Good photography and quality paper. All are impressed by these cards.

Parishioners love them to go traveling or carrying them in their briefcases or purses on a daily basis.

This book gives more than just practical tools for spiritual growth. Being relatively new to the Orthodox faith, I am grateful that this series exists to help me (and others like me) orient more intentionally to the faith, while also helping me gain a language to better communicate aspects of the faith to my community.

The first book was released around the time when I was entering the Church and it was extremely helpful to further understand some of the sacraments of the Church and the ways in which I could participate in them intentionally and rightfully. This second book comes out at a time where I am further along in my faith journey and am very much in need of a reminder of the depth of what spiritual practice looks and feels like. I am moved by this book, emotionally and spiritually, and I see this series as something you pick up and read not only once in your spiritual journey, but frequently as it serves as a reminder of the purpose of the sacraments and ways to orient to the faith. I appreciate how Fr. Evan writes in a way that is really understandable, relatable, and professional, while also being very personal. I find myself in his stories and am humbled by the ways that he expresses his personal experiences of challenge. This book serves as a tangible reminder that we are all on our own spiritual journeys and every time we read through this series, we can find a new way to grow.

Thank you, Fr. Evan, for your words, your humility, your courage, and sharing your experiences with many readers whose lives you will be impacting.

Toolkit for Spiritual Growth Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 are must reads for all Christians. These books will benefit your spiritual growth no matter where you are in your spiritual journey. I am sure most people will find something in these books that will speak to them. This review is for Vol. 2.
Reading Father Evan's book is like sitting down next to your friend as he explains about living the Scriptures, confession and living in the present to save your soul. He uses Scripture and personal experiences to help you understand. This book is interesting, and an easy, necessary, and powerful read.
Father Evan gives suggested approaches to learning the Bible, and answers every question you can have regarding confession. A daily prayer for forgiveness before sleep and a preparation for confession by St. John Kronstadt is included in this book. These books have opened my eyes more than once. Thank you Father Evan for writing these books.

I am newly baptized, and while I learned a lot of theology and doctrines as a catechumen, figuring out how to actually live the faith has been a struggle. This book has really helped me. I will be recommending it to all the other newly converted and catechumens in our parish and also will be looking to buy the first volume soon.

Father Evan combines theology with lots of examples and illustrations and practical advice. His decades of pastoral experience and work with new converts really shine through. Reading this book helped me more than I can express. It helped me to identify more than one root problem hindering spiritual progress, has equipped me with the right language to talk to my priest about it, and has empowered me with a plethora of practical steps forward.

I did wish the first section on Scripture has been fleshed out as much as the other two. It is the shortest section by far. But the other two sections were life-changing. They are at the same time accessible and thorough. This isn’t a book to just read once. This is a handbook to be read several times and consulted as needed. I will definitely be coming back to it again and again.

Thank you, Father Evan!

Once again Fr. Evan has written a book that is clear, concise and informative. It serves as an excellent tool for both inquirers and cradle orthodox in understanding the why and the how to the Scriptures, Confession, and surprising Time. I initially questioned the need and purpose on the Chapter of Time but it proved to be very meaningful. I read the chapter twice and felt it was written specifically for me. This book, along with Volume I, should be in everyone's arsenal to help them draw closer to Christ.

I manage my parish bookstore and when visitors and catechumins come in looking for a good starting book, this is one of the titles I always recommend. Honestly, I think this is an excellent read even for longtime Christians- Orthodox or not. Get one for yourself and a few extra to give away!

This book has been a blessing in my prayer life.

Fr. Evan Armatas’ new book is worth reading and re-reading. It is like sitting down with an old friend for a conversation … you talk, you listen, you ponder what you’ve heard, and then you restart at a higher or deeper level than before. In the sections on Scripture reading and Confession, Fr. Evan shares insights about challenges in his own life. He then gives advice/tools on how to restart regular Scripture reading and Confession and how to make these practices more meaningful in our lives. He reminds us, gently but firmly, why we should not defer (re)engaging with the traditions and disciplines of faith. The section on Time is particularly fascinating. It opened my eyes to a new way of thinking about the reality of the present moment versus the fantasy and unreality of dwelling in the past or over-focusing on the future. One of his most intriguing suggestions to learn to stay in the present moment is to just “sit with an Icon” for five or ten minutes and gaze at it.

I've been listening to Fr. Evan for over five years, since our family began our journey into Orthodoxy, and I've loved his weekly live podcast. He has helped our family so much through the years with his live question show, and I'm so grateful for his work.

When I got the chance to read this book, the second installment of the Toolkit for Spiritual Growth series, I knew I just had to. It was just as helpful to me, if not more, than his wonderful podcast. The way Fr. Evan has with words is so comforting. He has a way of explaining things in the church that makes them easy to understand, even for converts like myself who still have so much to learn.

As I was reading all three sections on the importance of reading the scriptures, confessions, and Theology of Time, I felt as though he and I were having a conversation. It was nice. He offered up wisdom from scriptures, church history, and personal experiences that helped me to see the topic at hand from a new perspective. Again, it just makes this book of wisdom so personal and easy to relate to.

As a former Protestant, converting to Orthodoxy meant I was totally new to confession, and even though I've been doing it for a few years now, I still wonder if I'm doing it correctly. If I'm being honest, sometimes I was a little confused about the necessity, since God forgives us, not men (as the church itself teaches us). But with Fr. Evan's book, he breaks it down practically and explains why the church teaches us to do this and how it is a form of healing for us. Not only did he help me understand, but he also gave some wonderful and very practical ways to approach our confessions, such as how we can prepare, what to expect during, and even some good advice on what not to do. I love that he even shared some of his own confession stories and ways he prepares himself. I'm so grateful he chose to share his personal experience to help us.

I wasn't sure what the chapter on time was going to be about, but I'm a little shook to my core. He begins by teaching us about two different types of time, and that was so interesting and enlightening, but as I read more into the chapter about all the distractions we choose, yes choose, to let derail us and steal our time, I wept. I'm not even kidding. The words he was saying weren't rocket science, and I had thought about some of them before, but the way Fr. Evan explained all these distractions that keep us from living in the present with God, it just hit me like a ton of bricks. I do that, sadly, I do choose distractions like social media, to avoid the hard things, and I let them steal my precious time away from my more often than I care to admit. Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner! Like Fr. Evan says in his book, these distractions we let steal from us eventually become a habit that is hard to break, but I know with praying, fasting, and the help of Christ, I can overcome the distractions I've been choosing. I want my time in the present back!

If you are new to Orthodoxy, this book, as well as the first in this series, is a wonderful place to find easy-to-understand and relatable teachings that are full of wisdom. Even if you are cradle Orthodox, please read these books; it will, if nothing else, be a great refresher for you on all these great tools for our spiritual growth.

I read the first of Fr. Evan's 'Toolkit' books on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving and loved how simple and grounded his writing and approach to explanation were. That he's a parish priest 'on the ground' with the struggling faithful and is open about his own faults only makes the work more credible and worth engaging.

I have to admit I'm a Roman Catholic, and so will never understand the practice of the Faith as my Orthodox brethren do. I tend to read mostly from the Orthodox/Greek church, which leads to interior frustration at times given how well the Church expresses itself and how poorly tied into a community and spiritual guidance I am myself. While there is NO SUBSTITUTE for relationship with a spiritual father/confessor, Fr. Evan's Toolkit 'Part II' is a straightforward means to better understand the Church's approach to, and practice of, reading Holy Scripture, the Mystery of Confession, and our experience with Time. It's easy to recommend this book to a member of the Orthodox faithful but I honestly think ANY CHRISTIAN would benefit; the anecdotes are relatable and the text is rich with Scriptural excerpts that connect directly to what Fr. Evan's teaching.

P.S. As the photos I shared demonstrate, didn't take me long to start highlighting and responding in the margins. One of those books I'll have to read repeatedly over time.

I was excited to find this book, however, after reading much of it and receiving very negative feedback from other Orthodox women, I fear the gaps in it make it a need for a re-do. Did the Lord submit to His mother at the wedding in Cana? Really?

Having been born and raised Orthodox in an Orthodox country, with both of my parents having a master's degree in theology, life allowed me to take for granted all the teachings of the Church. Only after I moved abroad and got married did I realize how oblivious I had been faith-wise: my husband and friends of his were curious about my faith, and I could not quench their curiosity with my feeble answers. This book was eye-opening both for me and my loved ones. For example, the meaning of Koliva and the Holy Eucharist (both with deep roots in the Bible); being confronted with the ongoing question about Confession, these finely crafted explanations by Fr. Evan alongside the most common inquiries from non-Orthodox people, made me see how blind I have been all this time, but also renewed hope in me that books like this can open the door to the Life. Struggling with time and being present and thankful is another hindrance in living our lives fully. Fr. Evan touches so many aspects of time that you feel like his writing is a guide that helps you ascend into the Divine.
Having read only the second part of Fr. Evan's Toolkit, I cannot wait to purchase the first book. These two volumes would make a perfect companion to Orthodoxy for those who are novices to Orthodoxy as well as those who, even if they were born in Orthodoxy, are lukewarm like me but want to grow spiritually and don’t know where to start.

Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect, as I wasn’t familiar with the author and I’m a newly baptized catechumen. I’ve tried reading many Orthodox books, but they’re often too “heavy” for me, and I struggle to fully grasp the content. What I appreciate about Fr. Evan’s writing style is how he blends scripture with his own experiences and the stories of faithful people he’s encountered in his parish. The footnotes help guide the reader through the scripture and narratives, while the testimonies make the book feel more personal and relatable.

I would say this book can definitely be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the first book yet, and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. That said, I believe both books are incredibly valuable for gaining a deeper understanding of our Faith, and they offer helpful guidance for learning more about the traditions and elements we encounter in the liturgy. Of course, catechism is essential, but I feel this book can serve as a gentle and insightful companion for new members of the Orthodox Church, as well as for more experienced readers seeking a fresh perspective.

The book is also very inviting. Even after a long day at work, I found myself wanting to pick it up and continue reading. Although I’m not a native English speaker, I enjoyed the language used throughout and rarely had to look up words except for a few specific church-related terms.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy in return for a review, but all opinions are entirely my own.

I manage the bookstore for our church, and I cannot keep enough of these in stock! Thank you for adding these to your offerings.

I loved it was beautiful quality and came fast

We purchased for a young woman whom we sponsored in baptism. Our Priest gave her the name St Olga. We did not know that prior to her baptism. It was perfect for the day.

I can not recommend this book enough. A must-read for all orthodox persons.

Excellent resource for inquirers!

Toolkit for Spiritual Growth II is a wonderful catechetical resource for anyone interested in deepening the activities of their faith. In this second installment of the Toolkit, Father Evan Armatas discusses the three tools of Scripture, Confession, and Time. After a brief introduction, each of the three tools is discussed within its own fairly substantial, but accessible, chapter. Fr. Evan’s pastoral concern, so evident in his radio show, comes out in the book as well. Anecdotes as well as theology are his tools to educate his readers about each of the topics at hand.
Father Evan began his book by developing his belief that Scripture has utmost importance in the life of the church and the life of the Orthodox Christian. He emphasized the importance of the Scriptures being lived out in community and that the witness of the Orthodox Church should be in continuity with the Scriptures. He discussed the importance of Scripture as part of the tradition of the church, to include its use in divine services and the daily office and the interpretation of Scripture through the services and the lives of the saints. When it turned time for the how-to, his approach to Scripture was essentially to use a plan and read. If you’ve never started, start slow and when you get to the end, go back and read it over and over again. Particularly, he emphasized the importance of the gospels as the primary reading material for the Christian because it is where we encounter the life, message, and ministry of Christ. All solid advice. Personally, I was hoping for more depth within the how-to, like a description of Lectio Divina, or other meditative ways of reading Scriptures. However, I understand that if one comes to the Church without any previous Bible experience, his instructions would have been more than sufficient to get someone started.
When it came to the chapter on Confession, I remarked to my wife, “this chapter is worth the price of admission for this book.” Father Evan was able to talk about the mechanics of confession and provide some tools for it, but it seemed his primary goal was to distinguish the mystery of confession from the popular understanding of Roman Catholic confession. He painted a beautiful picture of the medicinal and healing benefits of the practice of confession, and drew me into a renewed zeal for confession. Confession, as Fr. Evan describes, is less about listing your sins and more about recognizing the illness within so that you may receive medicine to lead toward healing. This chapter provided a hopeful outlook on how confession can and should be experienced within the church.
The last chapter dealt with time. To some, time might feel like a strange topic for a toolkit, but Fr. Evan described a well-developed theology of time that distinguished chronos and kairos time and put our lives into perspective with those two concepts. It comes down to being in the present with God, or not. When we are not in the present with God, we are headed toward sin either because we’re in the fantasy of the past or the future. He made sure to draw the distinction between proper planning and fantasy of the future, because diligence to prepare for the future is part of living in the world. So he went on to describe a couple handfuls of ways to make better use of time so that we stay in the present. One of the most important tools in this section for me to read about was avoiding distraction (i.e. my phone), because it takes us away from the present and instead numbs us to what is happening right now (emotions, frustrations, celebrations, etc).
Overall, Fr. Evan’s book was an easy read with some really important information that will help people grow in their daily walk with Christ. I highly recommend it, especially for people new to (or returning to) the faith who hope to put some action to their beliefs. I hope Fr. Evan continues the series and gives us more tools for the Toolkit!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review of the book.