Champagne for the Soul: Celebrating God's Gift of Joy (Hardcover)

by Mike Mason (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
By his own admission, Mason (The Mystery of Children) isn't a happy person by nature. A recovering alcoholic who had lived most of his life in a state of anxious, borderline depression, Mason realized that a lingering, low-grade melancholy was his last line of defense against the love of God. In this 90-day experiment, he sets out to see if he can "break my addiction to the cheap wine of melancholy... [and] seek champagne for the soul." His 90 short essays, each prefaced by a verse from Scripture about joy, chronicle his quest to find the happiness buried in the ordinary world of laundry to be done, errands to be run, meetings to attend and the general muck and mire of the human condition. Over the course of his experiment Mason discovers simple truths about joy: to find it you must discover a solid sense of identity, face crippling fears, offer thanks when you don't feel like it and try something new. Metaphors abound, and his passion is infectious as he helps demystify joy for the reader. At the end of his experiment, Mason finds that the deepest joys come out of the blue for no discernible reason, because "God Himself is all goodness and all rightness and because the depths of His joy surpass all understanding." Christians of all denominations will be inspired to sample this foamy elixir, sipping from its wisdom slowly and finding fresh ways to discover joy in everyday circumstances.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
You Can Be as Happy as You Make Up Your Mind to Be. If you were given the chance to be happy for the rest of your life, wouldn’t you jump at it? In Champagne for the Soul, best-selling author Mike Mason explains that the Bible does make this offer. Yet most of us hang back, reluctant and skeptical.

Theologically most Christians will agree that the Bible teaches and offers a life of joy, yet deep down we’re not convinced that such a life is practical—for us, or for any ordinary person. But, says Mason, such joy truly is ours to claim and embrace. What you now hold in your hands is a call to throw off all worries and complaints and to “come and share your master’s happiness” (Matthew 25:21).

These pages, drawn from the author’s own 90-day experiment in actively pursuing joy, will lead you on a journey that will help you—no matter what your circumstances—to escape the traps of worry, fear, and dullness and grab hold of the joy of the Lord.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press; 1st edition (May 20, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578566924
• ISBN-13: 978-1578566921
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #96,811 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fabulous Reminder, February 23, 2004

By	Jeff Hopper (Fresno, CA United States) - See all my reviews

As a pastor in California, I have just completed a two-week series on joy, and much inspiration came from this book by Mike Mason, who continues to be a personal favorite. Now my congregation loves him, too! We are a group of people who have been greatly touched by the Father's relentless love for us. Champagne for the Soul was a superb reminder that there is more still--and one of the next great things God has for us is joy. We have doubled our blessing, then, by pressing in for love and for joy. Thank you, Habakkuk, and thank you, Mike Mason, for reminding us of Habakkuk, who, when surrounded by trouble, chose joy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a profound treat, February 24, 2009

By	H. Simons (Wolfeboro, NH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Champagne for the Soul: Celebrating God's Gift of Joy (Paperback)

Mike Mason books are kept handy in my home for frequent reference and review. "Champagne for the Soul" is insightful, inspiring and a keeper that will be opened again and again for it's truths and challenges (Our worship team is currently using it for devotional in community time). The format of 90 2-page segments, with a verse about "joy" and "gladness" leading off, makes it very accessible to the layperson. Did you know that "the secret of the cosmos is JOY?!" I believe it.... and this self-confessed depressive describes how the God of all joy led him into a 90-day experimental journey seeking the "joy of the Lord" wholeheartedly. You will not only be inspired to do the same, but you'll laugh, cry and resonate with his discoveries. After chewing on his earlier books, particulary "The Gospel According To Job" (which I would want along with my Bible on a desert island), "Champagne..." is refreshingly sweet, and definitely bubbles up in your mind and spirit to draw you closer to the Christ, who " for the joy set before Him, endured the cross..." Do not miss this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second time's a charm., August 13, 2008

By	T. J. Perkins (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First time through it was sort of like reading Greek. I just had great difficulty grasping the concepts. I put it down for six months and picked it up again at the beginning. For some reason, it resonated with me and has since. Sadly, I am sure there is more than one evangelical that won't touch it because "champagne" is in the title. Their loss.