The Wounded Spirit

[Timber Wolf]

As I understand it, we can discuss any book we'd like, as well as having the book club group discuss a book decided upon by the group.

I just finished Frank Peretti's book The Wounded Spirit, and was wondering if anyone else has read it / wants to discuss.

I think it is a great book for All to read, and highly recommend it. I had heard Frank on Focus on the Family and didn't realize he had written the book so long ago. He wrote it after giving a speach on the same topic just shortly after the Columbine shooting.

Unfortunately, it is not my own copy, but the library's and so hopefully I can get it checked out again if we are able to start a discussion about it.

Timber Wolf

[joyful_grace_18]

aw...man I read that book like five years ago. Isn't it sorta of like a biography of Peretti's life? I can't really recall. I just remember the locker room stuff...*winces*...very good book though...(anything by Peretti is good)...but, yeah to discuss it I'd have to have a bit of a refresher, it's been a while.

[David Meigs]

As a youth pastor I give the book to youth who have been badly bullied. Frank endured so much and yet God turned it all around. It’s amazing to see how reading it can turn a kid’s life around. It’s a life changer!

[whitehawke]

I haven't read the book, but thanks to a friend, I have heard a small audio by Frank on the bullying. I think I better hunt this book down and read it.

[Gina123]

I've read several of his books, but not that one. Did I read somewhere that he has a disability of some sort?? Was that part of the reason for his being bullied??

[David Meigs]

...Was that part of the reason for his being bullied??Yes, you are right. Definitely pick up the book and read about it. It's powerful!

[Gina123]

I will do that! In my day as a younger person there was not so much overt bullying of girls as the boys endured. I think that has changed somewhat, but girls have always been the best backstabbers! Anyway....I will find the book and read it.

The last book I read of his was "Beast".

[joyful_grace_18]

The BEAST?....never heard of that one!....I've read every other book he's ever written!

[David Meigs]

I think she means "monster" :)

[Daniel]

I to have read it, and have a copy of it, and highly recommend it. It would be a wonderful book to do a discussion on. I myself remember being bullied at school, and to a point, even by other Christians, I was always different. Always will be. Maybe that's why I have a hard time finding an accepting Christian woman! Sorry, had to get that out of me :rolleyes:

[Timber Wolf]

I've read several of his books, but not that one. Did I read somewhere that he has a disability of some sort?? Was that part of the reason for his being bullied??

He had a tumor (can't remember the label) on his neck when he was born. It was surgically removed, but during the surgery, apparantly, they removed all or a significant portion of the lymph node in that area.

This resulted in an infection that attacked his tongue, causing it to swell to abnormal size,m and I believe the tongue turned black (or maybe that was the fluids drying on his tongue and turning black). This caused him to have to have numerous surguries and he suffered no end of teasing because of the health problmes it caused.

Because of the infection his body did not develop as quickly as other boys, so he remained small statured when he was growing up. As he describes it "I turned to monsters, becuse I could so relate to them."

As an over-weight book worm, I too was teased in JR / Sr high, so I completely related to what Frank wrote about. I didn't have the handicap of being small statured, I was bigger than most of the brats that were bugging me, so once I pounded them, they no longer bothered me. I was handicapped, though, by a grandfather who always preached at me to turn the other cheek - a verse entirely taken out of context in that instance, but that is a discussion for another thread, so because of being told this all the time, I usually got teased til I couldn't take it any longer, then they regretted having thought they could continue to get away with it. As Frank wrote, ignoring it and pretending it doesn't bother you never works.

I do have one disagreement w/ Frank though, the idea of a "zero-tolerance" policy. Now, maybe his idea and mine are different, but in my mind a "zero-tolerance" policy is always in favor of bullies. If a kid stands up for himself, he is denounced as a trouble-maker and sent home for a week, along w/ the instigator of the trouble. I find this to be ridiculous, as the bully ususally doesn't care if he gets in trouble, he'll just do the same thing over and over again. And as we've seen from pas events, these days putting up with bullies at school (or elsewhere - rememebr the term "going postal?"), can have, quite literally, deadly consequences. (Don't even get me started.)

All, in all, it was quite a good book, and I am glad I finally read it. I just wish I had done so sooner. I never realized it was put out so soon after Columine.

[Daniel]

Good post Timber Wolf. I had to do that myself to someone in high school. It is sad that it has to be that way, but whatever language they respect, you know? Since this is a book about being wounded, what are some wounds that we have? Personal topic, I know. Maybe a good thing to talk about. When being transformed into the image of Christ, in our day to day walk, there are times when we will have to face them, when we will have to grow. Maybe that is how we grow, how we become stronger and become more like Christ is by facing those wounds. Lately I have been facing my wounds and you what? It sucks, it is almost as if you're alone and no one cares and wants to be a man to guide you in them. After all, those other "men" have their own wounds as well. It's quite a cycle.

I don't believe in that zero-tolerance policy either. And I think, Timber Wolf, Frank's and your thought about it are the same if I recall right.