Tim Clinton - God Attachment: Why You Believe, Act, and Feel the Way You Do About God

Praise for God Attachment

The deepest part of us was designed to be connected to Gods person and presence. However, we often feel detached from Him in many ways. God Attachment will show you how to become more profoundly attached to the Lord and experience all the benefits of that endeavor.

Dr. John Townsend, psychologist, leadership consultant, and author of the bestselling book Boundaries

Anyone who has struggled with their relationship with God and others will find this book refreshing.... The most relevant book ever written dealing with the subject of our attachment to God.

Josh McDowell, author of Evidence That Demands a Verdict

The clear, concise way that our individual attachment styles are explained by Tim and Josh will lead each reader to break free from preconceived relationship patterns and bring them into a fresh, exciting experience with God.

Mike Huckabee, previous governor of Arkansas and host of the Fox News Channel talk show Huckabee

The theological integrity, coupled with the psychological perspective, that Drs. Clinton and Straub employ in God Attachment will leave you thirsting for your own relationship with God to go deeper and to grow stronger.

Tim LaHaye, author of the bestselling Left Behind series

The Bible emphasizes the fact that human beings are created in the image of God. That makes us different and unique in all of Gods creation. Clinton and Straub build the case from both Scripture and scientific research that humans are hard-wired for a relationship with God. While He obviously seeks us, we also are designed to seek Him. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Dont miss this dynamic and insightful study!

Ed Hindson, D.Phil., Distinguished Professor of Religion, Liberty University

God Attachment is the kind of book I would give to someone who is lost, who is without confidence, who is without strength, and who is seeking answers. God IS the answer, and this wonderful book will help lead you to Him.

Delilah, international radio personality

Have you ever played hide-and-seek with three-year-olds? Try as they may, youll see them run out from their hiding place because they want to be found so much! Adults play hide-and-seek in their relationship with God as well. Using a powerful blend of clinical and practical insights, Drs. Clinton and Straub show us both why we tend to hide from Godand how life brings so much joy and purpose when we finally run out and find Him! Attach yourself to this book as a great way to understand, launch, and build your faith!

John Trent, Ph.D., president, StrongFamilies.com and the Institute for the Blessing at Barclay College

God Attachment 2010 by Tim Clinton

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Howard Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Howard Books hardcover edition August 2010

HOWARD BOOKS and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Figure on page 69 is reprinted from Avoidance of Intimacy: An Attachment Perspective, by Kim Bartholomew, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Survey on pages 79-81 is from Why You Do the Things You Do: The Secret to Healthy Relationships, by Tim Clinton and Gary Sibcy (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2006). Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Clinton, Timothy E., 1960
God attachment : why you believe, act, and feel the way you do about God /
Tim Clinton and Joshua Straub.
p. cm.
1. Spirituality. 2. Interpersonal relationsReligious aspectsChristianity. 3. Intimacy (Psychology)Religious aspectsChristianity. I. Straub, Joshua. II. Title.
BV4501.3.C55 2010
248.4dc22

2010014223

ISBN 978-1-4391-8378-6
ISBN 978-1-4391-8683-1 (ebook)

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version, Reference Bible. Copyright 1994 by The Zondervan Corporation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible. Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

To all those who hunger and thirst
after God and righteousness...
and to those who have yet to start the journey.

IN LIFE, WE ARE to give honor to whom honor is dueand there are many. To Jonathan Merkh, publisher of Howard Books at Simon & Schuster, and Ted Squires, our agent and friend, thank you for believing in this project and taking a bold step forward in making it happen.

To Tom Winters, literary agent, and his wonderful executive assistant, Ms. Debbie Boyd, you guys are the best, always encouraging and standing ready to help in any way. To Ron Hawkins and Gary Sibcy for your friendship and the many, many long hours of thought and discussion on who God is and what he means to us, attachment theory and practice, and what it means to journey with someone to freedom in this life. The work of God in your life echoes forth from each page.

To Cindy Lambert, our editor, you are a gracious conceptual thinker and word surgeon. Thanks for spending real time and effort in this work. To our research, writing, and editing team, Pat Springle and Laura Faidley, we offer a huge thank you.

To Team AACCthe entire leadership team and staff of the American Association of Christian Counselorswe are grateful for your support and encouragement throughout this journey. The world is a better place because of your commitment to encouraging and equipping counselors all over the world with the message of hope we have in Christ.