Root Yourself in Jesus' Teachings: Five Transformative Values for a Meaningful Life

Rev. A. J. Bawtree: Rich digs down and finds treasure in the earthy ordinary stuff of life where God is at work. Well worth reading and being encouraged by.

United Kingdom on Mar 02, 2023

Jonathan: Fantastic book! In a world of increasing noise and chaos, Rich invites people into a live that will last. I appreciated the thoughtful and coherent chapters and found myself longing to love a more deeply formed life, both for myself and for the world around me.

Canada on Jan 30, 2023

Emediong OffongEmediong Offong: Do you want to go deeper in your relationship with Jesus, this is an excellent practical guide

United Kingdom on Jan 07, 2023

Kindle Customer: Not sure whether to rate 3 and a half of 4 stars.

Firstly the good:

- There is some absolute gold in this book.

- If you've read any emotional healthy spirituality books, you'll know the emphasis on deep integration and growth, which Villodas continues. And in light of continuing Christian leader fails and the US led deconstruction of faith a deep life is vital.

- The section on sexuality is v good - it's not about what you would think but about how all of us are sexual beings needing a place to belong. Similar to the small book "purposeful sexuality" by Ed Shaw 

- The references are broad and diverse - lots of non Eurpean names and female writers, and the bibliography could provide some great reading I think.

- The questions around our feelings were the parts I found most challenging and want to come back to. Again if you have used EHS material this won't be totally new but it is so important I keep revisting it and actually do the work not just read it !!

- There are lots of good practical practices he encouraged us to have a go at. 

My 'dissatisfaction'? :

- I felt in many ways it felt quite disjointed. 5...

United Kingdom on Aug 19, 2022

Derek DeMars: This is a great book for anyone wondering how to live a faithful and fruitful Christian life in our current cultural climate. Using the metaphors of an iceberg and a redwood forest, Rich Villodas argues that believers need to take time away from the shallow, hectic activities of life to cultivate a deep, layered life of spiritual formation from which they can draw. In a culture that pressures us to be shallowly-formed, we need to be deeply rooted. From a life deeply anchored in prayer and in gospel truth, Christians can then reach out to engage the world in life-giving ways.

It was refreshing to see a book about Christian discipleship from an evangelical perspective that actually includes chapters on pursuing racial justice and sexual wholeness under the umbrella of spiritual disciplines, and with appropriate nuance to boot. A rare thing in our day, as many resources either ignore these topics or take a very one-sided or agenda-driven approach. Pastor Villodas offers a wise and balanced perspective, and considering our cultural moment Christians cannot and should not shy away from discussing these subjects in the context of spiritual formation.

Maybe I'm overly...

United States on Jan 14, 2022

SJT: Though I have some reservations about quoting ancient Church Fathers mostly because they can have quite mixed views and be very aesthetic and say some really misguided things, there is so much gold in here to be gleaned. Real reflections on who are we, why are we, what are we about in terms of justice, work and sex, as well as how we relate to God, ourselves and each other.
Deeply practical in terms of reflective thinking and directional questions in answer the question how then should we live and function as Christians, as embodied created beings, as image bearers, as people in a certain time and place with other people in a certain time and place.
Definitely one to return to mull over and ponder - the anecdote about being a Christian in the workplace had me sniggering and cringing as that was naive, tho well-meaning, zealous me in my first job. More bomb-like than winsome...

United Kingdom on Nov 26, 2020

Brian Heinen: Many people are wondering how they are to follow Jesus in this increasingly complex world. Just how do we live out our faith in such a multifaceted, ever-changing culture? Rich Villodas, in "The Deeply Formed Life: Five Transformative Values to Root Us in the Way of Jesus," gives us some foundational principles that are equally valid in whatever time or context we face.

Rich writes with the pen of a pastoral-theologian. He explores deep concepts about God (and ourselves) in language the non-scholar can understand. Yet, he also uses his skills as a practitioner to help us live out those deep truths. Rich transparently shares his own story trying to live for Jesus as the pastor of a large multiracial church in Queens. He freely communicates his own struggles and victories that help us apply these foundational truths to our own lives. You may not agree with all his conclusions, but this book will make you think deeply as you come to your own.

In his introduction, Rich lists the foundational values for us:
1. Contemplative rhythms for an exhausted life.
2. Racial reconciliation for a divided world.
3. Interior examination for a world living on the surface.
4....

United States on Sep 16, 2020