‘Glaen: A Novel Message on Romance, Love and Relating’ by Fred. R. Lybrand – Book Review and Giveaway

How many books have been written about love and marriage over time?  Probably too many to count.  I have just read a book with an interesting ‘take’ on the subject – ‘Glaen: A Novel Message on Romance, Love and Relating’ by Fred. R. Lybrand.

Here is the very inventive book trailer for ‘Glaen’:

Here is the description on the back of the book:

The solutions Dr. Lybrand offers in this book will astound and free you to quit doing the very things that take away your ability to find the love and friendship you want.  More importantly, you’ll discover a fresh path to the possibility of greater connections with those you care most about.  You’ll want everyone you know to read this book…twice!

In this interesting novel, the main character is Annie Hughes, a graduate student whose parents are divorcing.  She is the only student in the last class of her college career, an English course entitled ‘Original Non-Fiction.’  Her unconventional professor, Glaen Breuch, who wants to be known only as Glaen, gives Annie one assignment for the semester:

“Well, you need to write an original work of non-fiction, offering original insights on a useful topic.  It doesn’t matter what the topic is, but I would suggest you write about something you’d like to understand…” (pp. 18-19)

Annie decided to write about the secret to lasting relationships; she wanted to learn how to avoid the devastation of her parents’ marriage.  She came up with two theories (p. 26):

·    Theory 1: Traditional Dating

·    Theory 2: Courting

She proceeded to interview people who were involved in both types of relationships, including her best friend Jennah, who was the proverbial serial dater. 

When her two theories did not stand up to scrutiny, Glaen suggested she follow the example of Sir Isaac Newton

“Hebrews 11:1 in your Bible says,

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Annie, Isaac Newton was a man of observation, or science.  However, he was also a man of faith, faith in God.  He believed God was the great designer or architect of the Universe; so if he could see, really see, with his observations how God designed things to be, then he could understand how God made things to work.  It was because he believed in God that he simply took an honest look at the way things truly worked.” (p. 48)

Based on her new viewpoint, Annie made the following developed the following principles:  Lo

1.     Love is a mystery of choices
2.     Chemistry in relationships is God’s business
3.     The Basis for relationships is our business
4.     Lust is an appetite which owns its possessor

An important truth that Annie uncovered is Control-Free-Relating:

Control-Free-Relating is where at least two people, without any requirements for the conversation at all, simply speak the truth with love (Golden Rule) to one another. (p. 134)

Two other points that I found to be very practical are:

Romance is a trap because true relationships are not about the exciting and unusual; instead, true relationships are about connecting together in the common day-to-day world. (p. 159)

and

          Drop the Past & Tell the Truth.

          -or-

          Truth is the lifeblood of real relationships (p. 165)

I think Dr. Lybrand did a terrific job in making ‘just another relationship book’ into something quite different from what I had read before; I enjoyed the unique spin of writing it as a novel.  Annie was able to share her insights with those near and dear to her, and relationships were renewed and restored.  And I also liked the kindness and concern that was shown by Glaen – who was not quite what he seemed!  I will be reading this book again – and will be implementing some of these truths in my own life. I am sure my husband, Fred, will be grateful that I don’t always expect the exciting and unusual!

Dr. Lybrand is an honors graduate from Dallas Theological Seminary, and has a Doctor of Ministry degree from Phoenix Seminary.  He recently retired as senior pastor of Northeast Bible Church to pursue writing and speaking full-time.  He resides near San Antonio TX with his wife, Jody, and their five children.  He is the author of five other books, including ‘Heavenly Citizenship: The Spiritual Alternative to Power Politics’ and ‘Back to Faith: Reclaiming Gospel Clarity in an Age of Incongruence.’

You can order this book here.

This book was published by the Barnabas Agency and provided to me by the B&B Media Group for review and giveaway purposes.

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I have a copy of this book that I would love to pass along to one of you! 

There are several ways to gain entry:

1) Leave a comment here on the blog, giving me your best advice on relationships!  Please make sure to leave your email address in this format – sample[at]gmail[dot]com.

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4) Become my Facebook friend.  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

5) Follow this blog as a NetWorked Blog Follower after you’ve become my Facebook friend.  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

So there are five chances to enter!  Please limit one entry per option.

This give away is for U.S. residents only.  The deadline for entry is Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST.  A winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator on Friday, April 16, 2010 and will be contacted via email.  The best to all of you!