Practicing the Presence of People: How We Learn to Love

Practicing the Presence of People: How We Learn to Love This is a wonderful, meditative type of book. There are 2 or 3 pages with each day's thought. Very insightful writer. I'm thoughtfully reading this book for the 2nd time. I go slowly in order to 'chew' on the thoughts & challenges presented. The bottom line: there is nothing more imortant than learning to love people.

This book significantly opened my insight into how to see people and behave knowing people are made in the image of God. The chapters are beautifully short yet and so form well in encouraging growth in faith and connection to people in a day. The chapters are compelling such that I found it difficult to stop with just one. I'm giving it to Christians as a discipleship tool almost as frequently as I give Bibles to non-Christians for conversion.

Besides the bible, no other book has had a more positive impact on my life than Practicing the Presence of People. In first choosing to read this book, I desired to love people better. I was on a mission's trip and wanted to bless those I was serving. This book broadened my vision for reaching others and filled me with more of God's love than I'd ever experienced before. Each chapter drew out different nuances to my understanding of God's will for my life. I began to understand why some of my relationships had gone awry or were stifled. What struck me the most was Mason's claim that God's deepest desire for us is to see God's beauty in others. Not in a moralistic "oh they're perfect" kind of way, but in practical ways that improved the fruit of my relationships as a mentor, friend, disciple, etc. Mason's book is not for Christians who think, "It's simple, the bible is black and white." But if you want to learn more about God's desire for us, Mason illustrates the heart of the bible with craft! For example, the bible is showered with verses of praise describing the glory of God in people (praising God for loving us enough by sending Jesus to die for us and draw out that glory more). Practically, our heart should overflow. But it won't until God saves us personally. We only begin to see the glimmer of God's glory in others when we've dealt with the frustrations of trying to be in good relationship with God, our self, and others.Scripture is clear. In Genesis, we were created in God's image and were in sweet communion with God, and then there was the fall of humanity with Adam and Eve's choices. From there, fortunately for us, God sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit, to continue our story and relationship with him. We walk this journey every day towards or away from a relationship with God, and people. Again, it's solid theology to think that God's glory is waiting to be unlocked in all of us. Furthermore, if you study Jesus' life thoroughly, relationships are critical. Here's a few verses from the bible that Mason draw's out in his book, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind," "Love your neighbor as yourself," and even "Love your enemy's." And finally why? "Because God first loved us." For Christians to actually take the "greatest commandment" (love the lord and your neighbor) seriously would revolutionize how the world actually views Christians. Sure, I completely believe the bible when it brings testimony to Jesus dying for our sins, but the proof is in the pudding. How do you make disciples of all nations? Well we don't need any more Christians hitting people over the head with the bible, that's for sure. What we need is love. Friendship is the vehicle for deeper compassion.Lastly, I find Mason's insight into God's heart for us captivating. I may not know 100% that God actually prays for us, but what's wrong with thinking that he might? What if I phrased it the opposite way by saying God never prays for

Every word in this wonderful book rings true. As the song says, "What the world needs now is love, true love; that's the only thing there's just to little of...". This is a book that puts shoe leather to that pretty saying. Want to really understand people? Want to build stronger relationships? Then this is the book for you. The bonus is that Mike Mason is an accomplished writer who chisels every sentence. I have purchased three copies and given them to each of my college-age children. Now I need to get another for myself!

This book does more than challenge us to love the way God intended us to love; it shows us the way. It's easy to love from a distance, in "Practicing the Presence of People", Mike Mason shows us how to love close up. Maybe I needed that lesson; my copy is worn and tattered. Buy this book...no, buy two and give one to a friend!