Wednesday, July 16, 2008

"Love as a Way of Life": A book review and 2 giveaways!

~Congratulations to the winners of the Love as a way of Life, book. They have been contacted. Contest is now closed.~
Dr. Gary Chapman's book Love As A Way of Life, is a great guide book to help us to love others in our relationships. We are relational people, and designed to love our "neighbor." I got so much benefit out of reading this book! I learned how I can change different ways I respond to people in situations.
Dr. Chapman view's love not as a single entity, but as a cluster of traits, which if developed will enhance all of life. These traits are:
Kindness: discovering the joy of helping others
Patience: accepting the imperfections of others
Forgiveness: finding freedom from the grip of anger
Courtesy: treating others as friends
Humility: stepping down so someone else can step up
Generosity: giving your time, money, and abilities to others
Honesty: caring enough to tell the truth
In the book, Love As A Way of Life, Dr. Chapman presents poignant stories of real people who have discovered the joys of living out the seven characteristics of authentic love. There is so much to learn, and I am thankful to have this book to always go back to for good, and helpful tips. I really liked the Habits to Acquire (how we can use what we learn in the book, to make it a good habit), Questionnaires (self tests to challenge our thoughts), and the Competitor (or the enemies that work against developing our character traits) sections in the book. I think that Dr. Chapman is so insightful, and God has given him such wisdom with relationship topics.
About the Author:
Dr. Gary Chapman is the author of twenty-five books, including the New York Times bestseller The Five Love Languages, with more than 4 million copies in print. His daily radio program, A Love Language Minute, is broadcast on more than 100 stations nationwide. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Wheaton College, Wake-Forest University, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, serves on the pastoral staff at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
WOULD you like to WIN YOUR OWN COPY of Love As A Way of Life? This is open to all non-bloggers and bloggers of the United States! There will be 2 winners picked at random. Please leave a comment telling me what your favorite holiday is. If you want, you can tell me why. Click here to see how you can earn extra credits. Good Luck! This contest is open until July 28th at 7:00 PM CST.

109 comments:

  1. My favorite holiday is Halloween as I love to see all the creative costumes people and children dress up in.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have to say christmas as that is my birthday and it is a time I don't have to send invitations and everyone gathers not only to celebrate the christmas holiday, but also I get to spend time with others on my birthday. To me that is pretty special.

    platt
    neneelynn@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. My favorite holiday is hands down Christmas. I love everything about it, from the decorations, to the time spent with family, to the feeling of peace and joy.

    Jillian (jordan.jillian@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love Christmas because the season lasts for a month and everyone seems so happy, pleasant and content that time of year. I love gathering with my family and just enjoying each others company.
    Laura
    lrooker@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. My favorite is Thanksgiving--great time to spend with family and friends without much commerical frenzy

    ReplyDelete
  6. My favorite holiday is Christmas. It's just a great time.

    ReplyDelete
  7. My favorite holidays are Christmas because we celebrate Jesus birth then Easter because we celebrate His resurrection.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Its hard to pick one holiday but I really like Christmas and Valentines day!!! One for all the family and one to celebrate love!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Definitely Christmas. It is a time of year that brings my family together and reminds us of how much we love each other and how much we share.

    ReplyDelete
  10. to be honest I love the summer holidays especially fourth of july- yes I love Christmas but we get together because of school, weather over the summer nad the fourth is so beautiful celbrating freedom, family and the beauty of the outdoors

    ReplyDelete
  11. I know this is not original - however true it may be :-) - but Christmas is my favorite holiday. It is the only one I do much decorating for, and I definitely believe that the Christmas holiday starts Dec. 1st and goes all the way through Jan. 1st. :-) I love the music, the lights, the giving to others, the food and the family time.

    Thanks for the chance to win! This looks like a really great book.
    author_erin(at)lycos(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would definitely have to say that Christmas is my favorite holiday. It's the one time of the year, that the WHOLE family gets together to just have fun, no excuses!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've always loved Halloween.
    gkstratos@ yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Also a subscriber. Thanks.
    gkstratos@ yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. My favorite holiday is definitely Christmas. I still look forward to that time of year even as I did as a child!

    cjnedrow@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. My favorite holiday is the 4th of July, as it is also my birthday, it's warm and summertime, and I love BBQs and fireworks!

    ReplyDelete
  17. My favorite holiday is Christmas

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love Halloween! Such a fun time of the year with the wonderful decorations and the beautiful fall weather. And I know there aren't a lot of sad people out there missing their loved ones like at Christmas and Thanksgiving.
    susies@alltel.net

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love Christmas because of the togetherness and the giving feeling surrounding the season.
    doot65 at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  20. Christmas, by far. I love the intimacy of my family all getting together, and no matter what are problems are, we can all come together and share in the same holiday and the same experience.

    Danielle
    ddevizia@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. I love getting together with family and all that yummy food. I also like all the fall/harvest decorations.

    ReplyDelete
  22. My favorite holiday is Halloween.
    Love seeing the kids dressed in costume, handing out candy, watching scary movies, and going to haunted houses.
    partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. My favorite holiday is Christmas. I start getting pretty giddy in...well...October lol I just love the excuses that the month+ between Thanksgiving and give us to be with our family and to say "thank you" and "I love you." I know we shouldn't need these excuses, but it just gives us all a reason to slow down a bit, and be with our family. (In theory, ya know lol)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I also subscribe to your blog through my google homepage :) I love checking back, and seeing your blog button on the other blogs I cant stay off of ;)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Christmas! I love all of the decorations and lights. We like to drive around at night and see some of the amazing displays that people put up at their home.

    pamela.callahan@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  26. Easter - the Ultimate Love !

    ReplyDelete
  27. As a football freak, I'm gonna say Thanksgiving. Not for the food, but for the football...LOL

    iluv2pray@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. We have the big gathering of family, which I like, but the stress is not there and the decorations are simple and natural.
    itaskah@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  29. My favorite holiday is Easter. It is such a beautiful time of year.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I love Christmas. I collect Santas and they stay out year round.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Christmas it is. That book sounds like just what I need right now.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thank you for having this contest. I really appreciate it.

    ReplyDelete
  33. christmas of course. I love how it feels. i love how it smells. and i love how it tastes. it is truly the most wonderful time of the year

    ReplyDelete
  34. easter- it reminds me of the sacrifice made on my behalf

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love Thanksgiving; the crisp yet not too cold time of year, the great food, family and friends...christmas shopping the day after too!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Thanksgiving has always been a favorite holiday since I was young. We would go to grandma's house watch the Macy's parade, have a big meal and watch football. All very memorable.

    ReplyDelete
  37. thanksgiving.. good company and great food make a fantastic holiday

    ReplyDelete
  38. I have no favorite holiday. I distain them all. I wish I could embrace them....b

    ReplyDelete
  39. Christmas is my favorite holiday!

    dbstout[at]juno[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  40. My favourite holiday would most likely be Christmas. We always just make it a simple family day, but the food is always awesome.

    michelle at northofthe49 dot com

    ReplyDelete
  41. We all love Christmas of course but I have avorite holidaywould have to be Easter because it is the sign of Spring for me with everything getting ready to bloom and the World waking up from it's winters sleep!

    ReplyDelete
  42. definitely Christmas! as soon as it's over I start looking forward to the next year's.

    gotfire [at] yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Christmas is my fave...I love going to my Aunt Mary's on Christmas Eve. In years past before my favorite uncle fell ill, I used to pick him up on Christmas eve and bring him back the day after Christmas. He would spoil me rotten with wonderful lunch treats on both days. I love Christmas beause of the time with friends and family. The cold air in the wintertime is refreshing and there's nothing like seeing people's homes decorated for Christmas. My Dad used to call me his "spirit of Christmas". I miss Dad so much. He, too, loved Christmas.

    majqa1966@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. I love Easter. I love the newness of the spring season pairing with the hope of all Christ did for us. Easter baskets aren't too bad, either! :0)

    Thanks! This book caught my eye a while back.
    Megret
    musesofmegret@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  45. My favorite is Christmas because that usually means that I get to go home and spend time with my family.

    I also subscribed via Yahoo and I've added a link to the contest on my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I guess I should have done this seperately.

    I subscribed.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I just did my post about the contest.

    ReplyDelete
  48. My favorite holiday has always been Halloween! It's near my birthday, and I love autumn and dressing up :)

    ReplyDelete
  49. We love Halloween around here,mainly because we love the fall season that so quickly rolls into the holiday season

    ReplyDelete
  50. I love Christmas and try to keep it meaningful. Second fave is Halloween!

    ReplyDelete
  51. My favorite holiday is Christmas. I'm not crazy about all the fuss leading up to it, but I love the excitement and being around family!

    ReplyDelete
  52. My favorite holiday is Christmas. I love everything about it, from the decorations, to the time spent with family, to the feeling of peace and joy.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Would love to win this - thanks!!!
    cdrury@gmail.com
    it would be christmas!!

    ReplyDelete
  54. I love Christmas because of the togetherness and the giving feeling surrounding the season.

    ReplyDelete
  55. I love everything about Christmas! Dirty Secret: I put my tree up after Halloween, not Thanksgiving! I love the smells, giving, time with family, road trips to get to the family! No look, you have me all worked up about it! Maybe I can get the tree up before Hubby gets home! lol (Drives him crazy that I put it up so early... it's just a month! lol)

    ReplyDelete
  56. I love Christmas because of all the anticipation leading up to the big day. I love shopping, wrapping gifts, and enjoying the decorations.

    ReplyDelete
  57. My favorite holiday is Valentine's Day because I love romance :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!

    ols[dot]moonmaiden[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  58. I love all the festivities, decorations, and food of Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  59. I just heard him talk about his book on the radio the other day. I would really like to read it.
    My favorite holiday is Christmas, especially if all my kids make it home this year. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  60. I love Christmas, but my second favorite is Independence Day. I love fireworks, time outside with the family, swimming, and watching a boat parade. And of course, I love celebrating living in this wonderful country. Although it is not perfect, there's no place I'd rather live.

    ReplyDelete
  61. I love Christmas and Easter!

    ReplyDelete
  62. We love holidays. My hubby and I got married on Valentine's Day. :) Our first son was born on Pearl Harbor Day. Our daughter is a firecracker (born on the 4th of July!). Our youngest son wasn't born on a holiday, but some years his birthday falls on Memorial Day.

    ReplyDelete
  63. My favorite holiday is the 4th of July. NOT because of fireworks but because it is the holiday we all gather (the entire family) at the lake for a GREAT week! I'm sad it is already over!!

    ReplyDelete
  64. Christmas because of the joy of the season, and because more family gets together
    cherylfrancisco@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  65. Thanksgiving--good food, good people, and relaxation.

    ReplyDelete
  66. My favorite holiday is Christmas. I love all of the traditions and sharing time with all of my family together! Thanks for the opportunity!

    ReplyDelete
  67. christmas - everybody loves christmas

    ReplyDelete
  68. I love Christmas. I love the religious aspect, the decorating, the shopping and wrapping and giving, the baking, the get-togethers, and . . . obviously, just everything about it.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Honestly, I am torn between this decision. Selfishly, I would choose Christmas, because I love the nostalgia of it. It makes ME feel warm and fuzzy! Sure, I try to make it about Christ, but it still ends up being about snowmen, hot chocolate, Christmas trees, singing carols, buying gifts, etc.

    But I also love Resurrection Day. Why? Because it keeps me in awe of a God who loves me so deeply that He gave Himself a ransom for someone like me! And not only did He die, but then He gave me the power in His resurrection to live for Him. And so I love the silly things my children and I do to keep that resurrection truth in our lives and celebrate with much joy!

    Blessings to you!

    ReplyDelete
  70. My favorite holiday is Christmas - tha anticipation, family, presents...
    Carolyn
    ceimusic@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  71. Christmas is my favorite! I love getting together with my extended family! sarahpauzauskie@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  72. My favorite holiday is Christmas, my far! I love spending time with family, and seeing the excitement in my children's eyes on Christmas morning.

    ReplyDelete
  73. My favorite holiday would be Thanksgiving. I love to make the complete turkey dinner and have my family over. Plus it's the all American holiday!

    ReplyDelete
  74. Christmas can, at times, get away from me, so I choose Thanksgiving!

    theyyyguy@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  75. My favorite holiday is Valentine's Day which is also my birthday! Two gifts instead of one. Very romantic too.






    BShaw75015@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  76. Thanksgiving, A day we give Thanks as a family

    ReplyDelete
  77. Christmas is my favorite.

    garnet63@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  78. Christmas! I know alot of it is commercial but it's so much fun, esp for the kids! And the whole atmosphere with the decorations, music, mood and the food, makes it so much merrier!

    lokeelanee (at)netzero(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  79. I love Halloween, it's so much fun to get creative with decorations and whipping up spooky themed treats

    ReplyDelete
  80. Groundhog Day is my favorite. Love the movie version.

    ReplyDelete
  81. i loooove Halloween and Chanukah!

    ReplyDelete
  82. Christmas, as my two little girls are at the right age to so enjoy all the lights and the joys of getting gifts from Santa.

    ReplyDelete
  83. Christmas is my favorite hokiday. garrettsambo@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  84. i really like New Years, lots of drinks!

    ReplyDelete
  85. Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. I love the decorations and celebrating the birth of Jesus. Thanks for the contest!

    ReplyDelete
  86. Halloween is my favorite!

    ReplyDelete
  87. My favorite holiday is Christmas because of what it represents and I enjoy getting together with family and friends. Although, this Christmas is going to be a little sad for my family because my brother will be deployed.

    Thanks!

    carissaad at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  88. My favorite holiday is definitely Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  89. My favorite holiday is Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  90. I love Christmas !!!!!

    luckydolls123[at]verizon[dot]net

    ReplyDelete