Select Reading
From time to time I will make complete books available. I tend to grab out of copyright material, often from the free book texts at https://www.gutenberg.org/. I find that handling the texts helps me to review the books. William James is included here as a review of religious varieties. The rest of the books are extremely valuable for Christian spiritual growth.
Brother Lawrence
Nicholas Herman was born in 1611, the same year as the King James Bible. For a brief time Nicholas was a soldier before living in the wilderness, somewhat like a desert father. By middle age Nicholas entered a Carmelite monastery and became known as Brother Lawrence. At first, prayer was difficult for Brother Lawrence, until he came to realize God was always present, Every minute could be spent in prayer. While working in the monastery kitchen, Brother Lawrence went from finding prayer strenuous to time spent with God. Brother Lawrence is remembered on January 11. Brother Lawrence Died February 12, 1691.
- Practicing the Presence of God, or The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence is a short collection of letters, 15, and short conversation, 4. These letters were collected after his death, by compiled by Father Joseph de Beaufort, in 1692. Brother Lawrence’s life can be understood in his words, “I made this my business, as much all the day long as at the appointed times of prayer; for at all times, every hour, every minute, even in the height of my business,”
Albert Benjamin Simpson
A.B. Simpson (1843 to 1919) was a Canadian Presbyterian Minister who promoted a consciousness of global evangelism. He founded the Christian and Missionary Alliance
- The Holy Spirit or Power from on High – Vol 2 by A.B. Simpson This 2 volume set by A.B. Simpson is a high level overview of the actions of Holy Spirit as seen throughout the Bible. Volume 2 deals with the work of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. Simpson did not write as an academic exercise. Simpson wrote that men and women born of God could see the work the Spirit in their lives in a similar manner as seen in the early church, that they may walk with power from on high.
- Days of Heaven on Earth – AB Simpson. If you are looking for a daily Bible reading and reflexion, try this. Simpson lays out meditations to help us think and do as we will in heaven.
Unknown 14th century English mystic
Unknown 14th century English mystic
- The Cloud of Unknowing – The Cloud of Unknowing has resonated with me since seminary. The main idea it to set aside everything and sit before God. Place the same unknowing between you and the world as you have between you and God. God is clothed with clouds, obscured from our mind, while the world and events in our life are vivid. you can say the world is in your face. The idea is to equalize the two, sight of God and sight of the world, then the Spirit of God becomes the one providing our thoughts. This is contemplation and contemplative prayer.
- The Book of Prive Counseling – Author Unknown – The C loud of Unknowing has long been a favorite to me. Recently I came across the Book of Prive Counseling. The Book of Prive Counseling was a relatively unknown until recently. It has since been associated with the same unknown abbot as the Cloud. Prive Counseling is a more mature work than Cloud of Unknowing. In this text we have the actual prive counsel of a mature contemplative in instructing one who is maturing. This text is not meant for all Christians, but the smaller subset of Christians who want to bask in the glory of God.
William James
William James (1842 to 1910) First American Professor to lecture at a major university in Europe, the Gifford Lectures on natural theology, University of Edinburgh. James is known as the father of American psychology. While teaching at Harvard, James taught physiology, anatomy, psychology, and philosophy
- The Varieties of Religious Experience. – The Varieties of Religious Experience is a book compiled from the Gifford Lectures on natural theology presented by William James in 1901. James studied and taught physiology, psychology, philosophy, and anatomy at Harvard. In The Varieties, James collects and categorizes examples of self-described religious experience from a variety of religions backgrounds.