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Title: Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
ISBN: 0060628391
Author:
Richard J. Foster
Publicate Date: 1998-10-01
Publish: 1998-10-01
List Price: $23.95
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $7.99
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $3.94
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| Customer Review: |
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1: One of my All Time Top Five Christian books!
In 2003, my associate pastor at Richmond, Virginia's First Baptist Church, Steve Booth, gave to me at my request a list of his twenty
favorite Christian books. Believe it or not, I read every one...
and to this day resting in my Top 5 reads of my life is this now more than 25-year-old masterpiece. I have read it over and over...and each time I do something new and valuable is gleaned. I simply ADORE this book and have recommended it to dozens of friends and co-workers.
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2: Useful But Lacks Theological Framework
Celebration of Discipline is a primer on the subject of spiritual disciplines which Foster describes generally as those practices that are historically central to Christianity.
Foster seems to understand that intimacy with God is the main objective when considering the spiritual disciplines. He accurately states that "we have only one thing to do, namely, to experience a life of relationship and intimacy with God." Foster also recognizes that human willpower is insufficient to secure spiritual success. With these admissions, I was looking forward to an analysis of how the practice of spiritual disciplines relates to human effort and fulfilling the Greatest Commandment. But Foster does not attempt to provide a theology of spiritual disciplines or any biblical exegesis. I think this is unfortunate. The argument that disciplines cannot be employed as a formula to encounter God needs to be addressed. Understanding the causal relationship between the spiritual disciplines and encountering the Holy Spirit is critical information.
We should be fascinated by the practice of spiritual disciplines because they are associated with knowing God better. They remain a mystery in the sense that practicing them is not a formula for encountering God, yet history and experience have demonstrated that those who encounter God seem to employ them. Although Foster leaves important questions unanswered, the value of Celebration of Discipline is to demonstrate we are not limited to the mundane when seeking God. Foster invites us to consider the creativity of those who have gone before us in employing the spiritual disciplines.
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3: Celebration of Discipline
This is a excellet book for people of faith. It helps review various stages of belief and faithful living.
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4: The place to start for spiritual disciplines
Foster lays the foundation for cultivating a life marked by the spiritual disciplines. He touches on the major aspects of all the basic disciplines--prayer, fasting, journaling, silence, meditation, etc. While he doesn't give a thorough treatment of each one (as this was not his goal), he shows readers the path to developing these vital spiritual habits of the heart. Highly recommended for all looking to deepen their relationship with Christ.
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5: Classic Overview
A classic overview of spiritual disciplines, Foster's book offers an understanding of Christian growth through prayer and discipline. A good book for beginners.
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