"The Arts and the Christian Imagination" (Clyde S. Kilby)

TITLE: The Arts and the Christian Imagination: Essays on Art, Literature, and Aesthetics (Mount Tabor Books)
AUTHOR: Clyde S. Kilby
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2016, (336 pages).

Throughout history, the integration of art, literature, philosophy, and theology is still a fascinating work in progress. As the saying goes, "A picture speaks a thousand words," what about imagination? What about letting a work of art express a thought that can be nuanced better with a picture, a diagram, or an image? A good piece of writing can heighten interest. A good piece of art can certainly move beyond words. Call it vision or imagination. It takes more than words or spoken language to capture the beauty of creation. As Helen Keller once wrote: "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." I believe art and imagination could orientate us in that direction. With Clyde's work and accomplishments as the focus, this book has been published by Marion E. Wade Center to introduce to us the thoughts and convictions behind the late Clyde Kilby. The writings are from Kilby, combed from both previously published and unpublished works. Each introduction has been made by those familiar with Clyde's thinking and writing. This book is the first of two that looks at art from a historical and cultural context. The second volume focuses more on Clyde's interactions with the works of CS Lewis and JRRR Tolkien, entitled: "A Well of Wonder: Essays on C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the Inklings." All the introductions are written by William Dyrness. Keith Call does the heavy lifting of collecting and organizing the materials. These series of articles probes many issues. Here is a sample of some:

"Love Never Fails" (Hilda St Clair)

TITLE: Love Never Fails: A Journal to be Inspired by the Power of Love
AUTHOR: Hilda St Clair
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2017, (128 pages).

There are books that gives out information and there are books that inspire. What about books that not only inspires but invites us to journal along, even as a co-author of this special book about the power of love. Each love thought comes with a quote from a famous spiritual writer or a Holy Scripture, followed by an invitation to reflect and to contribute our thoughts on the following page. It makes readers think, ponder, and wonder about love by interacting with the wisdom sayings. Some books append a discussion guide or series of questions at the end of the book or at the end of each chapter. This book does the same at every turning of the page! This is essentially a journal that features words and verses from the Bible, Bernard of Clairvaux, Julian of Norwich, Augustine of Hippo, and with other love quotes from non-Christians as well. There are also meditations on words from CS Lewis, Elie Wiesel, Paulo Coelho, Helen Keller, and more. With full colour and illustrations, this journal certainly takes the best of the visual and literary words to inspire us to do the same.

Readers (and journal-writers), can interact with the love thoughts and add in their own responses. I call this a spiritual journal that uses love as a starting thought and urges the reader to spread the love beginning with self. The way to really benefit from this book is to take time to read the passage, to reflect on the meaning and our own contexts, and then follow through on the questions and exercises that follow. You can check out a sample here.

 Hilda St Clair is a member of the Community of Jesus. She has previously written a similar journal that is based on Julian of Norwich's famous words, "All Shall Be Well."

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

---

This book has been provided courtesy of Paraclete Press without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Icons: The Essential Collection" (Sr. Faith Riccio, CJ)

TITLE: Icons: The Essential Collection
AUTHOR: Sr. Faith Riccio, CJ
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2016, (120 pages).

In our familiar technological world, the word 'icon' has been usurped by computer designers who create graphical icons to represent object oriented programming images. Using what has become known as WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get), the computer icons have become clickable for users to activate various functions on the computer. They also open up a new window of applications for the user to work on. For all their creativity and innovation, they have simply borrowed the term from its original use: Spirituality.

Calling it an essential collection, author Sister Faith Riccio has put together twenty-eight icons to invite us to go beyond what we see. The word 'eikon' has appeared in Genesis 1:26 that refers to man made in the likeness of God. As far as the author is concerned, there are several reasons why these icons are useful for meditations and for gazing into the Person of God.

• They can soothe and comfort us
• Their symbolism stirs our imagination
• They help gather our attention to help us focus on God
• They guide our desires toward spiritual things
• They aid our prayers
• They remind us of the faithfulness of the saints of old
• They express spiritual realities
• They challenge our busyness and help us to unwind
• They enable us to rest and to start the process of healing
• ...

"All Creation Waits" (Gayle Boss)

TITLE: All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings
AUTHOR: Gayle Boss
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2016, (112 pages).

The season of Advent will be upon us very soon. While there are many themes based on the gospel narratives and the stories of nativity, this book is unique as it offers 25 meditations based on animal woodcuttings. Each chapter offers a description of a winter creature, its lifestyle, eating habits, habitat, unique behaviours, and special characteristics. The turtle prepares to go into hibernation in what is one of nature's wonderful survival strategies. The Muskrat knows exactly where the fresh food are when the ice cold winter freezes up. The Chickadee tweets happily amid the solemn winds of winter. The whitetail deer and her bucks huddle together for warmth. Honeybees survive by choreographing their wing movements to generate heat enough for the whole colony. Other animals include the frog, the racoon, the chipmunk, the black bear, the opossum, bat, turkey, and many more. There is something common in all of these animals. They prepare for the coming harsh winter. Waiting is not simply a virtue but a necessary survival tactic. With wild nature as their habitat, they are able to adjust their bodies to tackle the freezing weather. It is a mystery of how creation waits and sleeps out the dark and gloomy winter. Activities are reduced to the minimum so as to conserve heat. It is a time to hibernate.

Gayle Boss is a lifelong lover of animals and nature. She is a poet, a writer, and an avid naturalist. Graphic artist David Klein contributes one illustration for each chapter, bringing to life the very creature written about. The red fox on the front cover is from the chapter on the red fox, elegant and beautiful. I am amazed at the powers of observation by the author which really demonstrates her love for animals and nature. With great understanding of the animal and powers of observation, she is able to make the woodcuttings come alive with literary movement and imagination. Readers will find in each chapter a very insightful look about the nature of the animal, its eating habits, how it moves, its survival instincts, how it takes care of the young, and so on. After 24 chapters of descriptions of the wonders of each winter creature, the last chapter is what we happen to be waiting for: Christmas! It is a vivid display of all creation waiting for the revelation of God in Christ.

I must say that this is a very unique book to prepare ourselves for the advent. It gives me a fresh appreciation of the winter animals that exist in our backyard of backcountry. Some of them I have not even aware they exist! Yet, God knows each and every one of them.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

---

This book has been provided courtesy of Paraclete Press without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"God For Us" (Greg Pennoyer and others)

TITLE: God For Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Lent and Easter (Reader's Edition)
AUTHOR: Greg Pennoyer and others
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2014, (192 pages).

If Christmas is about "God with us," Lent is about "God for us," so begins this reflective journey and companion volume to Advent. Two reasons are given as to why Lent is harder to grasp. Firstly, Lent is not as joyful as the Christmas season of singing and celebration. Secondly, Lent is mixed with self-denial, sadness, and suddenly that Easter joy. Challenged by these, Greg Pennoyer and Gregory Wolfe bring together a host of writings from spiritual writers such as Ronald Rolheiser, Beth Bevis, Richard Rohr, Lauren Winner, Scott Cairns, James Schaap, Luci Shaw, and Kathleen Norris.

Ron Rolheiser, a Roman Catholic priest and President of Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas, sees Lent as a paradox expressed via a tension between anticipation and fulfillment. He sees the seasons of play as being sweeter when there are seasons of work. In the same way, Lent is both fasting and feasting. Following this, Beth Davis, program coordinator of Seattle Pacific University, looks at the feast and fasts of Lent, showing us that Lent is a way in which Christians can mindfully and spiritually prepare themselves for the glory and fulfillment of Easter. Each week, she responds to the contributions of each writer by describing the history of the feasts, Shrove Tuesdays, Ash Wednesdays, Lent Sundays, the Holy Week, and Easter. These provide us the background as each of these Lenten remembrance events.

"Holy Spirit I Pray" (Jack Levison)

TITLE: Holy Spirit, I Pray: Prayers for the morning and nightime, for discernment, and moments of crisis
AUTHOR: Jack Levison
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2015, (120 pages).

Christians have been praying to God in the Name of Jesus since the days of the Early Church. The Holy Spirit came down upon the Church in Acts, sparking a Pentecostal revival that has helped spread the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and the outermost parts of the earth. Jesus prayed to the Father in Heaven and encourages us to do the same. He also urges us to pray in His Name. What about the Holy Spirit? It is one thing to be praying in the power of the Holy Spirit, but what if one prays to the Holy Spirit? For that, it is interesting that not many books have been written with regard to this. It is not something explicitly mentioned in the Bible about praying to the Holy Spirit. In this book, Jack Levison, author of Fresh Air: The Holy Spirit for an Inspired Life, not only makes a case for prayers to the Holy Spirit, he shows us how to do it. Readers learn of prayers to allow one to rest, not escape; fly, not flee; and brood, not rush.

There are sample prayers for the morning and the evening. The prayers of discernment top the list of my favourites. What I really like about the prayers is the format of prayers on the left, and a scripture passage on the right. The prayers are written with the Holy Spirit as the focus of prayers. The scripture passage gives us a specific Bible reference to the working of the Holy Spirit. There is also a prayers for anytime section for all occasions.

This is a rare book on prayers to and about the Holy Spirit. I understand some readers may be uncomfortable about the relative lack of reference to Jesus and Father God, but the thrust of the prayers is the same. When one prays to the Spirit, one also prays to the Triune Godhead, Father, Son, Holy Spirit. In all honesty, I think the Holy Spirit is most shy of attention, and like Jesus, will always want to direct attention back to the Trinity. At times, I wish the format of the book be reversed. That is, the Scripture passage begins first, followed by the prayers. In this way, anyone unsure of the direction of the prayers will have the comfort of the Holy Scriptures to guide.

I warmly commend this book for your collection of prayers. It is a wonderful resource for prayer coordinators, prayer warriors, and anyone desiring to grow close to God in prayer.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

---

This book is provided to me courtesy of Paraclete Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Short Trip to the Edge" (Scott Cairns)

TITLE: Short Trip to the Edge: Where Earth Meets Heaven--A Pilgrimage
AUTHOR: Scott Cairns
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2007, (272 pages).

We have heard about pilgrimages of lands and terrains; distances and heights. What about the practice of prayer? In this book, Scott Cairns does both. Calling Mount Athos (Agion Oros) in Northern Greece a "Holy Mountain," Cairns has been making trips to encounter the meaning of being "inhabited by a holy presence." It is also the readying of the heart to encounter God not only in the speedy race of life but also the slowing pace of reflectiveness. Given time, even the slowest would eventually make the turn. Even the highest mountain would be climbed.

Organizing the pilgrimage of prayer in three phases, the first is the FAR effect as one sets out to make the journey. Eight reflections on eight different prayers are written to reflect the state of his heart. Referring to the boat tied to the pier, he ponders about how a person will ever make the voyage if he remains parked in the safety of the harbour. Lack of risk taking is essentially unbelief. Recognizing the deep mountain significance of the spiritual, Cairns refers back to the pilgrims, the desert fathers, and the saints of old to remind himself that many had already made such trips. Praying is about learning. Every pilgrim had a spiritual father.

He reflects on the Jesus Prayer, not so much about invoking God's appearance but to tune one's heart to prepare for the presence of God. He ponders on the prayer of the heart and how the repetitive praying softens our hardened hearts. There is also the feelings the surround him and his fellow travelers when they got lost, and their maps were old ones. New terrains were not mapped. Who do they seek help? One's faith is not really tested until one practices the pilgrimage of faith. His praying habits were rudely interrupted by surrounding events. From the weather to the noisy clatter, the daunting conditions challenge his normal practice of prayer as he toggles between distractions and intentions. He learns a kind of fear that attracts rather than repels. One of the best parts of the book is his interactions with the orthodox monks and spiritual fathers. Learning from these faith practitioners bring a lot of profound insights. There is something very pastoral and caring from these orthodox monks that impresses. One Father Iákovos even asks about the visitors' family and cares for them in a very humbling manner. Father Cosmás has that immense capacity to offer hospitality. The central desire of these monks is how their very lives embody the elements of prayer, even the entire prayers themselves.

"The St Teresa of Avila Prayer Book" (Vinita Hampton Wright)

TITLE: The St. Teresa of Avila Prayer Book
AUTHOR: Vinita Hampton Wright
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2015, (176 pages).

Who is St Teresa of Avila? Why should we know about her and her works? What has a Sixteenth Century Carmelite nun to do with prayer? Who are the people who have influenced her spirituality? In uncovering the story of this amazing saint, award winning novelist and school teacher Vinita Hampton Wright has put together a min-biography of St Teresa of Avila to help us appreciate her early life; her decision to choose the religious vocation instead of marriage; and how her own life led to the classic writings on prayer. At the same time, there are difficult physical circumstances that plague Teresa. When she was a teenager, she had severe anxiety attacks, malignant malaria, and a serious bout of illness that even paralyzed her for three years. With sufferings of health, she plunged herself into deep prayer and meditation. In particular, she gravitated toward the teaching of Peter Alcantara's Treatise on Prayer and Meditation. Soon, she developed her own sense of abandonment to God and started her work on The Interior Castle and The Way of Perfection.

Part One is a primer of St Teresa. After a mini-biography to show us the person behind the famous works, it is hoped that readers would then find Teresa a bit more familiar with so as to pray alongside. In Part Two, we follow after Teresa's rhythm of morning and evening prayers. This rhythm was developed as Teresa was reflecting on the Letters of St Jerome and later, St Augustine's Confessions. From this pattern, Wright distills it for modern readers through a liturgy as follows:

"Where Jesus Prayed" (Danielle Shroyer)

TITLE: Where Jesus Prayed: Illuminating the Lord's Prayer in the Holy Land
AUTHOR: Danielle Shroyer
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2015, (168 pages).

Many Christians know the Lord's Prayer. Many also recite it by heart each Sunday during Church services. What is so special about this prayer? Is there a context that can reveal the depths of the prayer? How did the early disciples anticipate the prayer? What about the environment where Jesus first taught the disciples how to pray? Believing that the environment itself presents profound opportunities to re-discover the truths and depths of the Lord's Prayer, author and pastor Danielle Shroyer took a 27 hour flight from Dallas to Jerusalem, spent two weeks in the Holy Land, by walking where Jesus walked, and prayed where Jesus prayed. Apart from a profound renewal of the spirit and the refreshment of the soul, there are plenty of revelations about the Lord's Prayer. So amazing was her experience that while she did not intend to write anything like this before the journey, after the journey, the whole experience was so overwhelming that she simply had to write this book, to showcase the amazing pilgrimage of faith, and her interactions with fellow pilgrims. Above all, it is a book that describes how she personally enjoyed God.

"Mudhouse Sabbath" (Lauren Winner)

TITLE: Mudhouse Sabbath: An Invitation to a Life of Spiritual Discipline - Study Edition
AUTHOR: Lauren Winner
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2015, (224 pages).

Christianity have roots in Judaism. They read the Torah or Pentateuch. They celebrate the Tehillim, (songs of praise), also known as Psalms.  Like the Proverbs and Jobs, the Psalms are part of the wisdom writings called the Ketuvim. As a convert to evangelical Christianity, the author often reflects back on her Jewish upbringing and fondly cherishes the rituals, the rules, and the meaning behind the Jewish spiritual practices. Out of that fond reflection comes the writing of this book which gives her a chance to revisit the riches of the Old Testament practices and how many of them can be appreciated in our modern world. In this updated edition, Winner adds in a greater awareness of pursuing God's justice in this world on top of just enjoying our spiritual life. She helps us reflect on how fasting can be related to caring for the poor, and how Sabbath keeping is to be integrated into the whole week by virtue of Sabbath not being at the beginning or end of the week, but the middle. She weaves into this book her own personal journey through experiencing her mum's passing, her broken marriage, a little older and wiser too. Having moved from Virginia to North Carolina, she has also moved from outside coffee shops to having coffee at home instead. In a way, this book is about moving from one place to another, in particular from Judaism to Christianity, and in the process trying to make sense of the commonality between the two. Perhaps, it is to expand the common space of understanding and to help those of us without a Jewish background to better appreciate the practices of Sabbath keeping and other important rituals. It helps us to go beyond the outer display of religiosity toward an inner appreciation of the essence of Jewish spirituality. The "study edition" format is about a twelfth chapter scattered throughout the other eleven in the form of study questions. For me, reading through this book is like eavesdropping the author's appreciation of her Jewish heritage from a Christian perspective.

"Pray Like a Gourmet" (David Brazzeal)

TITLE: Pray Like a Gourmet: Creative Ways to Feed Your Soul (Active Prayer)
AUTHOR: David Brazzeal
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2015, (192 pages).

How we eat our physical meals can be quite an accurate reflection of how we feed our souls. Are we constantly rushing through meals in order to get back to our work? Do we go for the most familiar restaurant joints and select the usual cheaper options? Maybe we are used to drive-through convenience that opts for the standard fare? What if we can inject some creativity into our eating or ordering? In this very well-illustrated and creative book on how to pray, author David Brazzeal, together with Dutch illustrator Willemijn de Groot have put together "creative ways to feed your soul." Written in three parts, we catch a glimpse of what it takes to set up a kitchen for prayer; which is followed by basic recipes for prayer; and finally the praying.

Brazzel whets our appetite by enticing us to go beyond normal ordinary fare such as fast-food, cheap joints, and predictable meals. He show us how to acquire a taste by hungering and thirsting after the really good stuff, and parallels them to seeking after God. Preparing to pray includes praise, just like the way St Francis of Assisi's had prayed. From Richard Foster, he learns about imagination in prayer. From Evelyn Underhill, he learns that spirituality and creativity are both on the same side of the brain. From Peter Lord, he learns that our creativity is most beautiful when it is in sync with the Holy Spirit. He shows us how to creatively choose a meal, just like seeing the Bible as the first book, the middle, and the last. This parallels the regular meal set of appetizer, entree, and dessert. He is particularly critical of fast food that never gives us time to cultivate relationships; of junk food that offers little substance to our self-centered praying; and processed food that limits ourselves to devotions and prayers of other people. On forms of prayer, he reminds us of the popular ACTS acronym before challenging us toward Observation; Intercession; Meditation; Contemplation; Blessing; Lamenting; and Joining. Gradually, we involve the gourmet of choices to let our prayers involve body, heart, mind, and soul.

Part Two is the main dish where we learn about the 11 ways to pray. We praise by telling the greatness of God. We thank God for what He had done. We confess our sins as we deal with life's realities. We bless the world with goodness as we pray blessings from God upon the land we live. We observe the world, especially nature, and to simply see without analyzing or watch without the urge to solve something. We lament the reality of the world, especially the sad things happening around us. We also lament on things that are beyond our control. We learn to meditate and to contemplate, which may not be easily understood or differentiated. For meditation, it is about learning to reflect silently with the Spirit of God leading us. Brazzeal shares with us that "Meditation is stimulated by something external: a text, a quote, a sound, an image, a thought, or even a repetitive action, while Contemplation deals with the purely internal: silence, stillness, void, release, and the lack of emphasis on reasoning and rational thought."

He leaves the asking quite late in the process, which is a curious decision because prayers have often been associated with asking for things in the first place. He admits that the chapter on asking is the "hardest chapter" because as he grows in his journey and gourmet of prayer, he finds the asking less as less desirable, once he experiences the other element of prayer. He settles on a type of asking that is "less self-absorbed and more God-focussed." This is a good lesson for us too. This is quickly followed by interceding which is about advocating for the needs of others. At one look, it seems like the asking and the interceding are the same thing, the former being more other-centered and the latter being praying for others. What's the difference? The author does not offer any clear explanation but as I read the chapters, it appears to me that "asking" to be more God-centered and other-concerned is a conscious decision to put ourselves less important; while the "interceding" is to put God and others as more important. The difference is subtle. In joining, we pray with God's mission in mind, to be reminded that our concerns are merely a speck in the larger world of God.

Part Three of the book show us how to spread everywhere the joy of prayer. When showering, learn to see the steam as a chance to thank God for the presence of the Spirit; to experience the waters on our bodies as a way to reminisce the baptism of the Spirit; the scrubbing of the skin as cleansing; and to the wrapping of the body as being embraced by the Spirit; and so on. Even in swimming, we can learn to pray. Gradually, we come back to the dining atmosphere where we can bless all who gathered with thanksgiving; picnic moments; to the worship time in Church. Finally, there is the clearing of the table which we can also pray.

So What?

We eat at least two to three meals daily. We are exhorted to pray frequently too. One of the most regular times of prayer is the time just before we tuck in the next meal. Christians often pause for a moment; say a prayer of thanks; and then eat away. For some, these are the only times they pray. If there is a way to bring this regularity of eating and to inculcate a more prayerful life, why not?  In this book, we are exhorted not only to pray frequently but also to pray widely. Praying like a gourmet is essentially praying lavishly, unselfishly, and generously. Full of ideas that are simple and doable, after reading this book, it will not be surprising that readers would want to simply pause and put the prayers directly into practice. This is how powerful the book is.

Written with practice in mind, the book is concise in its theory and extensive in its applications. I love the colours used in the book which reflects a desire to bring colour into our praying. While the book is brief, it covers a lot of ground as far as learning how to pray is concerned. With many tips, pointers, and to the point challenges, readers will be happy to learn that there are more ways to pray. Hopefully, this book will help readers catch a glimpse at why the prayer warriors and spiritual leaders of the past are able to pray so constantly, so consistently, and so passionately. If there is a modern equivalent of Brother Lawrence's "Practice of the Presence of God," this book will be very up close and personal.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

---

This book is provided to me courtesy of Paraclete Press and SpeakEasy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Lectio Divina" (Enzo Bianchi)

TITLE: Lectio Divina: From God's Word to Our Lives (Voices from the Monastery)
AUTHOR: Enzo Bianchi
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2015, (128 pages).

We have many books on theology and Christian living. What about how to read the Bible devotionally? According to the Enzo Bianchi, a Catholic layperson who founded a monastic community in Italy, he believes that reading the Bible well is the central part of discipleship. The author is founder of the Bose Community, an ecumenical monastic community of 80 brothers and sisters in Magnano, Italy.

We need to be caught up in Bible reading. We need to be absorbed by the Word. We need to commune with God in the Word. Writing from his experience with a group of believers to surround their whole lives around the Word of God, Bianchi's overriding passion is to encounter Christ as he reads the Word of God. This is the method of lectio divina which helps us avoid some of the pitfalls of humanistic reading. Pitfalls such as:

• Reading for simple emotional experience
• Rigid fundamentalism that keeps the letter but ignores the spirit of the letter
• Ignoring the traditions and histories of the Word
• Using the Word of God as a polemic or literary weapon against one another

Set in two parts, Part One of the book is "Bible and Spirit" which is about entering the rooms in the Bible with the Holy Spirit holding the keys to usher us in. The third century Church father, Origen explains it as "Scriptura sui ipsius interpres" (Scripture is its own interpreter).This means that the Bible is a unity that does not contract itself. It also means the Spirit teaches us. The Bible is not merely an objective document to analyze and study. It is a subjective living Word that puts us as the object as willing servants and God as the Person revealed to us. We read in faith, desiring the truth instead of impatiently demanding answers to our needs. The Bible calls us to be personally involved in the Word instead of an impersonal stance to see things from a distance. We need to be open to what the Bible is saying and be open to what the Bible is not saying. It needs to be read, studied, and understood in the Spirit. Bianchi is also aware of how the Bible can be read in an "overly spiritualized, allegorical, literal, or fundamentalist" manner. The way to avoid that is to keep the Bible central in liturgy, preaching, theology, and Christian living, not just Bible study time. He advocates "spiritual exegesis" which is an approach to the Bible that believes God is found in the Word. It goes beyond methods or mere applications. It engages the whole person that the reading of the Word results in a transforming of one's life. Spiritual reading means reading the Bible as a single book on Christ. I like what Hans Urs von Balthasar's comment about the four senses of Scripture:

The four senses of scripture are celebrating a hidden resurrection in today’s theology. The literal sense appears to be analogous to the historical-critical approach, the spiritual sense to the kerygmatic, the tropological to the existential, and the anagogical to the eschatological.

The first sense is the literal sense which is how we exegete the Word, do word studies, and practice sound interpretation. The second sense is the spiritual in which we move to the tune of the Holy Spirit helping us to interpret and understand the meaning and significance of the Word for us today. The third sense is the tropological which is the moral interpretation of the story. Some would use the word allegorical to describe it. The fourth sense is anagogical which is to read Scripture with the view of the future coming Kingdom of God. Thus, reading the Bible transcends time as it embraces all the past, the present, and the future. Read the Bible over and over again until we are connected to God in love and adoration. We understand the Bible according to how we live it. Reading it involves two more elements: life of the Church and what it means to be human. The trouble with people is that they hardly read the Word and then complain about the lack of God's presence when we are in trouble. He connects the Bible as sacramental with the Eucharist as Christ's presence. In all, there is a stress on unity and the community of God.

Reading the Bible involves listening as well for the Bible is dialogical and relational. We listen to God and sense God listening to us. Obedience is listening in faith. Listening in faith means learning to move from letter to spirit, to let the Spirit guide our understanding of the ancient texts to the practice of modern living. Soon, Bianchi launches into the four levels of lectio divina.

1. Historical-Literary level (lectio)
2. Glimpsing Christ (meditatio)
3. Dialogue that engages and interacts (oratio)
4. Seeing God face to face (contemplatio)

Part Two of the Book deals with Lectio Divina in the Church. It is an interpretive trip down historical lane. We note how the Old Testament books interpret each other. We learn about the Jewish midrashic as well as the Church Fathers' use of allegorical methods. Different eras tend to focus on different senses of Scripture at any one time. Some good tips are as follows:

"Lectio divina, whether by ourselves or in community, requires a context of faith and prayer. We start in silence, confessing our faith that the Lord is speaking to us today through the biblical page. We invoke the Holy Spirit and open ourselves in humility to his action, because insight into the text is a Spirit-led event, not an intellectual pursuit." (90)

One chapter is dedicated to the foundations and practices of lectio divina and two chapters on the challenges of doing lectio divina. We learn about setting aside time and space intentionally, to enter into a place of solitude and silence. We cultivate our listening skills and discernment. We go through the exercises of lectio, oratio, meditatio, and contemplatio. Though brief, it offers readers a quick glimpse into what the exercises entail. Sometimes, brevity is golden as we can be quick to jump into the Word rather than to plow through pages and pages of instructions that can easily numb our enthusiasm.  Other practical tips include:

• Daily reading of the Word
• Planting God's Word in the hearts of people
• Avoid the temptations of extremes

So What?

In some societies, reading is fast becoming a lost discipline. This is particularly so for an increasingly digital generation where people skim web pages instead of reading; browsing instead of meditating; and clicking various apps and links instead of beholding the Word before us. The medium we use is important and can affect the way we do lectio divina. We need to learn the four senses of Scripture simply because the Word of God cannot be hemmed into any one dimension. Just as we know that the Bible has many genres, so too we need to be sensitive to the Word in their original contexts. At the same time, the Spirit of God can lead us to discern what it means then and for us now. 

When I started to read this book, I thought it was a book that is about the practice of lectio divina. Instead, it is a book that lays the foundations of what Scripture is about first. It then shows us reading the Bible has to be done God's way, not human methods. Sometimes, an overly sola scriptura mindset risks reading the Word in humanistic ways. We need to go back to the sources, and be willing to be led by the Spirit to teach us as we participate humbly as a community of God.

If the book can have more examples and illustrations on various passages of Scripture, it would be wonderful.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

---

This book is provided to me courtesy of Paraclete Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Midrash" (Sandy Eisenberg Sasso)

TITLE: Midrash: Reading the Bible with Question Marks
AUTHOR: Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2013, (170 pages).

This book has a subtitle that can scare off the pious and those who revere the Word of God. How can we question the Holy Scriptures? Aren't we suppose to revere the Word and not question it? The key to the book is to understand that there is a difference between "questioning the truth in the Bible" versus "reading the Bible with question marks." The former tries to shut down with skepticism while the latter tries to dig deeper with anticipation for greater revelation. In fact, it is not the questioning of the Bible that is the point. It is letting the Bible question us that makes it all so revealing. In our modern world of science and technological know-how, our basic study paradigm is to search, analyze, take apart, and to understand the broken pieces. It takes the wise and discerning to sieve out the Word amid the words, to observe the specifics without forgetting the nuances, to separate parts with an eye on the whole, and to appreciate the bigger picture collectively once the smaller parts are understood for what they mean individually.   The first part of the book explains the origins of Midrash, which is to learn to approach Scripture as if God is speaking to us directly. Sasso gives us an insight into Midrash not just as a document but a way of understanding the Bible, through the awareness that the Word of God is not truth stuck in the concrete of time, but is Truth that continues to flow in a continuous stream of truth revealed and truth to be revealed. There are connections to be learned. There are messages that are relevant through all time. There is room for human imagination as God's Word gets revealed more and more. Midrash reminds us that reading the Bible is beyond literal understanding. It includes appreciation of the literary beauty. It means learning to look at truth through stories of life past, present, and future. The famous words of Amos Oz are instructive: "Fundamentalists live life with an exclamation point. I prefer to live my life with a question mark."

Sasso writes with a keen understanding of many non-Jewish readers. She gives an explanation of what Hasidism, Mishnah, the Talmud, the Midrash, and other Rabbinic literature. Hasidism is a mystical tradition that started in the 18th Century, reminding us that God's revelation is a continuous process. The Mishnah comprises of 6 sections. Each section comprises 63 tractates which is further subdivided into chapters and paragraphs. This Mishnah can be understood as the "Oral Torah" while the written text is the "Written Torah." The commentary to the Mishna is called the Gemara. This original Mishna (oral Torah) and the Gemara (commentary) together forms the Talmud. The situation gets more interesting as there are two versions of Talmud: Palestinian (completed 4CE) and the Babylonian (completed 500CE). The midrash is a kind of a "meaning maker" comprising both a product as well as a process. The product is in the form of a group of literature that interprets Holy Scripture. The process is the time of which the interpretation is continually done. Thus, in Midrash, one is able to venture into the ancient texts and at the same time, try to make sense of the present contexts and how the Scriptures can speak into every era. This is done in four levels.

1. The first is the "peshat" which is a straight reading of the text.
2. The second is the "remez" which connects one text to the other to find out what each text is pointing to or hinting at.
3. The third level is that of "drash" which requires one to search out deeper meanings, and try to fill in missing gaps through their best understanding available.
4. The fourth level is "sod" which is mystical.

What is fascinating is how Sasso tells how the first letters of each word are put together, and after adding vowels, it sounds like "pardes" which means "orchard." After establishing the basics of what Midrash is, Sasso brings us through 11 chapters of practical application of Midrash as product as well as process. Readers will learn how:

• Midrash speaks to us in the present tense and to build our faith;
• How God's revelation continues to touch us as we let questions open us up;
• Midrash teaches us to consider other opinions respectfully and to treat our own humbly;
• Midrash shows us how to see the world of pain and hurt through the eyes of grace and forgiveness;
• Using the example of Cain and Able, Midrash instructs us about the content of the quarrel that led to the murder. Is it over economics or over personal property rights? It makes one understand Cain's rage over fairness, even though one may not agree with the eventual murder. It tells us how anger can lead us to sin even in matters we think are right.

Reading this book helps me appreciate the place of Midrash in Jewish holy literature and the process of interpretation and commentary. Some may not be comfortable with the flood of imaginations and creative filling in the gaps when reading the Word of God. Some may even accuse the Midrash as a way to add-subtract-modify the Holy Word. Midrash does not do that. It simply casts some light to enhance the understanding of the contexts using questions to guide appreciation. Questioning of the text does not mean subjecting the text to human scrutiny. Asking questions of the text simply means subjecting ourselves to the texts, for the Word to teach and guide us, and for us to be open and revere the Truth revealed. After all, the Word of God is also called the Living Word. Why then should anyone of us be stuck with paradigms that treat the Bible as a history book or a book written by human hands that cannot be changed. In other words, the Word of God does not change, but because of the Word of God, we change. The Midrash is one way to facilitate that change.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

---

This book is provided to me courtesy of Paraclete Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

Centering Prayers (Peter Traben Haas)

TITLE: Centering Prayers: A One-Year Daily Companion for Going Deeper into the Love of God
AUTHOR: Peter Traben Haas
PUBLISHER:  Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2013, (304 pages).

Prayer is essentially a relationship. People who pray only when they have a need are obviously ignorant of what prayer is all about. They will be swimming in shallow waters of spirituality, getting only their feet wet in terms of spiritual growth, only to leave the pool when nothing substantial needs to be prayed for or about. When the next need arises, such people will step back into the waters. Without realizing that prayer is a relationship, such people will not venture beyond to deeper waters, and learning how to seek God and to depend on God totally. For Presbyterian minister Dr Peter Traben Haas, centering prayers are to assist people to go deeper into the love of God. A brief prayer is offered each day for a full year, all of them designed to help one cultivate this relationship with God. Each month begins with a brief spiritual meditation. January is about one being known by God. February exhorts the seeking of Truth. March is an invitation to cultivate the relationship with God. April prepares one to focus on the crucifixion, the death, and the resurrection of Christ. May reminds one about being liberated toward gracious living. June shows one the light and presence of God. July guides one toward accepting God as our spiritual companion. August teaches us to listen and practise awareness of our surroundings.  September teaches us that God is true wisdom and we ought to seek Him whenever we need wisdom. October invites one to connect with God more as the Autumn season commences. November builds trust. December tells us to wait, watch, and wonder at the marvelous love of God through Christ who dwells among us.

There are three things I like about this book. Firstly, it is the brevity of the daily prayers. It reminds me that prayers need not be long and unwieldy. Short prayers help us to remember what we pray. It allows us to focus. It allows us to use the least number of words to maximize our spiritual sensitivities.  Although on some days in which prayers are longer, the idea is simple and often centered on a main theme. Despite the additional words, readers will be able to sense that there is a big idea in each of these long prayers. Take hold of this big idea and center our prayers accordingly. Second, there is usually one single thought of God's character each day. The prayers are directed with a focus on the character of God. Rather than coming to God with a full laundry list of our requests for quail and manna, it focuses on growing the awareness of God's presence in our lives. Far too often, people pray without settling themselves down to listen. The prayers enable us to focus and listen for God's character to reflect back to us. Thirdly, each prayer is an attempt to help readers use the prayers to connect with God. This is the biggest reason to buy this book. With regular praying, one's ability to connect with God will be strengthened each day. For human beings are creatures of habit. Once they embark upon a year long program to center their prayers toward a relationship with God, their prayer life will be transformed. Indeed, when this happens, people will want to pray more and more. Then, one will no longer be contended with anything that is "pray to get" but a joy exuberant from one who "gets to pray."

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

---

This book is provided to me courtesy of Paraclete Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"At the Still Point" (Sarah Arthur)

TITLE: At the Still Point: A Literary Guide to Prayer in Ordinary Time
AUTHOR: Sarah Arthur (compiler)
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2011, (256 pages).

This book is poised to become a collector's item. The Christian calendar begins at Advent and four four weeks right through to Christmas, Christians commemorate the birth of Christ. Then comes Lent, which is 40 days before the crucifixion of Christ, and after the resurrection is the Easter season which normally lasts about 7 weeks after Lent. The periods between Christmas and Lent; Pentecost and Advent are understood to be Ordinary Time (Epiphany). This book is written with the objective of letting readers appreciate Ordinary Time using good literature and prayer guides. The 29 weeks of readings are designed for use during the period from Pentecost to Advent. Readings such as prayer guides, meditative readings, provoking thoughts and literary masterpieces, are compiled from writers, philosophers, theologians, from the Early Church to the modern era. Arthur has selected the pieces that tend to focus on helping readers to be worshipful in the reading, meditative on the praying, and to cultivate a more reflective and contemplative mood in a society often thought to be busy, distracting, and downright confusing. She calls the anthology a kind of "moonlit garden" to invite readers to walk the long Ordinary Time period, traversing the full range of spiritual experiences "from conviction to calling, quarreling to awakening, dark nights, redemption, and everything in between." The title of each week's readings is a good reference point on where the author is attempting to invite into. Each week follows a similar structure. There is an opening prayer and Scriptures to be read. There are choice readings from various writers and poets, most of them considered classics or masters of spirituality. There are opportunities to pray and reflect upon the readings. At the end of it all, there is a closing prayer, chosen from some of the best worshipful prose and poems.

Each week, there is a focus on a certain spiritual experience. There is intimacy of grace, calls for persistent praying, as well as cries for mercy. There are also moments of dark despair and pleadings for strengths to endure the harsh middle way. There is also a borrowing of Philip Yancey's title of one of his books, "Rumors of another world," which brings together some glimpses of eternity. What I appreciate is the level of detail and care that Sarah Arthur has put in to remind readers about the Holy Week experience, which is the very core of the Christian faith. It teaches us that even though there are distinct seasons of the Christian Church calendar, all of these remembrances are linked to one another. More importantly, all of them point back to the Person of Christ. This structure roughly parallels the journey of the early disciples who walked with Jesus, watched Jesus suffer, died, and resurrected, started the Church, and maintained the hope for a glorious future kingdom.

I am also amazed by the huge collection of materials that dovetail so well into the theme of each week. Arthur brings together the different writers from different eras, selects their literary pieces, and let them speak for themselves. At the same time, she lets them converse with one another through the minds of the reader. One can read slowly or pace steadily. One can also select a few to read at a time, or to read one large passage in a single sitting. Some of the readings are intentionally brief so that the words are given time to sink in and to initiate ripples of creative thoughts. Many of the writings are from 15th to 21st Centuries. There are the Medieval spiritual writers such as Teresa of Avila, St John of the Cross, Julian of Norwich, John Donne, and St Francis of Assisi. There are famous 17th to 19th Century writers such as Madam Guyon, George Herbert, Christina Rossetti, Richard Baxter, and Leo Tolstoy. The modern era is also well represented with familiar names like CS Lewis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Luci Shaw, Frederick Buechner, Wendell Berry, Chiam Potok, Mary Oliver, Marilynne Robinson, and many more. With such a collection of well-known writers and the high quality pieces, readers are often challenged to remain at the "still point," to reflect upon life. They are invited to ponder the words and the powerful imagery it paints. They are persuaded not to let the world around us mold us into its hurried and non-stop busyness frame of mind. Instead, the reflective reading and contemplative praying is an antidote that helps us move into an unhurried disposition, and a readiness to stop or pause every once in a while without feeling guilty about it.

Let me give an example of how one can move from activism to reflection. In the chapter on "Growing Good," Arthur begins with an opening prayer that reminds us once again, that "all is done for us." There is no need to worry about things undone, for the most important thing has already been done for us. God has given us life in the Spirit, and has empowered us for goodness. The readings in Romans 5 for example affirms this fact that those in Christ has already been justified by faith through grace. The readings are then placed to help us focus on this act of God accomplished by God already at the cross. Christina Rossetti's prayer reminds us about God having prepared a resting place for our "happy soul." John Keble reflects upon the triumphant glory of God. Richard Crashaw points to the greatest goodness of all: Love.  George Eliot's story tells about how one can accomplish great things for God, even when living a life of obscurity.

I recommend this book highly for people who wants to be refreshed in their prayer life, for people who desire opportunities to reflect upon life in God through the most ordinary of circumstances, for those who want to be more contemplative as they live day to day, meet person to person, and to let the book accompany them as they progress through a spectrum of emotions.

If you are planning to go on a spiritual retreat, and wonder what you need to bring, let me recommend at least three things. First, bring a Bible. Second, carry along a hymnal or a book of spiritual songs. This book is a strong recommendation for the third. It is that good.

Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade

---

This book is provided to me free by Paraclete Press without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Sacred Compass" (J. Brent Bill)

TITLE: Sacred Compass: The Way of Spiritual Discernment
AUTHOR: J. Brent Bill
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2012, (208 pages).

Spiritual discernment is often talked about but rarely lived out. It is about sensing God's presence and guiding hands, rather than forcing our own ideas into a I-know-what-is-best mentality. Using a compass as a metaphor for spiritual discernment, Bill makes us realize that our deepest desires to find meaning and purpose for ourselves, stem from our attentiveness of our inner compass to God. It makes us sensitive to God's direction and to discover not simply a path we ought to go, but to discover God himself. Along the way, we become more self-aware and more God-aware.

Beginning with the famous Quaker-phrase, "As way opens," Bill describes the differences between a tourist and a pilgrim. Pilgrims recognize that the spiritual life is a long journey. It is an expedition of continuous learning from others. As one cultivates trust in God, one learns to see God in the many details. They travel together. Pilgrims let their lives speak to one another, that in the process of trying to discern one's own path, one helps others to discover both their paths as well a their uniquenesses. It teaches us to develop attentiveness. Learning becomes transformative, and one then learns to lead others in their journey too. The leadings come in many ways. It is patient. It is persistent. It is creative and beautiful. It is both calming and exciting. However, all of these leadings need an acute sense of testing whether they are from God. Bill provides seven helpful ways to test. He also provides some spiritual disciplines we can adopt to sharpen our awareness.

What is also helpful is how Bill brings out the dangers of the dark side. We need to discern whether the valleys are in fact mere spiritual dryness or some warfare. The former we need to cling on to God's promises. The latter we hang on to God's strength.  Bill provides tips on how we can still maintain that compass direction in spite of dark times. Some traveler's aids are listed for the benefit of readers, and excites readers about the dance of heaven on earth.

I appreciate this book a lot for its clarity. Five things strike me powerfully. First, the whole is greater than the sum of all its parts. Sometimes, we tend to highlight only one part of our lives over the rest. That is wrong. As pilgrims, we are not to base our lives on some highlights or high periods of positive experiences. Pilgrims travel the entire journey, and let the whole journey tell the full story. Second,  it is about God, not us. For those who are experiencing spiritual fatigue, it is an apt reminder that whatever we do or not do, does not change God's love for us. Third, even in dark moments, we can still learn spiritual discernment. Good spiritual discernment happens at all times, not only during feel-good moments. Four, the tools and tips provide readers an arsenal of resources to use. At times, when we feel like we have run out of ideas or resources, this book not only provides additional ideas for us to contemplate and put into action, but also to cast new light on old tools. One example is the way to "listen deeply." Most of us talk about the importance of listening. Bill's wide repertoire of listening pointers help us to listen beyond ourselves or our own needs. We are urged to engage in community sensitivity in listening. We are encouraged to listen for movements that benefit others, even when it does not lead to any direct self-benefit. More importantly, listening is putting the interests of others above our own. Finally, I enjoy the leading chapter of the book. It is not just about spiritual leadership. It is about true leaders are those who have been lead in the first place. The essence of leadership is about listening to God, and to lead like Jesus has led. Leading is learning. It is waiting when it is the time to wait. It is moving when it is time to move. It is gathering when it is time to gather. The interesting thing is this. True discernment is not about leading forth like a spiritual Rambo. True discernment is being led by the Holy Spirit to go to any place, willingly and joyfully, even to places we do not want to go. Above all, pilgrims on the spiritual journey will not be too caught up with what to do, where to go, who to meet, or how to go about the travel. They will be utterly content, knowing that it is God who is their traveling partner all the way.

This is an excellent guide for spiritual discernment.

Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade

---

This book is provided to me free by Paraclete Press without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Fresh Air" (Jack Levison)

TITLE: Fresh Air: The Holy Spirit for an Inspired Life
AUTHOR: Jack Levison
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2012, (218 pages).

How well do we understand the scope of the Holy Spirit's work in this world? Have we restricted the Holy Spirit to only fruit of the Spirit, or to tongues or great biblical signs and manifestations? Definitely not, says Jack Levison, a Professor at Seattle Pacific University. In fact, the Holy Spirit is present in more ways than one, in more people than we thought, and in more ways than we can even imagine.

This book is a breath of fresh air. Written by one who has one foot on a mainline Protestant denomination and another foot on the Pentecostal persuasion, the author hopes to share a fresh air of spiritual wisdom with both camps. The hope is that the attempt will share biblical, radical, and practical values for all. The Holy Spirit (Note: for reasons explained in the book, the author prefers to use small caps. I use capitalization to conform to common usage). Some of the "radical perspectives" that Levison has proposed in his book are:

• The spirit being in EVERY human being, both Christians as well as non-Christians;
• The spirit is present in all situations, including social upheaval and during our status quo
• The spirit inspires whole communities
• The spirit drives faithful people into hostile places
• The spirit inspires both "ecstasy and restraint, study and spontaneity."

Key to the understanding of this book is our openness to letting the Spirit work as freely as He wants. Levison argues that the Holy Spirit manifests Himself through routine awakenings, our routine listening, as well as routinely encouraging us. With frequent biblical references to the Hebrew 'ruach' (which means spirit-breath) as well as the Greek 'pneuma,' the author prefers to use the English translation "holy spirit" in small caps because he does not want to constrict or restrict the nuances of the words in Scripture. Then the author shows readers how the Holy Spirit has been working in the lives of various biblical characters, and how the biblical characters have become inspired to live spiritually dynamic lives. Of Job, Levison shows us how this famous character of suffering manages to avoid idealistic optimism (like Elihu) or depressing pessimism (by Qohelet), by retaining a sense of realism, that complains of one's torment on the one hand, and yet retaining a belief in God's goodness. Of Daniel, we discover how the Holy Spirit is with Daniel for the long haul, throughout the reigns of King Nebuchadnezzar, King Belshazzar, and King Darius. The spiritual life is not a short-cut solution strategy, but a long journey of discipline. Of Simeon, we learn the importance of regular devotion, to a disciplined life and routine maintenance to train our senses toward three major things:

• Routine awakening
• Routine listening
• Routine encouraging

In doing so, we grow beyond ourselves toward letting the Spirit move without any artificial borders imposed by the world. Of Joel's dream, we see how the Spirit stretches horizontally to become an outpour to all people, all nations, and all communities. Likewise, we also see how the Spirit reaches vertically through all echelons of societies, to be poured out "indiscriminately." This is also similar to how the Spirit speaks to Peter that the gospel is not only for Jews, but for Gentiles, and all people.  Then there is Chloe's complaint about some immoral matters happening in the Corinth Church, that let the Spirit leads the people toward a renewal and redemption of the community. Of Ezekiel, we see how the Spirit brings life to dead people, fully and totally. Jesus is a great example of how the Spirit has moved. Finally, in "Peter's Praise," Levison concludes with a call for unity, to all parties to see the Church or their version of Christianity beyond schisms and dividing lines. The Spirit unites. The Spirit brings people and communities together in truth. When that happens, there will be joy and ecstasy, peace and goodwill, Pentecost and Praise.


My Thoughts

While I appreciate Levison's stance of using the "holy spirit" in non-capitalized manner, I think there is some inconsistency in the book too. For example, in the front cover of the book, it is used in capitalized manner. Even the endorsements by Nichole Nordeman, Walter Brueggemann, William Willimon, and others, have used the Holy Spirit in its conventional capitalized fashion. Personally, I am not convinced of Levison's reason, but I can understand why he does it. Another special feature is the wide spaces on the sides of each page, that calls readers to remain open to learning and to write down inspired thoughts on the generous margins. This flows from Levison's conviction that the Spirit is in every person and can still speak to each one of us today.

This is not only a brilliant exposition on the work of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. It is useful for preaching, for teaching the expansiveness of the work of the Spirit. Far too often, we have hemmed down the possibilities on the basis of man's limitations. We have restricted the flow of the Holy Spirit on the basis of our own fear and insecurities. We have even used the name of the Holy Spirit in vain, thinking that we can form our individualistic enclaves, to mind our own business, when it is the Holy Spirit that is constantly prompting us to reach out, touch lives, and to let the Spirit unite. This book is powerful for three reasons. First, it gives us a fresh understanding of how the Holy Spirit still lives in us today. Second, it urges us not to be too fixated on worldly boundaries that can often quench the Spirit. Third, it can renew our own spiritual lives and lifts us up from spiritual mediocrity to a dynamism that only God can instill. We all need a dose of fresh air from time to time. For Christians, especially those who feels they have been mediocre, this is the fresh air that will revitalize your walk in Christ.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

---

This book is provided to me free by Paraclete Press without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"At Home With God" (Gavin Long)

TITLE: At Home with God: A Complete Liturgical Guide for the Christian Home
AUTHOR: Gavin Long
PUBLISHER: Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2011, (258 pages).

Ever wanted to do family devotionals but don't know how? Can we do church at home? What if we are able to cultivate spiritual awareness through the family meal together? This book shows us that it is entirely possible. Through simple liturgies in the home, the family can experience God together in powerful and transformative ways. As a guide, this book is superb in terms of creativity, clarity, and comprehensiveness. There is a strong sense of Sabbath keeping in all of the liturgies. The major elements are Communion, Sabbath candle lighting, prayers, and remembrance of Christ. Most of all, the liturgy invites participation by all at home. Four seasons are used to frame the book. In Winter, the themes are advent to anticipate the coming of Christ; Christmas to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and Epiphany to enjoy the life of Christ in everyday life. Each liturgy has the following process:

1. The lighting of the candle
2. A blessing followed by a song
3. Telling the redemptive story
4. Reading and Prayers
5. Blessing the Communion elements
6. Singing and Peace giving

Spring focuses on Lent, Easter and from Easter to Pentecost. In Lent, one learns to reflect upon the sacrifice of Christ. In Easter, one celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. Pentecost anticipates the Holy Spirit.

Summer touches on the ordinary time of the Church and of the Kingdom. The former is from Pentecost to the end of June, while the latter is from July to August. The time of the Church celebrates the arrival of the Holy Spirit and how God builds the Church. The Kingdom reminds us of God's promise to set up His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. There are special activities like planting seeds, and practicing the liturgy according to the Church and Kingdom themes.

Autumn is likened to a journey. From the last weekend of August to the end of November, the liturgy helps focus on the theme of faith as a journey. It reminds us of our citizenship in heaven. It  helps us remember the saints of old. It is also a call for repentance.  There is a significant presence of greater silence and meditation in the liturgies.

There are at least three reasons why I like this book. Firstly, it is easy to follow. The liturgy does not need any major modifications. Just turn to the page anyday, according to the time you are in, and use them as is. Easy to used and follow, it does not contain complicated language. Secondly, it reminds us how closely related church and family is. The blending of Scriptures and prayers, with the daily meal is a good reminder to all that grace is not something just restricted to saying a one-sentence prayer before meals. It is throughout the whole meal, of celebration, of conversation, and of participation. Thirdly, with the liturgy in place, devotions can be enhanced. The invitation to participate as a family is strong. Long says that the liturgies will "awaken new possibilities for families and communities." Reading through the liturgies, I believe him.

I find this book a helpful guide to avoid letting Church becoming only a Sunday activity. In fact, what is done in churches on Sundays is mainly a highlight of the week, and not meant to be the only time we celebrate the presence and glory of God. We can do the same in the home through simple liturgies adapted from the larger church tradition. The liturgies in the book can be easily implemented straight out of the book. Adaptation is easy. Whether one comes from the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, evangelical or Protestant traditions, this book can be used easily. Perhaps, the biggest benefit when we practise the liturgy at home, is to inculcate a greater awareness of God not just on Sundays but on all days. Not just in churches but in the home. Perhaps, then, our families will be able to do what William Barclay has said about worship.

"Real worship is the offering of everyday life to him, not something transacted in a church, but something which sees the whole world as the temple of God." (William Barclay)

This book certainly helps to nudge one closer to being more worshipful of God in the home.



conrade

---