≫ Download Free Be Still and Listen Experience the Presence of God in Your Life Amos Smith Dale Hanson Bourke Phileena Heuertz 9781612618654 Books

Be Still and Listen Experience the Presence of God in Your Life Amos Smith Dale Hanson Bourke Phileena Heuertz 9781612618654 Books

Download As PDF : Be Still and Listen Experience the Presence of God in Your Life Amos Smith Dale Hanson Bourke Phileena Heuertz 9781612618654 Books

Be Still and Listen Experience the Presence of God in Your Life Amos Smith Dale Hanson Bourke Phileena Heuertz 9781612618654 Books

Be Still and Listen is a heart book (rather than just a head book).

It reminds me of the late great author Ray Bradbury when he said to me, “you know you really don’t have to have all the answers to begin.” He could not have been more right. We humans, especially today, are so busy demanding answers or preparing our own answers, that we forget to listen. Especially we forget listen with our heart.

Imagine having a relationship with someone who did all the talking, and at that, would only talk while they were multitasking. Now imagine that every time you were with them, you got to say nothing. Instead, they did all the talking and it was merely a string of directions or requests. What kind of relationship would that be?

The prayer life of the average person is exactly that way. Somewhere along the way we have forgotten that God is not a vending machine or simply there to fulfill every request, no matter how noble we deem it to be. This is why Amos Smith’s book Be Still and Listen is a book for the ages. He reaches back to ancient practices and helps us see it is more relevant today than ever. I, myself, have been a practitioner of centering prayer for years, yet I have gained so much deep understanding from Amos Smith.

His humble guided tour will take you by the hand, and bring you to a place where you can connect with a timeless, incomparable, and formerly nearly incomprehensible, unending love. He opens the door and invites you to experience the richness of a spiritual life beyond your imagination.

If you want to feel dipped in love, a good first step to arrive at that place, is to begin with this book.

Ditch the background noise of life. Discard arguments that hold you back. This rich love is waiting for you and you are perched on the first step.

This is a book for you.
This is a book for everyone.


Tags : Be Still and Listen: Experience the Presence of God in Your Life [Amos Smith, Dale Hanson Bourke, Phileena Heuertz] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <DIV>The various crises we experience in society and culture today, at their root, reveal a spiritual problem: a profound lack of meaning. The mystical truths revealed in scripture can surely help.<BR />  <BR /> Part One,Amos Smith, Dale Hanson Bourke, Phileena Heuertz,Be Still and Listen: Experience the Presence of God in Your Life,Paraclete Press,1612618650,Biblical Studies - General,Christian Life - Spiritual Growth,Contemplation,Contemplation.,Listening - Religious aspects - Christianity,Listening;Religious aspects;Christianity.,Mysticism,Mysticism.,Spiritual life - Christianity,General Adult,InspirationalDevotional - Christian,Non-Fiction,RELIGION Biblical Studies General,RELIGION Christian Life Spiritual Growth,RELIGION Christian Living Spiritual Growth,RELIGION Mysticism,RELIGIOUS,Religion,ReligionBiblical Studies - General,ReligionEthics,ReligionMysticism

Be Still and Listen Experience the Presence of God in Your Life Amos Smith Dale Hanson Bourke Phileena Heuertz 9781612618654 Books Reviews

I love what I read so far. But I don’t know how to use on I phone
I am astounded that Richard Rohr endorses this author.

I will address one example of dualistic thinking. In Note 68 states "One brief example of Scriptures' inconsistencies is the story of David and Goliath. There are three vastly different renditions of the story in Scripture." The author provides no citations. When someone claims Scriptural inconsistency I immediately wonder if the claimant is aware of the literary form of that piece of Scripture. If not, then their claim betrays the claimant's literalistic reading. Such is the case here. This makes me wonder how the author considers the "inconsistencies" [his word, not mine] among the Gospels being as they too present 4 "different renditions of the story in Scripture."

Tedious repetition. There are so many examples in this book. They are often the authors ruminations on a quote that said much more in one sentence. Chapter 9, Finding Refuge. Beginning at Location 1852 are quotes from Scripture followed by his tedious reflections on finding a refuge in a place, person, faith community and art (songs, paintings, etc.). Then at Location 1875 he begins to reiterate this already lame reflection comparing the "spiritual house" in 1 Peter 24-5 with the four directions of a compass (why would anyone do that?); the north wall is ..., the east wall is ..., the south wall is ..., and there is no west wall, so we have a 3-sided house.

Location 2153 our author lamely introduces Thomas Merton, as if for the first time in the book, though he cites him 10 times prior to that in the text. I don't need any introduction to Merton, specially from this author.

At about Location 303 the author writes "As a result of [our] deep listening the Counselor [Holy Spirit] understands our hearts." Does he mean that the Holy Spirit [God] is not capable of understanding our hearts unless we listen deeply?

These are just some of the problems that I had with this book, and they all made this a very difficult read. Ironically, the Afterword begins with a statement on the miniscule attention span of some people. Perhaps the person writing the Afterword is leaving a coded message. This book is a waste of money and time. For the best book on the subject, see The Heart of Centering Prayer by Cynthia Bourgeault.
Amos Smith reminds us that the path of centering prayer and Christian mysticism is not a race. It’s a marathon. As many Scriptures attest, our relationship with God requires patient waiting in stillness and silence, day after day, month after month, year after year. The marvel is that in time God will transform us!

Rich Lewis
SilenceTeaches.com
“Be Still and Listen” by Amos Smith has become a daily devotional book for me. I read it slowly and let my soul soak up the wisdom found in the book. With eloquence and clarity, Amos has put into words what I have only experienced but could not articulate. His abundant use of examples from his own life state in plain words spiritual concepts that can be difficult to grasp. They also explain the life experiences that formed the modern mystic he is today.
Amos quotes various translations of the Bible. The translations I grew up with are balm to my soul; the modern translations brought new depth and understanding to the Scripture. He has helped me understand verses that have been a mystery to me before.
Amos Smith is a fresh new voice for Contemplative Prayer. I fully expect “Be Still and Listen” to become a Christian Classic.
Be Still and Listen is a heart book (rather than just a head book).

It reminds me of the late great author Ray Bradbury when he said to me, “you know you really don’t have to have all the answers to begin.” He could not have been more right. We humans, especially today, are so busy demanding answers or preparing our own answers, that we forget to listen. Especially we forget listen with our heart.

Imagine having a relationship with someone who did all the talking, and at that, would only talk while they were multitasking. Now imagine that every time you were with them, you got to say nothing. Instead, they did all the talking and it was merely a string of directions or requests. What kind of relationship would that be?

The prayer life of the average person is exactly that way. Somewhere along the way we have forgotten that God is not a vending machine or simply there to fulfill every request, no matter how noble we deem it to be. This is why Amos Smith’s book Be Still and Listen is a book for the ages. He reaches back to ancient practices and helps us see it is more relevant today than ever. I, myself, have been a practitioner of centering prayer for years, yet I have gained so much deep understanding from Amos Smith.

His humble guided tour will take you by the hand, and bring you to a place where you can connect with a timeless, incomparable, and formerly nearly incomprehensible, unending love. He opens the door and invites you to experience the richness of a spiritual life beyond your imagination.

If you want to feel dipped in love, a good first step to arrive at that place, is to begin with this book.

Ditch the background noise of life. Discard arguments that hold you back. This rich love is waiting for you and you are perched on the first step.

This is a book for you.
This is a book for everyone.