Survival Guide for the Soul

Reviews

'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?'

'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.'

'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.'

'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.'

'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.'

'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.'

'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.'

'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.'

'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.'

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

'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!'

'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!'

'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.'

'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.'