Theyare absolutely beautiful and i use them a lot.

This year (2020) brought change to each and every person. The stressors of isolation, quarantine, remote learning, masks, economic struggles and more mean that each and every one of us could benefit from a book like Renewing You: A Priest, a Psychologist, and a Plan. Dr. Roxanne and Father Nicholas have compiled a timely message of hope and resiliency in their offering of both spiritual and psychological truths. Their offering is grounded in a firm foundation of faith and supported throughout the book with Scriptural references, and adds to it a layer of their research into evidence-based methods of support for anyone who is challenged. The result is both thought-provoking and a challenging to do more than just read – they offer every reader an opportunity to grow in both faith and life through their words, prayers, and questions.

There are only eight chapters in this book, but please do not be deceived. Those eight chapters add up to almost 400 Pages. The information, while researched and knowledgeable, comes across as a conversation, not a lecture or textbook. It is easily understood and accessible. There are references to Scripture and church fathers as well as references to other mental health practitioners and forms of therapeutic treatment.

As the book is grounded in spiritual principals, the first chapter addresses the foundation – faith, and the eighth addresses the need to share that faith in many ways. The six chapters in between take a look at principals of changing faulty thinking, gaining victory over our vices, turning “trials into triumphs,” specifically caring for oneself spiritually physically and relationally, as well as chapters on marriage and children.

Chapters on marriage and children could provoke some hard feelings. There are almost 100 pages combined dedicated to two chapters: one on marriage, and one on parenting. Readers who are unmarried and/or childless may view these chapters as irrelevant or worse, as a slap in the face. There are no references to the single person, or to the childless ones, and that oversight may come across as glaring.

If those who may be sensitive to these two chapters are able to read with an open heart, though, and a willingness to validate their feelings while continuing to read, those readers will find a treasure in those pages. Though cloaked in specific marital and parental relationships, the principals of interpersonal effectiveness presented are the same no matter what the relationship. The truths, of honoring differences, praying for the other, generosity, forgiveness, kindness and gratitude, mercy, respect, humility, friendship, time in addition to advice about conflict, discipleship, discipline, mindfulness, self-control, boundaries, etc, are useful not only in marriage and parenting, but in relating to coworkers, friends, family, church family, and strangers.

The Louhs, in their book, teach not only principals but also methods. The highlight of each chapter is the prayer at the end, summarizing the essence of information given and bringing it before the Lord, asking for help. Those prayers can be revisited day after day, even if there is not time to review a whole chapter. The prayers are accessible to Christians of all denominations, not just those who are Orthodox. Their book is one that could be used individually or in small groups –study questions are the final part of each chapter, and they can facilitate self-reflection and/or group discussion.

Renewing You: A Priest, a Psychologist, and a Plan is a book worth reading and talking about; it is also a resource worth having. It provides sound, practicable, applicable advice to anyone with a heart to listen. It would have been useful before 2020 and will continue to be helpful in years to come. I initially received an advanced copy of their book in exchange for a review. It is a book that I will refer to often in my own practice as a therapist and look forward to sharing with my friends and loved ones.

Simply stated, this book is packed with a useful plan to "renew" my psychological and spiritual health. The practical tips presented are reasonable and applicable in all walks of life. Once such tidbit (that has already proven helpful in my household) is to picture guilty (or negative) thoughts as a cloud in the sky -- not to dwell on it, but rather recognize it and then watch it change shape and move away/evaporate.

While full of practical helps, it is also provocative in helping you identify reasons behind your choices, thought patterns, habits and relationships. To further your Spiritual growth, at the end of each chapter is a set of questions to contemplate or discuss with your spouse or friends -- or even spur journal entries. Not just for Orthodox Christians, this book is meant to be kept nearby -- to read and underline frequently -- by anyone who is or wants to pursue purposeful living in Christ.

Renewing You is a book like no other within the realm of writing on Christian spirituality and personal development. In a time when growing numbers of people claim to be “spiritual but not religious,” and reject religious belief in favor of spiritual practices—from yoga to crossfit and others, Renewing You is a potent counterpoint that Eastern Orthodox Christianity is also founded on a basis of daily commitments and practices that can be life-giving and transformative.

Written by an Orthodox priest and his psychologist wife, Renewing You guides the reader through an inventory of these practices—making time for silence, controlling intrusive thoughts, ways to manage times of crisis—dovetailed with exposition on how they can “unlock” spiritual and relational problems. The book shows how the precepts of Orthodox faith—which in other texts can seem impenetrably mystical even while beautiful—are relentlessly practical. They work, and can make your life whole. I’m grateful for Fr. Nick and Dr. Roxanne’s partnership that helped this birth this book into being.

Very good Bible, I am a Protestant but I really appreciate this study Bible because I like to learn about the history of the Christian faith. Thank you.

As someone who is just finding out about and is interested in the Orthodox church, I found this book an extremely helpful guide to the three disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. While it is an easy read, there is a lot of depth packed into each sentence, and I'm picking up more as I am re-reading it. Thank you Father Armatas for this much needed gem! I look forward to your upcoming book talks on your Orthodoxy Live broadcast.

For new Orthodox converts -- an excellent source! :)

Being converts only a few years in this book has been really helpful for both my me and my spouse!

I’ve been wanting this for a while now and I was not at all disappointed. Absolutely fantastic

Very uplifting, simple and to the point.

Beautiful edition, a lifelong addition to my shelf.

Serves as a good catechism as well as prayer book.

Very practical book... giving ideas of things you can actually DO to increase your spiritual life towards living a life pleasing to God. I highly recommend it!

Beautifully done as always.

Father Evan has played a large role in my interest and entry into Orthodoxy, and that role continues in this book. In it, he explains - in his usual nuanced, kind, and thoughtful way - the three key disciplines of the Christian life. He gives us concrete guidance on how to wisely pray, fast, and give - not guided by rules, but guided by grace and love. Thank you, Father Evan!

Enjoyed this, easy to follow, learned a lot even for a cradle orthodox. Felt as if Fr. Evan was talking directly to the reader.

In the introduction to this book, the Louhs write, “Without self-awareness and inward reflection, we often risk reducing our faith to mere statements of belief rather than a path of life we follow. As Christians, our challenge isn’t to simply proclaim that we are followers of Christ, but to live out this reality through the way we think and the way we act in our everyday lives.” In this helpful and comprehensive book, the Louhs address many ways we can take on this challenge.
I like to read inspirational literature. I feel that a key part in changing one’s habits (in order to change one’s mind and heart) is the *inspiration* to get started. But sometimes these books can leave a person without a clear idea of the path forward once he is inspired. I think the Louh’s book is the next step in the process of transformation. Once you see the problem and are inspired to change, in almost any aspect of your life, you can turn to this book for some practical steps to follow.

For example, if you’ve read Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, you might be inspired to change the way you think. Elder Thaddeus’ words give us copious examples of why we should do that, some examples of what we should and should not think, and many illustrative instances of what may happen if we don’t change. When I began to read Chapter 2 in the Louh’s book, titled “Remodel Your Mind,” I saw some very practical advice for doing just that. They also include a very useful section on thinking errors, such as “extreme thinking” or “overgeneralization.”

If you have listened to Fr. Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne Louh’s call-in show Healthy Minds, Healthy Souls, you might already be familiar with their warm, encouraging style of giving advice and answering questions. That stays consistent in this book. What you might not know is that they apply their wisdom to so many topics in just one book. I can see this being a very useful tool for priests or ministers who might be counselling a parishioner and just ask them to read a certain section.

Within the first few pages, it becomes clear that the Louh’s know their subject well. Weaving together the ancient wisdom of the Church, modern insights into psychology, scripture, and prayers, the Louhs bring their considerable experience to bear on a variety of topics, such as changing habits, overcoming trials, self-care, forgiveness, marriage, and child-rearing. My personal favorite part was the many examples and engaging vignettes they used to illustrate these points.

Personally, I found that I really wanted to take this book slowly and mull over the ideas that were presented. Reading over the various sections, I found that it uncovered blind spots in my own self-knowledge that I needed to process and deal with. I am so grateful to have read this book, because, as the Louhs say in the introduction, “The sobering truth is, we can’t bear fruit unless we regularly confront with discernment the areas of our lives where our flesh is winning the battle over our spirit.”

Bought this as a gift for my daughter with my 2 school age children. Excellent reflections to involve whole family on deeper exerience of Lent

Not quite what I expected. I just received my copy and haven't really gotten into it. Appears to be a more academic and scholarly study of the psalms and less on reflections & praying the psalter.

Inspiring stories. Easy read.