Taking a Chance on God: Exploring God's Presence in Our Lives [SIGNED]

New condition color illustrated softcover wraps. Includes Authors Dedication; Foreword: George Gallup Jr.; Introduction: The Search for Spiritual Healing; Appendix: A.) A Surprising New Look at Spirituality in the Mainstream; B.) About Our Study; C.) All the Words from the Study; D.) The ABC's of Building a Spiritual Portfolio; E.) Our Five Observations; F.) Some of Our Data; and Authors' Credentials. Signed and inscribed by author with black ink at the lower section of the title page. "Thirteen years ago, we initiated what was supposed to be a small study on the meaning of spiritual healing in mainstream Protestantism, which turned into a landmark, international study of the spiritual experiences of over three thousand people in Protestant, Catholic and Reform Jewish Congregations. The surprising results of that study formed the basis for this book and are critically important in our understanding of spiritual life in mainstream America. A lot of books have been written about spiritual matters. If you've bought such books or are browsing this one you probably have a collection of them yourself. But this one is different from the others you may have read. This book is not based on theory, theology, creed or pop psycho-spirituality. It is based on an interfaith study of over three thousand people, selected to represent ethnic, socio-economic, and geographic diversity, who have had transforming experiences with the presence or action of God in their lives. It encompasses not only their stories and their words, but includes the results of a nine page questionnaire about their experiences. We believe their stories can point your life toward the same transformed state. This is not a "how to" book, but it is a book of the possibility of God present and active in your life which can transform you. It can give you the guidelines of this experience which we have derived from our study population and predispose you to be open to God's transforming presence which is always available, if not always seen. This is not a "religious" book. It is not based on creedal organization or theology. Rather it reflects the experiences of people which, while individual, were unexpectedly universal in nature. While we drew our population from religious congregations, it turned out we simply found people with transforming spiritual stories who happened to gather with us in a church/synagogue building. What they told us was not the product of their institutional affiliation or even their creedal religious system, but what they discovered about God in their ordinary, every day life. This is not a book in which you can "get God", but it may well be a book that will allow God to get you, if you remain open to the possibility. What this book is really about is recognizing God's transforming presence in your life and opening your "spiritual eyes" to that reality. So, come along as we tell of our amazing journey, what we found and most important what it can mean for you. But as you walk with us, put aside the press of the information age in which instant gratification isn't soon enough, and take an easy stroll through the spiritual wonders that are always present in this life, but so rarely seen. Give yourself a break and step out of time into the timelessness of the Spirit. And don't be concerned with how long it takes to get to the end of the path. Walking the path itself is a holy task. As one of the people in our study remarked, "God works on God's own time, but God is never late!" But be forewarned! When your spiritual eyes are opened, you may find your life changing beyond your wildest imaginings. What we didn't mention is that God's other name is . "SURPRISE!" ' - from the Introduction.…