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Insomnia is legion in our contemporary world; yet, it is hardly a new experience. This article provides a historical review of the spirituality of insomnia. While sleep is a necessity to function well followers of Jesus from every tradition across the centuries have often practiced an asceticism that privileged their prayers over their sleep. Yet paradoxically to neglect sleep produces a myriad of consequences that weakens a person spiritually both in relation to God and others. This confronts every sleepless disciple with the decision whether they will respond with anger or acceptance of their lack of sleep. The largest section of this essay focuses on how believers sought to cope with God's "disguised sweetness" during the night watches. Their responses can be summarized primarily in two ways, proper preparation for setting the best mood for falling asleep and more difficultly how to respond when you awake and can't resume sleeping. Central to coping with insomnia is the recognition that God is the Lord of all time and is in as much control of the wakeful nights as the during the normal days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Christ plays in ten thousand places: A conversation in spiritual theology. By Eugene H. Peterson. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. 2005.368 pp. $25.00. Eugene Peterson has done it again. He has [...]

This article examines a model of formation within higher education that is committed to educationally based spiritual formation, desiring to see students formed as people who love God and neighbor, devoting their lives to redemptive labor in the world. Deeply influenced by the evolving relationship between the department, the institution, and the broader evangelical culture, the Christian Formation and Ministry department of Wheaton College seeks to equip students with the theological and theoretical foundation, the personal maturity of character and faith, and the practical ministry skills necessary to lead and participate in the formational and caring mission of the church in the world. Wheaton College’s unique approach to teaching spiritual formation and soul care in both their undergraduate and graduate programs is examined through a historical context of the department, a liberal arts and learning-centered approach to education that includes biblical foundations, philosophical framework, pedagogy, and teaching curriculum and assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A literary criticism of the books "The Cambridge Companion to Christian Mysticism" edited by Amy Hollywood and Patricia Z. Beckman and "The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Christian Mysticism," edited by Julia A. Lamm is presented. It outlines significance of Christian spirituality, Christian mysticism and mystical theology. An overview of the story is also given.

The article reviews the 2015 issue of the "Journal for the History of Reformed Pietism."

The term "contemplation" has played a significant role in the history of Christian spirituality. Regardless of the tradition, whether Roman Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant, contemplation has been valued. Recently, however, some Evangelicals have raised various concerns about contemplation, including its Roman Catholic origin, the tendency to devalue Jesus Christ and his atonement, the marginalization of Scripture, and the assertion that a person who seeks to grow in the contemplative life will no longer be active to Witness to the gospel in the world. This article while recognizing the potential for possible theological distortions argues that there is a biblical and theologically accurate manifestation of contemplation. In particular, this essay seeks to examine the presence of contemplation within the Evangelical church. To that end, the Writings of four Americans representative of the beginning of eighteenth-century Evangelicalism are examined to discern whether they display a biblical and orthodox expression of contemplation. In all cases, whether male or female, Calvinist or Wesleyan, this quartet of spiritual leaders reveal and challenge contemporary Christians of all traditions to be more intentional about cultivating a loving and grateful gazing on God and desire to delight in and enjoy God more fully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently evangelicals have been discovering the benefits of a formative reading of Scripture. However, eighteenth-century evangelicals consciously practiced both an informational and formational way of reading the Bible. This article raises the question how early evangelicals read Scripture and what was the role of the Holy Spirit in that reading. The hymns of William Cowper from the Olney Hymns (1779) serve as the primary text for this exploration. Cowper's experimental piety that was common among evangelicals assured that the Word would be read both with the head for knowledge as well as the heart for experience and transformation. This paper analyzes Cowper's varied use of Scripture in his hymns, as well as the formative nature of Scripture within those hymns. One prominent feature of Cowper's writing is the dynamic intersection between the Word and Spirit. This article concludes by asking the practical question of retrieval of how the contemporary church can learn to read Scripture more formatively through the themes of Cowper's hymns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Puritans of the sixteenth and seventeenth-centuries have often been relegated to neglect or disdain. However, a more accurate understanding recognizes that Puritanism was in essence a devotional movement that sought to renew the spiritual life of individuals and the church. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Puritans have produced some of the most descriptive and extensive literature on spiritual formation or to use their preferred term, piety. This article examines the contribution of Isaac Ambrose (1604-1664) and his teaching and practice of personal spiritual disciplines. A significant component of Puritanism was their strong emphasis on experimental or practical piety. After examining Ambrose's understanding of the nature and purpose of spiritual disciplines, a brief survey from his writings will reveal both his personal experiences and the benefits that he received from engaging them. Significantly, Puritan piety has much to teach the contemporary church and the question of retrieval of wisdom for today rounds out this essay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editors discuss various reports within the issue on topics including the importance of scripture for the writings of Christian spirituality, biblical teachings and the foundation for Christian living.