Practicing God's Presence: Brother Lawrence for Today's Reader [Paperback]

Robert Elmer (Author), Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 16, 2004

For centuries, the sayings of Brother Lawrence, a seventeenth-century monk, have shown believers how to follow and live like Christ. Now a new generation can discover the joy of The Practice of the Presence of God in this updated version.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A modern update of a beloved classic. The sayings of Brother Lawrence have inspired thousands to live a life sold-out for Christ. Originally published as a brief booklet shortly after Lawrence's death in 1691, his classic work The Practice of the Presence of God has crossed nearly every denominational and cultural line. Yet despite its classic status, Brother Lawrence's seventeenth-century description of the Christian life is admittedly difficult for today's reader to follow. Sadly, this prevents all but the most dedicated readers from uncovering the spiritual treasures hidden under centuries of changing language. In this modern edition, Robert Elmer updates the ancient language, not the timeless message. Elmer's twenty-five years of experience as a writer and editor helps him unlock what was originally a straightforward account of how to love God straight from the heart, using accessible language that every reader can understand.

About the Author

Robert Elmer is a graduate of Simpson College and St. Mary's College in California. Most recently he is the author of The Duet and Jamie Lane Buys Riverdale, as well as over 35 popular novels for younger readers. He and his wife, Ronda, are the parents of three young adults and live in Washington state.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: NavPress (December 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157683655X
• ISBN-13: 978-1576836552
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #97,508 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deep enough to change your thinking., February 10, 2005

By 

Donita K. Paul (www.dragonkeeper.us) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Practicing God's Presence: Brother Lawrence for Today's Reader (Paperback)

This book attracted my attention immediately. I've heard of Brother Lawrence for twenty years, but each time I read a piece by him, I bogged down in the archaic language. Elmer takes the meat of Brother Lawrence's philosophy/religious tenets and puts them in words I can relate to. I intend to read this small volume several times. The first time was rewarding, but the material is so rich, it requires at least a second read to absorb the finer points.

46 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Missed Opportunity, April 26, 2005

By 

T. Duffy - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Practicing God's Presence: Brother Lawrence for Today's Reader (Paperback)

This is a really weak and uninspired translation - really a rewriting - of Brother Lawrence's classic little book. The author/translator says that this is a "thought-for-thought" translation rather than a literal one, and admits that this is a risky proposition. He's right that it's risky, especially when a writer is careless and takes unwarranted license with a text, and unfortunately he's failed in his attempt. It could and should have been otherwise. The author goes overboard trying to make the book sound contemporary, filling it with American colloquialisms and excessive informality to the point that it often sounds like a trivial conversation between teenagers ("let's bulldoze the dike that holds back God's flood," "let's cash in lost time," "if death is tailgating us, we need to be ready," "life offers no `do-overs'," don't look for the pleasure payoff," and on and on). There are places where subject and verb don't agree and other grammatical or stylistic errors cause a lack of clarity. When a writer allows himself great license, he can't blame problems like these on the original text. The author has been a news reporter and advertising copywriter, and it shows. This is too important a book to be treated with this much sloppiness and irreverence. I'm surprised at NavPress for letting this one slip through, and I strongly suggest that you buy a better version (the Whitaker House version, for example, is better and cheaper).

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Focusing on Him, February 4, 2005

By 

Carolyn R. Scheidies "CRS" (KEARNEY, NE United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Practicing God's Presence: Brother Lawrence for Today's Reader (Paperback)

This is a book to be read and reread, along with Scripture, to draw us focus on Christ and help us become totally sold-out for Him.

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