Customer Reviews

The Love Revolution

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This is a great book, a must read for every Christian and really everyone. This subject is one I am most passionate about! There are over 2000 scriptures where God is speaking about the poor, needy and orphans, this is the one issue most on God's heart. And therefore it should be the priority for His people, the poor are the ones most dear to the heart of God and should be for His people also.

The book is about getting it, understanding the heart of God, aliening our hearts with His, understanding our responsibility to the poor and needy. Moving from a selfish life, a self centered life, to one of love for others. Having our hearts break over the things that break God's heart.

At this books core is the story of author, Joyce Meyer and how she finely got what God says about our duty to the poor and needy, how she was changed and how her ministry changed also when she got hold of Gods passion for the poor and needy. This book is about her encouraging others to get that same passion, to get Gods heart for the needy, and take action as she did. To understand our calling to take care of the poor and needy, do something, to act on what God said, to walk the talk as they say..

Ted Kennedy was asked once how he could have such an obsession with the condition of the poor being he grew up with privilege, so much wealth. Kennedy replied with a question; asking reporter if he had never read the bible?.He got it. And it dictated his life, his work, the focus of all most every bill he authored in the senate (I'm know fan of Kennedy's political stance, but admired his passion for the poor and social justice.). This is what Joyce wants for her readers, that just as it took hold of her and her life, for it to take hold of her readers and change them..

In Matthew 25 Jesus said He will separates the sheep from the goats of those who call Him Lord, and says to the sheep, that being the ones that have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, given drink to the thirsty, and visited those in prison, visited the sick. Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: But He said woe to the goats those who did none of these things. This is an issue God does not take lightly, this book is about being found a sheep in Jesus' story.

In Matthew 25 Jesus separates the sheep from the goats, and says to the sheep that they have fed Him, clothed Him, and visited Him in prison, among other things, but woe to the goats who did none of these things. Joyce Meyer's "The Love Revolution" is about being one of those who help others, and she inspires us and shows us how we can do what the Lord desires of us in showing kindness, even in very small ways, to make a difference for good.

The statistics Meyer cites are devastating, especially when it comes to children and the horrific abuse leveled against them around the world, from being sold into prostitution to being used as a labor force (or as soldiers in Uganda) as small children. These statistics instead of depressing us, can make us realize how blessed we are, no matter what our problems, and that we are always able to give of ourselves, even if it is only an encouraging word, to others in need. Walking in God's love isn't a "warm and fuzzy feeling," and often means doing something you'd rather not do, and giving something you'd rather keep, but the rewards are always great, when we do His will.

Meyer says that the root of the problem is human selfishness, and urges us to do something, anything, because doing nothing is addictive, and we can sink into our comfortable lives and let the moment slip by. Instead we should say, "what can I do for You today Lord?"

Joyce Meyer is a singular voice on television, and her great speaking gifts translate well as a writer. She is smart, unique, and with the help of the Holy Spirit manages to hit the nail so often squarely on its head. Meyer's life experiences have lead her to be a strong and incredibly helpful voice for women, but men also benefit from her insights. Known as "one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers," Meyer has written several bestsellers, and I'm sure "The Love Revolution" is destined to reach the top of the charts too.

Pray that prayer every day, what can I do for you Jesus? What can I do for everyone else? If everyone did that instead of living selfishly, Joyce Meyer believes we would have a whole lot more happier people. So do more kind things for people, smile when you see someone, forgive as you have been forgiven and the list goes on and on.

While I agree wholeheartedly with a major part of this book some of it like our dress, we shouldn't put on our best for the Lord. I don't think entertainment is a part of the worship service either. But to each his own.

Still, if everyone was kinder, and more loving, as our Lord has commanded us to be, the facts would show a different story. Read the book, the facts are in there and I am so glad that I was able to read and it will make me change the way I do a few things. Thank you for the food for thought!

Joyce Meyer's latest non-fiction release is a call to Christians to stand up and ACT. Meyer wants to wake us up to the injustice and suffering going on around the world. She calls us to to a part of what she calls the "Love Revolution" whose creed is this:

"I take up compassion and surrender my excuses. I stand against injustice and commit to live out simple acts of God's love. I refuse to do nothing. This is my resolve. I am the Love Revolution."

I was struck by what Meyer had to say in this book. She began, on page 1, with statistics that quite simply broke my heart. 963 million hungry people; more than 1 billion people earning less that 1 dollar per day; 30,000 children a day dying because of poverty - 11 million each year - and most are under the age of five.

After reading these statistics and many more that Meyer includes on page one and beyond, I was hooked. I wanted to know how to be a part of this revolution, how I can possibly make a difference and impact the lives of these hurting people around the world. Meyer's answer: Love.

After sharing about needs of people around the world and then drawing our attention to those with needs in our own communities and even our own families, Meyer shares ways to reach out and make a difference. Some of the things she shares are as simple as allowing another driver to take a parking space that you were both waiting for (and doing so with a smile on your face) or mowing the lawn for an elderly neighbor.

She includes a chapter on how to "find out what people need and be a part of the solution." She calls us to look inside ourselves and ask ourselves tough questions like, "How selfish am I?" and "How much am I truly willing to help others?" These are tough questions to have to face the answers to - most of us aren't as unselfish or as giving as we wish we were.

Overall, "The Love Revolution" delivers exactly what it promises - ways to find a need and act in God's love to be a "part of the solution." If we would all read this book and live up to it's call, what a different place this world would be!

I have been a partner in the Joyce Meyer Ministries and I am very familiar with the depth and quality of her books and teachings. I ordered this book for our church's Ladies Bible Study class and I am so very glad that I did.

WARNING: This is NOT an easy book for us or our flesh to read. It will disturb and challenge us, the church, the Ecclesia, out of our complacency.

We are all too well aware of all that is wrong in the world. But Joyce Meyer encourages and challenges us to "TAKE UP compassion and SURRENDER our excuses, to STAND against injustice, and COMMIT to live out simple acts of God's love." We are challenged to REFUSE to do nothing. We have to become part of the Love Revolution of God.

Even though most of us are inclined to think that what can one person do, she lists all the many small ways each of us can do something to make a difference in our communities, our counties, our states, America and the world. Each of us can and should do something.

As I mentioned before this is not an easy book to read but you will be blessed and encouraged to be a blessing to others around us.

This book also contains contributions by fellow Love Revolutionaries: John Maxwell, Tommy Barnett, Paul Scalon, Darelene Sscheck and Martin Smith.

There is really nothing new under the sun about the fact that we need more love and caring in our lives. And, every so often, a new song, or new book, comes around to remind us. Again and again. You would think we would GET IT by now, but NO, we still need to be lovingly whacked upside our thick heads in yet another wake-up call, and thus comes this book.

While I do not think this book comes up with anything really new or remarkable to make us think about being nicer, kinder, loving, supportive, etc., it is a nice read just the same. Using aspects from various faiths and writings, it tries to tell us once more to stop, take a deep breath before we fly off the handle, jump to conclusions, make judgements, condemn, and continue on the path of rudeness, anger, and grudge holding.

It has been a valuable refresher course for me, and I would reccomend it for anyone else to be reminded of why we are here on earth: it is not to get rich. It is not to acquire more clothes or shoes or i-pods. It is not to amass power and hammer others over the head with it. It is to learn to love! As simple and as difficult as that. LOVE. Thy neighbor. Thy Self. The Planet. The less fortunate. Those with whom we disagree. Even those who have done us wrong. Four little letters that make up the most difficult but most profound thing we will ever do: Love. Isn't it time? NOW??

I have to admit, I have such a hard time most days not feeling angry with the way people treat each other: how so few people seem to have the time or inclination to be civil, even polite and considerate, to each other.The funny thing about that, though, is that my own frustration with that lack of civility, often prompts me to behave in just the manner that I'm frustrated with others for.

This book seems to be the perfect guidebook to me for getting past all of that. It presents anecdotes and relatable examples that illustrate the problem being addressed, chapter by chapter, and what steps you can easily take to combat the issue at hand. It's not a book that you're obliged to read in order; you can just flip through, find the issue you'd like to address now, and get some great pointers on how to address those needs in a way that benefits you as well as those around you.

Prior to getting this book, I also always found myself pretty overwhelmed by the depressing nature of so much of the bad news in the media, news telling me how we're slowly (or all too quickly, in many cases) killing off species of animals, destroying the environment, or not doing what's necessary to prevent pain and suffering for humans around the world, or around the corner. This book doesn't have some sort of magic secret to combat all of that, but it DOES tell you how you can make small improvements for those living in your community and local areas every day. It's soothing to my soul to accept that, while I can't change EVERYTHING all by myself, I CAN have some sort of positive effect on what is around me.

I didn't even have this book in my hands for 24 hours before I put it in my purse, and I plan on keeping it there. I look forward to using "The Love Revolution" as a daily guidebook for how to make life just a little nicer, every day, for those around me and, as a side benefit, myself.

1. The root of all evil in today's world is selfishness.

2. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

3. What goes around comes around.

Save yourself $22 - give it to the next hard-working person you see (as suggested by the author) - and spend you life doing one small kindness after another. Nobody can solve all the problems, but everyone can make a small difference every day to one problem or another.

Meyer takes a long time, and gives lots of examples to back up her points, to basically say what you've just read. Your mileage may vary.

In this review I'd like to comment on two aspects of The Love Revolution: its content and its voice.

The content is rather predictable, even clichéd. The thesis is that Christians are to change the world by loving others. Not exactly original, as evidenced by the following chapter titles: Love Finds a Way; Overcome Evil with Good; Love Is Inclusive, Not Exclusive; Make People Feel Valuable; Find Out What People Need and Be Part of the Solution; Unconditional Love. The content is not controversial, but it's not gripping or memorable either. I doubt that anyone will learn anything new about what God wants him or her to do. Granted, the author repeatably makes the point that we know much more than we do; we need to live up to the knowledge we have. But the book is so predictable that it's very easy to put down.

The chapter topics are developed by quoting various Bible verses and by relating anecdotes. The exegesis is fairly conventional and sloganish, what I call the Hallmark approach to biblical interpretation. Verses quoted easily become inspirational or motivational slogans. There is no evidence that the author has wrestled with the context of the biblical text, the intention of the biblical author, the needs of the biblical audience, etc.

Conventional as the content is, that's not my main objection to the book. The larger issue is what I'll call its voice. In this review, "voice" refers to the setting and tone of the text and the author's perspective on the content and her attitude toward the reader.

Setting. I can imagine the author on stage. I wonder whether much of this book was transcribed from inspirational meetings. It has that feel. One story after another, punctuated occasionally by Bible verses and pithy quotes. As a script for a series of speeches, it's not bad; it's inadequate for a book.

Tone. The tone is quite preachy and directive. Again referring to the speech setting, if I'd paid to attend a meeting led by a motivational celebrity speaker, I'd probably expect to be given advice, instructions, direction, maybe even orders. But that tone doesn't make it in a book, not unless I'm already such a fan of the author that I take her words to heart. A person who doesn't already have such a relationship with the author will expect the author to make an effort at persuasion.

Perspective. This book came across as very self-focused and self-absorbed. When it comes to loving others, the world revolves around Joyce Meyer. I'm sure she (and her fans) would deny that assertion, but "I" and "we" (referring to her ministry) pepper every page. Most of the experiences she relates are her experiences. When she mentions an organization that is doing what she recommends, it's her ministry. Instead of passing on the thoughts of giants of the faith, she shares her own (often shallow) insights. Again, maybe this would fly in a Joyce Meyer conference, but I'd bet that even in that setting it would begin to grate on the hearers. (Caveat: I've never met the author, so I can't say that she is self-centered; all I'm saying is that's the strong impression given by this book. She needed an agent or editor to ride herd on this tendency, which is common among many authors, especially celebrity ones.)

Attitude. I think this factor comes out of the other three. The impression I received is that the author sees the readers as passive and unable to think or act without her help. The most obvious points are presented as if they're original insights. The readers must not only be spoon-fed, they must also be led by the hand as if they were toddlers. Even though I was consciously trying to attribute noble motives to the author, after a while it became very irritating: I just wanted her to stop.

P.S. Out of curiosity I visited the publisher's website. The FaithWords imprint specializes in inspirational and motivational books by authors such as Joel Osteen, Robert Schuller, Creflo Dollar, and Pat Robertson. So maybe it's no accident that the book sounds like a transcript of several motivational speeches. That would also explain why the book reads like a "me" commercial.

I was excited about this book and it's concept but over all dissapointed with the book. It was extremely difficult to get through, which was personally suprising given my excitment on the topic (and my love of reading!). The book starts off discussing sad, depressing facts in order to, I guess, show the reader that love is lacking in our world (in case there was a doubt?). I think this just squashed my enthusiasim a bit...It was kind of a downer to read about child prostitution and her sad, abusive up bringing, both of which she seems to refer back to at many different points throughout the book.
If you're a Joyce Meyer fan and used to her style, you'll probably enjoy this book. For me, it was a little too 'look at me'. She refers quite frequently to her acts of love/kindness and they most often seem to be involving money, like paying randomly for someone else's bill.
I did find some good basic ideas to practice and remember on a daily basis, but overall just did not enjoy the style of this book.