In the Coracle

Book Summary: The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks

December 17th, 2009, No Comments

The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks
Translated by Benedicta Ward
Penguin Classics (2003)

Description of the Book
The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks is Benedicta Ward’s translation of a group of sayings called the Verba Seniorum, distilled from the early Christian monks.

Interpretation of the Book
This translation is organized by topic. There are a [...]

Book Summary: Becoming Human by Jean Vanier

December 17th, 2009, No Comments

Becoming Human
by Jean Vanier
Paulist Press (1998)

Description of the Book
In Becoming Human, Jean Vanier challenges us to evolve as human beings by growing from solitary, lonely individuals to relational, communal beings that open ourselves to others.

Interpretation of the Book
Vanier writes five sections of the book, beginning by focusing on loneliness and the ways that we exclude [...]

Sacred Companions by David Benner (Book summary)

May 21st, 2009, 1 Comment

“Sacred Companions: The Gift of Spiritual Friendship & Direction” (David G. Benner)

Sacred Companions
by David G. Benner
InterVarsity Press (2002)

Description of the Book
Sacred Companions describes spiritual friendship and spiritual direction for the contemporary Christian who wishes to be intentional about growing in their Christian life. Benner writes as a psychologist and a spiritual director, specifically aiming to [...]

Community and Growth by Jean Vanier (Summary paper)

May 20th, 2009, No Comments

“Community and Growth” (Jean Vanier)
Community and Growth
by Jean Vanier
Paulist (1989)

Description of the Book

Community and Growth is Jean Vanier’s reflection on spiritual growth in intentional communities, and is written from his experience with L’Arche communities for developmentally handicapped people.
In the author’s words, Community and Growth “tries to clarify the conditions which are necessary to life in [...]

To Pause at the Threshold (summary paper)

May 19th, 2009, No Comments

“To Pause at the Threshold: Reflections on Living on the Border” (Esther De Waal)
To Pause at the Threshold
by Esther de Waal
Morehouse (2001)
Description of the Book
To Pause at the Threshold is a short exploration of the boundary spaces in our lives and our response to these thresholds. In our everyday lives, we are often so busy [...]

Final Course Reading List

May 6th, 2009, 3 Comments

Here are the books that I’m reading for the final course in my D. MIn program at Bakke Graduate University. The course title is “Rhythms of Living – Exploring Christian Spiritual Practices in Shaping Hearts of Compassion”; it’s a course in spiritual formation and spiritual practices.
  
Here’s the course description:
T

This course immerses students in the study [...]

Book Summary: Exiles by Michael Frost

April 5th, 2009, No Comments

“Exiles: Living Missionally in a Post-Christian Culture” (Michael Frost)

Thesis and Argument of Author

We in the West today no longer live in a Christian culture. The world is changing, and the church has lost its foothold at the center of the dominant culture. Christians today live with a growing, nagging feeling of being in a different [...]

Social Monday: 3 Things Every Church Member Should Know About Social Media « NewsMuse

March 23rd, 2009, No Comments

Will Boyd writes about social media and the church.  Because I’m using social media all the time, and my dissertation appears to be taking the track of a social media project, this is interesting to me, and I suspect it will be for you also.  
Excerpt here, read more at the link below.
With all of [...]

Another perspective on my ministry context.

December 21st, 2008, No Comments

The paper that I’m finishing up tonight on my Orthodox Trail trip and class has me thinking again about where I am currently ministering, or where I’m participating in the Kingdom. I’d like to think that this is a 24×7, everywhere and anywhere type of answer, but I think that there are certainly areas and [...]

A Poetic Parable for Theology Students

November 15th, 2008, No Comments

When I heard the learn’d astronomer;
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me;
When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them;
When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,
How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;
Till rising and gliding out, [...]