The Return

Review: You Are the Beloved: Daily Meditations for Spiritual Living Henri J.M. Nouwen Convergent 2017 If you aren’t familiar with the work of Henri Nouwen this compilation from his writings, talks, and letters, as the introduction tells us, will introduce you to him.   If you have read Nouwen before this will remind you over and again how sensitive and loving he was.   And how he demonstrated his ability to speak the truth in love.  I have browsed randomly through many of the entries and each one touched me in some way.   The readings are brief, but not without deep content.   A simple line or two from one of the readings says, “The resurrection does not solve our problems about dying and death…. But it does reveal to us that, in deed, love is stronger than death.”   (104).    I am glad to have discovered this book and intend to use regularly.   I recommend it to you as well.   It does contain a list...

Review: Love, Henri: Letters on the Spiritual Life Henri J.M. Nouwen Convergent 2016 Gabrielle Earnshaw spent fifteen years sorting through the correspondence of Henri Nouwen and has edited this first volume released to “commemorate the twentieth anniversary of Henri’s death in 1996.” (x), and since it is she that edited this book, that is the only thing I believe can be discussed since the letters themselves were written as just that---letters, private coorespondence.   Her explanations and insights are found throughout and help the reader understand the circumstances surrounding each set of communications that Nouwen wrote.   Her efforts were aided by a close friend of Nouwen, Sue Mosteller, to whom the book is dedicated. She called the book a “…spiritual autobiography.” (346) I have enjoyed reading this book, and although I have not finished it totally I do recommend this one.   I’ve found collections of letters or published diaries help me unde...

Review: God Is with You Everyday, 365 Day Devotional Max Lucado Thomas Nelson 2015 Once again Max Lucado puts forth a devotional book for his readers and maybe some that are new to his writings.   This is a devotional reading for the year organized by month and day.   Each day is an excerpt or based on one of his other publications.   The book I received has a padded front cover and a ribbon marker.   I like ribbons so that gets a mention.   Also it is a nice size and handles well. What about the content?   Like the Lucado I’ve read before, he can get serious with you, and at other times be lighter to read without losing the content.   That is a plus, I think, because a steady diet of one or the other causes me to put a devotional book down and forget where I left it.    I do recommend this devotional overall.   Take a peak and see what you think.    This book was provided by the publisher in return ...