John Selby is a therapist, spiritual counselor, meditation teacher, and former Presbyterian minister. He has written this paperback for seekers who have left behind Christian dogmatism but are still interested in a continuing relationship with Jesus that is experiential.
The man from Nazareth gave two negative orders in his Gospels: "Fear not and judge not." These injunctions are well worth heeding in our contentious times when the propensity to be fearful and to judge others manifests in both individuals and the culture at large. Selby sees Jesus as "a fully realized spiritual human being, a man who somehow discovered and fully entered into his true spiritual nature and oneness with God, and then encouraged his followers to do the same by following his path of heart." The presence of Jesus comes into our lives today via the Spirit, which is not an idea or a theological concept but divine wisdom and a guiding, sustaining force.
Selby is convinced that Jesus taught and lived a path of heart where love was what mattered most. He identifies a shift from belief to experience: "In traditional Christian worship, we think about and imagine and talk about God. In post-Christian practice, the emphasis is on quieting the mind entirely and listening to God."
Selby looks around and marvels at those who have an inner quality of confidence, wisdom, and right action. What is their secret? They have modeled their path after Jesus who surrendered to God's will: "Not my will, but thine, O Lord." Selby concludes this inspirational work with seven meditations designed to nurture the presence of Jesus in our hearts.
