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  1. JenniferB
    Canada
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: Female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    February 17, 2010
    JenniferB
    Canada
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: Female
    If you squirm a little inside when you read the title Pure Pleasure, youre in good company. As the subtitle of Gary Thomas accessible treaties on the biblical role of pleasure in a believers life suggests, many of us have - perhaps unknowingly - adopted an attitude of ascetic martyrdom that is never suggested or recommended in the word of God. However, if youre willing to put your discomfort and hesitations aside for a moment, Thomas is ready to redirect misguided pleasure avoiders into a balanced and godly understanding of the delights God has in store for us in this life and how they can draw our hearts closer to His.Pure Pleasure arrived in my life at a time when I had begun to question the lack of joy, the lack of laughter, the lack of, yes - pleasure - in the lives of many of my brothers and sisters (and myself in some areas.) Not only was there a desert, but there was actually fear surrounding the prospect of allowing delight into the Christian life. Where was the room for rejoicing? For the jubilant celebration that Jesus calls us to? Not only was I asking this question about others around me, but of myself as well.Im always naturally cautious when a book so vigorously defends a certain aspect of the Christian life, and not having read any of Thomas work in the past I wondered if perhaps his was a new form of Christian hedonism - Im so glad that its not. In fact, Pure Pleasure is hands-down the most balanced, biblical perspective on the proper role of delight that Ive ever encountered, whether by book, sermon, or informal times of fellowship.
  2. Jo Franz
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    February 1, 2010
    Jo Franz
    Gary Thomas has once again written a book I could agree with wholeheartedly! I love his words "Our play makes a statement to the world: indeed, it is an act of witness" in opposition to those who say that reading the Bible, praying and praising God verbally and denial are the only ways of giving God glory. I will be recommending this book both for those bound up, and those who want to be freed to sense God's smile because they live and love as God intended but don't know exactly how. But I'll also recommend it to those who want to smile and know they're living as God's children because they've already learned the secret of pure pleasure!
  3. D.L. Burgess
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    January 4, 2010
    D.L. Burgess
    I have read several of Gary's books and was as delighted by this as the others. Like many of the others it causes you to re-think how you view God's intentions and purposes. As someone predisposed to feel false guilt it was refreshing to be reminded that while I can have practical compassion for others in need, God doesn't desire me to feel guilt or regret when He blesses me financially or just with a surprise. Good stewardship is Biblical and necessary and yet I can and should enjoy the blessings of God--just as I want my daughter to enjoy the gifts I give her. I nodded in agreement when Gary spoke about pleasure-giving preferences and how we can choose a variety of ways to spend our discretionary income. Many years ago this became apparent when I shrugged my shoulders at another couple's recreational choice and a different friend shrugged hers at ours-- expensive college football tickets!! God created us uniquely and has given us different interests to delight and challenge us!!In closing, I want to focus on a serious section of Gary's book. He is spot on when he encourages the reader to find a healthy and Godly outlet of pleasure. If you allow yourself to get tired, stressed or preoccupied by the duties in life without an outlet for the aforementioned pleasure you will begin the slow fade into the dangerous pleasures and the repercussions could permanently alter your life in ways you never imagined. I believe many people would benefit from reading this book--and I think it would make a great small group study!!
  4. Andrea Schultz
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    February 5, 2010
    Andrea Schultz
    So often, Christians fall into the trap of viewing the world as evil and to be avoided. Pure Pleasure, provides a biblical defense of embracing pleasure as a pathway to worship and intimacy with God. Mr. Thomas provides a basis for his defense this way:Heres where I think the church has gotten off track: We often fail to make the distinction that Paul makes when he wrote to Titus: To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted (1:15) In context, Paul is arguing against hyper-religionists trying to saddle Christians with arbitrary rules and prohibitions. (p. 22)This section reminds me of how Jesus railed against the Pharisees and Sadducees for following rules and regulations instead of showing and displaying love and compassion.I must admit that I've fallen into the trap of focusing on the sin and not the Savior and have missed so much in life that God would prefer that I would have enjoyed. I've attended some churches in which this mindset is perpetuated. The world is portrayed as an evil place which is to be avoided. This world view is very detrimental to the believer and to the watching world. Why would anyone want to follow Jesus if it turns them into a sour puss?! I am grateful to Mr. Thomas for writing this book, and potentially improving the lives and well-being of many people.I am sure it truly grieves the heart of God when He sees us miserable and obsessed with the idea of the stench of sin rather than focusing on His great love for us! I am glad that Mr. Thomas makes this point: I walk with God because He is the true Creator and rightful Lord. But I also walk with Christ because a life with Christ is a beautiful life, the most incredible journey you can imagine (p. 29).This book was provided to me by Zondervan.Reviewed by Andrea Schultz Ponderings by Andrea http://andrealschultz.blogspot.com
  5. Shafer Parker, Jr.
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    December 17, 2009
    Shafer Parker, Jr.
    Whatever the subject, Gary Thomas brings more common sense and Biblical wisdom to bear on a single page than most inspirational writers can muster in an entire book. Most blessed of all, Thomas is almost entirely free from the bad habit of basting pop-psychology with a few Bible verses and calling it Christian. Pure Pleasure is saturated, not so much with biblical quotes as it is with truly Christian thinking. Readers should be grateful that Thomas has drawn from the 2,000-year-old well of Christian wisdom and distilled its rich liqueurs into appetizing and nourishing doses for twenty-first century man. You may think, as I did when I first saw the title, that Pure Pleasure might be too much in tune with the spirit of the age. Do todays Christians really need to be encouraged to enjoy themselves? But be of good cheer, here as always Thomas maintains the delicate balance that such a book requires to be truly Christian. In one sense, writing a book on giving ourselves permission to enjoy pleasure in the twenty-first century seems like the height of absurdity, he writes. Our world drowns in pleasure. But, Thomas suggests, the worst thing Christians can do is over-react and try to shut all pleasure out of their lives. Far better to realize that Christians are human too, and therefore designed to enjoy life in this world.At the same time Thomas reminds us that we are also Spiritual, and therefore called to satisfy our designed-in need for pleasure in ways that honour God. Two quotes get to the heart of his message: Wouldnt you like to explore the potential of building a life of healthy pleasure? And, What if pleasure can lead us to God instead of compete with God? If you answered yes to the first question, then read this book and you will be able to answer the second in the most satisfying ways possible. In short, you will find that even the pleasures of life can help you quench, and yet continue to whet, your thirst for God.
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