A Testament of Devotion

Rating:
Summary: Simple Devotion
Review: As I read this book, I thought, "This man had a lifetime of learning to live, think, breath and walk in the presence of God." However, at the end of the book, in the biographical section, I learned that Kelly really only began to live the life he describes the last few years of his life. It was not that it took him that long to achieve such spiritual levels, but rather, he apparently was busy with life and never tried.

I found this encouraging--that a life filled with God's presence does not have to take decades to find. Rather, it can begin to be experienced little by little day to day and in a relatively brief time, moment by moment as Kelly describes.

This is a great book. Kelly is not pretentious in any way. He plainly and simply gives clues of how to live a Christ-filled life in today's busy society.

Rating:
Summary: Simple Devotion
Review: As I read this book, I thought, "This man had a lifetime of learning to live, think, breath and walk in the presence of God." However, at the end of the book, in the biographical section, I learned that Kelly really only began to live the life he describes the last few years of his life. It was not that it took him that long to achieve such spiritual levels, but rather, he apparently was busy with life and never tried.

I found this encouraging--that a life filled with God's presence does not have to take decades to find. Rather, it can begin to be experienced little by little day to day and in a relatively brief time, moment by moment as Kelly describes.

This is a great book. Kelly is not pretentious in any way. He plainly and simply gives clues of how to live a Christ-filled life in today's busy society.

Rating:
Summary: Simple Devotion
Review: As I read this book, I thought, "This man had a lifetime of learning to live, think, breath and walk in the presence of God." However, at the end of the book, in the biographical section, I learned that Kelly really only began to live the life he describes the last few years of his life. It was not that it took him that long to achieve such spiritual levels, but rather, he apparently was busy with life and never tried.

I found this encouraging--that a life filled with God's presence does not have to take decades to find. Rather, it can begin to be experienced little by little day to day and in a relatively brief time, moment by moment as Kelly describes.

This is a great book. Kelly is not pretentious in any way. He plainly and simply gives clues of how to live a Christ-filled life in today's busy society.

Rating:
Summary: A Thing of Beauty
Review: Call it a "classic" if you like, but to me, this book is a thing of beauty. There are few books that compare to it.

I once gave it as a graduation gift to a seminary student. She later commented that there were lots of things she agreed with. What?! There is no agrument or proposition here! You let it take you, lead you places. You immerse, wrap yourself in its beauty.

The 1941 edition with an intro/bio by Douglas Steere (also reprinted in 70s or 80s) is MUCH MUCH preferred to the Richard Foster edition. He not only adds his own intro, but does editing of the original. Blasphemy. Skip his "version" and find an original.

Rating:
Summary: A Thing of Beauty
Review: Call it a "classic" if you like, but to me, this book is a thing of beauty. There are few books that compare to it.

I once gave it as a graduation gift to a seminary student. She later commented that there were lots of things she agreed with. What?! There is no agrument or proposition here! You let it take you, lead you places. You immerse, wrap yourself in its beauty.

The 1941 edition with an intro/bio by Douglas Steere (also reprinted in 70s or 80s) is MUCH MUCH preferred to the Richard Foster edition. He not only adds his own intro, but does editing of the original. Blasphemy. Skip his "version" and find an original.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Christian Devotional Classics
Review: I have read this book four times and will read it many more. This book and "Abandonment to Divine Providence" by Jean-Pierre de Caussade are my favorite Christian devotional/mystical classics. Kelly's book is prose poetry that romances and broadens the spirit at the same time as it educates the mind. I used to compartmentalize spiritual things and separate them from the "non-spiritual" mundane activities in life. This outlook is in error, according to Kelly. ALL activities in life become "spiritual" and significant as one lives within the Divine Center, listening and following the Spirit's leadings. Only within this Center is there true peace in the midst of a world full of "inevitable suffering" and people who do NOT live within the Divine Center.

Although I love this book, the biographical section does mention Kelly's interest in Eastern philosophies and his fascination with A.N. Whitehead's teachings. Whitehead promoted panentheism and not true Christian theism. Also, Kelly does occasionally seem to give credence in his book to "non-Christian" forms of spirituality. In one place he mentions a conversation he had with a Buddhist monk over the religious paradox of "everything matters; nothing matters" which he tells his reader to contemplate in religious experience. Also, his reading of devotional classics included "The Prophet" by Khalil Gibran, a non-Christian book to say the least. How much Eastern philosophies have influenced Kelly, I cannot say, but I do say that there is much in Kelly's book that has affected me both deeply and permanently; I highly recommend this book. - Brad Clark

Rating:
Summary: Still Mining the Gold from This Little Book
Review: I've read a lot of Christian books by such authors as Augustine, Aquinas, Brother Lawrence, Pascal, Caussade, Teresa of Avila, Dostoevsky, Lewis, Tozer, Sproul, Geisler, Willard, Foster, and many more... but I'm drawn back to this little book above them all. I've come to appreciate the paradox of "nothing matters; everything matters." As Kelly said, God "gives us the royal blindness of faith, and the seeing eye of the sensitized soul, and the grace of unflinching obedience. Then we see that nothing matters, and that everything matters, and that this my task matters for me and for my fellow men and for Eternity. And if we be utterly humble we may be given the strength to be obedient even unto death, yea the death of the Cross." My goal is to write a devotional, theological book to compare to it. I am not yet up to the task. I have many notes from my many readings, but first I must make God's presence and will the deepest realities in my life as they obviously were in Kelly's. I have the head knowledge, but lack the deepest heart's passion and abandonment to divine breathings that are required to pen a masterpiece. I've learned from Kelly that it is more important that I live as God's masterpiece than pen one myself. As Kelly said, "practice comes first in religion, not theory or dogma."

One correction to my earlier review: Kelly discussed the paradox of "nothing matters; everything matters" with a Hindu monk, not a Buddhist one.

In closing, I'm somewhat surprised to find that Kelly's book is not as popular as it deserves to be. But, then again, I'm not. - Brad Clark

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book for spiritual guidance
Review: Reading this book was a wonderful experience and one I intend to repeat many times. It contains many beautiful descriptions of the inner life of one who listens to God's call and waits in silence for the Divine Presence. It's an invaluable companion in the life of anyone who is searching and seeking for that Presence and/or has already discovered that Presence.

Rating:
Summary: When you're ready for the truth in a nutshell give it a try.
Review: This book is the proverbial finger pointing at the moon, and can lead to a glimpse if you're ready. If not, it is short and small enough that you can carry it in your pocket or bag and re-read all or portions repeatedly and get a little more out of it each time, depending on where on your journey you are. It has that wonderful Quaker quality of blending Christian mysticism with very subtle threads of Buddhism, Vedanta, Sufism, etc. that acts to integrate and harmonize many different perspectives into an illuminating synthesis of ideas and insights.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect for a quiet time of reflection.
Review: Thomas Kelly helps awaken our longing for a life lived in God's presence. He beckons us away from the distractions and sensual bombarments of popular culture, and points us a simple place of abiding faith.