You and God - How to Build the Most Important Relationship of Your Life by Bill Paradise Search Amazon for other books by or about Bill Paradise. Rating: Reviewed by: Kelly Davis

I just finished You and God - How to Build the Most Important Relationship of Your Life. Author Bill Paradise's stated goal was to write a book speaking to people of all religions in helping them develop their relationship with God, and I think he succeeded in doing just that. While Paradise is Christian, You and God is written to appeal to those belonging mainly to all three Abrahamic religions, namely Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

Paradise does a fine job of carefully toeing the difficult line of effectively encouraging prayer, spiritually motivated deeds such as helping the poor, participating in small faith groups, etc, all the while avoiding faith-specific suggestions (i.e. he suggests "spiritual reading" rather than "read your bible"). Indeed, rather than citing the words of Mohammed or Moses, Paradise quotes liberally from well-written theologians such as Richard Rohr and Brennan Manning on subjects relevant to all faiths such as:

• Trying to not let life's routine distract us from God.
• Finding meaning in our lives.
• Realizing who we are, how we got here, and where we are going.
• How to listen for God.
• How much God truly wants a personal relationship with us.
• How we can seek God in everyday life including difficult times.

Paradise points out that, in growing closer to God:

You don't have to be super spiritual - the key to successful growing relationship with God is steady, day-to-day contact with Him. He is not expecting you to do spiritual cartwheels. Instead, relax and enjoy the relationship, just as you would with any close friend. God is not like some human fathers who are never satisfied with what their children do. Even your slightest efforts to be close to God make Him happy.

I would be remiss if I did not point out my favorite of Paradise's thesis, that God is not religion, religion is not God and religion is not the goal - God is the goal. To that I say, amen, brother!

Definitely a wonderful book for anyone the least bit interested in the most important relationship - highly recommended!

You can visit the Official Author Website at Bill Paradise Books.