The Peacegiver: How Christ Offers to Heal Our Hearts and Homes How Christ Offers to Heal Our Hearts and Homes [Hardcover]

James L. Ferrell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2004

What does the atonement mean, practically speaking? How is Christ the answer to a strained relationship with a spouse, child, parent, or sibling? What if I am being mistreated—how can the atonement help me cope with that? How can I discover the desire to repent when I don’t feel the need to repent" And how can I invite others to do the same? These are the challenging, difficult questions of daily life, questions to which the gospel must provide answers if it is to have living, cleansing, redeeming power.

The Peacegiver is a book about the answers to these questions. Unlike other books about the atonement, The Peacegiver is written as an extended parable. It tells the story of a man struggling, with the help of a loved one, to come unto Christ. IN reading the rich details of his often difficult journey, we find ourselves embarked on a personal journey of our own. His questions are our questions; his problems, our problems; his discoveries, our discoveries. Along the way, the truths of the gospel are unfolded with surprising clarity and power, illuminating aspects of the atonement that few of us have ever heard or considered before. These surprising implications show us the way to deep and lasting peace in our hearts and homes.

"My peace I give unto you," the Savior declared. The Peacegiver explores in a deeply personal way what we must do to receive the peace he stands willing to give.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Rick is a believer in Christ and father of four, but his marriage is locked in a miserable death spiral of petty arguments and wounded pride. Rick is crushed with self-pity and resentment toward his wife when his deceased grandfather begins visiting him in dreams in an effort to bring him to the peace and forgiveness promised by Christ. This homiletic storytelling in a nonfiction book may not work for everyone—the grandfather uses a patient Socratic approach to bring Rick along to enlightenment, and some readers may get bored as they race ahead of Rick's gradual realizations—but the sermon embedded in the tale is terrific. Ferrell offers powerful interpretations of two Old Testament stories: the relatively obscure encounter between David and Abigail (wife of Nabal) that takes place in 1 Samuel, and the better-known story of Jonah and Ninevah. In both, Ferrell finds archetypes of Christ and evidence of how the atonement is designed to make it as easy as possible for us to forgive others and thereby attain our own peace and salvation. The genius of this little book is to weave biblical insights back into the story of modern-day Rick and his wife—to show how moments of forgiveness not only stay life-and-death battles, but also the daily battles that lead to bitter estrangements of loved ones. Both the protagonist and the author are LDS (Mormon), but the book is easily accessible to anyone seeking insights to the core Christian doctrine of the atonement.
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Review

"The rich and soul-stretching experience that comes from reading The Peacegiver has deeply blessed my life. I highly recommend this remarkable book!"  Ardeth Greene Kapp

"An invaluable, compelling book of hope and discovery — about Christ, about others, and about ourselves — unlike, I think, any other book you have ever read."  C. Terry Warner

"The Peacegiver is a profound, and profoundly helpful, exploration into how the Lord offers to free us from the clutches of every impure thought, feeling, belief, and habit. I really value this book."  Steve Young

"The Peacegiver is a 10. Deeply moving, it is a must for anyone concerned with loving relationships, their marriage, and how Christ brings healing to the human heart and soul."  James Michael Pratt

"The Peacegiver sheds precious light upon the poignant but practical working out of the atonement in o

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 203 pages
• Publisher: Deseret Book Company; 1st edition (February 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590382234
• ISBN-13: 978-1590382233
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down - a fast read, yet powerful August 2, 2005

By Nadeoui A. Eden

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book changes lives...mine included. It makes one look at forgiveness and the atonement from a totally different angle...that when we fail to forgive, we are failing to forgive Christ. You find yourself reading along and suddenly you will turn the book upside down and say, "I can't read that, that's me!!" And then you go back and read again because it is so compelling. When you are done you know you must read it again, and try to capture the things it told you. Highly recommended.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Most personally changing book I've ever read October 22, 2004

By Michele Slack

Format:Hardcover

Wonderful book on Christ & the atonement. I've never been so personally compelled or moved by any book before. Especially meaningful to me, were the parts about how important one's reaction to being mistreated or abused are. For the first time in my life, it seems possible to forgive some of the things that have happened to me. This is a must read for any Christian, but I think especially for anyone who's ever been abused. (not to imply that is the main focus of the book).

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading February 22, 2005

By Pistol Pete

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a great book on being a better person. This book's author shares the same philosophy/company with Terry Warner's "Bonds That Make us Free" and the Arbinger Institute's "Leadership and Self-deception". They are basically all the same story/philosophy, told from different angles.

Bonds That Make Us Free was a general overview from a philosophical/psychological standpoint. It was not religious and provided many short stories on how different behaviors/attitudes affected your relationships.

Leadership and Self-deception is a story of one man (much like the Peacegiver) who is trying to understand the concept told in a business setting - he is starting a new job.

The Peacemaker is the story of one man in a religious setting. His deceased grandfather helps him understand (through a vision/dream) how he can be a better husband/person through the use of scripture stories and focusing on the atonement of Christ. Very good use of scripture stories and examples.

I have read all three and probably enjoyed Warner's book the most, but The Peacemaker is a very good read and well worth your time.