Abundant Living for Christians

By Arthur Stevens

Decisions, decisions. Human life is full of them, often generating great anxiety. How can they lead to fullness of life and further the promise of the Gospel? Like the Gospel itself, the method called... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1594673578
• ISBN13: 9781594673573
• Release Date: February 2005
• Publisher: Xulon Pr
• Length: 104 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.3" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

A Wonderful Way to Make Decisions

Art Stevens offers an excellent methodology for decision making which allows a rather reserved person like me to play an important role in all aspects of the process. His "Transformation through Cooperative Discernment" focuses on God's presence in every phase of decision making. The discernment of the hopes of each involved person gives every individual an opportunity to speak and be heard, and the communal cooperation in working through the process to an ending that is pleasing to all are appealing to those whose voices are not always spoken or heard. While Stevens developed this new way of looking at an old and often difficult process primarily for families, churches and institutions, it can work beautifully for individuals and couples (very small families). He works through this approach to decision making precisely and clearly, step by step, and gives frequent examples to which the lay reader can easily identify. This book is one that needs to be kept within easy reach, reread from time to time and referred to often. A wonderful new way to use our heartfelt hopes to make decisions, large and small, individual and corporate!

A Better Way of Making Hard Decisions

Art Stevens' method of decision making through discernment is applicable to institutions large and small, secular as well as sacred, and also to families. It is especially useful in situations where choices are fraught with emotion and conflict. In this little book, Rev. Stevens presents what he calls Transformation through Cooperative Discernment (TCD)as a clear, step-by-step process for resolving conflict and reaching decisions that everyone can feel positive about. He also shows how the process may be used for choosing leaders. The book includes abundant case studies as well as evaluations from people who have used TCD in their church or home life. I recommend it.

A Rare Book

This is one of those books that come along rarely, with new insights and wisdom on the old subject of getting along and living together. Art Stevens' book ought to be required reading for anyone in a ministry of reconciliation-which certainly includes the clergy. Abundant Living is solidly based on the Gospel. It challenges the familiar mindset of "good guys/bad guys, winners/losers. Stevens takes careful aim at the categorical thinking found in marketplace and Church, and suggests a more effective way to live fulfilled lives.

Choosing Abundance

Reading Arthur Stevens' "Abundant Living for Christians" was a refreshing experience for me in several ways. It was refreshing to experience Stevens' departure from two popular directions taken by many Fundamentalist preachers on decision-making and prayer-- the judgmental, "black and white" guilt trip ("God's will is absolutely clear in every case...just read the Bible"), and the "God wants you to have that gold Cadillac" approach (prayer as magic). Stevens' makes clear that what God guarantees is "abundance", but it is not in black-and-white legalisms and it is not in material goods (necessarily). Stevens' returns discernment to the province of the soul, and how the soul can prosper in the world by making soulful decisions. Stevens, however, does much more than replace Fundamentalist literalism. He also takes the reader on a step-by-step walk (or dance) through the process of including "others" as well as God in the decision-making process. The bad news here, of course, is for the ego...the same ego that wants black-and-white certainty as well as the "gold cadillac" (name your own obsession). Stevens' constantly cautions the reader that decision-making is in fact a deeply spiritual process, one that requires an openness in the face of the eventual outcome. It's no accident that Stevens' evolved his discernment process after and early career in Washington, D.C. politics-- an experience that drove him into the Episcopal priesthood as part of a commitment to find a totally different approach to solving personal and social issues. "Abundant Living for Christians" shows the achievement of that quest: he offers a vision of inclusive, grace-full, and -- as he says-- "abundant" decision-making. In sum, Stevens' concise book presents a life-time of lively personal anecdotes along with an extremely detailed process that opens the door to a space where decisions can be reached with a sense of hope and even a guarantee of abundance-- because the point of view is truly God-centered.

A Process That Works

The process described in this book really works. As a leader of a church community we used this process over and over again to discern the mission of our church and to make thoughtful, prayerful decisions. Our church community though small was very active, viverant and willing to take risks to grow because we used this process.