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59 of 60 people found the following review helpful: Connecting Us to the Full 2,000 Years of Our Heritage, August 2, 1998 By  J. Stephen Pearson "eternal student" (U of Georgia, Athens) - See all my reviews    This review is from: Devotional Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups (Paperback) I have been giving this book as a gift to as many people as I can. It is a welcome respite from the devotional books found in most Christian bookstores, whose owners seem to think that nothing of worth was written between the Bible and C.S. Lewis' conversion. As someone raised thoroughly Protestant, I have enjoyed not only an introduction to the more devotion-oriented writings of the great Protestant heavies (Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Edwards, Kierkegaard, Lewis, Bonhoeffer, et al.), and of the best-known pre-Reformation writers (Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, John Chrysostom, Benedict, St. Bernard, St. Francis, Julian, a Kempis), but also an introduction to the great post-Reformation Catholic writers, either unknown or ignored in most evangelical literature. Writers such as Catherine of Genoa, Brother Lawrence, de Sales, de Caussade, Grou, Fenelon, Pascal, John of the Cross, Merton, and Nouwen have won a special place in my heart, having introduced me to the merits and v! arieties of Catholic traditions. I assume and hope that Catholic readers will have the same experience reading such Protestants as Bunyon, Taylor, Fox, Woolman, Spurgeon, Laubach, and Kelly, to name just a few. The benefits of learning devotion from both traditions have been marvelous -- I feel that my connection to the Church is now based on the full 2,000 years of tradition and testimony. Now when I peruse Christian bookstores, I no longer feel pressured to keep up with the latest additions to the authorial market -- I have plenty of time-tested teachers to read, and re-read, and re-read yet again....  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful: Portal to the 'Old Book' - Wisdom From Those who Got It, May 21, 2005 By  Stanford Gibson (West Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews    This review is from: Devotional Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups (Paperback) In the introduction Foster cites CS Lewis' recommendation for reading one 'old book' for every new book one reads. 'Old books' can speak with voices outside of the biases of our time and document the inter-generational story of Christ and his Church. Classics that have been beneficial for centuries are more likely to be beneficial than the latest glossy at the local bookstore. However, it can be next to impossible to know where to start. That is where Foster has provided a great service with this text. He organizes 52 devotional excerpts from throughout the history of the church that speak lucidly and counterculturalally to our generation. The format is designed for devotional use with a short bio, 3 page excerpt, related scripture, discussion questions and suggested action steps. It would be a great resource for a personal time of reflection or some sort of discussion group. It is the best $10.88 I have spent in a long time. I'm buying copies for all my friends.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful: explore the wisdom of the ages, September 7, 2000 By  H. David Peirce "Zossima" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews    This review is from: Devotional Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups (Paperback) This is a compilation of spiritual food from some of the devotional masters of the past 2000 years. These are men and women who walked with God, whose meditations probed with awe the depths of God. Foster has collected some of the best of these meditations and organized them. This is a book that can be read and reread. It will be a treasure for years.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)