What does it mean to be in the presence of God? Is it something that we can experience today? If so, what does it look like? How do we get there?
Theologian, pastor, and author Greg Boyd helps us to explore these kinds of question in his recent book, Present Perfect: Finding god in the Now. What do we mean by ‘explore’? Check out the back cover of the book…
We long to be transformed. Yet our minds are filled with endless trivia and self-centered chatter. To-do lists. Worries about the past. Speculation about the future. We forget to live in the present moment … and to invite God to be with us there.
After reading classic contemplative authors Brother Lawrence, Jean-Pierre de Caussade, and Frank Laubach, theologian and pastor Gregory Boyd longed to experience the presence of God for himself. For two decades, he’s attempted to implement the ‘practice of the presence of God’ in his own life … sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing. What he’s learned as a fellow pilgrim on his spiritual journey can help you find true spiritual transformation as you begin to practice the discipline of inviting God into every moment.
I don’t know about you, but I could use some of that transformation! So I’m excited to take on this next group blogging project!
Over the next few weeks one person from this project will lead us through each chapter of the book sharing their thoughts, perspectives, and feelings. And we’ve got an exciting lineup of people who’ll be helping us work through the book together!
The schedule along with who will be sharing is as follows:
- introduction – Dan King, @bibledude (bibledude.net)
- mere christianity – Bryant Neal (Camak Baptist Church)
- finding home – Victoria Bierman Jenkins, @VBJenkins (Let the Son Shine)
- chasing the sun – Crystal Rowe, @SoulMunchies (Soul Munchies)
- single-mindedness – Josh Gillies, @WhiteFrozen (The Outpost)
- living in love – Kyle Reed, @kylelreed (In Transition)
- being present – Jesse Giglio, @jessegiglio (love is social)
- the father is always working – Jennifer Dukes Lee, @dukeslee (Getting Down With Jesus)
- bonus post: he is here by amena brown
- author’s closing thoughts – Gregory A. Boyd, @greg_boyd (Christus Victor Ministries)
- project wordle
So stay tuned for some great discussion, and please feel free to jump into the comments and share your thoughts! In the meantime, here are a few things that you can do right now…
- Buy the book. It will be a much better experience for you if you follow along in your own copy of the book.
- Subscribe to updates. Get the latest posts in this series in your email inbox or favorite feed reader. This is the best way to keep up with everything!
- Tweet it up! Follow @bibledude and retweet updates from this event. If you want to share your own tweets, make sure that you use the #presentperfect hashtag.
I highly recommend the book, and I'm excited to be a part of your group writing project. Boyd asks: “Am I awake?” Let me say this: I'm more awake today than I was a few days ago when this book was dropped at my front doorstep. And I trust that I'll be ever-more awake as I move prayerfully through the rest of these pages. Glad to be on this journey with you.
If the early buzz is an indication, then this #presentperfect project is gonna be a hot one! People need to get the book now, and follow along!
I'm excited to have you on this project Jennifer, and I can't wait to see what God does with this one! I'm looking forward to the great conversations, and being 'awake'!
I couldn't help myself and had to start reading this book the day I got it in the mail. I was INSTANTLY transformed. Our chalkboard that we use for notes to each other has, in huge letters, “ARE WE AWAKE” and sticky notes are being placed everywhere. I am discovering that the opportunity to participate in this particular project is an answer to many prayers that I've been struggling with for some time now. So thank you for allowing me to participate, and I am looking forward to focusing on the NOW with you all.
This is an amazing book. I enjoy just about everything Greg puts out, but this one fits in the life changing category. I can't wait to read it again and follow along. You can check out a related post I previously wrote about the book here: http://tinyurl.com/23n4kox
I'm glad that you are getting into it so much! I love to be a part of something that helps people transform their lives like this! I'm looking forward to going on this journey with you! Thanks for being one of the contributors on this project!
That's great to hear Tim! It sounds like we are on the right track with offering this 'study' here! I really look forward to these sort of virtual small group studies, but they are particularly awesome when we do it with a book that has that ability to really shift our thinking.
Thanks for sharing your post, and I hope to hear more from you as we work through the book together here!
I am not familiar with this book but the idea of being “awake” is the cornerstone of Buddhist practice.
i would definite recommend looking more into book before passing too much judgement on it. the author is taking a very Biblical perspective when he talks about this.
while i totally understand the heart behind being careful with mixing religious practices, but i also think that there are also common ideas that religions like Christianity and Buddhism share.
but yours is a wise caution. thank you!