Practicing the Presence of People : How We Learn to Love

Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommended
Review: Besides the bible, no other book has had a more positive impact on my life than Practicing the Presence of People. In first choosing to read this book, I desired to love people better. I was on a mission's trip and wanted to bless those I was serving. This book broadened my vision for reaching others and filled me with more of God's love than I'd ever experienced before. Each chapter drew out different nuances to my understanding of God's will for my life. I began to understand why some of my relationships had gone awry or were stifled. What struck me the most was Mason's claim that God's deepest desire for us is to see God's beauty in others. Not in a moralistic "oh they're perfect" kind of way, but in practical ways that improved the fruit of my relationships as a mentor, friend, disciple, etc.

Mason's book is not for Christians who think, "It's simple, the bible is black and white." But if you want to learn more about God's desire for us, Mason illustrates the heart of the bible with craft! For example, the bible is showered with verses of praise describing the glory of God in people (praising God for loving us enough by sending Jesus to die for us and draw out that glory more). Practically, our heart should overflow. But it won't until God saves us personally. We only begin to see the glimmer of God's glory in others when we've dealt with the frustrations of trying to be in good relationship with God, our self, and others.

Scripture is clear. In Genesis, we were created in God's image and were in sweet communion with God, and then there was the fall of humanity with Adam and Eve's choices. From there, fortunately for us, God sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit, to continue our story and relationship with him. We walk this journey every day towards or away from a relationship with God, and people. Again, it's solid theology to think that God's glory is waiting to be unlocked in all of us. Furthermore, if you study Jesus' life thoroughly, relationships are critical. Here's a few verses from the bible that Mason draw's out in his book, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind," "Love your neighbor as yourself," and even "Love your enemy's." And finally why? "Because God first loved us." For Christians to actually take the "greatest commandment" (love the lord and your neighbor) seriously would revolutionize how the world actually views Christians. Sure, I completely believe the bible when it brings testimony to Jesus dying for our sins, but the proof is in the pudding. How do you make disciples of all nations? Well we don't need any more Christians hitting people over the head with the bible, that's for sure. What we need is love. Friendship is the vehicle for deeper compassion.

Lastly, I find Mason's insight into God's heart for us captivating. I may not know 100% that God actually prays for us, but what's wrong with thinking that he might? What if I phrased it the opposite way by saying God never prays for us. Which do you actually think is true? I think we need to ask ourselves tougher questions than only what the bible says. We need to step out of linear thinking and grasp what the bible means. I am confident that Mason's book gives a healthy, Godly look at our relationship with our self, others, and God.

1 Corinthians 13:1 says, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."

"Forgive the dream crusher and your dreams will never be crushed again." -Mike Mason, Practicing the Presence of People: How We Learn to Love

Rating:
Summary: Captures the Heart
Review: Every word in this wonderful book rings true. As the song says, "What the world needs now is love, true love; that's the only thing there's just to little of...". This is a book that puts shoe leather to that pretty saying. Want to really understand people? Want to build stronger relationships? Then this is the book for you. The bonus is that Mike Mason is an accomplished writer who chisels every sentence. I have purchased three copies and given them to each of my college-age children. Now I need to get another for myself!

Rating:
Summary: Maybe it's well meant, but it's also ludicrous!!
Review: Mike Mason begins his book by stating: "One day in contemplation there came to me the phrase 'the practice of the presence of people.' And with it came this thought - why not take all that I've learned about knowing God through contemplative prayer and apply it to knowing people." Not a bad beginning, but it gravitates toward the bizarre.

His previous book, "The Mystery of Marriage" was a wonderful treatise on marriage, and as he says, he once wanted to become a monk, but he fell in love, and the insights he brought to that topic are far superior than this foray.

He says that this book is a series of reflections, 5 categories compared to the fingers on a hand - 1. People; 2. Self; 3. Presence; 4. Practice; and 5. Friendship. He says that being united to people means overcoming all our fears and judgments so that no sin or imperfection stains our fellowship. Not a bad theory, but it is flawed. We are sin-stained people who need the grace of God, Mike.

He goes on to say that "people reflect the presence of God in the world," based on an experience he had with a woman in whom he saw the "glory of the Lord" on her face. Now maybe that's true, and I don't discount anyone's experience, but to go and come to some other conclusions which are tantamount to heresy is questionable. For instance:

"God's prayer life consists of practicing our presence."
"We gain access to earth by believing in people." He seems to believe that all people are good, in the face of the fact that Jesus has stated that only God is good, and the prophets have stated that the heart is deceitful. He continues in later chapters to say that the practice of the presence of people is the answer to all our problems. (Really, Mike?) Maybe we should inform the President and Sadam Hussein. This is serious stuff, here, apparently.

He interjects quotes from Nelson Mandela, Agnes Sanford, Thomas Merton, Paul Tillich, and Will Rogers, in what is a home-spun theology not based so much on biblical truth, but Brother Lawrence, and at one point, he believes that if Brother Lawrence was alive, he would be writing Mike Mason's book. And what about these gems"

"Intimacy is 'in-to-me-see'".
"Let God be God and He'll let you be you."

He goes on in a number of ways and takes Scripture out of text, in particular James 3:17, in the wisdom passage, and he arrives at the conclusion that "get enough relief happening in your life, and you will fill up with the love of God." Then he goes on to say that "Friendship is the proof of the gospel's pudding." This is heretical, especially in light of 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. He also proclaims that "Hence, in John's gospel, the great commission to the church is not to go the ends of the earth and make disciplies, but to become the house of God by being friends with one another." This is incredibly lunacy.

Then the icing on the cake is as follows:

"Friendship is the message Jesus wanted to preach. Jesus Himself did not accomplish what He did alone. He chose to work with friends. What did Jesus' friends do for Him? I believe they helped Him (as heretical as this may sound) to be more human. After all, humanity was something Jesus learned about as He went along..."

I can't review this anymore, because it is ludicrous!! Maybe Mike has meant well, but he should stick with marriage books, or sink his teeth in the Bible, or get mentored by someone with a grasp of the truth. "Oh, God, may you open the eyes of your child, Mike, and grant he be filled with true wisdom. Amen."

Please...if you get this book, read with the wisdom of above and discernment, and especially compare what you read with the Truth.

This is not a recommended book, and I'm pulling it from our church library.