Review of Fasting by Scot McKnight

What is fasting? How is it done? Why do we do it? Scot McKnight's addition to the ancient practices series, Fasting,  does a fantastic job of answering many questions about fasting in an easily understood way. At the heart of McKnight's discussion is one of the best definitions of fasting that I have heard: "Fasting is the natural, inevitable response of a person to a grievous sacred moment in life." He uses this definition to explain that Biblically fasting is a natural response to sacred moments in life. In times of our own hardship, in times when we are moved by the hardship of others, or even time times when we are moved by God, fasting is one of the appropriate responses. Many times in the contemporary church, we think that fasting by itself can prompt God to look on us with favor or make us better people, but is a discipline done in response to a need. The needs can very, but fasting is not a magical way of provoking God to action, but is instead a way of expressing the need for a deeper interaction with God.

I heard Scot McKnight discuss fasting at the Stone Campbell Journal Conference and was slightly turned off by his response that fasting is not practiced today as it was in the Bible. This book, however, explains his position more fully and does a fantastic job of explaining fasting in the Bible and in Church history. This is a very practical book for anyone interested in or studying fasting. It is easily understood and I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about fasting and the ways to practice it. I have appreciated all the books I read in this series, but this is one of the better books from the ancient practices series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review of The Liturgical Year by Joan Chittister

Christians live by a different calendar than everyone else. The Christian year begins four Sundays before Christmas on the first day of Advent. That calendar includes the holidays of Christmas and Easter, but also includes Epiphany, Pentecost, the periods of Ordinary time, and seasons like Lent and Advent. This is the rhythm that many Christians have taken part in year after year. Joan Chittister does a excellent job of asking how Christians live out this calendar year after year in The Liturgical Year. The Liturgical Year, or Christian Calendar as some call it, gives a constant reminder of what Jesus did while he was in the world we do in this world because of his life, death, and resurrection.

While this book does not give a in depth description or history of each holiday and season, Chittister describes the emotion and practices associated with each part of the year. She explains how the year affects the lives of Christians. This book does a fantastic job of taking someone through the year in a succinct, understandable, and almost devotional manner. I would suggest that one could read this book throughout the course of one liturgical year. Reading this in the Advent and Christmas season I found myself moved by the discussion of Advent and Christmas. This definitely something I will pick up through the year to reflect on the changing of the Christian seasons. If you are unfamiliar with the church calendar, you should consider picking up this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Spending time with Basil

In a previous post, I talked about journaling with the masters. Part of my time journaling with the masters was spent Basil's writings. His writings are fantastic and I gleaned a lot of wisdom from his writings.

Basil was a bishop in Caesarea in the 4th Century AD. He is celebrated by the orthodox church on the 1st of January, which traditionally is said to be the day he died (more about his life can be found here). I think that it is apt that Basil is celebrated at the first of every year because what he wrote about the Christian life would be great for building a New Years resolution.

What I learned from Basil was to find solitude, reject the world's ways, and practice self-control. Basil taught that we will not be able to really focus on God's word if we cannot find solitude. We need to find quiet from time to time so that we can focus on spending time with God and his word. Second, Christians are not to live according to the world's ways. The world has many things to offer, but it cannot offer us the life the God does. Third, we need to have self-control for the times that we do interact with the world. It is inevitable to have to involve yourself with the world, but being self-controlled can keep us from taking the necessities and abusing them.

These three things stuck with me from reading Basil, I hope that they can help you in this new year. I would also encourage you to find a wise person who has gone before to mentor you. They don't have to be living, you can find a good book and learn from those who have gone before. Just find a wise person, listen to what they have to say and apply it.

Review of The Sacred Meal by Nora Gallagher

Communion is a sacred meal and Nora Gallagher reminds us that it is something that needs to be practiced. Many of us might not think of Communion as something to be practiced in the same way we pray, fast, or read our Bibles. Communion, however, is one of the ancient Christian disciplines and Nora reminds us of the depth of communion and how it shapes our faith. Communion connects us to the presence of God in the world as we remember Christ's death burial and resurrection. It also connects to the body of Christ in a way that nothing else can. It makes all equal. All Christians are members of the body of Christ and all are invited to the table to partake of this meal no matter what situation of life you are in. The Sacred Meal reminds us of the unity that Communion brings and shows how the practice of Communion helps us grow and mature.

While this is not the best book I have read about communion, it is good. It is a good reminder of what happens at communion and how it affects the church. I enjoyed this book even though I though that she was a little out there at times. I would recommend this to anyone who has not spent much time thinking about the practice of communion. It is an easy read and a great book to get you thinking, but it is not an in depth study of Communion.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Merry Christmas!

Today begins the Christmas Season. No the Christmas season does not start in December (or in November). Christmas officially begins on the 25th and goes for twelve days. So I would encourage you not to just celebrate Christmas today, but for the next twelve. Give to others and celebrate the great miracle of the incarnation. I also would encourage you to remember the words of Paul from Philippians.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
   did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
   by taking the very nature of a servant,
   being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
   he humbled himself
   by becoming obedient to death—
      even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
   and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
   to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV)


Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve marks the end of Advent and the beginning of Christmas. Advent is about waiting for the coming of Christ. Many of us just pass the time waiting for the holiday. We wait on presents, time off, good food, and time with friends. These are wonderful things and are all a part of this time of the year, but the observance of Advent is about the wait for Christ's first coming and the reminder that we are still waiting for His second coming. Even though the Christmas begins tomorrow and we will celebrate the miracle of the incarnation, we will still be waiting for the second coming of Christ if he does not come tomorrow. I'm reminded of what one of my high school Bible teachers said about the Bible. He said that the Bible tells us, "He is coming, He has coming, He will come again." Tonight we move from the remembrance of when he was coming to the time that he came. As you celebrate the coming of Christ, don't forget that he is coming again.

O Immanuel, our sovereign and lawgiver, desire of the nations and Savior of all: Come and save us, O Lord our God. Come, Lord Jesus.

Review of Finding Our Way Again by Brian McLaren

Why should someone look to the ancient practices of the church? Brian McLaren writes to answer this question in the first book of the Ancient Practices Series. In Finding Our Way Again, McLaren writes an apologetic for why we should look to the ancient practices of the Christian faith. The practices develop character. They help us to be more awake to the work around us. And they help us experience God. All of this happens so that we, as the title of the book states, find our way again. We can find our way back to the roots of our faith and bring the kingdom of God to the world. All this is possible by returning to, or at least learning from, the practices.

McLaren opens the ancient practices series, and does a good job of giving reasons to look to the ancient christian practices. Especially in the third section of the book, he does a good job of explaining what lies beneath. There are also parts of the books the are kind of confusing. I am mostly perplexed as to why he discusses other religions alongside Christianity. While some other religions share similar historical figures, I don't think that it was necessary to include them into a discussion of Christian practices. While I would recommend this book to anyone starting the ancient practices series, I would recommend it with the caveat that you might not always agree with what McLaren says.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”