Connecting: Healing Ourselves and Our Relationships

I need a larger print due to my vision problems but this book was in excellent condition.

When I was having dinner with Dr Crabb at the School of Spiritual Direction a few weeks ago, I remember during our conversation that I wondered aloud whether I was going through some of the same professional transition that he went through many years before as a professional psychologist. It felt arrogant saying it, and in no way would I imply that I am similarly brilliant, but it seemed that many of his struggles of 20 years ago are things that I struggle with. His book Connecting (1997) has strengthened that impression. In fact, on page 42, he wrote, "Was I afraid to just be with this man (a client), to take off the Dr Crabb white coat, to stop being an expert, and offer myself as a person?" This statement so closely mirrors what he told me--"I have no interest in knowing Dr Kanz, but I would really like to know Jason"--I wonder if he had this section in mind.Peppered throughout the book are references to the inadequacy of the professional model of helping for soul healing. Of course professionals can, and often do help, but what people often desire is connection, not professional therapy or legalistic moralism. In this book, Crabb discusses what connection may look like in relationships with one another.True connection, what Curt Thompson calls the desire to "be known", is at the heart of healing and soul work. We are relational beings created by a relational God, but as a result of the fall, we struggle to relate well. This book may provide some wisdom as to what it might look like to start down the path of connecting with one another. Highly recommended.

Larry Crabb doesn't write anything bad. If you can read something he has written, read it.. It will be a blessing to you. His books are especially helpful to people in recovery.

Larry Crabb does a very good job of bringing forth a common theme that many people have touched on, but few have presented so strongly a such an important idea. This book does a fantastic job through illustration and stories of showing how and why we need to connect, and gives a good starting point on how to do it.It is possible that the ideas in this book could be more thoroughly researched and referenced, however. While I believe the reasoning to be sound, it is more anecdotal than strongly grounded. Nonetheless, I have found it immediately useful in my life, and have been able to use the ideas presented here to great effect in my relational and spiritual life. As an introduction to the topic, it excels.Perhaps paradoxically, this book gives both lots of information, and at the same time demonstrates how relying on facts, knowledge, schemes, and plans get in our way, and distract us from God. That makes for a very challenging read. You have to take in the information, but then immediately take that new knowledge to God and not hold on to it tightly.I would definitely recommend this book to any Christian, particular those who wish to improve their ability to support those who are struggling.

Dr. Crabb presents a case for life and living that makes more sense than the seemingly logical course of life that commonly guides mankind. The rationale that humanity is capable within the parameters of its finite knowledge to understand, explain and fulfill its foundational needs and purposes through education and certification is faulty (but not without some merit) when measured against the infinite knowledge and purpose of a Creator Whose ultimate design is to have fulfilling relationship with Him through fulfilling relationship with Jesus Christ and each other.

My instructor referred to this book to read

My therapist recommended it (he is a Christian pastor) and I dutifully read it, but I could not clearly distinguish between what I would do out of my own experience (heart and mind) and whatGod might more prefer I do. I wish I could speak to Mr. Crabb and ask questions. I am trying my best to first feel for what God might do, and sometimes it works, and sometimes I can feel my ego in it. 😢 I WILL keep trying.

I can say that Larry Crabb is an author whom I've come to really love and respect. I have read several of his books and have not seen a bad one yet. This book is amazing and says exactly what it is I was unable to find the words to say. Anyone who has ever been disappointed in the lack of closeness in their social circles, and in church in particular will benefit from this book.

“Dear Lord, people I love are not doing well. My husband, my wife, my son, my daughter, my parent, my friend are struggling with weary, sick, discouraged, stubborn souls. Their response to life’s hardship is fleshly. God, use me to awaken their spirits by pouring your life through me into the hard ground of their hearts.”When I read the author’s praying above, I recognized that I have been kept praying like that. Nowadays I realized that with my limited wisdom, love, knowledge or other things, I cannot help the people enough, who are in spiritural suffering.Whenever People, who need to counsel and heal about their spiritual suffering, tell me about their problems and prayer requests, I feel severely difficult to respond with an adequate way to them. Whenever I think about their suffering situation and their hurt mind, that makes me so deeply depressed. So, I felt the need that I should keep praying to God for my unwavering spiritual health and fill my spirit with His Spirit.It became different challenges to me. To relieve the thirsty about solving the agony among our lives, I have interested in the Christian counselling and pastoral care. The author diagnosed that a lack of togetherness cause troubles in a human being and a community. He insisted that all common people have the ability to change other people’s lives worse or better. There are three reasons to make problems. One is “stubborn Will”. Another is “Psychological Damage”. The other is “Disconnected Soul”. The author suggests the third way to cure the problem. we need to be connected with God and neighbors in God.The author states his views that we cannot heal other souls through an advice or an instruction. Healing power does not come from telling people what they should do. To heal a community, it is useless to figure out what harmful psychological forces affect us to make problems.Even though we try to fix the problem, it could not be solved with the way. When people concentrate on releasing what’s good, the communities will be healed. The author connected the concepts between forgiveness of all sin, a guranteed future and the freedom of the hearts, because human being has an holiness. To reconnect with each other, we need repentance and forgiveness. He asserted that we could learn to release the power of that life within us, because the Holy Spirit is in us. The Holy Spirit affects to our life dynamically. The Holy Spirit’s main role is to connect with God, to draw us to Jesus Christ, to console us when we’re hurt in spirit.Human being was fallen after Adam and Eve ate the fruit of knowledge. To reconnect the relationship between God and the human being, God gave us the sacrificial offering, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ had a victory against the Satan. If human being trust Jesus Christ, God’s spirit descends into us, and stays with us. The author, Larry crabb, points out that if we want to help the spiritual war of other people to win, we, first, need to be filled with Jesus Christ. Then, through us, the energy of Jesus Christ flows to the person who needs to be healed.Modern psychological counsellors seek to find the solution such as in self-esteem or in self-ego, but it makes the selfishness publicly. It could be helpful to find out why people experience suffering, but it could not be fundamental solutions. Human fallen personality makes problems over and over. So, there are always problems in the world.In the book, there are a variety of concrete and factual cases, which happened among the life of the author. It helps readers to understand and apply the principles offered by the author for the questions. The author asks us to have the opportunity with biblically information and Spirit-guided ways.

Still ongoing

I didn't finish the book yet, but so far, I am very disappointed, even the words has no connection and doesn't make sense. He is talking, talking, but saying nothing.

Renewed my mind especially while I am currently doing a course in biblical counselling.

I got the book exactly as requested, although it was in slightly worse condition than I expected, but overall great.