Skip to main content

Review: A Morning and Evening Prayerbook

The Christian Church has a rich history of prayer. From the days of the earliest believers, Christians have devoted time to communicate with their God. Now, in Jeanie and David Gushee's A Morning and Evening Prayerbook (Thomas Nelson, 2018), there is a rich source from which to join in the prayers of the ages. The Gushees have searched the prayers of saints—from the early Church Fathers to modern theologians—and compiled them into an attractive prayerbook. Each day contains a morning and evening prayer. The prayers are aligned to the Christian calendar.


This is a fantastic resource. Families, individuals, pastors, and believers from all walks of life would benefit from the rich spirituality mined by the Gushees. The prayers are probing, insightful, and succinct. The book itself is portable, attractive, and durable. Apart from a short introduction, there are no commentaries—just raw prayers. The collection spans time and tradition. Rather than letting these replace spontaneous prayers, this book is designed to spring them and enrich them by hearing the prayers of others.

It is a hallowed experience to eavesdrop on others' conversations with the living God. Indeed, AMAEP tethers us to a larger narrative and reminds us of the eternal nature of the Church.

(A complimentary review copy was given in exchange for an honest review.)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Product Review: LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle

Overview When adventure strikes, the right bag makes all the difference. Too often, however, luggage bags are either large, ponderous suitcases or small, flimsy duffle bags. I have traveled to Central and South America multiple times with terribly large suitcases. It added extra complication to my trip—especially lugging the bag up the steps! This is the problem which LL Bean seeks to rectify in the LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle. With a 137-liter capacity, this duffel is able to hold the items of the biggest pack-rat while being easy to transport. It features a telescoping handle, smooth-gliding wheels, and cinch straps. Specifications Capacity: Approx. 8,350 cu. in., 137 L.  Weight: 9 lb. 3 oz.  Dimensions: 17"H x 34"W x 15"D.  Highlights This bag is sturdy. Not only is it capable of holding many items, but it is incredibly durable. It has a reinforced nylon bottom and a thick plastic frame so that the bag does not sag or become weak....

Review: NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible

A revised version of the previously published NIV Zondervan Study Bible,  the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible  (Zondervan, 2018) represents the best of biblical scholarship in a compact study Bible. It introduces Biblical Theology (BT), a discipline that is intended for readers to weave individual books and stories into a larger metanarrative that reveals God's redemptive plan through the entire Bible. To that end, this study Bible includes articles introducing BT and articles on theological matters. While the emphasis of this Bible may appeal to a more Reformed/covenantal audience, the contributors span a variety of theological traditions and are respected authorities within their discipline. The verse-by-verse notes—over 20,000—are insightful and suitable for determining the historical, literary, and cultural background of the text with a view to responsible interpretation of Scripture. There are in-text cross references, a concordance, maps, and useful charts. Each bo...

Review: Pastoral and Spiritual Care in a Digital Age

The advancements of technology and social media are changing what it means to be human, yet religious studies rarely tend to intersect with technological and neurological sciences. In Pastoral and Spiritual Care in a Digital Age: The Future is Now   (Lexington Books, 2018), Kirk A. Bingaman ventures into how technology informs spiritual care. Himself a professor of pastoral care, Bingaman claims that humans are becoming techno sapiens.  Rather than retreating from technology, Bingaman sees the unavoidable development of technology as part of God's ongoing work of "doing a new thing." Consequently, he sees positive means for artificial intelligence that can be embraced in pastoral care. For Bingaman, pastoral and spiritual care in a digital age requires preserving humanity through contemplative spiritual practices, preventing technology from overtaking human identity. Bingaman's book is important for many reasons. First, he asserts that technological change is unav...