"Sacred Attachment" (Michael John Cusick)

TITLE: Sacred Attachment: Escaping Spiritual Exhaustion and Trusting in Divine Love
AUTHOR: Michael John Cusick
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2025, (192 pages).

Embodied living by faith is better than explanations about faith. The experience transcends knowledge. Feeling loved is far better than talking about love. Information does not necessarily lead to spiritual formation. We can try hard to grow spiritually but become frustrated at the lack of progress. The key thesis of this book is that divine growth comes from a combination of feeling loved and trusting God. The former comes from being seen, soothed, feeling safe and secure. The latter flows out from the results of the 4S paradigm. This 4S sequence is the essence of the author's "Sacred Attachment." Beginning with being SEEN, we are reminded that God sees us, either directly or via the communities we are in. Being seen virtually means we are understood as we hear the words "I get you." This stage lays the foundation of being SOOTHED where God or our carer(s) say to us: "I've got you." The third stage is SAFE (I've got this) and the final stage is SECURE (Love has me). Author Michael John Cusick believes that these 4S encapsulate our emotional needs and human longings. It sets out for us the path toward Sacred Attachment. Using attachment theory, Cusick believes that spiritual growth is best cultivated when our "immature infant brain" gets attached to a "mature adult brain," so that we can better organize and regulate the way we learn and grow. Our limitations stem from a false paradigm that as long as we do the right things, we will naturally grow. We often believe lies about ourselves or our capabilities. We trust ourselves more than God. Our self-dependence leads us toward the perfectionism trap while Cusick reminds us about the superiority of Hebrew wisdom over Greek philosophy. Using Brain McLaren's words, he affirms that "Hebrew good is better than Greek perfect." Once we recognize our human limitations, that we are broken but not bad, we are ready to turn the page toward confession. Here, Cusick gives us the 5Ws to show us how these affect the way we attach to God. These 5Ws are:

"Walking the Theological Life" (Timothy R. Gaines)

TITLE: Walking the Theological Life: Discovering Method for Theology in the Lives of Biblical Characters
AUTHOR: Timothy R. Gaines
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Academic, 2024, (216 pages).
 

Mention the word "theology" and one will might see people roll their eyes. Some prefer to leave theology to the theologians, scholars, pastors, and seminarians.  Others might think it is simply an ivory-tower exercise with minimal practical use. Still, some people deem the study of theology as plain boring. This might have to do with some places that put too much stress on methodologies. What if theology is an invitation to ponder upon the revealed narratives in the Bible? What if it is to cultivate a sense of wonder from the lens of God? In this book, author Timothy Gaines invites us to ponder and wonder on how God leads 12 Bible characters through their ups and downs of life. Allocating a chapter for each character, Gaines unearths from it theological virtues and how God knew these people intimately. In Jeremiah, we learn about the mutual intimacy of God and Jeremiah in knowing each other. Sometimes addressed as a "weeping prophet," his humble life witnesses for God. In Jacob, we learn the theological virtue of wrestling, especially in times of grief and pain. Sarah is an interesting character. Gaines highlights her laughing incident as a way to learn of theological humour. Often painted in a negative light, Gaines expands our understanding of laughter as an act to trigger a reaction. I have heard people saying "Do not take life too seriously" as a way to lighten up or relax. It is tempting to view Sarah's laughter negatively. Gaines tells us to consider a broader theological perspective of the use of laughter in life.

"Counterfeit Kingdom" (Holly Pivec and R. Douglas Geivett)

TITLE: Counterfeit Kingdom: The Dangers of New Revelation, New Prophets, and New Age Practices in the Church
AUTHOR: Holly Pivec and R. Douglas Geivett
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2022, (272 pages).
 

What is the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement? What are their beliefs and practices? Why are they so popular? What spurred their rise? Who are the people involved? Why should we be concerned about its spread? The term NAR might appear foreign to us. However, if you are familiar with Bethel Church, Bethel Music, the music group "Jesus Culture," or some of their hit songs like "One Thing Remains," "Reckless Love," "Where You Go I Go," and "Your Love Never Fails," you would realize that their reach goes further than meets the eye. In February 2022, the popular website BibleGateway pulled the Passion Bible translation because of its NAR influences. What is wrong with such a movement? For authors Holly Pivec and R. Douglas Geivett, the problems become visible when they see individual lives disillusioned, fractured, and damaged because of NAR teachings. Using their research, their purpose in this book is not to demonize but to highlight the trends with regard to the NAR influence in the evangelical world now. More crucially, NAR teachings are twisting the way churches are doing ministry today. They point out several "dangers" pertaining to the rise of this movement. They tell stories of a theological slant toward healing and miraculous deeds. In the story of Olive  Heiligenthal, we read how some leaders of Bethel Church started a prayer appeal for the resurrection of a dead 2-year-old girl. Focusing on the 2 Kings 13:21 verse about healing powers from merely touching the bones of the prophet Elisha's body, they assume the same could happen in a modern context. Some practice "grave sucking" while others write songs to spearhead this theological practice that believes in modern-day apostles and prophets who could heal just like the early believers.

"Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered: Growing in Christ through Community" (James C Wilhoit)

TITLE: Spiritual Formation as if the Church Mattered: Growing in Christ through Community
AUTHOR: James C Wilhoit (2nd edition)
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2022, (288 pages).

A key purpose of the Christian life is this: How do we become more Christlike in all we say and do? What does it take to grow deeper in Christ? At a time in which the image of the church is undergoing tremendous cynicism, how do we recover from the negativity in order to live as salt and light of the world? For author James Wilhoit, the answer lies in the revival of local congregations to make spiritual formation their key goal. This goal must be manifested in all activities and programs of the Church. The how, the why, and the curriculum for doing it are all described in this book. More importantly, it reminds us that the best crucible for spiritual formation is not the individual disciplines but the Church. Now in its second edition, this book has been updated with positive psychology based on an Augustinian formation perspective. Readers are reminded that spiritual formation is not another kind of self-help project but an expression of the gospel given to the Church. Using the metaphor of public health by providing clean drinking water and vaccinations, Christian Spiritual Formation is about providing the best possible communal environment for individuals to flourish. Wilhoit sets the stage by affirming how spiritual formation need not be something extraordinary. Instead, using ordinary means and ordinary contexts, we can cultivate our souls within the ordinary environment of church and community. He then gives us some principles and patterns that we could adopt. Based on various Orthodox faith traditions, he combines them with some of the modern psychological practices such as Robert Emmon's work on gratitude and reducing anxiety. He uses mostly the spiritual traditions of orthodox theology. He takes inspiration from recent spiritual practitioners like the late Dallas Willard, Thomas Oden, Adrian Van Kaam, etc, as well as the spiritual masters of old. Before presenting his CSF curriculum, he helps us clear the decks about what CSF is and what it is not. This helps sets expectations. 

"Feathers of Hope" (Sharon Garlough Brown)

TITLE: Feathers of Hope: A Novel
AUTHOR: Sharon Garlough Brown
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2021, (384 pages).

Hope. This world needs hope more than ever. Not only is the world we live in constantly changing, but we too are also changing. As we age, our perspectives, our physical abilities, and our perceptions of our needs will be strangely different. One can either resist the change for as long as possible or embrace change as soon as one can. The former reclines in fear while the latter nudges forward in hope. What better way to describe these transitions through a novel that spells out the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of change. Centering around the lives of three women, this book offers readers many insights into life transitions, losses, and love. Like birds that molt gradually, eventually, one has to face up to a "dramatic shedding of the old." Recognizing how many people are creatures of habit and largely resistant to change, sometimes, we just need to learn to let go and let God, as the popular saying goes. Katherine Rhodes (aka Kit) has been serving as spiritual director of "New Hope Retreat Center." She has helped many people through many spiritual retreats, giving wise guidance as well as spiritual direction. As she prepares to transition to retirement, she makes a bold request for the board to look for a replacement with a dramatically different skill set in order to keep up with the times. This might seem easy to say but to surrender the comfort zones of one's past successes to another is another challenge altogether. Katherine was bold to ask for an "upgrade" from what she could offer. The board managed to find a promising candidate who checked all the boxes. Whether it checks Katherine's insecurities remains to be seen. Even as she prepares to do her last retreat, she has to deal with requests for more retreats by her. 

"Aging Faithfully" (Alice Fryling)

TITLE: Aging Faithfully: The Holy Invitation of Growing Older
AUTHOR: Alice Fryling
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: Tyndale House Publishers, 2021, (192 pages).
 

Many parts of the developed world are encountering the graying phenomenon. As the average life expectancy increases, there will be greater demands on healthcare, medical insurance, and the social safety net. Countries in North America, Western Europe, Japan, Australia, and many other developed countries constantly grapple with how current welfare infrastructure could be sustained into the future. On top of the social and economic challenges, there are also mental health issues that need to be addressed. Already, Covid-19 has wrecked many families who have lost loved ones in the vulnerable elderly age bracket. The central question in this book is this: How do we age faithfully? Author Alice Fryling starts off with some observations on how society view aging in general. The topic of aging tends to be discussed theoretically when we are in our 50s. When in our 60s, we begin to feel the symptoms of aging. In our 70s, we are forced to finally acknowledge that our bodies can no longer catch up with our mental wills. Beyond 80s, we would be facing increasingly significant physical and mental challenges, assuming we didn't get sick in the first place. Fryling affirms that even when we age, we can live with a purpose: "To understand the uniqueness, the complexities, the needs, and the potential" of our souls as we journey toward old age. 

"Practicing" (Kathy Escobar)

TITLE: Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World
AUTHOR: Kathy Escobar
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2020, (247 pages).

We have often heard of pleas to walk the talk; to put ideas into action; and to put theories into practice. Whatever the expressions, the common theme is that people are sincerely wanting to live out their faith authentically and tangibly. Practice is also about change: Not more but deeper; not bigger but stronger; not better but integrated. For faith is not a static belief but active practice. For author and pastor Kathy Escobar, it is not just one but ten practices that we can do to change the world beginning with ourselves. In a powerful introduction, she gives several reasons why all Christians need this book. Generally, in a world where people talk more than they walk, we need to do the reverse, to declare faith as a verb to be practiced instead to be passively talked about. That does not mean that we do not talk. It simply means that whatever we talk, be ready to apply. So the word "practice" is the active verb throughout the book. She explores the nature of practicing via several dimensions. It is about being "tangible" to make our faith visible. It is about walking with people, to mourn with those who mourn, and to rejoice with those who rejoice. It is about becoming like Christ before others. It is about "improvement," where we move from popular words like "more, bigger, or better" toward "deeper, stronger, and more integrated." This improvement begins from the inside out. While emphasizing the practicing more than the talking, she admits that conversations are still necessary. She even gives us six broad sets of ground rules to begin the conversation process. In summary, we are called to be Christ's physical ministry to others. The ten practices are:

"Pilgrim's Compass" (Paul H. Lang)

TITLE: The Pilgrim's Compass: Finding and Following the God We Seek
AUTHOR: Paul H. Lang
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2019, (128 pages).

Pilgrimage is one of the most popular words to describe a Christians's journey or spiritual growth. Whether one is talking about calling or searching for God's will for our lives, it all begins with the greatest commandment to love God and our neighbours. Spurred by rising yearnings to have a more intimate and personal relationship with God, people are directions. They need a spiritual compass to lead them in their expedition. This book fills in this need as well as to help one "hear the call of God and respond in faith, journeying together with friends on the path to a Spirit-led and joyful life." Unfortunately, Christianity has a checkered history with regard to the pursuit of God in this pilgrimage. After Constantine legalized Christianity, the faith became more institutionalized, making the way of spirituality more formal and rigid. Faith formation is tied to religious affiliation. So much so that spirituality has been defined more on man's terms rather than God's terms. People tend to be more willing to adapt to culture instead of paying the cost of discipleship. Looking at the emerging church, author Paul Lang notices the way culture and the history of Christendom had mangled the way of God. We need a pilgrim's compass and we need it badly. Despite the excesses of the past and the mistakes by the institutionalized churches, there are many who have bucked the cultural trends. The desert fathers and the reformers are some examples of such courageous people of faith. Lang offers us some tools to help us begin our pilgrimage by embarking with the end in mind: definition of a pilgrimage and the recognition of ourselves as pilgrims on the journey. This journey is not necessarily limited to a physical movement. It is a metaphor to guide us through each and every possible opportunity, which includes both physical and non-physical aspects. Tools of the journey include maps, the Bible, spiritual practices like the Lectio Divina, Daily Examen, Prayer, and helpful acronyms to guide us. One example is the ESWN directions of a compass:

"Walking With Jesus on Campus" (Stephen Kellough)

TITLE: Walking with Jesus on Campus: How to Care for Your Soul during College
AUTHOR: Stephen Kellough
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2019, (192 pages).

Institutes of higher learning are places of diversity. Ideas are shared. Perspectives are debated. Knowledge is shared. Friendships are cultivated. Yet, college years are also times in which one could experience stress, loneliness, emotional highs and lows. For believers in Christ, there is an added pressure of keeping the faith in a world of conflicting ideas. As college chaplain, author and pastor Stephen Kellough has seen a lot of things happening on campus. He has walked with different people from all walks of life. He not only understands the challenges of students going through their academic pressures, he knows how it impacts their faith. How do we care for our soul in our college years? It all starts with this one big question: "What is the most significant spiritual challenge on campus these days?" Is it a lack of Bible knowledge? Is it the anti-Christian climate? Is it secularism? Idol worship? The answer might surprise readers. It is something so fundamental and basic. The author finds out that it is essentially "to know that they are loved by God." Taking this as a central focus, author Stephen Kellough, a campus chaplain at Wheaton College for over 25 years shares from both knowledge and experience with students through the years. He looks at love from the viewpoints of the Bible to help us recognize that God embraces us with his love. He also draws from the experience of spiritual writers like James Bryan Smith, AW Tozer, John Stott, and others, to probe and ponder about the movements of love. This most significant challenge is just the first out of ten other challenges that Kellough mentions in this book that is soaked in his experience as a campus chaplain. Other challenges include:

"Spirit-Led Heart" (Suzanne Eller)

TITLE: The Spirit-Led Heart: Living a Life of Love and Faith without Borders
AUTHOR: Suzanne Eller
PUBLISHER: Bloomington, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2018, (208 pages).

What does it take to have a heart that is Spirit-led instead of self-led? In a world where Christianity is increasingly seen with disdain, and even Christians seem to feel God is far away from them, we need guidance from time to time regarding things of faith. Jesus has promised us the Holy Spirit coming to us. Even when we feel God is far away from us, we cannot let feelings dictate reality. Just like the presence of the sun. Just because we are in a dark room does not mean the sun is not out there. We need guidance to sense the presence of God in more ways than one. This book is one resource to help us do just that. In addressing each emotion that arises out of fear, weakness, and a sense of insecurity, Eller helps put things in perspective to help us recognize that God is Sovereign and He is in control. We need to trust His leading. Spurred by the prayer of her friend, Jennifer Dukes Lee, she feels a sense of relief and is released to trust God more. From uncertainty and self-doubt, she seeks out faith in God via a promise from God. Instead of relying on our own power, we learn that the Spirit-led heart is empowered by God for the greater good and purpose. Our lives are not defined by opinions or mass appeal but by truth alone. She shows us the lies that we often fall prey into and replaces them with truth; with direction; and with boldness. I like the way she describes Spirit-led direction.

"A Woman God's Spirit Can Guide" (Alice Mathews)

TITLE: A Woman God's Spirit Can Guide: New Testament Women Help You Make Today’s Choices
AUTHOR: Alice Mathews
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers, 2017, (224 pages).

One big question that often pops up for anyone is this: "What is God's will for my life?" In evangelical circles, one might have heard people say things like: "I heard God spoke to me" or "God told me this" or "God told me that" and so on. We are not sure exactly how those conversations between the divine and the human transpire. We are not even given a lot of details when we read Scriptures talk about how God communicated with Moses, David, Samuel, Mary, and the Early Church. Yes, there are cases of angels and voices from heaven. How can we listen more intently; hear more clearly; and understand more succinctly? Even if we have heard God's tones through various circumstances, what does it take to sustain this level of spiritual sensitivity? How could we verify the authenticity of such voices? Is there a biblical pattern we can learn from? How does God guide the New Testament women? Writing particularly to women as the audience, experienced Bible teacher Alice Mathews fills in some guidelines as to how God could guide, in a world of noise, distractions, and deceitful attractions. She helpfully distills over 12 different examples of how God leads women in the Bible. Along the way, readers would learn about women in ministry leadership; through both their abilities and disabilities; strengths and weaknesses; and especially their obedience; one step at a time.

"Blessed are the Misfits" (Brant Hansen)

TITLE: Blessed Are the Misfits: Great News for Believers who are Introverts, Spiritual Strugglers, or Just Feel Like They're Missing Something
AUTHOR: Brant Hansen
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: Thomas-Nelson, 2017, (256 pages).

We all like to think of ourselves as unique individuals. In wanting to be accepted, we often reveal only those part of us that appear to align with general opinion. In truth, many of us struggle with projecting our true selves only when we feel safe. At other times, we hide. We keep our innermost thoughts and feelings to ourselves. Lest someone finds out and we risk becoming a misfit, a pariah, a marginalized member of any community. Many years ago, I came across a book by John Powell entitled, "Why am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am?" His basic argument is that people are afraid to reveal their true selves because they fear rejection if they do so. People may not like their honesty and they fear being put aside if their feelings or thoughts do not match the majority view. The truth is, many of us if we truly reveal ourselves, we might even be classified a "misfit." This is not something to be ashamed about. In fact, author Brant Hansen writes to such people that they are blessed. In doing so, Hansen is telling us that it is ok to be ourselves, even though the world around us seemed unable to fit us into its mold. The fear of being left out is more common than we may think. Fears that include:

• Not having figured out what we want in life;
• Unsure about our faith in God or whether God still loves us;
• Uncertainty whether people will accept us for who we are;
• Being sidelined when our views are in the minority;
• Holding unpopular opinions;
• Having doubts but afraid to share them aloud;
• Inability to deal with awkwardness when there are opportunities to share the gospel;
• Feelings of being a spiritual failure;
• ...

"Reading Your Life's Story" (Keith R. Anderson)

TITLE: Reading Your Life's Story: An Invitation to Spiritual Mentoring
AUTHOR: Keith R. Anderson
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2016, (224 pages).

We are relational people. We grow best in a nourishing environment of friendship and honesty. Friendly and open with others; honest and bold about ourselves. We cannot grow on our own. We need others to guide us. We need spiritual direction. We need to be mentored in our own journey of life. Learning to read our life story remains one of the most crucial things we need to do. Unfortunately, this is also one of the most neglected. Some of the most important questions are often either not asked or ignored. This book attempts to boldly ask and to gently illuminate. It is an introductory book on the art of spiritual direction. It tells us about the importance of mentoring, what it is, what it looks like, and how we can go about establishing a mentor-mentee relationship. It shows us ways to:

• start and sustain a dialogue
• cultivate an honest and healthy curiosity about life stories
• appreciating human relationships
• desiring to deepen intimacy with God and others
• learning to tell one another’s stories
• being authentic through honest discovery

"Healing the Wounded Heart" (Dan B. Allender)

TITLE: Healing the Wounded Heart: The Heartache of Sexual Abuse and the Hope of Transformation
AUTHOR: Dan B. Allender
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2016, (288 pages).

This world is more broken than some of us may have thought. For all the nice commercials and happy faces on social media, there is a hidden world of pain and despair due to shame and abuse. As the saying goes, hurt people will tend to hurt other people. Healed people will help others along their own paths of healing. If that is the case, then there are lots of incentives to be agents of healing. If we want to change the world, we start by touching one life at a time. In order to do this, we need to recognize the wounded and to be empowered to travel the healing path.

Dan Allender is Professor of Counseling Psychology and Former President of Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. Fifteen years ago, he wrote The Wounded Heart which gave many readers the vocabulary and language needed to express their pain of being victims of sexual abuse. This book is a sequel that not only updates the new face of sexual abuse, it also contains more material on what it takes to move from hurting to healing. Using his own pain of being hit by a drunken driver, which left him with permanent scars mentally and physically, he gained a unique perspective of being able to listen into the hurts of those who suffered from sexual abuse. Such abuses include rape, unwanted sexual approaches, molestations, groping, date rape, sex while intoxicated, sexual harassment, and so on. Working with the Allender Center for Abuse and Trauma, Allender has come across many cases of people suffering and struggling with the whole matter of abuse. As the culture and environment changes, the types of abuses also changes.

"The Wired Soul" (Tricia McCary Rhodes, PhD)

TITLE: The Wired Soul: Finding Spiritual Balance in a Hyperconnected Age
AUTHOR: Tricia McCary Rhodes, PhD
PUBLISHER: Colorado Spings, CO: NavPress, 2016, (216 pages).

Technology is now everywhere around us, with us, and following us. For many people, it is quickly rewiring our brains and changing the way we talk, think, travel, and traipse. While positively, we get more and better information in ways quicker and more efficient than ever before, there are negative consequences as well. People tend to remember less, choosing to let their phones and digital devices record or save all their personal details. They are more forgetful and less willing to learn the old school way. Many choose to simply Google their information, as if the first try is the answer to their questions. While finding content is easy, discerning is not so easy. Where are our reference points? On what basis do we decide which is right, which is wrong, and which is appropriate? We live in a technologically connected world. According to author and professor Tricia Rhodes, we are living in a "hyperconnected age." Contrasting her own carefree escapades in the past, she compares what it was to live then and now. Her children are digital natives but she is not. She calls herself a 'digital immigrant' and is poised to see how the digital world is changing not only the way we live but the people we are. Her key thesis is that our digital habits have direct link to our formation into Christlikeness. On lifestyle, we are asked what the first thing we do when we get up. On habits, we are asked about our reaction when we hear our phone beeps. On reading, how has our attentiveness be sustained in a world of WiFi and Internet connectivity? On prayer, how is our level of patience and waiting been changed? On presence, how have our ability to connect with people been affected? On information overload, we wonder why we are so tired in the first place. These and many more are the negative consequences of technology manhandling us and we allowing it free reign on our lives. This has let to our brains been re-wired by technology. A key discovery in brain plasticity research is that "cells that fire together, wire together." Such brain cells are fired up together when one uses technology. If that is the case, technology is directly influencing the way our brains function. Thankfully, we do not need to be sucked in by the technological whirlpool. Rhodes propose a way not only to counter the negative effects of technology but to intentionally work toward Christlikeness. She updates the spiritual discipline of lectio divina and applies them in this book for a technological age. Briefly, the four disciplines are:

"Spiritual Companioning" (Angela H. Reed, Richard R. Osmer, & Marcus G. Smucker)

TITLE: Spiritual Companioning: A Guide to Protestant Theology and Practice
AUTHOR: Angela H. Reed, Richard R. Osmer, & Marcus G. Smucker
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2015, (186 pages).

Every believer wants to grow but not all of them know how. While Church attendance is important, going to Church alone does not necessarily make one a growing Christian. We all need spiritual growth. We need to make disciples and obey the commandments of God. According to the authors, we need spiritual direction. As many of the resources available out there are of Roman Catholic origin, this book offers spiritual direction from a Protestant orientation, that draws from the riches of tradition and evangelical spirituality. In this book, spiritual companioning means "a way of accompanying others in intentional relationships of prayerful reflection and conversation that help them notice God's presence and calling in their personal lives, local communities, and the world."

Like any good scholar, the authors give us a working definition of terms that can be commonly misunderstood or used too interchangeably. Terms such as:

• Christian Spirituality
• Spiritual Guidance
• Spiritual Direction
• Spiritual Friendship
• Spiritual Practice

"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 Emotionally Healthy Leader" (Peter Scazzero)

TITLE: The Emotionally Healthy Leader: How Transforming Your Inner Life Will Deeply Transform Your Church, Team, and the World
AUTHOR: Peter Scazzero
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2015, (336 pages).

The author of the popular "Emotionally Healthy Church" has come up with another book on the same themes of healthy emotions that lead to healthy Christian lives. This time, instead of dealing with Church-related matters, he targets the leader's inner and outer lives. Scazzero is the founder of New Life Fellowship Church, based in Queens, New York. A popular speaker, he has influenced many with his "Emotionally Healthy" series of books. This book is no different. He begins with a personal retelling of his own journey to unhealthy leadership. Arranged in four dramatic conversions, he talks about how he first became a zealous Christian after being touched by God in his teens. He went for theological training and learned Spanish. He started his own Church called New Life Fellowship Church and was soon busy with the daily grind of Church work, developing leaders and planting churches. For all the external successes, he was ignoring his internal recesses of the heart. His second conversion is about his awareness of the need to address his emotional health more seriously. He wondered about the shape of things, whether it is ok for others to be cared for spiritually while his own spirituality was suffering. The crisis came to a hilt when his own wife, Geri quit the Church. Thankfully, he recovered only to be faced with a third conversion: "From busy activity to Slowed-Down Spirituality." Influenced by the teachings and writings of the Monastic movement, he began to work more with contemplative spirituality, to let God work him from the inside out. One significant result of that conversion was his publishing of the bestselling book, "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality." Learning about spirituality and teaching about it is one thing. Connecting them all with one's life is totally another. As a result, he skimmed through many essential duties instead of paying adequate attention to them. He needed a fourth conversion: "From Skimming to Integrity in Leadership."  This book is a result of this fourth conversion. The key motive in this book is to change the world with the gospel, not through the many activities and strategies to be employed, but with a transformation of the inner self. Something must happen first inside in order to be fruitful and faithful outside. The first part of the book deals with the Inner Life while Part Two deals with the Outer Life.

"No Problem" (Robert J. Wicks)

TITLE: No Problem: Turning the Next Corner in Your Spiritual Life
AUTHOR: Robert J. Wicks
PUBLISHER: Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 2014, (128 pages).

We have all heard about going to workshops at conferences, meetings, and external gatherings. What about having an inner workshop? How do we go about creating one in the first place? What is the purpose of such a workshop? These questions are dealt with thoughtfully, meaningfully, and prayerfully through meditation and contemplation of the divine.

A) Twenty Ways to Begin Inner Transformation

There are lots of creative ideas about grooming the inner person. There is the part about prayer, that prayer is not something merely said. It can be lived out. For prayer moves one from knowing to convicting; from convicting to exercising that conviction in faith. For when prayer and theology come alive, there is richness in spirituality and fullness in living. We are also reminded that transformation is not just inner but outer too. Otherwise, we are tempted toward a Do-It-Yourself spirituality to the detriment of an openness to God and to others. We learn too about simplicity not just de-cluttering our stuff, but training our eyes to see what is essential and what is frivolous. We learn about wonder in worship in contrast to the method driven, solutions focused world of many other religious practices. We are also taught about putting less emphasis on trying to find a middle way between the pros and cons, but to consider the way that does not drowns out God's voice. Another powerful reminder is gratefulness so that we do not fall into spiritual Alzheimer's.  On and on, we learn of so many different gems that most readers will be poised to find a few that will hit home. For me, I am intrigued by the "wisdom of spiritual sadness," which forces us to acknowledge there are many things in this world without an immediate fix, without a need to blame anyone, or to feel guilty about. Life just happens. There is also a short take on spirituality and psychology where Wicks says that "Psychology has often focused almost solely on the negative aspects of personality." Indeed, science is often good at breaking things down. What about putting them back altogether? These and many more can bring about a special spiritual transformation for anyone desiring to enter into spiritual formation.

B) So What?

After dealing with 20 ways to cultivate an inner workshop of personal devotion and spirituality, we are reminded once again that "Christianity is a community religion." All of these exercises, practices, or disciplines, are not to become an end in themselves as if one is singing out with God, "It's you and me against the world!" No. In fact, we need each other in order to be the best versions of each other to each other. Using the Parable of the Good Samaritan as a launch pad for loving our neighbours, Wicks invites readers to explore the question of what we need to do to inherit eternal life, and the three doorways to answer that question: Being present to self; to others; and to God. All of these doorways are actually not three but one focus: Everything for the sake of upholding God's glory.This is put into practice through 30 days of developing one's inner workshop of virtue. For each day, readers are urged to put into practice the various ways of spiritual growth and to respond to God's love. The instructions are brief, but the responses can be endless. The brevity of simple questions and answers is helpful as it gives room for readers or respondents to practice meditation and prayer.

Wicks is a wise guide and this book will be an excellent guide for those of us who want to embark upon the journey of inner transformation with outer application.

Rating: 4.75 stars of 5.

conrade

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

"God in my Everything" (Ken Shigematsu)

TITLE: God in My Everything: How an Ancient Rhythm Helps Busy People Enjoy God
AUTHOR: Ken Shigematsu
PUBLISHER:  Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013, (256 pages).

Can we escape from the world without escaping from life? In a world where everything seems so busy, so frantic, and so crazy, is it really possible to find peace and solace in a noisy and sometimes cruel world? What can modern people learn from the ancients? Surely, their times are different from our times, right? This book begins with an impromptu fill-in for one of his preaching colleagues. Without much time to prepare, the author decides to speak about the rhythm of life. It is a rhythm of life that seems to be taking refuges away from the world, and at the same time still close to the heartbeat of the world we live in. This is only possible when God is in our everything, so says the author, the  lead pastor of a flourishing Church in Vancouver, BC. Using the Greek word "trellis" as a way (or rule) to hone his idea of a rhythmic support system, Shigematsu proposes five key ideas: Rules; Roots; Relate; Restore; Reach Out.

1) Rules
Beginning with a description of his pilgrimage in Glendalough, Ireland, Shigematsu shares how he is intrigued by the Celtic monks like St Kevin, St Patrick, Bridget of Kildare, and others, who contrary to what many people think, built monasteries close to settlements so that they can share Christ's hospitality with whoever that comes by. Instead of a perceived solitary monastic life, they are actually very intentional about a community, about sharing and caring for people amid their devotional lifestyle. Shigematsu leaves the place with a renewed sense of how prayer informs practice, and how practice reforms prayer. One of the things that he feels more compelled to grow in is the idea of "Bushido," a set of rules and practices that lead to growth in "wisdom, fortitude, loyalty, compassion, and service." Just like the 12th Century St Benedict, who helps spread the idea of monasticism within a community setting. The idea is that when God is in our everything, "the world becomes our monastery." Shigematsu goes on to show that following a set of rules is not necessarily a bad thing, even though rules and regulations are more despised nowadays. It is biblical. It is not about "trying" but about "training." In other words, spiritual discipline is very much a part of the Christian life. He also argues for a "centered" life more than a "balanced" perspective, something that resonates with my philosophy too. Yet, the author is quick to point out that such a rhythm is not rigid but flexible. He reflects on the biblical character Daniel, who is able to adopt a pattern of prayer and work, with God as his center.

2) Roots
The three key "roots" are Sabbath; prayer; and sacred reading. Firstly, one finds a "Sabbath" time for body and soul. For the Sabbath is a gift of one day in seven where we can live truly free especially when the week is fully busy. While keeping the Sabbath does not necessarily mean we be more successful on the other six days, it leads to greater trust in God. What then do we do? Do something that we do not normally do during the week. Secondly, one also lets prayer be the bridge between God and person, cultivating friendship with God. Contrary to what many people think about prayer being something less than work, prayer is actually the very essence of work, for true work is about relationships. Shigematsu shares some tips with regards to the Lord's Prayer, ACTS, Psalms, and seasons of prayer. Thirdly, one grows strong roots based on God's Word through sacred reading. Meditate on the Word. Memorize the Word. Visualize Scripture.

3) Relate

In a social media world where technology and gadgets seem to help more people connect, it may seem strange even to read about people feeling disconnected in a highly connected social media world. Research has shown that close relationships play a big role in psychological well-being. What more about spiritual well-being? Spiritual friendship is not about drawing attention to one another. It is about helping one another grow closer to God. Spiritual friends can also be called upon to help one draw boundaries in matters of sex and purity. For our characters are formed within the crucible of family. This is not just about the spiritual family, but the very family that we live with.

4) Restore

Learning to take care of our spiritual lives also means addressing the needs of our physical bodies. In doing so, we not only learn to take care of our physical health, we are re-invigorated in our perspective of the resurrected body in Christ. Eat well. Sleep well. Exercise well. Play well. Think well, especially with regards to money and our use of money. Let giving and generosity outweigh any desire for selfish accumulation and devotion to Mammon. Being restored means becoming more and more conscious of eternity.

5) Reach Out

It is common to come across people who simply hated Mondays. It takes a fresh perspective to see Mondays not from the eyes of mundane work, but from the mind of God whose mercies are new every morning. In prayer, work is sanctified. In prayer, we discern life. In prayer, our life as a ripple, can be used to make an impact in the communities we live in. Serving our communities is a calling for the servant of God. Reaching out is about praying for people; being present for people; and sharing the gospel like a four-sided pyramid: life, deed, sign, and word. Life is about our testimony of living. Deeds is about works of love in action. Sign is about letting the world know of God's power at work in us. Word is about proclamation of the gospel.

So what?

This is a very comprehensive book on Christian living, covering many important aspects of the spiritual life. Through stories and keen observations of life in a city, Ken Shigematsu is able to weave in spiritual practices of the ancient world with the contemporary needs of the world. Having gone through personal struggles of frantic living, relationship challenges, as well as ministry work as a pastor, Shigematsu has put into words the sermons that he has given for his own congregation. I have heard him speak before, and so am able to mentally visualize his voice through the words in this book. It is very much a personal story by the author, given passionately and yet having a gentle demeanor about it all. I appreciate the very comprehensive aspect of his treatment of the rhythms of life, so reminiscent of Mark Buchanan's book on "Spiritual Rhythm" or Wayne Mueller's work on Sabbath. Let me offer three thoughts about the book.

First, I think it is an apt corrective for a world addicted to freedom of choice. The idea of rules and regulations can often rile the modern man so used to freedom and free speech. People are put off when it comes to anyone preachy or giving words of advice. Yet, disliking something does not necessarily mean we do not need that, just like a sick child disliking bitter medicine. If we do not drink it, we may become worse off. Thus, Shigematsu's teaching about "Bushido" is highly relevant for our modern Western society.

Second, structures are helpful. Despite the culture's dislike of structures and institutionalized religion, we cannot do away with structures. The words of Jesus with regards to Sabbath is appropriate here. Know that the Sabbath is made for men and not men for the Sabbath. Thus, structures are made for humans and not humans for structures. That is why the better way is to redeem institutions and structures, instead of throwing them out altogether.

Third, spirituality is more relational than what some people think. This contrasts with some versions of spiritualities that tend to be self-centered; focused on nothingness; or simply energy consumption. No. Christian spirituality is basically about living relationships. The spiritual practices mentioned in this book have a strong sense of communal living and community responsibility. Whether it is Sabbath time with God; coffee time with people; prayer for and with people; or accountability sessions with trusted friends; spirituality is less of something private and confidential, but more of something connecting and communicating.

I love this book!

Rating:  5 stars of 5.

conrade

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