James Gettel draws on classic interpretations of Christian faith to present a fresh discussion that concentrates on the way God"s love contributes to, rather than limits, human freedom and responsibility. He introduces the reader to Christian spiritual theology and evokes new understanding of Christian precepts such as repentance, prayer, and love. This book is of special interest to anyone who has struggled with difficult concepts of Christian theology and wants to understand them in a way that facilitates a personal experience of God"s love. – Chalice Press This book examines how we can seek "the radically transforming presence of God in our personal lives" and God"s "particular purpose" for each of us. The first part explores the spiritual journey and its purposes, with the goal of manifesting "our true identities (as individual spiritual creatures) in our lives in the world." The author writes on the spiritual experience, nature of Christ, human freedom, vocation and action. Gettel uses the parable of the king and the maiden found in Soren Kierkegaard"s Philosophical Fragments and quotations from T. S. Eliot and Rilke to build his case for how God"s love, human freedom and Christian faith interact to bring us into awareness of the realm of God in our lives. His personal mystical experiences of Christ encourage readers to recognize and validate their own experiences in the face of a skeptical world. Part 2 is a practical guide to taking the spiritual journey and developing one"s faith, with helpful chapters on the basics needed to open oneself to God"s call. The book contains questions for discussion of each chapter, making it useful for study groups or individual reflection. – The Living Church. Stressing the primacy of action in our lives, the author leads readers to a personal, experiential relation with the God who is Love – the God who is never reached by abstract, formal analysis or lived with if God is thought of as a distant rule-giver. – The Right Reverend Arthur A. Vogel, retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Missouri