Some really good nuggets can be found in here.

Particularly, it delves into how we can best assist one another in coping with life. After all, when we really look at it, none of us is truly normal.

I really liked his thoughts regarding accountability among one another, empathy, and forgiveness.

John Ortberg has a gentle and self-deprecating sense of humour. He also has a knack for finding illustrations and quotes that are just spot-on.

His insights offer valuable perspectives on human relationships and how we can better understand and support each other in our daily lives.

Whether it's learning to take responsibility for our actions, showing empathy towards others, or forgiving those who have wronged us, these are all essential aspects of living a fulfilling and meaningful life.

By reading his work, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and those around us, and perhaps even find new ways to cope with the challenges that come our way.

Overall, it's a great read that offers a wealth of wisdom and practical advice.

We all encounter those "porcupine people" in our lives. They are the ones who manage to hurt us, whether it was their intention or not.

However, if we take a moment to look in the mirror, we might be surprised to discover that we ourselves can sometimes act like porcupines. Each one of us has our own unique idiosyncrasies, and in the process of interacting with others, we all inadvertently cause some degree of pain.

Yet, even porcupines have found a way to dance with one another without inflicting harm. And so can we. Humans are social beings, created for community. Although none of us can claim to be "normal," we have the capacity to learn how to become true and authentic friends here on earth. In essence, we can learn the art of the "porcupine dance" and accept the fact that we all come "as is" until we reach our perfected state in heaven.

I truly appreciate how Ortberg guides us through the steps of building a community "as-is" on earth. Moreover, he concludes the book with a captivating chapter about the true nature of heaven. This chapter is perhaps the most profound and inspiring one I've ever read on the subject of heaven. The book is not only a great read but also guarantees some light-hearted moments along the way. Ortberg has a remarkable talent for incorporating humor into his object lessons, making the learning process both enjoyable and engaging.

The first section of the book carefully examines and explains what the author refers to as ‘normal’, though I would rather use the term 'healthy'. It delves into how far we all deviate from this ideal state.

The second section focuses on the aspect of getting closer to other people. It consists of chapters dedicated to empathy, authenticity, and acceptance. The author enriches these chapters with self-deprecating anecdotes and general commentaries, all presented in a light-hearted yet deeply thought-provoking manner.

The final section broadens the scope to building stronger relationships in general. It includes an outstanding chapter on forgiveness, which contains some truly thought-provoking remarks about the real meaning of forgiveness. Throughout the book, whenever relevant, Gospel stories are unpacked. The author uses modern language and analogies to vividly illustrate how Jesus managed relationships and closeness.

This book is specifically written for Christians, presuming a general familiarity with the Bible. I would highly recommend it to anyone with such a background, especially those who are feeling hurt or overlooked by other believers.

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I did this in a small group.

Overall, it was not bad. There were some really useful insights that emerged during the process, which in turn sparked a great deal of discussion among us.

However, it must be said that the content seems a bit of a hodgepodge of chapters. At times, it feels as if the different parts are not really connected. But perhaps that's the beauty of it.

I guess it means that if there's a chapter that you don't particularly like, there's a good chance that the next one will be completely different. This keeps things interesting and unpredictable, and makes you want to keep reading to see what comes next.

All in all, despite its flaws, it was a worthwhile experience that gave us a lot to think about and discuss.

This piece is very firmly in the "fine" category.

It was an approachable book, which is a plus. It did have a few interesting points here and there. However, when it comes to really standing out, it falls short.

In fact, as I was reading, I couldn't help but feel that the majority of the book was simply quoting other writers.

The premise of the book is quite good. It posits that we are all broken people, and that our brokenness can be harnessed to build community.

This is a powerful and relevant idea in today's society.

Unfortunately, there just wasn't anything particularly special about the way this book conveyed that idea.

The writing was somewhat平淡 and didn't really engage me on a deeper level.

Overall, it was an okay read, but not one that I would highly recommend.

I had to lower my rating of this book when I saw the accompanying video and group discussion guide. I truly love Jesus and have a great admiration for John Ortberg. The book itself was extremely well-written, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I have also attended numerous sermons and lectures given by him at Willowcreek over the years.

However, I am a bit put off by the way that Christianity is being presented in this context. It seems as if it is only being presented in the same manner as business management training and sales presentations. This approach doesn't quite sit right with me, as I believe Christianity should be more about spiritual growth and a personal relationship with God.

Despite this, I still believe that this book is a great read. It contains many valuable insights and teachings that can help readers grow in their faith. The only reason it lost a star is because its marketing contradicted the message in the book. Overall, I would still recommend this book to others who are interested in learning more about Christianity and spiritual growth.

This is an excellent book that offers a great reading experience!

His perspective on heaven or the new heaven and earth is truly beneficial. It makes you understand that this is what we truly desire, rather than just continuing to exist in the same old way here.

The last chapter is extremely effective in making the next life something that you yearn for right now!

It presents a thought-provoking and engaging exploration of these profound concepts, leaving the reader with a sense of hope and anticipation for what lies beyond this earthly existence.

The author's writing style is clear and accessible, making it easy for readers to follow and absorb the ideas presented.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the topic of heaven and the afterlife, and it is sure to leave a lasting impression on your mind and heart.

This guy is truly amazing!

He has an extraordinary gift for transforming an ordinary event into a profound spiritual lesson. What's more, he has the ability to carefully study bible passages and then apply their teachings to our daily lives in a meaningful way.

After listening to him, I find myself deeply challenged in some of my relationships and attitudes towards others. It makes me realize that there is always room for improvement and growth in how I interact with those around me. His words have really opened my eyes and made me think more deeply about my actions and behaviors. I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to listen to him and learn from his wisdom.

This is the third book that I have perused by this author, and without a doubt, it is my favorite.

To begin with, I have an absolute affinity for the title. It immediately catches one's attention and sets the tone for what lies within.

Secondly, the author has a remarkable way of presenting information. He eschews being preachy and instead employs real-life humorous stories to convey his message. This makes the reading experience not only informative but also highly entertaining.

Here are a few of my cherished quotes from the book.

"Our need for community with people and the God who made us is to the human spirit what food and air and water are to the human body." This quote beautifully encapsulates the significance of community in our lives.

"God created human beings because he was so in love with community that he wanted a world full of people to share it with." It offers a profound perspective on the purpose of our existence.

"There is a world of difference between being friendly to someone because they're useful to you and being someone's friend." This statement serves as a reminder of the true nature of friendship.

Overall, this book is a gem that I would highly recommend to anyone.

I think it's a 3.5, but I'll say 4.

The book is truly interesting. I initially began reading it within a book club. The porcupine/hedgehog analogy, which was extremely accurate, could potentially have been utilized a bit later in the book. I have a complete understanding of how long it takes for two of these creatures to mate. It requires a considerable amount of time to form a bond. It's truly incredible. However, they literally have only a one-week window for this. It served as a great analogy for the process of bonding in friendship. It's like a tango of thorns, where you always have that one week when you're close. The rest of the time, you're either overly guarded, defensive, shy, or whatever the case may be. I really liked this particular aspect of the book.

I sincerely hope that I haven't spoiled it for anyone.

This is an easy-to-read book that is both entertaining and contains some thought-provoking parts.

However, Mr. Ortberg's liberal license with Scripture is a bit disconcerting. He seems to take liberties with the text in a way that makes one question the authenticity of his interpretations.

Moreover, he often overwrites his point, which instead of adding clarity or wisdom, merely adds verbosity and murkiness. His writing style can be a bit convoluted at times, making it difficult to follow his train of thought.

Nevertheless, this book is a quick read that highlights the importance of living together in community. It reminds us that we are not meant to live in isolation but rather to come together and support one another.

Despite its flaws, there are still some valuable insights to be gained from this book. It may not be a perfect read, but it is definitely worth considering for those who are interested in exploring the topic of community.

While this book is lauded by many others, what irks me about it is the lack of proper citation or reference for the Bible verses it contains. I would shy away from such books and writers for this very reason. Just because something sounds good or accurate on the surface doesn't mean it is. Without knowing the source and context of the Bible verses, they can easily be misinterpreted or taken out of context. John Ortberg, in this case, should be more diligent in providing the出处 of his Bible verses instead of simply piecing them together to create an appealing exterior. Based on this, I would not recommend this book.