One of the most significant books I have ever read as I have sought to follow the way of Jesus was written in 1990 by Brennan Manning called The Ragamuffin Gospel. It beautifully shared the reality of God’s abundant and unimaginable grace. Fifteen years later, a visual edition was published with the subtitle, “Grace is too graphic for words.” I keep the visual edition on my table in my office and regularly flip through it for the ongoing reminders I need of God’s grace.
Another book that has had a significant influence on me is one that I read recently on the Sermon on the Mount called Following the Call: Living the Sermon on the Mount Together, edited by Charles E. Moore. Plough describes it as bringing “together prophetic voices from every era and a range of traditions to consider the repercussions of these essential words.” I read this earlier in the year and it is a stunning collection. It spoke to me so that I suggested it to the congregation I am serving and we now have three small groups working through it and we will start a lengthy sermon series in June using this book as a guide.
In the spirit of the visual edition of the Ragamuffin Gospel, I am going to work on something akin to it but centered on the Sermon on the Mount and inspired by the guiding of this book. Like what I did for Advent and the recent Contemplative Photography Group, this will be for subscribers. It will be sent out twice a week starting in June. At minimum, I encourage you to pick up a copy of the book - it is amazing and powerful. I’d love to have you come along on this visual journey with me as well.
