Life Lessons from a Bad Quaker
A Humble Stumble Toward Simplicity and Grace
Published on 15. December 2015
118 pages
978-1-63088-132-0 (ISBN)
Description
On quick observation, the Quaker lifestyle boasts peace, solitude, and simplicity-qualities that are attractive to any believer of any denomination or religion. Yet living a life of faith is not as simple as it may look. In fact, it's often characterized more by the stumbles than the grace.
"When someone asks me what kind of Christian I am," says Quaker author J. Brent Bill, "I say I'm a bad one. I've got the belief part down pretty well, I think. It's in the practice of my belief in everyday life where I often miss the mark." In Life Lessons from a Bad Quaker, a self-professed non-expert on faith invites readers on a joyful exploration of the faith journey-perfection not required. With whimsy, humor, and wisdom, Bill shows readers how to put faith into practice to achieve a life that is soulfully still yet active, simple yet satisfying, peaceful yet strong.
For anyone who is bad at being good, this is an invitation to a pilgrimage toward a more meaningful and satisfying life . . . one step-or stumble-at a time.
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Book
12/2015
United Methodist Publishing House
€18.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
J. Brent Bill is a Quaker minister, photographer, retreat leader, and author. He holds an MA in Quaker Studies from Earlham School of Religion (a Quaker seminary) and has been a recorded (ordained to non-Quakers) Friends minister for thirty years. He has also served as pastor in Friends meetings (churches) large and small, rural and urban. After more than eleven years as executive vice president of the Indianapolis Center for Congregations, Bill now travels and speaks across the country serving as the coordinator of a project to seed new Quaker congregations across the United States and Canada. Bill resides in Mooresville, Indiana.
Content
- Intro
- Life Lessons from a Bad Quaker
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication Page
- Contents
- Introduction
- 1. Just Be Quiet: Stillness for Those Too Busy to Sit Still
- 2. World at War: Forget the Middle East-How Do I Get Along with My Family, Coworkers, and Annoying Neighbors?
- 3. To Buy or Not to Buy: Living Simply When I'd Really Like a New Mercedes-Or Even a Honda!
- 4. Red and Yellow, Black and White, They Are Precisious in His Sight-um, Perhaps My Vision Needs Checking
- 5. Truth Be Told: Integrity in an Often Duplicitous World
- 6. God's Good Green Earth: The Call to Care for Creation
- 7. Walking Cheerfully: A Little Levity Never Hurt Anybody (Well, Except for That one Guy)
- 8. Closing Deep Thoughts . . . And a Word on Fashion
- Appendix 1: Humble Stumble Hymnbook: Spiritual Songs for Imperfect Saints
- Appendix 2: The Good, the Bad, and the Quakers
- Appendix 3: Wanna Learn More?
- Appendix 4: Some Good Advices: Friendly Food for Faith and Thought
- Appendix 5: How to Talk Quaker
- Acknowledgments
- Notes
- About Brent
- Closing Thoughts
