The Eternal Current

Absolutely enjoyed every word of this book, very inspiring. He writes about how to join in Gods current in a down to earth way. This book has inspired me to live in a different way.

This book was incredible. It was challenging, well written, practical and all around refreshing. As a church leader, I appreciated Niequest's transparency, wisdom and practicality. Too often, I read books about things like spiritual disciplines and practices that are very profound but not at all practical in terms of implementing or introducing to a congregation.
In this book though, the profound partners with the practical. Niequest's walk through the Practice community was very helpful. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a spiritual breath of fresh air or a deepening of their spiritual life. I also particularly recommend to church leaders,

The cover of this book says so much. There's a table a current of water that supports bread and wine, the central elements of Christian communion. Niequist tells his story of discovering that church is filled with flawed humans and how that can impact faith. He provides concrete examples of ways that churches can provide more than a lesson on Sundays, but experiences that prepare people to connect with God throughout their lives. This book is especially designed for Evangelical Christians that are struggling with the church and faith.

When your faith is shaken by life to the foundation or core-- you have options, our traditional responses are:

1) Double down to your faith that no longer works and it's practices that already isn't working for you.

2) Give up your faith- jump ship. Pitch it...

but this book leads you to think- to have a growth mindset- seeking the Way of Christ, by inviting Jesus and the Holy Spirit to help you see that there are more options, more ways to deepen your faith, to live in love with the Lord Jesus, and to swim in the eternal current.

As someone who was not familiar with a lot of formal practiced based faith practices, after the first two chapters I had more questions than answers, but from chapter three on, Aaron took a chapter to explain his discovery process, attempts in a church setting to include the liturgy, and other faith based practices, as well as his personal and family journey to live out faith practices in deep, meaningful ways.

The book gives resources, ideas, and examples of these practices with the analogy of all of us swimming in the eternal current, and provides hope for even those who doubt their faith (as Aaron once did while working as a music team minister!). It's thought provoking, encouraging, and generated ideas, thoughts, and personal connections for me to explore, build on, and recognize that I already had created my own faith based practices and found others, I just wasn't calling them 'practices.'

Aaron Niequist mentions that he learned and was raised in a church setting labeled the Plymouth Brethern, he also criticized his experience in his local church. As someone who was also raised in this type of church, but attended different locations than Aaron did, and who still attends a PB group, don't be put off by his comments, when you get further into the book, you will recognize that his most essential practice, fellowship around the Lord's Supper/Communion was a faith practice given to him in his upbringing, but like many of us, what we knew in our youth and what we seek in our adult lives, we want to be more intentional, or bigger and better- I have found that I could continue in the same faith tradition and also appreciate the suggestions and concepts in this book. Especially learning from others and having a diverse world perspective of people and practices.