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An Emerging Spirituality
Ricky Maye in his first full length book introduces us to the revolutionary concept of An Emerging Spirituality, Maye contends that the Christian and Spiritual walk since not of this world is often misunderstood and manipulated. He offers hope in lines such as, "The Spiritual life is about becoming not become, our journey is about changing not changed. It's about overcoming not overcome. Be prepared for the journey of a lifetime, Your journey. Ricky will take you through the rocky, raw and rated R spiritual journeys of many Biblical personage using his unique teaching style that is progressively prophetic. “There is a revolution happening in the Church today. One that seems to be questioning the age-old assumptions about an exclusive God who lives so far away from creation. Be rest assured these questions have been asked long before we came along. However, Ricky Maye re-ignites this all-important conversation in an engaging voice that must be heard and speaks of a God who accepts and embraces everyone, even the ones we love to hate. This is a must-read.” -George Elerick Author of Jesus Bootlegged //Cultural Theorist // Human Rights Advocate “If you're like me, then you'll find comfort in this book. Ricky understands that the Industrial Era of faith, of time being money, of growth being upward, is false. We are full of doubt, unsure of where we're going, and Ricky reminds us that that's the whole damn point.” From the Forward -Alex Gamble Author of Leaving Eden // Teacher //Blogger “In Ricky Maye’s redemptive book, an emerging spirituality is defined as a journey seeking more. While rules and traditions of religion may limit faith, spirituality is following God out of the known into uncomfortable, sometimes painful growth. The benefit is personalized salvation uniquely designed to meet our individual needs. Ricky contends that salvation’s greatest value isn’t getting to heaven, but about eternal life right now, where Jesus meets our deepest hearts desires for unconditional love.” - Joy Wilson Author of Uncensored The Spiritual Practice of Wrestling With God (Civitas Press, 2011)
180 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2011
About the author
Ricky Maye
13 books19 followersRicky is a writer and public speaker who over the past 15 years has gained a reputation of engaging crowds and groups using his unique brand of word studies and insights on cultural traditions.
Ricky has spent his life seeking to ignite personal fires in the souls of his readers and listeners while challenging participants through thoughts and ideas and encouraging new paths and new personal heights.
Ricky has spent his life seeking to ignite personal fires in the souls of his readers and listeners while challenging participants through thoughts and ideas and encouraging new paths and new personal heights.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 28, 2012
This book has brought me much insight and comfort. Friends who have tried to convert me have found me a paradox; they can't understand why I say I believe in God and yet refuse to join them at church. In a strange way, I've just always felt uncomfortable with the overt worshipping and sharing with others (I'm quite private that way), so I felt that I won't fit in. Reading this has made me feel less weird, less of an outcast, just knowing that there are people out there who don't feel like they belong with a church too. It was also comforting to know that there could be more than one way to know God. Some grammatical and typo check would be good for the ebook.
June 3, 2012
- I received a copy of this book from GoodReads' First Reads program in exchange for an honest review-
I found this book to be quite refreshing. I know, I often say that of books that offer ways of thinking that aren't wrapped up in the same dogma many of us are tired of, but I really do mean it. To have an author open one's mind to possibilities, instead of using faith to limit them, is always something I find to be like a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stale place of faith. And this book really was no exception.
The chapters in this book are quite short, so it makes for an easy read. And I understand, or think I understand, that the point of the short sections was intended to allow room for the reader to think, instead of the author to impose his own views upon us. I just would have loved to have been able to get a deeper look at his thoughts, at what he has to say, because for me, when I read, it's like a dialogue, and it's easier for me to think and respond when there is more to respond to. Not that what is there wasn't sufficient, because it did offer a lot to look at (it just means that I'm an avid and intense reader, and that I'll have to keep my eye open for his other works). For example, I really did love his take on sin, salvation, revival, the way he emphasized personal need and personal relationship, his thoughts on the phrase "in vain," and many, many other thoughts he shared.
The phrase, found on page 28, that "your spiritual life is not a destination, it is a journey," is something that I have always felt and thought myself, seeing it not as a moment of conversion, but instead as a continued process of cultivation, of growing and serving and loving. I also loved his saying that "discussion is a journey" on page 30. He goes on to say that "Conversation isn't about proving a point; true conversation is about going on a journey with the people you are speaking with." I loved that. It was like he was writing things I have felt and believed, in his explanations of how he sees the idea of a journey, in comparison to a quest. I love various quotes throughout the book that tie into this idea, of spirituality as a journey, like on page 42, where he says "It's not a location, it's a direction. It's not a place to end up, it's a life of enduring," and "We don't want to focus on a moment, but the momentum." I love how, on the same page, he stresses that even though we may be on different paths "we are all on that journey back to God; the journey back to what we have heard of, what we feel inside of all of us." Of course, I might take that in a hyper-universalistic sense he doesn't intend, as I believe even other faiths are valid paths back to God, but even if not intended as I naturally take it, based on my beliefs, it is refreshing to hear what he's saying on any level, even if just on the most basic kind of different versions of Christianity.
I enjoyed his section discussing the difference between religion and spirituality, and in that section is perhaps one of my absolute favorite quotes of the whole book. It's found on page 46, and he says "I find it weird that the hope and wish of God's salvation to everyone is a revolutionary thought in Christian circles. It will get you in trouble if you think the Love of God is open for everyone in some churches. We still have a long way to go." He goes on to talk, in the next few pages, about how Jesus "didn't see legalism or laws. Jesus saw people and pain and real situations."
In probably one of my favorite sections, the author talks about salvation, and about how it is "more about the quality of life and our ability to function on this earth" than getting into heaven (page 117), and goes on to show how Jesus offered salvation to various people based on their individual needs, through this different understanding of salvation, this idea of wholeness and healing. I must admit, that's the way I think of salvation. I do believe in heaven, but for me salvation is so much deeper than that, in a way that I wasn't even sure if I still liked the word, because of all that is usually attached. But salvation the way Ricky Maye talks about it is one way I can find the word redeemable. And I love that he takes that idea and uses it as a way to call us to think of how we can bring salvation to those we see in our lives, based on their needs - how he calls us, as I believe Jesus did, to a life of service and restoration for those who are our neighbors.
Another of my favorite quotes can be found on page 129, where the author says "Sometimes, I think when we look through the scriptures we haven't learned anything from the mistakes of the Pharisees and scribes. We still seem to categorize the scriptures between sin and not sin, rather than looking at is as a chronicle of unique divine relationships." It kind of goes along with the way I think about atonement - not as acceptance of some sacrifice, but as at-one-ment between individuals and God, focusing on the relationship between the two, as well as being at-one-with our fellow man. He goes on to talk about the idea of condemnation and judgment, about how much of a priority needs to be made of not throwing stones at others. He uses the example of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery to make his point, and he brings that chapter to a close by saying, on page 134, that "Throwing stones hurts. If you don't get the metaphor; judgment by you and me, never wins. It's not our job, it's not our responsibility and it's not our place. If Jesus didn't judge that woman, then we sure as hell can't."
I love the way the author looks at the way Christianity represents itself, expressing "how we wish Christianity would be known for love, generosity, and acceptance," (page 138) then going on (on the next page) to discuss how "Christianity is not known for good fruit," and how "the media, the world, isn't ragging on us because we love too hard," but instead because of the negative and unloving examples of Christians.
As long as this review already is, and I do apologize for that, there is so much more that this book contains, so many other ideas that I could mention and express complete agreement with, but I guess I need to be wrapping this up. All I can really say that this is a book that really did resonate with me, and has left me wanting to read whatever else the author has written or writes in the future. I think it's important that these kinds of voices are heard and represented within not just the Christian community, but the world in general, and I would recommend this book to any Christian with a mind open enough to consider what is to be found within the pages, and even any non-Christian yearning to see evidence that not all Christians are the way Christianity seems to represent itself. I really did enjoy the book, the engaging style in which it was written, and the fresh perspective it has to give. It is one that I am glad to have added to my growing collection.
I found this book to be quite refreshing. I know, I often say that of books that offer ways of thinking that aren't wrapped up in the same dogma many of us are tired of, but I really do mean it. To have an author open one's mind to possibilities, instead of using faith to limit them, is always something I find to be like a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stale place of faith. And this book really was no exception.
The chapters in this book are quite short, so it makes for an easy read. And I understand, or think I understand, that the point of the short sections was intended to allow room for the reader to think, instead of the author to impose his own views upon us. I just would have loved to have been able to get a deeper look at his thoughts, at what he has to say, because for me, when I read, it's like a dialogue, and it's easier for me to think and respond when there is more to respond to. Not that what is there wasn't sufficient, because it did offer a lot to look at (it just means that I'm an avid and intense reader, and that I'll have to keep my eye open for his other works). For example, I really did love his take on sin, salvation, revival, the way he emphasized personal need and personal relationship, his thoughts on the phrase "in vain," and many, many other thoughts he shared.
The phrase, found on page 28, that "your spiritual life is not a destination, it is a journey," is something that I have always felt and thought myself, seeing it not as a moment of conversion, but instead as a continued process of cultivation, of growing and serving and loving. I also loved his saying that "discussion is a journey" on page 30. He goes on to say that "Conversation isn't about proving a point; true conversation is about going on a journey with the people you are speaking with." I loved that. It was like he was writing things I have felt and believed, in his explanations of how he sees the idea of a journey, in comparison to a quest. I love various quotes throughout the book that tie into this idea, of spirituality as a journey, like on page 42, where he says "It's not a location, it's a direction. It's not a place to end up, it's a life of enduring," and "We don't want to focus on a moment, but the momentum." I love how, on the same page, he stresses that even though we may be on different paths "we are all on that journey back to God; the journey back to what we have heard of, what we feel inside of all of us." Of course, I might take that in a hyper-universalistic sense he doesn't intend, as I believe even other faiths are valid paths back to God, but even if not intended as I naturally take it, based on my beliefs, it is refreshing to hear what he's saying on any level, even if just on the most basic kind of different versions of Christianity.
I enjoyed his section discussing the difference between religion and spirituality, and in that section is perhaps one of my absolute favorite quotes of the whole book. It's found on page 46, and he says "I find it weird that the hope and wish of God's salvation to everyone is a revolutionary thought in Christian circles. It will get you in trouble if you think the Love of God is open for everyone in some churches. We still have a long way to go." He goes on to talk, in the next few pages, about how Jesus "didn't see legalism or laws. Jesus saw people and pain and real situations."
In probably one of my favorite sections, the author talks about salvation, and about how it is "more about the quality of life and our ability to function on this earth" than getting into heaven (page 117), and goes on to show how Jesus offered salvation to various people based on their individual needs, through this different understanding of salvation, this idea of wholeness and healing. I must admit, that's the way I think of salvation. I do believe in heaven, but for me salvation is so much deeper than that, in a way that I wasn't even sure if I still liked the word, because of all that is usually attached. But salvation the way Ricky Maye talks about it is one way I can find the word redeemable. And I love that he takes that idea and uses it as a way to call us to think of how we can bring salvation to those we see in our lives, based on their needs - how he calls us, as I believe Jesus did, to a life of service and restoration for those who are our neighbors.
Another of my favorite quotes can be found on page 129, where the author says "Sometimes, I think when we look through the scriptures we haven't learned anything from the mistakes of the Pharisees and scribes. We still seem to categorize the scriptures between sin and not sin, rather than looking at is as a chronicle of unique divine relationships." It kind of goes along with the way I think about atonement - not as acceptance of some sacrifice, but as at-one-ment between individuals and God, focusing on the relationship between the two, as well as being at-one-with our fellow man. He goes on to talk about the idea of condemnation and judgment, about how much of a priority needs to be made of not throwing stones at others. He uses the example of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery to make his point, and he brings that chapter to a close by saying, on page 134, that "Throwing stones hurts. If you don't get the metaphor; judgment by you and me, never wins. It's not our job, it's not our responsibility and it's not our place. If Jesus didn't judge that woman, then we sure as hell can't."
I love the way the author looks at the way Christianity represents itself, expressing "how we wish Christianity would be known for love, generosity, and acceptance," (page 138) then going on (on the next page) to discuss how "Christianity is not known for good fruit," and how "the media, the world, isn't ragging on us because we love too hard," but instead because of the negative and unloving examples of Christians.
As long as this review already is, and I do apologize for that, there is so much more that this book contains, so many other ideas that I could mention and express complete agreement with, but I guess I need to be wrapping this up. All I can really say that this is a book that really did resonate with me, and has left me wanting to read whatever else the author has written or writes in the future. I think it's important that these kinds of voices are heard and represented within not just the Christian community, but the world in general, and I would recommend this book to any Christian with a mind open enough to consider what is to be found within the pages, and even any non-Christian yearning to see evidence that not all Christians are the way Christianity seems to represent itself. I really did enjoy the book, the engaging style in which it was written, and the fresh perspective it has to give. It is one that I am glad to have added to my growing collection.
August 28, 2012
Received this book today. Will start reading it and post review as soon as I finish it.
Update: 8/19/12 I just finished this book and while some of the information Ricky gave was spot on; other information just didn't sit right with me. I will go chapter by chapter and give an overview of what I think Ricky was trying to say.
East- Chapter 1
East is anything just outside what God wants for you.-Ricky links this with Adam and Eve being put out of the Garden of Eden. God wanted a relationship where He could walk and talk with Adam and Eve.
Movement-Chapter 2
Spirituality means moving.-Sometimes I think Ricky uses the word spirituality in place of the word faith. Faith is an action verb meaning to live out what you believe.
Forgiveness
When we hold hurt, unforgiveness and grudges, we are taking the hurt and pain of someone else and carrying it on to ourselves.-How many times have you saw someone do just this? This is something that definitely needs addressed and dealt with.
Forgetting God
Forgetting God is not noticing his face in those who are in need.-Ricky advises followers that we are the hands and feet of God and it is up to us to lift people up.
Vain
Anything vain in God's eyes is anything that isn't focused on God and the people around us, our neighbors.-This statement pins the responsibility of taking care of our fellow men back on to everyone not just a few.
Twofaced
Have you ended up somewhere where you can hear God saying, how did you end up here?-Ricky shows many people how to use the light of Jesus to help find your way back to God's will.
Egghead
This book is for those who want more of God.-But not necessarily Jesus from the information in this book. Not much is said about Jesus as being the son of God.
How to Express God
The name Ha-Makom (The Place) brings a revelation that in every moment, God is a part of it, God is over-shadowing and God is present.-Ricky talks about how God is in every moment of every day of our lives.
Grace
Grace doesn't bring condemnation and guilt for living a certain way, it gives you strength to deal with the stresses of life and lets you continue to commune with God; despite how you're living, despite how you're thinking.-This statement almost made me throw the book across the room. How can a holy God commune with someone who is out of His grace or someone who doesn't even believe in God?
Disowned
We were redeemed over 2,000 years ago, but I am being saved every day.-Some of the philosophy behind his views on salvation is off kilter in my opinion.
Salvation
Despite some popular beliefs, salvation hasn't changed from the Old Testament to the New; it's always been the same.-Whoa now hold on a minute! Ricky does not talk anything about the need of blood for atonement, the final sacrificial lamb, Jesus Christ, to redeem our sins and save us.
Where did he find you?
Put your stones down, stop looking for a fight. It may not seem like it sometimes, but we are all on the same team.-How does Ricky make the statement that the righteous and the unrighteous are on the same team when Jesus stated that the sheep and the goats will be separated?
This God will dine with anyone
Not all paths lead to God, but God can lead any path to himself.-Finally a statement that I can agree with! God does not love someone who is richer, prettier, smarter any more than some one who isn't. He can use anything, any place or any person to bring someone to Him.
Revolution
Salvation is a cycle that ends up impacting everyone around us.-Ricky goes on to state that the very heart of everyday revolution is love. I will agree with this statement because God is love and we are to love God and love people.
An Everyday Revolution
The everyday revolution impacts the worlds through word, though and deed right now.Ricky states that we can persuade through deeds more than words in this chapter.
Resurrection
Whether or not we believe in this Jesus we can resonate these words of hope because we all have some dead dreams.-This sentence right here sums up the entire book. Live peaceful, love your neighbor and you will find God.
As this review has shown, this book is not a book about Christianity, but about how to live and be a good Christian. There are several good points that can be taken from this book. I especially loved the information on forgiveness and baggage and how our journey is to be filled with unexpected things and this shouldn't come as a surprise. How liberating this thought is!
I do have one major complaint. The spacing of the words and sentences sometimes is off kilter. For example, in Chapter 1, 3rd paragraph on page 38, the sentence ends with new city. The word new is at the leftmost place and city is to the far right leaving a lot of blank space between the two words. This happens throughout the book.
Update: 8/19/12 I just finished this book and while some of the information Ricky gave was spot on; other information just didn't sit right with me. I will go chapter by chapter and give an overview of what I think Ricky was trying to say.
East- Chapter 1
East is anything just outside what God wants for you.-Ricky links this with Adam and Eve being put out of the Garden of Eden. God wanted a relationship where He could walk and talk with Adam and Eve.
Movement-Chapter 2
Spirituality means moving.-Sometimes I think Ricky uses the word spirituality in place of the word faith. Faith is an action verb meaning to live out what you believe.
Forgiveness
When we hold hurt, unforgiveness and grudges, we are taking the hurt and pain of someone else and carrying it on to ourselves.-How many times have you saw someone do just this? This is something that definitely needs addressed and dealt with.
Forgetting God
Forgetting God is not noticing his face in those who are in need.-Ricky advises followers that we are the hands and feet of God and it is up to us to lift people up.
Vain
Anything vain in God's eyes is anything that isn't focused on God and the people around us, our neighbors.-This statement pins the responsibility of taking care of our fellow men back on to everyone not just a few.
Twofaced
Have you ended up somewhere where you can hear God saying, how did you end up here?-Ricky shows many people how to use the light of Jesus to help find your way back to God's will.
Egghead
This book is for those who want more of God.-But not necessarily Jesus from the information in this book. Not much is said about Jesus as being the son of God.
How to Express God
The name Ha-Makom (The Place) brings a revelation that in every moment, God is a part of it, God is over-shadowing and God is present.-Ricky talks about how God is in every moment of every day of our lives.
Grace
Grace doesn't bring condemnation and guilt for living a certain way, it gives you strength to deal with the stresses of life and lets you continue to commune with God; despite how you're living, despite how you're thinking.-This statement almost made me throw the book across the room. How can a holy God commune with someone who is out of His grace or someone who doesn't even believe in God?
Disowned
We were redeemed over 2,000 years ago, but I am being saved every day.-Some of the philosophy behind his views on salvation is off kilter in my opinion.
Salvation
Despite some popular beliefs, salvation hasn't changed from the Old Testament to the New; it's always been the same.-Whoa now hold on a minute! Ricky does not talk anything about the need of blood for atonement, the final sacrificial lamb, Jesus Christ, to redeem our sins and save us.
Where did he find you?
Put your stones down, stop looking for a fight. It may not seem like it sometimes, but we are all on the same team.-How does Ricky make the statement that the righteous and the unrighteous are on the same team when Jesus stated that the sheep and the goats will be separated?
This God will dine with anyone
Not all paths lead to God, but God can lead any path to himself.-Finally a statement that I can agree with! God does not love someone who is richer, prettier, smarter any more than some one who isn't. He can use anything, any place or any person to bring someone to Him.
Revolution
Salvation is a cycle that ends up impacting everyone around us.-Ricky goes on to state that the very heart of everyday revolution is love. I will agree with this statement because God is love and we are to love God and love people.
An Everyday Revolution
The everyday revolution impacts the worlds through word, though and deed right now.Ricky states that we can persuade through deeds more than words in this chapter.
Resurrection
Whether or not we believe in this Jesus we can resonate these words of hope because we all have some dead dreams.-This sentence right here sums up the entire book. Live peaceful, love your neighbor and you will find God.
As this review has shown, this book is not a book about Christianity, but about how to live and be a good Christian. There are several good points that can be taken from this book. I especially loved the information on forgiveness and baggage and how our journey is to be filled with unexpected things and this shouldn't come as a surprise. How liberating this thought is!
I do have one major complaint. The spacing of the words and sentences sometimes is off kilter. For example, in Chapter 1, 3rd paragraph on page 38, the sentence ends with new city. The word new is at the leftmost place and city is to the far right leaving a lot of blank space between the two words. This happens throughout the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2012
Wow this book blew my mind. As I read it I felt is was written just for me. Ricky states at the beginning that the book is meant for those seeking a better relationship with Jesus. I respectfully disagree. This book is for anyone looking for a relationship with a loving higher power of there understanding.
Ricky speaks of a journey God wants us to take. Not every journey is a stagnant walk of sameness. My journey is different from anyone else's. Ricky explains how the journey can be difficult when God changes course and the faith you need to follow can be hard to except. The journey can also be exciting when faith leads you through and to God's grace.
He also speaks of salvation. This was to me reserved for the very religious and anyone faltering in there salvation could expect retribution. ricky helped me realize that salvation had come into my life and that when I faltered the loving God of my understanding would be there to kneel down with me to my level and pick me up with love.
Finally Ricky states "this God will dine with anyone". What a beautiful thought. He is a God of Patience, love and tolerance not an intolerant, angry God.
There is so much more here. It was was a book I could not put down.
Ricky speaks of a journey God wants us to take. Not every journey is a stagnant walk of sameness. My journey is different from anyone else's. Ricky explains how the journey can be difficult when God changes course and the faith you need to follow can be hard to except. The journey can also be exciting when faith leads you through and to God's grace.
He also speaks of salvation. This was to me reserved for the very religious and anyone faltering in there salvation could expect retribution. ricky helped me realize that salvation had come into my life and that when I faltered the loving God of my understanding would be there to kneel down with me to my level and pick me up with love.
Finally Ricky states "this God will dine with anyone". What a beautiful thought. He is a God of Patience, love and tolerance not an intolerant, angry God.
There is so much more here. It was was a book I could not put down.
December 5, 2012
This book and a lot of it's points are helping me come to terms with my beliefs. Sometimes I feel there is no place for people like me that need help believing that God loves me no matter what. I've been hurt by the church before and it has been a stake through my spiritual heart. Maybe this can help be the start to my healing.
July 15, 2013
I received this book through the GoodReads first reads program.
Ricky Maye's book is a concise examination of Christianity and the problems that he has with the current incarnation of the faith. He explains how Christian's should strive to be more... well, Christian. What emerges is an understanding of the faith that incorporates the understanding, empathy, and altogether open-mindedness of the faith that existed when the religion first came into existence. I've no problem whatsoever with this message, and indeed, think it is altogether quite a good one.
The book didn't receive more stars from me because altogether this message is one that I've read/heard many times before. I didn't feel that this book brought anything to the table that other authors have not previously thought about and/or wrote about or spoke about in other mediums. Indeed, I thought some other books (such as Jesus for President) did it a bit better. This book, however, may reach a larger audience as it is readily available through more mediums and might catch someone else's eye.
It's a pretty good quick read, in other words. :)
Ricky Maye's book is a concise examination of Christianity and the problems that he has with the current incarnation of the faith. He explains how Christian's should strive to be more... well, Christian. What emerges is an understanding of the faith that incorporates the understanding, empathy, and altogether open-mindedness of the faith that existed when the religion first came into existence. I've no problem whatsoever with this message, and indeed, think it is altogether quite a good one.
The book didn't receive more stars from me because altogether this message is one that I've read/heard many times before. I didn't feel that this book brought anything to the table that other authors have not previously thought about and/or wrote about or spoke about in other mediums. Indeed, I thought some other books (such as Jesus for President) did it a bit better. This book, however, may reach a larger audience as it is readily available through more mediums and might catch someone else's eye.
It's a pretty good quick read, in other words. :)
April 7, 2012
Biased or not this story is my journey and reading through it again, it offers a fresh perspective on faith and God.
August 5, 2012
Enlightening.. I will definitely be purchasing more from this author!
July 19, 2022
Excellent book!!!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews