Survival Guide for the Soul: How to Flourish Spiritually in a World that Pressures Us to Achieve

by Ken Shigematsu, Ann Voskamp Narrated by Sean Pratt

Overview

WINNER OF THE WORD GUILD 2019 CHRISTIAN LIVING BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD

"The pages you are about to read may feel like a literal rescue." -Ann Voskamp, New York Times Bestselling author

Survival Guide for the Soul is a profound spiritual exploration of God's love-a love that many of us understand intellectually without fully grasping or relying on in our day-to-day experiences-a love that fills our sails with joy and frees us to truly flourish.

Many of us are driven by an ambition to accomplish something big outside ourselves. On all sides, we're pressured to achieve-professionally, socially, financially. Even when we're aware of this pressure, it can be hard to escape the vicious circles of accomplishment, frustration, and spiritual burn-out.

Drawing on a wide range of sources from Scripture to church history to psychology and modern neuroscience-as well as deeply personal stories from his own life-Ken Shigematsu, recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal and pastor of Tenth Church in Vancouver, BC, vividly demonstrates how the gospel redeems our desires and reorders our lives.

Pastor Shigematsu offers fresh perspective on how certain spiritual practices help orient our lives so that our souls can flourish in the midst of a demanding, competitive society. And he concludes with a liberating and counter-cultural definition of true greatness.

If you long to experience a deeper relationship with Christ within the daily pressures to succeed, Survival Guide for the Soul is packed with biblical wisdom and a godly approach to transcend the human tendency to define ourselves by our productivity and success.

Discussion questions available in the audiobook companion PDF download.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

06/25/2018
In this inspiring book, Shigematsu, senior pastor of Tenth Church in Vancouver, ruminates on how people of faith can quit endlessly chasing success and be content to rest in God’s love. He begins by admitting he has spent too much time pursuing success himself, pointing to the sense of a “divided self” that he believes many struggle with: the tension between worldly success and spiritual fulfillment. Shigematsu uses Augustine as an example when considering the sides of the self: the fourth- and fifth-century African bishop and theologian pursued a life of the flesh, fathered a child out of wedlock, and vacillated between what he wanted to do and what God wanted him to do. By eventually giving up his worldly desires and goals of becoming a famous rhetorician, Augustine found greater peace. Shigematsu then suggests a number of spiritual practices that can help readers discern what choices will lead to God’s path, including silent meditation, keeping the Sabbath, and being grateful for life’s abundant blessings. “Spiritual exercises,” he writes, “attune us to God’s presence, acting as sticky-note reminders that God is with us all the time.” Shigematsu offers sage advice throughout and posits that following the example of Jesus will let believers redefine what greatness and success really means. Christian readers looking for spiritual rejuvenation will find much in Shigematsu’s persuasive book. (Aug.)

Leighton Ford

'Full disclosure: I am mentioned a couple of times positively in this book and am grateful for the author’s generous words. I recommend it with high enthusiasm, not only out of our long friendship but because it is full of scriptural substance and solid guidance. Take my word: through his wise insights Ken will be a good friend on your own journey.'

author of The Good and Beautiful God James Bryan Smith

'Like a great physician, Ken Shigematsu diagnoses our primary problem: striving to achieve in order to feel valued. He then offers soul solutions in the form of spiritual practices, such as Sabbath, service, and gratitude. He explains not merely the how of these practices, but also the why. This book will not only help your soul survive, it will allow it to thrive.'

Eugene Cho

'I feel like this book was written for me. Much of my life, I’ve struggled with fear and insecurity and as a result, it’s not that I think I have or am nothing, it’s that I’m tempted to pursue everything—in hopes of achievement, worth, and purpose. What a beautiful book that reminds us how deeply God loves us and delights in us.'

New York Times bestselling author of 10-10-10: Suzy Welch

'At once immensely practical and deeply poetic, Survival Guide for the Soul gently instructs us in life-changing ways to stay intimately connected to God’s love, grace, and peace. I will keep this beautiful and important book on my bedside table forever.'

president of the University of British Columbia (U Santa Ono

'A must-read for Christians at all stages of life. In this day and age when one’s values are continually tested, we all need help in nurturing our very soul. Without one’s soul, what are we other than dust in the wind?'

Michelle Sanchez

'This book is a breath of fresh air to the soul! Those feeling burned out or bored with religion will find here a gentle invitation to return to spiritual practices as the simple, life-giving experience of being God’s beloved. I don’t just like this book—I need this book!'

author of The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul Mark Buchanan

'This is only Ken’s second book, but it feels like vintage material from an old soul. There’s not a line here that doesn’t brim with wisdom. Ken is a sensei master of the heart, and he shows us how to live well, deeply, and fully. This is the book for this generation.'

Bruxy Cavey

'The power of the Christian message is not just its lofty and liberating ideas but also its practical and personal practices. In Survival Guide for the Soul, Ken Shigematsu acts as our masterful guide through the basic training of discipleship to Jesus. Thank you, Ken, for this gift to the body of Christ!'

executive director and professor at New College Be Susan S. Phillips

'As a pastor of a large, diverse church and as a person who has deep knowledge of several cultures, Ken Shigematsu is keenly aware of the potentially toxic terrain in which we live. An astute spiritual pathfinder and trustworthy trail guide, he brings health and hope to the pilgrim seeking to follow Jesus.'

senior pastor of Menlo Church and author of I̵ John Ortberg

'Ken has written a gift for every pressured, hurried, performance-driven, success haunted person on the planet. So take a deep breath, and smile, and start to read. Slowly.'

Darrell Johnson

'I cannot count the number of pages I have dog-eared—places where Jesus Christ broke through Ken’s words to speak to and redirect and heal my soul. This book is a profound gift to the church and to the world and may well become a spiritual classic.'

pastor and bestselling author Max Lucado

'Loaded with practical insights and encouraging thoughts. Every reader will benefit from Ken’s work.'

director of City Movement and author of God Enters Tim Day

'This is not a book to read and ponder. This is a book to do. Survival Guide for the Soul offers a time-tested pathway for all those longing for depth, meaning, peace, and ultimately joy in a moment-by-moment friendship with God.'

president of Ambrose University; author of Courage Gordon T. Smith

'Ken has done it again: he has provided us with a gracious, compelling, and challenging call to live Christianly in the midst of the city—what it means to be women and men of Christian integrity in the midst of the temptations and expectations of urban living.'

senior pastor of Menlo Church and author of I&rsqu John Ortberg

'Ken has written a gift for every pressured, hurried, performance-driven, success haunted person on the planet. So take a deep breath, and smile, and start to read. Slowly.'

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171762414
Publisher:	Zondervan
Publication date:	08/07/2018
Edition description:	Unabridged

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