Get the Junk Out of Your Trunk: Let Go of the Past to Live Your Best Life [Paperback]

Duane Vander Klok (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2005

It lies there, mostly hidden from view, stalling spiritual progress, weighing down hopes and dreams. And it is not easy to identify. What is this heaviness that keeps Christians from the peace God intends? Simply put, it is "junk"-issues that have not been dealt with appropriately, like unforgiveness and resentment. Because storing up problems is common to all, this motivational book will find universal appeal. Written from a pastoral perspective in a friendly, conversational style, it helps readers identify the bitterness, hurts, and offenses that hinder peace and shows how to clear them out once and for all.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although the title might suggest that this is an organization manual or a guide to decluttering one's life, it's actually a motivational book for Christians who want to jettison emotional baggage like bitterness and unforgiveness. Drawing on biblical figures like Peter, Joseph and King Saul, Vander Klok argues that too many people carry emotional "trash" in their hearts, poisoning their relationships, stealing their joy and damaging their futures. He discusses how bitterness can take hold and suggests ways of effectively dealing with anger and disappointment. At times his writing is overly effusive, with an abundance of exclamation points when less would be more. However, there is reliable and concrete advice, delivered with numerous helpful anecdotes from Vander Klok's experiences as a pastor and counselor. (Sept.)
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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Chosen; Reprinted edition (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800793994
• ISBN-13: 978-0800793999
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Read and Very Powerful, October 4, 2005

By 

M. Holley (Bartlesville, OK USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Get the Junk Out of Your Trunk: Let Go of the Past to Live Your Best Life (Paperback)

My husband read this book first and realized that he had been carrying around bitterness for many years and it was destroying his life. It was an amazing transformation, by God's grace, how he changed after reading this book. He was full of joy and love again. I would highly recommend this book for ANYONE because we all at some time have been hurt or wronged by someone that we have found hard to forgive. This book shows you the poison it is in our lives to carry unforgiveness and bitterness. Our small group is now reading it and enjoying it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A much-needed lesson in letting go of the past, November 1, 2005

By 

FaithfulReader.com (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Get the Junk Out of Your Trunk: Let Go of the Past to Live Your Best Life (Paperback)

As a pastor and missionary for the past 25 years, Duane Vander Klok has discovered that the common underlying cause for many damaged lives is bitterness. GET THE JUNK OUT OF YOUR TRUNK is a straightforward, non-pedantic handbook for anyone who is tired of carrying around "junk" from the past. It is also an excellent tool for those helpers among us who grow weary of listening to troubled friends who continue to complain about the same problems yet refuse to make any changes in their thinking. By giving clear examples and by showing how to apply Biblical principles, Pastor Vander Klok has provided a powerful self-help and counseling tool.

A popular saying over the past decade has been "stuff happens," and the author shows it to be Biblically accurate. Jesus says in Luke 17: "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come." In other words, it would be unusual to go through life and not have people offend, mistreat and criticize us. However, the crucial issue is not to store those hurts and offenses in our hearts, or else they will weigh us down and keep us from enjoying life. Just as a heavy suitcase drags us down physically, so a heavy heart drags us down emotionally and spiritually.

Granted there is a big difference between letting go of bitterness toward a classmate who rejected your friendship and letting go of bitterness toward an uncle who molested you. Yet, as one works through the process of forgiveness and immerses oneself in God's truths, it becomes easier to see that when we forgive, it is we who benefit. So, regardless of the magnitude of the problem, the principles work.

With study questions at the end of each enriching chapter, this little book should become a favorite with Sunday School classes and Bible Study groups. Thank you, Pastor Vander Klok, for a much needed lesson.


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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Bible Study Material, January 27, 2009

By 

Patricia Susan "Growing in Him" (Smalltown, Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Get the Junk Out of Your Trunk: Let Go of the Past to Live Your Best Life (Paperback)

This book would be ideal for a small group discussion or a Sunday School study. Once I got past the first chapter and the use of "junk in our trunk" repeated too much at first, I then had a hard time putting it down. Who of us, if we are not careful carry junk in our trunk? This has practical and biblically sound ways to open the trunk our past and our everyday of living life and rid ourselves of hurts and bitterness that take our joy from us. This book used along with God's Word can begin the healing process.