Author: David Robinson
Located in: Cannon Beach, Oregon
Submitted: August 31, 2010
Tell us a little about yourself. ANCIENT PATHS is my fourth book on Christian spiritual formation. I have served as pastor since 1993 with the people of Community Presbyterian Church in Cannon Beach, Oregon. In 2010, I am in my 26th year as full-time pastor. I am married with three grown children. I love living in a village on the Oregon coast, among people who know how to put Christ's hospitality and love into practice.
What was your motivation behind this project? In 1986, I made my first prayer retreat to a monastery (a Trappist Abbey in Oregon), and discovered a clear path to the well of living water, as spoken of in Isaiah 12 (with joy draw water from the well of salvation). Over the past 24 years, I've studied and practiced the ancient ways of Christian formation and have been motivated to share these lost ways with a whole new generation of followers of Christ who are thirsty for a drink from that deep well.
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? I hope you will discover practical guidance for walking closer with Jesus, especially as you walk in your spiritual journey with a few others within the local church. ANCIENT PATHS is written as a guidebook for Christian formation, aimed at anyone seeking to deepen their life in Christ.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? Benedictine spirituality has challenged me to become more of a man of prayer, to "come away" with the Lord more often in prayer, especially with a few others. I've been challenged and deepened in my understanding of such basic Christian "paths" as prayer, spiritual leadership, study of Scripture, and hospitality. Iin 2006, I became a Benedictine oblate, promising to live according to these ancient ways of daily life in Christ as much as possible within my station in life. ANCIENT PATHS was written within a Christian "cohort", with 16 of us studying together over a period of five years for a Doctor of Ministry degree in Christian Spiritual Formation from Fuller Theological Seminary. Our two professors, Dr. James Bradley (Church History) and Dr. Richard Peace (Evangelism and Spiritual Formation), challenged us along these ancient paths of spiritual formation, reshaping the way we live our lives in community with Christ and with one another. The practical guidance described in this book will guide the spiritual life of the local congregation where I serve over the next decade of our life together as we seek to walk together along "ancient paths" of Christian formation.
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? Benedict and "The Rule of St. Benedict"
Bonhoeffer and "Life Together"
The Taize Community in France
The Northumbria Community in England
The Iona Community in Scotland
Thomas Merton
Henri Nouwen
Christian spiritual classics such as Brother Lawrence's "The Practice of the Presence of God"
The music of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and other sacred polyphonic composers such as Allegri, Lotti, Tallis, and Byrd
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: ANCIENT PATHS includes a 12-week study guide for home groups, small groups, study groups, Sunday School class discussion. This book is designed to encourage Christian formation in the lives of individuals, but also, among the life together within a local congregation. Pastors, priests, church leaders, ministry leaders and spiritual formation groups will find this book a great help in leading you closer to Christ and deeper into your life together with God. Guidance is provided for developing a congregational "rule of life", a written guidebook for a local church to continue growing intentionally over the next years of your life as a people of Christ. I've also included a practical guide for going on a monastic retreat. This book will also be of great encouragement to any of the 25,000 Benedictine oblates worldwide who seek to live out the principles of Benedictine spirituality daily in your life in Christ. Thanks for taking time to review this book. I welcome you to join along "ancient paths" of our spiritual journey in Christ!
![The Practice of the Presence of God [Baker Books, 1989]](http://g.christianbook.com/dg/product/cbd/w163/0785991.jpg "The Practice of the Presence of God [Baker Books, 1989]")
