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Unstuck: Your Life. God’s Design. Real Change.
Your life. God's design. Real change.
When asked about their relationship with God, many believers say the Christian life "isn't working" or that they want a walk that's more than just "okay." After extensive research, including more than 50,000 surveys on what it takes to grow spiritually, Back to the Bible leaders Arnie Cole and Michael Ross have found the key to a vital, thriving walk with Christ--and they freely share it with readers.
But more than statistics and solid evidence for the power of engaging with the Bible, Unstuck gives readers a practical and proven way to encounter Scripture daily, connect with God, and revitalize an otherwise listless faith. This book is part of a new strategic ministry plan developed by Back to the Bible, which has been on the air for more than 70 years. Through multimedia products and services, the ministry is walking alongside individuals and churches, helping Christ-followers tap into and live out God's Word.
When asked about their relationship with God, many believers say the Christian life "isn't working" or that they want a walk that's more than just "okay." After extensive research, including more than 50,000 surveys on what it takes to grow spiritually, Back to the Bible leaders Arnie Cole and Michael Ross have found the key to a vital, thriving walk with Christ--and they freely share it with readers.
But more than statistics and solid evidence for the power of engaging with the Bible, Unstuck gives readers a practical and proven way to encounter Scripture daily, connect with God, and revitalize an otherwise listless faith. This book is part of a new strategic ministry plan developed by Back to the Bible, which has been on the air for more than 70 years. Through multimedia products and services, the ministry is walking alongside individuals and churches, helping Christ-followers tap into and live out God's Word.
204 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
8 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 20, 2012
Is your relationship with God stuck in neutral? Are you not hearing His voice? Has your spiritual growth stalled? If so, then you are not alone; it seems that everyone gets stuck along the way somewhere and that’s what makes this book a must read.
I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my review. At first, I thought it’d be a fast read through, I’d give my opinion of whether I liked it or not and move forward to my next review. However, this book grabbed me from the first page; so, instead of a quick read, I found myself digging in and actually engaging the study.
Unstuck is about helping people to draw in closer to God through emerging themselves in the Bible. Emerging in the Word is more than a casual reading of scripture here or there. Without sounding preachy, Unstuck takes a closer look at why people get stuck.
Authors Arnie Cole & Michael Ross from Back to the Bible, include testimonies of other people’s life-stuck situations, along with sharing their own stories. They encourage people to read God’s word for themselves and not rely on someone else’s opinion. Through extensive surveys, Arnie and Michael have found that Christians who interact with God through the Bible at least four times per week reap significant spiritual benefits. This book inspires a relational fellowship with God that is not filled with formulas or religious rules. It helps people develop a two-way communication with the Father. Accordingly, this study isn’t about memorizing scripture but actually taking it in, metabolizing it, and allowing God’s Word to take root.
Unstuck has changed the way I communicate with God; it has helped strengthen my faith and I’m excited to read His Word again. I’d recommend that readers have their Bibles handy as each chapter has verses to look-up and a thought provoking question to ponder.
This book earns five stars and it is a welcome addition to my reference library.
Visit their website at http://www.unstuck.gotandem.com/ for even more tools to help you become Unstuck in your daily walk with God.
I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for my review. At first, I thought it’d be a fast read through, I’d give my opinion of whether I liked it or not and move forward to my next review. However, this book grabbed me from the first page; so, instead of a quick read, I found myself digging in and actually engaging the study.
Unstuck is about helping people to draw in closer to God through emerging themselves in the Bible. Emerging in the Word is more than a casual reading of scripture here or there. Without sounding preachy, Unstuck takes a closer look at why people get stuck.
Authors Arnie Cole & Michael Ross from Back to the Bible, include testimonies of other people’s life-stuck situations, along with sharing their own stories. They encourage people to read God’s word for themselves and not rely on someone else’s opinion. Through extensive surveys, Arnie and Michael have found that Christians who interact with God through the Bible at least four times per week reap significant spiritual benefits. This book inspires a relational fellowship with God that is not filled with formulas or religious rules. It helps people develop a two-way communication with the Father. Accordingly, this study isn’t about memorizing scripture but actually taking it in, metabolizing it, and allowing God’s Word to take root.
Unstuck has changed the way I communicate with God; it has helped strengthen my faith and I’m excited to read His Word again. I’d recommend that readers have their Bibles handy as each chapter has verses to look-up and a thought provoking question to ponder.
This book earns five stars and it is a welcome addition to my reference library.
Visit their website at http://www.unstuck.gotandem.com/ for even more tools to help you become Unstuck in your daily walk with God.
March 4, 2012
I won an advanced reading copy from Goodreads first read program.
This is an excellent book to get you out of any spiritual rut you are in. We all face them now and then. The book is broken into three parts: 1) why we stall out; 2) The Powered by Four Solution; and 3) Engage, Untangle...Grow!
The authors main point is to get into the Word of God through reading the Bible at least four days a week. Not just reading the Bible but savoring God's Word directly to us. Much of what is out there can be helpful but reading the Bible and reflecting on it and then applying it to our lives is what gets us moving to a personal relationship with Jesus everytime.
The authors provide you with 45 days of Bible readings to get you started. Thsnk you Arnie and Mike for a great book.
This is an excellent book to get you out of any spiritual rut you are in. We all face them now and then. The book is broken into three parts: 1) why we stall out; 2) The Powered by Four Solution; and 3) Engage, Untangle...Grow!
The authors main point is to get into the Word of God through reading the Bible at least four days a week. Not just reading the Bible but savoring God's Word directly to us. Much of what is out there can be helpful but reading the Bible and reflecting on it and then applying it to our lives is what gets us moving to a personal relationship with Jesus everytime.
The authors provide you with 45 days of Bible readings to get you started. Thsnk you Arnie and Mike for a great book.
March 13, 2013
I received this book much too long ago. I started out reading it quickly; it is interesting, mixing research and anecdotes with Scripture to form an interesting read. However, the deeper I got in, the longer it seemed to take to read. And I don't mean this in a negative way. I mean it in the best possible way for a Bible Study book. Some things simply cannot be read quickly. Some things need to be chewed on, contemplated. This is one such book.
The authors believe that an intimate relationship with God's Word is the only way to have a thriving faith-life. I agree. I've been taught that throughout my Lutheran upbringing. So why did I find this book so helpful, if I already knew their main point? (I did find it helpful. Incredibly so, in fact.)
I don't remember ever having been given an actual, practical way to read my Bible. Aside from just being told to read it. It may be that I was given further instruction, but it is likely that I was not paying attention, due to distraction, immaturity, or some combination. This book does that, though. The more I read of it (and I have not yet finished it; I decided that enough was enough and I needed to get this review done. If I change my mind about the book by the time I reach the end, I will update my review.), the more I am convinced of the importance of the Word in our lives as God's children and followers of Christ. I may not agree with some of the terms they use for the conversion experience, but there are several things that I absolutely love about Unstuck.
First of all, they don't shy away from calling people sinners. Too much of modern theology does that. "If you try hard, do your best, it'll be ok." Untrue! We can't ever do enough to be ok. We will never do enough to be right before God. Thanks be to Him for His mercy shown in Jesus Christ, who has done enough to pay for our sins.
Secondly, they contend that none of our human experiences can really help us. It's God's Word that does the working in our lives, that can make changes in us. I love that! What a relief that it isn't on me!
Finally, the book leads us on a path to "engaging" the Bible, to allowing God to work through this means of grace. He has promised to be present in His Word. How are we to receive this if we aren't reading that Word?
Of course, I come from a Lutheran background, so reading the book from that perspective does find some flaws in the theology. But with a grain of salt, the book is really helpful in leading a person to reading the Bible and recognising how it all points to Christ and works in our lives.
The authors believe that an intimate relationship with God's Word is the only way to have a thriving faith-life. I agree. I've been taught that throughout my Lutheran upbringing. So why did I find this book so helpful, if I already knew their main point? (I did find it helpful. Incredibly so, in fact.)
I don't remember ever having been given an actual, practical way to read my Bible. Aside from just being told to read it. It may be that I was given further instruction, but it is likely that I was not paying attention, due to distraction, immaturity, or some combination. This book does that, though. The more I read of it (and I have not yet finished it; I decided that enough was enough and I needed to get this review done. If I change my mind about the book by the time I reach the end, I will update my review.), the more I am convinced of the importance of the Word in our lives as God's children and followers of Christ. I may not agree with some of the terms they use for the conversion experience, but there are several things that I absolutely love about Unstuck.
First of all, they don't shy away from calling people sinners. Too much of modern theology does that. "If you try hard, do your best, it'll be ok." Untrue! We can't ever do enough to be ok. We will never do enough to be right before God. Thanks be to Him for His mercy shown in Jesus Christ, who has done enough to pay for our sins.
Secondly, they contend that none of our human experiences can really help us. It's God's Word that does the working in our lives, that can make changes in us. I love that! What a relief that it isn't on me!
Finally, the book leads us on a path to "engaging" the Bible, to allowing God to work through this means of grace. He has promised to be present in His Word. How are we to receive this if we aren't reading that Word?
Of course, I come from a Lutheran background, so reading the book from that perspective does find some flaws in the theology. But with a grain of salt, the book is really helpful in leading a person to reading the Bible and recognising how it all points to Christ and works in our lives.
September 3, 2012
I was initially turned off by the writing style of this book, only to be won over by the structure of it! A chapter, followed by a few days of homework, consisting of a Scripture and a question about the Scripture. There is also a website you're supposed to visit daily and journal and group emails with stories and more Scripture and more questions on which you can comment. The phone calls are clearly geared towards younger folks (dude, did I get old already? Yes, middle-age suits me!). I might take my name off the list for those. But I LOVE reading these bite-size bits of Scripture and love even more thinking about the questions they ask along w/ those Scriptures. It really makes me feel like I'm thinking about something important and interesting... interacting w/ my faith in a way that maybe I never have before. So, that's chapter 1; let's see about chapter 2!
Ok, chapter 2 was mostly awesome! Part of chapter 2 really pissed me off, but you'd have to know me and the story to get why. I am completely into this book! LOVE it! It is truly one of the more honest, non-superficial Christian books I've ever read! Thank you Cole & Ross for going the extra mile and creating this wonderful book. And can you suggest to BethanyHouse that perhaps the time for putting refrains in books (i.e. "something's gone wrong") is over and we can now move on to something else because the public is mature and educated enough to handle it. We don't have to be spoon-fed our religion at a 7th grade level. Or maybe I'm an ivory tower snob. That could also be it. Your first chapter nearly threw me off because it fell into that familiar Christian formula. And your book is so much more. Thank God I kept pressing through!
Ok, chapter 2 was mostly awesome! Part of chapter 2 really pissed me off, but you'd have to know me and the story to get why. I am completely into this book! LOVE it! It is truly one of the more honest, non-superficial Christian books I've ever read! Thank you Cole & Ross for going the extra mile and creating this wonderful book. And can you suggest to BethanyHouse that perhaps the time for putting refrains in books (i.e. "something's gone wrong") is over and we can now move on to something else because the public is mature and educated enough to handle it. We don't have to be spoon-fed our religion at a 7th grade level. Or maybe I'm an ivory tower snob. That could also be it. Your first chapter nearly threw me off because it fell into that familiar Christian formula. And your book is so much more. Thank God I kept pressing through!
September 25, 2012
This was a great book on a theme that I struggle with myself. It is about getting ourselves out of that spot in our Christian faith where we feel stuck; far from God, distant from our faith, and unable to move forward with Christ. The book is full of research and is well-written for those who need more than inspirational words. The authors discuss their research that supports their main premise for becoming "unstuck": "engaging" in scripture, not only by reading, but taking the time to hear from God as well. They discuss the importance of two-way communication with God, not just whipping through obligatory Bible reading time or church time, but really taking the time to talk with God and hear from Him. The book includes prompts at the end of each chapter for daily engagement, and if you go to the site they recommend at the end of each chapter, more in-depth daily guides are available for download as pdfs. They also offer a forty-five free trial (for those who purchase the book) to their service in which a counselor gives you a customized plan for your personal spiritual growth and also get phone calls, emails or texts to encourage your growth. I did not try this service yet, but enjoyed the book and am looking forward to downloading the prompts and working through them. I recommend this book for any Christian who feels like they are stagnant in their faith.
I recieved a copy of this book from the Publisher for my honest review.
I recieved a copy of this book from the Publisher for my honest review.
July 3, 2016
The premise for this book is the theory that every Christian becomes "stuck" in their walk and needs a little push to get back into the joy of following Christ. It's a 45 day challenge to encourage you to dig into the Bible and become reacquainted with God. At the end of each chapter is gives scripture and a question for the next several days. There is also a website to compliment the book and further your Bible study.
This book was a bit of a drag for me. I loved the idea and was really excited to read it. But after the personal testimonies were finished, in the first part of the book, I was stuck. I had to really make myself read through the rest of the book. It was so full of facts and research. I honestly couldn't see myself plowing through it if I was really stuck spiritually. It certainly isn't something I'd give a friend who confided being stuck. Just go read your Bible and don't bother with the book. I think the authors had a great idea and somehow it just didn't come through.
I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.
This book was a bit of a drag for me. I loved the idea and was really excited to read it. But after the personal testimonies were finished, in the first part of the book, I was stuck. I had to really make myself read through the rest of the book. It was so full of facts and research. I honestly couldn't see myself plowing through it if I was really stuck spiritually. It certainly isn't something I'd give a friend who confided being stuck. Just go read your Bible and don't bother with the book. I think the authors had a great idea and somehow it just didn't come through.
I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.
August 27, 2013
A very good practical book about the importance of the Word. Reading the Bible and ingesting it is the key to growth. Recommend reading for anyone, especially new believers.
April 7, 2018
As Christians, we often get in a rut with our spiritual lives. Hard times may come and we don't know why things are going wrong and we wonder if God even cares. We question why this is happening to us and sometimes we even wonder if it is worth following God. After all, if He truly loved us like He said He does would He allow this to happen to me?
I don't know the excuses for every believer, but I know my excuses. I know that I've wondered many times how do I live a life that is honoring to God. How do I have a passion for Christ - continually? There always seem to be questions and often it seems hard to get any answers.
When I saw that this book touched on the very topic of many of my questions, I jumped at the chance to read it. The answer is simple: read your Bible. As you read your Bible, God is able to communicate to you in a very real way.
For most Christians, I doubt this book is going to have a "new" solution for you. But their whole point is we don't know God and we don't know what He would have for us because we aren't reading His Words to us. It isn't a hard answer, though it can be a very difficult thing to do.
This book addresses many of the excuses that we give for not reading the Bible and goes into how profitable it is to read your Bible at least 4 days a week to see continual growth. Even though I'm telling you more about a book than I normally would, I don't feel that this is going to "ruin" the book and its contents for you.
The authors are very down-to-earth and share many stories of other believers who have been stuck in a rut and how the Bible has transformed them. They even include their own stories.
I really enjoyed reading this book even though it really wasn't eye-opening it was a good reminder of where we find the source of our life. This book would make an awesome study for an individual or for a Bible study group. The end of each chapter gives a Scripture passage to remember and a thought to consider. It asks questions to make you think about what is going on in your own spiritual walk with God.
I would highly recommend this book to anybody that is struggling in their spiritual walk because it has such practical applications.
I received this book for free through Bethany House and was under no obligation to give it a positive review. All the thoughts in this review are my own.
I don't know the excuses for every believer, but I know my excuses. I know that I've wondered many times how do I live a life that is honoring to God. How do I have a passion for Christ - continually? There always seem to be questions and often it seems hard to get any answers.
When I saw that this book touched on the very topic of many of my questions, I jumped at the chance to read it. The answer is simple: read your Bible. As you read your Bible, God is able to communicate to you in a very real way.
For most Christians, I doubt this book is going to have a "new" solution for you. But their whole point is we don't know God and we don't know what He would have for us because we aren't reading His Words to us. It isn't a hard answer, though it can be a very difficult thing to do.
This book addresses many of the excuses that we give for not reading the Bible and goes into how profitable it is to read your Bible at least 4 days a week to see continual growth. Even though I'm telling you more about a book than I normally would, I don't feel that this is going to "ruin" the book and its contents for you.
The authors are very down-to-earth and share many stories of other believers who have been stuck in a rut and how the Bible has transformed them. They even include their own stories.
I really enjoyed reading this book even though it really wasn't eye-opening it was a good reminder of where we find the source of our life. This book would make an awesome study for an individual or for a Bible study group. The end of each chapter gives a Scripture passage to remember and a thought to consider. It asks questions to make you think about what is going on in your own spiritual walk with God.
I would highly recommend this book to anybody that is struggling in their spiritual walk because it has such practical applications.
I received this book for free through Bethany House and was under no obligation to give it a positive review. All the thoughts in this review are my own.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews