Books

PLUS: Documenting a Spiritual Journey

Nouwen has said that his writing comes “out of an awareness that my deepest vocation is to be a witness to the glimpses of God I have been allowed to catch.” His theological insights are deeply grounded in personal experience. By looking honestly at how God works in his life, he helps us to see how God works in our lives.

Life of the Beloved (Crossroad), for example, is a personal letter to a friend. Nouwen remembers his friend saying, “I don’t live much of a spiritual life. I’m a busy person and I would like to see how I could live a spiritual life in a very secular world.” In the book, Nouwen writes about a favorite theme: God’s initial, primary, and unconditional love for us and our response to God’s love.

In The Return of the Prodigal Son (Doubleday), Nouwen reflects on Rembrandt’s famous painting of the same name. Nouwen once happened to glimpse a poster reprint of this painting and it so gripped his imagination that he could not forget it.

Eventually he went to the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg and spent a few days with the painting. He delicately interweaves reflections on his own life, Jesus’ parable, the painting, and Rembrandt’s life as a way of coming to a deeper understanding of the gospel. The book is vintage Nouwen: wonderfully lyrical and gently compelling. This is his own favorite among his many books and possibly his best ever.

Copyright © 1994 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

Are People the Problem? Some experts predict apocalyptic scenarios. Others disagree. Deciding who is right has as much to do with faith as with facts.

Cover Story

Are People The Problem?, Part 1—The Bet (b)

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Are People The Problem?, Part 1—The Bet

Cover Story

Are People The Problem?, Part 3—Thus Saith the Lord

Cover Story

Are People The Problem?, Part 2—India, A Success Story

Put You Money Where Your Voice Is

Classic & Contemporary Excerpts from October 03, 1994

Religious Right Eager for November Election

Political Tensions Between Christians, Jews

Leading Democrat Faces Strong Challenge

Will Palestinian Christians Survive?

Mormon History Under Scrutiny

Plane Found 32 Years Later

SIDEBAR: Why Christians Should Support Population Programs

Program Links Policy Experts

Episcopal Bishops Divided Over Sexuality

WORLD SCENE: Christians Linked to Killings

Government Restricts Missionaries

Denominations Urged to Turn Focus 'Outward'

YFC Celebrates Golden Year

CHARLES COLSON: Casey Strikes Out

ARTICLE: What Henri Nouwen Found at Daybreak

News

NORTH AMERICAN SCENE: Station Replaces Falwell’s ’Politics’

News

News Briefs: October 03, 1994

CONVERSATIONS: Why John Grisham Teaches Sunday School

BOOKS: The Mind of Christ

Electric Fellowship

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editorial

EDITORIAL: Uncle Sam Wants Your Tithes

Editorial

EDITORIAL: Abusing Human Rights

ARTICLE: Wise Christians Clip Obituaries

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News Briefs: October 03, 1994

BOOKS: Probing the Passion

BOOKS: Great Scots

BOOKS: Religion and Religions

BOOKS: Nun the Wiser

BOOKS: The Mind of Christ

SIDEBAR: Worth Mentioning: News, notices, and curiosities

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