Living-will

Dr. Diorio is strong and precise in advocating positive thinking, allowing no space for self-doubt, monetary problems or fears. In the chapter "Grasshoppers and Giants," she says, "You are what you think you are (and the facts don't count)." After discussing learning and loving, choosing, harnessing and dreaming, she concludes: "You are God's Dream." Well-written.

If it was a book on relationships it would be comparable, though a bit more rigorous, to "Are You the One for Me?" by Barbara DeAngelis because it consists of a variety of exercises that help you learn more about God's will, while at the same time leaving it up to how much effort you're willing to give it.

One of its strengths is that it explains two different ways to learn God's will, one that's personal based upon your own prayer, reflection and experiences, the other that's based on a corporate Quaker-style method to learn God's will, which can also be used to determine collective goals for a church, administrative council or study class.

Another strength, which could be a weakness for some, is that it is quite short, though it's set up to take just a little time a day for eight weeks. Another is that it is Biblical based and references several verses. Another is the number and quality of the author's personal examples.

Its main weakness is that it won't tell you God's will, but just give you some tools to help, so it depends on how much time and effort you're willing to give it.

I first read Wagner 15 years ago and I was concerned even then by his bowing to the false God of pragmatism rather than submit himself to the Bible.

I have not read this book, but the title itself is very concerning. Is Wagner seriously asserting that modern-day apostles will arise? And if so, are they identical in function to the apostles of 2000 years ago? If they are, then we have a situation where the Bible can be added to, or at least ignored so that the new apostles can be listened to - apostles who will be able to infallibly interpret the scriptures in their own authoritative manner.

Wagner has been sailing close to the wind for some time now, and this book leads me to believe that he may have crossed the line between "bad teaching" and "heresy". I pray that I am wrong.

As with every major restoration movement, people will always declare a true "move of God" as heresy. This book is based on sound biblical doctrine, but viewed thru 'prophetic' insight. The book correctly grounds everything in the Word of God and provides valuable insight into what most are calling the Apostolic Restoration. Please note that this is not a "new" doctrine, but rather it was God's plan for the Church from it's inception. The method for leading the Church was simply lost during its descent into the Dark Ages (outlined in the book). True apostolic authority is always delegated by God and enacted thru humility. Apostles and prophets are not MORE important than anyone else, they just have a different gift and calling - as do all who are in the Church. I ***HIGHLY*** recommend this book. It is a standard "reference" teaching book in our church library.

I've now been reading through this book, and found it very well founded. It is not flummy, but well established within the Word of God. It has helped me open my eyes when it comes to the Apostolic and Prophetic ministries. The question is not if these ministries exist or not, that is obvious if we read the Bible. The help is in how to relate to the ministering done by others, or our selves. This has been a help for me, and more, it will help me relate to this subject in a constructive way in the future. I recommend this book highly!

Poorly-written, re-warmed Cosmo articles parading as "medicine." Sensationalistic tone and ridiculous, unfounded assertions don't help matters, especially when the logic used is as tortured as the argument leading up to the conclusion that we'll all live to be 200 (well, we've doubled our lifespans in the last 100 years, haven't we? So, in the next 100, we're bound to double it again! Never mind all that crazy stuff like immunizations, sanitation, antibiotics, etc...) An insult to the lay reader and the physician alike

This is a must read for anyone intrested in the new science of anti-aging medicine. Although fantastic the authors research and data are solid and irrefutable. Klatz is the worlds top practicing physician in this field and his prescriptions for longevity are thoughtful, well documented and effective. Ive read over 100 books in this area and stopping the clock is among the best.

Helpful and put forth in an objective manner. Specific in the studies and research sited. To the other reviewer, a few years ago the cancer preventative value of vegetables was scoffed at. Now the American Cancer Society has endorsed the research. For those of us who are into prevention and not into after the fact repair work that will pay for the doctor's Mercedes, it's worth reading.

David Bercot is an Anglican priest and an attorney. He is good at argument and presents some interesting points from some very early Christians. However, it becomes clear toward the end of the book that this man does have a strong bias and is not really attempting to be objective in his claims of Christianity from the time of Constantine onward. Here are just a few examples:
1. He claims that icons were "a practice utterly loathsome to early Christians" on page 129. Yet, the footnote is empty (omitted, as a type-o); in cross-reference with his "Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs", most of his support comes from a now Montanistic Tertullian.
2. On page 128 seems to assert that the use of Relics did not occur until Helen "started... relic mania."
3. Chapter 14 brushes over Arianism as if the subject of Christ's divinity was more a matter of personal opinion than a serious issue that warranted a Church Council (which, incidentally, has precedence in scripture in Acts 15... another fact conveniently ignored by the author).
4. Chapters 17 and 18 simply ignore that Eastern Orthodoxy even exists; this is not an appropriate oversight!
5. Chapter 19 reveals the liberal protestant aim of the author in that we need "unity in the essentials" and "diversity in the non-essentials" since that is the way "the early Christians" were.
After reading it, I am much more skeptical about his assertions in the beginning of the book because the author has not demonstrated that he can present an objective argument. This is a great read for people looking to support an anti-Roman Catholic or anti-Orthodox bent though. If this is what you are looking for, then by all means, buy it!

One of the more fascinating stories in the last few years is the rising interest among Evangelical Protestants in reading the Church Fathers and examining their own beliefs in light of the patristic synthesis. In the hands of some (e.g., D. H. Williams, Thomas Oden, and Christopher A. Hall), there have been honest attempts to bridge the gap with the early Church without losing their own Evangelical distinctives. Unfortunately, there are also those who wish to see themselves in the early Church and rewrite history in the process. David W. Bercot in his book Will the Real Heretics Pleas Stand Up? falls somewhere between the two poles - pointing out many differences between patristic and Protestant beliefs but conveniently ignoring them when they do not support his conclusions.

The book may be conveniently divided into four sections with each defending a thesis. The first section (chapters 1 - 3) makes the case for the deep allegiance of the ante-Nicene fathers to the faith of the Apostles and their willingness to die rather than renounce their Christian faith. Why this is certainly a true enough proposition, Bercot almost immediately (and falsely) constructs a dichotomy between the ante-Nicene and post-Nicene Fathers. By judiciously choosing his subjects and ignoring contradictory writings, he ignores the undeniable theological continuity between the two periods. For example, he absurdly objects to the term "fathers" to describe the writers of this period - even though the ante-Nicene writers used the term to refer to the Christian writers who preceded them. He also places much emphasis on Polycarp of Smyrna, a martyr whose surviving letter deals little with topics Bercot does not wish to consider, while ignoring his contemporary (and fellow bishop and martyr) Ignatius of Antioch whose numerous surviving letters demonstrate an ecclesiology in place looking much like it would in later centuries. While Polycarp's sparse writing allows any to impose a false picture, Ignatius fixes the image and so is conveniently ignored.

The second section (Chapters 4 - 11), and by far the strongest, enumerates the differences in doctrine between the early Church and modern Evangelicalism. Bercot forcefully points out the early Christians did not believe in salvation by faith alone, total depravity, baptism as a "symbol", earthly prosperity, and cultural compromise. Yet even here, there are glaring exaggerations as well as omissions. The Christian rejection to service in the Roman military service is by no means a clear cut rejection of any such service but is likely motivated by the adversarial relation to the Roman government as well as the pagan nature of the Roman military culture. Also, the Christian rejection of the larger culture was not as absolute as Bercot believes. Justin Martyr and Origen (both highly learned men) integrated what was good in the philosophical discourse of the time to reach the educated classes with the Gospel. Finally, Bercot never considers how the early Christians worshipped. One suspects any mention of the early Christians worshipping according to a Eucharistic liturgy would undercut the remainder of his book.

The third section (Chapters 12 -16), covering the so-called "apostasy" of the Church, is where Bercot goes completely off track. Rehashing long discredited polemics, Bercot ties together a series of yarns published in post-Reformation anti-Catholic literature and serves them up as historically accurate. Using Constantine and Augustine as his primary villains, he credits them with ideas already prominent in the ante-Nicene Church. His ridiculous claim that Christians were not so concerned with Christology before this period is quashed by the extensive and forceful writings by Irenaeus, Tertullian, and others on this very issue. He also neglects to mention that local Church councils were meeting and discussing doctrinal matters long before Nicea - it was merely the freedom and support Constantine granted the Church that allowed this first Ecumenical gathering.

In the final section (Chapters 17 -19), Bercot looks to certain groups as promoting a return to early Christianity. It is here that he reveals the nature of his prejudices. In looking to his beloved Anabaptists as "spiritual successors" of the early Church, he must defend their doctrine of a total apostasy. Since the claim is ridiculous on its own merits, he has "managed" the evidence to cover only points of convergence while ignoring the overwhelming differences. In fact, the Anabaptists were by far the most removed from the ante-Nicene Christians of any ecclesial group in the Reformation period. Their complete rejection of Church tradition, liturgical worship, and the office of bishop as signs of Christian unity would make them heretics in the eyes of the very men Bercot admires as faithful followers of Christ.

Although Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up? contains some strong sections, it is so seriously flawed that it cannot be recommended as an accurate portrayal of the true state of ante-Nicene Christianity. Despite good intentions, Bercot has only allowed the fathers of the period to speak for themselves where they support his current ecclesial affiliation. Exposure to the Fathers is good for Evangelicals, but it is best done by those who present rather than reinvent their beliefs.

When you read what the early Christians believed regarding Baptism, The Eucharist, the nature of the Church, Apostolic Succession, Faith, Works, Sacraments, Tradition, you will know that these early Christians were not Protestants. The early Church was Catholic, not Protestant. A hard-core Protestant Evangelical will not find a home with the faith of the early Christians while a Catholic will feel at home.
David Bercot's book is a good introduction and challenge to any Protestant who believes the early Church was Protestant. For more information on what the early Church believed, purchase "Early Christian Doctrines" by J.N.D Kelly, "The Apostolic Fathers" by Philip Schaff, and William Jurgens "The Faith of the Early Fathers." Read what the early Christians believed and decide whether their beliefs match with Protestantism or Catholicism. Read the facts. Don't take my word for it as one reviewer already suggested.

I didn't like this book. As the proud owner of a Cape Cod style house, I bought this book with the idea that it would help in resoration and remodeling. Instead, it made me wish I hadn't spent the money. Although there are some nice pictures, the author's treatment of the subject is too serious and in some cases without taste. I was especially disappointed in the glowing praise for an old farmhouse that had serveral huge ugly tenticals built out of it. This guys has no sense of style or beauty. Pass on this book and buy Cape Cod Architecture by Clair Baisly. Ms. Baisley has a wonderful and warm writing style that makes you wish you could invite her over for tea. She explains the various aspects of the architecture, how to date features, what belongs, what probably doesn't, and above all to just enjoy this wonderful thing you call your home. The dry Mr. Wills is the sort of guy you just want to get rid of, and I have.

"Houses for Good Living" is an excellent introduction to the craft and vision of Royal Barry Wills, the talented Boston architect whose legacy lives on in the firm that bears his name. This book invites the reader to explore dozens of magnificent houses that represent the Royal Barry Wills philosophy. Detailed floor plans are complemented with a wealth of exterior and interior photographs.

Every page of this book is a visual feast. The homes presented represent a dazzling diversity of configurations, but each one bears the Wills trademark of elegant harmony and functionality. The appealing black-and-white photographs record numerous memorable details. We see the turned balusters of a wooden staircase, a multi-paned bow window, a charming cobblestone courtyard--I could go on and on. If you love classic American home architecture, you will want to add this beautiful book to your shelves.

The author's comments are right on target. If you want to debate the reasons to have these documents, weigh ethical considerations, and write a values statement, this is the book for you. But if you buy the book already convinced you need these documents and what you want is a detailed list of suggestions, customized wording, state-specific information and forms, this book is disappointing.

An excellent book that highlights how and why one can make decisions in end of life treatment. The book correctly sets aside the idiosyncracies of state forms (these are free from any doctor's office), and gets to the heart of _why_ to discuss this topic. This book is very helpful in starting and encouraging a conversation between family members and health care providers about what is important to the individual before and when the chips are down.

Garry Wills writes about the structure of deceit that the popes have used, especially in the 20th century, to promote the teachings of the Catholic Church. Starting with the Holocaust, Wills discusses the involvement of the popes either in speaking out against the persecution of the Jews or their silence. He notes the canonization of Edith Stein and Maximilian Kolbe as disingenuous examples. In Stein's case Wills claims the Church was interested only because she converted to Catholicism. With Kolbe, one has to consider his long time involvement in a Marian society that published anti-semitic propaganda in Poland.

Wills discusses celibacy and women as priests. He demonstrates how the arguments supporting or opposing these positions have changed, with much emphasis on the manipulation and deliberate misreading of scripture.

Each chapter of this book takes contemporary issues, some of which go back in time, and he shows how the Vatican promotes its causes without regard to historical, scientific and even theological truth.

Wills does not hold back his criticism as he is not afraid to used the word "deceit" many times through the book. Yet he makes a very strong case for his position. Perhaps theologians with a mandatum could not be as honest as a Catholic lau journalist who has no hierarchical position to lose. And that is both a pity and an indictment against those who govern the Catholic Church.

Mr. Wills is not desirous of destroying the Church, he has written a meticulously detailed argument which if listened to would lead to a healthier growing Catholic Church, rather than one which is very often subject to the rule of one man's feelings, and an institutional mindset that refuses to admit error.

Some of the issues he addresses are, The Holocaust, the step by step revisions of Vatican II Decisions, "Humanae Vitae" of Paul VI and the wreckage caused by it and Paul IX's "Syllabus Of Errors." the shrinking Body of the Church, the role or lack thereof of women in the church, Gay Priests, abuse by Church Members by Clergy, celibacy, contraception and the inability of Priests to marry. This is a 312-page work; it contains over 170 specific references to the Bible, and dozens more from the writings of St. Augustine, St. Paul, St. Peter, Newman, Jerome, Consentius, Tertullian, and many others.

If a person accepts the decisions of The Pope without a thought that same person is confirming exactly what Mr. Will is saying. Further, by following the decisions of The Pope you are willingly accepting, "economies of truth", historical falsehoods, deception, and at times lies, and arbitrary and capricious decisions by men who overrule the same councils they convene, when that council refuses to endorse that which the Pope wants. Not what the Bible teaches, not what Christ taught, what a single man wants.

Is not the number of Seminarians an indicator of the health of the Church's Structure? In 1965 there were 50,000 seminarians, by 1997 there were 5,000, by 1999 the number was 2,500. Forget the book, what does that tell you as a reasoning individual? The average age of a Priest in the US is 58, 25% are over the age of 70? What does that indicate to you?

In 1983 the Bishops began debating the role of women in the Church. With Pope John Paul II now at the Vatican, his suggestion for women was they should use the Virgin Mary as their "pattern of humility". For the first time ever The Conference of Bishops voted down their own work, which had been so damaged by the Pope, its contents so retrograde, it was compared with the Humanae Vitae. This pattern of conduct by a Pope is not something that needs to be mined from millennia ago. It is true that those Popes make for excellent reading, as they are examples of some of the greatest displays of hypocrisy and debauchery ever documented. These same Historical Time Periods also lead to much of the nonsense that is killing the Church today.

Does the Bible say that Priests may not marry, NO. Does the Bible say that women may not be Priests, NO. Does the Bible say that Priests must be celibate, NO. The answer is no, no, no it does not. The written gymnastics that have been attempted to justify these positions are unbelievable. The majority of today's Priests (80%) do not believe in the stance on contraception. Judging by the smaller size of Families, including those who attend the Catholic Church, neither do they. If they are maintaining the small numbers of children through the "Rhythm Method" they should buy lottery tickets, they are the luckiest people alive!

There are 188 dioceses in the US. EVERY ONE has had a least one case of pedophilia. This does not include relationships amongst adults. Despite the policy of silence and deceit about these events by September 1994 60 Priests or Brothers were in Prison. Not all offenders were so treated; the church sent a notorious case of Father Peebles to Tulane University where they paid his tuition of $22,000 per year with an additional $800 per month for himself. He studied to become a lawyer.

The Pope has lead the Church through mistakes in the past, remember Galileo? The body of the Church who the Pope serves has become more informed every day. They no longer accept "rules" based on nothing but personal opinions of a variety of Popes. They are not willing to conduct themselves in a manner that is reckless or irresponsible, i.e. contraception. What is even more threatening to the Church is that Priests will no longer teach that which they do not believe. So the seminaries empty, Churches have no resident Pastor, and in the years to come you will be driving some distance to hear a Priest in person.

Mr. Wills has written a scholarly, meticulously documented work. Sit with a Bible, read every reference he makes. Then sit back and think for yourself, Christ never taught that we should be automatons. If the Popes stay their course and continue to run over the Bishops and the Church (the human members) it is being told that the following is what they must worship under.

"The Pope alone we are now asked to accept is competent to tell Christian people how to live. No one else can have any say in the matter- not a Council, not the college of all Bishops, not the national synod of Bishops, not the Christian people. The Holy Spirit now speaks to only one person on Earth, the omni competent head of the Church, a church that is all head and no limbs. If that were so, then the body of Christ would be shamefully reduced."

Garry Wills' introduction to Roman Catholic systematized self-deceiving traditions, *Papal Sin,* is a tour-de-force for awakening the consciences of cradle-Catholics who have taken for granted the moral authority of the popes and their teachings. By examining one at a time the encyclicals and councils of the popes, and setting them against history and theology (including that written by such Roman Catholics as St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, John Cardinal Newman, and Lord "power corrupts" Acton--and, oh yes, the holy scriptures), Wills challenges his readers to examine their own beliefs, to abandon what Thomas Aquinas called "cultivated ignorance," ignorantia affectata, "an ignorance so useful that one protects it, keeps it from the light, in order to continue using it" (Wills 9). Wills argues that the intellectual honesty called for by modern science, academic inquiry, and general education (modern here meaning primarily since the Age of Reason into the current era) is not well served by faithful Catholics accepting handed-down doctrines unquestioningly.
Wills focuses on issues as seemingly diverse as contraception and abortion, the canonization and use of saints, gay priests, masturbation, the idolatry of Mary and the concurrent rejection of the power and authority of the Holy Spirit, and papal infallibility. He makes a strong case that the popes have increasingly supported its decisions with bad logic, bad theology, bad exegesis, and bad faith with its faithful-as-Church, rather than challenging the authority of the papacy-as-Church.
My faith has been cracked open by Wills arguments. I intend to do considerable further study and prayer to decide whether I can continue in an institution that has shown such disregard for the truth it is sworn to protect.

i've been a christian all my life and was looking for something written by a lay christian woman to help me enrich my spirituality. this is why i bought this book. but it was a disastrous purchase. i agree with an earlier review: this book is shallow. almost everything is based on stormie's personal experience, her own interpretations of scripture, and plentiful quotes from the bible--but without context. but she obviously does not have yet a thorough and well-contemplated understanding of the bible and other christian concepts. maybe another reason i didn't like this book is because i'm catholic, and stormie isn't. so i was mentally arguing with her while reading the book. those who are new to christianity and looking towards religion for a "quick fix" in their life would probably get more from this book. the lord did answer my prayer and i found a copy of "full of grace" by johnette benkovich. that is a richer more in-depth guide for lay women looking for the path to holiness.

This book in completely based on the author's own experiences and lacks depth. She gives many examples of her own life and how praying one simple prayer changed everything. For example she prayed for a husband, and poof in a few months she got one, etc. Life doesn't work that way. We can pray for soemthing for years and not get it. She presents prayer as having fast results. She "promises" if you pray her prayers for 20 days you will see drastic results. Give me a break. God works out things in our life as a process and he gives us a lifetime to do it in. This type of teaching can be very disappointing for new beleivers.

This book, wow! I enjoy knowing her life and her past to know that she has come so far, it gives me hope, more hope in God and His Will for my life. I can read this book several times and will read it several times. It gives depth and new purpose in prayer. I got so excited I would read more than one chapter at a time.

I really enjoyed the chapter on Praying to Know the Power of Prayer. This chapter explains why we should pray and the relationship we have with our Creator when we do pray.

Another chapter I really was engrossed in (which the whole book drew me in) was Praying to Forgive Yourself, God, and Others. I think this is an area that hinders many Christians, especially me, although before this chapter I would have not known I had issues of dealing with the past issues that I had not forgiven people for.

I would highly reccomend this book! I cannot seem to express the depth it has brought to my Prayer Life and Walk with the Almighty.

God Bless!

This book frankly amazed me. I was amazed at the price for such a small book; and even more surprised by Wilkinson's central thesis, that what we do here on Earth affects how we are rewarded in Heaven. The book seems to have basked in nothing but positive reviews - which are simply misleading. I know this is popular teaching in the US - less so in the UK. Why write a theological book when you can get to the top of the NY Times Bestsellers list with this?

Wilkinson organises the book around two "keys" to eternal reward. The first key is belief (chapters seven onwards), and the second is how our works affect our repayment in Heaven (chapters one to six).

The author presents a number of interesting concepts - such as the idea of property ownership in Heaven:
"What is surprising is what Jesus promises a faithful steward of His treasure. It is not, as you might expect, that you'll steward more treasure in Heaven, but that you will own it." (p. 86)

Wilkinson's argument rests upon the verse in Matthew 6: 19-20:
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal..."
The problem some might have with this verse is Wilkinson's literal interpretation of it. Surely the treasure in Heaven is to be able to worship God continually. Without evangelism...?

There are a number of other ideas, which are cause for concern.
For example, in 'Hell by Degrees' (p.97), the author 'demonstrates' how eternal punishment is related to how bad we have been on Earth. However, I think for me, Wilkinson's understanding of Hell is woefully inadequate. How would his argument stand up if we begin to conceptualise hell as simply being the eternal absence of God? What worse punishment could there be than that? Would Wilkinson modify his argument along the lines of Very bad=No access to God, Just a bit bad=some access to God? It is submitted that that just does not hold water.

Tough questions such as: "will directing your giving to a high-profile civic fund please Him as much as giving it top your church's missions fund?" (p.88), miss the mark, and do little to encourage social action.

But then, not completely unexpectedly, Wilkinson seems to spot the problem with his argument, and adds that belief fills the gaps that our good works miss. A bit like Tort fills the gaps in contract. Since, "no amount of good works can save us" (p.97).

So where are we left at the end of the book? Well, I was confused by Wilkinson's contradictions. I understand the points he sought to make, but the Bible verses and other quotations were shoehorned in, as if to prove his points. God's grace is almost completely overlooked - something find rather odd. This book comes in no less than seven different English-language editions. Why? It's more of a door wedge than a doorstop.

Wilkinson's focus is on Heaven being the goal: but I would argue that God's glory is the goal - Heaven's the bonus.

Synopsis: God will reward you 10,000 fold in heaven for what you give up and away in this life. If you want to learn much else you may learn a lot more elsewhere.

You likely won't get a good return on giving from a motive of greed for heavenly rewards and stature as this book came across to me as promoting. The book would have done well to inspire a motive of love from a pure heart as the reason for giving.

Bruce hits it hard with this book about the little things we do or don't do every day...at the office, at home, on the road. Does God really see the small things we do? If we believe he only cares about our final decisions concerning eternity (you know, "Smoking or Non?"), we're wrong! A Life God Rewards explains some of the easily missed verses in the Bible about how we'll be rewarded in Heaven for each thing we do on earth. And how the opposite is true as well. Is Heaven going to be the same for me as for Mother Teresa? Not on your life! (I better start looking for elderly ladies who need help crossing the street...) Excellent book, meaty teaching, and if you think there's a God watching over us, as I do, this will affect your daily life!