I have a pretty hectic reading schedule, what with being a full-time worker in ministry as well as being a full-time student. However, in spite of my schedule, I made time to read the book, With; Re-imagining the Way You Relate to God.

I was skeptical, going into the read, however, I soon realized that those feelings were completely unwarranted. Skye Jethani writes an incredible piece regarding our need to give up our carnal approach to God (life under, over, from & for God) in favor of a relationship which is truly spiritual; truly relational; this is life "with" God.

This book is something that we need, right now, as the church. Jethani's writing is honest, shocking (I say shocking only because, at some point, the reader will realize that they have been, or currently are inhabiting one of the four dysfunctional relationship styles which Jethani mentions, at length, within the first half of the book) and refreshing. In and through the chapters, we learn what we have done to move away from God, but more than that, we learn, in very practical ways, what it means for us to move back to God, to re-connect and re-commune with our Creator in a way that is completely Christ centered.

I highly recommend this book. Both enjoyable as well as thought provoking; Skye Jethani touches upon a subject which is crucial to the church as we move into the second decade of the 21st Century.

This book was recommended by a friend as "a book that changed my life". I picked it up - never heard of the author. Skye does an excellent job looking at 4 views of God that are prevalent. He uses scripture to illustrate each viewpoint and as he does it becomes clear that man has overall missed the desire of God - for us to pursue and know Him. The book is freeing and the truth in it will deepen your relationship with Him. Those that might be critical of the content could not have read this for personal evaluation in light of the gospel. The book puts in print what I have believed for years. God wants us to be WITH Him now. No strings attached. Free from the bondage of sin and the law to freedom to live for Christ!

This is one of the best books I have read. It hits the nail on the head. I found myself constantly confessing to God I had Him wrong in my mind and was at fault in so many areas in my relationship with Him. Read it, repent, and be thankful our Father in Heaven wants to be "with" us at all costs.

This is a very simple book, it has a simple message, it is written in a simple way. Even the diagrams in the book are simple, easy to draw on a napkin or white board.

But that doesn't means that the message is not strong, powerful and hugely important.

As the back cover puts it "Stop living your life UNDER, OVER, FROM, and FOR God and start living in communion WITH him".

After introducing the five positions that we relate to God, Skye details each of the four ways in which we try to control God, to bend him to our will. After showing these false positions he moves on to the true way, that is the way of love. He gets there through living with God, with Faith, and with Hope.

As Skye would place as the main thing to remember is that as Paul wrote to the Corinthians "faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love" that faith and hope become meaningless when you come face to face with that which you have faith and hope in.

If when you meet Jesus after your mortal body expires you are stripped of your faith and hope, because that which you have faith and hope in is now realised, what remains? Love. And if you have not love then will Jesus be able to recognise you or are you going to end up in the position were he says that he does not know you?

At the end of the book is a series of discussion questions (titled Discuss WITH others). Don't skip these, make sure you discuss these with someone else. Me, well, first read through I discussed them with Jesus. Its a great way to kick start your relationship living your life WITH him.

With, a book written by Skye Jethani, is an extremely engaging and interesting read. It probes deeper into building a relationship with God and categorise the different kinds of "wrong" relationships people form with God (mainly over, under, from and for God relationship) as well as the right kind of relationship that we should have With God.

This book is a page turner. It describes scenarios that I believe each and any one of us have come across and experienced. It helps me understand the times when I failed in building a healthy relationship with God and the times I relate wrongly to Him and his answers. I believed I have found the reason after I read this book and it is the wrong focus- the focus on self rather than God, on the environment, circumstances, obstacles, problems and difficult situations and other humans. We left out God in our equation and that's where we are stuck in finding the correct formula. Even when we thought we had the right answers, we might be wrong all along.

The latter part (last three chapters) of the book touches on the correct relationships with God on Faith, Hope and Love. Even though the book seems theoretical, I felt that it has answered many questions that linger long time in our hearts with concern to unanswered prayers, unhappy and unfulfilling lifestyles and why many people left the church though God is such a loving and wonderful character. It probes deeper, questions further and teaches one what the church alone and pastors cannot answer. For God is the One we should be pining after, or we are all headed in the wrong direction.

This is a good read. I definitely will recommend it to readers of the Christian faith.

To comply with new regulations introduced by the Federal Trade Commission, I must post that Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review. I also must say that the opinions are all mine