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Formats
Paperback Book Details
  • 01/2022
  • 9781778292248
  • 204 pages
  • $18.99
Hardcover Book Details
  • 01/2022
  • 9781778292262
  • 208 pages
  • $39.99
Ebook Details
  • 01/2022
  • 9781778292255
  • 202 pages
  • $6.99
Rene Lafaut
Author
Dismantling the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Within so Love Can Thrive
Rene Lafaut, author

Adult; Spirituality/Inspirational; (Market)

This book describes a method on how to transform the mind and heart of a person in a way that is loyal to Jesus and the Christian Scriptures. It is done through confession and repentance that involves strategic prayer to God with the help of understanding the many connections between: hurts, fear, pride, selfish love, compulsive-laziness, compulsive-indulgence, coveting, judgments, and selfishness; along with one's visible sins (These connections form a structure called "the tree of knowledge of good and evil" within which has invisibly dominated humanity since the Garden of Eden). And, then to renew one's mind and actions with virtues (in the exact places where we have given up the vices) with wholesome and sober truth-based thinking and believing through Jesus' grace. The process of change is observably gradual. So if you struggle with any of the following negative attitudes such as jealousy, conceit, self-pity, unkindness, and meanness; and you find yourself trampling over people's feelings and boundaries in unhealthy ways. Are short tempered or are often judgmental towards people in the name of truth, or you use angry pressure to motivate yourself more than coming from a caring and compassionate place. If you don't have many warm relationships because of the walls you have erected over time within yourself. If you see the world in a me or us "versus" them mentality. Are rule focused, more than love focused, seek pleasure more than what is healthy physically and spiritually, or feel more like a thorny bush than a life-giving stream in how you relate to those people you meet daily, then this book is for you.
Reviews
Lafaut’s (Contrasting Humility and Pride) comprehensive examination of the Christian faith as it relates to overcoming “sin strongholds” advocates the teachings of Jesus Christ to increase faith and replace unhealthy behaviors with universal love for others. Lafaut’s focus is on breaking down sin, guilt, fear, and dishonesty—which he terms “the tree of knowledge of good and evil” in a nod to the biblical account of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden—in order to bear “good fruit” such as peace, kindness, and self-control. To that end, he lays out steps for believers to dismantle sin in their lives by confessing it, repenting of harmful thoughts and behaviors, and learning how to love without judgment.

Lafaut draws from his own experiences to provide realistic examples to readers, offering charts to illustrate concepts like the “Sin-Conduit Structure” and the ramifications of unresolved sin and candidly detailing his own process for exploring and conquering bad habits. He addresses heavyweights like fear and pride, cautioning readers to see through these behaviors to the underlying issues, explaining that conceit is born out of a desire for belonging and arguing that fear becomes unproductive when it causes self-reliance instead of depending on God to solve problems. Lafaut also offers hope for readers who persevere through the hard work–he describes the end result as a “tree of life” that will eventually result in positive traits like joy and faithfulness.

The overarching goal according to Lafaut is “to do to others what we would want done to us,” and he frequently cautions readers to avoid being “moral policemen” in favor of increasing tolerance and empathy. Prayer is his recommended currency to work through unhealthy traits and build a more intimate spiritual life. This is not light reading, but it’s written with passion and clarity. Christians struggling to come to terms with personal faults will find plenty to digest.

Takeaway: Christian readers will appreciate this comprehensive examination of how to overcome sin and unhealthy habits.

Great for fans of: John Owen’s Overcoming Sin and Temptation, Jerry Bridges’s Respectable Sins.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: B

Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

Dismantling the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Within So Love Can Thrive: Learning to Renew the Mind and Heart (Renewing One's Life) is a work of non-fiction in the inspirational and spiritual writing subgenres. It is intended for the general reading audience and was penned by author Rene Nestor Lafaut. As the expressive title and subtitle suggest, the work offers readers a chance to transform their minds and hearts to bring greater peace to themselves by accepting love and compassion from Christian religious beliefs and practices. The author uses the metaphor of the Tree of Knowledge to deliver a method by which people can let go of behaviors that are damaging to themselves and others and instead accept more peaceful and productive emotions into their lives.

Whether you’re a religious person or not, the ideas behind author Rene Nestor Lafaut’s work hold true and resonate deeply. In a modern world where many people are discovering their boundaries and owning them and empowering themselves to deserve more compassion and respect, there are those who are still discovering their own toxic behaviors with regard to others. Lafaut’s resonant work offers a great explanation for behaviors such as being overly judgmental, losing your temper, and feeling jealous or spiteful to others because of your own insecurities and inner pressures. These behaviors are then put into a spiritual context and it becomes easier to see the bigger picture and how to minimize these actions and let go of the negative feelings which cause them. Overall, Dismantling the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Within So Love Can Thrive is a powerful and insightful read with much to teach those willing to listen.

Formats
Paperback Book Details
  • 01/2022
  • 9781778292248
  • 204 pages
  • $18.99
Hardcover Book Details
  • 01/2022
  • 9781778292262
  • 208 pages
  • $39.99
Ebook Details
  • 01/2022
  • 9781778292255
  • 202 pages
  • $6.99
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