The Organic God [Hardcover]

Margaret Feinberg (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 24, 2007

Do you long for a genuine encounter with God? Through personal stories and scriptural insights, Margaret Feinberg invites you to experience a spiritual renewal. In The Organic God, Margaret explores breathtaking glimpses of God's character-- His big-heartedness, kindness, beauty, mystery, and more-- inviting you to discover God in a healthy, refreshing way. Learn how to:

-Recognize God's presence in your daily life
-Renew your passion for Scripture
-Discover healing from being hurt by the church
-See and savor the gifts of God all around
-Experience the joy that comes with being a child of God

Through the pages of The Organic God, those thirsting for more of God will find themselves falling in love with Him all over again.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. An emerging popular writer for culture-savvy evangelicals, Feinberg challenges 20-somethings and older Christians to trade in their current relationship with God for an "organic" one. In a word, Feinberg describes her former understanding of God as "polluted," while today she longs for closeness to the creator as characterized by all that is "natural, pure, and essential." Throughout these introspective spiritual musings, Feinberg (What the Heck Should I Do with My Life? and God Whispers) is engaging and thoughtful as she pairs the mysteries of the divine-human relationship with everyday wonders found in the material world. Thematically laid out, the book shares Feinberg's personal recollections from childhood on to present-day experiences while pointing to various aspects of God's character; Feinberg's God is bighearted, beautiful, wise, talkative, infallible, generous, stubborn, kind and mysterious. In one particularly transparent story, Feinberg shares how God nudged her to bestow generosity by giving away a beloved sweater, a pair of gloves and some gourmet treats. Feinberg resisted, only to ruin the sweater, lose a glove and find the treats uneatable within a 24-hour period. She learned that "the Organic God doesn't just want me to give until it hurts, but rather to give until it feels good." Feinberg's quirky personality shines forth on every page, making her text a delectable treat. (May)
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Review

'Organic means natural, pure, no additives. Margaret Feinberg wants us to know the God revealed in the Christian Bible without prejudice or corruption. In the course of 10 creative and engaging chapters, she introduces us to the character of God....Feinberg is a gifted storyteller and spiritual teacher. She has a knack for leading us to an 'aha' insight or a reflective 'hmmm.'' -- The Dallas Morning News <br><br> (The Dallas Morning News )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (April 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310272440
• ISBN-13: 978-0310272441
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 5.7 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #414,551 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Margaret Feinberg is a popular Bible teacher and speaker at churches and leading conferences such as Catalyst, Thrive and Extraordinary Women. Her books and Bible studies have sold over 600,000 copies and received critical acclaim and extensive national media coverage from CNN, the Associated Press, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and many others.

She was recently named one of the 30 Voices who will help lead the church in the next decade by Charisma magazine and one of the '40 Under 40' who will shape Christian publishing by Christian Retailing magazine. Margaret currently lives in Morrison, Colorado, with her husband, Leif and their superpup, Hershey.

Now that you've read the official bio, here's the kick off your shoes and drink iced tea on the back porch version:

Margaret spends most mornings with her good friends Coffee and God. Without Coffee, mornings would be difficult. Without God, life would be impossible.

After a caffeine and God infusion, you'll often find Margaret (puppy-in-tow) adventuring outdoors--she enjoys hiking, river rafting, and scanning the night sky for the Northern Lights and shooting stars.

She boasts an exceptionally dry sense of humor that she attributes to her Jewish father. Little known secret: He was recently inducted into the Surfer's Hall of Fame, and her mom earned her captain's license for 60-ton ships. They're pretty amazing. You'd like them.

Married to Leif for almost a decade, Margaret's known for losing things like her sunglasses on her head, keys in her hand, or her phone for the 12th time in the same day. Luckily, Hershey hasn't been left anywhere... yet.

For being a writer, friends say she has a surprisingly narrow vocabulary and uses a lot of the same phrases including, "I'm game", "Whahhooo!" and "Oooh! Let's do it."

Always up for an adventure, Margaret is known to drive 50 miles to chase down a food truck and snag Groupons for skydiving on a whim. Some describe her as a bat out of hell behind the wheel. Steer clear. She prefers watching comedies and laughing until her tummy aches over doing sit ups. And if you touch her belly button she gets nauseous. So don't do it.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a healing joy.... April 25, 2007

By Kathy Crenshaw

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I read this book in two evenings and now I am re-reading it just to further digest it. I started out highlighting everything I found particularly meaningful but pretty soon it was all highlighted so I quit. This book has also helped mend a broken heart having just lost my mother a couple weeks ago. It reminds me what an awesome God we serve and what a comfort it is to know my mom is literally in His presence. If I didn't know better I would think this book was written just for me....I also got some much needed comic relief (the Valentine Day description). I find Margaret's stories and life so relatable to my own even though our circumstances are pretty different apart from the fact we both live in Juneau. LOVED IT!!

***I just realized I inadvertently gave this book only two stars when it is, without a doubt, a FIVE STAR book if there ever was one. I just can't say enough about it, I laughed, I cried, I was inspired, I was full of joy, I was challenged and I was in awe and wonder Margaret's caliber of talent. After I read "God Whispers" I sent it to all my family and friends that I knew would enjoy it, with this book I'm taking that one step further and sending it to some people I don't know well and am not sure of their faith journey. It's that good

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rich Exploration of God's Character August 17, 2007

By Heather Ivester

Format:Hardcover

In her book's opening line, Alaskan author Feinberg writes, "The northern lights danced with all the mystery and marvel of midnight rainbows in the sky."

This warm invitation beckons readers to enjoy the natural beauty of her home state as a reflection of the "breathtakingly beautiful" attributes of God.

The daughter of a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother, both born-again believers, Feinberg challenges readers to dig deeply into Scripture using a technique called midrash, a Hebrew word meaning to "search out."

She writes, "...Jewish midrash urges us to take hold of a passage, wrestle with it, and not let go until we're worn out and forcibly must cry uncle."

As she explores nine attributes of God's character, her Scriptural knowledge and depth of insight make this book one to be savored like a rich cup of coffee.

The author's quirky stories of her childhood and struggles as an unsettled 20-something are good springboards for the discussion questions included, making this a useful tool for both individual and group study.

--Christian Women Online Book Buzz

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Joy of Finding God May 3, 2007

By Michael Meyer

Format:Hardcover

Oh my goodness what a fabulous book that was. It's not a deeply theological book, it doesn't get into controversial issues, it simply describes the joy of loving God.

The author, Margaret Feinberg, doesn't delve into religious issues that can separate Christians today. Instead, she challenges us to strip away our pre-conceived notions of who God is and what the world tells us abot God. Who does God say He is? The answer is in the bible - pages and pages and pages of God's Word, unpolluted. Untarnished. Organic.

Margaret's joy in exploring God is contagious. God is ever so righteous and holy and pure that it's incedible that he would desire a relationship with us, fallen, sinful people. But He does! And God extends his beckoning in a myriad a way. Margaret doesn't try to tell us who God is - I suppose she'd risk herself becoming part of the pollution - but she tells us where to look and the joy in finding him. I read this book in a single sitting and then read through the thought-provoking questions in the back. Why so quickly? My wife noticed the excitement at such a wonderful, joyful book and wanted to read it when I was done. When I was done, she claimed the book, but I told her when she was done, I wanted to read it again. :)

I am freshly challenged and encouraged to seek God anew. Who is God? What does He want from me? What does He want for me? I have the answers - an indwelling holy Spirit and His Word to study and absorb. I have creation around me that God created to express His beauty. And I have a fresh perspective on finding all God would have me know about Him.

In case you can't tell, I heartily recommend this book.

Michael
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