Customer Reviews

Here. Now. A Catholic Guide to the Good Life.

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4 star:		(1)
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Something's missing. We all feel it; we all know it. Something's off. Something is just not right. We may know exactly what's wrong or not, but in the end we don't care. We just want to feel right once again. We want the something we're missing. The trouble is, how do we go about finding what we've lost

Amy Welborn addresses the source of our anxiety from page one. She speaks to our need for connection with God and a sense of His presence in our lives. She demonstrates how the traditions of the Roman Catholic Faith allow us to live in that relationship. She does not waste a single word in delivering her message: we can all have the good life, here and now.

Her work begins with this explaination. The centrality of Roman Catholic Faith is an encounter with the Son of God. Faith is a consequence of God's immense love. With the precision of a surgeon, she then removes the cancerous tumors of stereotypical misunderstandings of the Faith all too common in the media these days. She makes it clear that Catholicism are not just about mindlessly "following the rules" set down by celibate old men. On the contrary, the Faith is our free response to God's invitation. That may cause us to shudder. If we're honest with ourselves. She continues by introducing us to the ways in which the traditions of the Church, from the bible and Sacraments to the myriad ways of prayer, allow all of us to live this incredible reality.

The cradle Catholic will find a simple and yet profound distillation of the Faith. They may never look at a Mass the same way again. The newly converted or interested Non-Catholic will find an accessible work that provides insight into what, why and how Catholic believe and worship.

Ms. Welborn writes with the conversational style that reveals her mastry over the written word. Any writer knows that the most difficult writing to accomplish is the kind that appear so simple once on the page. At turns humorous and reverent, pragmatic and poetic, "Here. Now. A Catholic Guide to the Good Life" will profoundly affect the life of any spiritual seeker. If you find that something is missing in your life, and you desperately need to find it, this book will become your indispensible road map. Don't let another moment of your life waste away. Get this book right now!

If you are looking for a practical, down to earth guide for living a fuller expression of life as a Catholic then Welborn's Here. Now. A Catholic Guide to the Good Life is a wonderful choice.

Everytime I picked up this book and read a bit I felt like the author was right there in front of me, actually carrying on the conversation in person. That's how comfortable and familiar Welborn's writing style is. To tell the truth, I felt like I was getting a pep talk from Sr. Lilly Waters, you know, the spunky ex-nun from the hit series Joan of Arcadia.

While providing a general overview of the basic tenets of Catholic belief, I found the real appeal of Welborn's book not so much the information, but the delivery. She actually does make Catholicism practical here and now. This book is a great resource for the new convert to the Catholic faith, as well as for those that are still in the inquiry phase. For the cradle Catholic, like myself, it's a great kick in the pants approach to get out there and actually live Catholicism. Way to go, Sr. Lilly, I mean, Amy.

I read this book and liked it so much I decided to buy more to share with friends. I would have bought more than five, but funds are limited. I decided to give people their own copies because this is a book you will want to hang on to and re-read occasionally as you put its plan into action for a happier, fuller Christian life. It is written in an easy, conversational tone that is great for young adults on up. At just over 118 pages, you can read it all in one sitting, or take it a chapter at a time and really let the message sink in.

Amy Welborn's style of writing is so practical and understandable. She writes like she is having a conversation with you....sharing her thoughts and writing what the reader is likely thinking. Her suggestion on how to get to know Jesus better are simple and doable. Catholic teenagers should read this book...it's that good.

This short read is a must for those Catholics who question their faith and want answers to many "whys" in the Catholic Church's teachings. It would be great to share with teens and young adults. It would be a wonderful tool for a Youth Ministry class. Amy Welborn is faithfilled and gets right to the point and the truth in a way everyone can understand.

Although apparently targeted to teens and young adults, this small book offers a refreshing restatement of the Gospel challenge of forging a personal relationship with Jesus that older adults will find invigorating. Welborn obviously has the main qualification for any Catholic apologist: living the faith in daily prayer. Three themes stand out: 1.) her focus on Catholicism as a personal relationship with Jesus in and through His Church; 2.)the urgency of attending to Scripture, especially the Gospels; and 3.) restating John Paul the Great's theology of the body in understandable form. Welborn's book will remind you of your calling if you are older and will open your eyes if you have yet to grapple with Jesus. The only major suggestion for improvement I would offer Ms. Welborn is to focus even more on the importance of living in the Holy Spirit as the engine for the Christian life. On a much less important note, I would suggest she drop any works by Luke Timothy Johnson as a recommended source for her readers. Mr. Johnson is an outspoken critic of John Paul the Great's theology of the body. More importantly, Mr. Johnson mischaracterizes the Resurrection of Christ in his commentary on the New Testament. In my opinion, Luke Timothy Johnson is not a reliable Catholic source. Younger readers should not be directed to him as a "go-to" name.

I have just found a new favorite author in Amy Welborn.
Her writing is not just "inspirational" it is truly inspired. I don't think there is a wasted word. I could not put this book down. Amy has a wonderful down to earth way to relate profound Truths. You will not regret buying and reading this book. If you love the Faith you will be reassured, if you are unsure you will be enlightened. I can't wait to read more of her writing.

Let me start by saying that I don't disagree with anything Ms. Welborn presents in this book. Maybe my expectations were too high when I purchased this book having read the reviews already posted. While Ms. Welborn presents accurate and traditional Catholic Teachings in this book, I didn't find anything fresh or new. That's not to say that this book isn't well written. I would say, however, that if your looking for a book that tells you that you can have it all to "live the good life" you will be disappointed. This book is a sound, matter of fact approach to living with a true Catholic identity. I am glad the Ms. Welborn didn't water anything down and stayed true to the Catholic Churches teachings. It is worth reading as I presents Catholic Theology in an easy and accessible way.