I just finished the book Body Prayer by Doug Pagitt and Kathryn Prill and was disappointed. I wasn’t disappointed so much in the book or its content but the price. Maybe it is the inevitable risk of purchasing a book online but the book I received wasn’t the book I expected. I liked it, don’t get me wrong, and I’m sure Doug and Kathryn had absolutely nothing to do with setting the price (and probably will only receive a measly $0.25 royalty per book) but it was just way too expensive. It is a good resource, one I will use, but in my opinion it is really only worth about $10 instead of the $21.00 price tag I paid at Chapters.

About the book: it is filled with great, creative and ancient ideas of using our bodies as we pray. It is completely practical and if you are looking for a historical or theological book on the subject you will be disappointed.

Like I said, I liked the book but if you are thinking of buying it, wait until it goes on sale, as it just isn’t worth the high price tag.

I just finished reading “The Sacred Way” by Tony Jones. Along with other things, it prompted me to think about doing a Spiritual Pilgrimage some time in my life. I am not sure where or when, but it definitely intrigues, excites and scares me. Previous to reading this book, I would have never really thought about doing a pilgrimage, but after hearing the history behind it and from Tony’s personal experience, I think it is something that I have real interest in.

In a paradoxical sort of way, I like/dislike books on prayer and spiritual disciplines. One of the things I really liked about this book is the personal dynamic in it. It made it real, raw and drew me into a subject that otherwise has a tendency to be dull, boring and guilt driven.

I just finished reading “The Gospel Reloaded“ by Chris Seay and found it interesting and thought provoking. In fact, it has made me want to watch The Matrix again just to see it with deeper insights, understanding and appreciation. Previous to reading this book (about three months ago), I also read “The Gospel According to Tony Soprano“ by Seay, which I found for $1.99 in the Chapter’s bargain section. It, too, was an interesting refection. I think both of these works constitutes and explains why I think just as much conversation, discussion and spiritual good can come out of the dialogue from any “secular” movie and TV show then the Christian alternatives. I think Christians should spend more time dialoguing about the movies people are seeing, even if they disagree with them. People see movies for a reason; they resonate with them. So as Christians, I think we can have more influence, and integrity for that matter, in our culture if we can talk honestly and intelligently about the movies people are seeing.

All of that too say, although some people despise books about movies or drawing spiritual conversations out of them, and granted it too can be taken to the extreme, it is an important part of our culture and I think and important part of our dialogue within it.