A Way other than Our Own: Devotions for Lent
Lent recalls times of wilderness and wandering, from newly freed Hebrew slaves in exile to Jesus' temptation in the desert. God has always called people out of their safe, walled cities into uncomfortable places, revealing paths they would never have chosen. Despite our culture of self-indulgence, we too are called to walk an alternative pathâ€"one of humility, justice, and peace. Walter Brueggemann's thought-provoking reflections for the season of Lent invite us to consider the challenging, beautiful life that comes with walking the way of grace.
Reviews (98)
Deep, serious, original reflections for the Lenten season
Lucid, incisive, to the point entries for each day in Lent. Brueggemann is not your average mealy mouthed devotion writer. Each brief entry references a Scripture quotation, offers a sharp reflection on it, and closes with a genuine and serious prayer. I've read lots of devotional books, for Lent and otherwise, and this is one of the best. You will be called to real repentance here - the heart of the spiritual experience of Lent. Highly recommend.
Thought provoking and challenging
I loved this Lenten devotional because unlike so many, it calls the reader to really wrestle with sin, death, resurrection and life in ways that move beyond the feel-good superficiality of so much of Christian doctrine. By that I mean that while the message is a simple one, it is by no means easy to live out, and in our world there are constant reminders of empire and its influence over all of us. In a time when empire is being used to force a specific Christian doctrine, which intentionally or unintentionally values some of Gods children more than others, this message is a critical one to receive and to wrestle with.
Challenging Devotional
Brueggemann is at his best. This devotional allows one to walk through Lent being challenged each step of the way with the truth and implications of Jesus' journey for our lives. Skillfully weaving both Old and New Testament passages, the author brings to bear the demands of scripture as we consider our response to the journey - both individually and corporately. Though themes tend to develop and repeat, they are not distracting but reassuring as we are reminded of the constancy of God's love for all of his creation. Highly recommended.
Walter Brueggemann Thoughts on Lent
Brueggemann can be a hard read at times, but he has such great thoughts for us to ponder. In this book, the editor gives us Brueggemann in small bites, which makes them a bit easier to understand. Additionally, Mr. Floyd, a previous student of Walter Bruggemann, closes each reading with a prayer after the teachings of Walter Bruggemann. Worth reading.
Little Gems
The book contains devotions for each day of Lent, Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday. Each devotion consists of a Scripture quotation, a brief commentary and a prayer. Some are disturbing, as is appropriate for Lenten meditations; all are thought provoking; all contain meaningful calls to discipleship. They are little gems of spiritual insight from a major scholar renowned for his insights into Scripture and thoughtful prayers. As a long-time fan of Dr. Brueggemann's writings, I used the book this past season as a daily Lenten discipline, often rereading the selection for the previous day along with the current passage, sometimes being reminded of Brueggemann thoughts I have encountered before, sometimes being challenged to stretch my mind and spirit and truly pray the concluding prayer of a passage. I highly recommend such a discipline to others. However, the book can be valuable as a source of short but profound devotionals at any time or as an easy to read introduction to Brueggemann for those not familiar with his writing.
A thoughtful book that makes you think about the otherness of Jesus’ kingdom
The rulers of this age crucified Jesus. We, his followers, need to discover the deep impact of his cross and resurrection for ot just our souls but our existence before God in this world. After helping you discover this need, Brueggemann meets your need through his careful explanations of Scripture and his thoughtful reflections about Jesus’ impact on the world and ourselves. This book will not leave you untouched. You will not regret the hours you spend with it. Don’t wait until Lent to read it!
And it is written so beautifully with wonderful imagery and strong prose
This powerful little Lenten Devotional has truly inspired me to see God in His world. It's a book that helps us discern the mind of Christ as it relates to the times we live in. It is a powerful tool to help us search our own hearts during this time of Lent to see if we are seeking to follow Christ in the real world around us. And it is written so beautifully with wonderful imagery and strong prose. I intent to buy more for my friends because it is devotional for every day not just Lent
Thought provoking, digestible, and re-centering daily Lenten devotion
In just a few words each day we are prompted to rethink what drives our lives, to contemplate whether we are allowing God to be at the center of it, whether we are carrying forward Jesus’s ever pertinent and radical message. I looked forward to the succinct but profound daily reading, it really challenged me to stop and reflect on what it means to be a Christian. I highly recommend reading with a partner, to help you reflect on those deep, existential questions that will surely come up.
Although slightly repetitive I found these short meditations insightful and ...
Although slightly repetitive I found these short meditations insightful and powerful. These enriched my lenten journey. I would have appreciated a somewhat more global perspective as not everyone reading this book will be an American! However, the message was still very relevant.
An insightful Lenten companion
A new way to walk through Lent. Effectively articulates the struggles of real people in today's world.
Comments
Post a Comment