The Safest Place On Earth (Hardcover)

~ Larry Crabb (Author), Eugene Peterson (Foreword) "Every Christian effort to think through what it takes to personally change necessarily involves some level of confusion and disappointment..." (more)
Key Phrases: cellar sins, conforming relationships, flesh dynamics, Holy Spirit, Henri Nouwen, God's Spirit (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In today's frenetic society, people rarely develop intimate friendships. Instead, they spend their lives essentially disconnected from others, rushing through life content with brief visits and casual conversations. But what if one were to develop a community, a spiritual community, of people who walked with and supported each other through life's journey? A community of real friends who listened to each other's personal tragedies without merely trying to fix the problems, who encouraged and nurtured each others strengths, and who accepted people for who they really are, instead of the image they try to portray. In The Safest Place on Earth, Larry Crabb explores such a place, where God can heal disconnected people and allow them to reconnect with each other and, ultimately, with Him.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (September 10, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849914566
• ISBN-13: 978-0849914560
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #241,592 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #1 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Authors, A-Z > ( P ) > Peterson, Eugene
  #18 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Authors, A-Z > ( C ) > Crabb, Larry

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I want what this book talks about., September 18, 1999

By A Customer

My favorite book is Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. This book ties with that one for first place. I feel like there is so much that speaks to me in this book that I need to read it again. My spirit was captivated by the concept of living in the upper room. I can relate to the constant dwelling in the lower room, but there is a Hope in me that keeps desiring more of Him, keeps wanting to dwell longer in the upper room. I want to experience community life. Where we all have the same desire...to point each other to Christ, to jump up and down for joy when we see Christ revealed. I'm going to pray that my family and I may experience true community living.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book embodies my prayer for the church., November 10, 1999

By	Val Vickery ([e-mail]) (Jackson, Ms) - See all my reviews

Larry Crabb's vulnerbility is refreshing. He shares his pilgrimage, not his arrival, his thoughts, not his dogmatic conclusions. Life is a process, confusing, disappointing, but hopeful as we learn to live in the Upper Room and envision that experience for others. Charts are a helpful addition to the fresh approaches to old struggles.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Imagine Love..., October 1, 2002

By	Art (Durham, NC) - See all my reviews

I am in the habit of adding notes and references in the front of the books I read so I can return to specific passages when writing or researching issues. I can measure their impact on my thinking by the number of them, and the flyleaf of my copy of this book has little room left. A Psychologist by training, but more, a devoted follower of the Lamb who understands the disciple's journey into the shadow of the valley well, Dr. Crabb shares insights about the nature of the church that bring us back to consider what spiritual community means in real life terms. Larry's writing has the humility and the scars that come from being genuinely engaged in walking with God.

This is a timely book, combining an understanding of the intended intimacy of the church with the freshly awakening desire across Christendom for spiritual formation and direction in the church. In my notes I find definitions for things like: love; life and death; brokenness; mysticism; community; the church. He offers observations about what is lacking Psychology and in psychological theory, and he offers workable models for the church to develop the intimacy, love and community our Triune God intended in both our and the church's design.

If you are considering small groups, and wondering whether they should be evangelistic, or bible studies, or project based, Larry offers an alternative: building genuine community, intertwining lives in functional and useful ways that further our development and transformation. If you are working to develop an understanding our dual natures of flesh and His life within, Larry speaks clearly and usefully to these issues. Dr. Crabb's book is useful for an individual to study, giving us insights into deeper truths in practical and understandable ways. It is equally useful for a group to work through together in understanding the dynamics of community and in living together in ways that produce authentic change. But, most importantly, this is a book that speaks like the voice of a prophet to a floundering church, calling us back to a simple plan: community... I think this is the single most important book (outside the scriptures, of course) I've ever read. I can't make a stronger recommendation.