Life, Love and Laughter: The Spirituality of the Consciousness Examen

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Summary: Book Review on Life, Love, and Laughter
Review: Life, Love, and Laughter is a great book written by one of my favorite priests in my parish. Father Jim Vlaun wrote this wonderful book about how we can become closer to God and how we can become more aware of him in our lives.

There are five steps of the consciousness examen discussed in this book. The first step, a prayer for enlightenment, is about how we can choose to either live our lives in the light or live our lives in the dark. We have all been given special gifts. Enlightenment is having spiritual insight. The second step, reflective thanksgiving, talks about how we should be thankful for the cross and for the resurrection. We all struggle with material things called the "thingdom" instead of being part of the kingdom. The third step, survey of actions, is about how each moment of our lives can be an opportunity for the power of God to break in. If we want to get closer to God, we must get close to love. The fourth step, contrition and sorrow, reminds us to be sorry for our sins. God will forgive us if we forgive ourselves. We must learn to love ourselves. The fifth step, resolution for future, is about how we must welcome the future. We must commit to growth, and we must welcome change. John, the Baptist said, "Prepare the way of the Lord." This meant that we should live in the hope that there is more to come. Martha was anxious about all there was to do in the future. She asked God to help her do it well.

This book is about real life stories. Father Jim wrote about personal struggles and happy occasions in his life. His personal stories made the book interesting and fun to read. Father Jim is a priest who brings a lot of people into the church. His homilies are full of personal stories. It is no surprise his book is very similar to his homilies. I would recommend this book to teens and adults. It is a great way to get closer to God in our lives and to be made more aware of him in our lives.
There are many important lessons in this book. We are reminded to love one another and ourselves, to prepare for the future, to be sorry for our sins, to get close to love, to be thankful for the cross and the resurrection, and to be ready to grow closer to God.

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Summary: Stephanie Gonzalez's review on life love and laugter
Review: Stephanie Gonzalez
John Sureau
Theology 6
30 September 2004
Option 2


The book Life Love and Laughter consists of the Consciousness Examen. In the examen there are five steps which include: 1. a prayer for enlightenment 2. Reflective Thanksgiving. 3. Survey Actions 2. Reflective Thanksgiving 3. Survey Actions 4. Contrition and sorrow 5. Resolution for future. Each step talks about how we can become closer to God. The Consciousness Examen is written by Saint Ignatius of Loyola. The first step talks about how we spend too much time asking God for a eureka moment. The Second step talks about spending some moments thanking God for His wonders in our lives. The third step talks about how each moment of our life is a moment with potential for the power of God to break in. the forth step talks about us visiting the regrets of our days together. The last step talks about preserving our commitment to the future.This book is about real life stories. Father Jim wrote about personal struggles and happy occasions in his life. His personal stories made the book interesting and fun to read.


Rating:
Summary: Life Love and Laughter
Review: The book Life ,Love and Laughter writen by Father Jim Vlaun, is a book telling you how to find God in your life. Father Jim Vlaun writes the 5 steps of the Consiousness Examen which was written by St. Ignatious of Loyola: 1. Prayer for Enlightenment 2. Reflective Thanksgiving 3. Survey of actions 4. Contrition and Sorrow 5. Resolution for the Future. These five steps along with Father Jim's stories have helped many people fing God in their lives and can also help you.
This book is not only helpful but it is also funny. Father Jim has done the unimaginable and intertwined comedy, seriousness and Spirituality. These three elements created Life Love and Laughter which helps you find the path to God in your life and the enlightenment to deeper understanding of your spirituality.
This book showed me a new route to faith and might also help you. Enjoy and remember, God is there for everyone.