Customer Reviews

Choosing God's Best - '06 Repack: Wisdom for Lifelong Romance

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book enhances and surpasses "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris with more practical applications to the dating alternative. It has more insight for mature adults who have seen the damage that dating causes. It also helps you to understand why you keep ending up in the same situations. As the author explains, courtship is NOT just Christian dating, it is very different...its intent, its end. I would recommend this for singles of ALL ages. Also, for any couple who is involved in counseling singles.

I am indebted to Dr. Rauniker's fine, no-compromises,Scripturally-based guidelines for finding (or not) God's choice forlife partnership. After reading the book I took a scarey plunge and decided to stop seeing a man whom I loved very much, but for all the wrong reasons. He understood, as he too finds himself seeking Christian fellowship for the first time in a few decades. Our walks of faith are separate now, but we are both on a walk, where before we were not.

Even though the obvious choice according to the Word of God might be a HARD choice, you will not be abandoned by God if you start over and risk being alone in order to seek Christ first. I remain single and know that it is possible I will always remain so -- only God knows. But, I feel tremendous relief in knowing that God will provide the right mate if I'm meant to find him.

This book gives strength NOT only to very young, romance-inexperienced people, but also to those of us who have already been in the secular world and have accepted its dating practices in the past.

Starting over can be a tremendously uplifting, relieving experience. I thank God for leading me to Dr. Rauniker's book.

I've read a good chunk of what is available regarding the issue of dating and courtship, and Dr. Raunikar's book is one of the best out there. Whenever anyone asks me for information on courtship I always recommend it along with Doug Wilson's Her Hand in Marriage and Josh Harris's I Kissed Dating Goodbye. Each has a unique perspective and expertise and together they provide a well-rounded discussion of the advantages to courtship from Christian, psychological, sociological and youthful perspectives.

Dr. Raunikar is a professional psychologist and experienced counsellor, and the book reflects that. It is filled with biblical wisdom and practical insight into personal relationships, and the apologetic for courtship principles is superb without being fierce or legalistic. Christian families will be blessed by this book.

Books like this are providing the basis for a Christian cultural revival that will encourage and attract a spiritually starved and unhappy pagan society. They have no idea what they are missing, but thanks to Dr. Raunikar they will get more of a glimpse.

I can't think of another term to use for this book! After reading this book I was very humbled, very inspired and much better equipped to handle this situation. At the time I read this book, I was already in a "dating" relationship with a wonderful woman, but now that "dating relationship" has ended. It's easy to ask the question "if", but if I had this book about three months ago, that relationship would have gone differently and for the better! The concepts in this book really hit home but the important thing is that the author uses God's word to back up everything he says. In reality, the author is just rephrasing what God has been saying for thousands of years. The concept of Godly courting is stressed over man-made dating. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is in a "dating" relationship. Get out of that traditional man-made dating trap and try "falling in love" God's way: fall in love with GOD FIRST and He will provide YOUR mate for you. Simple huh? It's nice not having to "go shopping" for something so many singles want in life - their lifelong mate. (Book uses the terms soul-mate and sole-mate!) God loves his creation and only wants what's best for us. He will provide if we allow Him to lead. This book stresses that idea many times over. Reminds me of Ish 40:31a - paraphrased - wait on the Lord and He will renew your strength. It's not the easiest thing to do, but it will also increase your faith in the Almighty! Good luck and God luck!!

I read this book 6 years ago after "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" and would have to say that this one is even better. It's still affecting my life to this day, and I've given out over 150 copies.

It takes the principles beyond that book and provides a literal road-map of "how to" relate to members of opposite sex without creating a counterfeit oneness with them that often results in hurt and disappointment.

Don challenges us to be happy with where God has put us, to enjoy singleness and not to covet that which we don't have.

He also cautions against awakening love before it's time. And for the men, treating ladies like sisters, not potential mates. To treat her literally like she's someone else's wife & daughter, because she is. She is potentially another guy's wife someday, but right now, if a Christian, is engaged to the Lord. We are to treat her like we'd want our daughter treated, etc.

Don doesn't advocate locking yourself in a closet either. His plan helps the relationships that we do have be much more enjoyable and safe.

This principle has made a huge difference in my life! Much more fun & relaxed interactions for all. God will make it obvious to me in His time if it is His will, and until then I can focus on being and becoming the person that He wants me to be and enjoying the gift of singleness that He's given me.

So often, we are taught and conditioned to believe that if we're not dating or married we're "missing out," we're somehow "less blessed," or couldn't be 'as happy' as those who are. Nothing could be further from the truth! Talk about a teaching that we need more of in church!

Singleness is not a 'condition' to be solved, but something to be cherished and appreciated. If we are always looking forward to that which God hasn't given us yet, that can become coveting and distract us from the beauty and joy that He wants us to have today! "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!"

The key for me has been to give those desires to God and say, "OK, God, IF and WHEN it is your plan for me, I trust you will help me be ready, and I will thank you for that gift. If it's not your plan for me, then thank you for the gift of singleness and contentment, and help me be a bigger blessing to others through this!"

If you haven't read Don's book and aren't married, get this book immediately. If you have children over the age of 12, get this book immediately. I guarantee it will change your life.

Choosing God's Best helped me so much in a time of need. I was praying for God to help me because I wasn't sure if this person was whom I ought to marry. God was so good and answered me through this book. God was asking me to build a relationship with him first before I built a relationship with anyone else. This book has sent me on my way to marry God's choice for me and actually give me ways to do that with guidelines. Throughout the book scriptures are noted to read for yourself. It tells you how you should go about finding a mate. The book uses the bible throughout proving that courting is the way to find whom God intended for you. I thank God he sent me this book to help me. Otherwise I would have built a marraige on sand that would have deteriorated in time because it was not set on God's solid rock foundation. Thank you Jesus :)

Dr. Raunikar has done an excellent job of capturing God's will for our lives. I was overwhelmed by the author's ability to describe, in easy to comprehend language, the stages of life, and where each individual should be spiritually, emotionally, and physically. I know if this book was provided to me in my early teenage years, the road I chose to take in life would be different and more fulfilling, because I would be following God's will for my life and not my will.

I love the Lord with all my heart and I want to do his perfect will. But sometimes it's hard to know what his will is when the world and everything around you is shouting in your ear -- how can I know what the Holy Spirit is whispering in my heart?

Well, this book helps you to decern the Spirit's gentle whisper. This book is so Biblical and so on-target that I just felt the Lord telling me, "This is my plan for you" while I read it. It's not easy to shun mayority opinion and say "no" to dating -- but it's the BEST thing to do!

I read Joshua Harris' "I Kissed Dating Good-bye", and I found it excellent. It was written by a guy my age with the same desire for purity and for honoring God. And then I read this book, which is so practical and step-by-step that it completed all I need to know about this subject!

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to do this the right way -- GOD'S WAY -- and I have indeed lent it to many friends who have also been blessed by this book!

It's a must read! You won't be sorry!

Choosing God's Best has been very comforting and helpful to me as christian single woman in my 30's. Most books that address Christian singles are for teens and early twenty-somethings. Dr. Ranikar didn't marry until his thirties and understands the struggle on an emotional level.

Ranikar has been called legalistic, but I'd coin him a purist. We are a culture that champions hedonism and (false) freedom, that even as christians we can be affected by these attitudes. I came to the Lord at 30, after having had secular relationships. For a long time, I prayed for a husband but took no action. I was terrified of sinning.

Discovering Dr. Ranikar's book was a breath of fresh air. He faces the realilities of building a healthy marriage. And guess what folks, in order to build you first have to prepare. That means letting God heal and make you into the person He'd have to you be prior to marriage. Healing childhood and past relationships issues prevents sabotage of a healthy marriage. Other areas of preparation include finances, domestic and communication skills and your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The bond you share with our Lord should be the deepest and most intimate one of all. It comes even before your marriage.

The best part is that Dr. Ranikar gives concrete instructions on how to prepare. None of the vague "Just trust in the Lord to provide..." fare. But biblically based steps to get you where you need to be to receive God's best.

I recommend this book for those who are older and need substance in helping them deal with the meaty issues that arise along this path of singleness to marriage. Bravo, Dr. Rankinar and God bless you.

This book changed my life for the better. I was a content single in 1998 when I read this for the first time, but now I'm happily married because I learned from Dr. Raunikar that "dating" was not for the Christian. The key I learned from this book is what we choose is usually what we consider "good", but it's not THE BEST which God has planned for us. Singles can be healed from the damaged caused through "dating" relationships and learn to put things in Godly order: spiritual (first - as the basis for selection of a marriage partner), emotional (during courtship), and physical (only for marriage). My husband found me through a blind date in 1999 and we used the principles of the book throughout our courtship. We were married in 2000. I highly recommend that all singles would practice "Choosing God's Best" as there's no better than His best!