In Seeking God, Trevor Hudson introduces the reader to two seemingly unconnected spiritual giants from two very different times. The first of these is Ignatius of Loyola, one of the founders of the Jesuits and the author of Spiritual Exercises. The second is Dallas Willard, pastor and philosopher and one of the most influential Christians of the past fifty years. Trevor Hudson has walked through the Spiritual Exercises and has also led many others through them as well. In this book he takes his experience in this, combines it with touchpoints in his long friendship with Willard (who passed away ten years ago), and presents it to us today.

Early on, Hudson says that Ignatius' Exercises isn't a book that should be read but rather followed, preferably with a mentor. I would argue that the same is true with this book as well. Each chapter is peppered with 2-3 "seeking exercises" that actually make for great short stopping points. This book would work great as a devotional where a person stops reading at each of these exercises and then uses it, and what they just read, as an opportunity for directed prayer and reflection. In doing this, it would probably take about three weeks to go start to finish. Even better, the book can be done as a small group. Covering a chapter a week, it would take eight weeks to work through the book, and the group could reflect together on the exercises they did during the week.

Either way, I have been blessed by this book. I read Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises shortly after college and remember not being very impressed by them. Hudson would probably say it is because I was reading it, not doing them. I think it might be time to go back and do it again.

Seeking God by Trever Hudson has one nugget which sticks even after reading it. I am paraphrasing but the notion of seekers who somehow arrive when they become a follower of Christ they can seize to seek. No Hudson says, seeking God is a life long pursuit, and he goes to unpack what it means to seek God with helpful spiritual exercises so that we not only know more, but practice seeking God in the person of Jesus. How he has an intimate connection with his Abba father, we can also have. And being called into God’s family so we can be transformed into the image of God for the sake of others. This is a life lived in regular repentance from disorder to flourishing through the wisdom of Saint Ignatius and Dallas Willard.

I've been very fortunate to have sat under Trevor Hudson's teaching a few years ago. Trevor's style of 'inviting' his listeners and readers to reflect on Jesus's teachings and his interpretation thereon was quite significant for me. As was his teaching on the Prodigal Son.

This book is simply excellent and every believer should take some time to invest in it. It's not just a book to read but one to immerse oneself in certain practices, contemplations and reflections as you walk through each chapter. Hudson is an old friend of Dallas Willard's and a keen advocate of Ignatius of Loyola's Spiritual Exercises and he engages with content from both in each chapter.

I love how Carolyn Arend's in her Afterword makes this statement:

"In the wondrous book we have just read, Trevor has given us the gift of time with three such loving hearts - three 'God-soaked' lives crackling with the radiant fire of Jesus' presence. Two of these loving hearts are Trevor's good friends, Ignatius of Loyola and Dallas Willard. And the third, of course, is Trevor himself."

Hudson opens by inviting the reader to consider the Christian faith being a seeking one. We are always seeking more of God and after introducing his two friends: Ignatius and Willard, Hudson goes on to outline what a seeking life looks like and how we can join in the adventure. Each of the eight chapters contains 'pause' moments, dubbed 'Seeking Exercises' that enable us to reflect on the content being shared by all three gentlemen. I found this exercises to be tremendously useful in engaging with Jesus. In addition, each chapter concludes with a wonderful prayer that can be used throughout the day.

The seeking life includes such well known principles of repentance (ie, changing direction), discerning our deepest desires, dying to self and finding God in all things but it's the manner in which Hudson presents them that is so powerful.

One measures the quality of such books by how it stirs one's heart for more of Jesus. To use Arends' words, my heart was 'crackling with radiant fire' for the 'Zoe life' (the divine life that God can impart to us) as I made my way slowly through each chapter. I'm left with so much but this prayer lingers on my lips: "Please give me a heartfelt and intimate knowledge of who you are, that I may come to love you more intensely and follow you more closely."

I feel very blessed to have received an early ebook version from NavPress via NetGalley with no expectation of a favourable review. I will be purchasing many copies to share with friends when it releases and I expect I will be reading it again very soon.

A practical guide to finding and living the [zoe] life that God wants for us. What we find within are the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola (founder of the Jesuits) as they are applied by Trevor Hudson (a protestant minister) who learned them from Fr Andrew Norton (an Anglican Monk) and mapped them to every day living with the help of American philosopher Dallas Willard. Truly a fascinating mix.

The book opens with an introduction to the two “Seekers” (Ignatius and Willard) that will illustrate what we should seek and how to seek it. Each chapter ends with an example prayer and notations. For chapters with practical applications details for the reader, there is also specific “Seeking Exercises” to put the concept into practice and to develop the appropriate habits. In my opinion, it was these exercises that made this work exceptional.

For the most part, I doubt any believer who has answered the call to discipleship will find much that is new in the basic admonition to repent (although there is a brief examination of the term linking the concept to a change in direction in chapter 3), how to properly align/order our deepest desires (Chapters 4 and 6) and how to be “God’s compassionate image bearer” within a fallen world (chapters 7 and 8); however, the author’s analysis and use of personal experience resonated with me more than many of the many inspirational and devotional works that I have encountered in the recent past. In addition, chapter 5 presented a new way (for me) of looking at “The Gospel Way of Discipleship” divided into three elements: “The Way of Information”, “The Way of Inspiration” and “The Way of Interaction.”

<spoiler>
Chapter 1: Becoming a Seeker
Chapter 2: Seeking the Life God Gives
Chapter 3: Changing Direction
Chapter 4: Discerning Our Deepest Desires
Chapter 5: Exploring Life’s Greatest Opportunity
Chapter 6: Dying to Live
Chapter 7: Experiencing Resurrection Joy
Chapter 8: Finding God in All Things
</spoiler>

I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#SeeingGod #NetGalley

Seeking God, Finding Another Kind of Life by Pastor Trevor Hudson shares how seeking God is continuity and never-ending process throughout a Christian life. I like how Pastor Trevor said: "Christianity is essentially a seeking faith." The book gives spiritual exercises that Pastor Trevor Hudson learn from Pastor St. Ignatius and Pastor Dallas Willard. When spiritual practices are applied, they will lead to an abundant life. The rich life that transforms by the call of repentance, experiencing resurrection joy, the desired Zoe life, faithful discipleship life, and deep friendship with God.

In Chapter Finding God in All Things, Pastor Trevor shares the scripture in Ephesians 4:6. Going through the passage in Ephesians, for me, one thing special that I gained from this book is how I can find God in His body - His church. I like how Pastor Trevor puts it: "Imagine, also, God present in the people you see (those whom you love, those who live next door, those you do not like) and in your own life as well." God's design is for us to enjoy God in His community of believers, and I believe this book will help us get there.

I want to comment on the statement in this book: "When asked why they choose not to identify with the church, one recurring reason was given: Christians lack compassion." I want to defend the Christians because I believe it is not the Christians who lack compassion. On the negative side of my observation, the people who do not identify with the church are people who do not have the humility to adhere to the Bible principles. Principles such as loving, forgiving, and serving one another. Those who prefer to part way with the church rather than fulfilling Jesus's desire in His prayer in John 17:22 (NIV) "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—..." As the book conveyed that the goal of transforming lives is to become compassionate like God.

One of the lessons in this book is the process of seeking God in the hardest of times can still lead to spiritual joy. I can feel the personal experience of Pastor Trevor when he faces discontentment and disappointment. And when Pastor Trevor shared a letter to Pastor Dallas of his feelings, Pastor Dallas replied letter truly gave courage and enlightenment on viewing the joy from God. As said the words of Pastor Trevor when he spent time with Pastor Dallas: "Whether I listened to him hum a favorite hymn ... or even watched him struggle with virulent cancer, I felt a contagious joy about his presence." That is the reason I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

I recommend this book to all religious people who live a life without a spiritual purpose. I believe the spiritual exercises in this book will give you the way step by step towards a purposeful relationship with God. I like Pastor St Ignatius's prayer at the end: "Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and all my will—all that I have and possess. You, Lord, have given all that to me. I now give it back to you, O Lord. All of it is yours. Dispose of it according to your will. Give me love of yourself along with grace, for that is enough for me." Appreciations to Pastor Trevor Hudson for sharing this book, and may God bless you on your journey of seeking God and make it known to your hearer. Amin.