Lessons Along the Journey

by Richard Maffeo

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1606476580
• ISBN13: 9781606476581
• Release Date: August 2008
• Publisher: Xulon Press
• Length: 136 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Lessons Along the Journey

Richard Maffeo is a man of great trust in God. Again and again, in "Lessons Along the Journey" he doesn't spare himself as he exposes his weaknesses and failings, and consequently, our own. His message is one of hope that God will reconcile all people to Himself in time, if we are willing in even the smallest way, to accept His love. I read this book in segments during Lent as a reflections piece which the short chapters easily allow, but its messages are seasonless. I highly recommend that you allow Mr. Maffeo's lessons to accompany your own journey of faith. His example of uncompromising trust and total surrender to God amidst struggles is alone worth the reading.

Spiritual journey that is inspiring and relevant to you!

Rich's book is well written and inspiring and his journey helps guide those of us who are spiritual and are searching.

new insights

Richard Maffeo's book is so beneficial because he has spiritual insights about our daily lives and the gift of conveying those insights onto paper to share with us. For people, like me, that are not particularly introspective or contemplative, this book is a great help for reflecting on things spiritual that we can all relate to. I find myself reading his book, nodding my head in agreement, pausing to let the thoughts sink in and appreciating some new insight into my own life and Christ's life. It is easy to read the two to three page essays and then take that reflection into the day. An example was one essay that described the zeal of new soldiers in saluting their superiors. I have no military experience, but Richard adds enough details to get a good visual image of the scenario. They are gung-ho. Then the zeal fades. Sloppiness enters and there is less saluting, more carelessness. The author then leads us to the question: do we do this with our relationship with Christ? Mr. Maffeo, of course, fleshes all this out in more detail. But it helps me to consider this aspect in my own life. Thank you, Mr. Maffeo, for sharing your insights and challenges and encouragements. Highly recommend this book.

Clear and simple devotional stories with profound messages

Lessons along the Journey, Richard Maffeo, Xulon Press, 2008, 136 Pages, Paperback ISBN-13: 978-1606476581, $13.99 Lessons Along the Journey, a compilation of forty short essays, record true-life snippets of the author's walk with Christ--from his Jewish roots, through decades of evangelical faith, to what he considers God's call home--to the Catholic Church. He reveals his heartaches, doubts, and discouragements, as well as the lessons of commitment, forgiveness, encouragement. and grace he's learned along the way. His simple, often painful illustrations offer profound messages. His journey is our journey, his pain often a mirror of our pain. His path to Christ could be anyone's path, because it's a path of growth, obedience, and faith. Maffeo found that path through spending time alone with the Lord, reading His Word, and seeking His mercy and grace. Devotional stories begin with a quote from people such as C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L' Engle, or Scripture, followed by a brief account of the problem Maffeo faced, what the author learned and how he applied it in his walk of faith. For example, the author writes about discipline in "Mom, Me and Calvary." He would say to his young son when he had to discipline him, "This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you." As he said the words, he could still hear his mother's voice echo through his own memory, and he was certain his son didn't believe his words any more than he believed his mother's words. Yet the words were true. The lesson from this story is that loving a child involves sacrifice, often of things you hold dear, such as time, dreams, and even saying no, when you would like to say yes. Just as God, our heavenly Parent, sacrificed His Son to the Roman whip and death on the cross because of His love for us--God understood the words, "This is going to hurt me more than it does you," better than anyone. Maffeo is one of those rare writers who takes snapshots of experiences common to us all, unravels them for the reader, and integrates Scripture, to provide clear examples and vivid illustrations of God's love and teachings. Although written for a Catholic audience, Maffeo's clear and simple writing would benefit anyone who believes Jesus is Lord. We need to see more books written with messages of simplicity and clarity from writers like this.