66 Love Letters: A Conversation with God That Invites You into His Story [Paperback]

Dr. Larry Crabb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 10, 2011

Forever change the way you look 

at the Bible . . . and your own life

Have you ever read the Bible only to come away confused? Ever wondered if God actually had you in mind when He began telling His story?

Though life may not be going according to your plan, God has another one, far better than you can imagine. From Genesis to Revelation, experience His invitation to get you dancing with joy.

In 66 Love Letters Larry Crabb offers a fresh, relational look at Scripture:

“When you finish reading my first love letter to you, I want you to realize that I never underestimated how thoroughly you’d mess up your life or how painfully you would struggle and suffer, and I don’t want you to underestimate your failures or struggles either. They’re all part of the story I’m telling. “But neither have I underestimated my determination or ability to enter both the mess you’ve made and the pain you feel, then turn everything around. I can, and I will, make everything good again. Never underestimate me.”

Larry’s intimate conversation with God asks deeply honest questions such as:

• “God, what is it you wanted me to see in Obadiah?”
•  “And what’s up with Leviticus? Is there anything there for me?”
•  “This one verse in Galatians has always frustrated me. Why is that?”
•  “The way you wrote Revelation makes it difficult to understand—why didn’t you just describe what will happen in a straightforward way?”

Listen to the story of God unfold through these chapters, and you’ll fi nd not only His redeeming love but His plan and provision designed especially for you.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Psychologist and author Crabb (Connecting) serves up what could be his magnum opus, combining his passions for Bible teaching, counseling, and people healing one another in communities. Written as an ongoing dialogue between the author and God about the 66 books of the Bible, Crabb uses first person for both voices, taking to the nth degree the common idea that the Bible is a love letter from God. The author's persona progressively learns deeper truths about God's love from each letter, or book, of the Bible. Through the voice of God, Crabb takes on today's culture and Christian subculture. Section introductions and 66 summary paragraphs at the end tie all together well. The book addresses much for what skeptics ask but will serve Christians who have ignored or conveniently overlooked the arc of the Bible story and chosen a chirpy version of Christianity that Crabb calls good enough Christianity. His psychological and biblical perspective and decades of experience give the otherwise presumptuous attempt at voicing God credibility. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Dr. Larry Crabb is a well-known psychologist, seminar speaker, Bible teacher, author, and founder/director of NewWay Ministries. He is also Scholar in Residence at Colorado Christian University, Professor for Richmont University in Georgia, and serves as Spiritual Director for the American Association of Christian Counselors.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Reprint edition (May 10, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849946409
• ISBN-13: 978-0849946400
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (114 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #178,626 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Larry Crabb is a well-known psychologist, seminar speaker, Bible teacher, author, and founder/director of NewWay Ministries. In addition to various speaking and teaching opportunities, Dr. Crabb offers a week-long School of Spiritual Direction and a weekend conference, Life on the Narrow Road. He is also Scholar in Residence at Colorado Christian University and serves as Spiritual Director for the American Association of Christian Counselors. His many popular books include Inside Out, Finding God, Becoming a True Spiritual Community, The PAPA Prayer, Soul Talk, and his life work, 66 Love Letters. For additional information visit www.newwayministries.org.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 66 Love Letters by Dr. Larry Crabb February 15, 2010

By J. Bergmann

Format:Hardcover

I recently read the book 66 Love Letters from author and psychologist Dr. Larry Crabb. This is a literary departure from the other works that Dr. Crabb has written previously. This volume is "presented as a dialog between one man and God." (quote from book sleeve)

The structure is simple: each chapter covers one of the 66 books of the Bible and does so to personalize and cut through the scriptural stories to expose God's encompassing desire to have a relationship with mankind and to hone in on Jesus' role of redeeming us to himself.

I processed several thoughts and adjusted my goals for this book as I read along:

~ At first, I hoped that this would be a non-stop amazing journey through the themes of scripture but after a few chapters found myself hoping that the next chapter(s) would be better. This didn't happen and was rather frustrating.

~ I then decided to read each chapter as a distinct conversation. One book made up of 66 individual writings... much like the Bible itself. After making this jump, the stories came to life.

~ As I read along, I decided to read chapters along with my daily devotion time. For instance, as I read of Israel's conquests in the Bible book of Joshua, I took the opportunity to read the equivalent chapter in 66 Love Letters. The text was only 4 pages long and gave way to another layer of devotional thought to my daily reading.

If you are looking for a book to read from cover to cover, this will seem like a compilation of scattered stories. However, if you use 66 Love Letters as a companion to your daily Scripture readings (especially if you are reading through the Bible in a year), it is a rather enlightening study. As a pastor, I plan to keep this volume with my study materials and commentaries to aid in my sermon/lesson preparations.

Last, I did go to Dr. Crabb's website and noted that there is a study guide available. I did not request the free study guide but am hopeful that a companion read would be helpful to get the most from this (almost) 400 page volume.

You can read this review and others on my blog at [...]

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Seismic Exposure and the Love of God November 3, 2010

By Robert Brandon

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am leading 20 women in an online reading of 66 Love Letters alongside of reading through the Bible in one year. 66 Love Letters is the best book I've ever read in stirring me to engage in honest self-examination because I see glimpses of the Love and Provision of a very Good, Holy God. Crabb offers four decades of working with people as a psychologist to invite us to so much more than what we are experiencing. We all battle the world, the flesh and the devil but I am seeing there is way more evil in me than I ever recognized. Crabb has exposed for me the evil in my "necessity, reasonableness, efficiency, even moral goodness." I have sobbed over my demandingness that God cooperate with my agenda. I am in the middle of cancer, foreclosure, job loss, insurance loss, betrayal, and am homeless---my husband and I are living with friends. I am desperate for truth---and at times more desperate for relief. But, in the midst of mitigating circumstances that should sideline me, Larry Crabb has invited me through 398 pages onto the dance floor to find a Love I know not. I'm not very good at the waltz but my Beautiful God has grabbed hold of my right arm (Psalm 63:8) and He is not letting go of me---and it's all right here in these 66 Love Letters. With every book of 66 Love Letters, this author gives me hope not just by seismic exposure but by leading me to the One Who Loves me so! I am wrestling and learning from this book to live more concerned about "my unholiness than about my overwhelming pain"---and that has to be God! It's only a taste but I am a tad little more "privileged by the high calling of my Christ than unsettled by my pain." God will rouse Himself up to do His Work in you, a very Strange Work through 66 Love Letters (Isaiah 28:21). I would be beside myself on this journey if it weren't for God using this book in my life at this time. If you read one book this year, here it is. This author is a modern-day Ezekiel gripped in the Love of God, calling us to visit untouched places in our hearts, beckoning us to walk into a Door of Hope (Hosea 2:14)---66 Love Letters. Bev Brandon

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Bible study tool March 6, 2010

By Stacey VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

First of all, I would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank you" to Larry Crabb and his publisher for sending me a copy of "66 Love Letters" to review for them. I have always been grateful for this generosity, and I am trying to improve at being consistent in taking the time to thank these wonderfully giving individuals in a public forum. I really appreciate your time, effort and expense in making a reviewer copy available to me.

"66 Love Letters" by Dr. Larry Crabb is an incredible work of non-fiction. This wonderfully enlightening book is written as the author's response to each book of the Bible. Each chapter speaks to a different book of the Bible in chronological order and contains an overview of the book. It shows how each book relates to the other books especially within its genre (i.e. wisdom books). The message that God is trying to get across to His people is a major part of each chapter's synopsis. Dr. Crabb also includes poignant stories that provide good life application.

This book would be a wonderful way to get an overall understanding of a Bible book prior to reading it during quiet time or study. "66 Love Letters" is like a strainer that has the potential to help the reader get the most out of his scripture reading. This is one terrific book that I will refer to again and again for years to come.