I'm happy to recommend that you spend some time this summer reading the book I've written that just came out, called "o2 - Breathing New Life into Faith". Summer is traditionally known as that time of year when we all get a chance to catch our breath, but often we so fill our summers with surfing, mountains, hiking, fishing, tanning, and whatever else we do to refresh ourselves, that we find ourselves worn out by fall, dreading the full schedules and in danger of repeating patterns that we've lived previously which are less than life giving. Might I suggest that you invest a little time this summer considering how to develop the critical lifestyle habits that we all need if our faith is to be sustainable for decades to come. I've offered a survey of classic spiritual disciplines in this book, but they're offered in a narrative style that shares both my own story and that of many friends, so that you can consider the inhaling and exhaling habits that are needed to vitalize and sustain us. Balancing the inhaling and exhaling habits, and being intentional about building them into our lives is just what this book is all about.

I've certainly enjoyed the writing of it, but find the living of it to be both challenging and intoxicating, as so many good things are. You can download a free chapter right here from Conversantlife, and the whole book is available here too. An investment in developing good breathing habits now, in the hazy days of summer, will yield valuable fruit come the fall, when you move back into the fast lane.