Flirting with the Forbidden: Finding Grace in a World of Temptation [NOOK Book]

Can't put it down

Best book I've read in a long time. Steven paints a picture of the stories in scripture through the minds of the person being tempted. It brings these stories from the bible to life and you can easily make sence of what they must have gone through and relate it to what we go through as well when tempted by sin. The writer weaves back and forth from his life experiences and struggles with temptation and sin to the narrative from scripture. Can't say enough good things about this author and book.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

I really enjoyed ¿Flirting with the Forbidden.¿ Each chapter fea

I really enjoyed “Flirting with the Forbidden.” Each chapter features a different character from the Bible, some well-known (e.g. Adam and King David) and some more obscure in nature (e.g. one of the flute players at a funeral.) In every instance the author uses his creative talents to write in the voice of those characters.
There is risk in this, obviously. It opens the author up to charges of twisting or distorting Biblical truth. But I think what has been done here works. The book is insightful and often moving. The narrative really brings the characters to life.
Yes, there are a lot of instances where he has to speculate. Did Naomi send Ruth to Boaz thinking he’d be drunk at the winepress? I don’t think so, but who knows? Was Jesus a dancer? Not sure. But it is all possible given the text in the Bible.
And that’s what I like most about this book. It is a great discussion starter. In fact, my home group used “Flirting with the Forbidden” as part of our weekly study, and it worked quite well. Everyone found it useful. I only wish there were discussion questions to go along with it.
I highly recommend it!

Truly amazing. I'm a huge fan of Mr. James writing. This book is

Truly amazing. I'm a huge fan of Mr. James writing. This book is a must read for any follower of Christ at any stage of their walk with Him. You will laugh, and cry, and truly THINK. The stories give you new insights beyond what the bible tells us and are delivered in James' typical master-story-teller fashion. I simply loved it. I wanted to read it cover to cover so I did, then I read it again but forced myself to go slowly, savoring the wisdom within, applying it to further bible study as well as life application. I dare say I closed the cover a changed woman, not so much so that everyone noticed and remarked on it, but so much so that I feel it in my heart and soul. It certainly allows us to address problem areas in our faith and to have a much closer walk with the Lord.

Enlightening, inspiring, and thought-provoking this book will jump start your heart and make your soul stand at attention! I learned so much about myself and about the temptations we all face. I was able to relate to biblical characters that were once just people on the page. Mr. James writes them, and their stories, in such a masterful way that they jump off the page, they come alive, and you are right there with them! The stories really put me "there" and allowed for me to have such a deeper understanding. I found my walk with the Lord to be much more intimate as I continued to read.

There are so many wonderful examples and bits of wisdom within the pages that is very hard to pick just one. Among many passages that I highlighted is this: "God allows us to make the choice between safe but fatal skepticism or dangerous but life-giving faith. Real life lies on the edge of a dare." I found myself suddenly thankful for hardships, misfortune, and especially unanswered prayers... for God's "wake up calls" when I have become numb in my comfort and security.

I will not settle here and invest my future in the wrong place! Thank you, Mr. James for entertaining my mind with your thrilling suspense series, for inspiring me to work harder to be a better writer and story-teller, but most of all for sharing such insights that stir my soul and drive the messages home-- straight to the heart. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone who has not read it yet! I'm reading through it for the third time now!

I had the privilege of interviewing Steven James, on our radio s

I had the privilege of interviewing Steven James, on our radio show “Kingdom Highlights”, for his new book,, “Flirting with the Forbidden” published by Revell helps us in Finding Grace in a World of Temptation

From the Back Cover: In this world, temptation lurks around every corner. And every day we are in danger of falling victim to its enticements.

But just because we must live with temptation doesn’t mean we have to let it master us.

In Flirting with the Forbidden, critically-acclaimed author Steven James combines powerful first-person narratives from Scripture with thought-provoking reflections on temptation, discipleship, and grace to help you grow in discernment and develop a deeper, more intimate walk with Christ.

We live in a world that is full of temptations promising excitement, indulgence and the opportunity to fulfill our every desire. Turn on the television during the commercial breaks and prepare to be bombarded with three or four minutes of temptation. During an hour show we can be given almost fifteen minutes for all kinds of lures. In Biblical times they didn’t have the commercials but they had temptation. The Bible gives countless examples of individuals both resisting and giving in to temptation. In “Flirting with the Forbidden” Steven James gives us fifteen Bible stories from the point of view of the person who lived it. Mr. James begins with Eve talking about her son Cain, who we know kills his brother Abel, before he gives in to that temptation. Then there is Joseph who Potiphar’s wife was trying to seduce and how he finally resists. Each Bible character shows the temptation and how they resisted or did not. They in turn help us for the temptations that they faced still exist today and come in contact with us. Mr. James at the end of each chapter gives us some help to strengthen us to overcome those temptations that threaten us. “Flirting with the Forbidden” is not a book that will be read once and then put on the shelf. On the contrary it is a book that will be referred back to over and over again. we need to be reminded that temptation is out there and there is a way to overcome it. Others did it before us and that means we can too.

If you missed the interview for “The Knight”, a different series from Steven James, and/or would like to hear the previous interview where we discussed the first two books and would like to listen to it and/or listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to Kingdom Highlights where they are available On Demand.

To listen to 24 hours a day non-stop Christian music please visit our internet radio station Kingdom Airwaves

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell. 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 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

No text was provided for this review.