Customer Reviews

We Believe: Forty Meditations on the Nicene Creed

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"We Believe" June 28,2007
A D "Bud" Niebergall, Fircrest, WA.

Richard's book, "We Believe", Forty Meditations on the Nicene Creed, is long overdue. I have waited for many years to see and "hear" the deep truths of Christianity revealed and described in such a down to earth, straight forward manner.
The Nicene Creed, explained in the context of the Word of God and Richard's personal life, is unique and a real winner. His uncluttered manner of expression, gives a simplicity and power that can be readily taken into the heart of Catholic Christians, especially those who may never see or examine a Vatican Encyclical, or a Catholic Catechism.
I would recommend "We Believe" as a "must read" for any Christian in search of truth, and new life in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thank you Richard,the book has been an inspiration to me.

I Enjoyed reading the book, it had great insight into the Nicene Creed and its meaning into our lives. It also had personal example of Richards lifes experiences and how it might relate to us. I recommend it for a daily meditation and prayer.

"We Believe" makes an excellent addition to an older youth or adult catechism program. It is well thought out and personal in its approach. There are not many direct references to the Roman Catholic tradition that would deter most "free church" or evangelicals from being able to find its meditations accessible and highly useful in their personal devotional life.

For those in a more liturgical tradition, it also makes an excellent Lenten meditation guide. It's divided into 40 sections that have a unified focus for that given meditation. Maffeo takes the most basic creedal statement on which Christians can agree and applies real life situations that he either saw or participated in. It's a timely reminder of what it is that we Christians do believe as the world challenges us over our core beliefs.

Not only does Maffeo explore our beliefs, but he also challenges us to a deeper relationship with our God. It is that living relationship with the Triune God that is the key difference between Christianity and other faith traditions. He references each meditation with applicable Scripture and ends each with an appropriate short prayer. Some of the creeds statements deserve and are given several meditations.

The book is exceptionally well paced and smoothly written. While it is easy to read, it's also thought provoking. We Believe is a winner in content, outline, and style! Buy this gem if you want to deepen your walk.

Helen Spalding
retired Navy Chaplain

In his book, We Believe, Rich Maffeo guides us on a journey to the core of our Catholic faith, The Nicene Creed. This prayer defines our church family and shows us with fresh eyes the cornerstone, Jesus the Christ. Every time we recite this prayer, we proclaim in union with the angels, the prophets, and the Saints, the divinity and humanity of Jesus. It summarizes God's unconditional love for us, and the path of salvation.

Each meditation is simple, profound, and thought provoking. It exposes us to a better understanding of our need for a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus!

This is a must read for all Catholics and non-Catholics curious about our traditions and our ways of worship.

I strongly recommend this book to be added to all churches resource libraries. It is an excellent tool to help the youth prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The book provides daily living examples and show the youth ways to find Jesus in the midst of their busy lives.



Tannia E. Ortiz-Lopés is a writer by profession, a mother by choice, and a wife by the covenant of marriage. She was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico and currently lives in Germany with her husband and two sons. On 2004, she published her first free-style inspirational poetry book, The Window To My Soul : My Walk With Jesus (Tate Publishing) under the pen name of Mary Magdalene. In March 2006, the book was voted "Best Poetry Book" by www.christianstoryteller.com

Visit the author at: www.myspace.com/tanniaortizlopes, and http://timewithtannia.tripod.com/

I remember learning the Nicene Creed for Catechism class before I entered my teens. Perhaps because of memorization the words became common. Richard Maffeo's commentary on the Nicene Creed, supported by Scripture and personal examples, has provided an inspiring fresh view for me. The book is taken from his unusual spiritual journey.

Maffeo attended Jewish synagogue for Sabbath before becoming a Protestant Evangelical, where he came into intimate relationship with Christ. He practiced his faith with Evangelicals while he attended Pentecostal schools to earn his baccalaureate and Masters Degrees. Thirty years later, when a friend challenged him to study Catholic doctrine and compare it to the Protestant faith Maffeo felt drawn to Catholicism and was "received into the Catholic Church" during Easter Vigil 2005.

It was during a long and boring drive to work that he set the cruise control and his mind wandered. Later, appalled at his carelessness he vowed to pay attention when he was behind the wheel. However, when he saw a church member cleaning his fingernails during Mass and the recitation of the Nicene Creed, he remembered his own carelessness. And realized it was as easy to set your spiritual `cruise control' as it was your speedometers cruise control, but using spiritual cruise control could make the sacred common, as memorization of the Nicene Creed had for me. Those thoughts became the seeds that birthed this book.

Maffeo sequentially dissects the Nicene Creed into forty meditations. Each meditation begins with a Creed statement, followed by a focus, related Scripture, an illustrative personal story, and ends with prayer.

For example the second mediation's focus after the snippet of Creed statement is "We Believe." The Scripture is from Proverb 3: 5-6 about trusting in the Lord with all your heart and in all your ways be mindful of Him. The 53' training tower rappelling story reminds Maffeo of a Christian's struggle with waxing and waning faith and learning confidence in God's power.

Readers will recognize themselves in his story illustrations. They will be pulled toward a growing intimacy with the Lord through supporting Scripture, reflection, meditation and prayer. Although targeted to the Catholic market, I consider this a crossover book that anyone could use. It makes a wonderful companion for your Bible study time.

Gail Welborn
Book Review Columnist

Richard Maffeo's book is a wonderful series of meditations on the Creed of our faith. Using both scripture and personal anecdotes, Mr. Maffeo helps the reader see, hear and feel the Creed in a profoundly personal way. This book is a blessing to anyone of faith.

Wow, this is an amazing book! I agree with all the other reviews of: We Believe: Forty Meditations on the Nicene Creed
especially: "this book will take you to surprising places in gentle and supportive ways". "We Believe" does have warm, personal stories and beautiful, accessible meditations. The author seems to be a man of fearless humility! Obviously it's difficult to race through the Nicene Creed after reading this. And now it's difficult to race through ALL my prayers, journaling, conversations, radio shows, and life in general. I am a more thoughtful listener now, to my self and others. I am a more thoughtful reader, driver, and TV watcher. I wish Mr Maffeo would do the Mass, the Our Father and the Hail Mary and the Mysteries of the Rosary and the Beatitudes and. ...but I realize this can be an example and I can do this for myself for the rest of my life. I have read so many books on how to pray and this has truly helped more than any other.
"We Believe, Forty Meditations on the Nicene Creed." is an excellent book on many levels.

I read this book -- and more of Rich's writing -- as it was being written. One thing I learned -- or more accurately, was reminded of -- is that it is possible to see the acts of God through other people. I've not met Rich in person, but I know he approaches his theological studies humbly, with the idea that another of God's Truths will be revealed if he only will "be still and listen."

Written in simple but passionate language, written with intelligence and faith, these meditations provide lessons to live by.

We Believe, my father's first book reminds me a lot of the expositional Sunday school lessons he gave when I was younger. Each devotion is well-thought out, Biblically sound and marries the beauty and the tradition of both his Protestant background and his newfound Catholic faith. You won't regret reading this book!

Richard Maffeo has written a winner with "We Believe, Forty Meditations on the Nicene Creed."

This is a moving, beautifully written book. It offers easy-to-read sections (two to three pages each) with a Nicene Creed statement, a scriptural focus, very warm and human stories from the author's own experience, and a prayer.

"We Believe" is a book that invites not just meditation on the Nicene Creed (which would be enough in itself) but also an applicable Scriptural reference, and stories which invite the readers to participate in the meditations as they recall their own stories. In this way, a simple book accomplishes depth very ably.

My book club chose "We Believe" for our May 2007 book, and it was enjoyed by all. Its user-friendly format makes it easy to read personally or as a group selection.

I highly recommend this book. It will take you to surprising places in gentle and supportive ways.