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How Now Shall We Live? Devotional
In the How Now Shall We Live? Devotional, readers will find further encouragement to become counterculture Christians. Through inspiring true stories and compelling teaching, the 365 devotions, compiled from Chuck Colson's daily BreakPoint radio commentaries, challenge Christians to redeem modern culture by living out a biblical worldview.
- GenresChristian
752 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 2004
About the author
Charles W. Colson
141 books201 followersAlmost 40 years ago, Charles W. Colson was not thinking about reaching out to prison inmates or reforming the U.S. penal system. In fact, this aide to President Richard Nixon was "incapable of humanitarian thought," according to the media of the mid-1970s. Colson was known as the White House "hatchet man," a man feared by even the most powerful politicos during his four years of service to Nixon.
When news of Colson's conversion to Christianity leaked to the press in 1973, The Boston Globe reported, "If Mr. Colson can repent of his sins, there just has to be hope for everybody." Colson would agree.
In 1974 Colson entered a plea of guilty to Watergate-related charges; although not implicated in the Watergate burglary, he voluntarily pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in the Daniel Ellsberg Case. He entered Alabama's Maxwell Prison in 1974 as a new Christian and as the first member of the Nixon administration to be incarcerated for Watergate-related charges. He served seven months of a one- to three-year sentence.
After leaving prison, Colson founded Prison Fellowship Ministries in 1976, which has since become the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families. Today, Colson remains a member of the board of Prison Fellowship Ministries.
A sought-after speaker, Colson has written more than 30 books, which collectively have sold more than 5 million copies. His autobiographical book, Born Again, was one of the nation's best-selling books of all genres in 1976. Another bestseller, co-authored by Nancy Pearcey, How Now Shall We Live, is considered one of the most important books written on the subject of Christian worldview. His most recent book, The Faith, is a powerful appeal to the Church to re-embrace the foundational truths of Christianity.
In 1991 Colson launched BreakPoint, a unique radio commentary that provides a Christian perspective on today's news and trends. BreakPoint is currently aired weekdays to more than 1,300 outlets nationwide that reach and estimated 2 million listeners.
Today Colson is focused full time on developing other Christian leaders who can influence the culture and their communities through their faith. The capstone of this effort is The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview, an online research and training center launched in 2009 for the promotion of Christian worldview teaching. In addition to a vast library of worldview materials, the Colson Center provides online courses and serves as a catalyst for a growing movement of Christian organizations dedicated to impacting the culture. The Colson Center website also hosts Colson's popular weekly Two-Minute Warning video commentary aimed at engaging a younger generation with a biblical perspective on cultural issues.
In 2009, Colson was a principal writer of the Manhattan Declaration, which calls on Christians to defend the sanctity of human life, traditional marriage and religious freedom. Nearly half a million people have signed the Manhattan Declaration. Collaborating with other Christian ministries, BreakPoint aims to launch other ecumenical grassroots movements around moral and ethical issues of great concern.
In recognition of his work, Colson received the prestigious Templeton Prize for progress in religion in 1993, donating the $1 million prize to Prison Fellowship. Colson's other awards have included the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian honor (2008); the Humanitarian Award from Dominos Pizza Corporation (1991); The Others Award from The Salvation Army (1990); the Outstanding Young Man of Boston from the Boston Chamber of Commerce (1960); and several honorary doctorates from various colleges and universities (1982-2000).
When news of Colson's conversion to Christianity leaked to the press in 1973, The Boston Globe reported, "If Mr. Colson can repent of his sins, there just has to be hope for everybody." Colson would agree.
In 1974 Colson entered a plea of guilty to Watergate-related charges; although not implicated in the Watergate burglary, he voluntarily pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in the Daniel Ellsberg Case. He entered Alabama's Maxwell Prison in 1974 as a new Christian and as the first member of the Nixon administration to be incarcerated for Watergate-related charges. He served seven months of a one- to three-year sentence.
After leaving prison, Colson founded Prison Fellowship Ministries in 1976, which has since become the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families. Today, Colson remains a member of the board of Prison Fellowship Ministries.
A sought-after speaker, Colson has written more than 30 books, which collectively have sold more than 5 million copies. His autobiographical book, Born Again, was one of the nation's best-selling books of all genres in 1976. Another bestseller, co-authored by Nancy Pearcey, How Now Shall We Live, is considered one of the most important books written on the subject of Christian worldview. His most recent book, The Faith, is a powerful appeal to the Church to re-embrace the foundational truths of Christianity.
In 1991 Colson launched BreakPoint, a unique radio commentary that provides a Christian perspective on today's news and trends. BreakPoint is currently aired weekdays to more than 1,300 outlets nationwide that reach and estimated 2 million listeners.
Today Colson is focused full time on developing other Christian leaders who can influence the culture and their communities through their faith. The capstone of this effort is The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview, an online research and training center launched in 2009 for the promotion of Christian worldview teaching. In addition to a vast library of worldview materials, the Colson Center provides online courses and serves as a catalyst for a growing movement of Christian organizations dedicated to impacting the culture. The Colson Center website also hosts Colson's popular weekly Two-Minute Warning video commentary aimed at engaging a younger generation with a biblical perspective on cultural issues.
In 2009, Colson was a principal writer of the Manhattan Declaration, which calls on Christians to defend the sanctity of human life, traditional marriage and religious freedom. Nearly half a million people have signed the Manhattan Declaration. Collaborating with other Christian ministries, BreakPoint aims to launch other ecumenical grassroots movements around moral and ethical issues of great concern.
In recognition of his work, Colson received the prestigious Templeton Prize for progress in religion in 1993, donating the $1 million prize to Prison Fellowship. Colson's other awards have included the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian honor (2008); the Humanitarian Award from Dominos Pizza Corporation (1991); The Others Award from The Salvation Army (1990); the Outstanding Young Man of Boston from the Boston Chamber of Commerce (1960); and several honorary doctorates from various colleges and universities (1982-2000).
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 29, 2016
Charles Colson's daily devotional "How Now Shall We Live?" has changed my life. Last fall, the Lord finally moved me to commit to a daily devotional. I picked this devotional up at the local used bookstore last summer. On November 3, 2016 I did my first devotional: "Summoning Our Courage". Colson provides a section of scripture, about a page and a half of commentary and a prayer. This book truly showed me for the first time in my life how to be a "counter-cultural" Christian. My volume is thoroughly highlighted and marked up throughout and I took the time to journal a half-page of notes each day on the scripture reading, or a challenge or obstacle I was facing in my life, or a current event that directly related to Colson's teaching that day or that week.
Second to my Bible, this devotional and my notes and prayers will be my most important book to keep close to me and refer to it regularly in my walk with God.
During this past year, my Dad got very sick and then passed away on May 2nd. I rejoice that he is in Heaven now, but missed him dearly, every day. My prayers and journaling at that time are very personal and profound and God revealed much to me at that time. It was through this devotional and other ways God has moved in my life that I decided to go back to grad school and I begin classes in January at the Talbot School of Theology @ Biola. Where is the Lord leading me?
It was sad to read my last devotional on November 2nd. I am a different man than I was a year ago and my relationship with Jesus has blossomed in so many ways; too many count. I am thankful for Colson and this book. It was life-changing. It will be a small treasure to give to my kids one day.
Second to my Bible, this devotional and my notes and prayers will be my most important book to keep close to me and refer to it regularly in my walk with God.
During this past year, my Dad got very sick and then passed away on May 2nd. I rejoice that he is in Heaven now, but missed him dearly, every day. My prayers and journaling at that time are very personal and profound and God revealed much to me at that time. It was through this devotional and other ways God has moved in my life that I decided to go back to grad school and I begin classes in January at the Talbot School of Theology @ Biola. Where is the Lord leading me?
It was sad to read my last devotional on November 2nd. I am a different man than I was a year ago and my relationship with Jesus has blossomed in so many ways; too many count. I am thankful for Colson and this book. It was life-changing. It will be a small treasure to give to my kids one day.
September 21, 2018
Years ago I tried to read this book and didn't quite make it all the way through. This time I did. (I dislike not finishing a book, regardless of how good or bad it is.) Maintaining his theme from preceding books, the author logically shows how to redeem this fallen, sinful culture surrounding us by Biblical doctrine and holy living. (By the church being the church.) Secular and spiritual spheres are not separate, compartmentalized aspects of our lives. The secular is based on the spiritual as the spiritual encompasses the secular. I loved the continued theme and the author's continued call for holiness. A great read for learning how to combat the evil that is surrounding us.
December 4, 2021
Do you have trouble knowing how to live in an anti-Christian culture? If so, I highly recommend this daily devotional. Chuck Colson with Ann Morse give such interesting accounts of countercultural Christianity and its roots, and how to live in the world with a "biblical worldview."
February 1, 2008
One of the best devotional books we've read (hubby & I). Sparks conversation on the most interesting of subjects everyday.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews