Customer Reviews - Amazon
I received this book as a gift from Helen Kamenos, the author. I share quite a bit in common with her, professionally and life walk-wise. I am grateful for this book of hope, strengthening, and developing a mature relationship with the Lord.
In truth, it is very basic in content and quite appropriate for a new Christian or someone who has lost touch with the Christian way of faith. The spirit of love comes forth and the reader benefits from this. The book is based on the lessons of love and guidance found in Matthew 5-7. Being that the Beatitudes form the base of this book, Ms. Kamenos spends a large part of the book focusing on the need to be humble, mournful, meek, righteous, merciful, pure in heart, and peaceful. The author lays out the need to master these basic lessons for it is the only way one can be one with the Lord. The author shines a new light on the words and concepts of peace, purity, meekness, humility, righteousness, charity, love, et al by citing the scriptures and the biblical meaning of such. By focusing on such basic concepts, the author delivers a vital insight into the tenets of the Christian faith.
This world is full of evil and the believer must be able to stand up against evil and be a minister of love, hope, peace, and charity. This book serves as a handbook for believers because it encompasses the essential lessons for living a Christian life and battling evil. The reader of this enlightened book has a valuable tool. Like any stellar teaching, one must take the concepts taught in this book and wield them in righteousness. A firm foundation in the lessons taught on the mount and throughout Jesus' ministry will gird one for life and bring one into an intimate relationship with Jesus, the Savior.
Finally, this book was written with love and faith. I praise the work of the Holy Spirit leading Ms. Helen Kamenos in this work. I rate this one of the best Christian teaching books I have ever read.
By Nez on December 3, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition An excellent explanation of how our thinking affects our choices, which affects the closeness of our relationship with God. The beatitudes show us how God thinks and as we understand that fully, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we come into increasing union and perfection. A clear guide for all seeking to have a closer walk with God.
By Cookie on February 3, 2017
I loved the book very much. I am on a spiritual journey presently myself and this book helped me to understand how God works in our lives. It is well written and the author does a great job in explaining the Beatitudes as a road map to help us all on our journey. As someone who cares for the elderly, this book explains the principles and teachings of Christ, and how he works in our lives. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking Christ or just beginning their journey. It's a must read...
Reader's Favorite Book Reviews
By Rabia Tanveer on January 10, 2017
A Journey Toward Perfection - Deny Yourself, Take Up Your Cross, And Follow Me: The Beatitudes as a Road Map for Our Journey through Life by Helen Kamenos is a beautiful book about how a person should strive to become one with Jesus. At a glance, you can tell that the author puts her heart and soul into her words and this book. The book focuses more on the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 and the attributes of Jesus described in them. The book takes a closer look at the attributes of God and how we can become much like Him, love people like He does, and be as pure as He is.
Like the author says, it is a tall order to fulfill, but it is our duty to at least try. Our decisions have a direct impact on how we connect with Jesus and how they affect our lives. This book is about enduring, bearing your crosses, and wearing them like a crown. This is a guide for anyone who wants to connect with God and become one with Him. This book was written with a pure heart and soul. You can feel Helen Kamenos’ love for Jesus in her words and how much she wants everyone to feel as close to Him as she does. It was exciting to read her words because she was excited to tell us what she thought. I think this is the best way to write a book like this. It was a wonderful experience.
By Mary C. Blowers on January 8, 2017
I truly was blown away by A Journey Toward Perfection. Author Helen Kamenos is an Orthodox Christian and gives a truly stellar description of many tenets of their doctrine. It is very detailed and thorough. I very much enjoyed it because, as is true of many Christian books and especially the Bible, passages will seem to be written just for the reader. For example, things I have been thinking about in my daily life recently were referred to in the pages of this book. This may seem impossible to some people, but this is why the Bible is referred to as God's Living Word. It can speak to your situation and give biblical counsel. Each chapter starts with a Bible verse to illustrate its main points. It's a very good study tool and is also enjoyable reading in its own right.
The author, Helen Kamenos, has chosen the subtitle The Beatitudes as a Road Map for Our Journey Through Life. This is a good analogy, because the Beatitudes, found in Matthew 5 and 6, contain the Sermon on the Mount which is a list of proper behaviors for Christians and the rewards inherent in those behaviors and beliefs. For instance, the meek shall inherit the earth. This one is often quoted as a reminder to refrain from anger and violence. It could even be used to guard against unwholesome talk and criticism. In the Bible, it says we are to submit to whatever authority is in place, such as the laws of our land or our bosses. By doing so, we become meek like Christ and consequently can inherit the earth. This book would be a great faith builder or a comfort if the reader is already familiar with the Bible. It would be a lovely gift for newlyweds or a student upon their confirmation, graduation, or other rite of passage.
By Ray Simmons on January 1, 2017
It has been years since I even thought about the Beatitudes. I grew up going to church in a small Methodist church outside Mobile, Alabama. I say Methodist but more precisely, it was African Methodist Episcopal Zion. A branch of the Methodist church created after the Civil War because white people, for the most part, did not want to attend church with the freed slaves. I often think about how different American history might be if the Christians of the era had simply embraced each other in the faith and just moved forward in Christian fellowship. The fact that this did not happen is a testament to the fact that the Church itself is on A Journey Toward Perfection. Let’s hope it gets there soon. It would change the world.
I could not help but like A Journey Toward Perfection by Helen Kamenos. It reinforced and gave new perspective to lessons I learned and absorbed at my mother’s knee. She was an imperfect teacher and it was an imperfect time, but she did her best. The Beatitudes are beautiful. The pastor of our church would recite them in a solemn voice before his actual message every Sunday to the accompaniment of spiritual organ music. Helen Kamenos's book vividly reminded me of those lessons and explained some points I had never considered. There is also something else in A Journey Toward Perfection that I had forgotten about; it is called The Nicene Creed. We called it The Apostles' Creed. The message in A Journey Toward Perfection is the message of Jesus Christ. The book is beautifully written, logically organized, and will definitely help you on your personal journey.
By Mamta Madhavan on January 2, 2017
A Journey Toward Perfection: Deny Yourself, Take Up Your Cross, And Follow Me: The Beatitudes as a Road Map for Our Journey through Life by Helen Kamenos is an uplifting book for all those who seek the love of Christ. The book leads readers into a deeper relationship with God and reiterates the power of God’s love. The author exalts the virtues of Jesus Christ and makes Him the role model of divine love. Every Christian’s journey should be toward Christ and also toward an intimate relationship with Him and His divine love. Readers are encouraged and motivated
through this book to follow in Christ’s footsteps to see their lives transformed and becoming more perfect in Christ.
The book is motivating and encouraging to all Christian readers and speaks about how to experience the joy and peace of a virtuous life and true Christian living. The author quotes the most difficult teaching of Christ in the book: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44). The book is good for all Christians to look into themselves and see in what ways they can witness a transformation in their lives by believing in God. The author’s words are simple and easy to comprehend, and readers are taught that through a relationship with God they can reach a deeper relationship with Christ and see themselves change from a caterpillar into a butterfly.
By Vernita Naylor on January 1, 2017
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.” Matthew 5:14-16 NIV. The light is the essence of A Journey Toward Perfection: Deny Yourself, Take Up Your Cross, And Follow Me: The Beatitudes as a Road Map for Our Journey through Life by Helen Kamenos. The light as a believer is you. The light must be ignited to shine, be equipped to share the Gospel, and to display the love of Christ. Helen Kamenos rolls out in A Journey Toward Perfection the steps and process that it takes to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Christ into living the path that God has designed for His followers. In A Journey Toward Perfection, you will learn through the chapters, from Being Humble and The Thirst and Hunger to Righteousness to Cultivating A Relationship With God, what is required to walk the walk of faith.
Reading A Journey Toward Perfection by Helen Kamenos was enlightening because it told the story of the life of Christ. In the book of Matthew, you will learn about a monumental episode in the New Testament times, the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount is where Jesus performed His most powerful teachings from the Beatitudes to The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). A Journey Toward Perfection provides information needed to better understand what God requires of us. To strengthen your commitment as you read A Journey Toward Perfection, Kamenos offers a few scriptures to help you along the way.
