BLESSINGS

Carruth presents a series of meditations on key Christian precepts in this nonfiction debut.

The author’s “prayerful journey” found its ultimate origin in The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis, and much like that classic work, Carruth’s book is intended to cast light on “the path of divine enlightenment for the disciple who wants to receive understanding concerning the ways of God.” The author, a retired anesthesiologist, takes readers through a familiar series of homilies on core Christian concepts, from the importance of humility to the challenges of giving your life to Christ. Each of the book’s sections begins with a scriptural passage, with Carruth present at every turn to both stress the demands of a Christian life and encourage his readers in their struggle to live that life. “Let us constantly turn to our God and receive His gracious love, mercy, forgiveness, and strength,” reads one such exhortation among many, “so that we are empowered to support, console, help, counsel, and advise one another in times of difficulty.” The author repeatedly returns to the central importance of maintaining a meek attitude when facing the burdens of Christian life: “A humble heart is required to receive the peace of God,” he contends, arguing that the faithful please God “as peacemakers rather than troublemakers.” Carruth’s book is attractively designed, and his rhetorical passion for restating the basics of modern Christian practice is very appealing; Christian readers in all stages of their faith journeys will find this bracing stuff. Those same readers may find particular reassurance in the author’s frequent references to his beliefs that faith is an inherently joyful thing and that earning God’s favor is a freeing experience rather than a guiltily performed duty.

A clear and passionately delivered Christian call to be “God’s true image bearers.”