Streams of Living Water

[Susan Unger]

I was mentioning Streams of Living Water by Richard Foster to a friend today. It got me wondering which stream the different people on Naznet are? The "streams" refer to the different religious traditions from which Christians over the centuries and places have practiced their faith.

What is interesting to me is that I used to be strongly 3 of them but now find myself leaning toward two different ones. The only one I don't and never have connected with is the social justice one.

[Diane Likens]

I find that my contemplation leads me toward compassion.

[Cam Pence]

I marked other as I probably "dabble" in all the streams, however, I would say mainly a merging of streams with contemplative and, more and more in recent years, sacramental.

[Mike Schutz]

I resonate with all of the streams, but perhaps that is because I've lived with this motif for so long and it's basic premise, that we must drink deep from our own stream and then experience the others, that I have spent considerable time reading and walking in each one.

[Susan Unger]

I find that my contemplation leads me toward compassion.

I haven't gotten to that chapter yet in my reading. I am curious how he'll present this subject. I am a very compassionate person yet when I think of Social Justice I know that I will never match up with my "progressive" friend. And I am not sure that I want to/need to. She's into changing government structures, etc. I just don't have that kind of energy.

[Jennifer James]

I would say that I'm a little charismatic and a little compassionate. I need to practice leading a more virtuous life. I think it's healthy to immerse yourself in many of the streams or at the very least, dip your toes into each stream.

[Susan Unger]

I think it's healthy to immerse yourself in many of the streams or at the very least, dip your toes into each stream.

That's my conclusion. I grew up in a church that was heavily in the Evangelical and Holiiness model. I left that church feeling like my spiritual life was unbalanced. I loved and still do visiting my friends' churches which fit the other categories. After I am done visiting their churches I feel a little more complete.

[Shea Zellweger]

I have been doing the Richard Foster thing for a while, so I'm a huge fan of all of them. But Social Justice and Incarnational would be my primaries, and Contemplative and Evangelical would be the secondary.

[Sarah Smith]

I checked evangelical, as that is primary for me. Holiness would be my second check.