The Anvil of God: A Spiritual Reformation

Your pitch attracted me at once, and I was delighted to see someone saying many of the things I think myself. Reading on, I'm confirmed in my belief that you are coming from the right perspective, and speaking the truth as I understand it. This is a very valuable book, which I hope will reach many and help them to understand what knowing God is all about. Your writing is smooth and fault-free, important when you're presenting Christ to others. Backed.
Gerry McCullough,
Belfast Girls.

I just want to say that your book is definitely something that is able to benefit modern Christianity. It seems like we live in a world where people are willing to blindly go through life without even trying to understand the implications that are clearly visible in Scripture. I very much appreciate your focus on making sure that there is not a biased theological understanding, but instead you rely on Scripture. This is what is needed in order to change the face of faith in our society. If people really came to understand all that Christ is, they would understand the relational side of the God, and be willing to allow the Spirit to change them from the inside out. I am looking forward to seeing something awesome happen through your dedication in a way that others are changed for the better.

Rick Stewart
BLURAY Jesus

CC,
Your cover is nice and professional looking (ready for POD! - if you decide to go that way, that is)
Pitches: Bet you'd get a lot of believers with this... not surprised after the rise of the mega-churches, etc to see the critiques of the system start. Only makes sense and I think your long pitch is even better.
Text: I attended a class by a professor from a local theological seminary, who I'd befriended when I worked at a deli. This was back in the early 90s. He was such a nice man and his students who came to the deli all had great fun grilling me on where I stood, etc. Prof. Dunzweiler taught apologetics and I was so surprised that at such a conservative seminary, there were so many wildly varying views held. I'd love to talk to him now about current trends...betting he'd share some of your thoughts. The text reads very professional and can see the teacher in you shining through.
Best of luck with it!
-=Bradley

One of the Best non-fiction pieces I have read on this site. There has been a wave of individuals questioning NOT their faith but what it all really means. Why do we believe what we believe apart from all that we have always been told. Not as a challenge to those teachings but as a means to gain a deeper understanding and relationship to those beliefs. And as with this book, the questions have been fearless. Granting a willingness to set it all aside to start from scratch, to strip it all away down to the very foundations to search out the truth.

My only crit here would be the placement of your bio section. Not that it should be removed, but maybe presented in a different fashison. For me, it began to take me away from the book itself...I wonder if you might include this info in the very heart of each chapter...thereby making each section informative and personal at the same time. (Only a suggestion.)

Lockjaw

Hi CC. This is a remarkable book. It shows your advanced thinking regarding not only Christianity, but the world in general. I pray that your book will get a publishing deal with a Christian publisher or HarperCollins: the one who runs this site. You should send query e-mails to Christian publishers and agents in the meantime. You could become a very influential writer.

Yours Truly,

Kevin Wong
Author of Heroes of Destiny

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
You are so right. It is time the church came alive.

Cliff,

I'm brand new to this but i really like the sound of your book. I want to put it on my bookshelf but so far i haven't been able to find out how. I like what some of the commentators hav esaid about understanding where your faith comes from and what it's all about. That's why i have put my friend's book on here - to help folk understand why the Bible is such an important book. Best of luck. I will definitely back it.

Julie Mansfield ( for Andrew Parker)
So You Think You Know The BIble? 13 Bible Stories to Make You Think Again.

Well, I imagine many Christians will find this author to be hard-hitting as well as unusual. His testimony in Chapter 1 will no doubt sound familiar to many kids who were raised in "the church" and yet found themselves, isolated, insolated, out of place, and odd for questioning their teachers. Yet, the author seems to know where he/she is heading with this. For an apparently honest (and thinking) testimoney I will back it for now, even without knowing whether or not I will agree when it is all said and done. Backed for the ring of honesty in Chapter 1..

F. Ellsworth Lockwood
"The Final Cruise"

Oh, wow, the long and short descriptions of the book are really hard hitting. I wonder if this is an indication of the batting average to come. I look forward to finding out soon.

F. Ellsworth Lockwood
"The Final Cruise'

A thought provoking read.

I liked this pastorial text better than most. By pastorial text I mean whenever you write a book of this sort you are stepping into the role of leadership. A responsibility to shepherd the sheep, and the obligation to tell them what was done, and what should have been done. In addition there comes the responsibility to lead, to show them how. The role of leadership embodies the obligation to not only inform the reader, but to tell the body how to apply it effectively . Along with leadership in any area comes the how to, the leader always leads the way by showing how. In this area that is such a great task, but the responsibility for the flock falls at the shepherd's feet, and the good shepherd must master this. Of course a good shepherd must become just that a good leader taking his flock whether by pen or pulpit past the rocky waters to green pasture... best wishes Cookie

Thanks Cliff. I appreciate your work. It was very edifying and well written. Please let us know if you write anything else. Backed. regards David

Hi Cliff
I backed your book a few days ago and was just telling my wife about it. It seems that you have shared my frustration with religiosity. My book also deals with this, but in a different way. I'll give you this link, www.hezekiah.com.au , but I give it with no pressure or expectation.
Regards and best wishes for your book's success.
Ian

This is thought provoking & well written with great metaphors. People who haven't attended the seminary may not be quite in tune with your thoughts, but as I said though provoking. Happily backed - Paula - How Mean is My Valley?

Inspiring and solid writing. 'The Anvil (...)' lays good foundations for sprititual development under the Christian doctrine: Love, Truth and Faith. You tell us an involving story of Your growing awareness of both religious and philosophical nature. Congratulations and good luck with it. Cool read. Indeed.

Cliff -

This is light years from the genres I usually read, but it was well written.

Backed.

-Jeff Lee
THE LADIES TEMPERANCE CLUB'S FAREWELL TOUR

This book is a step by step guide to better spiritual health. The style is insistent but for this type of book, that's good. Keeps a reader interested. I'm adding this to my shelf. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

The Anvil of God

I think there is a valuable message in this. Your writing feels to have a very congruent passion that challenges blindness to consequence. I think some of your thoughts are very profound they made me stop and internalise. Very well thought out and structured.

Dear Cliff, Since I've already backed your book, I am "commenting" & putting you on my "watchlist" to help your book advance. :) Thanks for backing my 2 books & for your comments. My pitch, I want the world to read so that they will get the gospel - seeds planted. :) May it go on the back of my cover so that they will know that Jesus is the answer. :) Thanks, Susie :) Word from the Lord: "Be still & know that I Am God. I have formed you to accomplish My purpose through. I will show you great & mighty things that you know not of as you seek Me & My righteousnes." So be it. :) Love, Susie :)

A timely injection of zeal and passion for the Christian faith.

M&J
GRAEMOR

Dear Cliff, Wonderful praise report! Did they see your book on the authonomy website? May God anoint you to write many more books to point others to Jesus. :)
Who is your publisher? Please pray God will get mine published, too.
Love, Susie :)
Word from the Lord: "Think not about tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself. I will ordain each step as you listen to Me. I will open & close doors & you will be amazed at what I can do thru you as you seek me 1st."
So be it. :)

This has an interesting and refreshing voice, and you've presented it well - both in thought and writing. I particularly liked the inclusion of the experiences of your youth. A work like this requires the author to introduce and offer something of himself/herself, and I thought this was particularly well done.

Happy to back, this will be will appeal beyond the borders of your target audience, even.

3-27-10PacificDaylightTime 8:50am: Yes, Cliff you did back my He Loves Me, but I can't find where you backed "Tell Me True Love Stories."
I will again put you on my watchlist to hopefully help your book. Thanks, Susie :)

Dear Cliff, Amazing, your thorough material & explanations of the scriptures. :) God bless you. Lord, may Cliff always open his mouth & You fill. May his gospel go round the world & may he put more & more here, so he can plant seeds & others will get You. In Jesus' Name I ask & thank You for the answer. Amen & amen.....
I like how you talk in your book, just as if you were talking one to one to me. :) Thank you for your backing my book. :) I prayed a lot about what to put in the profile and each word is counted, re-edited, re-counted, for hours until I got just what God wanted. It's His book. His testimony what He can do in spite of myself. God bless you.
I found where you backed my book, "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" & I can't find where you backed the unedited version, "Tell Me True Love Stories," so if you didn't could you take a moment to back it? I'll put you on my watchlist to possibly help your book to advance. :) Thanks. :) Love, Susie :)

You have some interesting thoughts about church and christianity here. I think you need to think about making someone like me (25+ years in ministry) want to read a book talking about church from someone as young as you. The Sea Pillow

that's funny... didn't the very old and experienced pharisees say the same thing to the young 30 yr old Jesus?

your question is not as harsh as the question you forgot to ask yourself...

how is it that a person in 25+ years of ministry still discern wisdom/knowledge base on someone's title/position and age?

You have some interesting thoughts about church and christianity here. I think you need to think about making someone like me (25+ years in ministry) want to read a book talking about church from someone as young as you. I know that sounds harsh--I don't mean it to be so. But it is something you need to think about and probably more important than your bio (testamony) at the front of the book. Say someone like my hubby and I are at the book store. There are two books about church that interest us in the title. We read the back and one is a guy with 30 years experience--been through life--even longer and more experenced in ministry than us--we can sense that he is going to understand what we are going through.....why are we going to be compelled to buy yours? We would need a reason to hit us in the face. Just a thought.
Barbara
The Sea Pillow

I've found this to be a very deep thinking book. You have some challenging fresh questions for the church of today that need addressed. Good luck with your work. God Bless. I've backed this book until I had a chance to finish what you have wrote. Take a look at December Gold when you get the chance. It is an Historical Christian Fiction. Once again, good luck with your publishing. I believe this book can be a useful tool for the church.
--author of December Gold

Hi Cliff, I enjoyed reading this for its cultural references and its telling about sensitive moments that most people have - and some "hang out" without getting to the point, the barrier Cliff expresses. Your narrative shows that Cliff coming across coolly to other people, and he finds out he's too cute at church. Before, it was noticeable that Angie chose to sit near him. I can see that you'll want to go over some of the narrative again for consistency. The dialogue is good! I also liked the interior italic sections for their revealing the issues men have these days. Shelved - Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

I like what your book has to say. Although I haven't got real far in it I was able to know (because of my own seminary trainingj) where I believed you were going. Your strengths are great in context. I will read more as time goes by to grasp more of what you are saying. This is a potentially strong book. Do watch out for dangling participles and using certain words several times in the same few paragraphs. They tend to get tedious. Like I do often, reread what you have written and keep on refining. Good job so far. I'm the author of December Gold.

This is well written and well argued, but for me as a non believer it is a bit like the big bang theory of the universe, but what was it that went bang in the first place. So everything is now hurtling outwards but on a slighly curved path so that eventually it will come back to where it started and then there will be another big bang and it will explode out in the other direction. Who knows, maybe this whole system is God. Backed BADD

C C, your Intro and Chapter One are professionally written. I honestly can't nitpick anything there. All the best with this.

Happy to back this.

Joffrey (The Silver Spoon Effect)

Dear CC Huang,

Thank you for sharing your story with us. Your pitches read like a sermon, which I guess is right on the money. I don’t think you want to end “Dare to be challenged?” with a question mark. Should “the maker” be capitalized? I agree that the blacksmith is a much more appropriate analogy than some emaciated, dirt-fingered potter. I appreciate your emphasis on the need for us to live a true life. You have “2 eyes” and should write it out “two eyes”. I liked the sympathy-building phrase “child lost in a land that spoke a foreign language”. I can see it must’ve been remarkable, (perhaps a little jarring,) to find a church-room full of Asians after coming to the USA. I can see the teachers created a self-fulfilling prophesy in you, inadvertently encouraging you to become a devil child. Later, you had to let go of expectation (of marriage, in this instance) to find your true self and faith.

In my fallible opinion, you could do without the panda hat in your profile picture. Though I have nothing against pandas, much less against panda hats, I feel it detracts from the gravity of your work. I was put in the wrong frame of mind.

May we all continue to think critically on our quest for truth. Bravo! Backed.

Best wishes,
Alan Marling

Wow! Seriously thought provoking and deep! You share a ton of truth! May God continue to grow the fire He's evidently started!

Dan Gilman
Learn to Love

Hi, I haven't read every word but I like what I'm reading. You have a powerful, honest testimony. When you begin Chapter 1 I'm happy to see you actually start out with the basic question who is God. That was a relief after you told us in the introduction that you were going to assume we knew something already. I don't think that's a particularly good idea to assume anything :). If you want your readers to follow on the same page with you, I suggest you keep defining and illustrating with stories. I'm happy to back you! Sandy

Great pitches drew me to this intriguing book.

I think your book will cause quit a stir and take my hat off to you for having the courage to write it.

Flawless writing, that I'm happy to back.

Melxx
Impeding Justice

Your pitch attracted me at once, and I was delighted to see someone saying many of the things I think myself. Reading on, I'm confirmed in my belief that you are coming from the right perspective, and speaking the truth as I understand it. This is a very valuable book, which I hope will reach many and help them to understand what knowing God is all about. Your writing is smooth and fault-free, important when you're presenting Christ to others. Backed.
Gerry McCullough,
Belfast Girls.

I would disagree that everything obviously false in he Bible is
meant to be metaphorical.. to me its just wrong.

for clarification, i've never said that.

"If the truth is true, we shouldn’t be afraid to question it. Nothing in the Scripture should be contradicting. If there are perceptions of contradictions, they are usually due to a lack of understanding them in full context."

nice pitch, I liked your introduction but I wonder, Christ personifies truth? I mean, as an atheist, I just couldn't get over some things, and if we were face to face we could probably spend hours debating (well it would mostly be me trying to contradict everything you say since I see it diferently) and probably never reach a central point beyond that "we agree to disagree".

still, I found your work to be excelent, since my mind is very open to any thological truth anyone presents when they appear well thought out. but I see we disagree on the fundamentals sutch as the mening of life so I don't really see the point in reading your book beyond first chapter, I mean I just couldn't, when I disagree on so many things, even if they are masterfuly presented like they are here. but even your first chapter is not a short read, so I guess its an acomplishment non the less :)

and I do think your book has merit for religious and even non-religious people so I gladly backed it.

Seems like a lively evangelical text.
may help some people with their lives. I would
disagree that everything obviously false in he Bible is
meant to be metaphorical.. to me its just wrong.
All the best..........mikegilli The Free

I just want to say that your book is definitely something that is able to benefit modern Christianity. It seems like we live in a world where people are willing to blindly go through life without even trying to understand the implications that are clearly visible in Scripture. I very much appreciate your focus on making sure that there is not a biased theological understanding, but instead you rely on Scripture. This is what is needed in order to change the face of faith in our society. If people really came to understand all that Christ is, they would understand the relational side of the God, and be willing to allow the Spirit to change them from the inside out. I am looking forward to seeing something awesome happen through your dedication in a way that others are changed for the better.

Rick Stewart
BLURAY Jesus

Always nice to hear from another theologian...let me know what you think about BLURAY Jesus...added you to my watchlist...

Rick Stewart
BLURAY Jesus

This is the Best fiction I ever have read before. Shelved

you mean non-fiction. :)

This is the Best fiction I ever have read before. Shelved

CC,
Your cover is nice and professional looking (ready for POD! - if you decide to go that way, that is)
Pitches: Bet you'd get a lot of believers with this... not surprised after the rise of the mega-churches, etc to see the critiques of the system start. Only makes sense and I think your long pitch is even better.
Text: I attended a class by a professor from a local theological seminary, who I'd befriended when I worked at a deli. This was back in the early 90s. He was such a nice man and his students who came to the deli all had great fun grilling me on where I stood, etc. Prof. Dunzweiler taught apologetics and I was so surprised that at such a conservative seminary, there were so many wildly varying views held. I'd love to talk to him now about current trends...betting he'd share some of your thoughts. The text reads very professional and can see the teacher in you shining through.
Best of luck with it!
-=Bradley

Wow. Isn't it amazing how God reveals to us in a timely manner what he wants us to know. There is so much good information here. I totally agree with some of your statements. One comment I would like to make is that although I have always believed in God at one point in my life I refused to call myself a Christian because my lifestyle was not one that mirrored Christianity therefore rather than to insult God while a non believer was looking I just disassociated and not denied because I knew that he was and is Satan just had me in his clutches at that time. Praise God I am now living for Christ. Even though I am not perfect I am striving. There is so much more to be said. I am glad to see this well written easy to understand book and I hope you get published. Backed with pleasure. Lisa

You have started a very philosophical subject here, very interesting. Backed

shah

Backed.

Jesse - Savant

A trully remarkable read and one that I would recommend to all, whatever your persuasion.
Backed!
A look at my book would be much appreciated.
Frank, Sicilian Shadows.

One of the Best non-fiction pieces I have read on this site. There has been a wave of individuals questioning NOT their faith but what it all really means. Why do we believe what we believe apart from all that we have always been told. Not as a challenge to those teachings but as a means to gain a deeper understanding and relationship to those beliefs. And as with this book, the questions have been fearless. Granting a willingness to set it all aside to start from scratch, to strip it all away down to the very foundations to search out the truth.

My only crit here would be the placement of your bio section. Not that it should be removed, but maybe presented in a different fashison. For me, it began to take me away from the book itself...I wonder if you might include this info in the very heart of each chapter...thereby making each section informative and personal at the same time. (Only a suggestion.)

Lockjaw

There are some absolute gems of spiritual truth here. Your explanation of the anvil analogy is inspiring - it resonates with the refiner's fire as a message to the suffering Christian - and a reason to stick close to your Bible when times are hard.

(As an English graduate, I'd say check tenses and singulars/plurals. They're not always 100% consistent.)

Rachel

C.C.

The Anvil of God: A Spiritual Reformation - this spells out something vital that no scientist can dismiss - God is what we cannot disprove, a simple and elegant definition of the Spirit that guides from within. This is refreshing and stimilating. During reading, I was reminded of a dear friend and teacher's words, not a Christian, but a man of faith and doubt, which made me respect his faith, if that makes sense. Answers, he said, are dead. Questions are alive. Or, we are not made to agree with each other, but to create beauty. I found a resonace here, which will make me read on.

Pia (Course of Mirrors)

I like the premise for your book. I hope the comment that I made about the eye helped. Backed with pleasure. Lisa

I like the premise for your book. I hope the comment that I made about the eye helped. Backed with pleasure. Lisa

I like the premise for your book. I hope the comment that I made about the eye helped. Backed with pleasure. Lisa

I'd usually run a marathon to get away from anything religious - I thought I'd give your work a shot and I'm glad I did -- a different angle on what I was expecting - very good.

Backed

Kev