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Displaying items 6-10 of 59
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  1. Gipson
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    The Problem Is In the Heart
    July 31, 2012
    Gipson
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    I recently finished reading Enemies of the Heart: Breaking Free from the Four Emotions That Control You. The book is a fantastic read. It deals with four emotions (guilt, anger, greed, and jealousy) that are at the root of most problems in our lives. It offers not only an examination of these emotions, but gives strategies for combating them to keep them from causing problems in our relationships.

    The author of the book is Andy Stanley the preacher at Northpoint Community Church in Alpharetta, GA. He's also the son of well known evangelist Charles Stanley.

    One of the key insights in the book is that these emotions stem from some unmet expectation. When I feel guilty, I have a sense that I owe you. When I am angry, I feel that you owe me. When I am greedy it is as though I owe me. When I am jealous, I feel like God owes me. These unmet expectations create a sense of obligation so that the emotion cannot be dealt with until the debt is either payed or forgiven. When this doesn't happen, we allow these emotions to rule our interactions with those to whom we are closest.

    Stanley says that they only way to deal with these emotions is to develop habits that run counter to them. For instance the habit of confession helps one keep a secret sin from allowing guilt to ruin his or her relationships. He says, "The purpose of confession is not to relieve your conscience; it's to affect change and reconciliation" (pg. 113). So developing a habit of confession is the first step in righting my wrongs against others.

    The book is highly insightful. It helps one understand how unmet expectations eventually make our relationships dysfunctional. It gets right to the heart of the problem, showing that all problems start in the heart.

    I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to give a positive review.
  2. rawhitfield
    Beaufort, SC
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: male
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A great resource for individuals and small groups.
    January 16, 2012
    rawhitfield
    Beaufort, SC
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: male
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Enemies of the Heart, Andy Stanley. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Multnomah Books, 2010, 2011. 218 pages. Reviewed by Rev. Russell A. Whitfield.

    Andy Stanley has communicated four critical forces that are common to every person, and has given biblical advice to deal with these damaging powers. The book, Enemies of the Heart, is a collection of chapters that introduces and discusses four emotional forces in a biblically relevant, readable, practical, honest way. The twenty chapters of Stanley's book are divided into four parts to help his readers deal with these four enemies: guilt, anger, greed, and jealousy that come from within a person's heart. The first part addresses the roots of these enemies, the second part deals with each of the four enemies individually for deeper clarification, the third part offers advice that will effect change, and finally Stanley takes two chapters to express the effect the heart change will make on future generations as well as other areas of one's life.

    As senior pastor and founder of North Point Ministries Inc, Stanley has written several practical resources that help communicate Biblical Truths to other ministries and lay people as well. He has taken real life examples both from his personal life and the lives of others to illustrate the effects these Enemies of the Heart have on an individual. Stanley recognizes that in his own life he had to confront certain enemies that were set to damage his life and relationships.

    Enemies of the Heart explores four destructive forces that infiltrate an individual's life with the aim to destroy their home, career, and relationships. The first section of the book is titled where did that come from? and is introduced with a verse from Jeremiah 17:9 to explain the deceitfulness and sickness of the heart. In the first two chapters of this section, he describes two incidences that provide a clear picture of why this book was written. He shares about a personal occurrence one evening while lying in bed. He had felt an unusual feeling in his chest, and later found out that he had an irregular heartbeat. Another occurrence he describes was when the famous basketball player Pistol Pete Maravich suddenly collapsed while playing basketball right before an interview he had later with James Dobson. Maravich had a heart condition, but did not know about it because he was in fit condition. These two occurrences are used to help the reader understand the importance of monitoring the condition of their heart spiritually.

    The next section of his book is titled Deeper Debts. Stanley introduces the four enemies and how each is fueled by a dynamic that must be confronted on an individual basis. He takes a separate chapter to describe each of the four enemies and the destruction each will cause to the heart. He begins this section taking time to identifying these four enemies as debts that are considered the debt to debtor dynamic that always causes imbalance in any relationship. The next four chapters deal with the debts individually. The first chapter is titled Guilt: I Owe You, secondly he deals with Anger: You Owe Me, Next he focuses attention on Greed: I Owe Me, and lastly he considers Jealousy: God Owes Me.

    The third section offers some effective ways to effect spiritual growth and transformation in an individual's life. In chapter ten, Stanley's aim is for individual Christians to begin the process of monitoring their heart and not just their behavior. In order for spiritual growth and transformation to take place, there needs to be a "spiritual" heart surgery to happen. As he begins this section, Stanley takes some time to explain how making changes to one's habits can affect the kind of spiritual transformation needed to deal with the dangerous enemies of the heart. He uses a character named Brian who has a bad heart to illustrate the lifestyle changes needed to have a healthy heart spiritually. It took a visit to the doctor for Brian to realize that he needed to make some lifestyle changes that would strengthen his heart. Brian was not willing to make the lifestyle changes needed to strengthen his physical heart, much like the average individual's lack of understanding needed to make spiritual changes in order to lead a healthy spiritual life.

    The nine chapters in the third section confront each enemy of the heart with the truths of scripture, and practical advice as to how each one needs to be confronted. Stanley begins by addressing the power of guilt by being overcome through the habit of confession (1 John 1:9); next he offers the most freeing advice of forgiveness as a way to "Get rid of all anger..." (Ephesians 4:31); then Stanley approaches the enemy of greed by offering an attitude of generosity; finally the last enemy he confronts is jealousy that should be overcome through the celebration of other's successes and decisions.

    The final section of his book, entitled Moving Forward, ends with two chapters that enlighten his readers about the effects these four enemies could have on later generations, as well as other spiritual struggles individuals might be confronted with, especially his male readers. The habits of our hearts become the best models for those in the home. Stanley readdresses the importance of monitoring one's heart from the warning found in Proverbs 4:23 to guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

    The last chapter, About Lust, gives his readers the main reason why it is important to maintain a healthy heart. He concludes the chapter saying, the healthier our hearts, the easier it will be for us to keep this God-given appetite properly focused and under control.

    Stanley has done an excellent job communicating the dangers and power guilt, anger, greed, and jealousy have on an individual's life. He has written a strong resource that confronts these enemies that come from within our hearts with the power of God's Holy Scripture. I was convicted that continued monitoring of our hearts spiritually proves to be a major need as we seek to truly live this abundant life God desires for us as believers. As you read this book, you will catch yourself taking time to analyze the habits of your own heart and its condition. I highly recommend this book to every Christian, young or old, as well as an individual small group seeking a powerful resource.

    Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers of their Blogger Review 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."
  3. myrt
    Saskatchewan, Canada
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    February 19, 2013
    myrt
    Saskatchewan, Canada
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Excellent book for general reading but particulary for those who are experiencing challenges in their faith walk. These four heart issues address a broad range of difficulties in living a victorious life.
  4. Sheila
    Littleton, CO
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    January 3, 2013
    Sheila
    Littleton, CO
    Age: 25-34
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    I love Andy Stanley! This is a fantastic book. Right now I am only on chapter 4, but I can't wait to read more! Andy Stanley cuts to some deep truths, but he does it in a fun and easy to understand way. I definitely have a lot to think about!
  5. Annies Inklings
    Wenatchee, WA
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Do you have heart disease?
    January 5, 2012
    Annies Inklings
    Wenatchee, WA
    Age: Over 65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    I didn't realize that I had heart disease until I read this book. I also discovered that the type of heart disease I have can't be treated with a prescription drug. If you decide to read this book, you might be as surprised as I was to discover that you are afflicted with a spiritual heart disease. Perhaps it's time for a check up.

    Being an excellent communicator, Andy Stanley keeps you riveted to Enemies of the Heart as he discusses four destructive emotional forces that compel you to act in undesirable ways and have the power to destroy your home, your career, and your friendships. Guilt, anger, greed, and jealousy are described by Andy to be a spiritual heart disease that has the potential to "destroy you and squeeze the life out of your most valuable relationships."

    Andy quotes Proverbs 4:23 NASB, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life." Whether it be good or bad, whatever is in our hearts is eventually translated into words and deeds. Reading this book will likely cause you to realize that you too, like many of us, have a spiritual heart disease that we aren't aware of. Thankfully, in his easy to understand and practical advice, Andy helps you get to the root of your bad heart condition and provides biblical direction for healing.

    Once again, I've been enlightened and inspired by the writing of Andy Stanley. I've already recommend it to several friends and will certainly promote it through my church library.

    I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogging for Books book program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Displaying items 6-10 of 59
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