God's Favorite Place on Earth

Written by Frank Viola

Narrated by Tom Parks

He was rejected everywhere He went. There was only one exception…a little village called Bethany.

What does God really want from you?

Christians face profound challenges today, including doubt, discouragement, fear, guilt, rejection, materialism, and spiritual apathy. God’s people are also seeking an answer to a piercing question: what does God want from me, exactly?

In God’s Favorite Place on Earth, Frank Viola answers all of these challenges with seminal insight. Here is a brilliant retelling of Jesus’ many visits to the village of Bethany and the touching message that it holds for us today. Viola presents this beautifully crafted narrative from the viewpoint of Lazarus, who lived in Bethany with his two sisters, Martha and Mary.

The curtain opens with Lazarus, who is now ready to die, telling the incomparable story of Jesus’ interactions with him, Martha, and Mary. God’s Favorite Place on Earth blends story and teaching, bringing the gospel narratives to life. Within each narrative, the common struggles Christians face are addressed and answered.

Masterfully told and profoundly moving, God’s Favorite Place on Earth will captivate your heart with its beauty, charm, and depth. You will discover how to live as a “Bethany” in our world today, being set free to love, follow, and embrace Jesus like never before.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Jul 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781480553439

Frank Viola

Frank Viola ha ayudado a personas de todo el mundo a hacer más profunda su relación con Jesucristo y entrar en una experiencia más vibrante y auténtica en la vida de iglesia. Ha escrito numerosos libros sobre estos temas, entre ellos Paganismo, ¿en tu cristianismo (con George Barna), Iglesia Reconfigurada, Jesus Manifesto (con Leonard Sweet), God’s Favorite Place on Earth y From Eternity to Here. Viola mantiene continuamente su blog en frankviola.org. Este blog es uno de los blogs cristianos más populares del momento.

Reviews for God's Favorite Place on Earth

[hjvanderklis_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When the Creator came to his creation and dwell as human among other Jews, Jesus Christ, was rejected in every place, except for one. Frank Viola wrote God’s Favorite Place on Earth about that one small village, Bethany, just outside Jerusalem, and home to Simon the leper, Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. Main narrative is from the viewpoint of Lazarus. Jesus' many visits to Bethany and his encounters with this family inspire believers globally struggling with fear, suffering, the object of our worship, rejection, healing and resurrection.With intermezzos to step outside the home and village and review the exact biblical verses, the bigger picture, it's more than a paraphrase of a couple of famous stories in the gospels. Viola's referring to his other books on Jesus Christ, the eternal plan God has with his children and the hope Bethany still holds for us today. Because it was from Bethany Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and promised to return to this very place. Well-written, a warm and personal narrative, and provoking thoughts. A series of group study questions are added for further reflections.

[fhc_5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A book of comfort. A book of challenge.
I had never realized the amount of time Jesus spent in Bethany prior to reading Viola's newest release, 'God's Favorite Place on Earth'. Viola presents a good case for Jesus' attachment to the people and the place that captured his favour. People who welcomed and received Christ, providing hospitality, honour, friendship and love. All responses we are encouraged to offer as our own Bethany invitation to Christ.

To move past performance mentality of serving as exemplified by Martha at our initial glimpse into this home in Bethany. To pursue relational living with the Lord as seen in Mary 's response. Casting aside gender and cultural restraints to be who she is called to be, Mary leaves propriety to wholeheartedly invest herself, her time, her efforts for the worth that is Christ. A worth that increased in her relational pursuit, culminating in the ointment poured upon the object of her affection, her heart's desire, her Lord. Viola would that we recognize Mary's 'waste' and make it our own. Recognize that what religion and religious of our day consider service or ministry is often the real 'waste' when worship is God's heart cry for his 'friends' to follow...

This particular point also spoke to a recent conversation on property ownership
vs communal living where all things are shared.
Christ never suggested personal property ownership was sin. Mary's fragrant offering was hers to give, revealing a heart of generosity. She owned the perfume; the perfume, valuable as it undeniably was, did not own her. There's the heart of the issue. For the rich young ruler, his personally owned property owned his heart. Thus, Jesus' solution to his particular issue wasn't a wholesale solution or command to every follower. We're called to have Mary hearts of worth and worship toward our Saviour, whatever our financial situation.

A beautifully novelized telling from Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha, of their times spent with their friend, Yeshua Jesus. Insights gained from those times, his own death and resurrection foretelling Christ's own. The deathbed counsel of his so-called friends reminiscent of Job's counsellors; there's definitely got to be some sin in there somewhere Lazarus! Or some lack of God's abilities or God's heart isn't toward you. How common to the religious minded to confront and affront another, all, supposedly, in service to God.
But not in the truth of Christ's Spirit of Love and Compassion.
Mercy that fails not...

Thought provoking and life changing challenges from Viola, if allowed to search and cleanse our own heart; to move us toward becoming a Bethany that welcomes and creates sanctuary for Christ and His nature to become our self-image.

Rich with narrative, scripture background to each chapter, and practical applications such as our position in prayer.
Beggars coming before God?
Or from the place of ascendancy provided through Christ's ascension?
Are we seated with Christ in heavenly places?
Or still lacking boldness to enter God's throne of Grace
through the completed work of Christ in His death, resurrection and
Ascension?

A book to inspirit new perspectives in living out the Bethany experience as well as invitation to make our churches Bethany communities that welcome and promote Christ in relation and reality.

Highly recommended for those who are pursuing more than religious form and function,
those who desire to live an ascendant life,
or those who are curious.




*David C Cook provided an ebook copy to read and review without obligation. Thank you for the opportunity.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Author Frank Viola argues that Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and Simon the Leper, was God's favorite place on earth because it is where Jesus went to relax and where He ascended into heaven. He examines the scenes throughout the life of Christ set in this village near Jerusalem. He embellishes the narrative with additional source material taken from first century sources so that the modern reader gets a feel for the material. This part is written from the viewpoint of Lazarus. I did not really think that part was all that effective. It felt like I was reading fiction. He then includes the actual Scripture which in my opinion could have stood alone without the earlier embellishment. The third and longest part of each chapter is a discussion and Bible study of the verses. It's not really a formal commentary although in places he approaches the study in that manner. In other places it is more of a discussion of the narrative. This book would be a good personal Bible study book or perhaps a book that could be used in a small group Bible study setting in a church. This review is based on an advance e-galley received by the publisher through NetGalley for review.