PIC No. 71:
• Title: A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants
• Authors: Rueben P. Job and Norman Shawchuck
• Publisher: The Upper Room (June 1, 1998, 418 pages)
• Management Bucket #13 of 20: The Crisis Bucket
Welcome to Issue No. 71 of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system.
Remembering Tony Danhelka
One of my cherished books—always nearby—has been A Guide to Prayer. I have the 1988 edition. It was a gift from my dear friend, Tony Danhelka, who wrote a kind note to me on the title page in January 1989. This book has spoken often to me over these last 35 years. In addition to God’s voice, I have fondly remembered Tony’s voice.
Yet, on April 29, 2024, Tony entered Heaven’s presence after an 18-month battle with cancer. Tony and I lived in the same town, St. Charles, Ill., for 15 years and enjoyed a weekly prayer and accountability breakfast over most of those years. Our times together (sometimes with other “pilgrims”) were rich. We were honest with each other.
When I received the news of Tony’s homegoing, I immediately paged through this now-even-more-precious book.
The book features 56 weekly devotional themes, plus 12 monthly retreat models. Tony introduced me to the joy of spending a day of prayer in a silent retreat setting. This 418-page guide to prayer overflows with spiritual nutrition. Oh, my.
Some years ago, in my copy of A Guide to Prayer, I had underlined this quote from William Law’s book, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life—one of the “Readings for Reflection” for Week 10, the Fourth Sunday After Epiphany. Law writes:
“Represent to your imagination that your bed is your grave; that all things are ready for your interment; that you are to have no more to do with this world; and that it be owing to God’s great mercy if you ever see the light of the sun again or have another day to add to your works of piety. Then commit yourself to sleep as one that is to have no more opportunities of doing good, but is to awake among spirits that are separate from the body and waiting for the judgment of the last great day.”
Law explains more—but you’ll have to read A Guide to Prayer (pages 72-73) to learn why he says that this “is a practice that will soon have excellent effects upon your spirit.”
Tony’s voice is now quiet on earth, but his impact continues. He was the co-founder of Riverwoods Christian Center, now known as Fox Valley Christian Action. My friends and colleagues who knew Tony’s work in Christian camping and the urban ministry world will appreciate this ministry tribute here and this inspiring obituary for Anthony G. “Tony” Danhelka (1945-2024).
If you’re looking for a deep-and-wide devotional book, this is it. I can’t improve on the publisher’s description of the book, so I’m including an edited version of the blurb. The book was first published in 1983. The title page in my book reads, “For every pilgrim who yearns for God.” Amen!
“This classic devotional and prayer book is a compilation of scriptures, prayers, readings from well-known spiritual writers, and hymn texts.
“Each week centers on a different theme and follows this format: invocation, psalm, daily scripture readings, readings for reflection, prayers (for the church, myself, others), reflection time, and a hymn. The back of the book contains models for 12 personal one-day retreats.
“Featured writers include William Barclay, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Carlo Carretto, Mother Teresa, Richard J. Foster, Elton Trueblood, C. S. Lewis, Henri J. M. Nouwen, Simone Weil, and many others.”
I’ve listed this book and blog post under the Crisis Bucket. Even though we know that our lives will some day end on earth, the suddenness of that reality is often a crisis moment—a defining moment—for family and friends. This book addresses all of life’s crises and points us to our Savior and our Comforter. I’m grateful for my friend, Tony.
PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the Crisis Bucket, plus other buckets/core competencies.
[ ] A Diary of Private Prayer, by John Baillie. (Read my review.)
[ ] Can You See The Cross From There? Grace and Grit For Sufferers and Sinners, by Terry Powell (March 17, 2024). Watch for my review. (Order from Amazon.)
[ ] Oh God, I’m Dying! How God Redeems Pain for Our Good and for His Glory, by Terry Powell and Mark Smith. (Read my review.)
[ ] My 2023 year-end list of “Inspirational Books for 2024”—with 14 recommendations. (Read my mini-reviews.)
[ ] The Discerning Life: An Invitation to Notice God in Everything, by Steve Macchia. (Read the review of my 2022 book-of-the-year.)
[ ] "Slow Down and Wait on God," Lesson 28, in Lessons From the Nonprofit Boardroom, by Dan Busby and John Pearson. Read the blog by Jerry White with comments about the the booklet, "How to Spend a Day in Prayer," by Lorne Sanny.
To order from Amazon, click on the title for A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants, by Rueben P. Job and Norman Shawchuck. For more reviews, visit John Pearson’s Buckets Blog and subscribe to Your Weekly Staff Meeting.
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