Rhythm & Fire: Experiencing the Holy in Community and Solitude

We hunger for something more - a closer connection with the divine and with each other. We yearn for a safe place to be vulnerable in this often disconnected life. Our frenzied lifestyle hasn't quenched the desire for a better way - a way that sustains, frees, nurtures and fulfills us. Fifty-four writers from The Academy for Spiritual Formation give voice to the fears, longings and experiences of life that are similar to yours and mine. Their words will lead you to live in the presence of God in your daily activities. ""The stories, prayers and poems of people in this book make it evident that a person can live after close encounters with God,"" writes Kirk. ""To recognize God's voice out of the fire is to come face-to-face with transformation. It is to be propelled into a new a rhythm of life with the assurance that it is not a solo excursion."" The Academy for Spiritual Formation is a two-year experience in deepening spiritual practices, offering participants a way to experience the abundant life of prayer, silence, worship and study. If you're looking for a richer spiritual life or renewal, you'll find a wealth of insight within Rhythm & Fire that will stir the best of our hearts with the rhythm of God's presence.

Jerry P. Haas pastored churches in California and Arizona for twenty-five years before moving to Nashville, Tennessee to work in retreat and spiritual formation ministries with The Upper Room. His wife Donna is a psychotherapist in private practice.
Cynthia Langston Kirk, an ordained minister in The United Methodist Church, has written for many publications including Alive Now, Upper Room Disciplines and Living the Questions 2. Grounded in the sacraments and worship, she is a poet, liturgical artist, retreat leader and hospice chaplain. Her Piecing Stories ministry is based in Tucson, where she lives with her husband Les.