I’m not sure—but I have found that at times using a Book of Hours has greatly enriched my spiritual life.  Let me explain.  A Book of Hours is a devotional book that became popular in the middle ages in which Scripture, prayers, and readings were collected so that Christians could turn their attention toward God and the spiritual life at appointed hours during the day.  In some sense it is similar to the many popular books of today that blend writings of a favorite author with Scripture to form daily devotional readings.  But the Book of Hours didn’t have just one reading for the day it had readings for different times throughout the day.

“Fixed-hour prayer” is the ancient practice of stopping at certain times (as the name suggests) in order to read and to pray.  (This practice is also referred to as “The liturgy of the Hours,” “saying the offices,” and “keeping the hours.”)  This Christian tradition developed from the even more ancient Jewish tradition of reciting prayers at certain times throughout the day.  The Bible contains evidence that the apostles practiced this Jewish custom.  For instance, we are told in Acts 3:1 that Peter and John went to the temple at the time of the afternoon prayer.  By medieval times the number of daily prayers had settled at about seven or eight.  More recently the number has been reduced and many observe a morning office (that’s what the collection of prayers and scriptures is called), a mid-day office, an evening office (called vespers), and an office to be observed just before going to bed.

There have been seasons in my life when the disciplined nature of fixed-hour prayer has been very meaningful.  My days are often full of too many things to do and I get harried and scattered.  A morning quiet time is great, but having numerous times during the day when I am called to recognize God’s presence and worship him is even better.  It helps me to be more continually aware of God’s presence.  Since this is the first week of Lent I decided to practice fixed-hour prayer from now through Easter.  The set of books that I use in my own personal devotions is titled The Divine Hours: A Manual for Prayer and is a three-volume set.  There is a volume for Springtime (the one I’m in now), Summertime, and Autumn & Wintertime.  Each volume is sold separately.

Phyllis Tickle, the author of The Divine Hours, did a major reworking of the sixth-century Benedictine Rule of fixed-hour prayer.  She blended together scriptures, psalms, and prayers (mostly from the Book of Common Prayer) to create a personal liturgy that guides the reader into rich private worship.  I know that the word “liturgy” can set some people’s teeth on edge.  But really the bulk of the readings are straight from Scripture.  Tickle has used the New Jerusalem translation for the Scriptures.  One of the important revisions was that the prayers were translated from the first person plural, which would be used in public worship, to the more intimate first person singular of personal private worship.  So, instead of confessing that we have sinned I confess that I have sinned.  Instead of praying for God to guide us I pray that God will guide me.

Each volume contains an introduction where Tickle traces the history of fixed-hour prayer from the apostles, to the church fathers, through the Middle Ages, to us today.  In addition there are notes on how to use the manual.  If you are interested in seeing what this manual of prayer is like Amazon allows you to look inside the book.

One disappointing change in the newest edition is that it has been issued as a paperback.  Of course, paperbacks are much less expensive than hardcover books—but they don’t hold up nearly as well; and for me a book that is going to be used several times every day ought to hold up.  The hardcover editions can be purchased on the secondary market but the prices of each volume vary widely.  The volume that contains Lent and Easter and the volume that contains Advent and Christmas are understandably more popular and therefore more expensive than the volume for summertime.  Because keeping the hours is more popular during the seasons of Advent and Lent (hey, I’m doing it!) an edition of readings for each has been produced: Christmastide: Prayers for Advent Through Epiphany from The Divine Hours and Eastertide: Prayers for Lent Through Easter from The Divine Hours.

Fixed-hour prayer isn’t for everybody—and I don’t practice it all the time.  But if you are searching for a way to become more consistently aware of God’s place in your life this ancient practice would be worth trying.

One of the neat things about the internet is that there are some amazing things out there.  I was looking around doing some research on the 5 Love Languages and I stumbled across a free study guide for The 5 Love Languages book.  Use this free tool to study The 5 Love Languages on your own, with your mate, or to lead a small group.  Click the button below to get your free download .

Want More?

There are a number of free study guides and worksheets available for Dr. Chapman’s books–even an online love languages assessment tool. If you will give me your name and email address by clicking the link below (don’t use the form on the side) I will send you a link to 7 free study guides and the online assessment tools. (You can also purchase the books there, too). Study guides and tools are available for Singles, Married Couples, Children, and Teens. Plus there are study guides for Gary Chapman’s other two books, The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted and Anger: Handling a Powerful Emotion in a Healthy Way. I will just use your email to keep you informed of opportunities like this. I will not spam you or give your address to anyone else.

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This idea might scare you.  Maybe you’re asking yourself, “But aren’t spiritual disciplines for monks, saints, and religious fanatics?”  John Ortberg would respond with a resounding “No!”  That’s why the tag line for this book is “Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People.”  This isn’t the first time that the subject of spiritual disciplines has been taken up to promote spiritual growth.  For instance Richard Foster wrote a book some years ago, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. And Dalas Willard wrote The Spirit of the Disciplines.  (I hope to review both before too long.)  But John Ortberg ’s book, The Life You’ve Always Wanted, is certainly one of the most readable and easy to understand.

The first two chapters put forward the idea that the goal of a spiritual life is to change, to become more like Christ.  Then in the third Chapter John Ortberg reveals the secret of spiritual disciplines.  Most of us think that when faced with a spiritual challenge we simply need to screw up our will and try harder.  Ortberg points out that no matter how much we want to run a marathon, and no matter how hard we try to run it, we will not successfully complete a marathon without training for it.  You start out running only a few miles a day, but each week you run, you become stronger and are able to run longer distances.  And if you keep at it you will eventually be able to run the full 26 miles.  The same principles apply to our spiritual race.  The role of spiritual disciplines is to train us to meet the spiritual challenges that will eventually come.

The next ten chapters then set out ten ordinary spiritual practices.  Some of the practices come as no surprise.  For instance John Ortberg covers the practices of prayer, servanthood, confession, and reflection on Scripture.  Some others are a bit more surprising.  The first spiritual discipline he handles is the practice of celebration.  Also included are the practices of “slowing,” secrecy, and receiving guidance from the Holy Spirit.  Ortberg ends the book with an important chapter on living a life of endurance and the experience of suffering.

Although I had read both Celebration of Discipline and The Spirit of the Disciplines I found this book very helpful in putting feet to the disciplines in my own life—chapters three and thirteen were especially meaningful for me.  This book comes with a small group study guide, written by Kevin G. Harney, as an appendix.  Scripture readings, discussion questions, opportunities for reflection, and life applications are provided for each chapter.  If you would like a more substantial curriculum, one that could be used for a larger class, a video curriculum The Life You’ve Always Wanted Curriculum Kit: Six Sessions on Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People is also available.

It gets even more complicated when we ask, what is a good Christian book?  And on this question we will probably find that there are a number of perspectives.  For some people a book is only a good book if it portrays a Christian world view and deals with Christian themes and ideas.  But more than that, it is only a good Christian book if it portrays their Christian worldview and lines up with their particular theology—and, oh yeah, if the author is in good standing with their particular tribe.  We wouldn’t want to read anything from someone who might disagree with us!  This kind of view is more prevalent than we might think, because we often don’t recognize this kind of arrogance in ourselves.  We only recognize it in others.  But, I am forced to confess that this misleading notion worms its way into my own thinking at times.

Probably a better way to answer the question, what is a good Christian book, is to first consider whether the book is a good book.  Only then consider whether it is written from a Christian vantage point.  Now, that doesn’t mean that we ignore books if they aren’t Christian.  There are many great books—important books—that we ought to read in order to know our culture and our time.  The apostle Paul often quoted from pagan authors and poets (He did it in the dialogue on Mars Hill (Acts 17:28), but also see Titus 1:12).  Even though he had been brought up steeped in the Jewish Scriptures he also knew the writings of the Greek and Roman poets.

So, what makes a book good?  It needs to be well written and engaging.  It should deal with important ideas.  Hopefully a good book will expand our horizons and make us think new thoughts, giving us insight into the nature of our lives, and the plight of our neighbors.  A good book, whether it is written by a Christian or not, will often deepen my own Christian walk because the book faithfully confronts me with the nature of this world and the plight of humans in it, and I am forced to enfold that understanding into my own faith.

Consequently, my own personal reading is a bit eclectic.  And so, you may be surprised by some of the books that I choose to review.  I’ve been thinking about how I want to set up Books And Curriculum realizing that I will probably review some books that don’t really fit the phrase “Christian book.”  I have decided to categorize those “Marketplace” books.  I originally was thinking I might use “Secular book,” but I didn’t want to perpetuate the idea that a book that doesn’t deal with Christian themes doesn’t have anything to say to us.  Then I considered “Mainstream.”  But that gave the wrong impression, too, somehow imbuing a book with legitimacy.  On the other hand, “Marketplace” is a good description.  They are in the book markets, otherwise we wouldn’t know about them.  But also, they are a part of the marketplace of ideas; they are talked about in everyday life by our neighbors, friends, and coworkers.

According to Chapman each of us experiences love differently.  Some of us really feel loved when someone spends time with us.  Others feel love when they are given a gift by that special someone.  Not only do we experience love differently, but we usually express love in ways that are meaningful for us.  So, if I feel loved when I receive gifts I will often give gifts as an expression of my love.  But what if the other person doesn’t experience love when they receive a gift?  What if they want me to spend time with them?  This, according to The 5 Love Languages, is the problem with many relationships and the reason love seems to fade: each person is speaking a different “love language.”

The five love languages that Gary Chapman identifies are: 1) words of affirmation, 2) quality time, 3) receiving gifts, 4) acts of service, and 5) physical touch.

Words of affirmation.  This love language actually uses words.  Love is expressed by telling the other person how much they are valued and appreciated.  But it’s important not to just value them for what they do, but for who they are.  A wife doesn’t want to know that she is valued because of all the cooking and cleaning she does, but because she is a valuable, unique, and beautiful person.

Quality Time.  Here love is expressed by spending time with the other person.  Your presence communicates that you enjoy them and want to be with them.  The time spent together participating in some activity creates a shared experience—something that the two of you share— and that strengthens the relationship.

Receiving Gifts.  Jewelers would like us to believe that this is the only true way to express love and commitment.  Love is expressed through giving and receiving gifts.  Although it isn’t the only love language, it is an important one—for some people.

Acts of Service.  People are sometimes surprised when they hear that acts of service is one of the love languages.  Here love is expressed by doing something for the other person—and these acts of service don’t have to be huge.  Husbands, if your wife has this love language you can show your love to her by taking out the trash!

Physical Touch.  Of course the sexual component of marriage is an important one, and this love language includes that aspect.  But showing love through physical touch is much broader than that one act.  It includes a gentle kiss, holding hands, a pat on the back, and snuggling together on the couch.  Fathers and sons are engaging in this love language when they wrestle on the floor.

In the 5 Love Languages Gary Chapman contends that not speaking the love language of the other person lies at the root of almost all marriage problems.  He also introduces another concept to help explain and illustrate: the “love tank.”  When our love tank is full we feel loved, appreciated, and cared for.  When the love tank is low we don’t feel loved, we don’t feel appreciated, and we don’t feel cared for.  The problem is we can’t fill our own love tank—that has to be done for us.  Our love tank is filled when someone else who is important in our life speaks our love language to us.  And our partner’s love tank is filled when we speak their love language to them.  And this brings up a crucial point.  I tend to speak my love language to my mate because it’s the language I know.  But if my love language is not theirs, they will not experience being loved.  I can give gifts all day long, but if my partner doesn’t have receiving gifts as one of their love languages they will never experience the love that I’m showing, and consequently will never have their love tank filled.  This is the problem with many relationships.  We don’t think we should work at it—love should be obvious.  But the fact is we do need to work at showing love by consciously using the love language of our spouse.  Of course this fits very well with the Biblical instruction that husbands and wives should submit to one another, taking each other into account and loving each other (Ephesians 5:21-33).

The Five Love Languages books have been amazingly popular.  As of Jan 1, 2012 this newest edition, The 5 Love Languages: the Secret to Love That Lasts, has spent 230 weeks on one or another version of the New York Times best sellers lists.  This book is a newer edition of The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate which was first published in 1992.  The content is the same except that the chapter on the Love Languages and Children has been removed.  (That information was expanded and produced the book The Five Love Languages of Children.)  In addition, the newer edition no longer includes the Study Guide for Spouse and Group Discussion (a small group version of the book is available).  But two important instruments have been added.  The book now includes a profile for the husband and a profile for the wife.  These can be used to easily determine the love languages of each.

A number of other books have been spawned by the amazing popularity and usefulness of the 5 love languages.  There are now “Five Love Language” books for children, teens, men, and singles.  In addition these principles are used to illuminate our relationship with God—he speaks our love language, and to explain the process of giving and receiving forgiveness.

Each of these books are available from our Resources page (under the category Relationship Skills) or by following the links above.  You also might be interested in my review of The 5 Love Languages DVD Small Group Curriculum.

The Five Love Languages Leaders Kit is based upon the New York Times bestselling book, The 5 Love Languages: the Secret to Love That Lasts, by Gary Chapman.  Chapman’s basic premise is that we all express and receive love in five different ways: 1) speaking words of affirmation, 2) spending quality time, 3) giving and receiving gifts, 4) performing acts of service, and 5) using physical touch.  But, each of these channels do not have the same importance for each person.  So, if a friend, child, or spouse has a different love language, then the love communication breaks down.  It’s almost as if they speak a foreign language.  We are expressing love the best way that we know how—but they aren’t receiving it.  Likewise, they may be expressing love to us the best way that they know, but we do not experience being loved by them.  Dr. Chapman’s prescription is to learn the love language of your mate, child, or friend.

One trouble I have with many speakers and authors is that they claim that their system or techniques will work every time and solve all the problems.  Of course, the principles taught in The Five Love Languages won’t work every time and won’t solve every marriage issue.  But it is an effective tool that is simple enough to be used by most couples to deepen their love relationship.  And I have used these principles with couples who are struggling.  Often selfishness is at the heart of couple difficulties.  At some point in the counseling process, as a couple heals and learns to care for each other they run into the other main problem with relationships: an inability to communicate.  Dr. Gary Chapman has provided a good guide for helping couples effectively communicate in one very important area.

Gary Chapman presents this material before a live audience.  He walks the group through each love language, helps them identify their own love language and that of their mate, and then gives practical suggestions for improving their marriage.  Although this curriculum is designed as a marriage enrichment study, the principles can be applied in a number of other situations, as well.  For instance, I have used it very effectively in premarriage and youth dating courses, and I have seen it used in a singles ministry.  The principles are transferable to a number of relationship areas.

The curriculum kit comes with DVDs of Dr. Chapman s messages, a leader’s guide, the love language profile assessment tool, a CD-Rom containing study guides in PDF format, one member book, and The 5 Love Languages book.  Dr. Gary Chapman is very entertaining and your group will enjoy watching his presentation.  This curriculum is designed to be flexible.  There are two different presentation options.  The first is an intensive 2-session format.  You might use it for a retreat or one-day seminar—which is the manner in which the material was first presented.  But the kit also includes outlines and study guides for a 7-session format (an introductory session, one session for each love language, and a final wrap-up session).  This is perfect for a small group study, or an adult growth class or Sunday school class.

Check out my review of Gary Chapman’s latest edition of The Five Love Languages: the Secret to Love that Lasts.

This DVD curriculum will broaden the horizons of most Christians.  Too often we huddle together in churches where everyone thinks the same.  We get comfortable.  Richard J. Foster paints a broad landscape of Christian life and thought to help get us out of the spiritual rut into which most of us have fallen.  Or, to use the metaphor Foster employs, he wants us to roll along on a well rounded wheel.  Our life of faith is like a wheel with six different spokes.  Each spoke is represented by one of the historical streams of Christianity: 1) the prayer filled life – Contemplative, 2)  the virtuous life – Holiness, 3) the Spirit empowered life – Charismatic, 4) the compassionate life – Social Justice, 5) the Word-centered life – Evangelical, and 6) the sacramental life – Incarnational.  Many of us are rolling along on pretty unbalanced wheels.

This is an important topic because Christians have become polarized in much the same way that political parties have become polarized.  It’s easy to see someone who thinks differently than you as an enemy instead of a fellow traveler.  Richard Foster interviews a leader from each tradition to help the student gain a better understanding of that spiritual tradition.  He speaks with John Ortberg, Jack Hayford, Emilie Griffin, Juanita Rasmus, Glandion Carney, and James Bryan Smith.  The interviews are enlightening and after each interview Foster is joined by Dallas Willard.  Willard and Foster then discuss and analyze the importance to our Christian walk of what has just been shared in the interview.

No matter which tradition your church is in, expect that one or two of the interviews will get people very uncomfortable.  That isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  People won’t move or change without having some measure of discomfort.  And, unfortunately—or maybe fortunately, Richard Foster adds to the discomfort by sporting a long braid.  He explains that although he is from the Quaker tradition he decided to grow his hair out and wear it in a braid as a nod to his grandfather’s Native American heritage.

The curriculum pack comes with a very helpful leader’s guide, two participant guides, the DVD of the interviews, and a CD-Rom.  The CD-Rom contains promotional materials, lesson outlines, and transcripts of the discussions between Richard Foster and Dallas Willard.  One especially nice feature is that there are daily Bible readings for each week.  This curriculum will work nicely in an adult growth class or Sunday school class, or in a small group setting.

I think this is an important curriculum.  It certainly got our people thinking—and talking!  Most importantly, this curriculum helped us to begin to recognize and value our brothers and sisters in Christ who make up the other streams of Christian life and practice.  If you’re not ready for this curriculum you might try out the book, Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith, also by Richard Foster.