Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Experiments in Spiritual Transformation [Paperback]

Dallas Willard (Author), Jan Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 6, 2006

Jan Johnson guides you through 61 carefully chosen selections from renowned author Dallas Willard's best selling book, Renovation of the Heart. With each selection, you'll progress through Dr. Willard's plan for renovating the complete person.

Each provocative reflection includes a thoughtful, meaty selection by Dallas Willard along with Jan's illuminating personal stories, plus suggestions for making the concepts come alive in your own experience.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Headline: Life-changing experiments in spiritual transformation based on Dallas Willard's best selling book Spiritual director Jan Johnson guides you through 61 carefully chosen selections from renowned author Dallas Willard's best selling book, Renovation of the Heart. With each selection, you'll progress through Ddr. Willard's plan for renovating the complete person. You'll find fresh illumination for your journey, and you'll enjoy the adventure of Jan Johnson's experiments in spiritual transformation. Each provocative reflection includes a thoughtful, meaty selection by Dallas Willard along with Jan's illuminating personal stories, plus “Today's Experiment”- suggestions for making the concepts come alive in your own experience. Ideal for personal meditation or for use as a transformational retreat book (see retreat suggestions in the back), this book will guide you deeper into the heart of God while renewing your own.

About the Author

Dr. Dallas Willard, professor and former director of the School of Philosophy at the University of Southern California, is the author of more than thirty works, including The Divine Conspiracy and The Spirit of the Disciplines. Jan Johnson has created several devotionals, including Hearing God Through the Year.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: NavPress (September 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576838099
• ISBN-13: 978-1576838099
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,497 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth the money, May 3, 2007

By 

Neil Best (West Palm Beach, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Experiments in Spiritual Transformation (Paperback)

Let me be clear about what it is that I'm reviewing. The book "Renovation of the Heart" is one of the best books I've ever read in my life. It should be rated very high and read by anyone serious about growing as a Christian. I can't say enough about how great that book is.

However, this book about daily practice and experiments in spiritual transformation is quite the opposite. It has 61 chapters that more or less outline the original work by Willard. Each of the chapters does an OK job of sticking to the individual topics and ends with an "experiment" to help you apply what the chapter is talking about.

These "experiments" are an absolute disappointment. They basically consist of questions that make you think or reflect on the topic. "Consider what it would look like for..." "reflect on this," or "pretend that." You get the picture.

I bought the book expecting some tangible action experiments but all I got were some relatively simple questions which are supposed to provoke deep thought. I gave this book 2 stars instead of 1 because it uses some of Willard's original material and could be useful as a simple devotional (the chapters are about 2 or 3 pages long).

I would strongly recomend to anyone considering this companion book to stick to the original and wrestle through it, no matter how weighty it may be.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bite-sized wisdom, March 27, 2009

By 

Stephen R. Caldwell (Arkansas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Experiments in Spiritual Transformation (Paperback)

It's the way of our world, it seems, to never admit our ignorance, but I don't mind telling you that I'm not nearly smart enough for Dallas Willard. I read The Divine Conspiracy several years ago and thought it was great, but, frankly, much of his writing and thinking is over my head. That's why I love what NavPress did in creating Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice. I read this book over the course of a few weeks, but I'll go back and use it as a daily devotional. That's its gift. Short chapters by Willard that end with brief comments and "experiments" written by Jan Johnson. With this format, I can take the time to think through and digest and internalize Willard's wonderful insights on how we go about conforming ourselves as followers of Jesus. This book might never leave my nightstand.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Provides a journey to the soul, May 29, 2007

By 

Lou (Olympia, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Renovation of the Heart in Daily Practice: Experiments in Spiritual Transformation (Paperback)

Jan Johnson acts as the tour guide as she uses Willard's "Renovation of the Heart" to transport us on a soul searching journey. I have personally been touched as I meditate on the thought provoking devotionals. A must have for those who find Willard a compelling read.