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When Richard Foster began writing Celebration of Discipline more than 20 years ago, an older writer gave him a bit of advice: "Be sure that every chapter forces the reader into the next chapter." Foster took the advice to heart; as a result, his book presents one of the most compelling and readable visions of Christian spirituality published in the past few decades. After beginning with a simple observation--"Superficiality is the curse of our age.... The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people"--Foster's book moves to explain the disciplines people must cultivate in order to achieve spiritual depth. In succinct, urgent, and sometimes humorous chapters, Foster defines a broad range of classic spiritual disciplines in terms that are lucid without being too limiting and offers advice that's practical without being overly prescriptive. For instance, after describing meditation as a combination of "intense intimacy and awful reverence," he settles into such down-to-earth topics as how to choose a place and a posture in which to meditate.
Perhaps most interesting and useful is Foster's chapter on the controversial Christian discipline of submission. According to Foster, submission does not demand self-hatred or loss of identity. Instead, it simply means growing secure in the conviction that "our happiness is not dependent on getting what we want" but on the fulfillment that naturally flows from love of one's neighbors. Such wise and encouraging suggestions have helped many readers to discard the idea that discipline is an onerous duty and to move toward a liberating and simpler idea of discipline--whose defining character, as Foster never forgets, is joy. --Michael Joseph Gross
Review
"Celebration of Discipline has quietly asserted itself in the lives of multitudes around the globe, and has taken its place as a guide to the uplands of the spiritual life for the late twentieth century. Everywhere I go I meet those whose lives have been changed by encountering it. It places us on the path of life with those who have succeeded in walking with Jesus in every circumstance and shows us accessible patterns of action through which interaction with his Kingdom is assured to us. This is the secret of its power. If you wish to know in your self the reality of the gracious life of God seen in the Bible, you may find no better counselor than Richard Foster." -- Dallas Willard, author of The Spirit of the Disciplines and The Divine Conspiracy
"Celebration of Discipline won me when it was first published. If everybody in this country could read--and heed--this book, what a difference it would make to the planet; nay, to the cosmos." -- Madeleine L'Engle, author of A Wrinkle in Time and The Crosswicks Journals
"Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all his brothers and sisters to share the find, Richard J. Foster has 'found' the spiritual disciplines that the modern world stored away and forgot, and has excitedly called us to celebrate them. For they are, as he shows us, the instruments of joy, the way into mature Christian spirituality and abundant life." -- Eugene H. Peterson, author of Leap Over a Wall
"Richard Foster has given us a rare gift. . . The celebration of each discipline in this book hands us a tool that can be useful in helping us to integrate our inner and outer lives." -- Macrina Wiederkehr, O.S.B., author of A Tree Full of Angels
"The best modern book on Christian spirituality. . . No other book apart from the Bible has been so helpful to me in the nurturing of my inward journey of prayer and spiritual growth." -- Ronald J. Sider, executive director, Evangelicals for Social Action
"Celebration of Discipline won me when it was first published. If everybody in this country could read--and heed--this book, what a difference it would make to the planet; nay, to the cosmos." -- Madeleine L'Engle, author of A Wrinkle in Time and The Crosswicks Journals
"Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all his brothers and sisters to share the find, Richard J. Foster has 'found' the spiritual disciplines that the modern world stored away and forgot, and has excitedly called us to celebrate them. For they are, as he shows us, the instruments of joy, the way into mature Christian spirituality and abundant life." -- Eugene H. Peterson, author of Leap Over a Wall
"Richard Foster has given us a rare gift. . . The celebration of each discipline in this book hands us a tool that can be useful in helping us to integrate our inner and outer lives." -- Macrina Wiederkehr, O.S.B., author of A Tree Full of Angels
"The best modern book on Christian spirituality. . . No other book apart from the Bible has been so helpful to me in the nurturing of my inward journey of prayer and spiritual growth." -- Ronald J. Sider, executive director, Evangelicals for Social Action
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First Sentence
Superficiality is the curse of our age. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Superficiality is the curse of our age. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Book Through Which To Grow,
By M Leonard (Michigan) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Celebration Of Disciplne Revised (Hardcover)
As with one of the other reviewers published on this site, I read Foster's book in the process of converting to Catholicism. In the Catholic Church I have found the fullness of the depth of which Foster attempts to elucidate. I found this book to be a refreshing return to the wisdom of early Christians whose lives were dedicated to growing in their faith. It whet my appetite for a return to the wisdom of the early Church, which was very familiar with Foster's thesis. This is not a book of banal platitudes so often found in popular Christian literature. Rather, it is an intense, spiritually practical book which will put you on the road to a deeper relationship with the Lord.For those who say Foster relies on human writers/opinions instead of Scripture, not only are they wrong, but show their ignorance as to how God works...through men. The canon of Scripture was defined by the Catholic Church in the late 4th century at the Councils of Hippo and Carthage. If we had not listened to them and submitted to their authority (given them by God), there would be no Scripture. I do not hold Foster to be on the same level with the Councils of Church history, but to say we shouldn't listen to the opinion of men is ridiculous. You might as well do away with sermons and theologians. Many men and women throughout history have offered beautiful insights into the Faith. Foster is merely doing his part. If you like Foster, you should look into the writings of some of the early Church Fathers and other saints throughout history.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Thoughtful and inspiring guidebook.,
By
This review is from: Celebration Of Disciplne Revised (Hardcover)
In Celebration of Discipline, Foster has provided a well-written guide to help Christians enhance their relationship with God. He breaks the book down into three major sections: the Inward, Outward, and Corporate disciplines. The disciplines covered are meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance, and celebration. For the most part, this book is a great starting point. Foster backs up each of his statements not only with Biblical references, but also with quotations from Christianity's most prominent writers and thinkers. I found, however, that he falls just short of providing a complete picture of each discipline. Often additional time is required of the reader to research the writings that are quoted. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to move forward in his or her relationship with God.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Spiritual Growth / Easy to Understand,
By
This review is from: Celebration Of Disciplne Revised (Hardcover)
The topic of the disciplines, e.g. fasting, praying, etc, is not an easy, quick fix topic like most the christian literature littering our bookstores today. Foster draws on centuries of tradition to form this wonderful book on spiritual development through the use of the disciplines. These are time honored techniques that will push you spiritually to deepen your relationship with God. This book is a great read for anyone who wants to go deeper in their faith and be pushed out of their comfort zone. Joseph Dworak
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