The Winding Path of Transformation
Finding Yourself Between Glory and Humility
by Jeff Tacklind
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Pub Date Jul 09 2019 | Archive Date Aug 14 2019
InterVarsity Press | IVP Formatio
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Description
Jeff Tacklind, pastor of Church by the Sea—a quirky, diverse congregation in Laguna Beach, California—knows from decades of ministry experience that sometimes effective leadership looks like standing in the middle of conflict, holding the tension. In The Winding Path of Transformation, Tacklind describes spiritual transformation as an invitation to paradox. By entering into suffering, he says, we find joy. By embracing the downward path of humility, we find glory. And by remaining small, sometimes we grow to great heights.Any leaders who have wondered if God really called them to lead a congregation will resonate with Tacklind's vulnerability in this honest and meditative account. So will readers who have found their own spiritual journey to be winding and halting rather than a constant ascent of growth. Tacklind draws from the natural world—trees, waves, mountains, and canyons—to bring to life the lessons that he has picked up along the way. C. S. Lewis, Henri Nouwen, Søren Kierkegaard and others all serve as guides who light the way on the winding path of following God.
Advance Praise
"Jeff Tacklind is a surprising and winsome voice with a wide reach. He writes with the vulnerability of someone who just wants to be a little more like Jesus. But behind his easy-going tone you'll find the riches of a seasoned spiritual director and pastor."
-Ian Morgan Cron, author of The Road Back to You
"The Winding Path of Transformation is so unique, so vulnerable, so reflective that it is hard to find words to do it justice. Written like a novel and drawing from sources as different as Kierkegaard and Cyndi Lauper, Tacklind's work is, at once, a deeply personal autobiography and an insightful, helpful depiction of the shared contours of every person's pilgrimage. Deep, authentic, wise, and hopeful, The Winding Path of Transformation is a rich guide for all who hunger for a more deeply transformed life."
-JP Moreland, distinguished professor of philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, author of Finding Quiet: My Story of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices That Brought Peace
"Very few authors could summon the courage to write this book. But be warned: it takes almost as much courage to read this book as it took to write it. If you go down this yellow winding road with the author, you will move around the entire color wheel of emotions. You will gasp at its honesty; you will squirm and wince and feel uncomfortable at its vulnerability; you will shake your head in marvel and wonderment at its revelations; you will cry. But the promise of the title is real—your own journey will be transformed."
-Leonard Sweet, author, Charles Wesley Professor of Doctoral Studies at Evangelical Seminary, founder of preachthestory.com
"As a young Christian, I imagined what it would look like to mature in my faith. Looking back now, I realize the path was far more winding than I could have anticipated. I appreciate Jeff's life-tested and pastorally wise counsel in The Winding Path of Transformation. It's a wonderful guide along the path of growth."
-Alan Fadling, president of Unhurried Living Inc.
"Jeff Tacklind's memoir helped me more fully comprehend, as he puts it, the 'intimacy and vulnerability of being ourselves and forgetting ourselves.' I love this quiet, deeply honest book; it indeed has left me—as the author hopes will be the case for his readers—with a renewed appetite for transformation and freedom and an awareness of God's presence, 'Always already.'"
-Jennifer Grant, author of Love You More and Maybe God Is like That Too
"Oh, how I have wished that transformation could come through reading a book. Jeff addresses this fallacy head-on. Transformation comes through opening up the fodder of our lives to the slow work of God. Period. Jeff gently coaxes us to stand in the places of engagement, where we live deeply out of our own skin, away from the shallow shoulds and into the sacred invitation imprinted on our souls. I am grateful to have such a holy and humble traveling companion in this beautiful book."
-Beth Slevcove, author of Broken Hallelujahs: Learning to Grieve the Big and Small Losses of Life
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780830846504 |
| PRICE | $17.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 192 |
Links
Featured Reviews
Ian A, Reviewer
This tremendous book is quite challenging to write a review on as another reader mentioned. There's so much in it but I sense most of it is still working it's way through my heart. Interestingly, this is the essence of Tacklind's book as he concludes in the Afterword:
"The work of heart transformation os like peeling away layers of an onion ... And the work is never ending. The wounds run so deep. And so the work will always continue."
Tacklind is tremendously insightful and wise. He reminds me a little of a Brennan Manning or a Trevor Hudson in describing the way of the heart. It's so rare for a man to dig deep in his search for the true meaning of relationship with God. He writes with such humility and its certainly clear he doesn't have the answers but invites us to embark on an exploration of the heart.
How he outlines the path for stepping into the liminal space of glory/humility, strength/weakness and greatness/surrender is outstanding. Each chapter is short, 8 to 10 pages long, and they end with 3-4 very pertinent challenging questions/reflections for the reader to explore based on the chapter's content.
Using many Biblical analogies of the river, roots, seeds and the like, together with his own stories of surfing and hiking, Tacklind's gentle writing style provides a safe environment for the reader to be drawn into the adventure of walking side-by-side with Jesus in this transformational journey.
I can't recommend this book enough. Even though I read an early-reader's copy provided by IVP and Netgalley I anticipate buying a number of copies to share with friends plus one for myself to re-read.
