This is a sweet, short book that contains many gems about the spiritual life, gleaned from Dr. Rossi’s own experiences and relationships. Its brevity is one of its strengths. For those of us who are interminably too busy with work, school, and child rearing, having an option that is rich in wisdom but not overly long is a gift. Dr. Rossi’s reflections are perfect for those times when you only have a few minutes to focus on spiritual sustenance but want something sustaining nonetheless.

As someone who has worked with the elderly, I deeply appreciate their experience and point of view. Having conversations with our elders is a true gift. This book’s tone reminded me of the gentle souls I’ve known and loved and learned from. Dr. Rossi has a great deal to offer to those of us who will listen. I appreciated his insight into varying personalities and the common problem of loneliness. His ability to drop powerful theological questions and insights into everyday stories is inspiring and helpful.

I know I will be returning to All is Well in the months and years ahead. It is the type of book that can be enjoyed more than once, especially in these crazy times that we live in.

I give five stars for this calendar. I intend to use these icons of the Apostles as part of my icon corner.

I would recommend this book.

it is a beautiful card!

I purchased the book for my husband's brother who has expressed an interest in Orthodoxy, so I have not read it.

“Healing Your Wounded Soul” does a fantastic job connecting insights from counseling psychology with the Christian tradition. Makoul demonstrates how our our emotional wounds keep us from fully loving/trusting God and others. Then he offers a pathway toward growth. This book will be extremely helpful for pastors looking to guide their people. Thankfully the straightforward wording makes the book accessible to anyone looking to know themselves better. The author’s years of experience as a counselor and pastor have provided great insight that he now makes available to others!

I have been listening to Father Evan (on Orthodoxy Live and many retreats / bible studies on the St. Spyridon website) for years now, but it is wonderful to have something tangible to add to the book collection. One challenge with this book must have been creating something that would be useful both for people in the early stages of exploring Christianity, as well as those who have been in the faith for decades. Somehow, it certainly does speak to all of the above.

God has blessed Fr. Evan with the ability to deliver messages directly and elegantly. This "toolkit" explains foundational principles of growing in Christ, but also edifies readers with lessons that are helpful to discover or remember and put into practice at any stage of the spiritual life.

BOOK REVIEW
TOOLKIT FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH: A Practical Guide to Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving
Author: Fr. Evan Armatas
Reviewed by Fr Jim Kordaris

“My hope with this small book is to provide others with the same practical and simple direction I offer in person,
which I pray will assist them also in their pursuit of God.” – Fr Evan

Tuning in to Fr. Evan Armatas’s weekly call-in show, one is immediately struck by its pace and relaxed, conversational tone. We are conditioned by our short attention span to expect quick and easy answers to difficult questions. Fr. Evan’s talent is to take each question or comment, thoughtfully and pastorally transforming it into a teaching opportunity applicable to the lives of most listeners.

In the same manner, Toolkit for Spiritual Growth offers specific details on basic steps to growth in faith through Jesus Christ’s teachings on Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. These three components are described by Fr. Evan as “the basis for our spiritual life as Christians.” This straightforward volume puts into print Fr. Evan’s natural ability to present the Orthodox Christian Faith in simple, understandable terms. For those born into the faith, those that have chosen to be Orthodox and those that are considering becoming Orthodox, this excellent book provides readers with practical guidance on their spiritual journey.

So often, we make issues of faith overly complicated. In the abundance of excellent writing on the Orthodox Christian faith, we can become like the centipede unable to take the first step because it can’t decide which leg goes first. This book provides the essentials for growth in the faith. There is always more to learn on any subject concerning the faith, and Fr. Evan references many other resources available to go as deep as the reader may wish.

In a foreword written nearly forty years ago, Fr. Stanley Harakas wrote of a book by his friend, Fr. Anthony Coniaris, “…the reader will find this volume refreshing, interesting, authentic, contemporary, down to earth and practical….” With Toolkit for Spiritual Growth, Fr. Armatas builds on the work of Fathers Harakas and Coniaris with a focus on three critical components of the faith: prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

On the subject of prayer, Fr. Evan explains the why, what and how of personal prayer. He stresses the importance of prescribed or liturgical prayers and the need for a designated place of prayer in our home, and that private prayer is part of the “larger rhythm of going to church.”

Regarding almsgiving, we read in the Toolkit for Spiritual Growth that righteousness and mercy require heartfelt concern for others. In this context, almsgiving and charity are acts of love that are shared and lead to healing. Fr. Evan examines the word in scripture, splachnizomai, that is often translated as “compassion.” He explains that this translation omits the physical implication of the Greek, which is best translated “to feel in one’s guts.” This is the feeling that leads us to true acts of charity and almsgiving.

The spiritual discipline of fasting is presented as a training tool to more fully comprehend the “connection between our physical and spiritual selves.” To overcome certain sinful desires it is often helpful to practice fasting, realizing that “fasting and our struggle with sin are intimately connected.”

Fr. Evan’s Toolkit for Spiritual Growth is a book suitable for individual study, catechism for adults and prospective new members, adult book study groups, teen Sunday school classes, camp discussions and more. The pastoral tone and practical manner with which these essential concepts are presented makes for an engaging read.

With his Toolkit for Spiritual Growth, Father Evan Armatas succeeds in providing a guide that will assist others in their pursuit of God.


Fr Jim Kordaris serves the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese as Director of Stewardship, Outreach & Evangelism and leads the parish of Saint George in Kingston, NY.

❤️

I just read an extraordinarily timely book entitled, Gratitude In Life’s Trenches. This new book by Robin Phillips is on a subject near and dear to my life-gratitude. The book thankfully is not about the ubiquitous, self-help propagated, “Be thankful for all the things that make you happy” nonsense that abounds in books and blogs today. This book is about real, solid sustenance that can bring a person through the storms without drowning. This book is about gratitude as a Christian practice and recognizes the hard work that builds the spiritual muscle to endure when life shipwrecks your plans and “happiness”. In a world where countless lives have been disrupted and most of us need strength to cope with lives that are less than perfect this book provides solid, though-provoking yet eminently accessible ideas for how to live a full life even when that life is stunted, stymied and shut-down.

Gratitude In Life’s Trenches appears a time when we are becoming more aware that the stress which bows us beneath its weight does not come entirely from our outer circumstances. Robin Phillips begins with the recognitions that the meaning of our life does not consist in outward accomplishments, but in our self-awareness and attitude. By considering our “valuation” we can recognize the crucial difference between appraising our value as children of God as opposed to contemporary fallacies of “self-esteem” which can easily cause us to lose our sense of value when our circumstances limit us. This is a common cause of our poor opinion of other people. In an era when polarization is destroying our ability to converse rationally with people with whom we disagree.We must recognize the value of every human being. Respect for others does not depend upon our agreement with them, but it is impossible if our sense of self-worth is dependant on our accomplishment. Self-loathing and pride are opposite ends of the same fallacy. We do not find value in our performance or persona. Our “likes” do not make us worthy of respect but that does not mean that truth is relative.

The range of source material that went into Gratitude In Life’s Trenches has greatly added to its appeal to me. Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives is combined with the latest research on neuroplasticity in a cogent appraisal of contemplative exercises and CBT. Robin Phillips uses resources diverse as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Victor Frankl, and St. Theophan the Recluse, St. John Chrysostom. By using a broad and careful application of such comprehensive source material he has created a book that is infinitely worth the time to read and apply. Each chapter includes not only detailed notes, and bibliography but also thought provoking questions. This would make an excellent study book for groups and fruitful starting point for individual journalling and reflection.

By combining his own personal story and struggles Robin Phillips leads the reader to recognize that gratitude and attitude are not sterile scientific or salvific attributes that we can merely memorize. Rather it is in the messy application of the principals that we receive the results all humans crave. Practice is a crucial component in any life-skill. Gratitude In Life’s Trenches honesty is as the sub-title promises, How to Experience the Good Life Even When Everything is Going Wrong. I hoped to grab a picture of this new book before I had flagged it, but it was so easy to read that once I began to peruse it I couldn’t resist noting details I will go back to and practice again and again.

I am delighted to tell you that this book is now available for purchase and I would have bought it immediately if I had not received a review copy. I will be re-reading and practicing the life-skills Robin Phillips discusses many times over.


Another great story about Sam & Saucer. I love these books. I really enjoyed getting to know Macrina better this time. My only complaint is it didn't last long enough! I'm ready for the next :)

This is a very scholarly book and may take a little time to get into but, overall, it's an extremely interesting and informative. Well done Father!

The debate as to whether psychology fits into the beliefs and practices of the Orthodox Church has been going on for quite some time. Some have felt they are complimentary while others felt that they were mutually exclusive. Fr. Joshua has done a great job in showing us that psychology and Orthodoxy can work well together. He explains technical terms used in counseling an easily understood manner while providing concrete real life examples of everything that he is saying. I could relate very well to what he was saying through my own personal experience as well as in the lives of my parishioners. In the last two chapters he does an excellent job relating all that he had written about counseling and healing with its practical application in our spiritual life in the Church, especially in regards to the Sacrament of Confession.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is suffering from past hurts that have not been healed and are affecting their present life. I would also recommend this book to those who have questioned whether psychology and Orthodoxy are compatible. This book is easy to read, understand and apply to our life in this world, and I thank Fr. Joshua for his insight.

I have been praying this Akathist for my children for many years - even tho they are adults now, I continue to do so! I pray one Ode per day, and when there is special need, the entire Akathist. I give this booklet to my friends with children, and the newly baptized children and encourage them to use it in the same way. It will fill your heart with joy, compassion and hope. I highly recommend it!
Rhonda Webb
Bloomington, Indiana

Could there be a more fitting book, on a more fitting topic, for 2020 than this? Who among us has not thought at least once “everything is going wrong” this year? Robin Phillips’ work will provide some much needed balm and support for the soul of everyone who reads this.

His style of writing will appeal to the broad spectrum of readers, whether you prefer stories and anecdotes, hard medical science, or religious and philosophical insight. Woven through with Scripture and theological discourse as well as secular research on neurology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Emotional Intelligence; Phillips takes a truly holistic look at suffering and the human being, both in the image of Christ. Insightfully, he begins each chapter with questions for the reader to ponder before beginning and thoughtfully includes “Take-Home Points” and relevant notes at the end so that each chapter can be begun and ended like individual lessons in the whole. In addition, throughout, there are helpful lists and personal challenges to take the reader further.

Many of the people and works he cited intrigued me enough to want to explore further the works of George MacDonald, and John’s Chrysostom’s “Letters to Olympia”, as well as further research on Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Additionally, there were numerous moments I stopped reading to reflect on a new insight I was given. Example: The list of “Ordinary Life Blessings” (clean water, shelter, food) really centered me into how much I take for granted as I often needlessly grumble through my day. Or the radical notion that when you are struggling with something – feeling lonely for example, take the focus off yourself and pray instead for the other lonely people of the world.

This book is an easy read but is meant to be savored and re-read throughout the small and great struggles in our lives. The principles set forth in each chapter will hit certain people differently at different times in their “trenches” but like any skill worth having, learning to practice gratitude frequently will provide the most benefit when it is then needed most.
Without giving too much away, I did want to include this paragraph from the beginning of the book that provides a general overview summary of a good portion of the book’s content:

“I came to see that the good life is about finding a type of joy that comes only when we give up the pursuit of happiness and pursue meaning instead (chapter 1). The good life is about learning to be grateful in the midst of life’s problems (chapters 1, 3, and 7), but it is also about learning to be present with God when we are too distressed to see past those problems (chapters 8 and 9). The good life is about improving our lives though baby steps and good habits-including making incremental strides to increase attentiveness (chapter 4) and right thinking patterns (chapters 6 and 7) – but it is also about learning to simply accept ourselves for who we are right now (chapter 2).”

I listened to the audiobook version of this book during my pregnancy. As a mom to a toddler, I don't have a lot of time to read, so I would listen as I did household chores or ran to appointments. This is a wonderful book to listen to (or read) if you're looking to delve deep into the experience of pregnancy and learn from its joys and trials. The author is an Orthodox Christian, but you don't need to share the same faith to absorb the wisdom of this book. I listened to the entire audiobook before giving birth to my second, as I imagine most people will do. I'm grateful for the space this book gave me to be present to the changes in my body and to contemplate the spiritual significance of bringing a new life into the world. If this is what you're looking to do, then pick up this book. I would recommend it to first or second or third time mothers--busy moms or moms with time. Pregnancy is short in the context of a life, and yet, as the title of the book suggests, we are truly on fertile ground as we pass through this state.

A good guide with practical advice. Gets to the point with very little fluff. Would recommend this to any person who wants a richer life with Christ.

It's well made and looks great!

Must be good because my daughter had me order more for her younger children as she had me do for her older ones a few years ago.

A must! My son is 8 and it is such a well written beautiful story. There is a lack of chapter books for this age range with this kind of content. I truly wish the author had more books like this written. It would be a nice collection, featuring different saints. Very enjoyable for Adults as well with a strong message that everyone can gain from it.