The Encounter by Steve Arterburn

The Encounter by Steve Arterburn is a sweet story that the author based on a couple of situations he knew of. Finding that out at the end made it a little more bearable. The premise is that a man has struggled to understand and thereby, forgive his mother for abandoning him as a child. Once the truth was revealed, I have to say, I was disappointed. He ends the book with a teaching on forgiveness, the effect of unforgiveness, and the road to take to be freed from this poison. While his truth is valid, it lacked the full force of the gospel that makes it real and effective. The story, I felt, was more a parable used to teach the lesson he was trying to get across; to that effect, it was done fairly well, if not a little too neatly. For a strong, intriguing, heart pulling read, however, this book will certainly disappoint. However, if you are looking to start pursuing wisdom and healing in the area of forgiveness, you may find this book a good introduction to that often hard path. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”