Reflections of the Kingdom

Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone by James Martin My rating: 4 of 5 stars I grew up within the Protestant tradition where [I thought that] I had a strong personal prayer life; I was hoping for a little help with the public, extemporaneous prayer expected from a community leader, and where I seem to struggle a bit (I usually crib them on a piece of paper in advance) ... this book doesn't do that. So after my initial disappointment, I settled in for what I believed would be a quick review. As expected, the author starts off with why we should pray and defining what prayer is ... including nine (9) types of prayer many people do without actually realizing they are doing it. There is a good mix of personal story and cited sources here that continues through the rest of the book and makes it all exceptionally relatable. After a brief treatment of rote or formal prayers in chapter 8, the book moves into more of the Ignatian traditions that I a...

Real Presence: What Does It Mean and Why Does It Matter? by McGrath Institute for Church Life My rating: 4 of 5 stars In 2019, a Pew Research Center study on the religious commitment and practice of American Catholics found a significant number of the faith did not have an accurate or complete understanding of the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist Sacrament. This prompted Cardinal Seán O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston to proclaim a "Year of the Eucharist" for 2020-2021 to help rehabilitate the faithful. The "Real Presence" by Dr. Timothy O'Malley could very well be required reading in support of that endeavor. Chapter One tackles the "Obstacles to Real Presence" by identifying three (3) points of confusion: an over-reliance on a physical interpretation of presence, a lack of reverence and an apparent false dichotomy between reverence and recognition of Christ's presence in others. Along th...

Women in the Bible by Jaime Clark-Soles My rating: 4 of 5 stars I must admit to feeling the lack of a woman's perspective when I have read through the Bible and I was looking forward to reading this book to fill in the gaps. I was not disappointed. The author provides an exceptionally well organized and thoughtful examination of where we find them, and how to better interpret what we know of them, so we can begin to understand their significant contributions to the faith ... and to some degree how and why they have been silenced. The book begins with the a survey of the TaNaKh/Old Testament to provide a context going into the New Testament and the ministry of Jesus and Paul to bring the women supporting each out from the shadows. It finished with some of the more problematic Pastorals with a needed comparison on how they are actually a departure of what came before and perhaps why they do so. Within each chapter the author engages in scriptural e...

Answered By Fire the Cane Ridge Revival Reconsidered by Leonard Allen My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book looks at the Cane Ridge Revival in three (3) parts, with three (3) chapters each: I. Cane Ridge In Context 1. “Glorious Days of the Outpouring of the Spirit of God” The Second Great Awakening 2. The Champion of Christian Freedom and the Cane Ridge Revival 3. “Answered by Fire” What Really Happened at Cane Ridge? II. Exploring Cane Ridge 4. Cane Ridge as a Communion Festival 5. Barton Stone, Cane Ridge, and Slavery 6. “The Reproof of a Weak Woman” Women Exhorters at Cane Ridge III. Reconsidering Cane Ridge 7. Was Cane Ridge America’s Pentecost? 8. Revivalism, the Holy Spirit, and Unity 9. The Eclipse of Cane Ridge in the Restoration Movement The Cane Ridge Revival can be placed within the American Second Great Awaking that was characterized by large revival meetings focused on evangelization, spiritual renewal and charismatic ex...