Reading

I asked for some comments on books you have been reading or a book that has influenced your life. I am still waiting for replies, but allow me to begin the discussion.

During our month in Florida I focused my reading on three main books: (1) the book of Acts from the Bible which chronicles the events of the early church following Jesus’ ascent into heaven, (2) a book by Calvin Miller entitled Loving God Up Close about the intimate relationship we can experience with God through the Holy Spirit, and (3) a good portion of some of the works pertaining to spiritual growth from Bernard of Clairvaux, a twelfth century Christian monk of the Cistercian flavor (I don’t really know what a Cistercian tastes like, but the word flavor seems much more positive in identifying the differences within Christianity, seeing the diversity as something to be celebrated, like the fine selection at Baskin Robins).

These three books could be summarized in one phrase, “it’s all about God.” The title of the book of Acts was early on referred to as The Acts of the Apostles and more recently shortened to simply Acts. However, I think a more accurate title would be The Acts of the Holy Spirit since the acts recorded in the book far exceed any human effort. Rather, what happened early on in the formation of the church was nothing short of miraculous, a display of divine power through the people of God. Calvin Miller’s book Loving God Up Close serves as a great reminder regarding the various ways through which God the Holy Spirit works intimately in our lives, if, of course, we allow this work. Bernard, or Bernie if I may, emphasizes the stages through which we progress as our love for God grows. The climax finds love as completely for God’s sake, not the sake of self.

I will cover Bernie more in the future, but for now, I want these summaries to speak as a collective. From the pen of his own hand, Luke—a doctor and thorough historian—attributes the miraculous impact of the first century church to the working of the Holy Spirit. Bernie, a twelfth century abbot, declares that love in its most mature form remains completely for the sake of God alone. Our contemporary, professor, writer, and artist Calvin Miller finds God the Holy Spirit at the center of all that makes life good and meaningful. In other words, it doesn’t matter the time, the place, the occupation or background . . . It’s all about God!