Jesus > Religion MP3 CD – Audiobook, April 1, 2014

I had always thought that something wasn't quite right with the churches we were going to. Something felt missing. Many times I didn't see the love we were called to live out. Coming out of a divorce family with two extreme belief ideas, God has given me a balance between them. My dad is very religious and zealous, while my mom was nonreligious yet I had seen love in her and not in my dad. She was a universalism and believe that everyone had some truth, every religion was right( not saying I agree with this, nor do I believe that. How can one say the door is open and one say no it's shut both be right, it's either or.) Anyway she had always told us that she didn't care what religion we were part of or what we believe. She just want us to think for ourselves and believe something because that's what somebody says to do. She said she would accept us regardless and still love us as our children. She didn't see the importance of going to the "church" and stop going altogether. She thought it was more important to visit your grandparents and to help out the needy. My mom isn't perfect but I have learn much from her. My dad was extremely strict and it had to be done such a way. With many rules and regulations No Halloween No NonChristian Music No Harry Potter and so on. On the other hand he did bring up into a "Christian family" and taught me about Jesus early on. We often had to do prayer chair (where one goes on to the chair and everyone prays for him. I really appreciate them and always felt good about them), "praise and worship time" where we would sing his made up songs to God, and daily bible reading times. Even though at the time I didn't like those and always thought they were boring, they help me with my foundations with Christ. So I have learn things that were good and things that were not with both of them, helping shaping me. One time I was arguing with my dad about not going to church on Wednesdays (which was super important for him. You can't miss church) I told how the youth group was dead and how I wanted to go to a different church one instead, but he refuse to listen and I had to go. This went on for awhile. I was also 18, a junior in high school. So one Wednesday evening when we were getting ready to leave, I told him I wasn't going and walk out. He was furious and said I command you to come back and if you don't obey than you are breaking the scriptures (or something like that, super controlling and manipulative, changing the words out of the context for his will) so ignore him and drove to my moms (since they were divorce) My mom told me how proud she was since I stood up for myself. Later he told me I couldn't go back to his house unless I go to Wednesday church with him again. I never did so I was kick out of his house. The thing was I was still responsible for my younger siblings and to drop then off but I was unable to go inside. Talk about pain. Not only that but a few weeks later I got into a pretty bad car crash but both the driver and me were safe. Our cars were pretty mess up. I would normally call my mom for help but she wasn't in town so I had to call my dad for help. I was terrified, but I eventually call him and him and my step mother came. I told him what happen and he offered to drive my car home(it was still drivable) and I got to ride home with my stepmother. I'm glad too because I was so shaken up that I couldn't drive even if I wanted too. So we went home (first time for me in weeks) and we ate dinner. Thinking everything was back to normal he ask me again if I was going to church on Wednesday. I said no and we both knew what that meant and I went more weeks with out seeing them. Eventually he realize how dumb it was and change the "punishment" to no watching tv or such and such, which I didn't really watch a whole too much. So I got to go back to the house. And eventually the "punishment" was completely remove. Right now we are good with each other and a side note we had a pretty good relationship with each other before the whole thing started. Another thing was I was going to church on my own and many times I was alone since I didn't knew a whole lot of people. I was extremely thankful the situation and trusted in God that everything was going to be okay. Because before that I didn't really had a way to understand those who had it worst than me and I could understand what my cousins where feeling a lot better.Sorry for getting carried away and writing nothing about the book. At first before I even read it I thought I was good enough and didn't need to read it, but after reading it I was really wrong. It help reminded me, reestablish, and change my paradigms. Some things I always new because they had always been on my heart. Other things were tear crying moments of I'm wrong. I started to see Jesus more clearly.Nevertheless the real question is should You read this book?Yes!I don't care where you are in your walk with Christ or don't even know him. Just do it.

Hi, This book is everything I already thought about God/religion/churches/real Christians , but it was great to have someone write it down in a great way. He is a great writer and has great insights. He is not a pastor etc, but was on a journey to figure out God/religion/church etc. He had his upbringing in church which bored him. Model Christians may miss the mark and New age may miss the mark. Are there real Christians? Each chapter has questions at the end that summarize the chapter...good for group discussions or personal thoughts.He has some great insights. Trying to earn heaven? It is worth reading. I have not gone to church for awhile since I can't get up in the morning, but I agree...each church represents people who are about the same personality. I wonder what one of my churches I enjoyed would do if a motor cycle gang drove up to church for service. Can a person be ok without a church? All I know is I can feel the vibrations of positive energy like people who go to a foot ball game instead of watching it at home. People need people and love. God is about love and to be isolated is not good. Life is the school, love is the lesson is the bumper sticker on my car. I agree Jesus hated religion, but God is not religion. Man made religion to try to earn their way to heaven and feel safe/protection maybe. To me a real Christian will show love, not just follow rules to try to get to heaven. If they don't love they are not full of the Holy spirit in my opinion.My kids went to a christian school...they got a lot of religion and prayer/Bible learning and some love, but not positive thinking. The focus was too serious sometimes which attracts maybe sad things. I have never seem so many bad things happen. I read the whole Bible a few times...too serious and church didn't teach always the whole story and dark things in the Bible. Taking the Bible to literal each church may focus on a different part of the Bible. I like to read the words of Jesus...to me that is the most important part. I agree grace/love/forgiveness etc. is the new law more than rituals/Old testament. When I hear a sermon I don't want to hear man's wisdom and his learning curve, but God's wisdom.I went to one church where most of the songs were very depressing and can only be happy in heaven. The people were depressed also and had to force self to pray/go to church like it was a duty instead of enjoying it. They would call themselves Christians and other churches were not considered Christian. There were many good things about that church, and great fellowship, but right now I don't feel like I would "fit in" to any church so I watch on TV Joel Osteen talk positive. I know he is not talking much about the New testament, but think he is living the Christian life with more faith than others and wisdom. He knows to stay connected to God and give him the glory/praise/honor and thank God. Jesus did not come to judge, but teach people how to reconnect to God and how to live.I wanted to help at one church, but they said they didn't want people like me to help in the nursery. They run the church like a business and get to "hire" who they want...even though it is volunteer and they desperately needed nursery help, but didn't want me. I could only be a spectator there 99% of the time. They didn't want my help except with Bible school...didn't person in charge of that.Another church the pastor talks about sex/money too much and wants to be a famous preacher. He is like a comedian and many "down and out" people go there since they are sad and need his humor.Another churches...not my style of music/preaching/or what I believe.I need a church that I can be accepted/loved/listened to/lets me help and teaches what I believe. I don't go to church for entertainment, but to learn/songs/sermon/fellowship. I can pray/thank/praise God at home. I don't do communion since I can't have alcohol/gluten and I think God would understand. I have done full body under water baptism like Jesus did.This is an excellent book...gets people thinking. I have already had many discussions about religion versus God, but he adds new insights into the debate. People may decide to be atheists since they have not witnessed real Christians. All people sin, but where is the love? God gave a new law...grace/mercy/love/forgive. Kent Brantly to me is a real Christian. Religious wars...some will say God allowed killing in the Old testament. New testament...Paul's opinion 4X..man's wisdom? People may use against gay people? Where is the love?