Spirituality Books

Kyle Strobel is conversant with the emerging church and with the classic church. He has high regard for the greats of spiritual formation books such as Richard Foster and Dallas Willard. Since I do too, I felt quite comfortable with this book, but challenged as well.

My Church is going through this life - changing experience together. I would recommend all to see that Jesus is a way of Life and NOT just something to do.

I knew I had to read this book when I read the author's invitation at the very beginning: "This book is an invitation to transformation...It is about a willingness to change our minds, our perspectives, and our vision of life, because how we see affects who we are and who we will become." He speaks about a journey of redemption as opposed to being a Christian who's "arrived". You have to leave your assumptions and presuppositions behind as you seek to be reformed and renewed by the transforming of your mind. The author describes in-depth the informers (tools) God uses to help us on our journey, which are the Bible, the Spirit, and community. I wish I'd had this book years ago, but at least I've read it in time to disciple my 5 children to have "Jesus as a way of life".

There is no shortage of books written to or about the Christian, yet there is a distinct lack of material that is honest, grounded in the reality of the church, and easy to understand without being oversimplistic. Kyle Strobel accomplishes just that. While reading I constantly found myself stopping and saying, "yes, this is it. This is what church and the Christian life is supposed to look like." It is clear that Kyle has thought deeply about these issues, studied them and has succeeded in presenting them in a humble, honest and accessible way. Well done.

In the introduction to this book, Kyle Strobel describes himself as both a "child of evangelicalism" and a "child of the emerging church." Unlike authors who find it impossible to move forward without killing their parents, however, Strobel describes a vision for spiritual formation and church life that is faithful to the best features of both of these perspectives.

Like many emergent thinkers, Strobel is convinced (and rightly so!) that the mere transmission of information cannot bring about the sort of inner change that should characterize the followers of Jesus. He invites us to understand the Christian life as a journey, to receive Jesus as our Lord and Master, indeed, to receive him "as a way of life." As he says on page 50, discipleship is not first and foremost "a call to right understanding" but "a call to right 'becoming.'" Strobel does not, however, reduce the Christian faith to a mere subjective experience or to a program for moral change. Rather, he argues that being formed in the image of Christ is a lengthy process of "worldview re-formation," a process that requires time and commitment. Most importantly, he argues, those who would follow Jesus must remain ever open to divine deconstruction of our assumptions and attitudes. "Jesus will take us on a journey through what we really believe about him, how we really think, and how much we depend on ourselves over him" (219).

This book really challenged me to re-evaluate my own life; I plan to read it again, more slowly, over the next few months. I would heartily recommend it to anyone who is thinking seriously about what it means to follow Christ in the 21st century. Its style makes it accessible to laypersons and pastors alike.

Charles Atkins is a master at harnessing his description of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and how it relates to healing the human body.
Even after being a 10 year practicing Buddhist, it is only now that I truly understand the meaning of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, along with its vibrational power to heal both the body and the mind. Using Atkins' exercise of mantra powered visualization, I have been given new strength and hope regarding my own health issues.
Anyone who deals with any type of chronic illness must read this book and implement it's easy to learn strategies.
This book and it's author has changed my life incredibly! Whether you are Buddhist or not, anyone can benefit from this over-whelmingly encouraging lesson in healing, along with Atkins' miraculous struggle and survival of cancer.
Gayla Preston, Columbus Ohio

After reading the book 'Modern Buddhist Healing' by Charles Atkins I lent it to a friend who has suffered from illness for many years and tried all sorts of therapy. She is already feeling the power of the healing recommended in the book. It is an honest, clear account of how anyone can change their lives and free themselves from disease, this is not a crank book as the method Mr Atkins uses really works. He even cites his own account of how he freed himself from a life threatening illness. It is a book to keep by your bedside and read over and over.

This is the best book on healing that I've ever read. Even though I am not a Buddhist, this book turned out to be one of the best books on Buddhism that I've ever read, especially Atkins near-death experience. I bought this book about three weeks ago. I was desperate because my doctors thought I might have colon cancer. I taught myself how to chant and make an image. There were polyps in my colon and I was pretty darned scared. I chanted the mantra and made myself belive that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo was liquid nitrogen that went though my bowels and when it hit the polyps they frozen and shattered. I couldn't believe it when they went in and the polyps were gone. I still don't believe it. I have to thank Charles Atkins. I know this wasn't some miracle, but it sure blew my mind. I hope anybody whose sick will read this book!

As a master's level clinical psychology student, I appreciate this book on several levels. I was fairly unfamiliar with Buddhism before reading this book, in part because of the anticipated complexity of the subject. To my surprise, I discovered Atkins had written a book comprehensible to those new to Buddhism. For those with a knowledge of Buddhism already, it provides much more insight into the topic. The connections to psychology and therapy are too vast to detail. As a therapist, you are simply a faciliator for the client in his quest to learn more about himself, very similarly to Buddhism. Through sharing his experience, Atkins proves the great power we each obtain through our minds and faith in healing.

This is IT
I recently just happened to be in a bookstore recently when Mr. Atkins was there discussing his book and experiences. I always have my "BS meter" on full alert...suffice to say that this book is not religious froo-froo or dogmatic salesmanship. The principles that he teaches here make sense for anyone and apparently work too. I'm impressed. If you buy it, Modern Buddhist Healing can change your life for the better on every level.

I love the design and graphical, artistic qualities of this book. I have 3 copies - 1 to remain shrink-wrapped, 1 to build the models and 1 to read as a whole.
The approach to each domain in the book is unique, entertaining and informative. I love the tidbits of information and the exercises. As a paper model builder, I enjoy the quality of the models also.

What do you think of when you hear the word museum? Do you see glass encased exhibits with little tags of text beside various artifacts? Can you hear someone complaining about the loud whispers that can be heard? Can you feel the boredom setting in?

The Museum of Lost Wonder is an example of a completely different kind of museum. The pages of this book lead the reader on a journey of exploration and freedom of thought. Instead of stuffy scientific displays, this museum encourages the visitor to wonder and ask all of those questions that they always wanted to ask but thought they'd sound foolish or be glared at for even coming up with the idea.

This book is divided into eight alchemy themed exhibit halls: Calinatio (technology), Solutio (aquaria), Coagulatio (zoological), Sublimatio (observatory), Mortificatio (history), Separatio (science and faith), Conjunctio (arts), and Circulatio (the entrance and exit). Within each of these sections readers explore scientific, mythological, spiritual, and fantastic renditions that explain our world. Many of the exercises encourage visitors to use their creativity to come up with alternative explanations, to explore their own questions, to try various experiments, and to construct models of the various exhibit halls.

I have waded in and out of "Museum of Lost Wonder" several times and am stunned by its density of interesting and amusing ideas. This book flits about from one idea/tone/literary genre to another with almost unbearable frequency, and is thus very hard to pin down. Within the parody of the museum guidebook, there are highly-detailed but bizarre diagrams, visual and verbal puns, clever symmetries and other gems to reward the careful reader. Destined to be a cult classic on par with the Dr. Bronner's Magical Soap label... I'm getting copies for EVERYONE I know.

The Museum of Lost Wonder is a pop-up book for adults, a Maurice Sendak cartoon narrative for grown-ups. The text contains an eclectic blend of philosophical tidbits, scientific factoids, history, alchemy, New Age musings on dream states, visions and hypnosis, Tibetan Buddhism, and quantum physics, all presented in the form of enchanting illustrations and gorgeous artwork.

Author Jeff Hoke, senior exhibit designer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, CA, and an award-winning creator of museum exhibits, was inspired by the eclectic museums and curiosity cabinets of the 1600s. As such, The Museum of Lost Wonder is constructed as a storehouse for arcane bits of knowledge. Despite the grandiose claims of self-discovery, going through the book is like wandering through a funhouse. The seven "exhibit halls" (i.e., chapters) begin with "The Hall of Technology," whose ambitious exhibit is entitled, "The Beginning of Everything." The other exhibit halls have similarly provocative "exhibits," with titles such as "Who Are You?" and "What Is Reality?"

Each hall includes a fold-out, do-it-yourself model that is reminiscent of an Escher painting or a Rube Goldberg creation, with such titles as "Path of Destiny Peep Show" or the "Carousel of Life." The reader is instructed to cut the paper to build the models, but I was reluctant to do so because it would destroy the integrity of this gorgeous book.

At nearly $50, this book may out-price itself for what it delivers in terms of mystical wisdom or esoteric knowledge. But it is a marvelously beautiful piece of work, the top of the line in the tradition of the coffee table book. The Museum of Lost Wonder is well worth the time spent browsing through it--and its expensive cover price.
Mysteries Magazine

I'm not sure what this book set out to do, but it certainly fires up the imagination of anyone who looks at it. The drawings and constructions are masterful, the little experiments and mental expeditions are thought provoking and the organization is absolutely indecipherable. If you have a brain and it could use a little exercise, get this book.

This is a really great book. It combines philosophy and science in order to tackle a multitude of existential problems. The author's style of writing is fresh and alive, I recommend ths book to anyone interested in expanding the fronteirs of their understanding. Books I also liked are a Universe in an Nutshell by Steven Hawkings and Descent into Illusions by Paul Omeziri.

I must preface my review by stating that I have never been so excited and moved by a book that I have wanted to contact the author. That is what I found myself doing upon reading this book. This book is just what its title says. The author does not "miss a beat" describing in great detail using practically every aspect of scientific knowledge from atomic structure through logic to quantum theory---we are even given a valuable explanation of Love. This text may be challenging to read for those unfamiliar with scientific terminology. And it can also be difficult for those with a science background, such as myself. However, for me it is well worth the work necessary to strive to understand the unfamiliar terminology. (I am continually learning from this book. I am presently on my third reread).

One of the author's main messages is "not" to believe anything without first verifying it with reality, as we know it. He calls it the "Personal Explanation Principle". He indicates that religions are just such belief systems that we as people "fall" victims of; because we do not verify the beliefs with the facts, as we know them, of reality. He gives a very detailed explanation of how the New Testament can be explored using his methodology.

The author methodically and meticulously walks us through his thought processes, which took 30 years to assimilate, of delineating the structure of reality and the nature of consciousness. Included in the "walk" are many of reality's phenomena made revelatory. An example of that, for me, would be the dual nature of light. It's particle/wave duality, which is explained as "functions". Also, when the author took me on the mental journey of "Setness" an exhilaration of the magnificence of life swelled up in me.

To me this is a very important book that should be read by all that are seekers of truth. It is for all those wanting to gain an understanding of the purpose for their existence, wanting to know where life is headed towards, and wanting to know who God is.

This book will enlighten and develop one's mind substantially. You will discover that this is our objective.

And yes, I contacted the author and he responded openly.

Although Mr. Wheatley is a little verbose in sections, his documentation of Zen Buddhistic Principles found throughout the disciplines of Mathematics, Physics, Theology, etc. forms a nice reference guide for anyone tuned into that wavelength. In particular, his explanation of how Godel's Theorem and Cantor's "Confusion" shed great light on the difference between GOD's Logic and Man's Logic should be a revelation to any undergraduate level math students who encounter these ideas for the first time. Curiously, Mr. Wheatley makes many misstatements about both Zen Buddhism Principles and the Bible, however. For example, by accepting the false biblical teaching of Original Sin, he misses the point that eating the proverbial apple gave Adam and Eve the ability to make Moral Discernments in fulfillment of GOD'S PERFECT PLAN. As proof, read Genesis 1 which states that Man and Woman were made in GOD's Image. Genesis 4 shows that Adam and Eve weren't the first humans on Earth at all, there were plenty of others by then. The allegorical meaning of the story of Eden, then, isn't that Adam and Eve were the first humans on Earth, but they were the first humans with the ability to make Moral Discernments (in GOD's Image). In fact, Moral Discernment is God's Unique Gift to Man, which is the basis of consciousness, not some Math Formula. But because the wages of the resulting, unavoidable sin are Death, many people foolishly try to return to Eden by: (1) living a sinless Life (2) by removing choice altogether by passing and enforcing strict Laws (3) by attempting to do away with Moral Discernment and the resulting consequences for our actions altogether by trying to remove Shame from Shameful actions. GOD is not some ethereal Man-In-Space, but is simply the Totality of all Real Things, The Set of All Real Sets. GOD's Love manifests itself from the amazing sub-atomic relationships that underly this magic Life all the way to the grandest of Macroscopic Scales, the Interconnected Totality itself. The Zen Buddhism connection can be found by simply superimposing the 0 symbol and the symbol for infinity (8 on its side) in Mr. Wheatley's supposedly "new" formulation that 1 = 0 x infinity. Superimposing them gives you the yin-yang symbol. A potential disadvantage of artificially separating the infinity from the zero, however, is that Mr. Wheatley is able to equate the entire expression to be equal to 1. This potentially might obscure the fact that the deepest meaning of the yin-yang symbol is that it is both 2 and 1 AT THE SAME TIME. His overall equation does preserve that important meaning by utilizing a single element on one side of the equation and two elements on the other side of his final TOE equation. This may be hard to see for some at first, however, which could potentially obscure the richest meaning of this beautiful symbol/equation. A much more GODLY TOE, in my opinion, comes from Euler, who discovered that e ^ (i * pi) - 1 = 0. When someone can explain that relationship, then they can say they know GOD.

This book will change your life. You will never think the same way you did before reading it.
I have a degree in chemistry and I think this book should be read by everyone in the sciences. Without a doubt, the best book I've ever read. Why and what are two of our best friends

Mr. Wheatley has touched upon one of the most intriguing methods, through scientific study and evalution, that leads to new deductions for behavioral patterns. Many books have been written for sociological, psychological, cultural, and behavioral studies, of which I have a deep interest. However, as you are led step by step through the scientific processes of this book, one's perspective of human behavior will take on a whole new meaning. Such questions as "why do people behave the way they do?", or "How do cultural, geographical, sociological factors impact our behavior?" take on a whole new perspective for study and evaluation. This book could become required text at the college level for scientific studies. I was fascinated with several concepts put forth by Mr. Wheatley.

I received a copy of this book as a gift for Christmas, after reading it for a month and loving it, I bought 4 copies for gifts. I even gave one to the person who bought it for me. ALL 4 people have said it helped their outlook every day in under 60 seconds. Even my husband asks to read the daily devotional when I am done. This is a great gift for yourself or a dear friend!

This daily devotion from Joyce Meyers has you daily scripture with Joyce's personal way of bringing scriptures alive and fitting for the day. This book is defiantly written by the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Joyce Meyer's NEW DAY NEW YOU: DEVOTIONS FOR ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE receives Sandra McCollom's fine voice as it provides a review of daily strategies for keeping touch with God. Her devotional collection offers added impact in audio format and is a pick for Christian listeners and libraries.

As a Christian author...I read and study endlessly... and that includes devotionals. This is by far the BEST devotional that I have come across. There is no doubt God speaks to Joyce in these devotionals in such a way that it will pierce to the very core of your daily issues. But what's better, is that by taking these Truths to heart and standing in faith, you can win the spiritual battle before it ever begins...by starting your day, the Joyce Meyer way....IN THE WORD! EACH AND EVERYDAY's devotional will give you all the encouragement you need, and all the Truth you need, to create a "NEW YOU!"- one grounded and rooted in God.

Good bites of Joyce's awesome, God-inspired teachings that are much easier to absorb in daily doses than a whole book on one of her topics. Bought a second copy for a friend that's in a challenging situation and also short on time!

This treasure has removed the fear associated with our differences, opened doors to different forms of religious expression, and helped me get back on my path. A book you'll talk about for weeks, and think about for the rest of your life.

I recently read One Mountain Many Paths during a weekend church half day of silence, the book presents diverse reflection points to pray and reflect upon.

This book showed how similar in core beliefs all the religions of the world are. Truly an eye opener. Dr. Swift has done a wonderful job in putting this into the public eye.

Every time I pick this book up it gives me a renewed spirit, a personal sense of peace, and comfort in the goodness in this world. I could not keep this treasure to myself so I have shared it with many of my friends, family and donated one to my church's library. It is truly a book that has nourished my life.

Great Book!!! Makes a great gift for the person who means the most to you.

How blessed indeed we are to have these truths available to read and study. Thank you Joel Goldsmith!

I have read several of Joel Goldsmith's books before I read this one, but who could assimilate all that stuff in mere months? This book took me by surprise. It was bam bam bam, pearls everywhere, on every single page! To date, this is still THE best book I've ever read, whether by Joel or not, but then again, that's not a fair comparison. I am so blessed to have come upon this work.

I was skeptical about reading this book based on the first few pages. As I went further, I found Goldsmith's writing to be full of conviction and motivating. I will try meditation as a result of reading the book. Goldsmith frequently repeats points made earlier but with another twist added. This is good because it helps to remember the points that Goldsmith makes.

Joel Goldsmith has been given a spiritual vision into living a life in Christ.

There are many steps to take in the spiritual life and sometimes we take one step forward and two steps backward.

There are days when all seems hopeless and your faith is waning and than you let go and let God and you reach the mountain top.

To stay at peace in your journey takes work and yet this is a paradox because grace will see you through.

40 years after reading this book for the first time, I can read it again and still be amazed and astounded by the spiritual insight it contains. In consciousness it does not matter when something was first written -- it is the insight written on the pages that matters. You will be blessed to read the pages of this book.

The Plain Reader is a collection of articles that once appeared in the magazine "Plain". Its authors are comprised of individuals with varying philosophies on the virtues of a simple life. Some articles are written by Quakers, Amish and Brethren. There are also articles by homesteaders, authors of several books, and others.

Since the authors come from so many different backgrounds, the articles aren't always compatible. For example, several of the articles are extremely anti-technology, anti-electricity, anti-competition, anti-public school education, etc., whereas others espouse the use of some of these things in moderation.

To me, extremism in any direction is the antithesis of simplicity, which, after all, is what this book is supposed to be about. Still, the book is correctly subtitled "Essays on Making a Simple Life" - it is essays by different people, with different backgrounds and different beliefs about what constitutes a simple life. It is an educational read, not only about simplicity, but also about how certain groups view the rest of the world.

Measure twice, cut once. This proverb is a sample of the master carpenter's wisdom, which I would not disregard. But there is perhaps even a better wisdom for such tasks.

I knew an uneducated man, formal education ended in the sixth grade, a good part of his youth behind a mule, and in his young manhood giving service under General McArthur in Pacific island warfare. I don't think he weighed 130 pounds dry at age 65. But he taught me an immense amount as a master carpenter in his late years, overlooking my efforts while working in his home shop, helping me directly to improve my own home and its furniture.

What Virgil taught me was, cut twice, first on scrap then on final. He kept a bucket of scrap pieces of wood ready to run through the table saw, jointer, or router, before running through the final production piece in the work.

There are delicate refinements which only the observant and humble souls initially acquire. When they share these with us, we are immensely blessed.

This selection of essays should be on the bedside table -- and read -- by everyone who claims to want to simplify their life. The truth is, many of us (Baby Boomers, Yuppies, BoBos et al) would like to live a simple life, provided we could still have all the amenities we've grown accustomed to -- cars (but nothing flashy), television (but not cable, of course), movies (art on film), designer clothes (but simple ones), gourmet food (we'll grow the herbs ourselves), computers/Internet access (well, it's just a modern typewriter/telephone and what a research tool!)

Savage and his friends claim that the techno life most of us lead is actually simpler than the lives they lead. In the techno life, we can do away with too much interaction with others. We separate ourselves with complications. We can live in virtual reality, paring down the complications (human beings) into abstracts. We can have friends around the world, although we might not know our neighbors names. We can amuse ourselves, filling our time with fantastic games, entertaining TV, music from around the world. What's wrong with that? It may be that life is so short, and we are spreading ourselves so thin, with all the possibilities at our finger tips, we may be missing real life completely.

They claim the simple life is actually the more complicated life, with all the mess and difficulties of living in a small community, having to rely on neighbors (who we might not even like) for help, raising our own foods, finding ways to entertain ourselves and our families that might involve planting, sewing, talking, writing, singing, and being in the moment (without the new agey spin to it).

Without lecturing, this collection of articles from The Plain Reader newspaper (subscribers are limited to 5,000 in order to keep it small and hand-made) motivates, illuminates and educates us.

Although the authors are generally Luddites, Quakers, Mennonites and other plain living folks, living sans TV, Nintendo, radio, daily newspapers, ownership of automobiles, etc., the articles are not judgmental of those of us still living in the consumer world. And let's be honest -- as much as we claim we want the simple life, here we are, you and I, writing and reading reviews, and buying books over the Internet! We're mentioned in the book, sympathetically.

In an interview with Jerry Mander, the Plain editor says, "..but I have never had anyone say to me, 'No, no get away from me. These issues aren't important to me. I like being a machine.' On the contrary, in every case where I've spoken heart-to-heart about my concerns, they've turned around and said, 'You know, I, too, have a real sense of unease about what I'm doing. I think I do watch too much television. I do feel controlled by it,' etc.

Now if I were to wag my finger at them, or organize activities to "wake them up," appealing to their minds, they would simply hold more tightly to their stake in the dominant culture. When I tell them my fears and failings, I've not had a single person fail to respond. And so I do believe this is how we're going to reach people. Our magazine reaches people by dissolving their fear, by encouraging others with what we're doing."

And so this book encourages us, with examples of what the plain folk, some once Bobos like thee and me, are doing. It almost pains me to read it, for I fall far short of the pure and simple thoughts in here. And yet there's hope -- I may not give up everything, but I can question, and make changes in how I live my life.

Mary Ann Laiser writes of The Media-Free Family; Bill Duesing has thoughts on "Leaving Money Behind; and Art Gish speaks of 'Food We Can Live With."

Even if you're not ready to leave it all behind, this is a wonderful book to read. So thought provoking, it may inspire you to question some of what you're doing, what you're allowing your children to do (I'm speaking to myself, here!) and how even small changes can be made. We bought one copy, but now we need more to pass along!

Can be read bit by bit, or at one sitting. Use a marker, or bookmarks. The woodcut illustrations by Mary Azarian are simple, but beautiful (better even than the cover.)

A wonderful view of the world without all the gadgets we think are necessary. A great way to live and belong in the world. As a Christian I think we could do without alot of the junk the world thinks we need. Thanks for a great book.

This is one of those days when I am feeling terribly blessed because I was able to buy a copy of The Plain Reader Essays on Making a Simple Life - Edited by Scott Savage. This is one of those books if you can find a copy I recommend you buy it. It is out of print, so I think the only places you can find a copy are via used books or small new booksellers who may have a copy stuck away somewhere.

So what makes this book a gem? Well, for one thing it is a series of articles on a variety of topics, written by a lot of simple living folks on subjects that those seeking or living a simple life will really appreciate. One might even say its a great book to have next to your bedside so you can read something short, and encouraging before going to sleep.

A very helpful set of articles on the practices of faith from a variety of different authors. There is a wonderful discussion guide that is available with the book for discussion starters, It triggers the mind to consider other practices that persons do as a result of the faith they possess.

When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, his response was, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and your soul...And love your neighbor as yourself."

This is a book for anyone who is seeking to live out his/her Christian life. This is a book for anyone who seeks to strengthen this vertical and horizontal relationship with God. Dorothy C. Bass and her colleagues have given the readers practical ways to practice their Christian faith. If you have ever wonder what can you do for others as a Christian, read thhis book. We all hear people said, you talk the talk, but can you walk the walk? This is the book that incorported basic things we can live out our Christian life.

Reading this book feels like a taking a series of deep breaths. It's something that is hard to articulate, but the spiritual practices presented help me to feel less lonely in my faith journey. I had many "Yes. Of course!" moments in the chapters on hospitality, household economics and dying well. The practices are attainable ways of integrating faith into every aspect of daily life.

Interesting sidenote for Indigo Girls fans: Emily Saliers dad (Don E. Saliers) writes the chapter on singing!

Any teenagers in your life? Way to Live is the youth edition of Practicing Our Faith. The best book for teenagers I have ever used!

Dorothy Bass has compiled a wonderful collection of writings to help the Believer filter and process various struggles and milestones in one's life. The book, edited by Bass, is written in a very easy-to-read, easy to understand way so as to be applicable to all age ranges, from the teenager to the older adult.

This book is wonderful to read through and can be used for both personal reading and for use with a small group or class. Whether taken in pieces or as the whole, the reading is a wonderful devotion that can be used over and again while still gaining new insights. The book was fantastic to read and absorb and discuss with friends who were facing similar challenges in life, including how to forgive and how to say yes and no.

This book was great for me, someone who works in a church and attends services weekly. However, it is a wonderful read for those who are at all stages of their faith and lives to help grow and understand what wonderful gifts God can give. It will sit on my shelf and be used again and again.

Three cheers for Dorothy C. Bass and her marvelous book, Practicing Our Faith. I selected this book as a reading assignment for a class at seminary because I was captured and intrigued by a question the author posed, "Instead of just being a Christian, how can one bring the meaningfulness of Christianity into one's life?" I'm pleased to say this book is like a personal owner's manual or guide for anyone longing to practice their faith in everyday life.

As the author states, this book is intended for "seekers on journeys of the spirit, committed Christians searching for ways to practice their faith more fully, people of every faith who are concerned about human flourishing and educators concerned about bridging the gap between theory and practice." In other words, it's an individual guide for living a life of integrity. Bass invites eleven theologians to share practices in their lives, families and institutions. The chapters and practices are rich and bold - focusing on many of the basic human activities and needs of our lives - hospitality, saying yes and no, forgiveness and dying well.

If you yearn to live your faith throughout your life and not just in church on Sundays, this book will be an inspiration and guide for doing just that. As the author states, this book will "encourage you to reflect on how you spent your weekends, how you pray, how you offer care to others, and much else." This book is like being held in the warm and loving embrace of a grandparent as they share their wisdom and knowledge. It's warm, encouraging, inspiring and touches the heart.

One of my favorite saying is that each of us are only one decision away from changing our lives. Make reading this book one of those decisions - change your life by practicing your faith each and every day.

This is an amazing book for anyone suffering from a major loss or life change. Although the prayers reference the bible, the book is suitable for any denomination, in my opinion. I cherish this book and have given copies as gifts to my cousin who lost her mother and a friend who is experiencing a difficult divorce.

We used this work as a resources in a support for group for separated and divorced adults in our Catholic parish. The blend of poetry, prose and useful spiritual advice was exceptionally helpful to our group.
Deacon Mark Hobson

Joyce Rupp gives techniques to overcome many of the "goodbyes" a person faces in a life time. I found the chapter on Praying our Goodbyes particularly helpful. It does not take away the loss but helps one deal with it.

I loved the book, and the prayers in it. It was very gentle and healing, and I will use it many times in the future.

This book gave me the courage to leave a place I had lived and loved for 22 years and move to another state. Her descriptions of the loss I felt are right on. I have gifted this book to numerous friends who are facing loss of many kinds. If you're looking for a comforting book on the spirituality of change, this is it!