STREAMS OF LIVING WATER

By: Richard J. Foster

Narrated by: Richard J. Foster

Helps us to understand what makes our Christian faith so rich and meaningful... Ted W. Engstrom, President Emeritus, World Vision

Richard J. Foster has touched countless lives with his spiritual classic, Celebration of Discipline, which has sold over one million copies since it was first published twenty years ago. Now, with Streams of Living Water, Foster again strengthens and enriches the spiritual lives of listeners everywhere with this unique exploration of the major traditions at the core of Christian practice.

In this landmark work, Foster examines these streams of living water - the six dimensions of faith and practice that define Christian tradition. He lifts up the enduring character of each tradition in the midst of constantly evolving faith and shows how a variety of practices, from individual study and retreat to disciplines of service and community, are all essential elements of growth and maturity.

Each of these great historical movements emphasizes a different aspect of life and faith. The six streams Foster presents are: the Contemplative, or prayer-filled life; the life of Holiness, or the virtuous life; the Charismatic, or Spirit-empowered life; the life of Social Justice, or the compassionate life; the Evangelical, or Word-centered life; and finally, the Incarnational, or sacramental life.

Foster examines the unique contributions of each of these traditions, and offers as examples the inspiring stories of faithful people whose own lives defined these streams.

In Streams of Living Water, Foster seeks a balanced path to a renewal of the spirit. He identifies the strengths and the weaknesses of each stream and offers practical ways to incorporate each of these spiritual dimensions into our daily lives - offering a clear and tangible path to authentic Christian experience. He reveals that while each stream is capable of providing spiritual growth, the most complete renewal can only come from combining the best from each tradition.

Read by the author.

(P) and ©1998 HarperCollins Publishers Inc., All Rights Reserved, Harper Audio, A Division of HarperCollins Publishers

a wonderful, and honest book on prayer

The is a wonderful book on prayer. Very practicle and yet deeply spiritual.

Very engaging book as well as reading

Streams of Living Water is read by the author, Richard Foster. He has an animated style that is easy to listen to. This book is a life changer. Through it you will see the many ways that God works in the many denominations around us. No more us and them, but how was God working and how can I learn from others who don’t think like me. He sees Christianity the way I think it probably is which as a diamond with many facets that reflect the light of God. If you are afraid this is an ecumenical book that might take you down the wrong road, do not fear. He tells the good and the bad of each of the six streams of Christianity. This book has invited me to look more closely at churches that I used to dismiss with a wave of the hand. And because Foster doesn’t pull any punches about what might be wrong with some of the streams, I feel like I can listen intently when he tells me what is right with them. He gives historic examples of each of the six streams which he says are
Contemplative
Holiness
Charismatic
Social justice
Evangelical, not to be confused with today’s political use of the term
Sacramental
This is definitely a book that should be on your shelf if you are a Christian in any of the streams.