, relationship and spiritual transformation. The last part is very practical and will be a resource that will need to be updated as you grow in your walk with Christ.
I throughly enjoyed Unstuck and would highly recommend it. It was a challenging, inspiring read that will change lives through the power of GodâÂÂs Word. The personal stories that are included - real and honest, not glossed over - are a perfect addition to the books goal of pointing the reader to an honest relationship with Jesus.
Wow! I am so glad that God placed this book in my path! I have highlighted and dog-eared so many pages, but I still plan to go through it again in about a month.
**Bethany House has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.
October 22, 2012
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