Everyday Sabbath - by Paul D Patton & Robert H Woods (Paperback)

About the Book

The authors, writing as scholars of communication and media, demonstrate how God's great gifts of media and technology can rob us of everyday Sabbath and impede spiritual growth if not faithfully stewarded through a process described as mindful media attachment. Mindful media attachment helps to promote the "holy habits" of sacred intentionality, sacred interiority, and sacred identity. These "three sacreds," which arise from a proper understanding of the "grammar and language" of media and technology, ultimately allow us to avoid treating media and technology as ends in and of themselves and to avoid divided affections that drain energy, purpose, and kingdom service. -- Back cover.

Book Synopsis

The authors, writing as scholars of communication and media, demonstrate how God's great gifts of media and technology can rob us of everyday Sabbath and impede spiritual growth if not faithfully stewarded through a process described as mindful media attachment. Mindful media attachment helps to promote the "holy habits" of sacred intentionality, sacred interiority, and sacred identity. These "three sacreds," which arise from a proper understanding of the "grammar and language" of media and technology, ultimately allow us to avoid treating media and technology as ends in and of themselves and to avoid divided affections that drain energy, purpose, and kingdom service.

Review Quotes

"How do I order my life well in a hyper-mediated digital world? Decades ago, Neil Postman proposed the role of 'loving-resistance fighter.' Today, Patton and Woods invite us into the 'how' of loving resistance-in-practice through an ancient and now-alien principle--Sabbath--that provides a restful, working path of life that's in the digital world but not of it."

--Calvin L. Troup, President, Geneva College



"A brilliant and thoroughly delightful work--engaging, yet not frothy. The fruit of years interacting with college and university students, this book nicely bridges current chasms between academia, technology, and smartphone-driven pop culture, providing a prophetic critique of today's techno-digital culture from the biblical perspective of Sabbath. The authors teach Sabbath through tracing paths of sacred intentionality, interiority, and identity. Most of us affirm Sabbath once a week; here is sound guidance for everyday Sabbath, twenty-four seven."

--Howard A. Snyder, Professor of the History and Theology of Mission, Asbury Theological Seminary (retired), International Representative, Manchester Wesley Research Centre, and author, The Problem of Wineskins and Salvation Means Creation Healed



"As a pandemic rages we have all been forced to communicate and relate through social media. 'You're muted' is a common refrain that is both commercial and wearisome. How do we balance the good and bad of our increasingly socially mediated days? Certainly, it's a delicate dance that needs insight, caution, and encouragement. I can't think of two better guides than Paul Patton and Robert Woods or a more timely book."

--Tim Muehlhoff, Professor of Communication, Biola University, and codirector of the Winsome Conviction Project



"Everyday Sabbath is a much-needed and a most relevant digital media literacy resource for spiritual formation. An invaluable tool, it affirms the gift of media and technology while directing us to pathways of spirituality of resistance to passive consumption of digital media. Complete with how-to techniques for cultivating everyday spirituality in incremental moments, the book is a timely wake-up call to live into one's timeless vocation: love of God and care for the neighbor."

--Glory E. Dharmaraj, President, World Association for Christian Communication-North America



"As a former president of the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), I know it's hard to learn to slurp a discerning sip from the firehose of social media. Love it or hate it, pop culture is where our world creates meaning in common. Patton and Woods propose a mindful dance with media and technology, offering a practical roadmap to help your group navigate these fecund but sometimes murky waters."

--Dennis A. Smith, Presbyterian Church (USA), Regional Liaison, South America (retired)



"I am profoundly thankful for Everyday Sabbath. With a deep sense of love and concern for their readers, Patton and Woods offer wise and practical advice on how to engage with media, technology, and culture in ways that are pleasing to God. Let us reclaim the three sacreds--intentionality, interiority, and identity--and put our digital world in its proper place."

--Diane M. Badzinski, Chair and Professor of Communication, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Undergraduate Studies, Colorado Christian University



"Patton and Woods uncover fresh spiritual disciplines focused on intentionality, interiority, and identity and use them to counter today's cultural anxieties--anxieties exacerbated by our media use. Shaped by Scripture, their cultural dance metaphor leaps with energy and lands solidly on the ground with practical applications in every chapter."

--Annalee Ward, Director, Wendt Character Initiative, University of Dubuque



"When it comes to the media, should we be telling people to get out of a burning building or to get onto the dance floor so we can teach them how to dance? Clearly, Patton and Woods have chosen the route of dance instructors--and they are skillful in their task. Thoughtfully and practically, they lead readers toward a more sacred curiosity, and a more Sabbath-based involvement with the media. I was inspired!"

--Gregory Spencer, Professor of Communication Studies, Westmont College, and author of Awakening the Quieter Virtues and Reframing the Soul



"Recognizing technology and popular culture as value-laden for both good and bad, Everyday Sabbath provides readers with a well-grounded faith-based guide to spiritual and practical responses to digital popular culture, leading from sacred intentionality, to sacred interiority, and sacred identity."

--Paul A. Soukup, SJ, Professor, Communication Department, Santa Clara University



"In encouraging the faithful to reimagine the practice of Sabbath, this book--wisely--doesn't ignore popular culture or pretend that Christians are immune to the influences of a larger society. Instead, Patton and Woods provide a path for Christians to live with intentionality in their relationship to both media and culture, becoming careful consumers of messaging while also developing spiritual practices that help mindful readers deepen their communion with God."

--Jonathan M. Bowman, Professor of Communication Studies, University of San Diego



"In an age of distraction and disorientation, Patton and Woods offer timely guidance on how to resume the dance. Anyone wanting to reclaim healthy, holy habits from the domineering influences of media will appreciate this book."

--Dennis Cali, Distinguished Professor of Arts and Sciences, University of Texas at Tyler



"While this book will equip you to dance in the light and avoid mindless dancing in the dark with pop culture, the benefits move far beyond those. Patton and Woods give you a plan to imitate the mind of Christ so you can experience everyday Sabbath--a life energized with renewed purpose--seeing every moment as an opportunity for serious and joy-filled play and Sabbath rest. There are only a few books I read every year, this is now one of them. I am confident you will do the same."

--Clint Rothell, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Northeastern Junior College, and Statewide Discipline Chair of Philosophy, Colorado Community College System



"Everyday Sabbath provides a clear, accessible, and memorable look at how we can live as Christians in a media world. This book is an insightful, eye-opening, and much-needed study on what it means to be authentically and biblically literate in a technological society. If you follow the journey with these authors, your life will be transformed, and you will grow closer to the One who created you."

--Geri E. Forsberg, Western Washington University, and author of Critical Thinking in an Image World, and Faculty Fellow with Faculty Commons



"Everyday Sabbath claims to be about the impact of media on our lives and how we can push back against its unhealthy impacts. But the book is about much more. Through insightful, biblically based teaching, personal reflection questions, and group discussion exercises, readers gain an extensive toolbox for spiritual growth. Everyday Sabbath emphasizes living like Christ, not according to the whims of those who post emotionally destructive missives. By entering the dance with Jesus, rather than harmful social media and technology, readers will be equipped to transform their personal lives and ensure the future of a stronger Christian witness. I highly recommend you dance along with Patton and Woods."

--Ken Waters, Professor of Journalism, Pepperdine University



"Patton and Woods offer a series of reflective and practical comebacks to a culture obsessed with lethal efficiency and infinite entertainment. Reflective and pragmatic, the authors stretch the imagination and teach the soul to sidestep the shallow culture of entertainment and efficiency and launch out into deeper waters. Patton and Woods give us a directed meditation on the poisons of efficiency and distraction that have become the definition of our culture, and they offer a grounded response to those toxins."

--Mark Williams, Professor of Rhetoric, California State University, Sacramento



"This is a must-read if you are seeking to mindfully use technology. As an interpersonal communication scholar, people tell me that technology is getting in the way of relationships. This book provides scriptural and spiritual rationale for taking control of your media use to have more time each day for relationships, spiritual growth, and personal discernment. This book aims to help you develop Christlike habits with technology, and with its scriptural references, personal reflection questions, and practical tips, it delivers!"

--Renee Bourdeaux, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, Northwest University, and author of Communicating Love in Relationships



"If you are searching for an effective resource that can help you develop a deeper love and knowledge of God and fits perfectly in any small group whether in a church, a youth group, dorm-floor discussion group, or just a sacred conversation among friends, you have found it in this book. It is a resource that is easy to access and filled with ready-made questions that will help foster transformative discussions in person or by distance, as we seek to draw closer to God, so that we may become better reflections of his love to a hurting world."

--Tom Carmody, Professor of Communication Studies, Vanguard University



"Just the book we need right now. Everyday Sabbath provides the thinking Christian with practical tools to navigate the vast ocean of technology and media in which we are immersed. In addition to offering creative exercises to help readers reflect on their media use, Patton and Woods provoke contemplation of existential questions beginning with a rich discussion of one's ultimate calling. Readers are carefully steered into habits that contribute to mindful monitoring of their media use as they are urged to move deeper into sacred practices that lead to daily periods of Sabbath. The authors advocate stewarding the stirrings of the soul, a refreshing reminder of becoming more sensitive to life's inspirational encounters, even--and especially--on social media. A bonus is the authors' offering of a Pop Culture Shema to inspire and haunt us in discerning what is at stake in our mass-mediated choices."

--Terri Lynn Cornwell, Commissioned Pastor, Presbyterian Church (USA)



"This is a book that is desperately needed for these times. In a very real way, social media, technology, and streaming content threaten to enslave us and rob us of the joy of daily living. Far from advocating mere abstinence, Everyday Sabbath offers enormously practical and insightful guidance on how to navigate and make better (and wiser) our pop culture habits."

--Paul A. Creasman, Chair and Professor, Department of Communication, Arizona Christian University



"Patton and Woods tap into ancient wisdom and the eternal relevance of Scripture to brilliantly light a path forward through this contemporary conundrum. Spiritual shepherds and those desiring a deeper spirituality will find a humble and helpful guide in the pages of this book. So, step away from technology, take a Sabbath rest with this book, and then step right back into our digital culture to see God at work. Better yet, why not do that with others in a small group from your church? The authors have provided questions at the end of each chapter for a group of people to wrestle with together."

--Dave Dawson, Campus and Leadership Development Director, Bethel Church, Richland, Washington



"Patton and Woods have built careers as experts examining the intersection of modern media and popular culture. Everyday Sabbath is a keystone of that life's work at a time when the need for mindful and sacred interaction with media and technology (rather than being manipulated by them) is greater than ever before. Their notions of sacred intentionality, sacred interiority, and sacred identity provide a space for readers of faith to mindfully understand and use pop culture and modern communications technology to flourish and fulfill the purpose for which they were created. With their cultivation, Patton and Woods offer a pathway for faithfully entering rest in God's presence and becoming people involved in the work of redemption every day."

--Denise Edwards-Neff, Interim Dean and Professor of Communication, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Azusa Pacific University



"Drs. Patton and Woods provide timely counsel and advice for their readers in calling for the practice of Christian Shema: the act of intentionally listening for and therefore hearing truth from God, considering its claims and requirements, then making personal application to live within God's will and influence. This discipline stands in stark contrast to the lack of intentional hearing and living practiced, unintentionally, by the majority of twenty-first-century peoples. Everyday Sabbath calls Christians to take ownership of their own lives, influences, and choices, rather than allowing pop culture to influence and shape their thinking and actions."

--Brent Ellis, President, Spring Arbor University



"This is the book we've been waiting for! I've read numerous thoughtful works on media literacy from various perspectives--including Christian--and each one had something important to contribute to the conversation. Everyday Sabbath, however, gets to the heart of our interaction with pop culture and media technology. Patton and Woods share their inspired ideas in ways that are both scholarly and practical--deep and accessible. This book takes the reader on a self-reflective journey toward not only a better relationship with pop culture but a deeper relationship with God and our fellow humans. Everyday Sabbath is essential reading for anyone wanting to make the most of their high calling as a Christian in our mediated culture. We need this book, and I'm excited to share it with my colleagues and students."

--Lynelle Ellis, Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Media Ministry, Walla Walla University



"Patton and Woods have produced a thickly reasoned approach to surviving, even growing and prospering, in the swill of social media which, more often than we care to admit, keeps us off the dance floor ponder"

About the Author

Paul D. Patton is Professor Emeritus of Communication and Media at Spring Arbor University in Michigan. He is also an ordained minister and trained counselor. He was on the pastoral staff at Trinity Church in Metro Detroit from 1978-1993, where he founded Trinity House Theater, an experiment in the integration of Christian faith and the theater arts. He is the author of over thirty produced stage plays, radio plays, and performance essays.



Robert H. Woods, Jr. is the Executive Director for the Christianity and Communication Studies Network (www.theccsn.com). He has taught in Christian higher education for more than twenty years. He is the editor or author of over a dozen books. He resides in Washington state with his wife, Rebekah.