Love Ropes

• ISBN13: 9780385473071
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
Seeing a reproduction of Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son catapulted Henri Nouwen on a long spiritual adventure. Here he shares the deeply personal meditation that led him to discover the place within where God… More >>

The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming

1. Eliot Landrum says:

   February 5, 2010 at 3:12 am

   After reading this book and then checking the reviews here on Amazon[.com], I have to say that I’m very disappointed. I’m disappointed that so many people find this book worthwhile. I had the hardest time working through this book because of unfounded ideas, extreme extrapolation, and emotional “gushiness.” I’m glad that some people find value in this book, but I have read tremendously better “spiritual classics” (as another reviewer commented). If you are looking for spiritual classics, try C.S. Lewis, Francis Shaeffer, R.C. Sproul, and even Max Lucado. These authors base their ideas on truth (gasp!) and logic (gasp, again!) instead of extrapolation from a painting and the feelings resulting from viewing the painting.

   Nouwen has an amazing ability to pull emotional garbage out of thin air and apply that to the Christian life. I’m sorry, Nouwen, have you perhaps read the Bible? The Bible is not based on emotion. The Bible and the Christian life are based on truth. Speaking of reading the Bible, Nouwen says on page 107: “but now I realize that the real sin is to deny God’s first love for me, to ignore my original goodness.” Romans 3:23 pretty clearly says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

   Looking for a worthwhile read? Don’t waste your time. More helpful, intelligent, Bible-oriented books have been written by many fine Christian authors. Nouwen isn’t one of them by any definition of the phrase.
   Rating: 1 / 5
2. Ricardo Temprano Toranzo says:

   February 5, 2010 at 3:25 am

   The edges of the pages are all of them mismatched. Thit is the reason that make this book a bad election for a gift.
   Rating: 1 / 5
3. Steve Gifford says:

   February 5, 2010 at 5:01 am

   Best part: the chapter on the elder son, the one stayed, the one who demands penance from his little brother, the one who doesn’t understand his father’s tremendous compassion and forgiveness
   Rating: 3 / 5
4. Will Will says:

   February 5, 2010 at 5:27 am

   Not one of the best of Nouwen’s books. I expected him to tell more about the parable and not about his reaction to the painting.
   Rating: 2 / 5
5. bonnie says:

   February 5, 2010 at 7:17 am

   I wanted to like this book as it is so highly praised by people I admire. It was a selection for our church book club and I’m glad I had exposure to Father Nouwen’s interpretation of the message of the Prodigal Son, one of my favorite New Testament passages. Unfortunately it did not arouse much spirituality in me. I felt that Father Nouwen overworked the connectedness between his own experiences and the biblical message. It was a long slog to finish the book which engendered guilt in me for not being more moved by Father Nouwen’s words. He was a dedicated and thoughtful Christian who lead an exemplary life of charity and service but his message here was diminished by repetition. Prudent editing would have resulted in a more readable and inspirational book.
   Rating: 2 / 5