Greetings, brothers and sisters,I'd like to share with you all a wonderful book that I've been enjoying very recently. Actually, I'm not nearly finished with it yet, but I just can't wait to share it with someone!The book is The Songs of Degrees by Stephen Kaung, a brother with hundreds of audio messages on the site and a former co-worker of Watchman Nee in Mainland China. In the book, Kaung beautifully illustrates how Psalms 120-134 show the progressive ascent of each believer into a fuller union with God. Kaung shows that each psalm in the series is a rung on a "spiritual ladder," illustrating:The State of Purification (Psalms 120-124)1) The Awakening of Desire2) Going and Keeping3) Companionship with God4) Under Discipline5) ReminiscenceThe State of Enlightenment (Psalms 125-129)6) Inner Conflict and Victory7) The Two Sides of the Cross8) Building and Growing9) Full of the Spirit and Very Fruitful10) The Life of the Spirit v. The Life of the FleshThe State of Union (130-134)11) Brokenness12) Humility13) Mutual Desire and Fulfillment14) Body Life a Blessing15) Ministering unto the Lord through the Night-------------------------------------------------Now, let me just quote from the book's preface to give a taste:The soul's ascent as a concept is itself nothing new. Deep and serious Christians throughout the centuries have devoted many volumes to this highly subjective subject. But to our limited knowledge no one has ever before represented the ascent to God by means of the series of Old Testament psalms known as the Songs of Degrees. Our brother has likened these fifteen Songs to a spiritual ladder possessing fifteen rungs divided into three broad stages of spiritual development. Weaving together this set of psalms into a remarkably integrated pattern of Christian experience, the author takes the believer on a spiritual journey filled with searching lessons for him to learn and not too easy steps to ascend, but none of which the pilgrim who is serious with God can afford to miss. Moreover, unlike most others who have only stressed the personal side of the Christian's pilgrimage, the author brings into view in addition its corporate collective sentiment, an expression of concern on the part of each psalmist not only for himself but for all Israel too. Not merely the individual believer's growth is seen but the building up of the true Israel of God -the body of Christ- is also brought into focus.-------------------------------------------------Highly recommended! I'm being greatly blessed by this book. You can order it from Christian Fellowship Publishers at: http://www.c-f-p.com Small detail, but I would add that it only costs $6 (hardcover!)! It is truly a rare gem...Grace and more grace to you all, fromDanielJ
