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“I remember asking God, ‘Is there anything else you want to rip out of me, you sadist?’”
Me and 25 years ago Pete are like
Me and 25 years ago Pete are like
I think Emotionally Healthy Spirituality should be required reading for every Christian, especially in the midst of a global trauma. It gives practical advice and tips to help us stay connected to God without sacrificing our own emotions. Emotional health isn't theoretical for Scazzero and it shouldn't be for us either.
Read my full review here: https://workinprogressblog.co/2020/06/22/wtml-emotionally-healthy-spirituality/
Read my full review here: https://workinprogressblog.co/2020/06/22/wtml-emotionally-healthy-spirituality/
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
This book was a mixed bag for me. The beginning felt heavy, constantly addressing the problems without any resolution. At first, I was dragging through it. From chapter 5 on, I really enjoyed this book and some of the practices it suggested. The exercises and practices in the latter half are worth the read!
Menjalani berbagai kepahitan dalam kehidupan bergereja, saya jadi sadar bahwa gereja memang sejatinya adalah rumah orang2 sakit, bukan istana orang2 kudus. "Sakit"nya sejatinya beragam, tak hanya dosa yang tampak, namun juga sindrom aktivisme ketika tidak sedikit pemimpin umat maupun aktivis gereja yang terus terfokus pada program namun begitu terkuras secara mental. Akibatnya, lama kelamaan apa yang mereka hidupi berbanding jauh dengan yang mereka ajarkan, dan menimbulkan kepahitan2 yang menyebabkan tidak sedikit orang meninggalkan gereja.
Peter Scazzero, sebagai pendeta yang pernah mengalami fase kepalsuan aktivisme dalam waktu yang cukup lama ini, walau sejatinya dengan intensi yang baik, ingin membagikan pengalaman pertobatannya dari gaya hidup tipikal Kekristenan Injili yang begitu dingin dan berpaku pada target dan menampakkan diri kuat. Dia pun memberikan ajakan kepada pembaca untuk berani rapuh, menyerahkan segala kekhawatiran pada Allah, dan merawat jiwa supaya melahirkan spiritualitas yang sehat secara emosi.
Apa yang dia tulis di sini beranjak dari pengalamannya bertahun2 untuk memperbaiki sikap bebalnya pun juga refleksi dari pergumulan2 jemaatnya, untuk merekonstruksi pola pertumbuhan iman. Scazzero tidak takut merengguk hikmat2 dari jejak iman kontemplatif Kristen non-Protestan, sesuatu yang saya rasa di masa buku ini ditulis (2006) kurang mendapat tempat di lingkup Kekristenan Protestan konservatif.
Buku ini adalah kombinasi dari kumpulan pengalaman pribadi pasangan suami-istri Peter & Geri Scazzero dalam perjalanan iman mereka menuju spiritualitas yang sehat secara emosional, pengalaman jemaat2 di gerejanya, dan ulasan2 untuk menapak ke pemulihan spiritual dari yang keras dan kaku menjadi rapuh dan rela dibentuk.
Ada kekaguman tersendiri karena Scazzero berani merengguk hikmat dari beragam sumber, mulai dari Alkitab (tentunya), buku2 psikologi dan konseling, sampai hikmat2 Kekristenan Purba seperti dari Bapa-Bapa Padang Gurun maupun praktek spiritual yang lebih banyak diasosiasikan dengan Kekristenan Katolik, seperti Rule of St. Benedict, Lectio Divina, dan Prayer of Examen
Memang benar, Kekristenan Protestan sering tak kita sadari begitu fokus pada aspek kognitif dan kering kontemplasi, yang memberi makan jiwa untuk bermeditasi, bernapas, merenung, & pulih pelan2. Scazzero mencoba mengajak kembali pada akar spiritualitas Kristen yang sejatinya kaya, dengan tetap fokus pada Alkitab, maupun diperkaya pemahaman psikologi. Hasilnya adalah sebuah buku yang layak dibaca berkali2, bukan untuk diselesaikan begitu saja, melainkan dicerna & coba dipraktekkan saran2 & panduan2 di dalamnya.
Peter Scazzero, sebagai pendeta yang pernah mengalami fase kepalsuan aktivisme dalam waktu yang cukup lama ini, walau sejatinya dengan intensi yang baik, ingin membagikan pengalaman pertobatannya dari gaya hidup tipikal Kekristenan Injili yang begitu dingin dan berpaku pada target dan menampakkan diri kuat. Dia pun memberikan ajakan kepada pembaca untuk berani rapuh, menyerahkan segala kekhawatiran pada Allah, dan merawat jiwa supaya melahirkan spiritualitas yang sehat secara emosi.
Apa yang dia tulis di sini beranjak dari pengalamannya bertahun2 untuk memperbaiki sikap bebalnya pun juga refleksi dari pergumulan2 jemaatnya, untuk merekonstruksi pola pertumbuhan iman. Scazzero tidak takut merengguk hikmat2 dari jejak iman kontemplatif Kristen non-Protestan, sesuatu yang saya rasa di masa buku ini ditulis (2006) kurang mendapat tempat di lingkup Kekristenan Protestan konservatif.
Buku ini adalah kombinasi dari kumpulan pengalaman pribadi pasangan suami-istri Peter & Geri Scazzero dalam perjalanan iman mereka menuju spiritualitas yang sehat secara emosional, pengalaman jemaat2 di gerejanya, dan ulasan2 untuk menapak ke pemulihan spiritual dari yang keras dan kaku menjadi rapuh dan rela dibentuk.
Ada kekaguman tersendiri karena Scazzero berani merengguk hikmat dari beragam sumber, mulai dari Alkitab (tentunya), buku2 psikologi dan konseling, sampai hikmat2 Kekristenan Purba seperti dari Bapa-Bapa Padang Gurun maupun praktek spiritual yang lebih banyak diasosiasikan dengan Kekristenan Katolik, seperti Rule of St. Benedict, Lectio Divina, dan Prayer of Examen
Memang benar, Kekristenan Protestan sering tak kita sadari begitu fokus pada aspek kognitif dan kering kontemplasi, yang memberi makan jiwa untuk bermeditasi, bernapas, merenung, & pulih pelan2. Scazzero mencoba mengajak kembali pada akar spiritualitas Kristen yang sejatinya kaya, dengan tetap fokus pada Alkitab, maupun diperkaya pemahaman psikologi. Hasilnya adalah sebuah buku yang layak dibaca berkali2, bukan untuk diselesaikan begitu saja, melainkan dicerna & coba dipraktekkan saran2 & panduan2 di dalamnya.
It's an interesting book, and I wasn't expecting Scazzero's "solution" to emotionally unhealthy spirituality -- the contemplative tradition.
To fight against American culture's tendencies, he recommends the Daily Office (set prayer times throughout the day) and contemplative silence. Along the way, he quotes figures like John of the Cross, Ignatius Loyola , Thomas Merton, John Cassian, St. Benedict, and the desert "fathers."
Also, I did not know that Scazzero's church (New Life Fellowship Church) is "a multiracial, multiethnic community" with "more than seventy-three countries represented" and that [a:Rich Villodas|19847082|Rich Villodas|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1583861226p2/19847082.jpg] took over as pastor there.
Makes me want to dig deeper into the desert fathers, maybe starting with Athanasius, [b:The Life of Antony|998306|The Life of Antony, The Coptic Life and The Greek Life|Tom Vivian|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386200413l/998306._SY75_.jpg|983799].
To fight against American culture's tendencies, he recommends the Daily Office (set prayer times throughout the day) and contemplative silence. Along the way, he quotes figures like John of the Cross, Ignatius Loyola , Thomas Merton, John Cassian, St. Benedict, and the desert "fathers."
Also, I did not know that Scazzero's church (New Life Fellowship Church) is "a multiracial, multiethnic community" with "more than seventy-three countries represented" and that [a:Rich Villodas|19847082|Rich Villodas|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1583861226p2/19847082.jpg] took over as pastor there.
Makes me want to dig deeper into the desert fathers, maybe starting with Athanasius, [b:The Life of Antony|998306|The Life of Antony, The Coptic Life and The Greek Life|Tom Vivian|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386200413l/998306._SY75_.jpg|983799].
Absolutely incredible, wish I had read it sooner. Will be putting so much of this into practice.
This is a wonderful book i will need to refer back to again. It has some spiritual practices that will encourage spiritual growth and healthy emotional awareness. We could all benefit from examining our emotional state, recognizing what's not healthy and working to improve those areas.
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality is a work I thoroughly enjoyed. The modern church is filled with generations of spiritually dedicated believers that struggle to see true transformation into the image of Christ. Scazzero speaks from his own personal experience of suffering under the weight of expecting transformation in Christ but not experiencing it, and his work is developed as a life’s worth of wisdom to help Christians integrate who they once were, with who they are now in Christ.
This book does not perpetuate the emotional revolution we are surrounded by that is set on becoming your “best self”, but is more concerned with helping believers develop a fuller understanding of what it means to “love God, and love your neighbor as yourself.” The knowledge Scazzero imparts to his readers will hopefully allow them to live lives that are walking proclamations of the Kingdom of God.
I read this book with a notebook in hand, and a friend to discuss it with, both of which were invaluable in my opinion. Being able to actively reflect as I read each chapter allowed for me to engage with the content Scazzero provided, making his thoughts more tangible as they revealed themselves in my own life and relationships. Additionally, being able to discuss with my friend provided a greater atmosphere to refine my own understandings and assumptions, and then absorb and put into practice that which reflected Jesus the most(as best as we could discern as two recent graduates trying to run towards Christ). There are courses developed by Scazzero and his church that are designed to be done in community/small group atmosphere, which I think could be a great blessing for those who have the capability to do so.
From what I could perceive, the theology Scazzero employs is healthy and redeeming, calling his readers to view everything through the Love of God. It is such a lens that propels readers to dive deeply into the hard and necessary work of experiencing true and lasting formation into disciples of Christ. I hope to read this work again, and although my thoughts may change about the work itself, I pray I can still utilize the helpful tools and resources Scazzero provides to more honestly reflect Jesus to those around me!
This book does not perpetuate the emotional revolution we are surrounded by that is set on becoming your “best self”, but is more concerned with helping believers develop a fuller understanding of what it means to “love God, and love your neighbor as yourself.” The knowledge Scazzero imparts to his readers will hopefully allow them to live lives that are walking proclamations of the Kingdom of God.
I read this book with a notebook in hand, and a friend to discuss it with, both of which were invaluable in my opinion. Being able to actively reflect as I read each chapter allowed for me to engage with the content Scazzero provided, making his thoughts more tangible as they revealed themselves in my own life and relationships. Additionally, being able to discuss with my friend provided a greater atmosphere to refine my own understandings and assumptions, and then absorb and put into practice that which reflected Jesus the most(as best as we could discern as two recent graduates trying to run towards Christ). There are courses developed by Scazzero and his church that are designed to be done in community/small group atmosphere, which I think could be a great blessing for those who have the capability to do so.
From what I could perceive, the theology Scazzero employs is healthy and redeeming, calling his readers to view everything through the Love of God. It is such a lens that propels readers to dive deeply into the hard and necessary work of experiencing true and lasting formation into disciples of Christ. I hope to read this work again, and although my thoughts may change about the work itself, I pray I can still utilize the helpful tools and resources Scazzero provides to more honestly reflect Jesus to those around me!
If taken seriously, this book is dynamite. Along with the companion volume 'Emotionally Healthy Church', this takes seriously our emotional lives as part of our walk with Jesus and avoids pat 'How To...' answered, instead creating a guidebook for restructuring life to live in new, healthy patterns. A book to be lived.