Finding Our Way Again - The Return of the Ancient Practices (Paperback)

Why have certain spiritual disciplines been in use for centuries, and why are they so important?

It is questionable if one can ever be exactly the same person waking up on two consecutive days. How are spiritual sojourners to cope with the constant change? Many are beginning to explore the ancient Christian spiritual practices, such as fixed-hour prayer, fasting and sincere observance of the Sabbath. What is causing this hunger for deeper spirituality?

Brian McLaren guides us on this quest for an explanation of these spiritual practices, many of which go all the way back to Abraham and the establishment of Israel. In the midst of contemporary Christianity, we discover the beauty of these disciplines and the transformation through Christ that each can provide.

Includes foreword by Phyllis Tickle and leads into seven additional titles, "The Ancient Practices," a classic series featuring some of the leading writers on spirituality in the world today.

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Tue, 1 Feb 2011 | Review by: Mike B

Brian McLaren's "Finding our way again" is the first in a series of eight books on ancient spiritual practices. McLaren provides a general introduction that prepares the way for subsequent books to cover a range of disciplines in more detail: sabbath, fasting, tithing, fixed-hour prayer, the Eucharist, the liturgical calendar and pilgrimage. McLaren begins by acknowledging that for many, the Christian faith is perceived more as a system of belief to be defended than as a way of living. The fact that there often seems to be very little to distinguish the lifestyles of Christians from those among whom they live suggests that we have lost our way. McLaren argues that returning to the ancient spiritual practices will help Christians once again to be a people 'on the Way' – whose characters are being intentionally formed, but more than that, who are learning what it is to be human and what it means to be alive. I found the book to be wonderfully accessible. McLaren is readable, without being at all superficial, and although I read the book quickly, I immediately wanted to go back and revisit some of the concepts he raises. He freely admits his own struggles along the way – there is a memorable section involving a doughnut that I will work into a sermon some time soon! It was also a liberating feeling to get the sense that this book (although written primarily for Christian readers) could be studied with Muslim and Jewish friends – such is our shared heritage. All in all, a wonderful introduction to what promises to be a very helpful and timely series. I'm looking forward to reading the next instalment. Thanks to Booksneeze (www.booksneeze.com) for supplying me with a copy of this book for review.

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