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Eyes Wide Open: Enjoying God in Everything
We all enjoy so many things in this world. Eyes Wide Open will help you understand God's purposes for our joy and wonder. In this book, pastor and author Steve DeWitt guides you on your personal journey toward enjoying God in everything.
If you love the outdoors, art, food, sports, sunsets, coffee, mountains, or anything else, Eyes Wide Open enriches these experiences by turning them toward their created purpose. This is a book about our beautiful God who designed our craving for beauty to lead us back to Him.
If you love the outdoors, art, food, sports, sunsets, coffee, mountains, or anything else, Eyes Wide Open enriches these experiences by turning them toward their created purpose. This is a book about our beautiful God who designed our craving for beauty to lead us back to Him.
195 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 29, 2013
There are no words. I didn't want this book to end. This was Tony Reinke's #1 pick on the Desiring God blog for books of 2012. I know why.
Quotes:
"This book's purpose is to walk with you toward what you really want. Ultimately, that is not the experience of beautiful music, or beautiful food or beautiful fragrances or beautiful stories or beautiful homes or beautiful bodies or perfect friendship or blissful marriage or any love or pleasure this world has to offer. We were made for a better place and for a better person, and all the beauties of this world whisper that to our soul. We crave Christ. He has made this restoration possible and offers Himself to mankind as Savior, Redeemer, and Restorer."
"This world and its history are prelude and foretaste; all the sunrises and sunsets, symphonies and rock concerts, feasts and friendships are but whispers. They are prologue to the grander story and an even better place."
"Like a bread-crumb trail, earthly beauty chaperones us on a path to 'see' the beauty of Christ, for His beauty to lead to wonder, and for wonder to lead us to a life of worship."
How Great Thou Art. Amen.
Quotes:
"This book's purpose is to walk with you toward what you really want. Ultimately, that is not the experience of beautiful music, or beautiful food or beautiful fragrances or beautiful stories or beautiful homes or beautiful bodies or perfect friendship or blissful marriage or any love or pleasure this world has to offer. We were made for a better place and for a better person, and all the beauties of this world whisper that to our soul. We crave Christ. He has made this restoration possible and offers Himself to mankind as Savior, Redeemer, and Restorer."
"This world and its history are prelude and foretaste; all the sunrises and sunsets, symphonies and rock concerts, feasts and friendships are but whispers. They are prologue to the grander story and an even better place."
"Like a bread-crumb trail, earthly beauty chaperones us on a path to 'see' the beauty of Christ, for His beauty to lead to wonder, and for wonder to lead us to a life of worship."
How Great Thou Art. Amen.
April 18, 2015
As someone who enjoys pop culture and has always been uncomfortable with the distinction of secular and sacred (aka non-Christian/Christian) when it comes to art, music, literature, and other forms of artistic expression I liked this book. All truth is God's truth and all beauty is a reflection of God's beauty, no matter where it is found. I wouldn't say I really learned anything new from reading this book, it just reinforced to me what I have already thought and has made me more conscious of taking that enjoyment I have in nature and art and turning that into honor and thanks to God.
"A Christian is free to relish the wonder that music or any other beauty creates within as long as it doesn't stop there. Just like the sunset or the mountain view, these moments of wonder and joy must be turned into God-ward worship (giving Him honor and thanks) or we are merely experiencing man-made beauty like any atheist can."
"A Christian is free to relish the wonder that music or any other beauty creates within as long as it doesn't stop there. Just like the sunset or the mountain view, these moments of wonder and joy must be turned into God-ward worship (giving Him honor and thanks) or we are merely experiencing man-made beauty like any atheist can."
September 9, 2013
This book was a pendulum ride for me. Some sections I loved; some sections were quite frustrating. This book definitely had a cotton candy feel to it, but even in the lightness, I thought DeWitt brought out some good points to contemplate.
First, I enjoyed his section about beauty as description compared to beauty as essence. My big disappointment here and perhaps with much of the book, is that I thought he would start down a great path but then would fail to fully flesh it out. I would have liked him to further distinguish between ‘Beauty is not just a description of God; It is the essence of God’ road. I also appreciated his blurb on language not being sufficient to really express God’s personhood as it is infinitely mysterious. I am not sure it was in this same section or not where he talks about language being insufficient to express certain feelings of wonder and awe etc, but that brought about some thoughts to me concerning us ‘non-feeler’ types. Is it that the non-feelers in this world do not feel, or is it that we often realize there is no way to put into words the emotion we feel and therefore we do not express it? In my opinion, often expressing words can actually cheapen the experience. Anyhow, it was a rabbit trail my mind went down as I was reading.
I enjoyed the section on creation, sin and Christ. It took me on another mental rabbit trail about creation ex nihilo. I remember a family friend being very adamant about not using the term ‘creative’ when it came to humans, because “only God is creative”. He of course was referring to the idea that creative is creating out of nothing. In pondering creation ex nihilo versus human creativity, I did begin to think that in using the same term it seems to have lessened the glory of creation ex nihilo. I think most in the church throw the idea of creation out there and think God created matter out of nothing, but do people really stop to consider the idea that God, without matter, imagined matter and then created it? Our imaginations are completely limited to the world around us. We cannot conceive of an idea that in some way is not influenced by how we process this world using our 5 senses. We cannot even conceive of what a 6th sense would really be. Would we have come up with the idea of smell had we not been given noses? Anyhow, God’s conceiving and imagining this world out of nothing caused a good long evening of contemplation inside my head.
The last section of the book was the most disappointing to me. He discusses how beauty must reveal truth, and that was all fine. I was happy he discussed that truth is not necessarily pretty at least in a sinful world. Scripture itself has murder, immorality, etc, so he does not advocate ‘Christian’ art, but rather art that reveals truth regardless of who makes it or whether it is explicitly Christian. I can agree with all that. He then presents a series of questions to consider when evaluating art: Is it true? Is it redemptive? Is it spiritually beneficial? None of these questions are problematic to me, but the huge frustration I have is that he lumps all kinds of various art together without distinguishing great art from elementary art. It seemed to lack any standard of excellence. I wish there had been something to discuss why certain ‘art’ is substandard. After all, I am sure if one tries hard enough he can find something true in most art, something redemptive in it and something spiritually beneficial, but that does not necessarily qualify it as ‘good’ art. I wish he had presented readers with a more objective way to critique art/beauty. He seemed to lump any type of creative ‘beauty’ into the same box whether it was a 4 year old’s drawing, flashing lights at a rock concert, a movie scene, a Van Gogh painting, etc. I think one big aspect missing from his evaluative process is a sense of appropriateness regarding time, place, purpose, etc of various forms of art/beauty, but then again I also just thought that perhaps he used the term ‘beauty’ and ‘art’ a little too liberally when it came to human invention. Just because a child draws a line on paper and it has a nice curve does not qualify that drawing as ‘beautiful.’
All in all, I loved this book because it was a springboard to make me think more deeply about some things I had not given much thought to before; however, it was often only a springboard. I thought in many ways it lacked in depth. I could see others reading it and never taking second thought to some of the ideas that occupied my thought. I am sure the author did not intend that some reader would take the crazy mental rabbit trails I took. Though it lacked in depth I think it at least attempted to get Christians to consider beauty, and for that I applaud the author.
First, I enjoyed his section about beauty as description compared to beauty as essence. My big disappointment here and perhaps with much of the book, is that I thought he would start down a great path but then would fail to fully flesh it out. I would have liked him to further distinguish between ‘Beauty is not just a description of God; It is the essence of God’ road. I also appreciated his blurb on language not being sufficient to really express God’s personhood as it is infinitely mysterious. I am not sure it was in this same section or not where he talks about language being insufficient to express certain feelings of wonder and awe etc, but that brought about some thoughts to me concerning us ‘non-feeler’ types. Is it that the non-feelers in this world do not feel, or is it that we often realize there is no way to put into words the emotion we feel and therefore we do not express it? In my opinion, often expressing words can actually cheapen the experience. Anyhow, it was a rabbit trail my mind went down as I was reading.
I enjoyed the section on creation, sin and Christ. It took me on another mental rabbit trail about creation ex nihilo. I remember a family friend being very adamant about not using the term ‘creative’ when it came to humans, because “only God is creative”. He of course was referring to the idea that creative is creating out of nothing. In pondering creation ex nihilo versus human creativity, I did begin to think that in using the same term it seems to have lessened the glory of creation ex nihilo. I think most in the church throw the idea of creation out there and think God created matter out of nothing, but do people really stop to consider the idea that God, without matter, imagined matter and then created it? Our imaginations are completely limited to the world around us. We cannot conceive of an idea that in some way is not influenced by how we process this world using our 5 senses. We cannot even conceive of what a 6th sense would really be. Would we have come up with the idea of smell had we not been given noses? Anyhow, God’s conceiving and imagining this world out of nothing caused a good long evening of contemplation inside my head.
The last section of the book was the most disappointing to me. He discusses how beauty must reveal truth, and that was all fine. I was happy he discussed that truth is not necessarily pretty at least in a sinful world. Scripture itself has murder, immorality, etc, so he does not advocate ‘Christian’ art, but rather art that reveals truth regardless of who makes it or whether it is explicitly Christian. I can agree with all that. He then presents a series of questions to consider when evaluating art: Is it true? Is it redemptive? Is it spiritually beneficial? None of these questions are problematic to me, but the huge frustration I have is that he lumps all kinds of various art together without distinguishing great art from elementary art. It seemed to lack any standard of excellence. I wish there had been something to discuss why certain ‘art’ is substandard. After all, I am sure if one tries hard enough he can find something true in most art, something redemptive in it and something spiritually beneficial, but that does not necessarily qualify it as ‘good’ art. I wish he had presented readers with a more objective way to critique art/beauty. He seemed to lump any type of creative ‘beauty’ into the same box whether it was a 4 year old’s drawing, flashing lights at a rock concert, a movie scene, a Van Gogh painting, etc. I think one big aspect missing from his evaluative process is a sense of appropriateness regarding time, place, purpose, etc of various forms of art/beauty, but then again I also just thought that perhaps he used the term ‘beauty’ and ‘art’ a little too liberally when it came to human invention. Just because a child draws a line on paper and it has a nice curve does not qualify that drawing as ‘beautiful.’
All in all, I loved this book because it was a springboard to make me think more deeply about some things I had not given much thought to before; however, it was often only a springboard. I thought in many ways it lacked in depth. I could see others reading it and never taking second thought to some of the ideas that occupied my thought. I am sure the author did not intend that some reader would take the crazy mental rabbit trails I took. Though it lacked in depth I think it at least attempted to get Christians to consider beauty, and for that I applaud the author.
September 11, 2020
Whenever someone gives me a book I do my best to try and take the time to read it. Such is the case here. This seems to have been drawn from a sermon series, hence the obligatory references to Tolkien and/or C.S. Lewis, sidebars into Greek grammar of questionable significance and anecdotal stories where a bald, tattooed man cries. The arguments presented are paper thin at best. A clown riding by on a unicycle could probably blow them over. (Apologetics goes out the window when you’re the only one allowed to speak). And yet amidst all the fluff, I found one solid gold nugget tucked away just waiting to be plucked. “The despair of our western culture is that we have the most pleasures and the least satisfaction. We have the most stuff and we are still not happy.”
I couldn’t agree with that statement more emphatically. It makes me wonder if people have always been this miserable or if this is something new we’ve invented in the 21st century. We have to be doing something wrong when half the adult population of our society (and a shocking number of children) are on anti-depressants. What are these monsters behind the veneer of our comfortable society that instill such a loathing for existence. Would previous eras have benefitted from antidepressants? Would Stalin have mellowed out on Zoloft? Would Mozart still been able to compose on lithium? Would the Apostle Paul been better off on abilify?
People have always sought to find the answer to the meaning of existence; from the Westminster catechism: what is the chief end of man? to glorify God and enjoy him forever, to Conan: What is best in life? To crush your enemies and hear the lamentations of the woman. There exists an insatiable quest to find meaning and purpose in our relatively short lives and at the risk of sounding cliche if there’s one thing the last two centuries have taught us it’s that there is no amount of drugs, sex, Netflix series or pharmaceutical induced euphoria that are ever going to satisfy this underlying human desire. I think this book attempts to address this question but sadly what we get are contextually irrelevant scripture passages and anecdotal stories. It panders to a specific audience who already agrees with all of his underlying presuppositions. So why read it?
On an aside I asked my 6 year old her thoughts on the meaning of existence and she said cold root beer...I don’t think she’s wrong.
I couldn’t agree with that statement more emphatically. It makes me wonder if people have always been this miserable or if this is something new we’ve invented in the 21st century. We have to be doing something wrong when half the adult population of our society (and a shocking number of children) are on anti-depressants. What are these monsters behind the veneer of our comfortable society that instill such a loathing for existence. Would previous eras have benefitted from antidepressants? Would Stalin have mellowed out on Zoloft? Would Mozart still been able to compose on lithium? Would the Apostle Paul been better off on abilify?
People have always sought to find the answer to the meaning of existence; from the Westminster catechism: what is the chief end of man? to glorify God and enjoy him forever, to Conan: What is best in life? To crush your enemies and hear the lamentations of the woman. There exists an insatiable quest to find meaning and purpose in our relatively short lives and at the risk of sounding cliche if there’s one thing the last two centuries have taught us it’s that there is no amount of drugs, sex, Netflix series or pharmaceutical induced euphoria that are ever going to satisfy this underlying human desire. I think this book attempts to address this question but sadly what we get are contextually irrelevant scripture passages and anecdotal stories. It panders to a specific audience who already agrees with all of his underlying presuppositions. So why read it?
On an aside I asked my 6 year old her thoughts on the meaning of existence and she said cold root beer...I don’t think she’s wrong.
February 22, 2013
Hair splitting time: 1.Not sure if this is a theological split or a verbage issue, but God's redemptive plan happened before the foundation of the world. It was not plan B. It is THE plan. The fall of Adam, and therefore us, did not surprise God. 2.Never quote Eugene Petersen (He only did once) and expect me not to roll my eyes. No matter how perfect the quote may be for your topic. Conjecture about heaven, is just that. I don't believe we have a clue, I don't believe we can come close. I don't believe we need to.
Believe it or not, I highly recommend this book. Just when I was about to whine about redundancy, it wasn't. I enjoyed the style in which the author wrote. My brain works much like his, so that doesn't surprise. There are so many sentences and quotes I highlighted. Gotcha points. Meditative points. I smiled. I pondered. This is a great book for learning about balance in the believer's life about what they put into their brains via arts and entertainment. It is a great book to remind believers to praise the creator and not the creation. I especially loved the stunning account from Phillip Yancy on page 80. Yep. I highly recommend this. The more I think about it, the more I wish I could give 4.5 stars
Believe it or not, I highly recommend this book. Just when I was about to whine about redundancy, it wasn't. I enjoyed the style in which the author wrote. My brain works much like his, so that doesn't surprise. There are so many sentences and quotes I highlighted. Gotcha points. Meditative points. I smiled. I pondered. This is a great book for learning about balance in the believer's life about what they put into their brains via arts and entertainment. It is a great book to remind believers to praise the creator and not the creation. I especially loved the stunning account from Phillip Yancy on page 80. Yep. I highly recommend this. The more I think about it, the more I wish I could give 4.5 stars
December 21, 2017
I have a tendency to appreciate the creation more than the Creator. This book flips that upside down, helping you to see the beauty in all of creation--natural and man-made--as a reflection of the Creator and turn that wonder and worship back to Him.
March 5, 2019
A beautiful, perspective-changing book. It was startling to realize that despite my love for beautiful thing, I never fully understood their deeper purpose...until I read this book.
January 28, 2020
5 stars are not adequate. A fantastic book on a wonderful subject.
July 16, 2020
Lots of good stuff in this one, on a fairly unique topic for Christian books.
July 2, 2022
Großartig. Gott sehen in seiner Welt
February 21, 2021
This was a text used during one of my undergrad classes, at the time I only skimmed it. Years later a friend recommended it to me and so I dug it back out to re-read it. Both times I enjoyed it, but I'm glad I was able to give it a second (fair) shake. Very good book, even if Detweiler's text for the same class seemed better.
January 3, 2014
What if we were to realize that every sunset viewed, every sexual intimacy enjoyed, every favorite food savored, every song sung or listened to, every home decorated, and every rich moment enjoyed in this life isn’t ultimately about itself but is an expression and reflection of God’s essential character? Wouldn’t such beautiful and desirable reflections mean that their Source must be even more beautiful—and, ultimately, most desirable? (8)
“Alice must grow small if she is to be Alice in Wonderland” (57, G. K. Chesterton)
Good stuff on how all art is sacred. Key question is whether it is true. However, as cross is source and standard of beauty, he could have shown how we evaluate all art and culture from the cross, as in Php 4.8-9.
God is "unbearably beautiful"! (179).
May 31, 2013
I had heard great things about this book. But honestly I was somewhat disappointed. Maybe my expectations were too high. It was not ground breaking for me. The ideas were not new and have been expressed better elsewhere. If someone has done little or no reading on beauty then they might want to start here to get their feet wet.
I did enjoy how he brought beauty back to God's character, glory,Christ,and ultimately to heaven. Also the desire for beauty is a good thing, but can be corrupted by man's sinful heart. His illustrations and quotes were usually helpful.
His ending chapters on how to evaluate art were okay, but not great. There were numerous practical questions that were not answered.
I did enjoy how he brought beauty back to God's character, glory,Christ,and ultimately to heaven. Also the desire for beauty is a good thing, but can be corrupted by man's sinful heart. His illustrations and quotes were usually helpful.
His ending chapters on how to evaluate art were okay, but not great. There were numerous practical questions that were not answered.
August 22, 2012
What is it to enjoy the Lord in everything? More than you would think and it is a lifestyle. Seeing the Lord in everything changes how you live, how you respond to Him and to others. Seeing the Lord in everything should lead you to wonder, in awe of Him, then lead to worship in a meaningful way. Somewhat convicting in that do I enjoy the things of this life without regard to the creator, am I like a non believer. Do not let your heart be deceived. If anything, this read engages you to ask questions of yourself and who you think God is. The word is central in knowing the beauty and truth of the Lord. The gospel is the heart of His beauty.
January 11, 2013
I think my expectations for this book led me to enjoy it less than I otherwise might have. The quote on the cover from Leland Ryken led me to believe that this would be a work about beauty--essentially, a work of Christian aesthetics. It isn't that.
This is a competent work of Christian inspiration that expounds a solid theology. However, when it comes to human appreciation of beauty, DeWitt paints in very broad strokes, leaving untouched many fundamental questions.
Recommended as a refresher in a basic theology of how human desires and appreciation relate to God, but for a work of aesthetics, look elsewhere.
This is a competent work of Christian inspiration that expounds a solid theology. However, when it comes to human appreciation of beauty, DeWitt paints in very broad strokes, leaving untouched many fundamental questions.
Recommended as a refresher in a basic theology of how human desires and appreciation relate to God, but for a work of aesthetics, look elsewhere.
May 29, 2015
Really great intro to divine beauty. Happened to read this while on vacation in Florida and in the Smokey Mtns which provided wonderful backdrop and application to the main points of each chapter. All created beauty is meant to lead us to greater wonder and worship not of the created order itself (whether it's a beautiful symphony, a gorgeous sunrise on the ocean horizon, a bite of delicious strawberry shortcake, or the serenity of a quiet starry night), but of the One who created it. Too often we stop short and marvel only in the created thing without it leading us to marvel at the beauty of God. This book explores this and related themes. Loved it.
December 30, 2016
Steve DeWitt has given us fine, readable, and Christ-centered theology of beauty. Summarizing his purpose near the end of the book, Dewitt writes: "Like a bread-crumb trail, earthly beauty chaperones us on a path to 'see' the beauty of Christ, for His beauty to lead to wonder, and for wonder to lead us to a life of worship." I was helped by this book; I believe it will affect how I react to and evaluate beauty, both natural and manmade.
July 14, 2016
Amazing, this is one of my favorite books, Steve did a great job at showing the beauty of God and therefore showing how you can enjoy God in everything, this book is a much needed reminder about how great our God is and how artistic he is and was when he created the universe and how he sustains it. This book is also very quotable which is another plus! 5 stars for sure
August 31, 2014
This book is truly a real "eye-opener" of an elusive concept--His Beauty. The author's step-by-step method to open both believers and unbelievers' eyes to the beauty of Christ is both logical and awe-inspiring. I used this book as my opening devotional to personal Bible study and can truthfully say I am reading the Bible differently after having read "Eyes Wide Open."
March 9, 2023
Extremely good. This book is a mini theology of beauty and worship. It’s written at the popular level, and while not at all shallow, would be very good as a first step read into the subjects of worship and beauty. The book is also intensely practical in how we worship God through everyday experiences of beauty. DeWitte is also very well written and this was a pleasure to read.
Want to read
August 24, 2012"...a book Leland Ryken calls “the gold standard” for how Christians should value beauty in the world.”
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/j...
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/j...
January 28, 2013
This is essentially a biblical theology of beauty. It is pastoral in approach and tone. My big take away: Christians should not *look at* beauty, but rather *look along* beautiful things to God, who is Beauty's measure and source.
May 28, 2013
This book deserves all the praise it has received. The final line sums the book: "Like a bread-crumb trail, earthly beauty chaperones us on a path to 'see' the beauty of Christ, for His beauty to lead to wonder, and for wonder to lead us to a life of worship." Amen and amen!
October 8, 2013
This is an enlightening and stirring meditation on God's beauty, and learning to look for it in the things we observe and enjoy all through our lives. If you admire what Jonathan Edwards and John Piper say about God, yet you find their writings to be an acquired taste, check this out.
May 9, 2012
See my review at http://thegospelcoalition.org/book-re...
December 14, 2012
Great book about Beauty.
I would only change the cover's design. I don't think it is beautiful.
I would only change the cover's design. I don't think it is beautiful.
September 6, 2012
A book about beauty...I read it on the beach....no better place to read this book.
December 28, 2012
A wonderful book about the radiant beauty of our God and it's reflected image in our present world and the world to come.
January 14, 2013
I wonder if I would have enjoyed this book more during my younger "I like to listen to the rain and look at the moon and make artsy metaphors" phase
March 23, 2013
A short but powerful book. Steve DeWitt helps us to see the beauty of creation from the eyes of a Christian and not the perspective of an atheist.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews