I really need to recommend this book to you. It has totally changed my way of thinking and it is helping me to see real positive growth in my life. The concepts in this book go back many years to an article that the author, Bob Hughes, wrote. I had read the article probably 80 times. I had one in my car, one in my classroom, and another next to my bed. Honestly, I would put this book in a top 5 list of books that have helped me change the way I think in a very positive manner.
So, what is it about? It's about loving others well. I believe this book is a powerful tool in helping you carry out the greatest commandments which, of course, involve loving well (Matthew 22:37-40).
This book poses what I believe is the single greatest question every person must answer in their life: Is God enough? I know on the face of it this may not seem that ground-breaking or important, but, trust me, this is a profound point. As the author points out, most Christians believe that God loves them, but they do not act like God's love and grace are actually enough for them. This is a HUGE concept. If we truly believe that God's love and grace are sufficient for us, on a daily basis (or moment by moment basis) our actions will show it. We will live out our belief that GOD IS ENOUGH. Living out the "God is Enough" belief is such a stark contrast to simply believing "God loves me."
Intrigued? This book actually helps you understand these ideas and will give you the tools that will help you to live in a very love-focused and freeing way!
I strongly recommend that you get a copy of the book.
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By Angie J. Rose
E-Christianbooks.com
Bob and Judy Hughes have put together what can best be described as a book that can potentially be the next Purpose Driven Life in terms of life changing, perspective-enlarging content.
I think Love Focused will become known as one of the best Christian books of the decade. It has been years since I have read such a fresh, honest address to some of life’s greatest and most common problems.
Bob and Judy’s friendly writing style ease you along real life changing help. The beauty of this work is its simplicity and biblical foundation. Not shy to quote scriptures of note so others can discover their wisdom, the Hughes' tone is not one bit ‘’preachy’’ but casual and honest.
I read it at home, took it with me to read on appointments, etc. but every time I started to read it I couldn’t put it down. The title gives you an indication of what it is about, but I would add that it is more than a book "about something" it is a book that will cause you to "do" something. It should be required reading in schools, colleges, the workplace and yes, especially churches!
You can probably tell that I thoroughly enjoyed Love Focused. The truth is I have read many books, Christian and secular, and very few have earned the privilege to be read again, let alone, dog-eared, tabbed, underlined and kept in a handy place at all times.
Warning, if you want to waltz down life on cruise control, don’t read this book! It will definitely challenge you to, at very least, change gears, maybe even slow down and smell some occasional roses. The word agenda will never again have the same meaning to you. You may even come face to face with your "true self" in the mirror. Ouch….
It will definitely offer you a completely new approach to life. I can only imagine what would happen if even one person in every city read it. If you are looking for a clinical, term laden, dry, psychology manual you’ll be disappointed. There is a companion workbook that is also available, and although I have not personally read it, I can only imagine it has the same quality and thought provoking content as the book.
Thank you Bob and Judy for being blatantly honest and caring enough to write such a book!
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By Rod Harrington
As I was reading Love Focused I felt, "This is good; this is meat for the spirit." A lot of books just take up shelf space, but here's a book of substance--it's an enjoyable read and the most practical Christian book I've read in a very long time.
Many Christians ask, "Why isn't my life more exciting? Why do I act so unlike Jesus? Why can't I get release from my worries and sins?"
Readers of this book will have what they need to start living out real Christianity: a God-centered approach based not on theory, but on reality. How did it happen that I made my Christianity so complex? Rules for this and options for that. Standards and laws. In contrast, Jesus was able to simplify the spiritual life to just two necessities: love God with all your heart, and love others as yourself.
How do we evaluate Christian maturity? Often it seems to be by outward measurements: church attendance, Bible knowledge, conforming to some list of dos and don'ts. But God looks at the inner person and evaluates by one criterion: is the person learning to live in love?
According to the authors, just trying to change our behavior, trying to act more loving, is not the ultimate answer. We may grit our teeth and do it (for a while), but let some stressful situation hit and we're more than likely to just lose it (and sometimes in a big way!).
If my (unconscious) attitude is that God is not really going to meet my needs, then my (unconscious) response is to try and meet them myself...with predictable results. I'll try to control people and situations (and be frustrated when they won't be controlled). I'll damage relationships and destroy the peace that God wants me to experience. I'll be self-centered and anxious. And I'll miss the good life God intended for me to enjoy.
The book does a wonderful job of contrasting a love focused life with its opposite (which they call "an outcome focused life"). When we, instead of trusting God to be in control, try to control situations ourselves, we'll end in living as people-pleasers, or with addictions, denial, busyness, perfectionism, or using any number of other self-protective strategies.
God, in His goodness, built a warning system into our lives. It tells us clearly when there's a spiritual problem we need to deal with. The warning lights are unrighteous anger, controlling fear, worry and impatience. The authors show us what each of these mean--and how God wants us to deal with them. It's powerful and liberating stuff!
The last 90 pages of the book are on the power of love--God's solution and how to apply it in our lives. This is down-to-earth and practical stuff! It's not legalism and it's not perfectionism--it's life with God as He meant it to be. This is definitely a book to buy!
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By Richard R. Blake
Husband and wife team Bob and Judy Hughes address the complexities and challenges faced by today's society. Christians and non-Christians alike become overwhelmed with their lives and relationships. "Love Focused" is more than another book on keys to successful living but a book that directs the reader to the one master key. Love. A love focused life.
Concepts learned from traditional psychology influence our behavior patterns as well as a goal-driven motivation to succeed. A change in these goals must be made if we are to experience love focused living.
The authors label this dilemma the unseen struggle and trace our emotional needs and pain to living in a fallen world. They go on to point out God's provision for man's need. Part Two of the book deals with identifying the problems we face and goes on to discuss things like your personal agenda, instinctive solutions, control, and dealing with issues of anger.
Part three gives the reader a look at God's solution and the power to love. These chapters deal with the benefits of acknowledging that God is adequate to produce positive benefits in our lives, to recognize that we do not have to be in control, and the barriers to make the choice of faith. Part four deals with personal application and discusses legalism, grace, forgiveness, perfectionism, and provides a model for becoming love focused.
The Hughes writing is powerful, refreshing, and practical, infused with insight for change, ultimate transformation and fullness of joy. The book is formatted attractively. Concise summary statements, bulleted lists, and paragraph headers all add to the ease in reading and assimilating the information, for, study, review and application.
"Love Focused" is highly recommended by Christian leaders from all walks of life and is dedicated to help the reader live life to the fullest. This is an important user's manual for everyone seeking to trust God more deeply and to move forward in their personal spiritual journey. A great read.
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Patricia Kennedy
Many Christians, despite their best efforts, seem stuck in a frustrating holding cycle. They have tried Christian self-help books, prayed, and sought counseling, but still seem overwhelmed and unable to experience the abundant life God promises in His Word.
Bob and Judy Hughes believe the master key for living a fulfilled Christian life is love. It may sound trite and oversimplified—until you remember Jesus made it clear that our highest calling is to love God and our neighbor. Yet while Christians know they should love, they can be flummoxed as to why they so often fail to love. Understanding what motivates our behavior is essential.
The Hughes believe many of us live outcome-focused rather than love-focused lives, and therein lies the problem. Outcome-focused goals are self-focused—designed to help us get our emotional needs met and to avoid pain. Constant pressure to achieve a certain outcome diverts our attention from loving God and others. The root of this problem is spiritual: the outcome-focused person does not truly believe God can meet all their needs.
Christians regularly fall prey to performance-based love and acceptance (legalism), believing that Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross wasn’t enough. They may doubt God’s goodness and believe the world can somehow satisfy their need. Consequently, many become control freaks, not simply desiring but actually needing other people to behave in a certain way.
The Hughes do a splendid job of explaining the problem as well as the solution—which I won’t divulge here. It is solid biblical advice from someone who has spent 30 years as a Christian counselor. A practical love-focused model for growth is offered, as well as suggestions to help the reader fight this “good fight of faith” on a daily basis.
