Spirituality
So Many Books, so little Time!
This is a brief sampling of books I have read and recommend:
1. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Imaginative focus on Evil and how it can work in the world. This book gives you a difference view of our daily struggle to be faithful and how that gets tripped up.
2. Dinner with the Perfect Stranger by David Gregory
Again, another view on how God can work and how we put off giving Jesus a place in our lives. Another switch on perspective.
3. God is Not One by Stephen Prothero
A great summary of the eight rival religions in the world. I am very big-picture and I like his global approach to faith. Important reading for someone hoping to convert folks from other religious traditions. He also covers atheism as the way of reason, but still a religion.
4. You God is Too Small by J. B. Phillips
Another big-picture view of how we think or don’t think about God.
5. Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
An amazing daily devotional reading book. It is a spirit lead classic.
6. For All the Saints: A Prayer Book For and By the Church complied and editied by Frederick J. Schumacher and Dorothy A. Zelenko, Published by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, PO Box 327, Delhi, NY 13753-0327
This collection of 4 volumes is a Lutheran breviary. It has 3 lessons for each day and a fourth reading from a Christian writer commenting on those readings. I have found the 4th readings especially meaningful as they come from all different kinds of Christians from all times. From Apostolic Fathers to Dag Hammarskjold and C. S. Lewis, this fourth reading represents Christian Wisdom of the Ages.
7. Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
A classic about Christian Fellowship
8. Open Heart Open Mind by Thomas Keating
Discusses Comtemplative Prayer and how to do it.
9. Kingdom Prayer by Tony Evans
Good discussions of prayer princples.
10. Praying the Attributes of God by Rosemary Jensen
Takes you through 31 attributes of God using a format of Adoration (Bible verses), Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. A useful teacher for prayer discipline and great resource for prayer groups.
And Don't Forget Movies!
Just to name a few with great spiritual themes:
- Lars and the Real Girl, 2008
- Babette’s Feast, 1989
- The Shawshank Redemption, 1994
- Philomena, 2013