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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
There are three preachers that I listen to every week: my congregation's preacher, and two preachers I very much respect and appreciate in contexts that intrigue me. Rich Villodas is one of the two preachers in that latter category. As a relatively young pastor at a large, multiethnic church in Queens, Rich draws on scriptural, theological, and pastoral resources from the wider Christian tradition and brings them to bear on a very unique and challenging context.
This book flows out of his ministry and the life of the local church. He would be the first to say that some of the emphases in the book had been emphases in the New Life church community before he was there. Nevertheless, he does a great job at offering accessible yet rich (wink) insights within the following 5 areas:
1) Contemplative rhythms for an exhausted life
2) Racial reconciliation for a divided world
3) Interior examination for a world living on the surface
4) Sexual wholeness for a culture that splits bodies from souls
5) Missional presence for a distracted and disengaged people
I would highly recommend as a solo read or as a book club, small group, etc. read. It is digestible, but is very far from fluff. It will push you in these major areas within which Christians in America, particularly young Christians, are looking to grow.
"I believe that by God's grace, the presence of the Spirit, and the support of the body of Christ, we can all intentionally and incrementally move to a more comprehensive view and practice of life in Christ."
This book flows out of his ministry and the life of the local church. He would be the first to say that some of the emphases in the book had been emphases in the New Life church community before he was there. Nevertheless, he does a great job at offering accessible yet rich (wink) insights within the following 5 areas:
1) Contemplative rhythms for an exhausted life
2) Racial reconciliation for a divided world
3) Interior examination for a world living on the surface
4) Sexual wholeness for a culture that splits bodies from souls
5) Missional presence for a distracted and disengaged people
I would highly recommend as a solo read or as a book club, small group, etc. read. It is digestible, but is very far from fluff. It will push you in these major areas within which Christians in America, particularly young Christians, are looking to grow.
"I believe that by God's grace, the presence of the Spirit, and the support of the body of Christ, we can all intentionally and incrementally move to a more comprehensive view and practice of life in Christ."
i think it was @hayley.e.morgan who posted about this one and put it on my radar, but it took me a bit to get to it! villodas built on principles i’ve learned from folks like john mark comer and aaron niequist, adding new layers for me when it comes to how to live a life that is rooted in things of Christ. it’s meaningful and helpful without being trite or patronizing, it felt fresh and relevant without trying too hard, and i especially loved his thoughts on pursuing diversity in churches, fighting for justice, and keeping the Sabbath.
This book is like cold water on a hot summer day. Rich’s words of wisdom rejuvenated my soul and I honestly didn’t want the book to end. Very grateful for Rich’s prophetic voice to the American church and the humility he exemplifies in his writing and speaking.
Orthodoxy only matters when orthopraxy and orthopathy are also highly valued. Rich Villodas shows a way to deeply root ourselves in the way of Jesus—holding to truth, living like we mean it, and doing so with joy and patience for any and all we encounter.
Orthodoxy only matters when orthopraxy and orthopathy are also highly valued. Rich Villodas shows a way to deeply root ourselves in the way of Jesus—holding to truth, living like we mean it, and doing so with joy and patience for any and all we encounter.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The flow and trajectory of this book felt a bit disjointed and confusing. I struggled to find the connection and movement between each chapter or section. But overall, I thought much of the content was helpful and beneficial.
The last of my book launch books, for now. Perhaps my least successful book launch team as everything on Facebook or not at all, and I am, for lots of reasons, off Facebook at the moment. But that aside, not so the book! Though I have some reservations about quoting ancient Church Fathers mostly because they can have quite mixed views and be very aesthetic, there is so much gold in here to be gleaned.
Real reflections on who are we, why are we, what are we about in terms of justice, work and sex, as well as how we relate to God, ourselves and each other. Deeply practical in terms of reflective thinking and directional questions in answer the question how then should we live and function as Christians, as embodied created beings, as image bearers, as people in a certain time and place with other people in a certain time and place. Definitely one to return to mull over and ponder - the anecdote about being a Christian in the workplace had me sniggering and cringing, as that was naive tho well-meaning, me in my first job. More bomb-like than winsome...
Real reflections on who are we, why are we, what are we about in terms of justice, work and sex, as well as how we relate to God, ourselves and each other. Deeply practical in terms of reflective thinking and directional questions in answer the question how then should we live and function as Christians, as embodied created beings, as image bearers, as people in a certain time and place with other people in a certain time and place. Definitely one to return to mull over and ponder - the anecdote about being a Christian in the workplace had me sniggering and cringing, as that was naive tho well-meaning, me in my first job. More bomb-like than winsome...