What Matters Most

"What Matters Most: How We Got the Point but Missed the Person" by Leonard Sweet. In reading this book, I have likely gained far more than I yet realize. While at times it seemed as though the author might be repeating information I found this helped to really drive home to me the concepts the author was teaching. As I would read and ponder on the authors message I gained a far more in-depth understanding of the purpose, value and essential importance of relationships. In my opinion this is not a book for the casual reader. I found the authors messages to be deep and meaningful, requiring much thought and pondering on my part. I kept a red pencil for highlighting as I found there were many points throughout the book that I recognized I would want to reflect back on. One very interesting point the author addresses is the story of Abraham and Isaac. Like the author, I too have struggled to understand that story. I anticipated I would read the usual telling with it's accompanying explanation. Instead what I found was a very thought provoking alternate way of interpreting those events. The author shares with us what is titled "Twenty Questions Of Faith"; his twenty questions about the story. He brought up some very interesting questions; some similar to questions of my own, most questions I didn't even know to ask. Further along a personal story is shared and the author poses the question, "How many times have I sacrificed being "in relationship" for the personal satisfaction of being "in the right"? How many times have I won the argument, but lost a friend or damaged a heart?" Overall the key message I gained from this book is the essential importance of relationship with Jesus Christ, with God and with my fellow human beings. I don't know that I can even begin to adequately give tribute to the value of the content of this book in a review. The only way to truly benefit from the wisdom and insight offered is to read it and ponder on it's message. I think the best way to summarize is to quote from the author: "Relationship is pivotal to Christian theology, because God is Love and Love is impossible outside of relationships." http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/bloggingforbooks/reviews/view/19855