Timotheose - A son in the Faith

One of the guys that I work with at the Foundation House asked me if I thought that this was something worthwhile for him to do and after I read it I got totally stoked on doing it myself. I heard David Nasser speak at the Starfield Concert in Victoria this last summer and his message was pretty good and as I am going through some transitions in my life now where I want to cut out all of the extraneous baggage of the 'world' this seems to be a real gift from God.

It involves commitment to a 40 day fast which Nasser describes as "... denying yourself of something so you can focus more completely on God." as well as doing bible study, scripture memorization and introspection. I have briefly looked over some of the questions and the format and I think it should be quite challenging and is most likely just what I need right now.

Perhaps I will keep a little journal of my progress.

I liked this book. I didn't love this book, I simply liked it. There was nothing in it which was overly disagreeable and I am VERY interested in the material covered by it and yet it didn't 'inspire' me or grab my attention like some of the books that I have recently read. I think, quite frankly that the reason for this is the style in which it was written, which I hope is not becoming a standard within this genre.

Much like 'Blue Like Jazz' by Donald Miller it is written by a right-brain, creative type and is fairly loose in its form and structure. It meanders through the subject matter like a bubbling brook not a straight and orderly prairie highway which doesn't suit my left-brain dominated cerebrum. The author uses a lot 'stream of consciousness' narrative and sidetracks down interesting but not particularly helpful personal confessions and observations.

It is the second book of a planned eight books in the 'Ancient Practices' series by Thomas Nelson publishing all of which I hope to get as they all seem to be very much upon my heart and mind these days. The other books deal with other spiritual disciplines like;

1. 'Finding Our Way Again' by Brian McLaren
2. 'In Constant Prayer' by Robert Benson
3. 'Sabbath' by Dan B. Allender
4. 'Fasting' by Scot McKnight
5. 'The Sacred Meal' by Nora Gallagher
6. 'The Pilgrimage' by Diana Butler Bass
7. 'The Liturgical Year' by Joan Chittister
8. 'Tithing' by Douglas LeBlanc

The forward was written by Phyllis Tickle, a fairly influential author in her own right who it seems is the acting General Editor for the series. She, along with Brian McLaren are on the vanguard of the Emergent Church movement and both could be construed as 'liberal' in their theology. This series then must be considered in light of this movement and I would recommend care and diligence be exercised if one has a tender conscience or is easily influenced AND is more conservative in theological orientation.

All in all, I think that Mr Benson does a good job in presenting an argument for the following of the Apostle Paul's urging in 1 Thessalonians 5: 17 to 'pray without ceasing'. At it's heart this book is;

"... about the most ancient practice of Christian prayer, a way of prayer known as the daily office. It is known by other names as well -- the liturgy of the hours, fixed-hour prayer and the divine office, the canonical hours, the divine hours , daily prayer."


I give it 7/10 bucks on the Reel Money Scale.