cover image I Can't See God... Because I'm in the Way: Getting Beyond Self-Centered Religion to a Passionate Faith

I Can't See God... Because I'm in the Way: Getting Beyond Self-Centered Religion to a Passionate Faith

Bruce Bickel, Stan Jantz, . . Harvest House, $13.99 (203pp) ISBN 978-0-7369-2619-5

Through this companion book to I'm Fine with God... It's Christians I Can't Stand, Christians whose lives have “skidded into a religious rut” may find insight into the cause of their spiritual condition. Coauthors of more than 50 books, Bickel and Jantz urge readers to remedy spiritual staleness and renew their energy. While its companion uncovered ways fellow Christians hamper one's faith, this book explores ways that Christians' own myopic views have obstructed their relationships with God. Each chapter focuses on a particular barrier (e.g., misunderstandings about prayer, fear of judgment from secular society), and the authors use honest, personal anecdotes to expose the issues. A section at the end of each chapter provides detailed instruction that's simply repetitive and doesn't always warrant separation from the chapter content. ; the authors also offer downloadable materials at their Web site ConversantLife.com. Much of the instruction encourages connection with the intangible, so readers will need to put the book down after each chapter to allow time for introspection. If they put in the work that the book requires, they may re-emerge ready for action. (July)