Customer Reviews

The Prayer Chest , A Novel About Receiving All of Life's Riches: Library Edition

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What an inspiring little gem! Captivating story and characters, with a tear-jerking romance and children in danger, back in great-grandma's time. Solid Americana. Fun and riveting to read, yet wholesome and spiritually fulfilling. Not written for children, but would definitely appeal to teenagers as well as adults. Ideal for a neighborhood book club-- inspirational message will draw families of all concerned together, and strengthen marriages. If you're feeling down and need to remember how lucky you are and that love begins from within, read this one, then write your own review. Personally, I'm waiting for the movie.

This is a warm, touching and very human story taking place in the late 19th century. It is to be enjoyed by any reader - from those seeking just the casual joy of a wholesome story to others who appreciate philosophical undertones that will pleasingly resonate with traditional Christians, new thought practitioners and truly anyone who recognizes that there is so much more to this world than our flesh and bones existence. This book will find its way onto my gift list for many friends this year!

This wonderful little book is a virtual treasure trove of inspiration, guidance and wisdom. Hats off to Fotinos and Gold for a truly heartwarming tale of loss, fear, faith and love. BRAVO!!

No matter what your faith or particular belief system, there seems to always be a yearning for something better than the here and now.

But what allows some to succeed through their tragedy and move forward while others seem to flounder?

The answer may be found in The Prayer Chest by August Gold and Joel Fotinos.

Now before you write this off as a book trying to force you to believe in something you are not comfortable with, let me assure you that this 181-page book offers solutions for everyone who has ever done one thing: pray.

It's something many of us are taught early in life. We go through the motions of it during special events, meals and family gatherings. But do we really appreciate the words we say and who they are directed to and the purpose for them?

The Prayer Chest introduces us to the Hutchinson family, a group that has known its share of pain but has experienced a joy that many with far more riches would do anything to have.

The story travels back and forth in time, but the main principals for me were Joseph Hutchinson and his two children. They have seen the best of times but have now gotten to the point where the worst of times threaten to engulf them.

Joseph has lost his wife, is in the process of losing his home and the fear of the unknown causes him to believe that all hope is lost.

We learn that even though Joseph was the primary provider for the family, it was really the wife's faith that kept things together. With her gone, it was like all hope was lost.

Enter the Prayer Chest. It has been in the attic for years and now, with things at their worst, the chest provides three guidelines for you to get results:

1)Prayer is answered through you.

2)Prayer is answered when you listen.

3)Prayer is answered when you welcome everything.

Is it really that easy? Does the answer to our problems really begin with something found within us all? Does our ability to pay attention to what we ask for and discern the answer really determine results?

And probably the most difficult of the three is the thought that we have to accept the good and the bad when it comes to what we ask for, realizing that all things work for the good in the end.

The Prayer Chest taught me a lot about the way I address challenges in life, mainly because it showed that maybe what we ask for has already been given to us - we just might not realize it because it's not the way we wanted it to be.

The authors give us a tale that should resonate with everyone who has ever wanted more out of life but wasn't sure how to get it.

May we all be so fortunate as to put ourselves in a position to accept what comes our way and use our experiences to be of benefit to others.

This review is of the audio version of the book.

I found the story to be campy, sappy, corny, dime store novel quality. The story in a story about the prayer box on the other hand was brilliantly done. Overall it was just enough of a hook to keep me going all the way through.

The narration was a bit over the top for me, too much emphasis on sentences that required more subtlety. I think the author would have been a better choice to do the read, similar to the way "Eat, Pray, Love" was read. I actually found the sermon by the author on the last CD more entertaining and enlightening than the book itself, which leads me to believe the author has the talent required.

For enlightenment, the formula in "The Celestine Prophecy" was followed. Three insights into prayer are given, and they are revealed separately over time. Good solid stuff, well balanced, and perfectly integrated into the story.

Thumbs down on the epilogue where a fourth insight is mentioned but not revealed, which is just plain annoying.

Entertainment: 3 stars
Enlightenment: 4 stars

I loved how this book started off with a simple story and ended up as a profound spiritual lesson. The story alone is compelling enough to be worth the price of admission, and the metaphysical wisdom imparted is invaluable.

I was somewhat expecting (but hoping otherwise) the book to be but one more treatise on the "you create your own reality through what you believe" theme designed to teach you "how get what you want." Instead, the simple secrets offered up in the instructions for how to use "the prayer chest" inspire a life that is in flow with Source, which cannot help but result in an effective belief system that is in harmony with natural law and therefore manifests what you want as well as a deeper peace that embraces all of life's experiences.

My favorite part (and I hope I'm not giving away too much of the most important secret here) is revealed in the third secret and encapsulated in the two words "welcome everything." This is, a simply stated but not always simply applied (at least without a consistent spiritual practice), profound formula for living in peace, joy, bliss, and freedom---to invite everything in, the so-called good and so-called bad experiences in life. As conveyed in the book, "Through and open vessel . . . prayers flow unobstructed, and heaven finds an inlet and outlet through which to reveal Itself on Earth."

This also the theme of my book---to look for the magic, sacredness, or opportunity for growth in every experience. When we resist anything, we create a block in energy. We block the very energy needed for healing, whether we are talking about physical, emotional, or mental healing. As soon as we give up resistance and embrace whatever is---be "an open vessel," the energy begins to flow. And of course the energy that flows is the energy of love, which is synonymous with Source and is the only power that heals.

Rumi wrote, "This being human is a guest house. Every morning is a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. . . . Welcome and entertain them all. Treat each guest honorably. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond."

I was so engulfed in the sheer intrigue of the story, that I didn't expect "The Treasure Chest" to lead me to such a poignant presentation of this most profound understanding. A shudder poured through me as I read the third secret, the kind that lets you know that you are downloading Higher Truth, and I recognized that this wasn't just another self-help doctrine, but a truly deep and useful tool for spiritual realization and integration.

I applaud August Gold and Joel Fotinos for a brilliantly crafted journey to enlightenment!

Reverend Patrick J. Harbula
Author of The Magic of the Soul: Applying Spiritual Power to Daily Living
http://www.livingpurposeinstitute.com

The Prayer Chest is not only the greatest gift one can give oneself it is a gift that should be given to all ones friends and family because it reveals the three best kept secrets for attaining the answers to all ones prayers. No, it's nothing magical but in fact three simple truths that we can do all by ourselves and with whatever we choose to call God or Spirit. Like most 12 steps programs, it works if you work it so work it and see for yourself. I love when I can get these kinds of goodies wrapped up in a great, engaging story that I can relate to. So do yourself a favor and read this sweet, compelling story of truth, kindness and real human emotions.

An inspirational parable in which you actually care about the characters and what happens to them, as well as the "treasure" of a message within it.

I had heard of having a "GOD" Box where one puts their needs, wishes, problems, concerns etc inside...but now I know the source! Definitely a worthwhile read, can read in one day! Excellent and quick delivery...

This is an excellent book and everyone should have it their library. I have given away two and so far have read it twice. This book is worth reading over and over.