MY TAKE on Oprah & Eckhart Tolle

Tolle's been getting a lot of play of late since Oprah picked him as one of her recent book club reads. She's also doing a multi-week class regarding his teachings. You can glean all sorts of information on this topic at You Tube. Here's a short clip from among many that will give you a flavor about Tolle and his message even though it involves Oprah: Http://UK.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4LLwkgmqA

I must tell you that I like Oprah. I admire her many accomplishments especially looking at her very early years. I like many of the good things she does for people all over the world. However, and it's a BIG HOWEVER, Oprah is deceived. I don't give a flip how many wonderful things any of us do in our "traveling through" earthly experience. Those things do not buy us what we're looking for...at least they didn't for me.

I'm sorry to say that I've traversed that slippery slope....buying into a lot of truth mixed with a bit of lie. Our adversary used these "teachings"/half-truths to take me out for several years. It can be intellectually enticing. It was for me! So, if you've ever considered yourself of above average intellect, your enemy has made note and this is one of his ways to war against you....even though it might not appear that way. (You can learn more about this perspective when you visit http://www.epicreality.com/.)

My calling is not one of exposing these deceivers....or even addressing these issues. Just be forewarned from someone who bit into all of this crap and swallowed it hook, line, and sinker that there can be an allure. It's NOT TRUTH. It's a tool of our enemy.

As long as I can remember, I've desired and pursued truth. No matter the cost, I want to know what is true. Here is TRUTH:

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6 NAS)

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name (Jesus Christ the Nazarene) under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12 NAS parenthesis mine)

It's not our place to pick and choose what we like from the scriptures, discarding the rest. Just because we, as created beings, decide we're our own god one day does not make it so.

Don't get me wrong, I have zero interest in traditional religion and the organized church business today. All of that did not help to address the many challenges I faced during a difficult season in my life. It did not bring me closer to Truth or a personal and intimate walk with the Living God. Running to God did!

If you're genuinely pursuing truth and want to know and walk with God, then go to Him. Go to what He says, of which these two sentences above are just a small taste.

Tolle is deceived. Sadly, so is Oprah.

WALKING WITH GOD

John Eldredge's new book, WALKING WITH GOD, is available this month. I was able to obtain an advance copy last fall. So I've actually read the book twice already. I like it. I like it a lot!



For as long as I can remember, I lean towards a contrarian viewpoint. Simply put, if the majority are doing something, do the opposite. Generally, I've been well served following this path in many areas of my life --- investing, career, family. I share this to say that if you are looking for a book that lays out a nice neatly packed 7 steps on how to walk with God, this is not for you. You can find that from a majority of today's writers in this genre. This is contrary to all of that.

As I read the book the first time I asked myself, "why would anyone put themselves out there like this?" Why be so vulnerable? You see, John opens up his personal journal and shares the reality of what walking with God day in and day out looks like for him. Even the way the book is formatted is not your typical fare. There are no chapters. I love it!

There is no doubt in my mind that some critics will say that the message will be hard to grasp...that overall themes will be difficult for readers to pick up because the book is formatted so differently. Have we become so dumbed down? Must we have everything so neatly packaged and served up so we can understand? Can't we accomplish anything without a quick and easy step-by-step formula that's supposed to deliver us to the goal right this minute?

I'm not that stupid! Most people I know of aren't either! Yet, this essential theme about how we were designed to live with our Creator has been lost. We must regain a conversational intimacy with our Designer...the way it was always meant to be.

It could be important for you to know that my life experiences left me cynical and not at all trusting of people. I TRUST JOHN ELDREDGE! In the past year I have been fortunate to be with John up close. I hunted side-by-side with him in a Colorado field. I sat across a dinner table with him in conversation for several hours. My wife and I spent 3 days in a very small group with his wife and him. I have looked into John's eyes and come to know that John Eldredge is the real deal.

His books, teachings, and ministry have been used as a catalyst to transform my life. WALKING WITH GOD has the potential to radically change your life, too. But only if you get it, open your mind and heart to its message, and read it.
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For more visit http://www.walkingwithgod.net/