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Welcome to the Autumn 2016 Preach book club ! Each quarter , we introduce you to a new book to encourage and challenge you in your preaching ministry . You can expect a summary , a review or two , discussion questions written especially for the book club , an interview with the author , and an online forum to share your thoughts with others .
We suggest you get together with three or four other preachers , lay on the coffee and cake , and dive into some inspiring conversation .
Soulfulness : deepening the mindful life
Brian Draper | Hodder & Stoughton ( 2016 )
SUMMARY
The beauty of mindfulness is that it ’ s incredibly simple both to ‘ get ’ and to practice . And the results – increasingly backed by neuro-scientific evidence – are priceless : calmness and reduced stress , more creativity , greater awareness , compassion … And yet there ’ s a danger that mindfulness can be used in a purely consumerist and self-serving way to help people to become better adapted cogs in a still-toxic model of work and life .
I CAN HONESTLY SAY IT IS A LIFE CHANGING BOOK . I FEEL BETTER JUST HAVING READ IT ! NOW TO PUT IT INTO PRACTISE . IF YOU FEEL TRAPPED ON THE HAMSTER WHEEL OF LIFE , DO READ IT , YOU WON ’ T BE DISAPPOINTED .
Brian Draper challenges us to live not just mindfully but soulfully . Not merely to be less stressed , but to flourish , dynamically and creatively – to be present – through living intentionally and compassionately .
Join Brian on a journey into soul : to explore how the simplest but most profound benefits of mindfulness find common ground with the treasures of contemplative Christian practice , and lead to a more dynamic , engaged way to live your life .
REVIEWS
Reading Brian Draper ’ s new book Soulfulness is like coming home , but realising home is even more spacious than you had imagined ... The writing flows with mastery in terms of deepening this one life we have ... Take it and read … take it and read !
Baptist Times
In this frantic world where we seem to always be in a hurry , Brian Draper helps you to stop , to think why you are doing something and then to do it with ‘ soul ’. With helpful reminders how to live life in a more meaningful way , he suggests tiny changes we can make so easily , I can honestly say it is a life changing book . I feel better just having read it ! Now to put it into practise . If you feel trapped on the hamster wheel of life , do read it , you won ’ t be disappointed .
S Openshaw
What a wonderful book . Brian Draper has no equals in linking the inner with the political and personal outer . Britain ’ s foremost popular spiritual thinker .
Oliver James
For the discussion questions , author interview and more , please visit preachweb . org / bookclub