Basic Information : Synopsis : Thoughts : Evaluation : Book Group : Book References : Good Quotes : Table of Contents : References
Basic Information:
Author: Gordon MacDonald
Edition: Hardback
Publisher: Oliver-Nelson Books
ISBN: 9780840790699 (ISBN10: 0840790694)
Start Date: January 19, 2024
Read Date: February 13, 2024
223 pages
Genre: Christianity, Personal Growth
Language Warning: None
Rated Overall: 3 out of 5
Religion: Christianity
Religious Quality: 3 out of 5
Christianity-Teaching Quality: 4 out of 5
Synopsis:
The book is broken into two parts with seventeen chapters. The first part deals with the causes of why people lose their passion for God-mostly just plain old fatigue. The second part talks about how to get back your passion.
Being a pastor, he likes two things: stories and bullet points. Almost all chapters have them.
He usually starts each chapter with an illustration, a story, which loosely deals with the theme. Sometimes I am not sure what the story has to do with the theme. Also he likes bullet points to expand upon the subject of each chapter.
Preface
MacDonald talks about being weary of walking as a Christian.
He talks about the word passion-others may substitute words like power, zeal, enthusiasm or joy.
People who are in this state would rather not be told what they are feeling rather being empathized with. Along with that, he notes that there is not a 1-2-3 remedy. Not a magical breakthrough. He wants to give principles rather than formulas. He wants to talk about what tires us out.
It’s Got to Glow in You All the Time
He examines the word passion. Asks, what seizes you? What stimulates you for excellence? Or causes you to strive for something? A passion is necessary in the performance of Christian faith. … true Christian maturity does not preclude passion. But how do you keep it up for an extended length of time? He says that as you mature, you channel it better.
Talks about a Willard Hotchkiss-I have not heard of him-who was able to serve out his days as a missionary with passion. Maybe WIllis Hotchkiss?
Talks about sometimes the Christian life gets to be like a ship put up in mothballs, never to be used again and good only for salvage.
Doing More and Enjoying It Less
He talks about being busy with not enough time for reflection and the things which tend our spirits. Without these times it leads to fatigue and frustration.
The better you are at something, the more you are asked to do.
Weariness comes not only from the secular business, but what we are asked to do religiously.
Business will burn our passions so there is no fuel left
We are left with no time for input.
Look for the spaces where one can restore. Used to those came naturally. Travel was slower paced. No radio or TV or computers.
The difference between feeling fatigued and being fatigued. Feeling fatigued may be a false signal.
John Wesley: Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry because I never undertake more work than I can go through with calmness of spirit. From John Wesley's Sermons: An Anthology
It’s All Over
A wise person looks ahead and plans for the places fatigue will set in. The person knows, therefore, how to gather the necessary energy or passion ahead of time, how to parcel it out during the most challenging periods, and how to restore that inner force later on.
Jesus had his disciples take time off.
MacDonald lists seven conditions that threaten spiritual passion:
The Drained Condition. Sort of like having a hangover. He gives Elijah as an example after dealing with the priests of idols. Strong sense of self-doubt and negativism. MacDonald notes that some men are drawn to sensuality. They are drained of spiritual passion that they are open to anything that hints it might be able to restore the emptiness caused by giving out so much.
Running on Empty
Continue list from previous chapter
2) The Dried Out Condition. This is where the person has not refreshed himself. Always giving out and not taking anything in.
3) The Distorted Condition. We get faced with a barge of messages which needs filtering out. Some slip by and we yield to the message of our inadequacy.
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Further Threats to Spiritual Passion
4) The Devastated Condition. Faced with opposition, the person gets beaten down. There is a sense of despair. This is not to be taken lightly.
5) The Disillusioned Condition. This is when you dream of something particularly if it is large, and nobody seems to support that dream. He cites Moses when he is trying to lead the Hebrews out of slavery, the people were reluctant to follow.
6) The Defeated Condition. When a person fails, it leaves a person in this position.
7) The Disheartened Condition. Alternative word is intimidated. Ahab saw what he was facing and withdrew and stopped worshiping God.
Those Who Bring Joy
People can invigorate or exhaust a person. Understanding this will help us manage our energy. Being with people is a never ending process.
Five Kinds of People That Affect Spiritual Passion
1) The very Resourceful People They Ignite Our Passion. He calls them VRP. They are mentors. There is a sense of openness, of believing in a person, standard setters. It is good to be around these people, but more as a fueling stop than residing with them.
2) The Very Important People: They Share Our Passion. VIP. Like Barnabas was to Paul. These are people who we bond with and who are going in the same direction as us. Charles Simon and Henry Venn.
3) The Very Trainable People: They Catch Our Passion. VTP. The person lites someone else's passion and gains energy from seeing another take off.
The Happy and the Hurting
4) The Very Nice People: VNP. They Enjoy Our Passion. These are wonderful people, friends, good people. But they do not advance our passion. But neither do they take away. They are just there. Do not infuse honor with devotion.
5) The Very Draining People: VDP. They Sap Our Passion. These are hurting and lonely people. While we should not shy away from helping them, be aware of what happens to you. You need a way to revitalize yourself. Three things to be aware of: VDP are drawn to healthy people. Two, healthy people will lose their vitality if there is too many VDP around.VDP’s need to have limits placed on their contacts.
Friendly Fire
The person who wants to serve God has to understand that they are part of a war. Some of the battles are out in the open. But several of the fights will be akin to guerilla warfare.
Four Spirits That Destroy Spiritual Passion
- The Competitive Spirit. We tend to look at fellow Christians as our partners. Sometimes they look more like competitors. As an American, we think of being first, of getting ahead rather than working together. Do I do that? I will need to evaluate myself. Do I delight in someone else’s success?
- The Critical Spirit. Finding flaws in another person. People may sing, pray and worship together. But if they criticize behind another person’s back, that will lead to ineffectiveness and discord.
- The Vain Spirit. This comes from personal insecurity. We want to think better of ourselves. Don’t build yourself up, let your works do that for you. Don't tear others down. No man can bear witness to Christ and to himself at the same time. No man can give the impression that he is clever and that Christ is mighty to save. James Denny.
- The Adversarial Spirit. How we handle those who oppose our ideas goes a long ways towards how we are in relationship with that person. Do I hate? Or do I look at reconciliation? Spiritual passion cannot coexist with resentments. He notes that There is a kernel of truth in every critique. Look for it and you’ll be a better man.
He Knew I Couldn’t Handle It
Two Inner Battles that War Against Spiritual Passions
- The Battle of Ambition. This is an American trait. But if we think about various positions where it would be unseemly to show ambition, then we understand where this is not something which will advance our spiritual lives. Part of the problem is that ambition causes us to try to step on someone else to move up. Ambition is tiring-a constant mental game.
- The Battle of Pride. Seductive. It starts with getting accolades and then believing it and thinking you can do it all by yourself.
It’s What’s Inside That Counts
Lives are like airplanes running on autopilot. They can go on for a long time, looking like everything is OK until they run out of fuel and crash. Action without passion. Words without substance. Inside these people are staleness and boredom.
MacDonald thinks that we are heading towards an epidemic of fatigue. Expectations not met after a while causes us to have a tendency to give up.
Rack ‘Em Up
The last time I remember having any serious amounts of extra time was during my university days. First, I have been retired for 12 years. When I read this chapter, I was in confinement due to COVID. So that statement did not resonate with me. But during my working days, it would have.
There is a demoralizing cycle in the Christian life. First, a sense of Jesus and me. Followed by a period of dryness and struggle. What happens next might be a falling away or a revitalization and then the process starts over again. I think Jesus told the parable of the sower because of this. He understood that people go through times where there is dryness. The goal is not to be choked out by weeds or whither and become dead among the rocks.
Recollection: those who have majored in the discipline of the inner spirit have often seized upon that word as a description of what one does when there is a need for restoration of spiritual passion. MacDonald thinks there is three things to do to recollect:
- to take time. Is there a consecrated place in my life where I can form and enlarge how I view God? Do I set aside a Sabbath time to refresh?
- to seek relationships. Who are the people that I benefit from?
- to set priorities.
Safe Places
We need safe places in our worlds. Not merely when we are in trouble but when we need to rest a bit, to regain our measure of spiritual passion and composure for the coming challenges. He then talks about David, his life, his challenges and what he says about safe places. He quotes Henri Nouwen in Clowning in Rome. Nouwen talks about the churches in Rome do not seem to have functionality. They do not want to be places where people gather to gawk like a museum. Instead they want to invite us to be silent, to sit or kneel, to listen attentively, and to rest with our whole being. They are meant to be places from which all things grow. He then quotes Frank Laubach who says that each of us is building his own heaven or hell, one thought at a time.
It does not take much to turn where we are from the ordinary to a safe place, or as in Laubach’s word, a palace. Just at a stop light one can do that.
The Place of Secrets
The closer to God you go, the better is the resting place. Psalm 63 is an example.
Four Kinds of Safe Places That Restore Spiritual Passion
- The Sanctuary. A place of refuge. A place where we can examine things from an eternal perspective. People will be let down if they are striving for applause or honor.
- The Night Room. This is where you lay your head. MacDonald says that this is the place where you find the helpfulness of God. A time to reflect on how God helped me throughout the day.
- The Protective Wings. Looking to God for protection.
- The Strong Hands. Picture a child walking beside their father.. This is the image here. This is not a false sense of confidence, but a confidence knowing that you have God by your side, if you are walking with him. Even if you feel defeated. Think of Peter by the Sea of Galilee after Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus came and gave him a second chance.
Establish a safe place. This should be a holy place for you. A place where you can be alone with God, free from distractions. Safe place also is a place which has memories and experiences with God. The more a place is used, the better at being a safe place it will become-like a greased iron skillet.
The Still Times
What is proper rest? MacDonald notes that much of what we consider rest is amusement. The only remedy for an exhausted, passionless life is to tear it up and put in a new layer within our soul. He calls the Sabbath still time. Is rest from work a waste? Is it a less serious endeavor than work?
Being burnt out leads to the feeling of being spent, joylessness.
Seven Principles of Still Times That Restore Spiritual Passion
- The Role-Model Principle. Jesus/God model this both in Jesus' life and in Creation.
- The Rhythm Principle.
- The Rest Principle. The Sabbath was a fence to protect people from being burnt out. (Similar as tithing was a barrier to materialism.) He talks a bit about the difference between law and principle. God wants us to act on principles rather than do nots. He thinks that principles allows us to move and be guided, learning rather than enforcing.
- The Remembrance Principle. Remembering is part of still time.
- The Renunciation Principle. All within a household was to renounce work on the Sabbath.
- The Refreshment Principle. See Exodus 31 for more on how God said to rest. This has to do with being active in our rest, reaching down and letting our souls be rested.
- The Recurrence Principle. This is not a one off, but something which reoccurs. If we discover the habit of snatching Sabbath moments, we will be pressing God’s presence into the day, something like holes in a piece of Swiss cheese.
Special Friends
He gives a counter example out of a Joseph Heller book. Then shows from Moses, Aaron, Hur and Joshua what can be accomplished with support. If each of us has a map in our lives showing our safe places and a calendar showing our still times, then we also should have an address book that lists our special friends. Who are they?
McDonald differentiates between special friends and acquaintances. He defines special friends as those whom the subject of spiritual passion is an important item. He has six types of people whom he identifies as types of people who can aid you.
Six Special Friend Teammates That Help You Maintain Spiritual Passion
- The Sponsor. Or mentor. This person gives opportunity and possibility. A mentor can communicate from a larger perspective than you can see. They open things up for the person. Typically the sponsor is used more before mid-life and then sparingly afterwards. You find them from people whom you want to emulate. It takes time to be a sponsor and most people who are potential sponsors are already tied up with their own responsibilities.
- The Affirmer. This person attaches value to what you are doing. This is not just the empty compliments which we sometimes encounter. Rather it is mutual discovery and evaluation. There are people who work at the opposite-stay away from them.
More Special Friends
4) The Intercessor. A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another or it collapses. Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together. Also there is a section about praying for a brother not because we agree, but because we both stand before Christ and share his mercy. Who are my intercessors, those who will pray to God for me?
5) The Partner. Who shares my load? Who helps me? MacDonald says that his wife does that in many cases. He uses the case of Barnabas and Paul. Then Later, Paul and Timothy. This is the person who wants nothing from you, but to serve with you.
6) The Pastor. Who makes sense out of life. Shepherds you, helps keep you feed and keeps you with the rest of the flock.
Restoring Your Spiritual Passion
MacDonald gets into why he wrote the book-the weariness of the soul-I have added of the soul. He points out that our safe place, or still times and special friends are no longer up to the task as they have been invaded.
There are many ready made answers-rely on the Holy Spirit to refresh, meet with like minded Christians, or being in the real world. But they seem to fall short.
A sense of devotion and gratitude goes a ways towards revitalizing He then talks about:
Three Powerful Truths that Put the Christian Life in Perspective:
- Intimacy Makes It Possible to Hear God’s Wishes. Be in the place where you can hear what God wants from you. Write down what you are hearing. MacDonald notes that time budgeted for safe-place/still time is the most single important event in his life.
- The Choice to Act is Often Taken at Great Risk. Moved from listening to action.
- A Divine Energy Creates the Ultimate Passion. He takes us back to the Creation and the first man and woman. There is a model there to follow: Daily intimacy with the Creator, work of discovery of His glories, the ecstasy of experiencing God. This was lost through disobedience. The Christian story is one of restoration.
Evaluation:
This book is close to 40 years old. There is no reason why this topic should be out of date. Still, I had the impression how MacDonald approached the subject did not touch me like a book on this subject should.
The book is in two parts-how does a person lose their passion for God. And then the conditions to return to that passion. Like a sermon of that day, it seems pretty much formulaic rather than a Virgil guiding the reader. There are plenty of bullet points-these days they would have translated well into PowerPoints. And yet, few stirred me. Maybe because the points were not hitting home.
While I do not think you will go wrong in reading this book, there are other books which may assist you along the path to passion. Particularly if you are in tune with the older writings of contemplation.
Notes from my book group:
MacDonald says that true Christian maturity does not preclude passion. Why does he say that? What leads to mature Christians to lose their passion for living for God?
What does MacDonald identify as causing fatigue? How can one avoid being overcome by them?
MacDonald notes that we should anticipate busy seasons and plan to be rested up for them. How can you anticipate these busy seasons? What is an effective method of resting and being ready for them?
A list of five people types are listed. Do you fall into any of those types? Are you around any of them?
The author notes that we are in a spiritual war. Do you feel like you are in a war? MacDonald lists four traits of this warfare. Do any of them resonate with you? Are there other ways you feel like you are doing battle?
MacDonald lists several things which will assist you to restore your passion: Set aside time and place for communion with God; Seek out relationships with quality people; and set your priorities to seek Him. How will you be doing these? Do you think it will help you in returning to a desire to please God?
What are your safe places? Safe times?
Have you identified your teammates on your walk? Is it a well rounded team with the functions which MacDonald talks about? Do you think you need all of the functions?
How do you want your life to change because you read this book?
Many of these questions are either from or adapted from LitLovers.
Why the title of Restoring Your Spiritual Passion?
Does this book work as an instruction? Contemplative?
In what context was religion talked about in this book?
Was there anybody you would consider religious?
How did they show it?
Was the book overtly religious?
How did it affect the book's story?
Why do you think the author wrote this book?
What would you ask the author if you had a chance?
What “takeaways” did you have from this book?
How did this book affect your view of the world?
Of how God is viewed?
What questions did you ask yourself after reading this book?
Talk about specific passages that struck you as significant—or interesting, profound, amusing, illuminating, disturbing, sad...?
What was memorable?
- Lombardi by Jerry Kramer
- By Their Blood by Hefley and Hefley
- Springs in the Valley by Letti Cowman
- The Life of General William Booth by Bergie
- Journey Among Students by Howard Guinness
- Shantung Compound by Langdon Gilkey
- Friendly Fire
- Reaching Out by Henri Nouwen
- Oscar Wilde by Pearson
- Henry Valey’s Life Story by Ralph Turnball
- A Minister’s Obstacles by Ralph Turnball
- Spiritual Lessons to Women by Francois Fenelon
- Clowning in Rome by Henri Nouwen
- Something Happening by Joseph Heller
- Memories of the Life of Rev Charles Simeon by William Carus
- The Table of Inwardness by Calvin Miller
Good Quotes:
- First Line: Within the kaleidoscope of my distorted childhood memories is the image of a dusty, deserted road in rural Canada.
- Last Line: Amen
- Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry because I never undertake more work than I can go through with calmness of spirit. John Wesley, John Wesley's Sermons: An Anthology
- No man can bear witness to Christ and to himself at the same time. No man can give the impression that he is clever and that Christ is mighty to save. James Denny.
- There is a kernel of truth in every critique. Look for it and you’ll be a better man. Dawson Trotman
- We need safe places in our worlds. Not merely when we are in trouble but when we need to rest a bit, to regain our measure of spiritual passion and composure for the coming challenges. Chp Safe Places
- A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another or it collapses. Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together
- Preface
- It’s Got to Glow in You All the Time
- Doing More and Enjoying It Less
- It’s All Over
- Running on Empty
- Further Threats to Spiritual Passion
- Those Who Bring Joy
- The Happy and the Hurting
- Friendly Fire
- He Knew I Couldn’t Handle It
- It’s What’s Inside That Counts
- Rack ‘Em Up
- Safe Places
- The Place of Secrets
- The Still Times
- Special Friends
- More Special Friends
- Restoring Your Spiritual Passion
- Sources
References:
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