As I've recently finished Stephen Foster's Celebration of Discipline and eagerly await my new non-fiction read, I thought I'd share a bit of this book with any interested friends.

ON PRACTICING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

"The moment we feel we can succeed and attain victory over sin by the strength of our will alone is the moment we are worshiping the will." pg. 5

"The purpose of the Disciplines is freedom.  Our aim is the freedom, not the Discipline.  The moment we make the Discipline our central focus, we turn it into law and lose the corresponding freedom. . .  The liberation is the end; the Disciplines are merely the means.  They are not the answer; they only lead us to the Answer.  We must clearly understand this limitation of the Disciplines if we are to avoid bondage." pg. 110

ON THE DISCIPLINE OF MEDITATION

". . .If we are constantly being swept off our feet with frantic activity, we will be unable to be attentive at the moment of inward silence.  A mind that is harassed and fragmented by external affairs is hardly prepared for meditation.  The church Fathers often spoke of Otium Sanctum, "holy leisure."  It refers to a sense of balance in the life, an ability to be at peace through the activities of the day, an ability to rest and take time to enjoy beauty, and ability to pace ourselves." pg. 27

ON THE DISCIPLINE OF PRAYER

"Sometimes we are afraid that we do not have enough faith to pray for this child or that marriage.  Our fears should be put to rest, for the Bible tells us that great miracles are possible through faith the size of a tiny mustard seed.  Usually, the courage actually to go and pray for a person is a sign of sufficient faith.  Frequently our lack is not faith but compassion." pg. 39

ON THE DISCIPLINE OF SIMPLICITY

"If our goods are not available to the community when it is clearly right and good, then they are stolen goods.  The reason we find such an idea so difficult is our fear of the future.  We cling to our possessions rather than sharing them because we are anxious about tomorrow." pg. 89

ON THE DISCIPLINE OF SOLITUDE

"Silence is one of the deepest Disciplines of the Spirit simiply because it puts the stopper on all self-justification.  One of the fruits of silence is the freedom to let God be our justifier." pg. 101

ON THE DISCIPLINE OF SUBMISSION

". . .When we live outside of self-denial, we demand that things go our way.  When they do not, we revert to self-pity -- 'Poor me!'  Outwardly we may submit but we do so in a spirit of martyrdom.  This spirit of self-pity, of martyrdom, is a sure sign that the Discipline of submission has gone to seed. . ." pg. 114

ON THE DISCIPLINE OF SERVICE

"But who can hurt someone who has freely chosen to be stepped on?" pg. 133

ON THE DISCIPLINE OF CONFESSION

"A generalized confession may save us from humiliation and shame, but it will not ignite inner healing. . .  It is far too easy to avoid our real guilt in a general confession." pg. 152

ON THE DISCIPLINE OF WORSHIP

"Just as worship begins in holy expectancy, it ends in holy obedience.  If worship does not propel us into greater obedience, it has not been worship." pg. 173

ON THE DISCIPLINE OF CELEBRATION

". . .Joy is found in obedience.  When the power that is in Jesus reaches into our work and play and redeems them, there will be joy where once there was mourning. . ." pg. 193

These quotes, by no means, can substitute for reading the book.  I highly recommend my this book to my Christian friends.  It will challenge you!

*Also covered in the book are the Disciplines of fasting, study, and guidance.