Knihu posvátné stezky jsem začal číst plný očekávání, protože mi byla více lidmi doporučená, což není vždycky úplně dobře, protože člověk často bývá hodně zklamaný, ale to naštěstí nebyl tento případ.
Mnozí z nás křesťanů už možná poznali, že neexistuje jediná cesta, jak se přiblížit Bohu. Obzvlášť u nás v protestantských sférách se hodně prosazuje uctívání s hudbou, ale i čtení Bible a modlitba. Ne všichni však vědí jak na to, nerozumí Bibli, usínají u modliteb a podobně.
Posvátné stezky procházejí devět různých způsobů, jak milovat Boha. Důraz se klade právě na "milovat". Ač si to mnozí z nás neuvědomují, největší přikázání je právě milovat Boha jako sám sebe. Každá stezka je jasně popsaná řekl bych v té "nejčistší formě" tak, že i člověk, který o něčem podobném ještě neslyšel, nebo tím třeba opovrhoval, vidí důvody, které lidi k tomuto stylu uctívání vedou, výhody i nevýhody či pokušení, se kterými se musí tito lidé vyrovnávat a mnohé příklady, jak po této stezce kráčet v každodenním životě. Tyto způsoby jsou: naturalistický, smyslový, tradicionalistický, asketický, aktivistický, pečující, entuziastický, kontemplativní a intelektuální.
Oslovila mě například kapitola o tradicionalistickém postoji, což je něco nám naprosto cizí a naskakuje nám z toho husí kůže, jen se to slovo vysloví. Představíme si nudné mše se starým panem farářem a publikem složeným z důchodců, ale... Co takhle najít řád našeho mnohdy neukázněného a rozlítaného uctívání? Modlit se modlitby, které se modlily velkých postavy víry, jako byli Martin Luther, Jan Kalvín, František z Assisi... Symboly, které nám můžou připomínat Kristovu oběť nebo jiné případy z Bible (jako třeba nosit v kapse hřebík, prstýnek vyjadřující lásku k Bohu...) I když jsem nikdy ničemu podobnému nakloněný nebyl, dost mi to opravilo náhled na podobné "zastaralé" věci.
Myslím, že je důležité mít v těchto věcech rozhled. Každému může sednout něco úplně jiného, a nikdy nevíte, jestli třeba nehrabete na špatném písečku.
Kniha byla napsaná jasně, přehledně a strukturovaně, je prokládaná mnohými příklady ze života nejen autora, ale i mnohých známých i neznámých křesťanů. Dalo by se říct, že jde o nenáročnou a poměrně poutavou četbu pro ty, které téma zaujme. A rozhodně se řadí do mého seznamu povinné literatury. :)
Book review: I Am Second
The book called I Am Second is a collection of many different life stories. As its subtitle says, there are many situations, but always one great solution. I chose to read this book, because I like people’s stories. Since I once visited the web page of this project, www.iamsecond.com, and have seen couple of videos, I had known it would be an extraordinary experience.
There are literally tens and hundreds people who testified into this project and made a video placed on the web page. So the authors who chose stories for the printed book had pretty tough work, to pick only the best ones, and I have to say they did it very well. The chosen stories cover huge range of topics and very nicely changes between celebrities and well known people, such as Michael W. Smith or the hip-hop star Lecrae, and very real ordinary people dealing with very common problems like drugs, alcohol, overweight, pornography, relationships and also some rare and special ones as handling losses of soldiers under your command in war.
I must admit that not every story was really interesting. Some of them were just like “he was born, he felt bad and then accepted Christ and felt good”, but they are in minority. At first I was afraid, that the book will be sort of video transcription, but it was just plain fear. Stories are usually well written, not bothering with all the boring details, trying to show us all the emotions and feelings that the people felt and that led them to the ONE, who is first in their lives, therefore, they are second.
There are literally tens and hundreds people who testified into this project and made a video placed on the web page. So the authors who chose stories for the printed book had pretty tough work, to pick only the best ones, and I have to say they did it very well. The chosen stories cover huge range of topics and very nicely changes between celebrities and well known people, such as Michael W. Smith or the hip-hop star Lecrae, and very real ordinary people dealing with very common problems like drugs, alcohol, overweight, pornography, relationships and also some rare and special ones as handling losses of soldiers under your command in war.
I must admit that not every story was really interesting. Some of them were just like “he was born, he felt bad and then accepted Christ and felt good”, but they are in minority. At first I was afraid, that the book will be sort of video transcription, but it was just plain fear. Stories are usually well written, not bothering with all the boring details, trying to show us all the emotions and feelings that the people felt and that led them to the ONE, who is first in their lives, therefore, they are second.
Book review: Washington: A Legacy of Leadership
This book written by Paul Vickery and Stephen Mansfield is the first one I have got from the site BookSneeze.com. I can say now, that I am really happy for this choice. The book leads us through the life of one of the greatest man who ever lived. Everybody knows the name of the first American president, but this book offers us a great insight to his life beyond the well known facts.
It shows the whole path of his life, all of his succeses and failures, which led him to a great character, skills and integrity. It is spiced with quotations from his journal, letters and speeches, where we can see his great respect for others, despite his choleric nature.
Majority of the book describes his war experience, his struggles with an army made out of people who had never fought before, lack of supplies and money, but his constant searching for God's will and Providence. Authors always show us not only the facts, but also the feelings and stories behind the curtain. It shows us, how he learned from his mistakes, took great leadership steps, but sometimes had great difficulties, was frustrated and self-doubting.
Final chapter called "Legacy" summarizes all the impression about this great man, with which the reader can easily identify and connect all the circumstances into one whole personality.
Very well written, sometimes even stirring and thrilling, especially in the battles, and showing us great image of great man, I recommend it to anyone, who wants to be inspired by this extraordinary leader.
It shows the whole path of his life, all of his succeses and failures, which led him to a great character, skills and integrity. It is spiced with quotations from his journal, letters and speeches, where we can see his great respect for others, despite his choleric nature.
Majority of the book describes his war experience, his struggles with an army made out of people who had never fought before, lack of supplies and money, but his constant searching for God's will and Providence. Authors always show us not only the facts, but also the feelings and stories behind the curtain. It shows us, how he learned from his mistakes, took great leadership steps, but sometimes had great difficulties, was frustrated and self-doubting.
Final chapter called "Legacy" summarizes all the impression about this great man, with which the reader can easily identify and connect all the circumstances into one whole personality.
Very well written, sometimes even stirring and thrilling, especially in the battles, and showing us great image of great man, I recommend it to anyone, who wants to be inspired by this extraordinary leader.