Here are a few books which have been influential in my journey.
- A.B. Simpson (1843 to 1919) was a Presbyterian Minister who promoted a consciousness of global evangelism. He founded the Christian and Missionary Alliance
- The Holy Spirit or Power from on High – Vol 2 by A.B. Simpson This 2 volume set by A.B. Simpson is a high level overview of the actions of Holy Spirit as seen throughout the Bible. Volume 2 deals with the work of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. Simpson did not write as an academic exercise. Simpson wrote that men and women born of God could see the work the Spirit in their lives in a similar manner as seen in the early church, that they may walk with power from on high.
- Days of Heaven on Earth – AB Simpson. If you are looking for a daily Bible reading and reflexion, try this. Simpson lays out meditations to help us think and do as we will in heaven.
- Unknown 14th century English mystic
- The Cloud of Unknowing – The Cloud of Unknowing has resonated with me since seminary. The main idea it to set aside everything and sit before God. Place the same unknowing between you and the world as you have between you and God. God is clothed with clouds, obscured from our mind, while the world and events in our life are vivid. you can say the world is in your face. The idea is to equalize the two, sight of God and sight of the world, then the Spirit of God becomes the one providing our thoughts. This is contemplation and contemplative prayer.
- The Book of Prive Counseling – Author Unknown – The C loud of Unknowing has long been a favorite to me. Recently I came across the Book of Prive Counseling. The Book of Prive Counseling was a relatively unknown until recently. It has since been associated with the same unknown abbot as the Cloud. Prive Counseling is a more mature work than Cloud of Unknowing. In this text we have the actual prive counsel of a mature contemplative in instructing one who is maturing. This text is not meant for all Christians, but the smaller subset of Christians who want to bask in the glory of God.
- William James (1842 to 1910) First American Professor to lecture at a major university in Europe, the Gifford Lectures on natural theology, University of Edinburgh. James is known as the father of american psychology. While teaching at Harvard, James taught physiology, anatomy, psychology, and philosophy
- The Varieties of Religious Experience. – The Varieties of Religious Experience is a book compiled from the Gifford Lectures on natural theology presented by William James in 1901. James studied and taught physiology, psychology, philosophy, and anatomy at Harvard. In The Varieties, James collects and categorizes examples of self-described religious experience from a variety of religions backgrounds.
I will add books from time to time as they provoke me, and as they become public domain. Be well and may the grace of God be rich in you.