Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices (Ancient Practices Series)

I truly enjoyed 'Finding Our Way Again' by Brian McLaren, as I found it to be well rounded and captured a depth that has been largely missing in our culture. I think he sets up the seven ancient practices very well, and I look forward to the rest of series. This is just an introduction to the practices of fixed hour of prayer, Sabbath, Fasting, Tithing, The Sacred Meal, The Liturgical Year and Pilgrimage, which all have a unique book and author for each practice. I have always found Brian's writing so encouraging and yet it has such a generous amount of challenge within it, and that is definitely the case with this book. Although I have noticed other reviewers negatively speaking about Brian's use of other religions and their approaches to some of the same practices, I found it helpful and broadened my perspective. I love the metaphors and stories Brian uses to help illustrate a point, or paint a more colorful picture. For example, in the chapter 'Shallow Trouble Deep Trouble,' his metaphor of a firefighter, a health physician, and a social worker gave a clear picture of the danger of an afterlife destination being the goal, rather than a engagement and participation in the here and now approach to the gospel. A firefighter doesn't love fire, he hates it and the damage it does to people's lives, so he is trained how to go into burning buildings in order to fight the fire, for the sake of safety. If he loved fire, he'd be more inclined to be a pyromaniac, and if he was afraid of fire he would be inclined to be a pyrophobe. He neither loves it nor is afraid of it, instead he is trained to eliminate it for the betterment of all. This was just one of many pictures that I found helpful for intelligent dialogue with others, as well as helpful in my own journey with Jesus. This went along well with stories of how people of different denominations and religions approached the ancient practices, and help show the beauty of the practice from many angles. I think Brian paved a way for people to re-engage with ancient practices so as to return us to a path that we might have drifted off. I am looking forward to the remainder of the series and how the unique voice of each author tackles each discipline/practice.

This is the first book in the Ancient Practice Series and by 2010, different authors will write books that cover Prayer, Sabbath, Fasting, The Sacred Meal, The Pilgrimmage, The Liturgical Year and Tithing.This book is about the rediscovery of Christianity as a way of life and not just a system of beliefs or putting it another way how do we find sacredness in all that we do, everyday. How do we become more spiritual and less religious? How do we tend or care for our souls or how do we strengthen our character? Brian's writing always challenges me to think, to reflect, to listen to God to become all that God wants me to be.On page 16, Brian writes, "spiritual practices are about life, about training ourselves to become the kinds of people who have eyes andactually see and who have ears and actually hear, and so experience...not just survival but life. " Brian reviews how these practices got started and are practiced by 50% of the world's largest faiths, Christianity, Islam and Judaism.Brian reflects on what it means to be a follower of Jesus, walking in this new way of life and seeing His Kingdom and how we fit into it. How we become more learners of this way so that we can model it for others. He follows the life of Jesus with the life of Paul and how Paul's life echoed the life of Jesus by being "reconciled with God, one another, and all creation in a global community."Brian's humility also comes out in his writing, how he has learned these different practices from different friends who come from different backgrounds. These have added richness to his his spiritual journey and have clarified where the destination of this journey is to take us. I will let you discover what the practices are but I have found this book to be practical, raising questions, having a time at the end of each chapter to reflect or to discuss with others various implications through the spiritual exercises. Page 185, "It would be tragic for you to read this book and walk away with a longer to-do list." Page 188, " The ancient way is about joining God in the spending of every day."This book has been helping me to find my way. Maybe it will help you too.

This is the first book in "The Ancient Practices" series that I have read. This series is designed to open up classical spirituality in a modern way.I have to admit, that for the most part I am a fan of Brian McLaren, I find his theology and understand of Christianity refreshing, as he challenges us to experience the living Jesus and not simply the theological Christ.If you are a student of the Spiritual Practices, or have read Richard Foster's Classic 1978 work: The Celebration of Discipline, you might be disappointed. But for the average person, or someone who needs a kick start on finding their way again, they will find great tools and insights in this book.What some people find difficult with McLaren's work is the idea that God's door is open to people who don't fit into the current evangelically defined definition of what a Christian is. This is not the place for that debate, but if you believe that God's accessibility is ONLY through Jesus as defined by the evangelical church today, run, don't walk from this book, because you will hate it. For the rest of us, we will find great tools and questions to help us on our journey.This book is a simple read, but the questions and the end of every chapter provide for the opportunity for some serious reflection.I would recommend this book.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the [...] <[...]> 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."

Although it is good it is a bit "religious" for me and missis the aspect of freedom in the christian faith

Not biblical at all