by Gerald L. Sittser

For the past four years I’ve led a book discussion group for my church.  I usually pick books about spiritual development (with the exception of year two, when we read classic American fiction.)  Our final meeting of the summer was yesterday and this was the book we discussed.  While the previous three books we read this summer were good, we saved the best for last.

Water from a Deep Well is part church history, part biography, and part spiritual development.  Sittser basically takes every era in church history and show what it meant to be “spiritual” during that time.  He covers the early martyrs, the early Christian community, the desert saints, monasticism, medieval laity, the mystics, the Reformers, the Evangelicals, and finally pioneer missionaries.  In each chapter he shows how that particular age connects to the previous one and discusses the particular challenges that Christians during that time faced.

Two aspects of this book particularly intrigued me.  First, the author only spoke about what was positive.  For instance, the chapter on icons and saints could easily been very critical from a protestant point of view.  However, he takes the time to explain how the practices developed and the positive impact it can have on even protestants.  Second, he covers areas that I probably would have never thought about.  I learned a lot from the chapters that covered the most unfamiliar topics.

Overall, this book is one of the best that I have read in recent years.  It shows that Christians in every age can certainly learn from those who have gone before us.  Also, it certainly helped me understand why Christians of other traditions do what they do.  In the end, I still may not agree with their practices, but I certainly do understand them better.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about their own spiritual heritage, brush up on their church history, or be encouraged by the saints who have gone before us.

by Dennis Okholm

I’ve been leading a summer reading group for the past four years.  Every summer we focus on a particular topic, and this year we’re reading books on spirituality.  This is the third (and shortest) book in our series.  Honestly, I was just kind of planning on zipping through this one (barely over 100 pages) because the next one is really long.  Boy, was I ever floored.

The author is a Presbyterian theology professor who has spent considerable time in monasteries, especially ones of the Benedictine variety.  He writes this book hoping to enlighten protestants on the virtues that guide the lives of monks.  And much to my surprise, he’s done just what he set out to do.

Okholm goes through virtures such as listening, poverty, obedience, humility, hospitality, stability and balance.  He describes how these virtures are taught by Benedict and then how they are practiced in the abbey.  Best of all, he then shows how these virtures can be incorporated into the lives of every Christian.  He does this is a masterful way without being too negative or preachy.  I was especially convicted by the chapters on hospitality and stability.  He brought out some insights that I had never thought of.  I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.

Overall, this is a fantastic read that is both easy and difficult at the same time.  Easy to read; hard to do.  I highly recommend it.