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The Face of the Deep: Exploring the Mysterious Person of the Holy Spirit
Many Christians don’t have a clear idea of the Holy Spirit’s role in their life. Yet Scripture is full of stories that show the Spirit as a vibrant, personal being.
The Face of the Deep invites you on a quest for the Holy Spirit that journeys through our world and Bible. The adventure is infused with wonder and symbolic imagination—from the black void of Genesis 1 all the way through the explosive re-creation at the close of Revelation. You’ll encounter the love and power of the Holy Spirit revealed through the beauty of creation, art, history, and theology.
The Face of the Deep invites you on a quest for the Holy Spirit that journeys through our world and Bible. The adventure is infused with wonder and symbolic imagination—from the black void of Genesis 1 all the way through the explosive re-creation at the close of Revelation. You’ll encounter the love and power of the Holy Spirit revealed through the beauty of creation, art, history, and theology.
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2016
45 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 16, 2017
Some may think this rating unfair. However, it must be said that this book reads much more like a man's ruminations on what he thinks about the Holy Spirit of God than it does a book that should drive a biblical understanding of the person of the Holy Spirit.
It dips into some very strange territory when he does thinks like quoting Cherokee pagan mystical writing to somehow support the biblical narrative. Overall, the book feels falsely spiritual. In content it is not without merit, but in its style it seems to render the Holy Spirit to some impersonal force that somehow exists in every object, plant, and animal like a New Age mother earth. It speaks to biblical truth about the Spirit but never lets Him rise up and be who He is as God.
In most books I find some tidbit to hold onto that stays with me. Perhaps, after some time something written herein will surface in that way. However, at this point I simply found this book to be of no benefit to my understanding of the Holy Spirit or His place in my life in ministry.
It dips into some very strange territory when he does thinks like quoting Cherokee pagan mystical writing to somehow support the biblical narrative. Overall, the book feels falsely spiritual. In content it is not without merit, but in its style it seems to render the Holy Spirit to some impersonal force that somehow exists in every object, plant, and animal like a New Age mother earth. It speaks to biblical truth about the Spirit but never lets Him rise up and be who He is as God.
In most books I find some tidbit to hold onto that stays with me. Perhaps, after some time something written herein will surface in that way. However, at this point I simply found this book to be of no benefit to my understanding of the Holy Spirit or His place in my life in ministry.
December 16, 2015
I had a hard time getting into this book. I started it many times only to put it down and read something else. After I finished it I still feel as though this book just misses the mark. I was looking for a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit and searching for a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit. To me, this book is more like a discussion about what and who the Holy Spirit is to the author. It is not an in-depth study of the Holy Spirit and His place in scripture. There are some valid references drawn from the Bible, but the author also delves into some bizarre and likely dangerous territory throughout the book. Overall this book was not for me, and I will likely not recommend it to anyone looking for an understanding of the Holy Spirit. I received this as a free ARC from David C. Cook Publishing on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2017
Easily one of the most masterfully crafted literary experiences of the Holy Spirit I have ever encountered. This book is laced with beautiful, artful language making evident the mysteries of the Spirit through biblical text, analogy, and personal experience. Incredibly formative in my understanding of the Holy Spirit, and I would definitely recommend this book.
March 1, 2016
This was a really hard book to download and read in two days as the archive date was sooner than I realized. I was hopeful that that The Face of the Deep was going to help me meet my other goal of knowing more of the Holy Spirit based upon the description of the book.but that was not the case for me. I believe the book is intended for all Christ followers who desire a deeper relationship and knowledge of the Holy Spirit. I felt that the book was the author's thoughts on the subject - sort of like a diary, or a daily journal - as opposed to a book guiding us to come to know more.
I felt that because it seemed a bit scattered, I wasn't able to pick up the book and read it cover to cover. Instead I had to read sections at a time and put it down. Once I took a break or two, I could pick it up and read a bit more.
Overall, it might be a great book for someone who wants to read a few pages and then reflect on them versus an actual book you read through in one sitting.
I was provided with a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I felt that because it seemed a bit scattered, I wasn't able to pick up the book and read it cover to cover. Instead I had to read sections at a time and put it down. Once I took a break or two, I could pick it up and read a bit more.
Overall, it might be a great book for someone who wants to read a few pages and then reflect on them versus an actual book you read through in one sitting.
I was provided with a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
April 11, 2018
A book to read slowly, though not as slowly as I did! I took breaks sometimes, I had to be in the right frame of mind to read it and be in a quiet place. Lots of food for thought, I loved it. I was extremely moved at times, in the way beautiful music, or an epic story on the big screen will sometimes bring you to tears. Maybe it was just the right book for me this year.
September 19, 2018
Not many books about the Holy Spirit are being written today. This is a rather unusual approach. The author is a master of words. However, there are times when you almost get lost in the words and wonder what is being said. The author paints word pictures and there are some beautiful passages.
June 20, 2021
I've been following Paul Pastor on Twitter for almost a year, enamored with his ability to connect nature, blessedness, practical magic, and the traditional way of Jesus. The Face of the Deep takes all of Paul's lyrically, inspired writing and puts it in long prose form. He weaves together imagery and metaphor from one end of the Bible to the other, interwoven with humility, and a lover's eye for all that is in the world.
While Paul writes from a theological framework that is my "first language," it is one I don't speak as fluently anymore. My familiarity (and discomfort) with hyper-traditionalism was a speedbump for me in the reading, but for others may be exactly what they are looking for.
As for an accessible, comprehensive look at pneumatology, you would be hard-pressed to find one better.
While Paul writes from a theological framework that is my "first language," it is one I don't speak as fluently anymore. My familiarity (and discomfort) with hyper-traditionalism was a speedbump for me in the reading, but for others may be exactly what they are looking for.
As for an accessible, comprehensive look at pneumatology, you would be hard-pressed to find one better.
November 7, 2022
This is not a systematic theology book, though it's deeply theological. It's an artistic and literary style that may be hard. There are a few chapters that I just couldn't really get into. But there were several chapters that were deep and powerful and beautiful. So I get why some might not be into this book as other ratings and reviews suggest based on expectations and literary preference, but there's an art to this that I really appreciated and a depth to it that is not always hit by traditional treatments.
February 15, 2021
It took me awhile to finish this one- but I’m glad I persevered. In the end, it’s a book encouraging us to look for the Holy Spirit in our lives and a great reminder that we are not alone. Growing up in legalistic churches, the Holy Spirit was not often talked about & I always wondered about that part of God, our Father. I enjoyed reading and hearing the author’s anecdotes and then relating them to faith. Overall an encouraging read.
June 4, 2018
Poetic voice of the Spirit
Pastor is a story teller, and here there are many great stories and hints of the person and work of the Spirit. It is not a theological treatise but an whimsical exploration through illuminating experiences of the author.
All the poetic writing though seemed to oversell things other than the subject.
Pastor is a story teller, and here there are many great stories and hints of the person and work of the Spirit. It is not a theological treatise but an whimsical exploration through illuminating experiences of the author.
All the poetic writing though seemed to oversell things other than the subject.
December 8, 2021
Simple review: This is the best theology on the Holy Spirit I’ve ever read, and I’ve read a bunch. It is thoughtful, rooted in a good hermeneutic, but most importantly, it is written beautifully and evocatively. This is the only work on the Holy Spirit where I felt I sensed the Spirit’s presence in the reading.
September 12, 2017
As books on the Holy Spirit go this one was good. Well written and organized in a way that made sense. Good reminder of Christian belief that gets lost in the shuffle.
June 7, 2023
Astoundingly beautiful.
August 13, 2016
I only read half of this book so any review I post is unfair. Being an evangelical-Pentecostal half breed of sorts, I thought this book would be a good middle ground book on the Holy Spirit. I got a few good quotes, but overall it didn't really feel like much was being said. There's a few references that make no sense and some stories that don't seem to really line up with the points being made. And while the author has a poetic spirit, it often seemed to make simple things sound odd, as though he had to make it sound deeper than it was.
I could see another book of Pastor's down the road bringing a lot of growth with it. It's obvious he's got a pastoral spirit and good communication. Perhaps this book will be an entrance to something more.
I could see another book of Pastor's down the road bringing a lot of growth with it. It's obvious he's got a pastoral spirit and good communication. Perhaps this book will be an entrance to something more.
April 22, 2024
I found this to be a deeply moving work. Pastor writes with a mystic flair that is simultaneously artistic, earthy and spiritual.
Most works on the Holy Spirit focus on the fruit, gifts or dynamics of anointing in ministry. This narrative, however, is woven around the themes of intimacy, journey, mystery and wonder. I particularly like how passionate Pastor was when speaking of creation and the Bible. It is a balance that the ancients would have appreciated.
You can almost hear the palpable pursuit of the Spirit in the writer’s words. There is an idealism towards a unified church. The range of citations reflects a mind that roams and feasts on what God has reveal to many pilgrims. At work here is a broad mind that seems firmly rooted in the central message of Scriptures.
Most works on the Holy Spirit focus on the fruit, gifts or dynamics of anointing in ministry. This narrative, however, is woven around the themes of intimacy, journey, mystery and wonder. I particularly like how passionate Pastor was when speaking of creation and the Bible. It is a balance that the ancients would have appreciated.
You can almost hear the palpable pursuit of the Spirit in the writer’s words. There is an idealism towards a unified church. The range of citations reflects a mind that roams and feasts on what God has reveal to many pilgrims. At work here is a broad mind that seems firmly rooted in the central message of Scriptures.
November 2, 2021
The writing is good enough...
...but it seemed at times disjointed, as if the author's mind was flitting around looking for a place to land. After reading some of the reviews and especially the foreword, I eagerly began reading. But after a little while I began to wonder if the foreword had actually been written for another book altogether. Others raved about it, but it just never really connected with me. I finished it, though, even though it seemed I never would.
...but it seemed at times disjointed, as if the author's mind was flitting around looking for a place to land. After reading some of the reviews and especially the foreword, I eagerly began reading. But after a little while I began to wonder if the foreword had actually been written for another book altogether. Others raved about it, but it just never really connected with me. I finished it, though, even though it seemed I never would.
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September 3, 2016I'm leaving this unrated, simply because I had different expectations from the read. (I guess)
I read a bit daily in quiet time but still had difficulty identifying with the book's flow.
Perhaps I should read a synopsis more carefully next time.
I read a bit daily in quiet time but still had difficulty identifying with the book's flow.
Perhaps I should read a synopsis more carefully next time.
May 15, 2016
I love it and recommend this great read. Enlightening the role of the Spirit in our lives! Step into these pages, come out singing with joy.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews