Books
Book Review: Praying in Color
March 18, 2013 | 
Author Book Review: Praying in Color
Author: Sybil MacBeth
Publisher: Paraclete Press ISBN: 9781557255129
Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God
I dearly love this winsomely delightful and creative little guide to prayer. I have, for years, been doodling and coloring when I pray. My journal is filled with a rainbow of colors, sketches, highlighted and embellished names, and other assorted scribbles that chronicle much of my prayer journeys. It was for this reason that I could not wait to read Praying in Color when I saw it offered in latest Paraclete Press product catalogue. My anticipation and excitement was duly rewarded! Not only do I feel encouraged and affirmed with my own practices (pre-Praying in Color), but I have found new ways to build on my prayer habits as well as discovered how I might share this creative prayer practice with others.
At first glance, a person should be careful to judge a book by its cover, especially this one. It might be easy to assume that this style of prayer might be geared exclusively toward the creative person. This is not the case! I think everyone should give Praying in Color the chance it deserves to help people develop new prayer habits and perhaps truly draw a new path to God. I know from my own experience that many folks exist in a very narrow paradigm when it involves their understanding and practice of prayer. I believe opening oneself to new practices and experiences can broaden those narrow horizons. I think this is even truer when it relates to using different areas of the brain to connect and relate to God. There are so many positive possibilities when I consider how this style of prayer might create new memories and sensory responses in my prayer habits. I’m thinking too, what a great way for a family to spend an evening praying together in this way.
About the Book
The author has arranged her book in a very intuitive flow. It is light-hearted, but still takes the role of prayer very seriously all the while stressing that our prayer life can be filled with delight, joy, and fulfillment. She has provided many illustrations and examples—I think by her own hand—and reemphasizes through them that this method of prayer is not exclusively geared toward artists.
Enlightened
Part Four of the book was very enlightening to me. MacBeth offered some ideas to use this creative style of prayer in some ways I had not considered; some of these follow: creating a drawing that illustrates my personal spiritual journey, use words, drawings, and color to highlight or help verbalize a personal mission statement, and probably the most exciting idea was to incorporate this method in my personal times with Lectio Divina. She provided quite a few other novel (to me) ideas that look forward to trying out as well.
I cannot say enough how joyful this book makes me feel. I have a smile on my face even as I type out this review. I can’t wait to share this with a group. I am making plans to add this as a session in one of the retreats I lead on prayer. While this might not be for everybody, I think everybody should give it a try. You might be as surprised with holy delight as I have been.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Paraclete Press to read and post a review on my site. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Posted in Books, Media, Prayer | 
Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Lectio Divina, Paraclete Press, Prayer, Praying, Praying In Color, Spiritual Formation, Sybil MacBeth | 
2 Comments »
Book Review: Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods
Book Review: Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods
Author: Rick Warren
Publisher: Zondervan ISBN: 9780310495932
Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods: Twelve Ways You Can Unlock God’s Word
I was in a conversation recently with my brother-in-law who told me about the great experience he had with leading a small group through Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods. Having taught Bible study classes for a number of years now, I’m always interested in learning new methods and experimenting with various resources that might help my own teaching efforts, so I bought myself a copy. I can honestly report that I am glad I did!
What makes me glad…
First of all, most of my teaching with regard to study is focused almost exclusively on the inductive method of Bible study. While Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods include systematic inductive methods, they are not exclusive to the book; there are, after all, twelve ways you can unlock God’s word included in its pages. I do believe true inductive Bible study will yield the richest results over most other styles of study, but realistically not every person has an affinity for that sort of Bible study. There are different styles of learner, so it helps to have alternate methods that will draw people into the Bible story and Rick Warren provides some of these alternatives in his twelve ways presentation.
Contents and Structure
The structure and contents of the book is straightforward; there is a preface, an introduction, twelve chapters detailing the twelve Bible study methods, and a very comprehensive appendices section. I was duly impressed with the introduction where Warren quickly establishes the reason for and principles of the various Bible study methods. He also includes a very detailed list of study reference tools. In this list he covers specific details and examples for each of the reference categories (study Bibles and translations, concordances, encyclopedias, dictionaries, Bible handbooks, word and language helps, commentaries and more). He goes on to provide recommendations for beginning and advanced study libraries. Personally, I think the introduction along with the appendix references are worth the cost of the book alone.
Following the introduction, Warren provides a preview of the twelve study methods. I thought this overview was very helpful for the reason that is stated in the preface; “…each chapter is independent of the others, you may skip around in reading the book, choosing to learn first the methods that interest you most. However, with the exception of the last one, these methods are presented in order of their difficulty. There is a logical progression through the book. As you move from chapter to chapter, you will be introduced to additional Bible study skills.” Armed with the basic knowledge of each chapter-method, the reader can start where they feel comfortable and skip ahead as they deem necessary.
Each chapter-method is structured with the same basic components: (1) a condensed outline of the method (2) a short definition of the method (3) a rationale for the method (4) the procedure of the method (5) an example of the method—completed illustration (6) a blank form for copy to use in your study (7) suggested passages and/or subjects to get you started in your study (8) suggestions for further reading related to the particular method. For a closer look, you can check out the entire Table of Contents and some media samples from the Zondervan website here.
This book is very intuitive and easy to follow. There is a Bible study method for every learning style and intellectual ability. I think if there was one “How To” Bible study book I would recommend, it would be Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods for this very reason; it will appeal to a larger and varied demographic because of the many options available. If you are interested in studying the Bible and enriching your knowledge and experience with it, you should really consider giving this book a try.
Posted in Books, Media, Spiritual Formation | Tags: Bible Speak, Bible Study, Book Reviews, Books, Inductive Bible Study, Rick Warren, Study Methods, Zondervan | No Comments »
Book Review: A User’s Guide to Bible Translations
Book Review: A User’s Guide to Bible Translations
Author: David Dewey
Publisher: InterVarsity Press ISBN: 9780830832736
A User’s Guide to Bible Translations: Making the Most of Different Versions
First published in February of 2005, A User’s Guide to Bible Translations has been around for a while. I am glad that I have finally gotten a firsthand look at it.
I love the Bible and I enjoy collecting various English translations and versions. I am fascinated by the science and art of translation, this in addition to the very real belief that access to various translations and versions helps me to understand more fully what the original intent of the Scriptures was.
We live in unprecedented times; we have more knowledge and access to information than any other time in the history of humankind. This is especially true in Western nations and the United States in particular. In Dewey’s book, he claims there are over thirty different English translation versions of the Bible in circulation today. This begs the question; “Which version is best for me?”
This is the purpose of Dewey’s, A User’s Guide Bible Translations, to help the interested reader identify and determine which version is right for their purposes.
“Dewey [also] reminds us that it’s not enough to ask, Which Bible is best? We need to ask, Best for what? For personal study? For reading aloud? For leading a Bible study for inquirers? For lending to an international student struggling with English? Filled with charts comparing versions and diagrams showing translation difficulties, A User’s Guide is just that—an easy-to-use handbook for digging through the mountain of translation options until you find the right Bible for the right purpose.”
Form
Dewey approaches Bible Translations in two major parts. In Part One he deals with the actual art and task of translation. It is here that he deals with the science and nuance of formal equivalence versus dynamic equivalence and functional equivalence. In this section, he also addresses a number of other translation approaches and concerns such as style questions, readability, denominational traditions, theological biases, as well as a few other criteria. Part Two was particularly fascinating to me as Dewey approached the details of various translations from a linear or time-line perspective. He proceeded to inform the reader of the various (primary) translations through the history of the Bible, how they came to be, what their main purpose for creation was, and the role of the translation during its time in the history of the church. I found this information very interesting and very useful.
There are some very helpful resources included in the appendices at the end of the book. Appendix 1 includes information concerning primary texts used in translation as well as methodology by which translation rules are used. Appendix 2 details a list of lesser-known Bible translations/versions that have been created through the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Final Thoughts
Although it has been around for a while, I think A User’s Guide to Bible Translations is a highly valuable resource that can be very helpful for the person looking to decide which Bible or Bibles are right for them and their desired purposes. I found the book was well researched and objectively presented. I recommend it for every student of the Bible.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from InterVarsity Press to read and post a review on my site. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Posted in Books, Media | Tags: Bible reading, Bible Speak, Book Reviews, Books, David Dewey, InterVarsity Press, IVP Press, Translations | No Comments »
Book Review: The Bible Study Handbook
Book Review: The Bible Study Handbook
Author: Lindsay Olesberg
Publisher: InterVarsity Press ISBN: 9780830810499
The Bible Study Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide to an Essential Practice
I teach classes on how to study the Bible, so I’m always interested in reviewing tools and helps that might facilitate my teaching and communicate methods for effectively understanding the holy Scriptures. Consequently, it was with great excitement that I got my hands on Lindsay Olesberg’s The Bible Study Handbook.
I took my first inductive Bible study class in 1988 and I have been collecting resources as well as taking additional how-to-study-the-Bible classes ever since. Needless to say, I have a nice collection of resources and methods at my disposal. It is with this awareness that I am confident to report that The Bible Study Handbook ranks among the highest rated of my resources for teaching the inductive methods of study. I will share my reasons.
Technical Specifics
The book weighs in just over two hundred fifty pages, not exhaustive, but it does stand up to its claim of being comprehensive. These pages are broken into three primary sections—Part 1: Foundations, Part 2: Building Blocks, and Part 3: Tool Box. In Foundations, Olesberg shares some of the influences and philosophy behind her passion and belief in the process of inductive Bible study. The next section of the book moves into the Building Blocks of inductive study method. Here, Olesberg introduces and teaches basic hermeneutical tools needed for accurate and effective interpretation of the Scriptures. Some of the major points in Building Blocks include contextual respect and understanding, which includes authorship (who wrote it, to whom was it written, why was it written) and narrative details (genre, cultural influences, socio-political, and economic circumstances to name a few). Moving to Part 3: Tool Box, is where Olesberg outlines helpful resources and practices necessary for effective Bible study.
The book is well annotated with a number of illustrations, tables, and graphs; all of these are very nice additions, especially for visual learners. Additionally, there is a collection of summary helps included in the appendices at the end of the book.
Things I really like
As I mentioned earlier in my review, I have been practicing and teaching inductive Bible study for many years. I can say with confidence that, for most people, Bible study is not easy and good Bible study is not quick. Inductive Bible study takes time, is detail oriented, requires good resources, and a very systematic approach. It is to these ends that I really appreciated the way that Lindsey Olesberg presented her methods and approach to Bible study. Her writing was reader friendly and her passion for Bible study was evident, which often becomes contagious for the reader. I also found an appreciation for the interactive exercises included at the end of each chapter. I think Olesberg made a practiced effort to include all of the primary learning styles in her handbook; at least as much as an author can accomplish this in a written form.
Final Thoughts
I don’t have any serious criticism for The Bible Study Handbook. I wish the resources section in the appendices would have been a little more comprehensive, but some of that detail is covered in the Tool Box section of the book. I am always grateful for the wonderful resources that InterVarsity Press brings to the Christian community and I believe this contribution from Lindsey Olesberg is another great gift. I will be including it in my recommended resources to my students as well as returning to it again and again for my own benefit.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from InterVarsity Press to read and post a review on my site. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Posted in Books, Media, Spiritual Formation | Tags: Bible Study, Book Reviews, Books, InterVarsity Press, IVP, Spiritual Formation | No Comments »
Book Review: Catholic Spiritual Practices
Book Review: Catholic Spiritual Practices
Edited By: Colleen Griffith & Thomas Groome
Publisher: Paraclete Press ISBN: 9781612612461
Catholic Spiritual Practices: A Treasury of Old & New
I love the format of this little book.
Catholic Spiritual Practices is a collection of essays describing various spiritual disciplines and practices, which can be helpful with a person’s development in the Christian faith. The format of the book is very easy to follow with the assorted disciplines grouped into three primary categories: prayer, care, and spiritual growth. The essays themselves are concise, but provide an understandable overview of each practice, their expected outcomes, and a high-level introduction or “how-to” so the reader can have an idea of how to participate in the practice. I believe the essayists and the editors have done an exemplary job of presenting such a rich collection of spiritual practices in a manageable and practical form.
If I were to offer any criticism of the book, it would be regarding the title. Not all of the practices included in the book are exclusive to the Catholic faith. Unfortunate as it may be, titling the book as it has been titled will exclude a significant number of people who could benefit from these spiritual practices.
Title aside, I would recommend this book for anyone. Admittedly, there are some disciplines included in the collections that are not fully embraced by all faith traditions; this should not be considered an insurmountable obstacle. My recommendation is to experiment with the practices that do not conflict with or compromise your tradition and allow yourself and your soul to be enriched by the results.
I am delighted to have come across this gem of a book. I have found new ways to present some of these ancient practices to others seeking to grow more deeply in their faith. I look forward to sharing them and I look forward to growing with them myself.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Paraclete Press to read and post a review on my site. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Book Review: Unexpected Gifts
Book Review: Unexpected Gifts
Author: Christopher Heuertz
Publisher: Howard Books ISBN: 9781451652260
Unexpected Gifts: Discovering the Way of Community
“In true community, failures give us the chance to choose people over principles.” -Chris Heuertz
This book wasn’t exactly what I expected when I ordered it, but I believe it was exactly what I needed… an unexpected gift. Indeed.
I have been interested in the idea and the practice of true community for quite some time. I believe it [community] has been one of the things I have most longed for in the course of my Christian experience. It is for this reason that I am drawn to books and writers who share their experiences; I’m learning as I go and learning as I continue to search. I am also aware of the potential for romanticizing a dream and making it something that it often is not, although my awareness does not preclude me from being guilty of being idealistic about my passion for community. This is why Chris’ book has been an Unexpected Gift to me.
I’ve read a lot on the topic of Christian community and while there are often disclaimers that would caution the reader about not realizing the challenges faced by people sharing their life together, the stories are mostly shared in positive light. This isn’t exactly the case with Heuertz’s approach. I encountered something more akin to a confessional. I think this was a good thing. One only take a look at or a listen to the chapter titles and I think a certain picture begins to emerge: Failure, Doubt, Insulation, Isolation, Transition, The Unknown Self, Betraying the Community, Incompatibility, Ingratitude, Grief, and Restlessness. Do these chapter titles sound like the ingredients of Gift? Herein lays the beauty of this book.
Community is challenging if not outright difficult. While I have not experienced the level of Community (in a Christian context) as shared by Heuertz in Unexpected Gifts, I’ve been part of community in the context of other institutions (military, athletics, and other). The stories and struggles shared by Chris are sobering, but they are also inviting as they put into words the path of transformation and self-emptying discovery of what Christian love really looks like.
Every part of this book was a joy for me, but there were several chapters that spoke to me at a very deep level; chapter five, Transitions, was one of them. Changes in life, departures from friends, and differences in philosophy of life are among a few of the transitions that have occurred in my own life. None of these transitions have been easy and I have made mistakes, it seems, in the course of each one and this is one of the reasons I connected with this chapter so much. Reconciliation and restoration, patience, gentleness, and understanding are all virtues that should be a part of every transition of life—Chris speaks with rich wisdom on this subject.
Betraying Community and Incompatibility were two more deeply moving chapters for me as they spoke closely to my own experiences with various transitions in my life. As I have said, this is a unique approach to describing the beauty of Community. By taking some of the dirty, misshapen, rocky objects from the muck of the earth, Heuertz shows how patience and perseverance along with a gentle touch can turn those castaway misshapen objects into the most beautiful of gems. These are the unexpected gifts of community.
This is a wonderful book; at times, it was difficult to read, but that was because I was lost in my own reflections or wiping away my tears. Thanks Chris.
Posted in Books, Community, Media, Shaping Me | Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Chris Heuertz, Unexpected Gifts | 1 Comment »
Book Review: Relational Theology
Book Review: Relational Theology
Edited By: Brint Montgomery, Thomas Jay Oord, Karen Winslow
Publisher: Point Loma Press || Wipf and Stock
ISBN: 9781620327449
Relational Theology: A Contemporary Introduction
A few weeks back I received a request to read and review this book, Relational Theology: A Contemporary Introduction, I am so glad that I accepted the invitation. Let me tell you why.
First, at its core, the subject of relational theology is a common language and means of exploring and discussing with others the relational nature and activities of God. This is important; and I do not mean to sound obtuse, but before reading this collection of short essays, I would not have understood the need for this book…much less the need for creating or sub-categorizing another field of theology. It would have seemed redundant to me and prone to creating more confusion and division. I think the Bible and much of the theology we have developed from it already support the belief that God is relational, but that begs the question; “What does relational mean from one person to the other?” This brings me to a second point.
In his introduction to the book, Thomas Oord writes that, “Relational theology is like a big umbrella idea under which various theological alternatives reside.” The collection of short essays, and there are over thirty included in this contemporary introduction, have been incredibly helpful to my own understanding of this vast and diverse field of study. My eyes have been opened to new possibilities and my curiosity stoked; I’m hungry for knowledge and eager for lively conversations, all for the purpose of knowing more about the incredible relational nature of the great Creator God.
About the book
As I have mentioned, the book is a collection of thirty-one essays written by almost as many men and women. Each essay or chapter introduces a specific topic under the heading of relational attributes of God and the outworking of those attributes in the Bible, Community, and Christian Mission. Generally speaking, the chapter essays are very concise and high-level views of their respective topics. There are pros and cons to this approach of introducing information and ideas to an audience, and I’ll share more on that in a moment, but on the whole I thought the essays were more than sufficient to present the main point(s) of the chapter subject matter and to stimulate the reader’s thinking.
The chapters are grouped into four main sections, which follow: Doctrine of Theology in Relational Perspective, Biblical Witness in Relational Perspective, The Christian Life in Relational Perspective, and Ethics and Justice in Relational Perspective. Each of these chapter-essays was fascinating to me in their own rights, but I especially enjoyed the chapters on Biblical Witness and Christian Life.
I stated there were pros and cons to the format of this introductory piece and I think the pros are numerous. In this case, a number of extraordinary thinkers have been introduced to an audience they may not have been previously exposed to; this is certainly the case for me and I am thankful for this exposure. Similarly, a great amount of information, both deeply rich and broadly diverse, has been sown. These, I believe, are the great strengths of these short essays. Where the brevity of this style falls short, at least in this case, is the fact that there is no bibliography or recommended resources list. Here I have been introduced to language, ideas, concepts, and challenges to my own thinking that are new to me. My curiosity has been piqued, but the questions raised in my own mind aren’t answered in these short chapters. Where do I go for more information? It seems it would have been of great benefit to include a reading list and an end notes section to assist the hungry reader with direction for deeper study. That one nit aside, I’m grateful for the future conversations this book has sparked in me and look forward to digging deeper into the realms of relational theology. Overall, I think the book is a success in that it introduces a huge scope of study within the confines of one hundred fifteen pages. It utilizes the talents and personality of many men and women to introduce ideas minimizing “one-sidedness” and does so without bogging the reader down with too many details. In my estimation this is a perfect springboard for many deep studies.
Link to Facebook page and other reviews
Posted in Books, Media, Theologica | Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Christian Living, Relational Theology, Theology, Thomas Jay Oord | 1 Comment »
My Favorite Christmas Gifts from 2012
My Favorite Christmas Gifts from 2012
The past couple of weeks have been a great blessing to me, especially with a few of the wonderfully awesome Christmas gifts I received. These gifts will be giving throughout the year and then for years to come, I am sure. Wait. Let me clarify and qualify those last statements. My favorite gift, hands down, is my ability (God provided) to be in relationship with the Triune God through Jesus Christ. Coming in next, are my wife and my sons…followed closely by my health. Now, we can proceed to the more trivial and material things *wink*
In no particular order, my favorite material things I received this year follow:
The Tyndale Chronological Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
The only thing this Bible is missing is a longer name…wait, it has that too. Seriously though, this is a wonderful Bible and I really like several things in this version. First, I really like the New Living Translation for reading. In my opinion, the NLT is the best reading version on today’s market. Second, I prefer reading chronologically over any other reading plan when I’m reading for story purposes; that is, trying to stay connected to the meta-narrative of Scripture. In addition to these reasons, the Life Application Bible helps to keep me connected to the Scripture and stirs me to respond to the words I am reading. Many other features in this study Bible make it one of my new favorites. I love the timeline system that flows through every page, which helps me to correlate the flow of God’s revelation to man through the Hebrew people as it laid over the global timeline of man. There are also hundreds of notes, maps, section introductions, sidebars, charts, and outlines. My tentative goal is to read this Bible through 2013 along with another Bible I received for Christmas.
This is another gift I received for Christmas; The New Revised Standard Version Bible is a Daily Reading Bible is set up for 365 daily readings. Each of the readings is accompanied by an excerpted writing from a Christian spiritual classic. Some of the classic writings include Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Frederick Buechner, Henri Nouwen and others. This Bible is geared toward the promotion of contemplative reading and prayerful meditation upon the text. I plan to use this alongside the Tyndale Chronological Bible, but instead of reading for story I will be using this Bible for my divine reading (Lectio Divina). I have grown to love the NRSV Bible for the combined attributes of accuracy and readability and look forward to the coming year that I will spend with God in this Bible.
Salt of the Earth: A Christian Seasons Calendar
I saw this calendar advertised at some point in my web browsing back in October or November of 2012. When I saw it, I immediately forwarded the link to my wife, Laurie, with a note stating “this would make a nice Christmas gift—hint, hint.” I was pleasantly surprised to find it wrapped under the tree on Christmas morning. This isn’t a “normal” calendar structured around the months (Jan, Feb, Mar, etc.). It is arranged around the Christian calendar. For instance, the first page of weeks is the Advent season, which was Dec. 2 through Dec. 24. When the page is turned to the next “month,” it is actually the season of Christmas, twelve days from Dec. 25 through Jan. 5th. The next page of weeks is the season of Epiphany, which begins January 6 and runs through February 12 (the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and Lent). There are sidebars with information and devotional material relevant to the season of the calendar, and there are Scripture readings for each Sunday that come from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer. The most important aspect of this calendar that I like though, is the connection of God’s story in our time. I’ve made it no secret over the past several years how much the Liturgical Calendar has impacted my spiritual formation. This is another helpful tool to keep me remain connected to God’s time throughout the year. It’s not too late to pick up your own!
Posted in Advent, Bible Journey-Reading, Books, Media, Shaping Me, Spiritual Formation | Tags: Bible reading, Bible Speak, Christian Year, Liturgical Calendar, Spiritual Formation | No Comments »
My Favorite Reads from 2012
My Favorite Reads from 2012 
It’s that time of year again! It is the yearly round-up of my favorite reads from 2012. My goal was to read seventy-five books for the year and I ended with seventy-seven. A very special thanks to the many publishing companies (InterVarsity Press, Paraclete Press, Zondervan, Baker Academic, Brazos Press, Bethany Publishing, Tyndale, Baylor Press, and others), publicists, and book review groups (SpeakEasy, Amazon Vine, CrossFocused Review, and more) who have provided me with books for my reading enjoyment. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
The books I’ve listed as my favorites this year are listed below in no particular order. I cannot say any one of them rose markedly above the rest… each of them touched my heart and challenged my thinking in unique and impacting ways. There were several books in the list, which were part of a bigger theme taking place in my life, the idea and pursuit of Christian Intentional Community continues to be an intense passion of mine. Additionally, prayer, the Holy Spirit, and ongoing spiritual transformation are also passionate subjects that continue to capture my attention and heart.
Each of the books listed (again, in no particular order) have accompanying links embedded that will take you to the actual review of the book. If you have specific questions you would like to ask or points you might like to discuss about any of the books, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I’m looking forward to this next year of reading…I’ve set aside a number of books to pick up some of the studies and interests that were sparked from last year and look forward to sharing my thoughts with you about them as well. Now, here’s the list!
- The Cost of Community by Jamie Arpin-Ricci, C.J.
- Leaving Egypt by Chuck Degroat
- Kneeling with Giants by Gary Neal Hansen
- The Jesus Life by Stephen Smith
- Fresh Air by Jack Levison
- Giver of Life by Fr. John Oliver
- Spiritual Formation by Dian Leclerc & Mark Maddix
- Living into Focus by Arthur Boers
- The Intentional Community Handbook by David Janzen
- The Awakening of Hope by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
Prayer books are a favorite of mine. Several years ago, I was introduced to written prayers and fixed hour prayers. Since that introduction, I’ve collected and used various prayer books that have been instrumental in teaching me more about prayer and help me to learn more about the continuous practice of prayer. I have listed several of the prayer books I used during the past year as honorable mention favorites. Also, I’ve included Stephen Macchia’s book, Crafting a Rule of Life, as another honorable mention favorite. Stephen’s teaching about creating and living a personal rule of life has been a spiritual discipline I’ve practiced since 2009 when I learned about it for the first time at the Renovare International Conference in San Antonio, TX. I recommend the book and the discipline both.
Honorable Mention:
- Crafting a Rule of Life by Stephen Macchia
Posted in Books, Media, Shaping Me | Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Community, Prayer, Shaping Me, Spiritual Formation, Teaching | 3 Comments »
Book Review: The Awakening of Hope
Book Review: The Awakening of Hope
Author: Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
Publisher: Zondervan ISBN: 9780310293385
The Awakening of Hope: Why We Practice a Common Faith
It is a little disappointing to me there are not more reviews and commentary about this book, although it doesn’t surprise me there is not. This book is about fully embracing the teaching of Jesus and covenanting with a community of believers to make every effort to live out those teachings in daily life. I think many, perhaps a majority, of “believers” aren’t ready to make that commitment and that’s why I think there’s not more conversation about this book.
I connected strongly with Awakening of Hope; I was nodding my head in agreement with almost every point of each chapter. The book is formed around a series of common practices that faith communities join in together as they endeavor to live out the teachings of Jesus. Each of these practices is talked about in individual chapters; Why we eat together, Why we fast, Why we make promises, Why it matters where we live, Why we live together, Why we would rather die than kill, and Why we share good news.
Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove does excellent work in presenting the challenging teaching of Christ in the context of real-world living. He begins every chapter with introductions to real people and real communities of people who have committed to live out the ways of Jesus with one another. For instance, chapter three introduces us to Don and Carolyn Mosley and the Jubilee Partners Community. Don, Carolyn, Jonathan, and others teach us about the reasons for a fasting together as a community. Another example, this from chapter four, about covenant and promise, Wilson-Hartgrove introduces us to Benedict of Nursia, Augustine, and Evagrius Ponticus to help illustrate the nature and the need for trust and commitment to the promises of God and the promises we make to one another in the name of God. One quote continues to speak deeply to me, Wilson Hartgrove writes the following:
“The challenge of faith isn’t so much to trust God’s promises when we hear them as it is to continue trusting t hem when it does not appear to our best judgment that they are being fulfilled.” (p.74)
My favorite chapter is six, Why We Live Together, where we are introduced to “David” from Reba Place Fellowship, a community in Evanston, Illinois. This particular chapter brought to my mind memories and recollections from other books about the ministry of communal living and shared resources. This is a topic very close to my own heart and perhaps why I was so captured by the stories and teachings from this section. Words from pg. 128 continue to reverberate in my mind and heart; “We live together, then, to realize our true vocation in Christ.”
The book includes a thought-provoking study guide and there is also a 6-session (90 minutes) DVD available that can be helpful with group discussions or as another medium for personal study. This is a challenging book, let there be no mistake. If you’ve ever thought Jesus might have been serious about the lifestyle he taught of in his Sermon on the Mount, The Awakening of Hope can give you a peek into several communities and their reasoning for the how and why of trying to live those teachings out.
The Awakening of Hope: Why We Practice a Common Faith TRAILER from The Work Of The People on Vimeo.
Posted in Books, Community, Media, Shaping Me | Tags: Awakening Hope, Book Review, Books, Community, Jesus, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Sermon on the Mount, Zondervan | 2 Comments »
