Rising to the Call [Hardcover]

Os Guinness (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 16, 2003

Facet by facet this internationally acclaimed Christian thinker examines life and the universal search for its meaning. What is "the call"? Far bigger than our jobs, deeper than our personal accomplishments, higher than our wildest ideas of self-fulfillment, our "calling" addresses the very essence of our existence. Discovering it in times past has changed whole nations and cultures. It could do the same to ours. A classic reflective work in the tradition of C. S. Lewis and Oswald Chambers,now ready to challenge the latest generation of high school and college graduates.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

OS GUINNESS is the author of numerous books, including Long Journey Home, Rising to the Call and Time for Truth, and is also a speaker of international renown. Born in China and educated in England, he is a graduate of Oxford University. Dr. Guinness has lived in the United States since 1984 and is currently a Senior Fellow of the Trinity Forum. He resides in McLean, Virginia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 16, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849917832
• ISBN-13: 978-8932820668
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 4.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,256,575 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

OS GUINNESS (DPhil, Oxford University) was born in China, raised and educated in England, and moved to the United States in 1984. He directs the Trinity Forum and is a former fellow at the East-West Institute in New York. His books include The American Hour, No God But God, and The Dust of Death.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heed The Call To Live For an Audience of One, October 10, 2011

By 

David P. Craig "Life Coach 4 God" (Tustin, California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Rising to the Call (Hardcover)

This short book of approximately 100 pages is a condensed version of Guinness' larger work "The Call." In this book the author helps to define our calling in life by showing what it is not, and helping the reader to decipher what it means to live out one's calling. His thesis is simply that one cannot truly live out their calling in life (being and doing) without living for their Creator God through following Jesus Christ in every avenue of life - that what you do is based on who you are in Christ.

The whole book is an articulation of this thesis, "For answering the call of Jesus is the greatest adventure, the deepest romance, and the most fascinating journey f our lives. In embracing the call as your master theme, you will be free. In following it, you will be a leader. In giving up everything for this one way, you will find yourself fulfilled in every way--until one day when the `last call' will sound and you will see he Caller face to face and find yourself at home and free."

I think the most helpful contribution that Guinness makes in this short book is how he demonstrates the extremes of bifurcating our vocation as secular or sacred - and makes a great case for the fact that everyone is "called" in everything and in every way to live for God.

Though small in size the book is full of fantastic quotes, excellent illustrations, and cogent argumentation to augment his thesis. It is not an easy read; sometimes you need to read a sentence or a paragraph more than once (after all - Guinness is an Oxford, England graduate). However, you will benefit from reading this book.

For modern Americans it will not give you the step by step applications you are used to - but it will reward you in the process of thinking how all that you are, and desire to do, can be done to please God - you were made to know and to live for an Audience of One - Jesus Christ. It is essentially a big picture book on discovering your purpose in life, not a step-by-step book. If you are looking for a bunch of steps to finding God's will for your life you will be disappointed - If you are looking for how God is the center of all of life you will be helped.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For those who are searching, May 16, 2008

By 

S. Esau "ALatteEsau" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rising to the Call (Hardcover)

Rising to the Call is an excellent summary of Os Guinness' book The Call. This book explores some of the pitfalls many people fall into when thinking about their calling, and provides clarification on what it means to be called or have a calling. Rising to the Call does not lay out a formula for discovering your one calling, but provides guidance for you to determine whether or not you are living out your calling. This is an excellent gift for graduates or those wondering about their place in life.

5 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars More about what is wrong than what is right, June 27, 2005

By 

Shane A. Brewer (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rising to the Call (Hardcover)

Rising to the Call is about finding the call that God has for your life. Author Os Guiness states that only when we are connected with our creator are we able to truly find our "call".

I wasn't overly impressed with this book. Most of the book talks about what is wrong with the other techniques used for finding your meaning in life. This really doesn't do anything for the reader who is actually trying to find their call.

I also wasn't impressed with the writing style as it doesn't do a good job of breaking down complex topics. You probably are best not picking this one up.... pick up "What Color Is Your Parachute" instead. 2 out of 5 stars.