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Reactions to Renewal in the Wilderness:
A Spiritual Guide to Connecting with God in the Natural World

By John Lionberger

"I have just finished your book. Reading it is mind altering—as if one were in the wilderness experiencing it first hand. Thank you!"

~ Jane Richards

 

"After reading about your book in the [Chicago] Tribune, I went to Borders. I have hardly been able to put the book down; your book could not have come into my life at a better time. I know a process has begun; I have no idea where it is going, but it is thrilling just to be on this path with your most articulate book in my hands. I can’t tell you how grateful I am. I’m seeing everything with new eyes as a result of Renewal in the Wilderness."

~ Melinda Daniels

 

"I'm in the second chapter of your book. It is touching my soul. Finding you at this time was NOT a meaningless coincidence."

~ Lee Anderson

 

"So much good to say about his book (and John personally), but just know that John has a rare gift. You get a glimpse of the man through the entertaining, poetic stories and images he shares in this book about his actual trips with others. BUY THE BOOK. Read it, sign up for one of John's trips. Whether you're a committed agnostic or an evangelical Christian, I can't think of a better investment of your time or money than this book and the outdoor spiritual adventures it describes. These are life-changing experiences."

~ Jeff Nixa

 

"Thank you for writing this book. I so enjoyed reading and absorbing it, and frequently smiling at your style of writing. And with regard to your trips, I want to express my gratitude for your leadership in this sacred adventure."

~ Ernest Harris

 

"I was looking forward to a great read and many possible insights, but the reality far exceeded my expectations. First were John's own words, and the passion I felt when I read them. Second were words from others who had traveled with John, and how they described how they felt, the "spiritual awakening" many of them experienced. And, third, the vivid descriptions of nature/the wilderness, with its power and beauty, and the obvious love that John has for this venue, helped me to actually feel that I was there, that what was being described was actually happening to me. When I finished, and put the book down, I realized that my perspective on the upcoming trip had totally changed. I now felt I would be much more open to allowing myself to feel and integrate what was happening."

~ Geoff Gluck

 

"I got my hands on Renewal in the Wilderness, and found it utterly compelling. Meaty and non-preachy. (You grabbed my interest when you said you were a former agnostic.) I relished your beautiful descriptions and imagery. Congratulations on a deeply felt and vividly written work."

~ Donna Cousins, author of Landscape

"On mornings when I need a quick retreat I pull your book into my devotional/journaling time. Your stories make me feel like I’m on an adventure with God. Even reading three or four pages brings a lift and clarity for the day. Today I read pages 101-104 and got a new perspective on anxiety. Your book inspired me to thank God for leading me out of my comfort zone. It’s out of that comfort zone where I am motivated to cling to God for peace, and clinging to God for anything—for everything—is essential. Thanks so much for this resource!"

~ Diane Overgard

 

"I just wanted to let you know how much your book touched my life. I really connected with the stories. I recently started a nonprofit organization dealing with guys and their hearts, and I recommend your book to them as a pre-course reader. I highly value your book and hope that it can touch their lives as it touched mine."

~ Charles Avirett

 

"The author does a great job of retelling intense authentic deep-woods/mountain wilderness experiences that you can experience only by reading this book or going on one of his trips. John creates his own paths where humans have not stepped before. Lose yourself in untamed mountain wilderness, and when you emerge you will not be the same person. John has been there and you will be sure of this as you become one with him and his riveting wilderness experiences. Open your soul to the possibility of experiencing fear and beauty in the wilderness moment for this is the point where God can be found in each person’s soul. And may you realize how special and irreplaceable the pristine beauty of the wilderness really is, and how desperate nature is for each of us to help preserve its majestic and mysterious beauty."

~D. Hunter

 

"Thank you for your wonderfully written book. It speaks to the very heart of life, who we are, and why we are."

~ Judy Harris

 

"Your book, read from cover to cover, sits on my desk — serving a bit as a plumb line. There is not a word in the book that does not speak my truth — but reading it, I am reminded of how wilderness has been isolated to times/places rather than being integrated into my daily journey. I read the witness of the woman who faced the trial of a hike down the Grand Canyon and I feel envious — for what I have known but from which I feel so far removed. That's the plumb line quality of the book — it reminds me of what I need in order to remain alive!"

~ Dick Sparrow

 

"I have read the book cover-to-cover, and it reads SO smoothly and readily; there is much wisdom being blithely carried along in the smooth, conversational style!! The book raised BIG resonant vibes within me!!"

~ Kay Sturm

 

"People love your words and the book. Two of my partners and five men in my practice’s Men’s Group have read it and were deeply moved. Your gentle narrative put things I have thought about in a new light, i.e., that depression, divorce, job loss are wildernesses of their own. They help people find a new way, very hopeful in an era that may not have much good news. There is a second book in this, more of your own story."

~ Ed Ravine

 

"Your book…what a pleasure. Lots of peace and tranquility. Most of all I liked the anecdotal stories."

~ Steve Saunders

 

"I'm the Superintendent of Quetico Provincial Park [in Canada]. I've just finished reading your book and found it uplifting. So much of the discussion about the value of wilderness parks lately has focused on biodiversity and ecological integrity. These are of course critical topics but in that focus the value of these areas for spiritual/artistic reasons gets lost. This despite the fact that when you actually talk to the people who are in the park using it, it is those "nature/social/mental" values that they are motivated by. I thought you might appreciate that despite my being a senior bureaucrat I have some sensitivity for the material in your book."

~ Robin Reilly, Superintendent of Quetico Provincial Park

 

"I read this book before going on a Renewal in the Wilderness trip, and again after a RITW journey to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota. Lionberger's evocative writing delivers readers to the beating heart of his many wilderness trips, and yet I found the actual adventure far exceeded my expectations. I count myself among those who have found healing, beauty, peace, strength and a renewed commitment to simplicity and care for the earth through Lionberger's ministry — on the page and through his testimony of presence."

~ Julie Harley

 

"Reading this book made my fingers tingle and the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. The physical experience of wilderness strips us down to the basic elements of body and soul. And when our spiritual nerve endings are exposed, we find...God. Start this journey today."

~ Rev. Dr. Susan Thistlethwaite, professor and former president, Chicago Theological Seminary

 

"If you've been wondering how to find God, here's a topo map."

~ Bill McKibben, author of "The End of Nature" and other books

 

"Many times this book touched me deeply—thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience in the wilderness. You opened a door that I had been seeking for a long time. Bless you! It was such a gift to let go of my expectations for God and just let God meet me on God's terms. Perhaps now my soul can be nourished again."

~ Jenny Badenhop

 

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From the Publisher's Catalog

SkyLight Paths Publishing

Encountering the Divine in God’s wild places can be a life-changing experience.
There is an ancient and deeply compelling biblical tradition of going into the wilderness to find God. Moses and Jesus—to name just a couple of our spiritual forebears—knew that in the wilderness they would find the quiet and simplicity that would lead to profound spiritual connections. They understood that normal day-to-day living is usually not the way to regain that connection with God, because it affords little opportunity to simply, humbly and quietly listen for God’s voice and feel God’s presence. Perhaps even in our time—especially in our time—leaving civilization to spend time with God in the wilderness holds an important key to our own spiritual renewal.

This practical guide illuminates the power of finding God in the wilderness experience and the universality of spiritual connection through nature. It explores the teachings about wilderness in sacred writings both ancient and contemporary and how we can grow through the shared and individual experiences of being present in nature.

Lionberger draws from his own significant moments in the wilderness and stories from the many people who have accompanied him on wilderness treks. He explores the meaning of “wilderness” in our modern society and offers thoughtful suggestions about how to find the Divine in our personal experiences.

Renewal in the Wilderness chosen as Book Club Pick of the Month! Click here and add it to your group's reading list. > LEARN MORE