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Everything Belongs Richard Rohr Featured Image

Everything Belongs – A Review

December 25, 2015 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment


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Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr
Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr
Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr is more difficult to sum up than books I typically read. Like most things that are right, but irritating, this book didn’t come boxed up in “3 steps to solve your problems” — a convenience that, while we knock it as a cliché, we all secretly appreciate — instead, it meandered in the way that would undermine the problem-solving, action-oriented, “small brain” person like myself. This is one of the reasons I loved it.

In a typical mystic style, Everything Belongs: the gift of contemplative prayer led me down a meandering path, exploring the edges of my comfort; all the while knowing this was for my greater good. Making statements like “God is to be found in all things”, referring to “levels of consciousness” or citing Mohammad and Ghandi; these pushed me out of my comfort zone, describing concepts primarily familiar in religions foreign to me. Yet, over and over, Rohr comes back to the center. He returns to the cross and the Christ crucified. As I start wondering, “where is he leading me?” I’m returned to absolute surrender to Jesus; a place equally discomforting, but central to my faith.

While I don’t know much of Fr. Rohr, a priest, author and speaker who runs the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I believe he is exploring and unveiling a level of awareness that our Western heritage has not pointed it’s light on, perhaps since it’s inception.

Rohr explores the gift of contemplative prayer, highlighting the beauty of simply being and allowing room for dichotomies. For example, whereas the western church in particular prefers to button things up or present difficult topics like death, pain and loss in the cheeriest perspective (if acknowledged at all), the gift of contemplative prayer allows us to sit with the grief and all the while experience the nurturing peace of God. So God is not separate from these things, but present in them. Try that on for size — it’s easier said than done.

The book doesn’t try to incite a revolutionary war against western culture. In fact, in the opposite sentiment entirely, it’s actually trying to unify both western and eastern thinking, seeing the beauty and mutual dependency in both.

If I were to summarize what I received from the book, I would say this: Learn the art of simply being. Christ-centered contemplative self-knowledge only points to a greater revelation of God. Our identity is transformed when we sit with Him and — through surrendered humility — let go of our ego, allowing us to love fully, as Christ loved us. A Christ-centered identity frees us from the insatiable need to do more, be more and put everything into tidy little boxes we can wrap our minds around. An “Everything Belongs” mentality says “here I am Lord, your servant is listening.”

Thank you, Mr. Rohr, for the years of heart work and soul care needed to arrive at some of the revelations shared in this book. Your effort is helping a Type-3 Achiever like me become more like Jesus.

Filed Under: Prayer Tagged With: Book Review, Richard Rohr

Kingdom Man by Dr. Tony Evans calls men to their God-given identity

Kingdom Man by Dr. Tony Evans

June 16, 2015 by brianmichaelsteck Leave a Comment


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Kingdom Man by Dr. Tony EvansI just finished reading Kingdom Man by Tony Evans (@drtonyevans) and was profoundly moved by the powerful descriptions of manhood found throughout the book. Some of the book highlights were:

  • A Kingdom Man is one who devotes his lifework to bringing the Kingdom of God and making God’s rule manifest in his family, his church, his community. This point stood out to me because we staff a 9-month discipleship school for 18-24 year olds that imbues an identical goal of training leaders for every sphere of society.
  • Kingdom men take responsibility for their family. Spiritually, a Kingdom Man leads his family to deeper knowledge and obedience of God. Physically and emotionally, they protect and provide for their family. Tony gave an illustration of a time his family was overwhelmed; he responded simply with three fingers in the air to say, “I’ve got this.” The family of a Kingdom Man can rest, because their husband/father is present, capable and responsible.
  • A Kingdom Men leaves a legacy. Speaking truth wherever they go, they impart life to those around them. The speak what is not as though it is, living by faith and obedience. A Kingdom Man invests in others and disciple’s younger men. He is a father to the fatherless, a living picture of our Heavenly Father.

Kingdom Man was a powerful book, and I definitely recommend adding it to your “must read” list. It will enhance your vision for manhood and encourage you to step out to lead your family, your church, your workplace and your government. We need more men. Go read this book.

Filed Under: Family Tagged With: Book Review, Fatherhood, Manhood

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