Into the Depths of God: Where Eyes See the Invisible, Ears Hear the Inaudible, and Minds Conceive the Inconceivable [Paperback]

Calvin Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2001

A profound book of spiritual insight that helps believers live a deep life in God beneath the turmoil of our hurried business.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Into the Depths of God by Calvin Miller gives guidance to Christians who are not satisfied by superficial relationships with God. Miller is a pastor, poet, painter, and theologian who has written more than 30 books (including the bestselling Singer Trilogy). In four main sections, "The Disciplined Life," "The Listening Life," "The Informed Life," and "The Confessional Life," Miller describes a vision of worship that will help readers escape the tyranny of forces that limit their perception of God, and explore more deeply God's mysterious presence that always beckons to us. Miller is a lively, entertaining writer who's not afraid of taking risks to get his points across: "How often the church is like Gilligan's Island," begins one argument. The analogy works surprisingly well: "None of [the characters] were going anywhere really. They were just living, and talking about a bigger world. But their conversation never amounted to much and none of them sacrificed themselves in any major way to get off their island prison." With Miller's guidance, many of us will finally break out of our prisons and into the freedom of God. (The book's study guide, complete with questions, will be useful for Sunday school classes or small groups.) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"This is one of the more powerful books I have read this year." -- Dynamic Steward, January-March 2001 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764224263
• ISBN-13: 978-0764224263
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #388,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Calvin Miller has written over 40 books of popular theology and inspiration. A former pastor, he is professor of preaching and pastoral ministry at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. He and his wife, Joyce, have two grown children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Arousing and Satisfying Hunger for God, June 15, 2000

By 

Richard J. Vincent "www.theocentric.com" (West Bend, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Into the Depths of God: Where Eyes See the Invisible, Ears Hear the Inaudible, and Minds Conceive the Inconceivable (Hardcover)

This book lifted my spirits, challenged my complacency, fueled my imagination, and gave me a fresh perspective on my pursuit of Christ. Perhaps it was just the right book at the right time, but I believe it was more than this.

I picked up the book because of the recommendations by Eugene Peterson and Richard Foster on the back cover. Rarely has Peterson let me down and thus I took his word on this book--and he was right. Miller masterfully and imaginatively paints a picture of the Christian life that is both ancient and fresh.

He begins by demonstrating that Christians are characterized by their hunger to know God and to plunge into deeper depths of love and obedience. However, this takes discipline. "We would like to appear to be like Jesus without the discipline of really being like him" (13). He thus calls us to a heavenly and inward life. "Life in Christ is the only life built from heaven earthward and from the inside outward" (224). This is not a one-time act, but a life-long pilgrimage. "We cannot give our entire lives to God at one time and have it done with for all time. We must surrender second by second" (47). It will take sacrifice as well. "Sacrifice that insists on 'time off' from its own requirements is little more than indulgence with a small religious habit" (149).

Miller's chapters on materialism and the tyranny of time are challenging and eye-opening. His chapter on the place of mystery in the Christian life is much needed in the church today. So much worship is lost because all mystery is explained away! Miller ends his book with a great section on the place of confession of sin and the role of guilt in the Christian life. For example, Miller writes, "Are Christians never to feel guilty? Is guilt never good? Yes, when it has the effect of bringing us to God, but it can also have the effect of obscuring God. Guilt is most worthless when we become so self preoccupied that we can't see anything but our own selfish needs" (198).

In short, this book is full of unique and fresh insights that will make you long to live for God. The book both arouses spiritual hunger and simultaneously satisfies our hunger--thus accomplishing its objective.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Go Deep, September 29, 2001

By 

Rick Stilwell "Coffee, Books, Mini" (Cayce, SC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Into the Depths of God: Where Eyes See the Invisible, Ears Hear the Inaudible, and Minds Conceive the Inconceivable (Paperback)

Miller is an author who definitely has a way with words. He has stretched my vocabulary in exploring the depths of life in Christ. His words stick to me, making me want more of Him, and want to share that hunger with others. Many times, only a chapter or just a few pages would be all I could read at one time - not because of time restraints, but because I needed digestion time. Go deep... then go deeper.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Into the Depths of God, November 18, 2008

By 

Lori Anne Deason "Booklover" (KCMO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Into the Depths of God: Where Eyes See the Invisible, Ears Hear the Inaudible, and Minds Conceive the Inconceivable (Paperback)

One of the best books I have ever read. Miller's poetic voice, sense of humor, and practical advice for living deep below the surface of a relationship with Christ makes the book a quick and interesting read. I'm reading it through for the third time already, this time aloud to my mother who is confined to a hospital for a long stay. She looks forward to each new chapter.