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EMarshallBuckles
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Rockville (Near Richmond), Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 683 |
| First Name: | Marshall | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Christian Church,Episcopal Church,Baptist denomination,learning about RCC |
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Posted: Thu Sep 25th, 2008 11:05 pm |
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A while back, I discovered a Creighton University web site which has daily devotions which I have started reading and enjoy (I think that most of the writers have a Jesuit orientation). On the web site, they invited 30 people to obtain a book called "How Big Is Your God?", by Paul Coutino, SJ (Loyola Press, ISBN 978-0-8294-3481-2) and to discuss it online in October. I volunteered, was selected, got a free copy of the book and will be discussing it online.
http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html (Daily Devotional web site for anyone interested)
I was wondering if any of you good, intellectual folk have read the book or heard of it. If so, what did you think of it?
Following is a summary of the book from the Loyola Press web site:
"Paul Coutinho, SJ, is an Indian Jesuit priest with a genial sense of humor and a penchant for asking deeply thought-provoking spiritual questions: Do you have a real relationship with God, or do you just have a religion? Do you know God, or do you just know about God? Do you worry about the smallest things, or do you trust God to help you through even the biggest things? Have you ever considered a relationship with God that has no limits, with a God powerful enough to enable you to think, love, and live differently?
In How Big Is Your God? Fr. Coutinho challenges us to grow stronger and deeper in our faith and in our relationship with God whose love knows no bounds. To help us on our way, Coutinho introduces us to his Hindu friends who put him on the path to mysticism; to his Buddhist teachers who broke open his limited views of the divine; to Viktor Frankl, Desmond Tutu, and other enlightened guides who led him to a far more meaningful spiritual life and relationship with God; and to St. Ignatius of Loyola, whose Spiritual Exercises continue to shape his reflection and prayer life.
Each short chapter in this book will draw readers with an open mind and a longing heart into a closer relationship with God and will encourage them to experience the infinite breadth of God in a deeply personal way." Loyola Press.
WHOA! It just occurred to me! I'd better be CAREFUL or I am liable to turn into a CATHOLIC if I keep reading all this stuff?!   Ha, ha! (just affectionately teasing). Seriously, if any of you have read the book, I would be interested to know what you think of it. Thank for any replies. 
Last edited on Thu Sep 25th, 2008 11:09 pm by EMarshallBuckles
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JillD
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Visalia, California USA |
| Posts: | 1001 |
| First Name: | Jill | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | heathen, EvFree, Messianic, LC-MS, Catholic 2007 |
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Posted: Thu Sep 25th, 2008 11:56 pm |
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EMarshallBuckles wrote: "Paul Coutinho, SJ, is an Indian Jesuit priest with a genial sense of humor and a penchant for asking deeply thought-provoking spiritual questions: Do you have a real relationship with God, or do you just have a religion? Do you know God, or do you just know about God? Do you worry about the smallest things, or do you trust God to help you through even the biggest things? Have you ever considered a relationship with God that has no limits, with a God powerful enough to enable you to think, love, and live differently?
I haven't read this book, but as several of those questions sort of zinged me, it sounds like a good one to absorb. Let us know how it goes. Have you received or read the book yet?
Jill
____________________
"I praise you, for I am wondrously made. Wonderful are our works! My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret." Ps 139
"Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men." Ps 140
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EMarshallBuckles
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Rockville (Near Richmond), Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 683 |
| First Name: | Marshall | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Christian Church,Episcopal Church,Baptist denomination,learning about RCC |
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Posted: Fri Sep 26th, 2008 03:35 am |
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| Yes, I have received the book and started to read. One thing that touched me, in the introduction, is that Father Coutinho says that his ancestors, way back, had actually been forced into Christianity by a colonial power who had told them that they either converted or died. If they converted, they were given the last name of one of the people who were handling the, um, "conversion process" which is, he said, where his family got their last name generations ago. Of course, his faith is voluntary, however, it is interesting that his family, way back, was brought into the faith in that manner. I kind of picture the Islamic religion bringing people into it in that manner. It troubles me that some peoples have been, allegedly, "Christianized" in that manner even though it did result in later generations being able to escape the pagan religion into which they were born and led to them becoming Christians with a true faith. I sort of have mixed feelings about that but am glad that Father Coutinho is a Christian and a Priest. Oughta be an interesting book discussion group! The Creighton devotionals, written by their Faculty and Staff are usually very good too!
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EMarshallBuckles
Member
| Joined: | Mon Nov 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Rockville (Near Richmond), Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 683 |
| First Name: | Marshall | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Christian Church,Episcopal Church,Baptist denomination,learning about RCC |
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Posted: Thu Oct 2nd, 2008 03:51 am |
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Following are the first comments I made for the How Big is Your God discussion group. Don't know if His Holiness the Pope would necessarily agree, however, I just shared what came to mind as the result of my reading. Just thought I would share it with you.
How Big is Your God Group Comments by E. Marshall Buckles
I was deeply touched by Father Coutinho's account of how his ancestors were brought into Christianity by force. Yet here he is, a Jesuit Priest, a Christian serving God. I am reminded of Romans 8:28-30 which says "28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. I am also reminded how our African American
brothers and sisters were brought to what is now the United States against their wills. Even so, many of them turned to Christ and, eventually, a Christian leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, was produced from among their number who, in addition to having Christian faith, drew lessons from Gandhi in Father Cotinho's India. In an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, Placido P. D'Souza spoke of the Rev. Martin Luther King being influenced by Gandhi. He said, "King was to explain later the rationale and evolution of his thinking. "It was the Sermon on the Mount, rather than a doctrine of passive resistance, that initially inspired the Negroes of Montgomery to dignified social action -- (and) to protest with the creative weapon of love." He added: "As the days unfolded, however, the Christian doctrine of love, operating through the Gandhian method of nonviolence, was one of the most potent weapons available to the Negro in his struggle for freedom."
This seems to me a use, by Almighty God, of both a western leader and an eastern leader, with their respective philosophies, to accompish His purposes. This also reminds me of Joshua 5:13-14 "13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" 14 "NEITHER," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." During this time of year when we remember St. Michael and All Angels and Guardian Angels, I am reminded that God uses His means to accomplish HIS purposes as HE knows
is best. A Jewish lady, with whom I once chatted, who was studying Taoism, shared with me a meditation which, as I recall, said in part "The Way is sacred, you cannot own it..." and, indeed, none of us can own "The Way", we can only follow Jesus Christ and trust Him. Once, back before I was married, when, after a lot of questioning, I had come to a strong adult faith in Christ, I had done my devotionals and fallen asleep one night. Suddenly, I had a dream, or perhaps it might have been a vision. I dreamed that Our Lord Jesus Christ came to the foot of my bed and I sat up in respectful attention to Him. In the dream, He simply, gently but firmly said, "FOLLOW ME!" then He disappeared. I woke up, realizing that I was sitting rigidly upright in my bed facing the foot of my bed. I've had and forgotten many dreams before and after that night. I have never forgotten that dream. I can only follow Christ, as He commands us in scripture to
do, trusting Him as I go and often marveling at what He does and how He does it often in ways I would never have imagined.
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left coast mystic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 10th, 2008 |
| Location: | La Honda, California USA |
| Posts: | 167 |
| First Name: | Marcee | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nondenominational charismatic, Presbyterian, long-time lover of the RCC |
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Posted: Thu Oct 2nd, 2008 05:53 am |
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Marshall, I'm so glad you're part of this community! Your postings are always uplifting.
Marcee
____________________
Godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim. 6:6)
In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength. (Isa. 30:15)
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EMarshallBuckles
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Rockville (Near Richmond), Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 683 |
| First Name: | Marshall | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Christian Church,Episcopal Church,Baptist denomination,learning about RCC |
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Posted: Thu Oct 2nd, 2008 03:17 pm |
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| Thank you, Marcee! Your posts are a blessing to us! May God bless you!
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Credo Catholic
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| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1611 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Oct 2nd, 2008 05:56 pm |
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Marshall, that's a very moving account of your take on the first chapter. I'm sure it will be a successful project. I'm looking forward to hearing more! The book sounds interesting and I'd look for it, but right now I'm knee deep in books and trying to read my way out of the pile! I'll put your book on my list of "to read." Ahh, so many good books, so little time... 
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