Benjamin Vineyard

In borrowing the words of Richard Foster in opening his Celebration of Discipline, our world isn’t really in need of intelligent people, wealthy people, or successful people, but deep people.

The Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun (IVP ©2005) is a very neat undertaking that patiently walks through many concepts and invitations for spiritual practice and discipline — opening the heart to attentiveness in the ways of God.

The book is written to work somewhat like a counseling book instead of a linear read. Basically, by using some of the appendices (like the Spiritual Growth Planner) you then rewind to the beginning of the book in search for practical helps for your felt spiritual needs. The Spiritual Growth Planner is a brilliant take on guiding someone into various spiritual life consideration – especially when the goal is Christlikeness.

What I love: The variety of practices and the depth which Calhoun talks about them, yet with brevity. It’s the kind of book that I want to have as a resource in the back of my mind as I too walk beside people in the faith walk.

What I didn’t care much for is a minor detail, really, and perhaps more semantic than anything. It’s the secondary title for the book, “Practices that transform us.” Now, while they’re tools, I believe that the spiritual practices or disciplines aren’t what change us but place us at attention before the God who renovates souls and bodies. But, then in the next step, prayer, reading Scripture, or anything like that is a means of that kind of transformation – the tools God might use for renovating who we are at the moment toward a re-made image of God within and uninhibitedly shining through.

I really suggest just about anyone pick up a copy of this book. It’s a nice resource for personal spiritual conversation, conversations within congregations, and even the depths of spiritual direction.

Check it out.

<><