I have read many books that Gary Thomas has read and for the most part can say that I enjoy them. The fact that he chose to write something on this subject matter does not surprise since it seems to be a popular subject to write on. I have to say honestly that the title is cute - it is one thing that caught my attention. As a youth teacher I am constantly telling the youth that their bodies matter to God because they are the temple of God. This fact alone should stir each of us to take better care of what God created as a special place for the indwelling of his spirit.

In this book Thomas explores the negative and positive aspects of caring for ones body. He ties the healthy body to a healthy soul. His main goal is to show that our desires should not be for the outward appearance but should be for the goal of growing closer to God.

I would recommend this book for someone who is looking to make changes in their lifestyle while staying focused on God's design.

Thank you Zondervan and LibraryThing for this review copy. ( )

I can't believe it's taken me so long to review Every Body Matters. I've read a couple other books by Gary Thomas, and he has given me a new perspective and way of thinking. This book was no different. It challenged me on how I treat my body, and made to want to make changes in my habits, for the right reasons. I will be reading this again, giving it another chance to sink in. ( )

Every Body Matters puts health and fitness into a Christian perspective. The goal isn't about looking great, but being physically fit in order to better serve the Lord. "This entire book is focused on becoming 'holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work.'" (pg. 102) The area of eating and taking care of our bodies is one that is not discussed much in our Christian circles. Gary Thomas says, "Let's create a new kind of environmental influence--one that demonstrates how we treat our bodies as a form of Christian stewardship, a vehicle for evangelism, and preparation for the good work that God has planned for us to do." (pg. 100)
I agree with him in that we really do not address this area of our Christian lives. How we take care of our bodies now, will determine how much future ministry we can participate in. God has given us this one body to serve Him. I thought the book was a good reminder of why we want to strive to be healthy and to be mindful that God wants control over this area of my life too.

** I received this free book in exchange for an honest review from Library Thing. ( )

I was really looking forward to reading this book, mostly because I thought it would have a different take on matters of health. While it was somewhat motivating at time, it really didn't contain and new information and I wouldn't choose to read it again. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. I found it very helpful as a woman who has had trouble controlling her weight and finding a balance including this struggle into my faith. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with weigh/body issues and who wants a Christian perspective. ( )