The Spirituality of the Cross by Gene Edward Veith, Jr.

The Spirituality of the Cross: The Way of the First Evangelicals (Revised Edition)

Gene Edward Veith, Jr.

St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2010

172 pages

My Rating: 9 out of 10

Quick Summary: Gene Edward Veith Jr. holds a PhD in English literature and serves in higher education as a professor and administrator.  He has written numerous books on Christianity and culture such as: Postmodern Times: A Christian Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture.  In addition, he is an orthodox Lutheran author, which brings us to the work under review, The Spirituality of the Cross. 

This interesting, well-written introduction to Lutheran spirituality kept my attention.

The Post-Evangelical by Dave Tomlinson

The Post-Evangelical 
(Revised North American Edition)

Dave Tomlinson

El Cajon, CA: EmergentYS, 2003

146 pages

Rating: 5 out of 10

Quick Summary: Former fundamentalist, house church leader, charismatic, and now, Anglican priest, Dave Tomlinson (www.davetomlinson.co.uk) pens this work on Postmodern Christianity.  He currently pastor’s St. Luke’s Church in north London and is a self-proclaimed Postmodern Christian, and author of several books.  From this book, he grew up in the Brethren Church, which tended toward fundamentalism.  I believe that this is important to understanding his perspective.

True Prayer by Kenneth Leech

True Prayer: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality

Kenneth Leech

San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1980

202 pages

Rating: 9 out of 10

Quick Summary: Kenneth Leech is a retired Anglican priest and spiritual writer. True Prayer is the second book in what became his trilogy on the Christian spiritual life. Previously, I reviewed the first book of the trilogy, Soul Friend: New Revised Edition (click on "Leech" on the LABELS list). While Soul Friend is a textbook on spiritual direction, this work is a textbook on prayer.

Inevitably, when I read Kenneth Leech, I encounter a chapter or section that is an absolute treasure chest filled with gold, silver, and precious jewels. It is priceless beyond imagination! This book is no exception!