Review of "Deepest Thanks, Deeper Apologies" by Stephen Shortridge

Deepest Thanks, Deeper Apologies: Reconciling Deeply Held Faith with Honest Doubt
Written by Stephen Shortridge

Rating: 4 stars
Category: Christian devotional

Publisher: Worthy Publishers
Pub Date: October 11, 2011

Kindle Format: 1533 lines
Hardcover Format: 192 pages

Kindle edition: $11.99
Hardcover: $18.99

Product Description from the Publisher: Most Christians are content to spend their lives in churches where mystery is denied and doubt is unwanted. Where uncertainty is shunned and honest questions are stuffed into a corner, never to be brought out again.
This book is for the rest of us.

For those who live with distinct doubts . . . but whose passion for God remains deeper still. For those who have been confused by the world—and perhaps by our own desires—and still long to connect with a God who forgives and embraces us. For those who believe that our personal wrestlings can somehow make our faith mature—and our need for God complete.

Sharing his own personal vulnerabilities with soul-stirring reminders for your faith journey, Stephen Shortridge delivers a hope-filled work—encouraging mystery rather than explaining it, affirming doubt rather than removing it . . . for all who dare to be honest.

Review: Stephen Shortridge is an artist who writes like he paints. Deeply romantic, mystical and impressionistic, “Deepest Thanks, Deeper Apologies” recognizes that faith is more than “churchy” clichés and platitudes. Authentic faith is gritty, puzzling and enigmatic.

In this short devotional book which I received in advance from the publisher, Shortridge’s style is conversational; his voice gentle and his insights deep. Reading “Deepest Thanks” is like sitting down with the author/artist over a cup of coffee. But be warned: Those looking for a practical step-by-step guide won’t find answers here. Neither will those uncomfortable with doubt and mystery. Instead, the book’s greatest appeal is to spiritual thinkers who have wrestled with their faith and admit to honest doubt. Those readers will realize they have a friend in Shortridge.

Labels:

body { background:#000; margin:0; padding:40px 20px; font:x-small "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Verdana,Sans-Serif; text-align:center; color:#ccc; font-size/* */:/**/small; font-size: /**/small; } a:link { color:#9ad; text-decoration:none; } a:visited { color:#a7a; text-decoration:none; } a:hover { color:#ad9; text-decoration:underline; } a img { border-width:0; } /* Header ----------------------------------------------- */ @media all { #header { width:660px; margin:0 auto 10px; border:1px solid #333; } } @media handheld { #header { width:90%; } } #blog-title { margin:5px 5px 0; padding:20px 20px .25em; border:1px solid #222; border-width:1px 1px 0; font-size:200%; line-height:1.2em; color:#ccc; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.2em; } #blog-title a { color:#ccc; text-decoration:none; } #blog-title a:hover { color:#ad9; } #description { margin:0 5px 5px; padding:0 20px 20px; border:1px solid #222; border-width:0 1px 1px; font:78%/1.4em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.2em; color:#777; } /* Content ----------------------------------------------- */ @media all { #content { width:660px; margin:0 auto; padding:0; text-align:left; } #main { width:410px; float:left; } #sidebar { width:220px; float:right; } } @media handheld { #content { width:90%; } #main { width:100%; float:none; } #sidebar { width:100%; float:none; } } /* Headings ----------------------------------------------- */ h2 { margin:1.5em 0 .75em; font:bold 78%/1.4em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.2em; color:#777; } /* Posts ----------------------------------------------- */ @media all { .date-header { margin:1.5em 0 .5em; } .post { margin:.5em 0 1.5em; border-bottom:1px dotted #444; padding-bottom:1.5em; } } @media handheld { .date-header { padding:0 1.5em 0 1.5em; } .post { padding:0 1.5em 0 1.5em; } } .post-title { margin:.25em 0 0; padding:0 0 4px; font-size:140%; line-height:1.4em; color:#ad9; } .post-title a { text-decoration:none; color:#ad9; } .post-title a:hover { color:#fff; } .post div { margin:0 0 .75em; line-height:1.6em; } p.post-footer { margin:-.25em 0 0; color:#333; } .post-footer em, .comment-link { font:78%/1.4em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.1em; } .post-footer em { font-style:normal; color:#777; margin-right:.6em; } .comment-link { margin-left:.6em; } .post img { padding:4px; border:1px solid #222; } .post blockquote { margin:1em 20px; } .post blockquote p { margin:.75em 0; } /* Comments ----------------------------------------------- */ #comments h4 { margin:1em 0; font:bold 78%/1.6em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.2em; color:#999; } #comments h4 strong { font-size:130%; } #comments-block { margin:1em 0 1.5em; line-height:1.6em; } #comments-block dt { margin:.5em 0; } #comments-block dd { margin:.25em 0 0; } #comments-block dd.comment-timestamp { margin:-.25em 0 2em; font:78%/1.4em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.1em; } #comments-block dd p { margin:0 0 .75em; } .deleted-comment { font-style:italic; color:gray; } .paging-control-container { float: right; margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px; font-size: 80%; } .unneeded-paging-control { visibility: hidden; } /* Sidebar Content ----------------------------------------------- */ #sidebar ul { margin:0 0 1.5em; padding:0 0 1.5em; border-bottom:1px dotted #444; list-style:none; } #sidebar li { margin:0; padding:0 0 .25em 15px; text-indent:-15px; line-height:1.5em; } #sidebar p { color:#999; line-height:1.5em; } /* Profile ----------------------------------------------- */ #profile-container { margin:0 0 1.5em; border-bottom:1px dotted #444; padding-bottom:1.5em; } .profile-datablock { margin:.5em 0 .5em; } .profile-img { display:inline; } .profile-img img { float:left; padding:4px; border:1px solid #222; margin:0 8px 3px 0; } .profile-data { margin:0; font:bold 78%/1.6em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.1em; } .profile-data strong { display:none; } .profile-textblock { margin:0 0 .5em; } .profile-link { margin:0; font:78%/1.4em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Arial,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.1em; } /* Footer ----------------------------------------------- */ #footer { width:660px; clear:both; margin:0 auto; } #footer hr { display:none; } #footer p { margin:0; padding-top:15px; font:78%/1.6em "Trebuchet MS",Trebuchet,Verdana,Sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.1em; } /* Feeds ----------------------------------------------- */ #blogfeeds { } #postfeeds { }

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Review of "Deepest Thanks, Deeper Apologies" by Stephen Shortridge

Deepest Thanks, Deeper Apologies: Reconciling Deeply Held Faith with Honest Doubt
Written by Stephen Shortridge

Rating: 4 stars
Category: Christian devotional

Publisher: Worthy Publishers
Pub Date: October 11, 2011

Kindle Format: 1533 lines
Hardcover Format: 192 pages

Kindle edition: $11.99
Hardcover: $18.99

Product Description from the Publisher: Most Christians are content to spend their lives in churches where mystery is denied and doubt is unwanted. Where uncertainty is shunned and honest questions are stuffed into a corner, never to be brought out again.
This book is for the rest of us.

For those who live with distinct doubts . . . but whose passion for God remains deeper still. For those who have been confused by the world—and perhaps by our own desires—and still long to connect with a God who forgives and embraces us. For those who believe that our personal wrestlings can somehow make our faith mature—and our need for God complete.

Sharing his own personal vulnerabilities with soul-stirring reminders for your faith journey, Stephen Shortridge delivers a hope-filled work—encouraging mystery rather than explaining it, affirming doubt rather than removing it . . . for all who dare to be honest.

Review: Stephen Shortridge is an artist who writes like he paints. Deeply romantic, mystical and impressionistic, “Deepest Thanks, Deeper Apologies” recognizes that faith is more than “churchy” clichés and platitudes. Authentic faith is gritty, puzzling and enigmatic.

In this short devotional book which I received in advance from the publisher, Shortridge’s style is conversational; his voice gentle and his insights deep. Reading “Deepest Thanks” is like sitting down with the author/artist over a cup of coffee. But be warned: Those looking for a practical step-by-step guide won’t find answers here. Neither will those uncomfortable with doubt and mystery. Instead, the book’s greatest appeal is to spiritual thinkers who have wrestled with their faith and admit to honest doubt. Those readers will realize they have a friend in Shortridge.

Labels:

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home