GOING DEEPER

For half a millennium, The Imitation of Christ has been the unchallenged devotional masterpiece for Christians everywhere. We have been immensely enriched by this simple book that distills the insights of a dynamic spiritual movement of the fifteenth century known as The Brethren of the Common Life. Its surpassing popularity is witnessed to by the fact that it has been translated into more than fifty languages.

I have several English editions of the Imitation, but in my opinion this new translation by Dr. William Creasy is the best yet. He has created a text that utilizes the best of literary scholarship and elicits an experience similar to that of the original reader. The combination is unusual.

Words to Live By Below is a brief selection of some of my favorite quotations:

"You will make great spiritual progress if you keep your nose out of other people's business."; "The person who has great peace of heart pays no attention to either praise or blame."; "The wise lover does not consider so much the lover's gift as the giver's love."; "What good is it to live long when we improve so little?"; "Oh, that the desire to grow in virtue may not sleep in you!"; "Fight bravely, for habit overcomes habit."

Dialogue of the Heart. One of the more interesting features of The Imitation is the way in which the last half of the book is set up as an inner dialogue between the author and Jesus. Creasy highlights this by clearly identifying the speaker as "Jesus" or "Disciple".

You will not agree with every sentence in this book . . . but what else is new! It is among the cream of the great devotional writings. Buy several copies to give to your friends for summer reading . . . but be sure to keep one for yourself.

GROWING PAINS

This issue of Perspective marks the inauguration of the Renovaré Book Service (see page 3 for order blank). We plan to keep an ample supply of the listed books on hand so that you, and any of your friends or family, can order these Devotional Classics. These are books that most stores do not always carry in stock, so we urge you to take advantage of this opportunity.

Would you like to receive a complimentary copy of The Sacrament of the Present Moment? We will give one to the person who comes up with the best name for the Book Service. There is one rule: it must incorporate the name of Renovaré in some way. Send suggestions to Lynda Graybeal at the Renovaré office.

Registrations to the Renovaré National Conference on Personal Spiritual Renewal are arriving every day. Remember the dates: October 23-26, 1991, Lake Avenue Congregational Church, Pasadena, California. For additional brochures please write or call us. Sign up soon!

One hundred people attended the Breakfast for Christian Leaders held at Lake Avenue on Friday, May 31. Thanks go to Marietta Steward (Lloyd Ogilvie's Assistant) and her helpers who prepared the delicious breakfast. Richard taught on spiritual growth, and we distributed all the National Conference Brochures available. Many indicated eagerness to attend and to recruit people from the group they were representing.

Have you started a Renovaré Spiritual Formation Group? Several? Or in one? Then can you let us know about your group? Jim Smith (Friends University, 2100 University, Wichita, KS 67213; 316-261-5870) would like to know as much --formation, names of members, successes, failures, etc.--as you feel you can tell.

Renovaré Support Team/Wichita Area is continuing the work of the Local Conference. Several Spiritual Formation Groups have been started. The seven team members can help start Groups and two can answer questions at 316-267-9280 (Janet Jantzen) or 316-267-6244 (Dan Bonner, c/o First United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67202).

Pray for us as we seek God's will in the upcoming relocation of the Renovaré office.