And Habits - Life's Healing Choices Revised and Updated

This has been a captivating read. It is written for everyone. It includes helpful suggestions and action steps to take in order to move through the hurts and hang-ups that have led to harmful habits. The illustrations help identify areas that have shaped us but that may have been overlooked. The personal testimonies share hope for those still struggling with a variety of life issues. Thank you, John Baker, for putting this together.

I highly recommend this book for anybody that is struggling with any level of emotional hurts, that turned into hangups, and eventually to bad habits, like drinking or taking any drugs to bandage the hurt.

Already wrote a review about Small Group Study that goes along with this book and it's worth it to have both books when you do a small group. Places where we can write our hearts answers with the good Lord's help. This book is so good and for EVERYONE to read as we all have hang ups, hurts, attitudes that needs our Lord's attention and help. Thank you John Baker for all you have done forming Celebrate Recovery and please know many are the prayers for the people who attend the sharing times. The Lord is in the healing business if we just ask Him to help us everyday of our lives. "With God All Things Are Possible." Matt 19;26

We all have hurts, hang-ups, and habits that create tension in our relationships as well as bringing deep inner pain that gnaws at our consciences. My motive for reading this book was to help others in recovery settings. As I read the book, I am discovering the need for healing in my own life.

This is a wonderful book to have understanding your inner self, like the title says its choices you make in your life, helping you and loved ones to understand and be able to help moving forward when it seems life is over as you know it. It is time to take a new path, what it is like to have the freedom from hurtful choices.

Most beneficial study I have ever done. I will be looking back on it for years to come. I encourage others to invest in it. It is something that EVERYONE has need of. We all have issues, we all have hurts, habits and hang-ups.

One of the best books that i have read. Although it's in the self help area...it gives great in sight into recovery of any hurts, habits and hang-ups! I recommend it to anyone who is looking to find recovery in their lives and to reach a strong relationship with Jesus Christ!

I have found such great value in this book. I have read it quickly to understand the Celebrate Recovery program....now I am ready to start the steps. Thank you God for your saving grace and the mercy you give to all those who seek you.

My Bible study group is using this book for study/discussion. The content could easily apply to every one in one way or another in real life experience. The Discovery Questions challenge us to examine our struggle and remind us to lean on God's guidance and grace.

This book offers logical and doable steps to begin the healing process from your hurts, hang-ups, and habits. It helps you to take a look inside yourself and get to the root of your behavior and feelings toward yourself and others. Let the healing begin!

The price was great and it arrived on time. It was used so I was a little apprehensive about the shape it might be in but it looked in no worse shape than something you might find at a brick and morter store that had been thumbed through by folks.

during and after reading this book it was very uplifting. this book has brought together a group of ladies for which i would never think to share their feeling about anything. one decided to get baptised. this book shoiuld be read by all christians or not. you should and will be able to relate.

This book is awesome! I would recommend it to anyone who is searching to fill an emptiness in his live or who needs to be healed. It is life changing. Through the power of Jesus Christ, this book has helped transform my life and I am so very thankful that I was led to read it.

I was very pleased with this book! I was in perfect condition. I enjoyed reading it a great deal. I offers many challenges to life and the choices we make. It also gives insight into how to deal with life every day. I have no complaints! Thank you, Sandra

I was expecting paperback because price was so reasonable. The book was hardbound & other than small writing on sleeve, it was in excellent condition. I rec'd book very soon even doing busy holiday season. I would definitely recommend this seller. Thanks also for making book affordable.

Based on some of the now dated group therapy procedures some groups such as AA use (although still successful), there is a definitive "christian" twist to it. There is nothing new here. A re-packaging of old practices with a 'christian' stamp on it. Does it devalue the product? No...but...neither does it fully explore the promises of Jesus Christ to His people and the hope that is there. Is there value in the practice? Yes...but...the questions going unanswered are: do you ever grow out of the need for CR? Does everyone need CR and if not, why not? Are they in denial or is CR a step on the path (looking back at what I said earlier about the promises of Christ to His people) to full healing?
Most enjoyable, but not really helpful are the individual stories of those going or have gone through CR. The personal narrative can be a powerful panacea to the undiscriminating mind. Narratives are descriptive NOT prescriptive.
Still, it is worth a read and data mined for usefulness to the individual.

First let me say that out of allll the self help books I've read (dozens!!!) and years of searching, This is THE answer. I began a Christ-based 12 step group womens study at a ministry (offered at our church) called Celebrate Recovery (to find a group near you just go to celebrate recovery dot com). We used the four-workbook set called Participant Guides, and about the third step in, I realized I was not able to progress. I had ordered Life's Healing Choices but had not really been reading it, so I pulled it off the shelf, began reading it and doing the exercises at the back of each chapter/step/principle. The extra information in it enabled me to dig deep and do a little extra work beyond what the in-class sharing of the workbook answers accomplished, and helped get me moving again. I would say that it is almost a NECESSITY to either use this book, or the Celebrate Recovery Leader's guide alongside the participants guides in order to get the MOST out of your recovery. This is a book review, so I won't go into great detail about my recovery, but suffice it to say that this program SAVED MY LIFE, probably my marriage, and will be a great improvement to my family's quality of life, because of the help I was able to get overcoming problems of frustration and control stemming from fear, insecurity and lonliness. I HIGHLY recommend getting this book and finding a local Celebrate Recovery ministry in a church near you and going, then signing up for a step study. Its an investment that will enable you to grow in your relationship with God and to lay hold of the abundant life that Jesus intended you to have (John 10:10). Much love on your journey!!!

After completing Life's Healing Choices, I'd like to share some of my experience. I came to Celebrate Recovery a bit over a year ago, hoping to get some help with alcoholism. Little did I know, God had me here to begin a much greater transformation than just overcoming addiction. After maintaining my sobriety for some time with the help of Celebrate Recovery, God brought the opportunity to join in on a LHC small group. I immediately knew that God was using this study to mature me and help me gain some understanding to my hurts habits and hang-ups. It took me on an 8 step guide to making the right choices for physical, emotional, social, financial, and personal health.

I had so many hurts that I hadn't dealt with and over time, these hurts began to form some of my major character defects. Life's Healing Choices has helped me to identify the areas that have shaped me over time that I had overlooked. By reading some of the short personal testimonies, I was able to recognize that my major character defect was not alcoholism, but low self-esteem! By coming to this realization, I knew that I needed to redirect my my prayers and thinking into seeking a confidence that I could only receive from Jesus Christ.

I believe the church as a whole would benefit from reading and working Life's Healing Choices. I believe that LHC could reach out to those who might not find it necessary to attend Celebrate Recovery, but still struggle with life! It's an easy to understand guide for anyone who strives be transformed into the image of Christ. I would highly recommend it! Thanks for reading, and God Bless

John Baker does an outstanding job of presentation in this Bible-based book. Using the Beatitudes as the foundation and many other Bible passages, he demonstrates in very practical ways what the Scriptures clearly teach us to do in order to have " Freedom From Your Hurts, Hang-ups and Habits". Caution: This is NOT a Self-Help book! It is a book that will help you to understand and apply what Jesus was saying in
John 8:32 (KJV) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free! Great book! Well done John Baker!

You enjoyed the authors style and how he described the transformer lives through accepting the Lord.
Highly recommended especially for people with addiction problems (sex drugs alchohol).
All the things we are tempted with in this day and age.
We must develop our own shield from the demonic forces !
And live a life full of happiness .

Everyone struggles with something at some point in their life. Some turn to things or people to fix their issues. If you've been stuck in cycles of trying to fix it yourself without success, it's time to make the choice to heal your life through God's power. For many, they have found these answers through their local Celebrate Recovery program. This book lays it all out so that you can follow the same 'steps' or healing choices.

John Baker has hit the nail on the head! The church as a whole has not done a great job of helping people who struggle with the issues of life--isn't that all of us? Many people go to church with a happy mask on while struggling with personal or relational issues that are unresolved and keep them from being who God designed them to be.

As Christians we need to be real to heal. When we deny our problems or hide them from others and pretend that all is fine, we block the greatest thing Christ commanded us to do: Love God with all our hearts, souls and minds; and our neighbors as ourselves.

This is a must read for all who need to continue being "transformed into the image of Christ."

Our Sunday School class is studying this wonderful guide as our current curriculum. One of our class members said it best, "This leaves us feeling raw." John Baker forces us to look deep inside ourselves and to assume responsibility for our part in our hurting and brokenness. In a loving, non-judgemental manner, he does not allow us to deny or hide from our transgressions. He challenges us to be open and honest with ourselves. Beautifully balanced, beautifully written. Thank you!

Excellent, excellent book which gives the basics of Celebrate Recovery. Written in a very basic form with great personal testimonies. As a pastor I bought the book looking for a resource to minister to those with addiction, but it was written in a way that I began to focus on my own needs and hangups. Use it much now as a resource.

This is the book of Celebrate Recovery, which is basically a twelve step program for any hurts, habits, or hang-ups a person might have. This covers the 8 princicples of recovery and it is a very good book to read and work through. It will help you recover and center your life around Christ.

I was very skeptical about this book/method. Especially because I'm skeptical about anything that involves "steps" and such things.

Anyway, I just got the book 4 days ago and I have gone through the first "step" and it's being a great blessing. I encourage anyone that is dealing with addictions, bad habits, or just hurts from the past, to read this book or try to participate of a Celebrate Recovery group.

Highly recommended.

I've been working as a leader in our local Celebrate Recovery ministry and I would have to say that this is the best book I've read about recovery in "non-recovery" language. It deals practically and biblically with everyday hurts, habits & hangups that all of face in one form or another throughout our lifetime.

I applaud John Baker for his wisdom in taking this message to the masses in a way that everyone can relate. It breaks the stereotype of typical recovery programs and applies God's truth to healing choices we can make in our everyday life.

Life's Healing Choices is simply an amazing resource for my personal spiritual journey. The eight principles mentioned are based on God's Word the Bible and arranged in a way that helps me move to a richer walk in life. I love the stories of real people and their struggles that I too identify with and the encouragement they give me to continue forward. I love deeper and communicate with genuine honesty because I have applied these basic life principles.

Let me say from the start that I love Celebrate Recovery and the ministry of John Baker. I have seen the most incredible life change in people's lives through the Biblical teaching of Celebrate Recovery.

Not everyone is going to take a look at CR in person, but they might be willing to read a book at home. I think that as start reading and they start seeing what is possible, they will want all that is being offered to them here.

I know that during times of anger, depression, stresses that the verses that used with this program have helped me, and helped me grow in my relationship with God.

I don't care what a problem is that people are struggling with, it is a great tool, to help everyone with their hurts, habits and hangups.

John, thanks for writing this book. Thanks for your ministry!

Pastor John Baker has done a tremendous job of providing a source of growth and encouragement with Lifes Healing Choices. A long-standing fan of his Celebrate Recovery materials, he once again has done a great job of providing a pathway of healing through this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who may be looking for answers to lifes many struggles.

Life's Healing Choices is an excellent read for anyone who is struggling with a hurt, habit or hangup or knows someone who is struggling. John Baker takes an honest look at the issues facing people today and offers hope and solutions for living a full and abundant life. The testimonies in Life's Healing Choices demonstrate that, no matter what circumstances we may find ourselves in, there is a solution. A must read!

As the Serenity Prayer denotes "accepting hardship as a pathway to peace", this book helps us to understand why we struggle and how; with God's help we can overcome those struggles. The book is a great read and in a very non-threatening way revels how much God really loves and wants to help us. I recommend it to everyone.

This book is what launched the Celebrate Recovery ministry at our church. Last week we had an all-time high at our Monday night meeting. People's perspectives on life have been changed b/c of this study.

If you are on the road of recovery or if you are searching for answers as you face the challenges of life, Life's Healing Choices is a practical book to help you find hope as you overcome the hurts, habits and hang-ups that we all face in some way on another in this life.

Absolutely anyone can connect with this book! We have all been hurt and John Baker artfully speaks to those bruised places with wisdom and effectiveness to help individuals walk out of that wounded place! Everyone needs to read this one!

The fact that we have all made mistakes, we have all been hurt and we have all hurt others makes this book a must read for everyone. John will take you on a journey that will, by the choices that you make along the way, change your life. I hope to see down the road to healing at CR.

It AIN'T the GOSPEL, Folks....
As a recovering Celebrate Recovery zealot, I would like to point out that this teaching and ALL teachings that flow out of The Purpose Driven Movement are NOT founded in the gospel. Baker's/Warren's 8 principles and the Beatitudes, for that matter are really LAW. Where the Beatitudes were spoken by Jesus to move us toward contrition and our recognition of our need of a Savior, the 8 principles are designed/twisted, rather, to keep us in bondage to our own lists of achievement. Where CR has it's members keeping record of their merits (what step are you on? Have you been working the program?, etc.), scripture tells us "we are all like an unclean thing, and all of our righteousnesses are like filthy rags" Isa. 64:6. No matter in which principle you find yourself successful, remember the words of Isaiah!! Then quickly remember the words of 1 John 1:9-"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness". Our restoration is found in CHRIST JESUS and his death and resurrection, NOT in our good-living! Life's Healing Choices places us in the light of victimhood, every last one of us. In this structure, it is hard to identify sin little lone, label us as sinners! Romans 3:23 says "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Don't waste your time making the reality choice, the hope choice, or the commitment choice. Instead fall to your knees, repent, and quit reveling in victimhood and striving for your own righteousness and remember what Christ came for Luke 5:32- "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance". Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!!!