Enter the Worship Circle [Paperback]

Ben Pasley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2001

ENTER THE WORSHIP CIRCLE

Experience the powerful art of worship through a mystical written journey. Enter the Worship Circle is an experiential, modern pursuit of the true essence of worship and intimacy with God.

The modern mind is at war with itself. Addicted to technology, but craving the spiritual. Demanding knowledge, but longing for mystery. Human achievement has yet to answer the passion for transcendent experience.

Enter the Worship Circle is a journey into the center of this conflict. Author Ben Pasley gets outside of religious tradition and delves deep into the mystery of worship, interaction with God, and the unfolding adventure of eternity. He weaves together storytelling, prophecy and personal reflections into a journey that fuses both worlds without apology. This spiritual journey is written in the language of a generation that, having divorced religion, is still desperate to build a relationship with God.

This book does more than point to spirituality — it is an innovative, practical approach to spiritual life. Across America and around the world there has been a rediscovery of the practice of worship. For many, this has inspired a new pursuit of things spiritual. For others, it has awakened a new interest in finding God. And for some, it has sparked a rediscovery of the Christian faith. Enter the Worship Circle is a journey into the powerful art of worship, and a handbook of challenges for the spiritually hungry.

Seekers and mature Christians alike will love the unconventional, visionary approach this book takes to discovery intimacy with God through the mystical activity of worship. Enter the Worship Circle will change how you view worship.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ben Pasley is a groundbreaking songwriter, singer, guitar player and producer. He and his wife Robin form the music group 100 Portraits, which he founded in 1993. The group's southern musical roots are mixed with world and alternative influences, creating a unique and captivating sound.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Relevant Books (December 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0884197921
• ISBN-13: 978-0884197928
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,278,282 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a non-linear postmodern worship experience, April 21, 2002

By 

johnw (Dallas TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Enter the Worship Circle (Paperback)

I didn't know what to expect in this book, but was drawn immediately to the design and artistic concept. I have always been fascinated by icons and symbolism; the use of icons ('voices') in this book coupled with an "other-worldly" atmosphere reminded me of playing immersive computer games such as Myst and Riven--a sense that all was new, and yet somehow strangely familiar.

I read this book in one sitting (interrupted by a late-night nap), and then promptly proceeded to read it again, annotating wildly (I couldn't even stop long enough during the first reading to underline!) The stories are compelling and do indeed draw the reader from one point-of-view to the next in one uninterrupted convergence of radically different journeys. The author's skill in creating and sustaining a wide variety of voices, temperaments and personalities in the book is impressive and convincing.

This is the first worship book I have read that (in my humble opinion) adequately addresses the call of worship and spirituality upon the postmodern seeker. It has been my experience that many books on worship and seeking God on the market today are written in either extremely academic and archaic language, or (worse) are written as easy "7 steps to.." solutions manuals for goal-oriented people. This book is their polar opposite. From the opening pages I was not sure where the author was going, and that momentary lack of orientation actually gave me a sense of comfort! It takes courage to write about God and leave more questions than answers in the mind of the reader, and in that Mr. Pasley has certainly succeeded.

Whereas many moderns seem unsuccessfully devoted to the left-brained, cognitive approach to Christianity and God, this book focuses upon many approaches and orientations. Logical thinking is included (in a style reminiscent of C. S. Lewis in a contemporary tongue), but is made to share time with emotions, dreams, visions, and, as always, the questions. In contrast to our answer-rich "how-to" culture, this book dares to invite its the reader to ask questions on his/her own. This to me is the essense of true spirituality--to dare to ask God, and to believe that He has an answer for each of us.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From Espresso, to Seeking, to Savior, February 18, 2004

By 

Thomas McClain "Bluesword" (San Diego, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Enter the Worship Circle (Paperback)

So I had listened to the cd's, and I became fairly intrigued to learn that the same singer of 100 portraits had written a book titled: "Enter the Worship Circle." I'm one of those people who have to plunge into something all the way, and then, whether I sink or swim, I know I gave it my all. So, a few days later, I held the book in my hands, and I began to read.

And it caught me off guard.

You see, the book wasn't written the way that I had ever expected it to be written. Simply, the book travels in this order: The author uses seven different view points in his story to bring you through his stories, thoughts, and revelations on worship. He also begins moving from 'outside' the worship circle, to the very heart of it. Using creative stories, logical statements, and beautiful language, he paints a clear picture of who God has to be if we are to worship him, and why Jesus is that God. I won't spoil it by saying what reading is like, Except that you definitely will not walk away from it without having an idea of where you stand in worship. In fact, I recommend this to Christians, and Non Christians, who are willing to say that maybe, just maybe, Jesus is God. And if he is, maybe he is even a loving God.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a wicked web Ben Weaves..., January 25, 2002

By 

Brandon N. Ferguson (Indianapolis, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Enter the Worship Circle (Paperback)

Ben Pasley has always been such a storyteller. Listen to him speak, listen to his and his wife's music (100 Portraits), they paint pictures in your mind and tell you a beautiful story.

So Ben writes a book, and his storytelling is just as beautiful as it ever was.

Simply put: This book is amazing.

When speaking on the subject of spirituality and more specifically worship, it's very easy to come off very religious, lose people in all kinds of archaic terminology and just be very uninteresting. Ben does an amazing job of talking about spirituality in such way that you can barely wait to read the next chapter and find yourself complaining that each chapter is too small. The one thing I didn't run into was fluff. Too often it seems people get an interesting notion about spirituality and decide it needs to be a book. Then in the first three chapters, you know what the rest will say... This is not true with Enter the Worship Circle. I found myself being surprised until the very end. Ben draws you in throughout the entire book. The pieces of narative sometimes seem non-linear and unrelated, but all pieces have a consistancy about them. Ben seems to weave these threads together and the end picture is beautiful.