5 comments about Engaging With God: A Biblical Theology of Worship.

1. Peterson's "Engaging with God" is an excellent treatment of the biblical doctrine of "worship." His basic argument is that the Bible doesn't understand worship to be an occasional act of praise, or even a corporate meeting, but rather a life charcterized by obedience and reverence to God, and lived on the terms that God proposes. Peterson is particularly good when he discusses the meanings of the different Hebrew and Greek words that we translate "worship", and when he talks about how Christ fulfills the sacrificial/temple worship of the Old Covenant. This is simply a really solid, thoughtful, and biblical theology, written from an evangelical point of view. It is the standard biblical theology of worship, and rightfully so.
   
   Peterson also talks about corporate worship (namely church services), emphasizing that the New Testament seems to suggest that gatherings of Christians are for edification more than worship. His argument is that worship is what we should be doing all of the time, so it doesn't make sense to talk about gathering for that express purpose. I think he fails to emphasize the special quality that God, in his providence, has ordained for corporate worship.
   
   Regardless, this is an excellent, supremely biblical book, and comes recommended by scholars as eminent as D.A. Carson, Mark Dever, and I. Howard Marshall. It is scholarly, but pretty accessible, and well-written.



2. This text is written so that all may understand and yet provides indepth notes for those who would like to take their studies deeper. It is extremely informative concerning both the Old and New Testament usages in both Greek and Hebrew.



3. I agree with the reviews that say this is a careful biblical study of what constituted worship amongst OT and NT communities, and what new insight and emphasis Christianity brought. The unexpected answer - that, very broadly, it is in the loving interaction between the individuals of the Body, rings true, and from a personal point of view, cleared up many of the questions I had about those times when "worship leading" seems rather a shallow, simplistic reponse from someone who claims to want to see God's kingdom come on earth.



4. I enjoyed Engaging With God because it was different than any other book or discussion of worship I have ever read or heard. It went straight to the bible to address the deep questions about worship that most books and people do not discuss. Starting with the Old Testament and moving right through to the end of the New Testament Peterson interacted with worship in the Old Covenant, reverence for God, and New Testament teaching by Jesus and about Him as fulfillment of Old Covenant shadows. He laid out a solid framework from which to answer the controversial but surface questions the modern Church is asking about what to do in church services and what not to do. He also stressed that the object of worship is to engage with God on a relational level that permeates all of life. Finally, a biblical analysis rather than a argument based on opinion and preference.



5. Introduction
   
   As the principal of Oak Hill Theological College in London, England for the past 11 years, David Peterson has been a significant vessel that God has used to elevate that seminary to be one of the largest in the United Kingdom and in the Church of England. Only recently succeeded by Michael Ovey as Principal, Peterson has shown himself to be an astute interpreter of the biblical text, being formerly a lecturer in New Testament at Moore College in Sydney, Australia. As such, it is no wonder why Engaging With God is another first-rate example of Peterson's careful exegesis and gospel-centered hermeneutic.
   
   Subtitled A Biblical Theology of Worship, Peterson's Engaging With God is the author's attempt at a biblical theology of worship that is evangelical and generally free from denominational bias. Students of biblical worship would be happy to see an extensive exegetical volume finally released, as Peterson provides a full-orbed examination of what worship is according to the whole counsel of God and the entirety of Scripture - both the Old and New Testament.
   
   Summary
   
   In his introduction, Peterson establishes the nature of Christian worship as "an engagement with [God] on the terms that he proposes and in the way the he alone makes possible" (20). The rest of the book is hence an explanation of `engaging with God' as an idea that is found in the totality of Scripture. With this purpose in mind, Peterson thus begins careful exegesis of the Old (in chapters 1-2) and New Testament (in chapters 3-9) to provide the foundation for his thesis.
   
   The groundwork for his biblical worship theology is provided in the first two chapters, where Peterson examines engagement with God from the Old Testament. The ark, tabernacle and temple are shown to be the God-ordained, God-initiated means for Israel to acknowledge and live in relation to the royal and holy presence of God. Worship in Old Testament has its emphasis on God's self-revelation: God makes it possible for His covenant people to worship Him by the cultic observance of the sacrificial system. Through a detailed look at various important worship sections in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy, Peterson finds that it is only by "God's provision through the cult the covenant relationship could be maintained" (49).
   
   Further, the author establishes that honoring, serving and respecting God are encompassed by adoration as an expression of awe and grateful submission to the LORD (73). While this includes the physical acts of bending/bowing down or falling down before God that hinted at by the Greek word proskynein or the Hebrew histahawa (57), expressing homage according to the Old Testament is not merely bending over at the waist. It further includes awe and submission that is motivated by gratitude, and so it is also a matter of heart-worship, thanksgiving that inevitably leads God's people to serve Him (64-70). While the obedience to God's demands in cultic activity enabled Israel to express reverence to God, Peterson concedes that "fear of God in the more positive sense of reverence and respect is regularly on view" (71) - by walking faithful in God's ways and in keeping His commands.
   
   In Chapter 3, Peterson turns from the Old Testament to the new, beginning with an analysis of how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament temple. Through an analysis of the Gospel according to Matthew and John, Peterson concedes that it is in the person of Jesus Christ that God's presence and glory is fully and finally experienced, and further, that Judaism finds its destined end of worship in Christ himself. Jesus Himself transferred the significance of the temple from Jerusalem to another entity -- not in the messianic community, but primarily in his own person and work. Christ replaces the temple as the wellspring of life and renewal for all the world, as Jesus Himself is the eschatological destination to which all nations journey to for worship. "The divine presence is no longer bound up in the temple, but the Word who was with God `in the beginning' and who in fact `was God' " (93).
   
   In terms of being the fulfillment of the old covenant, Peterson argues that Jesus preached "a new centre for Israel, in himself and the salvation he proclaimed, rather than in the synagogue, the temple, the law or the inherited customs of his people" (112-113). Being the fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:31-34, Jesus fulfilled and transcended the Mosaic Law in his perfectly righteous life. For Jesus is shown to exalt Himself as the new standard of what does or doesn't constitute defilement (114), and as the new authority for the determination of acceptable Sabbath behavior (116). In the sacrificial service to God and His people, Jesus gave us the "final and perfect expression of uncompromising worship" (129) through the offering of Himself by dying on the cross for man's sins. By the means of the shedding of His blood, Christ inaugurated the new covenant, and thus replaced and fulfilled the sacrificial system of the old covenant.
   
   Having argued for Jesus' as the fulfillment of the temple and the old covenant, Peterson then examines the community of apostles in Acts to show how the Christian life and ministry should be viewed as an expression of service to God. Unable to immediately disassociate themselves from the temple, the early apostles and Christians still saw the temple as a place for revelation and a place of public prayer (138), and consequently, also as a place where they experienced opposition and unrest (139) from those opposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The character and function of early Christian gatherings focused around apostolic teaching/preaching, as well as in the fellowship (Greek koinonia) of believers who eat together and pray and praise God together. The Christian community life thus can be a function of worship.
   
   Through an analysis of Paul's underlying worship theology, Peterson advocates for the consecrated Christian life and gospel ministry as specific expressions of Christian worship. "Missionary preaching and the establishment of churches in the truths of the gospel can be described as fulfilling a God-given `liturgy' or service to the churches" (182). Supporting his theology of worship with a careful examination of Philippians, Peterson beautifully portrays the inseparability of sacrifice, faith and the Spirit - for worship by the Spirit is synonymous to faith in Jesus' crucifixion and the salvific implications of his death (187). In a further analysis of the Corinthian church, Peterson explains that worship the gathered church meets in order to participate in edification (195-197). During those times when a prophetic word and the word of Christ dwells in the midst of believers, and during times when thanksgiving, prayer and praise are shared together, the assembled church thus can "meet with God when we meet with one another" (198). As a result, ministries that are genuinely used for the benefit of others while purposed for the glory of God can actually be an expression of worship.
   
   Through a detailed overview of the book of Hebrews - the one book of the New Testament that provides a thorough and integrative worship theology - Peterson analyses of key `worship' chapters within Hebrews, and argues for Christ as essentially the typology of all the Old Testament themes and symbols as previously discussed. Worshipping Jesus means worshipping Him as the High Priest, synagogue, temple, and sacrifice at one and the same time (228-230; 232-237). Under the new covenant, drawing near to God as an expression of worship is both congregational and personal to the Christian's daily experience (237-246), and service that aims to please God is foremost obedience through Christ our mediator (230-232). Concluding with synopsis of Revelation, Peterson portrays worship in the new covenant community as in taking a stand against paganism by bearing faithful witness to the truth of the gospel (265) and in the singing of God's praise (278).
   
   Critical Evaluation
   
   Engaging with God may not be an easy read for the regular layperson or the theologically untrained worship leader looking to get a biblical perspective on what worship is. The attention to exegetical detail is evident in Peterson's analysis of worship terminology in the original Greek and Hebrew, providing for the reader plenty of transliterated terms in his presentation. While most of the text-critical arguments are moved to the endnotes, the author's interpretive arguments for his thesis are included in the book's body and supported by careful study of worship terminology in its original biblical context. Such an exegetical method may be put off as unimportant for those unfamiliar with it, but those who are at least a little familiar with basic Bible interpretation methods would benefit significantly from Peterson's heavy-duty text work. A prime example of this is in his differentiation between worship as physical homage and worship in the general, abstract sense: "When other verbs denoting bowing or kneeling are absent from context and there are no other indicators of physical movement, the more general and abstract sense of `worship' may be understood" (61).
   
   Having provided a lengthy and thorough biblical analysis, Peterson's work distinguishes itself in at least two areas. First, he demonstrates that there is tremendous meaning for today's church when we see Jesus as the new temple - most notably in the need for gospel-centered preaching. Christian teaching and preaching must center on the person and work of Jesus Christ in order to be biblical in its content and its aim, especially in terms of evangelism (102) and in the building of the Messiah's church (207). As Peterson proclaims in his summary chapter, "Throughout Scripture, the word of God is fundamental to a genuine engagement with him" (286).
   
   Secondly, Peterson demonstrates that the church gathers in corporate worship to build each other up - for mutual edification, and not just `to worship' as some would argue. While Peterson does show the "central importance of the concept of edification for the meeting of God's people" in Paul's teaching (196), Hebrews is his chief support of this argument (247-250). As an expression of worship, Peterson convincingly argues that the mutual up building between Christians is purposed to help each other persevere in the faith and grow in spiritual maturity in light of the apostasy that a believer can possibly fall into. With this unique emphasis on the care that the church congregation should have for each other, it is no wonder why the divinely inspired writer of the book of Hebrews exhorts us to not forsake the local gathering of believers as some professing Christians do. This argument by itself sets Peterson's work exceptionally distinctive.
   
   Conclusion
   
   Peterson addresses central themes and expressions of worship throughout the Bible, each one of them supporting his thesis that worship is unquestionably engagement with God in terms He sets and ways He permits. Although this biblical theology on worship is extensive in its biblical exposition, it is a worthwhile read that will challenge the reader to examine his or her worship theology to see whether it conforms to the biblical text. While much of recent worship literature examine the English term worship, Peterson's book fills the gap with a succinct, biblical theology of Christian worship that can be warmly accepted by churches of any evangelical denomination.

1 comments about Meister Eckhart, from Whom God Hid Nothing: Sermons, Writings, and Sayings.

1. While I had read about Eckhart for years, I was apprehensive about delving deeper into his actual writings. That is why this book is such a pleasant surprise, for the author has "moved a lot of soil" to get at his finest moments. Not only that, but since Eckhart was a mystic in the deepest sense, his meaning is perhaps clearer than that of any other medieval mind, for all true mystics are united by the same common thread connecting them to the same common source all through history. They all transcend history.
   
   Eckhart has that ability to effortlessly transcend the Emanation (unmovable God beyond time and space) and Immanence (God present throughout his creation) question. Indeed he accepts and reconciles both without conflict. There is no surer evidence that he saw all things from a higher plane than this. In his concept of the divine spark in each of us he unites us with the Ultimate- while the rest of creation is influenced by the emanation of the Holy Spirit down through the planes. Only man has this "cosmic wormhole" to connect him directly with the ultimate- the opening of this portal on our side is called "Christ."
   
   As the author points out there are very few teachers that seem equally accessible by both Pope and Dalai Lama. That is because the Meister represents the pinnacle of spiritual connection in the West.

5 comments about Every Man, God's Man: Every Man's Guide to...Courageous Faith and Daily Integrity (The Every Man Series).

1. I think this books has a lot of good ideas, though in my opinion was a little lacking in assisting someone in applying to his life.
   Good strong message on Christian integrity. Very readable book.



2. Wow...I actually couldn't wait to get back to this book each time I had to put it down to do something else! I believe that most of the book was Mike Yorkey speaking and his experiences, even though I picked it up because of Stephen Arterburn's name, but no matter, it was another phenomenal winner in the Every Man Series! I hope the quality instruction I have received in this book and in this series (I have read Every Man's Battle, Healing is a Choice, and I am currently reading The Secrets Men Keep) just keeps coming! It is an honor to be able to right a review on this title! Men...read these books! Women...if you want to understand men...read these books! May God bless you!



3. I found this book to be a very valuable tool in my spiritual journey. Arterburn and Luck use years of experience, counseling, and insight to help each reader become what we all need and desire to be...God's Man.



4. THIS BOOK IS WELL WRITTEN AND VERY CONVICTING. IT TRULY DISPLAYS WHAT GOD EXPECTS OUT OF MEN WITH PRACTICAL EXAMPLES AND WISDOM THAT YOU CAN USE IN LIFE!! THE EVERY MAN SERIES IS INCREDIBLE AND TRULY WRITTEN BY GODLY MEN. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK/SERIES TO EVERY MAN THAT LIVES OR WANTS TO TRULY LIVE THE LIFE GOD PLANNED FOR EACH OF US. I HAVE READ EVERY MANS BATTLE AND THIS BOOK AND IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE AND MY PERSPECTIVE OF WHO GOD IS. GOD IS SO AWESOME!! HE EXPECTS MUCH MORE OUT OF US THAN MANY PEOPLE EVER REALIZE.



5. The gentlemen in this book have someone follow them around and refuse to allow themselves any contact with women because they feel they cannot trust themselves not to act like animals.
   
   I think that's really all that needs to be said about this book.

5 comments about God Is Love (Deus Caritas Est) (Benedict XVI).

1. Wow, Pope Benedict XVI has hit it on the head with this encyclical, merely a simple reminder of how love works. He reminds us that love costs nothing to those we reach out to and that as a society we should focus on loving others through the example of how Christ loved people.
   
   Benedict also reminds us that God is not out to get us or destroy us but is out to redeem us and renew us from all the previous darkness of our existence in sin. Short and easily legible, not theologically profound but as an encyclical it shouldn't be.
   
   Great Read.



2. This book by Pope Benedict should be recommended to every Christian, to go straight to the horse's mouth, THE Pope, and just go to even cheaper, obscure sources. The church is no joke. In England, Marilyn Manson would probably get treason and hung by the Prime Minister. For me as a born again Christian, ELCA pilgrim religion, I was just so sick of everyone jumping on the Manson bandwagon years later after he was an old man and retired. If each member of the Catholic church donated just 10 dollars, that's over 1 trillion dollars for Pope Benedict and the Vatican. Bible bashers need to wake up- Marilyn Manson is probably dead right now- Satanists are still fighting for their own credibility and are way behind. This is not just blind faith I'm talking about, I'm talking about being a member of a local church and being saved- the dark side of Christianity. Will you wake up, like NOW!!



3. How many days have I wasted by not asking what love is just once within them? What could be more important?
   
   I'd have to write a book like this to answer this question. I am a student, but the pope is an expert. He'll help you answer this question in his book.
   
   -Jeremy



4. ...It is also a result of the presence of Christianity in the world, since Christianity constantly revives and acts out this imperative" (paragraph 31).
   
   These two sentences nicely capture the heart of Benedict XVI's first encyclical, Deus caritas est. The first part of the encyclical is an effort to argue that there is no essential divide between eros and agape, but that the latter is a disciplined evolution of the former. Just as we can display both eros/passion and agape/self-sacrificing love of the other, so the biblical God (as opposed to the self-contained God of the philosophers) does likewise. We respond passionately to God's gift of love because we're made in God's image, and hence hardwired for love. The command of love is "inscribed" in our nature.
   
   But how do we best love when faced with poverty, political oppression, military violence, environmental degradation? What specific ways should love express itself? These are genuine questions that cry out for responses, and abstract philosophizing won't answer them. So in the second half of the encyclical, Benedict moves from the abstract to the concrete by reflecting on the Church's role in the world and the relationship between justice and love (or charity). In the spirit of thinkers as diverse as Stanley Hauerwas and G.K. Chesterton, the Pope concludes that the Church isn't called to be a social agency or a political player. Rather, the Church, through word and example, is to serve as the world's conscience. When the Church sees injustice, her role is to name it and to urge its political and economic redress--that is, she is to advocate for justice. At the same time, she is to practice love, or charity, with heartfelt concern to alleviate suffering. There will always be need for love in a suffering world, even if all injustice was eliminated. Charity doesn't reinforce the status quo, as some critics maintain, especially if it's also accompanied with justice advocacy.
   
   Toward the end of the encyclical (paragraphy 36), Benedict also suggests that prayer/meditation is a necessary ingredient for Christians who work to alleviate immediate suffering and promote justice. Otherwise, the risk of megalomania on the one hand or burn-out on the other is too great: "When we consider the immensity of others' needs, we can, on the one hand, be driven towards an ideology that would aim at doing what God's governance of the world apparently cannot: fully resolving every problem. Or we can be tempted to give in to inertia, since it would seem that in any event nothing can be accomplished. At such times, a living relationship with Christ is decisive if we are to keep on the right path..." This is not only a characteristic that distinguishes the Church from social agencies. It's also sage advice, as anyone involved in works of mercy probably knows from personal experience.
   
   John Paul II was a sophisticated philosopher who nonetheless was able to write encyclicals that presented great truths in accessible ways. It's good to see that Benedict, a sophisticated theologian, follows in his predecessor's footsteps in this regard.



5. This is an Encyclical worth reading. Over the years I attempted to read several encyclicals and found them rather technical and often difficult to read. I concluded that Popes are not usually good writers and that I would read encyclicals only as reference books. Benedict XVI, for me, breaks the mold. He is an excellent writer and offers fresh insights into Christianity.
   
   Deus Caritas Est is broken into two parts: The unity of Love in Creation and Salvation History; and Caritas, the practice of Love by the Church as a "Community of Love." This letter includes detailed explanations of Benedict's teaching points and would require a long summary. I will focus on several main points that are important to me.
   
   In the Introduction Benedict refers to Scripture and teaches that we "come to believe" in the love of God and indicates that love is an encounter that animates and guides our lives. He proclaims the words of Jesus that the commandments are "united" into a single concept - love. God loves us and we respond by loving Him and our neighbors.
   
   The Pope discusses Eros, the love between a man and a woman. He notes that some Christians want to avoid discussing Eros. He also notes that some Christian leaders forget that we were created as human beings. Christian Eros can be very positive and bring us closer to God. This occurs when Eros, worldly love, joins with agape, love "grounded and shaped by faith". By accepting our humanity we accept God's creation. That love, however, must not be self-centered, as Eros often is at the beginning of sexual attraction. With agape, love seeks the "good of the beloved" and is ready to sacrifice self for other. When fully formed love receives as well as gives, Eros-agape leads to a loving relationship.
   
   The letter also addresses forgiveness. God's agape love is "completely gratuitous" and as such God's love forgives. Benedict refers to Hosea 11 and claims that God's love overcomes God's justice. " I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; For I am God and not man, the Holy One present among you; I will not let the flames consume you."
   
   The Pope suggests that there is an "unbreakable" bond between love of God and love of neighbor. If I "close my eyes" to neighbors, I "blind" myself to God. If I concentrate upon my religious duties and ignore others, I become arid and eventually loveless.
   
   Benedict reminds us that the Church has three responsibilities: to proclaim the word of God, to celebrate the sacraments, and to exercise the ministry of charity. These three are inseparable. For the Church, charity must be the very essence of its activities. The
   Church of today, with advances in communication and travel, must address the needs of all people everywhere. Our distinctiveness as a Church equals our charitable activities.
   
   This encyclical has some deep insights. I plan to re-read it with much meditation and prayer. I highly recommend this encyclical.

5 comments about The Early History of God: Yahweh and the Other Deities in Ancient Israel (Biblical Resource Series).

1. Scholarly is another descriptive word for this book. Mr. Smith posits that Yahweh was one of several Cannanite dieties worshiped by the Hebrews. Of course Yahweh's realtionship to his fellow gods changed as time passed and Mr. Smith tries to account for how and why this happened.
   
   This is no easy task, and this is what made reading/skimming this book arduous. There is a lot of weighing of pros and cons of a particular supposition, citation of relevant texts and close reasoning. There is nothing wrong with this. As a matter of fact this kind of work is very important. It is preferable to some yo-yo just throwing something outrageous on the table and saying "trust me." This kind of work provides the foundation of our knowledge of the past. It is a step or two up from the bedrock of primary sources, and therefore is pretty close to the bone.
   
   I was expecting something a lil farther removed from proofs, something a lot more popular. I'm not able to evaluate whether he has proven his points because I was not inclined to follow them closely. I do know that Mr. Smith did the work, and for that I am grateful.
   
   I am also grateful for what I did learn from this book.
   
   A good source, maybe The source, for Cannanite myths are the Ugaritic texts, so translations of these will go on my reading list.
   
   El was a Cannanite god. Wow. That makes reading about the Elohim in Genisis kind of a mind boggling experience.
   
   I am extremely grateful that I checked this book out of the library instead of buying it. I'm glad it's no longer on my wish list. I'm also glad it's been publsihed and is available.



2. This book is chock full of excellent references to both biblical and non-biblical texts. The combined references make a convincing case that the Isrealite tradition was originally steeped in the early canaanite polytheism. Smith's book would be an excellent reference but is not itself a satisfying read. Smith frequently sites verses in books as old as Psalms (written in the 11th century bce? Smith doesn't say) in the same paragraph with verses in books as new as the Talmud (written in the 3rd centry ce?). That is, he gives us no historical context to understand how people in the time the Psalms were writen would have understood the polytheistic references vs. how poeple in the time when the Talmud began to form would have understood polytheistic references.
   
   A large percentage of the pages have only a few lines of text with small-print reference notes, albeit good ones, occupying the remainder of the page. Smith supplies ample biblical references throughout this book, often dozens in a single paragraph, but he rarely includes any quotes from the references. The reader has to look them up if he is to understand the argument.



3. excellent disclosure of the evolution of the understanding of God in early Israelite history. book assumes a high degree of previous knowledge of early Israelite history within an historical / critical understanding of biblical studies. If you are a "literalist," save your money ... you won't like it!



4. See my review of The Memoirs of God. This is the same.



5. This is a fantastic synthesis of 20th Century scholarship on the religion of Israel in the period of the Judges and early monarchy. The Smith surveys the literature and provides his own theory of the the relationship between Israelite religion and that of other Canaanites. (One thing you will learn is that contrary to the way the situation is portrayed in the Bible, there is little to distinguish between the Israelites and Canaanites.) It deals with the issue of monolatry versus monotheism, did God have a wife?, are there various names of God in the Bible because originally they stories were about different gods?, and what of the ritual and cult in early Israelite religion.
   
   Smith definitely draws heavily on the scholarship of Frank Moore Cross, Jr. and Marvin H. Pope, and their students, such as John Day (e.g., Molech: a god of human sacrifice in the Old Testament) and W.R. Garr (e.g., Dialect Geography of Syria-Palestine: 1100-586BC).
   
   The book is extremely well footnoted, making it valuable even if you don't buy all his arguments.

4 comments about Sober Intoxication of the Spirit: Filled With the Fullness of God.

1. When Catholics realize that since 1980 the preacher to the papal household, so far, of two great popes has been a Catholic charismatic, they must take a second look at the Charismatic Renewal which has for too long been viewed by most Catholics as something odd that the Church merely tolerates out of kindness. What Fr. Canatalamessa says in this book is that the Charismatic Renewal is for every Catholic--it is a renewal and unleashing of the graces received in sacramental Baptism and Confirmation and in the other sacraments. In nine chapters, he explains clearly and simply but with the precision and balance of the first-rate theologian that he is how the renewal relates to the sacramental system of the Church and to Christian life. He even critiques some of the excesses of some charismatics who become puffed up over their charisms (as the Corinthians did in the first century!) and those individuals who want to receive charisms but still remain in objective situations of mortal sin, especially in the area of sexual morality (again reminders of the Corinthians to whom Paul wrote in the first century). These critiques show the wisdom, prudence, and balance of Fr. Cantalamessa. Yet, none of the warts in any way suppresses the enthusiasm of Fr. Cantalamessa for the action of the Holy Spirit in the renewal and its promise for the Church. His book is prophetic and calls all Catholics to open up to the abundant, joyful, and full life of the Spirit. The title of the book is taken from a Latin quote from St. Ambrose that is translated: "Let us drink the sober intoxication of the Spirit with joy!" Fr. Cantalamessa persuasively and soberly invites each of us to this new, joyful, and uplifting intoxication. If a non-charismatic Catholic wants an introduction to the Charismatic Renewal, I can think of none better or more authoritative for these times. We are fortunate to have these collected talks translated into English. You can find a fuller review at the above blog link (Oct. 24, 2005, post).



2. Cantalamessa, the papal preacher of Pope John Paul II's household, presents a collection of teachings on the Catholic Charismatic renewal, known in Italy, as "the renewal of the Spirit." He begins with an explanation of the term "sober intoxication of the Spirit" used by the Fathers of the Church: "an enthusiasm based on the cross and nourished by the cross." Within the charismatic renewal movement, this enthusiasm, is demonstrated through "spontaneous and creative prayer, songs, tongues, and the joy of being brothers and sisters and of being nourished by the pure milk of the word of God...and a firm commitment to building the kingdom of God within us and in the Church."
   
   Cantalamessa describes virtues and actions that mark the renewal of the spirit today, and shows their roots in scripture. He addresses humility, which always involves something negative, as "self-denial, a renunciation of anything that is wrong in our intentions and our actions, an abasement of ourselves before we move in the direction of others," linking the experience to Jesus's "descending." He also explains the charisms, spiritual baptism, and the healing power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is healer of both mind and body, he writes, including the mental illnesses of unbelief, idolatry, and superstition and heart diseases such as lack of will, the will to power, and the spirit of slavery.
   
   This work is rich in details of the charismatic renewal and its role in establishing the Kingdom.



3. There are many people who confuse the accidental (people waving their arms and clapping, being "slain in the spirit" etc) with the essential (the recognition of the action of the Holy Spirit in the Church.) In this book Fr. Cantalamessa seeks to clear up such misunderstandings, to lay a foundation of what the renewal in the Spirit means, and to further explain the importance of it.
   
   Fr. Cantalamessa shares annecdotes from his life and the lives of others that witness to the action of the Holy Spirit through the ages, and of the sanctifying and transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of people to this very day. This is certainly an instructive book in understanding what the Renewal in the Spirit is, what it is not, and the impacy it can have upon the lives of individual Christians and upon the Church.



4. I like the book and the service provide by the company was excellent.

5 comments about If God Is Love: Rediscovering Grace in an Ungracious World.

1. I've already shared this book with my closest loved one, and I intend to get copies for other members of my family. With humility and humor, the authors explain their personal revelations, concerning the ultimate salvation of everyone. One of the important things that has been lost amongst all the bickering, about who's right and wrong, which ironically is covered extensively by the authors, is the fact that these are personal revelations that they decided to share with anyone who has an open mind and heart. I found many of the details of their own experiences with christianity, mirror my own. I left the 'church' long ago. I had my own personal revelations and found fellowship with others who are spiritually like minded and never looked back. I stumbled on this book at a friends' home, but I know it was a blessing that was delivered to me. What people fail to comprehend is that anytime they are in earshot of a sermon, they are listening to someone elses interpretation of scripture. So it makes no sense to berate these fellas for having an opinion. If the Christ appeared today, he would be crucified again, faster than you can say Easter. The world would sadden me beyond comprehension, except for the fact that I know everything and everybody will be alright in the end.



2. This book was my first introduction to Universalism. It is well-written and every chapter held my interest. There are many thought provoking concepts that make great discussion topics. They certainly do not make good debate topics unless you are much more well-read on the topic. That is actually my only complaint is that some chapters were interesting but light and airy, proposing problems but a little light on solutions. This is a great introduction to the topic - there are other more heavily referenced books available to compliment this one once curiousity has been piqued.



3. This book arrived quickly and was in perfect condition.
   I highly recommend this book (and the other by the authors: If Grace is True)for anyone searching to understand God and his unconditional love and grace. While I don't agree with all the ideas in this book, it sure got me to thinking about things and people in a different way. A gentler, more nonjudgmental, loving way. Definitely a refreshing change from the fire and brimstone approach (fear, fear, fear, sin, sin, sin) of some churches and people. I have a hard time believing in such a mean, vengeful God/Heavenly Father.



4. Well written and easy to read. This book expands further on the ideas presented in If Grace is True. Presents ideas on universalism and unconditional love from God in a very down to earth format. Easy to relate to the stories and ideas in this book. Good on it's own but I would recommend reading If Grace is True with it.



5. This book has brought me back to Christianity at a time when I thought that I would never have anything to do with it again. I've always tried really hard to be a good person, but I didn't understand that I was doing it out of fear rather than love until I read this book. I feel liberated from the burden of original sin, something that I thought I no longer believed in, but was carrying around anyway for more than 30 years. I have a better appreciation of the importance of Jesus' teachings and how, by living more like he did, I can have a positive impact on today's world. If you have any baggage when it comes to your Christian upbringing, I encourage you to buy this book.

5 comments about A Brush With God: An Icon Workbook.

1. I was pleased to receive the book in a timely manner, new, and exactly as I had expected it to be.



2. I own this book but this book is not that good.
   The first thing I have to say is that the author is not Orthodox christian, but catholic of the latin rite born and former benedictine monk. The book suggest you to use Acrylic paint and say nothing about Egg Tempera! Well, if I am going to use acrylic paint, why hand painting? I would prefer an inkjet printer! If you have only this book then you will have to buy one about egg tempera.
   In page 11 he says that his first teacher recommended (just!!) abstinece from meat and alcohol but then he complete change the meaning of fasting.
   Say nothing about the use of Holy water and natural hair brushes, his brushes are acrylic as well.



3. This nice little volume gives enough background to get you started on both creating and appreciating icons. Whether you just want a deeper appreciation for the artistic aspects or a deeper appreciation of the spiritual disciplines associated with icons, this is wonderful place to start. It includes several colorful plates in the center to provide good examples or starting points for you own artistic exploration.
   
   The text is well written, concise, and clear. Chapters are arranged to first give you an appreciation of the spiritual connection icons can help fulfill. It is a brief introduction to a vast topic but one you will want to gain deeper understanding of their purpose. Then the author briefly describes some of the artistic nuances and differences in Russian, Greek, and Coptic styles that will give you more to ponder as an artist. With that brief overview of background information, the author then takes you through the technical aspects of creating several icons youself. The instructions are clear and step-by-step so they are easy to follow. Ultimately, practice will yield results. You will not likely create a priceless gem on your first try but the instructions are enough to give you a good start. And the more practice, the better you will be.
   
   There are several little tidbits of added information in the Appendixes for further study and appreciation. All of this in so few pages might seem impossible. However, this thin little book is loaded with a broad view that does not sacrifice too much in depth. It is a perfect introduction to the topic and very well done. The author clearly loves the topic and conveys that passion in an infectious manner. An enjoyable read even if you never pick up a brush. The understanding of the spiritual, artistic, and technical aspects will provide greater appreciation of this art form enriching your life with beauty.



4. A background about icon painting and projects to get you started.



5. I love this book! I created the icon of St. Nicholas using the books instructions, and got positive feed back on it from my "extremely honest" family and friends. The materials required are readily available and the directions are clear. Most importantly, the spiritual experience during the process was incredible. I can't wait to do the other two icons in the book. However, I do believe you need to be confident in your artistic skills to be successful and avoid frustration. My only criticism is the lack of pictorial examples. I had to refer to another book to understand the difference between the Greek and Russian style.

2 comments about Where God Happens: Discovering Christ in One Another.

1. Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (08/06)
   
   Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, draws from the wisdom of "the Desert Monks" for their teaching from the monastic life to bring us this study on contemplation, community, and life with God.
   
   The Desert Father's understanding of issues on community and living together in an intimate meaningful way are central in the lessons we can learn from these teachings.
   Williams looks at fourth century Christian hermits living in the deserts of Egypt, Syria, and Palestine as role models for today's culture. Their teaching for dealing with the anxieties, uncertainties, and feelings of isolation are as relevant today as in their day.
   
   In the foreward Desmond M. Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus, states, "It is good to know that the desert mothers and fathers said we can all be contemplatives and that we can have our deserts in the crowded places where we live and work."
   
   The wisdom of the desert tradition provides many insights into the inner workings of the spiritual life. "If the motives of the desert mothers and fathers could be summed up in one aspiration, it would be to come to the state of continuous prayer...such prayer is not a matter of words or forms but an opening of consciousness to the life of the spirit flowing in the present moment of God, the making of our mind to be one with the mind of Christ."
   
   In the introduction to the book, Laurence Freeman, OSB, Director of The World Community for Christian Meditation, commented on what "pure" prayer should be, "That means that it is more centered in and characterized by the silence of the heart and less in the images and concepts of mental prayer or in external ritual."
   
   I chose to read "Where God Happens" as my focus for a period of renewal and contemplation. As I imagined myself in a monk's cell, in the African desert of the fourth century, I learned lessons on the habits of self awareness and the importance of working toward and ever greater honesty about self through a more constant exposure to God in Bible reading and prayer. I was challenged to continue the process until I become what I was meant me to become.
   
   While scholarly in approach this book is not a theological treatise but a call to humility and simplicity in living together in the twenty-first century community.



2. The bland title of this book gives no hint of its powerful subject matter or of its important message. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury and the leader of the worldwide Anglican church, introduces the Egyptian desert fathers and mothers of the fourth century in such a way as to show how and why they remain so relevant for today. I count this as one of the best books on Christian discipleship or formation that I have read in the past year.
   
   If you are unfamiliar with desert monasticism this book is an excellent place to start. An introduction situates the monastic movement in its day and age, suggests some of its salient characteristics and themes, disabuses us of superficial caricatures, makes liberal use of primary sayings and stories from the monastics, and, best of all, suggests specific contemporary applications for church life today. Williams is not only a notable scholar; he is an excellent writer with enviable pastoral sensitivities. In four chapters he examines Life, Death, and Neighbors; Silence and Honey Cakes; Fleeing; and then Staying. The book concludes with a substantial collection of the sayings of the desert fathers organized by theme--hospitality, obedience, modesty, charity, discretion, humility, and so on (pp. 123-161). An all too brief bibliography suggests further reading.
   
   Probably no one who reads this book will become a monk, but that is besides the point. One of the desert mothers, Amma Syncletica, explains: "There are many who live in the mountains and behave as if they were in the towns. You can be solitary in your mind even when you live in the middle of the crowd. And you can be a solitary and still live in the middle of the crowd of your own thoughts." For the desert monastics of the fourth century, and for us today, the interior geography of your heart is far more important (and complex) than the exterior coordinates of your address. Whether dealing with the prosaic boredom of everyday life, conformity to culture, our individualist impulses, our rosy romanticism that exudes naivety ("Expect trials until your last breath," advised one father), flight from responsibility, the terrors of temptation, discouragement and its concomitant lethargy, or the ego's endless quest for self-justification, these saints are competent advisors. Their wisdom comes from hard fought experience and is not arid theory. Contrary to common misperceptions, these faithful guides are people of tenderness, honesty, humor and humility. We Christians need their wisdom more than ever, and this book is a fine place to begin.

2 comments about Thirsty For God: A Brief History Of Christian Spirituality.

1. If you are thirsting for a comprehensive and historical overview of christian spirituality then this book is for you. Thirsty for God is a concise traveler's guide into the history of Christian spirituality. It examines the expression of spirituality in the Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions and is inclusive of Christian spirituality's expressions from non-western cultures.

   The text is accessibile to the reader. It is free from theological jargon and enables you to engage the ideas. Holt asserts that spirituality is to be lived. In looking at the richness of these varied traditions you can a better appreciation of the faith. Holt also suggests that we need a spirituality that addresses our times and is free from the distortions from previous generations. Enjoy this great work which will certainly quench your spiritual thirst.




2. In this paperback of 150 pages Bradley Holt, professor of Religion at Augsburg College, Minneapolis provides a brief and clear overview of Christian spirituality through the centuries. It is written in a textbook style without any theological jargon or presumption of previous knowledge. Since it is intended for college students each chapter includes discussion questions, exercises, aids for exercises and a list of suggested readings. The book also provides at the end a glossary of difficult words, end notes of each chapter, a common bibliography, an index of names and another of subjects.

   It is written in an ecumenical style without any prejudice against any denomination or sect of Christianity. The book is multicultural in the sense that it includes the approaches to spirituality in various cultures outside the West, namely Africa, Latin America and Asia. Just like the people of color, the women too get a good representation in the book. A delightful book of this sort was long overdue.