Review: Soul Keeping: Caring for the Most Important Part of You by John Ortberg

Review: Soul Keeping: Caring for the Most Important Part of You

John Ortberg

Zondervan

2014

I had read some of Ortberg’s works before and decided to take a look at this one. He has a way of taking some really heavy topics and making them much more accessible to folks. This one is no different as far as his approach to the idea of soul keeping---that’s keeping as in tending, caring for. Areas he covered can help identify some of the maladies typically found today like accepting personal responsibility, substituting busyness for substance, how to find genuine rest, and, of particular interest to me, how to deal with those arid times in our lives. All this is good stuff, definitely worth the read and some thought.

The problem I had with this book was his meandering between what was just mentioned and honoring a person who was very important in his life—Dallas Willard. I am in no way objecting to his honoring this man, but mixing that with what seemed to be his primary focus—soul keeping blurred both efforts for me. Yes, give Willard credit for being a fine mentor for years and years, but maybe in a separate area? Anyway, I found it distracting. Other readers may not. It did encourage me revisit some of Willard’s writings though.

Overall, this latest from Ortberg is due your consideration and especially the first chapter in section III, Dark Night of the Soul. For that I will recommend this book.

I received this book from the publisher via BookLook in return for this review.

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