Will and Spirit: A Contemplative Psychology Review

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Will and Spirit: A Contemplative Psychology ReviewThis is one of those rare books that excites you as you read. May speaks of contemplative prayer and spirituality as both a long time practitioner and a psychiatrist. This is neither a book of inspiring piety not a book of the mechanics of prayer. Rather, it describes the dynamics of the human mind as it comes into contact with the transcendent in contemplative prayer. As I read through the book, I was frequently saying "Yes, that's it exactly!" The section on the defenses the self comes up with in "protecting itself" from unitive experience especially impressed me.
May has spent much of his professional career focusing on the area of spiritual direction. Rather than building his psychological model on experience obtained from treating pathology, May builds his model on "unitive experience" in the context of contemplative prayer. The model is especially helpful in understanding what goes on in us as we attempt to practice the methods of contemplative prayer. It gives a practical look at the obstacles to prayer, why they arise, and how to understand and work through them.
May's pivotal concept is the role of willingness and willfulness as life attitudes and the critical standards for our spiritual lives. He presents willingness as an openness to God's will in all circumstances. This attitude is critical, as it allows God to work through us. The real danger to our relationship with God and with one another is an attitude of willfulness. This attitude places our will as the standard. It is dangerous because there is no room for God in this attitude. It is especially dangerous when the person thinks that he or she is God's gift to humanity.
When I read anything other than novels, I underline important ideas. My copy of Will and Spirit is so filled with yellow from my highlighting marker that at times the pages almost seem to be printed on bright yellow paper.
This is an excellent book on the topic of contemplative prayer and the spiritual life. It is not an easy book. It requires serious reflection as you move through it. It provides practical advice that is available only from one who is experienced both in contemplative prayer and providing direction to those who are trying to follow the contemplative path.Will and Spirit: A Contemplative Psychology Overview

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Black Christian Singles Guide to Dating and Sexuality, The Review

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Black Christian Singles Guide to Dating and Sexuality, The ReviewThis is a great book for parents to use to help guide their youth into relationships. Young people will relate to many of the issues that Jackson covers.Black Christian Singles Guide to Dating and Sexuality, The Overview

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Mixed: An Anthology of Short Fiction on the Multiracial Experience Review

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Mixed: An Anthology of Short Fiction on the Multiracial Experience ReviewI read a couple of positive reviews for this book and decided to buy it. Previously, the only similar book I'd read was Half and Half: Writers on Growing up Biracial and Bicultural. That book was nonfiction. What I liked about Mixed is that it is comprised of only fiction, which I've always preferred to memoirs, essays, etc. Short stories are easier for me to relate to, analyze, and explore on a more personal level. I found the stories of very high literary quality (expect nothing less from W.W. Norton). One standout is Ruth Ozeki's "The Anthropologists' Kids," which addresses the theme of mixed race and culture with such acuity and nuance that the story transcends its context and becomes a universally sympathetic tale of adolescent discontent and unrequited love. Mat Johnson's "Gift Gifting" is so brazen and gritty compared to some of the other pieces that its impact is jarringly good. I also enjoyed the elegant simplicity of the pieces by Emily Raboteau and Neela Vaswani. The author's comments on their own stories are sometimes as fascinating as--or even more fascinating than--the stories themselves, as is the case with Kien Nguyen's "The Lost Sparrow." Overall, I came away from this anthology with a better sense of what the term multiracial (or "mixed") means, and how complicated, strange, and powerful a factor race continues to be in many people's lives. This is a unique book, and well worth checking out.Mixed: An Anthology of Short Fiction on the Multiracial Experience Overview

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Liberating Black Theology: The Bible and the Black Experience in America Review

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Liberating Black Theology: The Bible and the Black Experience in America ReviewThe Bible is about Jesus Christ. This is the historical, orthodox view. As Luke 24:27 tells us, it was also the view of Jesus, "Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself." The Bible then, is to be read and understood through that lens - it is centrally about the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. This however is not the view of Black Liberation Theology.
According to Black Liberation Theology, the central interpretive lens through which the Bible is read and understood is... well, maybe you should just read the book and find out!
Because most readers will be unfamiliar with Black Liberation Theology, I would rate this book as an "Intermediate" level read.
Strengths:
A helpful introduction to Black Liberation Theology. Bradley's primary focus is on the work of James Cone and Cornel West. Bradley works hard at fairly, respectfully, and accurately representing their views. He is also sympathetic to the historical context that influenced their work, particularly that of Cone, even though in the end Bradley disagrees with the approach of Cone and West to God and Scripture. 5 stars in terms of a very helpful, respectful introduction, and critique of Black Liberation Theology from the perspective of an orthodox Christian scholar.
Weaknesses:
The book needed a better editor. Since many readers will be unfamiliar with Black Liberation Theology each page feels like you are taking in new information (which certainly makes for an enjoyable reading experience). However, it requires some effort and an editor with a better understanding of the potential audience could have served this work better. Minus 1 star for this reason.
I recommend the book.
And it doesn't hurt to read it in the current historical context of having a sitting President of the United States who for 20 years attended a church strongly influenced and centered around Black Liberation Theology. The reader can draw his or her own conclusions about that.Liberating Black Theology: The Bible and the Black Experience in America Overview

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The Gift of Black Folk: The Negroes in the Making of America (Knights of Columbus) Review

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The Gift of Black Folk: The Negroes in the Making of America (Knights of Columbus) ReviewI had not been aware of this book prior to its reprinting. It was an eye opener for me in terms of the information about reconstruction and other issues. I bought several copies to share with friends. It is a must have for American history buffs.The Gift of Black Folk: The Negroes in the Making of America (Knights of Columbus) Overview

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Inspired By... The Bible Experience: New Testament Review

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Inspired By... The Bible Experience: New Testament ReviewFinally. Not just a reading or recitation of the Holy Scriptures but a re-enactment of them. The words leap and dance off of the page due to the passion infused into every word. What a wonderful project. This is indeed a sight and sound generation. Try getting kids to sit down and read a book these days. Impossible! But now we have The Bible Experience. It's packed with more stars than a blockbuster movie. Although the cast is entirely African American, it makes no difference because when God speaks, he speaks to every person.
The set includes 19 CD's which hold the complete New Testament. There is also a CD which includes bonus features. That's where you will find the Making of Video, pictures and cast list and what characters they play. The really nice thing about this set is that the discs are already tucked into a nice cd case, ready to take with you as soon as you open the box.
The talent used here is a smart move. It creates an audience that may not have been attracted to a project like this. What a cast: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Cuba Gooding Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Blair Underwood, Yolanda Adams, Shirely Ceasar, Faith Evans, Kirk Franklin, Hill Harper, Levar Burton, Tisha Campbell, Loretta Devine, Kim Fields, Eriq Lasalle, MC Lyte, Glynn Turman, Garrett Morris, James Avery, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Donnie McClurkin, etc., etc., etc. There are too many to name here.
The cast re-enacts from the new testament of Today's New International Version of the bible. Not only is there acting but wonderfully scored music and sound effects to make the listener feel as though he is at the scene. You may have noticed that some of the cast aforementioned may not be known as being Christian but many of the people in the bible were not people of faith. It is hoped that in taking part in this awe inspiring project, at least some of the unsaved might become saved.
I emplore you to buy this Audio Book for yourself and give it as a gift to others. Especially the young people. It will be a blessing. The Old Testament is being workd on and will be released in 2007. There will also be a CD of all the music released in 2007. Many of the original cast will return to work on the Old Testament. The voice of God is still to be cast as I understand it. I vote for James Earl Jones! Is there anyone better to play God? I think not.Inspired By... The Bible Experience: New Testament Overview

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