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The Three Hardest Words: In the World to Get Right

Paperback |English |0525654267 | 9780525654261

The Three Hardest Words: In the World to Get Right

Paperback |English |0525654267 | 9780525654261
Overview
Three simple words-"I love you"-capture the heart of Jesus' life and ministry. These three words form the bottom line and top drawer of all his teachings. And they remain the three hardest words in the world to get right. Two pronouns and a verb have never been so difficult to grasp, much less to practice. Popular culture has ruined love's reputation by redefining it first as romance, and then as lust. But it's not just the meaning of the word love that causes so much confusion. To fully understand love, we also need to find out who we are in God's eyes and whom we are commanded to love. Following Jesus can be described as the daily practice of all three words I. Love. You. There is nothing more rewarding, and nothing more risky. Join Leonard Sweet in this eye-opening, life-altering exploration of three simple, one-syllable words. After all, the lifestyle of love is the only life that Jesus calls you to live. There is nothing more challenging than adopting the three-word lifestyle of Jesus as your own. Perhaps you have wondered why love seems to work for everyone else, but not for you. Or maybe you've done your best to love those around you, but it seems that life has drained your last drop of trust and affection. Nothing is better than love when it's right; and nothing is more destructive than attempts at love that fail to follow the Jesus prescription for a healthy life. Jesus devoted his earthly life to saying these three words-I love you-and teaching us how to say them. As Jesus defined love, it takes everything you've got...and then even more, which only God can give. The lifestyle of love is not something you can master on your own, but Jesus is ready to show you how. Starting today, you can learn to live "I love you"-the three hardest words in the world to get right. Leonard Sweet, PhD, serves as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey. He is also a Distinguished Visiting Professor at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, and founder and president of SpiritVenture Ministries. He has written many books, including Out of the Question...Into the Mystery and the trilogy SoulTsunami, AquaChurch, and SoulSalsa.
ISBN: 0525654267
ISBN13: 9780525654261
Author: Leonard Sweet
Publisher: WaterBrook
Format: Paperback
PublicationDate: 2006-03-21
Language: English
PageCount: 240
Dimensions: 5.91 x 0.59 x 8.93 inches
Weight: 8.96 ounces
Three simple words-"I love you"-capture the heart of Jesus' life and ministry. These three words form the bottom line and top drawer of all his teachings. And they remain the three hardest words in the world to get right. Two pronouns and a verb have never been so difficult to grasp, much less to practice. Popular culture has ruined love's reputation by redefining it first as romance, and then as lust. But it's not just the meaning of the word love that causes so much confusion. To fully understand love, we also need to find out who we are in God's eyes and whom we are commanded to love. Following Jesus can be described as the daily practice of all three words I. Love. You. There is nothing more rewarding, and nothing more risky. Join Leonard Sweet in this eye-opening, life-altering exploration of three simple, one-syllable words. After all, the lifestyle of love is the only life that Jesus calls you to live. There is nothing more challenging than adopting the three-word lifestyle of Jesus as your own. Perhaps you have wondered why love seems to work for everyone else, but not for you. Or maybe you've done your best to love those around you, but it seems that life has drained your last drop of trust and affection. Nothing is better than love when it's right; and nothing is more destructive than attempts at love that fail to follow the Jesus prescription for a healthy life. Jesus devoted his earthly life to saying these three words-I love you-and teaching us how to say them. As Jesus defined love, it takes everything you've got...and then even more, which only God can give. The lifestyle of love is not something you can master on your own, but Jesus is ready to show you how. Starting today, you can learn to live "I love you"-the three hardest words in the world to get right. Leonard Sweet, PhD, serves as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey. He is also a Distinguished Visiting Professor at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, and founder and president of SpiritVenture Ministries. He has written many books, including Out of the Question...Into the Mystery and the trilogy SoulTsunami, AquaChurch, and SoulSalsa.
Editorial Reviews


Praise for The Three Hardest Words "This book demonstrates that one of the seminal Christian thinkers in the postmodern era can also be a pastor. Leonard Sweet gets us to examine what it takes to live out love in this world, and he does it beautifully."

-Tony Campolo, coauthor of
Adventures in Missing the Point, professor of sociology at Eastern University
"Len Sweet has, in his inimitable style, tackled the three easiest/hardest words in the English language, wrestled them to the ground, hugged them, and then let them fly again. His imagination takes us on a journey; his mind is an encyclopedia of wonderful references; and his language is captivating. This book is a joy...and a challenge."

-Tony Jones, national coordinator of Emergent-US, author of
The Sacred Way
"In
The Three Hardest Words, Leonard Sweet plumbs the depths of Christianity to explore the richness of God's story, one that is abundant in love. As usual, Sweet's work is thought-provoking, insightful, and a must-read for any postmodern thinker."

-Margaret Feinberg, author of
Twentysomething and
What the Heck Should I Do With My Life


"Leonard Sweet has explored each of
The
Three Hardest Words in light of scripture and God's kingdom. Journey with him to find out how God defines each of the words that sums up the Christian life:
I,
love, and
you."

-Kirbyjon Caldwell, pastor, coauthor of
Entrepreneurial Faith and author of
The Gospel of Good Success


"It turns out that Jesus' simplest and most basic command-that we are to love one another-is the hardest one for us to live out. Leonard Sweet's book is a tremendous help in guiding us not only to say the words 'I love you' with greater understanding of what they really mean, but also to live them with greater integrity and intention."

-Ruth Haley Barton, cofounder of the Transforming Center and author of
Sacred Rhythms
"As corny as the song lyrics are, it's true that the world does need 'love sweet love.' But we need love the way Jesus expressed it. Len Sweet shows how to lose the cliché and make love a reality."

-Dan Kimball, pastor, author of
The Emerging Church and
Emerging Worship
"Leonard Sweet takes you on a journey out of yourself and into the transforming power of God's love. His fresh take on love can change your life and your community. Read, live, and breathe this provocative book."

-Ben Young, pastor, author of
Out of Control: Finding Peace for the Physically Exhausted and Spiritually Strung Out


Leonard Sweet, PhD, is founder and president of SpiritVenture Ministries and serves as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey. He also serves as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, and is the chief writer for preachingplus.com, a popular source for pastors and other Christian speakers. A popular speaker himself, Sweet has written more than twenty books, including
Out of the Question...Into the Mystery and the trilogy
AquaChurch,
SoulTsunami, and
SoulSalsa.

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The following guidelines apply to books:

  • New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
  • Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
  • Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.

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  • Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
  • Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
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The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.

Estimated delivery times:

  • Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
  • Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days

Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times. 

Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.

Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.

If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:

  • Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
  • Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
  • Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

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We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.

If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

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Overview
Three simple words-"I love you"-capture the heart of Jesus' life and ministry. These three words form the bottom line and top drawer of all his teachings. And they remain the three hardest words in the world to get right. Two pronouns and a verb have never been so difficult to grasp, much less to practice. Popular culture has ruined love's reputation by redefining it first as romance, and then as lust. But it's not just the meaning of the word love that causes so much confusion. To fully understand love, we also need to find out who we are in God's eyes and whom we are commanded to love. Following Jesus can be described as the daily practice of all three words I. Love. You. There is nothing more rewarding, and nothing more risky. Join Leonard Sweet in this eye-opening, life-altering exploration of three simple, one-syllable words. After all, the lifestyle of love is the only life that Jesus calls you to live. There is nothing more challenging than adopting the three-word lifestyle of Jesus as your own. Perhaps you have wondered why love seems to work for everyone else, but not for you. Or maybe you've done your best to love those around you, but it seems that life has drained your last drop of trust and affection. Nothing is better than love when it's right; and nothing is more destructive than attempts at love that fail to follow the Jesus prescription for a healthy life. Jesus devoted his earthly life to saying these three words-I love you-and teaching us how to say them. As Jesus defined love, it takes everything you've got...and then even more, which only God can give. The lifestyle of love is not something you can master on your own, but Jesus is ready to show you how. Starting today, you can learn to live "I love you"-the three hardest words in the world to get right. Leonard Sweet, PhD, serves as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey. He is also a Distinguished Visiting Professor at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, and founder and president of SpiritVenture Ministries. He has written many books, including Out of the Question...Into the Mystery and the trilogy SoulTsunami, AquaChurch, and SoulSalsa.
ISBN: 0525654267
ISBN13: 9780525654261
Author: Leonard Sweet
Publisher: WaterBrook
Format: Paperback
PublicationDate: 2006-03-21
Language: English
PageCount: 240
Dimensions: 5.91 x 0.59 x 8.93 inches
Weight: 8.96 ounces
Three simple words-"I love you"-capture the heart of Jesus' life and ministry. These three words form the bottom line and top drawer of all his teachings. And they remain the three hardest words in the world to get right. Two pronouns and a verb have never been so difficult to grasp, much less to practice. Popular culture has ruined love's reputation by redefining it first as romance, and then as lust. But it's not just the meaning of the word love that causes so much confusion. To fully understand love, we also need to find out who we are in God's eyes and whom we are commanded to love. Following Jesus can be described as the daily practice of all three words I. Love. You. There is nothing more rewarding, and nothing more risky. Join Leonard Sweet in this eye-opening, life-altering exploration of three simple, one-syllable words. After all, the lifestyle of love is the only life that Jesus calls you to live. There is nothing more challenging than adopting the three-word lifestyle of Jesus as your own. Perhaps you have wondered why love seems to work for everyone else, but not for you. Or maybe you've done your best to love those around you, but it seems that life has drained your last drop of trust and affection. Nothing is better than love when it's right; and nothing is more destructive than attempts at love that fail to follow the Jesus prescription for a healthy life. Jesus devoted his earthly life to saying these three words-I love you-and teaching us how to say them. As Jesus defined love, it takes everything you've got...and then even more, which only God can give. The lifestyle of love is not something you can master on your own, but Jesus is ready to show you how. Starting today, you can learn to live "I love you"-the three hardest words in the world to get right. Leonard Sweet, PhD, serves as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey. He is also a Distinguished Visiting Professor at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, and founder and president of SpiritVenture Ministries. He has written many books, including Out of the Question...Into the Mystery and the trilogy SoulTsunami, AquaChurch, and SoulSalsa.
Editorial Reviews


Praise for The Three Hardest Words "This book demonstrates that one of the seminal Christian thinkers in the postmodern era can also be a pastor. Leonard Sweet gets us to examine what it takes to live out love in this world, and he does it beautifully."

-Tony Campolo, coauthor of
Adventures in Missing the Point, professor of sociology at Eastern University
"Len Sweet has, in his inimitable style, tackled the three easiest/hardest words in the English language, wrestled them to the ground, hugged them, and then let them fly again. His imagination takes us on a journey; his mind is an encyclopedia of wonderful references; and his language is captivating. This book is a joy...and a challenge."

-Tony Jones, national coordinator of Emergent-US, author of
The Sacred Way
"In
The Three Hardest Words, Leonard Sweet plumbs the depths of Christianity to explore the richness of God's story, one that is abundant in love. As usual, Sweet's work is thought-provoking, insightful, and a must-read for any postmodern thinker."

-Margaret Feinberg, author of
Twentysomething and
What the Heck Should I Do With My Life


"Leonard Sweet has explored each of
The
Three Hardest Words in light of scripture and God's kingdom. Journey with him to find out how God defines each of the words that sums up the Christian life:
I,
love, and
you."

-Kirbyjon Caldwell, pastor, coauthor of
Entrepreneurial Faith and author of
The Gospel of Good Success


"It turns out that Jesus' simplest and most basic command-that we are to love one another-is the hardest one for us to live out. Leonard Sweet's book is a tremendous help in guiding us not only to say the words 'I love you' with greater understanding of what they really mean, but also to live them with greater integrity and intention."

-Ruth Haley Barton, cofounder of the Transforming Center and author of
Sacred Rhythms
"As corny as the song lyrics are, it's true that the world does need 'love sweet love.' But we need love the way Jesus expressed it. Len Sweet shows how to lose the cliché and make love a reality."

-Dan Kimball, pastor, author of
The Emerging Church and
Emerging Worship
"Leonard Sweet takes you on a journey out of yourself and into the transforming power of God's love. His fresh take on love can change your life and your community. Read, live, and breathe this provocative book."

-Ben Young, pastor, author of
Out of Control: Finding Peace for the Physically Exhausted and Spiritually Strung Out


Leonard Sweet, PhD, is founder and president of SpiritVenture Ministries and serves as the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey. He also serves as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, and is the chief writer for preachingplus.com, a popular source for pastors and other Christian speakers. A popular speaker himself, Sweet has written more than twenty books, including
Out of the Question...Into the Mystery and the trilogy
AquaChurch,
SoulTsunami, and
SoulSalsa.

Books - New and Used

The following guidelines apply to books:

  • New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
  • Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
  • Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.

Shipping Fees

  • Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
  • Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
  • No additional fees and charges.

Delivery Times

The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.

Estimated delivery times:

  • Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
  • Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days

Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times. 

Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.

Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.

If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:

  • Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
  • Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
  • Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.


Shipping Cost


We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.

If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

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