This is a truly phenomenal book that delves deep into the realm of relationships and provides valuable insights on how we can please God within our relationships.

The author employs a plethora of illustrations, analogies, and creative approaches to present the concepts in a vivid and engaging manner. It makes the reading experience not only informative but also highly enjoyable.

I have found this book to be extremely beneficial and have developed a great liking for it. I firmly believe that it will serve as a valuable reference for me going forward in my journey of understanding and nurturing healthy relationships.

It offers practical advice and spiritual guidance that can help us navigate the complex web of human interactions and strive towards a more fulfilling and God-centered relationship experience.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in exploring the profound connection between our relationships and our spiritual lives.

This is my very first Ortberg read. To be honest, I read through the book at a pace that was perhaps a bit faster than I would have preferred. This was mainly because of a looming deadline for a book club that I found out about with very little notice.

I truly believe that this book would, in fact, be the ideal choice for a small group to go through together. The reason being that the issues that are brought up within its pages have the potential to spark a great deal of wonderful and thought-provoking discussion.

At the end of each chapter, there is a set of questions. I'm already anticipating that tonight, during the one-hour discussion, I might end up feeling a bit frustrated. This is because trying to cram in the entire book within such a short time frame seems rather challenging.

It's important to note that there weren't necessarily a whole lot of "new" ideas in the book, at least not for me. However, what was interesting was that these ideas were often presented in a fresh and engaging way, which made the reading experience quite worthwhile.

Overall, despite the rushed reading due to the tight deadline, I still think this book has a lot to offer and could be a great source of inspiration and discussion for a small group.

The title immediately caught my attention. I had always thought that "normal" was simply a function on a dryer. However, Ortberg kindly presents us with the dysfunctional families in the Bible, which serves to make us feel better and shows us how God can operate. Additionally, the chaotic marriages are also included. This really makes me feel much better.

It's truly eye-opening to see that even in the Bible, which is considered a source of spiritual guidance and inspiration, there are families and relationships that are far from perfect. It gives me hope that no matter how messed up my own life or relationships may seem, there is still a way forward with God's help.

I can't wait to stay tuned and learn more from Ortberg's insights. It's like a journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth that I'm eager to embark on. I'm sure there will be many more revelations and lessons to come.

The beginning of the book did not have a strong hold on me, and I was almost on the verge of abandoning it. However, I am truly glad that I did not make that hasty decision.

I was completely enamored with the way he retold the very familiar stories of people in the Bible. He did this in a novel way, either by adding rich historical and detailed storyline elements to them or by presenting modern-day equivalents. This approach really brought those stories to life and enabled me to establish a more intimate connection with them. I find myself wishing that I could read the entire Bible through such eyes, understanding how the original audience would have heard and received it.

In addition, I highly appreciated his personal stories, humorous jokes, and unique style. They constantly made me smile and, at times, even laugh out loud. His writing not only provided spiritual nourishment but also added a touch of lightheartedness and entertainment to the reading experience.

In some American stores, there are also sections where you can find goods at considerably reduced prices. The distinctive sign is a label attached to each item in that section, on which the same words are invariably written: "as-is". It's a euphemistic way of saying "defective product". Sometimes, they are called "sales" or "special products". The store thus informs you, honestly:

"This is the section with products that are not in order. Because here you will always find a crack, a stain that doesn't 'come out', a stuck zipper, a cap without a pair, and more - a place with problems! These products are not normal!

"Just that we won't tell you where the crack is! Look for it yourself!! But we know it's somewhere... So, when you find it - because you will find it! - don't come to us with complaints and whining! Because whenever you come into contact with such goods, the basic rule is:

If you're looking for perfect things, you haven't come to the right place here! Therefore, you have been warned! So, if you want this goods, assume the risk: take it as-is!"

This practice of having an "as-is" section in stores gives consumers the opportunity to potentially find bargains, but it also requires them to be vigilant and willing to accept the imperfections that come with the reduced prices. It's a trade-off that some shoppers are more than willing to make in order to get a good deal. However, it's important for consumers to carefully inspect the items before making a purchase to ensure that they are still satisfied with the product despite its flaws.

This book delves into some of the profound biblical concepts regarding community and friendship, and also offers insights on how to attain them.

It served as the ideal companion during train commutes. John Ortberg's personal writing style is amiable, witty, and astonishingly easy to understand.

I discovered that it was extremely convenient to resume reading exactly where I left off each time I got off the train. His tone makes it feel as if you are simply listening to stories from a friend.

In this book, he expounds on community by means of a combination of anecdotes and Bible stories. I adored the way he delved deeper into the Bible stories to explain them in a highly accessible manner, while also supplementing that with his own life experiences. This truly makes the illustrations crystal clear and all his points resonate deeply.

He also provided several pointers on how to apply the teachings to our lives and practical tips that I found to be beneficial as well. It is truly a remarkable read and I would highly recommend it.

We read and discussed this book for our Community Group over a period of 12 weeks.

Some of the chapters in the beginning were rather basic and perhaps not as engaging. However, as we delved deeper into the book, it seemed to improve.

The overall experience of working through this book as a group was quite good. It has managed to stimulate some really interesting discussions among the members.

Moreover, it has also encouraged everyone to open up and share their thoughts and feelings more freely.

I believe that this book has served its purpose well in bringing the group closer together and facilitating meaningful conversations.

It has provided a platform for us to learn from each other and grow as individuals within the community.

Although it had its initial drawbacks, the positive aspects that emerged as we continued reading made it a worthwhile endeavor for our Community Group.

We look forward to exploring more such books in the future to further enhance our group's dynamics and understanding.

John's books have always been a great source of entertainment and inspiration.

This particular one is no exception. He really gets to the heart of the matter.

It seems that we all tend to believe that our lives are more difficult or our relationships are more messed up than those of others.

However, the truth is that we all come from the "slightly irregular" shelf.

Learning to embrace and love this aspect of ourselves and growing through it can lead to a less stressful life.

We should stop comparing ourselves to others and start focusing on our own unique journey.

By doing so, we can find peace and happiness within ourselves.

John's book serves as a reminder of this important lesson.

It encourages us to look at our lives from a different perspective and to find the beauty and value in our imperfections.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a thought-provoking and uplifting read.

This is truly one of the most enchanting non-fiction books that I have had the pleasure of reading.

It offers a truly open-hearted and open-minded exploration into how we conduct ourselves within a community and how we are perceived by others, despite our inherent judgmental tendencies.

The author presents a remarkable paradigm shift regarding how we should treat people and how to exercise patience with those whom we might otherwise be reluctant to invest our time in.

By delving deep into these aspects, the book provides valuable insights and practical wisdom that can transform our interactions and relationships.

It challenges us to look beyond our initial judgments and to approach others with kindness, understanding, and an open heart.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking to improve their social skills and enhance their ability to connect with others on a deeper level.

This is a book that delves into the concept of community.

It poses the question: What does it truly mean to establish connections with others?

Ortberg explores various themes such as forgiveness, inclusion, and confrontation in an accessible manner, providing valuable insights on how to connect with those around us.

The book is recommended for both individual study and group discussions, as it offers thought-provoking ideas that can enhance our understanding of human relationships.

However, upon a second reading in 2021, it was noted that some of the material seemed a bit dated.

As a result, the overall impression was not as strong as the first time through, leading to a rating of 3 stars.

Despite this, the book still contains many relevant and useful concepts that can be applied to our daily lives.

The first two or three chapters were quite promising.

It seemed as if this book was going to provide practical ideas on how to build stronger relationships.

However, as one delved deeper into the later chapters, they appeared to be less useful.

These chapters contained an excessive amount of pop psychology, such as reading body language.

There were also clichéd sermon illustrations that failed to add much value.

In addition, the attempts at humor were only marginally relevant and did not really enhance the overall content.

Overall, while the initial chapters showed potential, the later ones fell short of expectations, leaving the reader with a somewhat disappointing impression of the book's ability to truly offer practical and valuable insights on relationship building.

I really liked this book a great deal.

Inside it, there is a chapter specifically dedicated to gratitude.

I have this strong sense that I will have to read and then reread that particular chapter.

Thank you, John Ortberg, for yet another book that is both challenging and filled with quotable lines.

I still have approximately 4 more books of his to go through.

Each time I pick up one of his books, I know I'm in for a thought-provoking journey.

The way he presents his ideas and concepts makes me stop and reflect on my own life and beliefs.

This book on gratitude is no exception.

I'm looking forward to delving deeper into it and seeing how it can impact my perspective on life.

I'm sure that with each reread, I'll discover something new and valuable.

And as I continue to work my way through the remaining 4 books, I'm excited to see what other insights and wisdom John Ortberg has in store for me.