Thanks to Pastor Dave Wasemann for his review of Patched Together: A Story of My Story. Enjoy his review below and join the discussion. Another review by Natalie Johnson will be available next week!––Margie Williamson, Community Manager
Reviewer: Pastor Dave Wasemann has been ordained since 1991. He served in Virginia with a congregation planted in 1988. Before that he served the church as a professional religious communicator developing various media and doing media interpretation. He is now an intentional interim minister, dedicated to spiritual formation and direction, pastoral and congregational coaching, missional coaching, health and renewal. He leads the examination of existing ministry using a vision frame to assess current and future plans; which includes prayer, leadership development, discipling and congregational renewal and mission planting.
Title: Patched Together: A Story of My Story
Author: Brennan Manning
Publisher/Copyright: David C. Cook, 2010
About the Book:
St. Bernard of Clairvaux said that "spiritual reading and prayer are the arms by which hell is conquered and paradise won" ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_reading ). Patched together is spiritual reading. It is a humble tool sparking an encounter with the Living God. I call it dialogical. It can happen by surprise, summoning you as with Samuel. The Spirit alone can ready you for this but at times, you may need an Eli. Brennan Manning is an Eli (I Samuel 3:9).
He is gentle with us. As caring and guiding as Calm Sunset is with Willie Juan, the characters of Manning’s parable. The author invites us to our own Cave of Bright Darkness. The name is suggestive; it prompts our imagination and draws out our trust in God and the guides he gives us. The book is permeated with themes of incarnation and anointing, pointing us to the Word made Flesh that dwells among us, touching our hearts and penetrating us to our inner wounds. Patched Together invites us to experience God as Salve and Savior, as incarnate and transcendent. Touching, embroiled and triumpant.
Make highlights. Take notes in the margins. What are you thinking and feeling as you read? As you encounter characters, themes, and messages in the parable, what could you pray in your Cave of Bright Darkness? Listen carefully. This is dialog. It is encounter. It is a moment of realizing, “my life is unmanageable,” inviting you into the Cave to hear, listen, learn, and heal. Manning invites his readers to know God as companion, which allows us to form questions and prayers, readying us to become “Eli” to boy or girl, man or woman.
Manning’s book is real, true, honest, even warning—providing caution about the Evil One. It reminds me of the tutelage of C S Lewis through Screwtape with Wormwood in The Screwtape Letters. Or the encounter between Jesus and the demons in the Gospels.
Reviewers Observations:
Clearly this is a wonderful way to start your own prayer of examination. According to Ignatian Spirituality, there should be an examination of consciousness, an acceptance of the presence of God, thanksgiving, reflection, confession, resolution and recommitment. Brennan Manning gives us a way to do this using fiction for musing on his life and formation. This is painful; as with a friend of mine who experienced three days of tears as he began recovery from alcoholism. God is present, soul searching, grace full. Fortunately, the Spirit has a sure and deft touch and that can be apparent as you spiritually read this book.
Quotes from the Book:
"It can be dangerous, because you will need to let go of your hold on life." P. 55.
"But it's like stepping into the dark, Willie Juan. Are you ready?" P. 56
"Define yourself as one beloved by God." P. 124
Recommended For:
Pastors, spiritual mentors and directors, seminary courses in spiritual formation and pastoral care, small groups, prayer ministry development, high school youth ministry, personal spiritual reading.
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Sounds like another good book from Manning. His writing is so down-to-earth and makes a person accutely feel the love of God. Thank you for your insightful review!
Dave,
I have read a couple of Mannings books a while ago ... you make me want to read this one. Thank you for your thougthful review!