christianity

This book levels the playing field for all of us and extends an almost irresistible invitation to join the Divine Conspiracy. By grace, we can choose to enter the hidden kingdom of God. We can become coconspirators with the Father through Jesus, present with us in his Spirit, and be empowered by God's lavish love to overcome evil with good, as Jesus himself did. We thereby become co-laborers with Him to bring His kingdom on this earth into our present reality. In that reality we begin to see, through glass darkly, our relationship to eternity. We begin to understand our lives as a process of character transformation into an evermore joyful life now and, as preparatory to passing, with wild anticipation, into eternal life when the tent of our flesh is torn down.

While to read this book is to have my beliefs and the reality embraced through them revealed and challenged, the challenge is offered with the graciousness I have come to associate with Dallas Willard. He! is a man for all seasons, whose pursuit of life in Jesus has built him into a person with such kindness of presentation that even I can understand and accept. At the same time, he presents concepts with such great simplicity and experiential validity that to challenge them seriously is a more formidable task than most of us would be willing to take on. A life/belief changing must read! Destined to become a classic!

I've read over many of the positive reviews of this book here on Amazon.com. It's hard to add anything to what they say. For me this is a 7-out-of-5-star book. I've been an intentional and practicing Christian for about 27 years now and an avid reader of helpful books on Christianity for most of that time. I can honestly say that this book stands out among the rest. It's the most profound and helpful book I have ever read on Christian discipleship. The ideas are simple and derived from Scripture, but the insight and clarity that Dallas Willard gives to them is compelling and inspiring for those who desire to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. It took me almost 3 years to read though this book, in large part because it's so densely packed with thought provoking insights that I needed days or weeks to digest, and reflect upon, the things I had read in just a dozen or so pages of this book. This isn't just a book that contains interesting information about God. It's focus is on what God is doing in and through people who follow Him; the kind of people we are and can become. Unlike many theology books or books on Christian living, it's impossible to absorb what this book is saying without being forced into some deep reflection on our own personal character. This is a book I'll be reading over and over again.

Be prepared to search your soul...the journey is well worth the effort. If you savor this book and read for "understanding" of not only the words but of how they apply to your life. You will find yourself, examining exactly how you are living out God's purposes for your life. I HIGHLY recommend using the workbook as you read along, it will give you direction and guide you past the surface of yourself to find Him living in you...and how you can live in Him.

I loved Purpose Driven Life (especially for the masses) by Rick Warren. Divine Conspiracy is all that and more...in fact read Purpose Driven Life first and then prepare to DIG DEEPER with Divine Conspiracy. Divine Conspiracy is Purpose Driven Life on Steroids.

Dallas' work only enhances the one true book...the Bible.