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maryhannawilson's review against another edition
4.0
This was exactly what I needed this Advent season. Short, meaningful reflections each day.
drbobcornwall's review against another edition
3.0
Advent is a rather brief season easily overlooked as we speed our way toward Christmas. There are liturgical attempts to slow things down, but it remains a challenge. Advent is a preparatory season, during which we examine ourselves, our context, our world, and ask where God fits into all of this. How might we prepare ourselves to receive the good news that the Messiah has been born in Bethlehem.
Every year publishers invite us to purchase guides and devotionals. Often they are set out either on a weekly or daily basis, and are fairly defined . Such is not the case with John Pavlovitz's contribution. At least my "Advanced Review Copy" doesn't have a guide to use (though page 3 of my version says "Weekly Themes to Come" suggesting that something is missing from my version). With that caveat, I will focus on the brief reflections present in the book as I have it. But, before that I should introduce you to the author.
John Pavlovitz is a progressive Christian blogger/speaker/ author and sometime pastor. He is the author of two prior books [b:A Bigger Table: Building Messy, Authentic, and Hopeful Spiritual Community|34564368|A Bigger Table Building Messy, Authentic, and Hopeful Spiritual Community|John Pavlovitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494377040l/34564368._SY75_.jpg|55707714] and more recently [b:Hope and Other Superpowers: A Life-Affirming, Love-Defending, Butt-Kicking, World-Saving Manifesto|39939218|Hope and Other Superpowers A Life-Affirming, Love-Defending, Butt-Kicking, World-Saving Manifesto|John Pavlovitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532869268l/39939218._SX50_.jpg|61834511]. I've not read the former, but have read and reviewed the latter.
The devotional follows the train of thought present in the earlier book, it offers a progressive, politically activist vision of the faith. Each reflection fills two pages. Pavolvitz builds his reflections on Scripture but not necessarily text that we usually attribute to Advent. Nevertheless, one can use this as a daily devotion, for the purpose of discerning the implications of the season for the world in which we live.
Why the title? It refers to what he notes in the final devotion to the "low places: the places of grief and of reverence, of caregiving and prayer, of peace and rest." (p. 59) In essence this is a devotional for Advent that recognizes that this isn't necessarily the merriest of seasons. For those needing permission to live in those low places, this is a worthy guide.
Every year publishers invite us to purchase guides and devotionals. Often they are set out either on a weekly or daily basis, and are fairly defined . Such is not the case with John Pavlovitz's contribution. At least my "Advanced Review Copy" doesn't have a guide to use (though page 3 of my version says "Weekly Themes to Come" suggesting that something is missing from my version). With that caveat, I will focus on the brief reflections present in the book as I have it. But, before that I should introduce you to the author.
John Pavlovitz is a progressive Christian blogger/speaker/ author and sometime pastor. He is the author of two prior books [b:A Bigger Table: Building Messy, Authentic, and Hopeful Spiritual Community|34564368|A Bigger Table Building Messy, Authentic, and Hopeful Spiritual Community|John Pavlovitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494377040l/34564368._SY75_.jpg|55707714] and more recently [b:Hope and Other Superpowers: A Life-Affirming, Love-Defending, Butt-Kicking, World-Saving Manifesto|39939218|Hope and Other Superpowers A Life-Affirming, Love-Defending, Butt-Kicking, World-Saving Manifesto|John Pavlovitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532869268l/39939218._SX50_.jpg|61834511]. I've not read the former, but have read and reviewed the latter.
The devotional follows the train of thought present in the earlier book, it offers a progressive, politically activist vision of the faith. Each reflection fills two pages. Pavolvitz builds his reflections on Scripture but not necessarily text that we usually attribute to Advent. Nevertheless, one can use this as a daily devotion, for the purpose of discerning the implications of the season for the world in which we live.
Why the title? It refers to what he notes in the final devotion to the "low places: the places of grief and of reverence, of caregiving and prayer, of peace and rest." (p. 59) In essence this is a devotional for Advent that recognizes that this isn't necessarily the merriest of seasons. For those needing permission to live in those low places, this is a worthy guide.
wcs53's review
5.0
This is a great devotional, that I read with my wife, and one I’m sure to return to in future years.
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