A fresh wind of God's Spirit is blowing on the earth today, and as in times past, God is inviting us to raise our sails and move forward with the power and direction that reflects our commitment to God's will. Some are calling it ""a new pentecost,"" but whatever name is given, we are living in a time when we have an opportunity to connect with God's renewing work. One specific manifestation of this movement is ""the new monasticism."" This book is an invitation to explore it and embrace the dynamics it contains. ""This book is as timely as it is inspiring. Harper captures the truth that fresh winds always blow through the community of faith, leaving in their wake thoughts that tug at our heart. He evokes in every reader the question, how ought I to respond? The answer he gives is a humble, obedient, and courageous yes."" --Susan Muto, Dean, Epiphany Academy of Formative Spirituality ""The hallmark of Steve Harper's books is simple profundity. This new collection of meditations on a fresh wind blowing bears all the marks of his winsome style and the accumulated wisdom of his lifelong attentiveness to the Spirit. . . . He envisions contemplation as a spiritual rule of life based upon the template of Christ. Read this book, accept his invitation, and journey into a life worth living in our time."" --Paul W. Chilcote, Academic Dean and Professor of Historical Theology and Wesleyan Studies, Ashland Theological Seminary ""A growing number of Christians from across the American church scene have selected the term 'new monasticism' to identify themselves. Recognizing the failure and poverty of entrepreneurial and consumer-based attempts at church renewal, they are practicing the quieter life of prayer, meditation, and care for outcasts that in earlier troubled times was centered in monasteries--but in this case 'monasteries without walls.' I call it slow church development. It is the most promising development in my lifetime of Holy Spirit renewal. Harper's book is an attractive and accurate orientation to this quiet witness of imaginative and devout ways of living obediently in these times."" --Eugene H. Peterson, Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Regent College Dr. Steve Harper is Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Formation and Wesley Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is also the founder of Oboedire: A Site for Attentive Formation, a daily blog that encourages and assists people in their journey of Christian formation (www.oboedire.wordpress.com). He has been married to his wife, Jeannie, since 1970, and they are the parents of two children and two grandchildren. Steve is the author or coauthor of twenty-six books and a frequent speaker at conferences and retreats.
