The Practical Prophet

Pastoral writings by the late Bishop Ken Untener of the diocese of Saginaw, Michigan, compiled and organized into topics by two members of the Bishop's "Theology Squad."

As the longest serving and the most influential bishop of Hong Kong during one of the most tumultuous periods in China’s history, Bishop R. O. Hall played a crucial role in the reconstruction of the Anglican Church and Hong Kong after the Second World War. Born in England, the bishop committed his life to building bridges: between China and England; between Hong Kong workers and company management; between the government and the Hong Kong people; and, of course, between the Hong Kong people he loved and the Divine he worshipped. His single-mindedness in pursuing and translating the social theology of F. D. Maurice into practical terms resulted in his enormous contributions to the development of social welfare, low-cost housing, and education in postwar Hong Kong and helped spur its economic and social evolution into a global city. This book highlights the two major controversies during his episcopacy: the ordination of a woman priest during the war and his visit to China during the “Hundred Flowers Campaign.” Based on primary archival and private materials, this book shows that Bishop Hall, whole-hearted in pursuit of his goals for Hong Kong through “love-in-action,” was also multifaceted, with longings, questions, and inner contradictions we all share.

In attempting to more effectively communicate the principles of spiritual life to those who sincerely desire a deeper reality in their walk with Christ, I have discovered that most people appreciate practical and straightforward instructions, and this is especially true when it involves the mystical nature of spiritual life. Although spiritual life is not meritoriously attained through natural means or human effort, there are several Practical Steps that can be taken to help facilitate the practice of spiritual disciplines. The combination of these Practical Steps with the spiritual disciplines themselves will work to promote a dynamic life of faith that will effectively bring the believer into a productive and rewarding relationship with God. Man is an intentional creation of divine wisdom explicitly designed to fulfill a sacred purpose: Agape love requires a soul to empty the wealth of its humanity upon the altar of God as a willing sacrifice If determination is to live up to its potential in promoting the spiritual life , it must be united with some very fundamental practical steps Heaven should not be a culture shock to the consciousness of the believer; it should be a gradual final step into the glorious reality of a spiritual life whose progress began at conversion Divine pleasure must be the goal of human effort, not divine favor The genuineness of what we actually believe is nowhere so obviously exposed as in our daily schedules It does not take overtly carnal acts to corrupt the days of a mans life, for inattention and idleness produce the same result as evil actions or wicked intentions Liberty must always precede service if either are to be authentic It is our great love for the Father, not our initial desire for salvation, that motivates and liberates the sincere believer to live a life of chosen obedience to God

Fethullah Gülen, a contemporary scholar of Islam and activist with a large worldwide following, has spent his entire life studying and teaching the Sunnah, the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, pbuh. This book explores his holistic approach to the vast knowledge of hadith and how he puts his focus on practical interpretations of the Sunnah. Dr. Erdil shows, through the example of Gulen, that it is possible to provide solutions to the problems at the individual, familial and social levels today if the way of the Prophet is studied in detail and interpreted within the context of the current era.