Good Shepherd, Gentle Guide, and Gracious Host : Metaphors and Meditations from the Twenty-third Psalm

The Good Shepherd, Gentle Guide, and Gracious Host is a collection of fifteen discipleship meditations, organized around three metaphors from the Twenty-Third Psalm. Why does the Twenty-Third Psalm connect so profoundly with the human spirit, whether we are grieving, hoping, or suffering? The answer has much to do with the approachable, inviting metaphors for God that are expressed in this psalm—the good shepherd, the gentle guide, and the gracious host, as well as the full range of human emotions that rise up within us when we read them.

Each chapter contains a powerful personal story told by one of the Northwest’s best storytellers, an inviting meditation from a line of the psalm, the wisdom of Scripture, some words of practical advice, and questions for reflection and discussion. Suited for personal devotions or small discipleship groups, The Good Shepherd, Gentle Guide, and Gracious Host invites all of us to an adventure of grace, healing, and hope, seeing God as approachable, good, loving, and kind.

As our understanding of God’s love and care matures, our spiritual journeys will take on a new character, too. This book will highlight the path ahead, providing fence posts, guide posts, and lamp posts as we make our way home.

Patrick Allen, a retired university provost and professor, writes about how the Christian faith can be shaped and formed by intentional spiritual practices--particularly used for discipleship and spiritual growth in small groups and personal devotions. He is the author of four other devotional books including Love at Its Best When Church Is a Mess (2020), all published by Cascade Books, Eugene, Oregon.

Patrick and his wife, Lori, reside in Newberg, Oregon.