The Peacegiver: How Christ Offers to Heal Our Hearts and Homes
by James L. Ferrell (Goodreads author!)
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avg 4.52
Read in June, 2008
Two stars is actually a bit generous, because I had to FORCE myself to finish it. Don't get me wrong; I love this book's message and its insights into understanding Christ's atonement. It really does have the potential to help with practical application of what Christ offers us. But I had an extremely difficult time with the delivery. Ferrell uses the parable method to get his point across, and it's the interaction between the characters in this parable that rub me the wrong way. When Rick's gra...more
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Read in March, 2007
recommended to Annalisa by:
bookclub
Good, insightful, thought-provoking. But in trying to drag out the lesson in order for you learn the most from it, the book would become slow and repetitive. More often than not I would forget the point and remember the dragging on. So the book could have been at least half its size and more impactful, but nonetheless a good read.
While I am not a big fan of over-explaining, or in this case spending more time saying you are going to explain than explaining (the book could have been half as l...more
While I am not a big fan of over-explaining, or in this case spending more time saying you are going to explain than explaining (the book could have been half as l...more
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Read in June, 2006
This book is EXCELLENT. The Atonement is something that I really don't understand - and surely will not in this life. BUT this book helped me to see the power of the Atonement in way I never had before. I actually read it before my book group did, on recommendation and as a gift from a very good family friend. I knew I wouldn't be disappointed because I love and highly respect this person, but it was better than I thought it would be. It is written as a parable, so it's not just straight up (com...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommended to Pixie by:
Book Clubrecommends it for: Christians, People wanting to improve relationships with others
I'm not sure how to rate this book because there are things I loved and things I didn't.
It does an excellent job of conveying and teaching relatively complex principles in a fun and easy-read kind of way, so if you're not into dense, philosophical literature, you can gain an awful lot from this. But, if I were to critique it as a novel, I would say it is not particularly well written, the dialogue is forced and predictable, and the plot is thin. I was getting impatient with it at times.
It...more
It does an excellent job of conveying and teaching relatively complex principles in a fun and easy-read kind of way, so if you're not into dense, philosophical literature, you can gain an awful lot from this. But, if I were to critique it as a novel, I would say it is not particularly well written, the dialogue is forced and predictable, and the plot is thin. I was getting impatient with it at times.
It...more
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Read in March, 2008
Where to start? This has LDS material, so there's that disclaimer.
The imagery is poignant, as in it has an arousing affect to the mind. They use parables from the Bible and the Book of Mormon to explain how we self decieve, and the role Christ plays to heal and make us whole again. In fact, this is the only book from the Arbinger Institute that also addresses the issue of generational issues. An excellent resource.
This came to me highly reccomended, and I highly recommend it to any...more
The imagery is poignant, as in it has an arousing affect to the mind. They use parables from the Bible and the Book of Mormon to explain how we self decieve, and the role Christ plays to heal and make us whole again. In fact, this is the only book from the Arbinger Institute that also addresses the issue of generational issues. An excellent resource.
This came to me highly reccomended, and I highly recommend it to any...more
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recommends it for:
Anyone who deals with people...ever.
I usually don't like to mix gospel with fiction, but this is extremely well thought out and insightful. EXCELLENT!
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
People searching for healing
This book came to me highly recommended by quite a few people that I really trust. And I would recommend it to others, I suppose. But only as a secondary recommendation. It is a lesser version of the book I read a few months back, "Bonds that Make Us Free." "Bonds" is a very heavy book and difficult to wade through at times, but absolutely worth reading. This book, "The Peacegiver" is an easy read that explores the same concepts. I almost wish I read them in t...more
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
Anyone
Just so anyone who plans on reading this knows, the author of this book is not a novelist, he majored in Philosophy, so his writing reflects these facts. This is not a C.S. Lewis or Talmage writing style. It is much more simplistic in its presentation.
With that said, I think this is a book I will have to buy for myself and read it on a regular basis. I think we all know the basics of the Atonement, some more than others, but this book helps you see multiple facets of the atonement and how...more
With that said, I think this is a book I will have to buy for myself and read it on a regular basis. I think we all know the basics of the Atonement, some more than others, but this book helps you see multiple facets of the atonement and how...more
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Read in March, 2008
I had read that this was an "easy read" and have to disagree with that. It is not a book to read while your kids are running around in circles! Although it is nice because it is in parable form and compared to a modern day situation, it is still about the atonement and the topic alone makes it a deep concept. I already feel like I need to read it again to understand it more and I felt as I was reading it that just as with the scriptures, I need to stop and ponder all along the way. ...more
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This book is hard to review because I really liked it and really didn't like it at the same time. I loved the author's way of delving into scripture stories and learning more from their deeper levels and meanings. I loved his views on forgiveness and mercy and sin and the atonement. I did not like the way he presented those ideas. He tried to fit them into the context of a fictional story and it just didn't work. The characters were not very believeable, at times I couldn't tell who was spe...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommended to Amy by:
A gift from my husband's fatherrecommends it for: Anyone
This book has to be the one of the best LDS books ever written besides the Book of Mormon. It really gives you such amazing insight to the scriptures and explains it in such a way I never thought of before. It taught me that Christ not only forgave us our sins and mistakes but he has already gone through the sins and mistakes of those who has done us wrong and because of that we need to forgive them even though they may have not taken that step to apologize. It's absolutely amazing. A family man...more
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Read in July, 2007
Ok...so I'm not really the type that reads a lot of church books (unless they're fiction with a plot). But my ward highly recommended this one, and I was going through a "blah" stage, so I figured, what the heck. At the risk of sounding cheesy, this was the most uplifting book! I've read it three times since, whenever I need a little extra boost. The author does an amazing job discussing the principals of the atonement in an interesting way....he weaves doctrine and learning experience...more
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Read in May, 2008
This is an interesting book that I recommend to anyone. One interesting insight is that the author relates sinful thoughts/behaviors to addictions. Basically, if you get used to sinning, it is more likely that your body will get "wired" to continue acting the same way. It kind of makes sense since it is often hard to change our habits. The book sort of feels a little simplistic in its structure at times, but the message is very positive so it's easy to overlook some of that. It's ...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommended to Angela by:
Justin Bradley
A friend offered to lend us this book on a Friday, with a very high recommendation. Both my husband and I read the whole thing over the weekend: it’s a quick read, and rather hard to put down. I loved it - It was profound and insightful, but in a very real and familiar way. The protagonist is invited to understand forgiveness and mercy through visions faintly reminiscent of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” except that the scenes he witnesses are from the scriptures, rather than his own life...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
Anyone wanting to feel closer to Christ
This book offered a new way to understand the Savior's Atonement and actually apply what it means in your own life. It's a great lesson on how to extend true forgiveness, and how to overcome things that might be holding you back. The author uses the journey of a husband in a difficult marriage to make a complex concept like the Atonement/repentance/forgiveness slightly easier for us to understand. Somewhat unexpectedly, this book actually prompted me to change some things in my life (and hear...more
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Read in February, 2008
I listened to this book in the mornings as I ran on the treadmill and then finished it on a trip. I had heard so many people say how wonderful it was, and I wasn't disappointed. I would actually like to read it over, because something was lost in the cds as they were quite damaged and when I listened in the car the people I was listening with insisted on trying to make negative comments about things I didn't feel were important. I wanted them to be quiet and get the point. I hope what I lear...more
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Read in January, 2005
recommended to Ariell by:
My Mom
This book is a book that's meant to help a person change their behavior but it is written in a story format. For me that was very helpful in getting through the book. I'm not always very good about reading self help books partly because the usual approach is so dull to read. There are levels of meaning in this book that, like the scriptures can be reread again and again to delve into the deeper meanings personally and generally. I would definitely recommend reading this book whether you have st...more
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This covers forgiveness and the atonement in a way I have never contemplated before. The author uses a fictional story about a man who is in a marriage that seems to be on it's last possible leg. The husband's grandfather comes to him in a dream, kindof Dickens' style, and explains things from a different point of view. An easy read that explained the situation to my heart instead of just my head. I recommend this book to anyone who would like to invite any sort of peace back into their life...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
LDS people especially, any Christian
This book is a great read for anyone that is LDS, or just has a desire to better comprehend Christ's sacrifice for us. Through the main character and his dreams, where he speaks with his grandfather, he is helped by visualizing scenes from both the Old and New Testament, as well as the Book of Mormon, he is changed and sees the error of his ways. He realizes again that he has only partially understood the Savior's message of grace and redemption and what it means to us and our responsibility to...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
everyone!
This is a MUST READ for everyone!!! When I first started it I felt like the boy in the Princess Bride, who asks the question with skeptism & chagrin. . . "Is this a [kissing:]/[marriage counseling:] book?"
To my surprise, it was NOT a marriage counseling book, but a book on the atonement. It was AWESOME! It wasn't preachy or assuming, it was a teaching guide. It helped me think of the atonement in a totally different light.
IT'S ONLY 200 PAGES, SO TAKE SOME TIME A READ IT!!! ex...more
To my surprise, it was NOT a marriage counseling book, but a book on the atonement. It was AWESOME! It wasn't preachy or assuming, it was a teaching guide. It helped me think of the atonement in a totally different light.
IT'S ONLY 200 PAGES, SO TAKE SOME TIME A READ IT!!! ex...more
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 4.52 (2979 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 4.51 (2970 ratings) number of reviews: 961
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"Righteousness is simply a humble understanding of how unrighteous one is compelled with a deep commitment to become better."
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