Customer Reviews

Love Beyond Reason: Moving God's Love from Your Head to Your Heart

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

John Ortberg's latest book is one of a few that brings joy to my reading life.  It meets three criteria I have for my favorites as a parish pastor with strong constraints on my time. 1. It was personally enriching,  2. It will be helpful to many of my parishoners, 3. It will give me lots of sermon illustrations.

John Ortberg is one of those wonderful pastors who preaches well and people love to hear him preach --  and writes well -- and people love to read him. Years ago a woman who had been abused by her husband and went through a horrible divorce told me that as much as she believed intellectually that God loved her -- she could not accept emotionally that God loved her. I gave her John Powell's book, "Why Am I Afraid To Tell You Who I Am."  She said it helped.  Now, if I can just find her again, I want to send her, "Love Beyond Reason." It will not only give some help, it will encourage some healing.

Once in a while a book comes along that ends up on every parish pastor's book shelf.  This is one of those books. Get one for yourself and another for your church library. (After you've used all the illustrations!)

One of the most profound aspects of this book comes right in the introduction. John Ortberg mentions two types of love, a love that happens because of something seen of "value" in the beloved (talent, beauty, wit, etc.), and a love that creates value in the beloved (agape). The rest of the book is an explanation of how we are the beloved ones of God, and how we can live out that belovedness in a world where we feel we have to earn it. Many of the ideas in this book are parallel to those of Henri Nouwen's Life of the Beloved, but Ortberg's style is different in that he offers many stories and illustrations so that the truths become more vivid. While the subtitle ("Moving God's Love from your Head to your Heart") is a bit of a misnomer because he doesn't offer practical steps to do that, but the book is really a focus on and testament to God's tremendous love for his people; and in that way it brings that truth to a deeper level in the heart.

This book has opened doors into my soul, some that are very painful to open. Because of how God spoke to me through this servant of His, I am dealing with some of the areas in my life that I must allow Him to cleanse as I move closer to Him.

In addition, this book has provided me with tools that will help me in my spiritual journey. I can highly recommend this book to those that want to continue the journey toward God, those that aren't afraid to look inside and see what hinders them.

The lessons I learned from this book are so profound that I am going to read it again. You will not waste your money if you buy it.

While Ortberg's books appeal to a wide audience, I personally find them inspiring for people who are recent converts to Christianity or (like myself) have struggled in their walk. He is a masterful story teller and it shows in all his work. He has a way of stoking the fire and passion for a life in tune with the Holy Spirit. He reflects the philosophy of Dallas Willard and Dietrich Bonhoeffer with a much simpler tone.

This book is especially good at conveying what we as Christians should expect in our walk with Christ. Chapter 7 "The Roundabout Way" is by far my favorite of the book. The book is worth the price for this portion alone. He beautifully states why periods of spiritual "dryness" are necessary for growth, and how God's way is usually not the shortest or easiest, but always the best. You'll never get bored with an Ortberg book. He masterfully "re-parables" stories to fit into modern thinking.

I would recommend this book along with his others: Love Beyond Reason, Everybody's Normal Till you get to Know Them, and If You Want to Walk on Water You Gotta Get Out of the Boat. You won't be disappointed!

A few things I know, that we all want to be happy. The other thing I know is that God wants us to be happy. God in his wisdom has given the gift of teaching and fortunately for us one of his gifted teachers has writen this book explaining the key to happiness. Love and loving beyond reason.
I have read many Christian books and have found John Ortberg's Love Beyond Reason the most profitable for my Christian life. To know that Jesus is scandalously ready to forgive. Love means being 'for' the one who is loved. Love delights in and enjoys the one who is loved. Love pays attention. This is how God loves us. God pays attention to us. I could go on and on . Buy this book and come and see.

We are all rag dolls. As the previous reviewer says, there is vast power in these titles by John Ortberg for the new Christian. Recent converts will be able to grasp concepts about love, both Our Father's love for us and our love for each other, stated in a dynamic and powerful way. It is hard to love everyone and some people in our life are really difficult. It could be our boss, a family member or a friend that doesn't pass the "easy to love" test. But Mr. Ortberg tells us why this is exactly what we need to do, so we can be in harmony with our Father's vast and unthinkable love for us. Mr. Ortberg's talent is that he explains these concepts in a way that will make sense to a newby or a seasoned believer.

"Her name was Pandy," the story begins. Pandy was a doll which was once adorable, but now only a rag doll. There was no reason anymore to like Pandy. But the girl did love Pandy, and loved her so much that Pandy became lovable to anybody who loved the girl!

With pictures like this John Ortberg shows us God's love to "rag dolls" like us. A love beyond reason and comprehension, a love that simply is.

The book also retells several stories from the gospels. "Jesus touched the leper." Yes, go on? Read it again: "Jesus TOUCHED the leper!" A man carrying af deadly, horrible, contagious disease that had made him an outcast, a man you would not even like to see. But Jesus loved him so much that he saw him and touched him. He also healed him, but suddenly it doesn't look like the greatest miracle in the story.

Every chapter has something new to tell, every time showing new aspects of God's immense love for us. If you doubt God really loves you, let this book be an eye-opener. If you already know God loves you, read the book to learn more about how much this means. Highly recommended for anybody.

After having read several of Ortberg's books, I would have to say this is the one that really touched me.

John's gift for storytelling is simply wonderful. He starts the book by discussing our raggedness - but that is hardly the end of the story. He goes on to tell us how the greatness of God heals and redeems us - again and again. He uses biblical depictions that are rich in detail and apply to our lives today.

My favorite chapters were "The Lord of the Second Chance" and "The Roundabout Way."

In "The Lord of the Second Chance," Ortberg gives a detailed account of Peter's great failure and how Jesus restored him. It is a very touching depiction, rich in detail and emotionality.

In "The Roundabout Way," he explains that God is not as concerned with the journey as he is "who" we will be when we arrive at our destination. He discusses the possible reasons for the roundabout way, suffering and how this journey can bring us into a closer relationship with God. From my own experience in the "roundabout way," I can honestly say that I see things much more clearly now.

Another chapter that I found very provoking was the chapter on Grace and how even we, as Christians, sometimes forget that we need to extend grace to others as freely as God has extended it to us.

I have read this book over and over and plan to give it as a gift to several of my friends and family. I highly recommend it!!!

This has become my favorite book. I bought several copies to give to friends that need to know the extent of God's love for them. His humor and candor make this a hit.I've read all of Ortberg's books but this one is the absolute best.

John Ortberg has the gift of teaching about God's love for us and His desire for a world that expresses love for His people: all the "ragdolls" we encounter along the way. It is a book to be read again and again.