A Positive Life: Living with HIV as a Pastor, Husband, and Father

by Shane Stanford

"More than anything, I wanted my life to matter ..."When Shane Stanford discovered he was HIV positive twenty years ago, he knew he had a choice: he could feel sorry for himself, or he could live as... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0310292921
• ISBN13: 9780310292920
• Release Date: April 2010
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Length: 217 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.7" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

The Olympic Games of Parenthood

Being a father and husband is a hard job. I am a pastor's wife, so I can also tell you that adding a calling to ministry into the mix of marriage and raising a family is the veritable olympic games of parenthood. So much to juggle. There is a reason self-help books are written by the thousands on how to find balance in life. It's not an easy task for anyone, let alone a minister. The church-life is unique in its ability to be both a loving family-community and a jury ready to hang you at one misstep. Add HIV and disaster seems imminent. Reading Shane's book and "listening" to each experience gave me reasons to be both ashamed and proud of the body of Christ. My husband is in the process of being ordained in the same conference where Shane was ordained. Many of the names mentioned in this book were familiar to me. I lay down the book feeling as if I had just had a good conversation with the author. I was also reminded to pay closer attention to my marriage and how ministry affects it. We have to be vigilant. The theme I took away from this book is: The enemy seeks to steal, kill and destroy, but God brings life and healing. Healing, however, does not always look how we expect it to. I will be suggesting this memoir for our church book club next month.

An Inspiring Spirit and a Loving Soul

It isn't often that I can say reading a book was a "rare privilege", or a "life-affirming experience". However, those lofty phrases describe my response to Shane Stanford's "A Positive Life" with 100% - and completely heartfelt - accuracy. Mr. Stanford's book is subtitled, "Living with HIV as a Pastor, Husband, and Father". It could just as easily been subtitled, "Living with Grace as a Pastor, Husband, and Father". What a beautiful testament to life and spirituality and the importance of relationships with both a Higher Power and one's fellow human beings! Within these pages, Mr. Stanford candidly shares his life's journey, including his struggles with hemophilia and the HIV virus, but he also chronicles the joy he has found with his family, friends and community, and the amazing path he has followed while getting to know his God. His story is compelling, and beautifully told - as though he were having a heart to heart conversation with a trusted friend - without defensiveness, without self-pity, and without judgment toward himself or others. He never talks *at* the reader, but always *to* the reader, a very important distinction. I've always believed that one of the greatest gifts one person can give another is to share their personal story. In my experience, that kind of honest communication is the foundation of understanding, trust, and love. In "A Positive Life", Shane Stanford reaches out with uncommon faith, kindness and benevolence. I'm so grateful that I read his book, and I sincerely hope you will give yourself the pleasure of reading it, too.