Leanne Payne - Heavens Calling: A Memoir of One Souls Steep Ascent

To read this book by Leanne Payne is a privilege. It is, and will surely come to be widely recognized as, a major work in spiritual autobiography. This account of her life has been written and prayed through with great sensitivity and care. It is written in the light of Holy Scripture, and is pervaded with the voices of the great classical Christian tradition. These voices have illuminated the depths and meaning of her life and thereby cast their light on us, the reader. While reading, the reader is led, nay practically compelled, to pause and reflect on his or her own life in the light that comes from God in Christ. We begin to share something of the steep ascent of which Leanne speaks.

This book is a gift that cannot be read quickly; it is far too rich, too penetrating, and too provocative for that. In her preface Leanne expresses the hope that in reflecting upon her story and undertaking the difficult work of writing it down, she will help us, the readers, to discern the calling from God and to God that pervades our story as well. In this she surely succeeds.

By all means buy this book, and take the time to meditate your way through it.

Rt. Rev. John H. Rodgers Jr., dean/president, Trinity Episcopal School for
Ministry, and bishop, Anglican Mission in America, Province of Rwanda

In this book a great soldier for Christ, wearing the armor of the ages, allows us to see Gods faithful dealings with a soul given to Him, and her tender and intelligent responses to heavens call. How it all works out is a thing of beauty and alarm. Youll need to linger over it, and return again and again, for it to grow you in the power of resurrection life for the spiritual battle which is our agethe battle in which, know it or not, you are now submerged. Youll need to know who the players are and what the available resources are, and here you can get a good view.

Dallas Willard, author, The Divine Conspiracy

A provocative and moving spiritual autobiography that vividly portrays the ongoing struggle of a person of faith toward wholeness and healing. It poignantly shows how the author has been mightily used by the spirit of God to spearhead a ministry of renewal and celebration.

Dr. Donald G. Bloesch, author, Essentials of Evangelical Theology

I am delighted to recommend this fascinating account of an unusually interesting life. This is more than an autobiography, however. Indeed, the details of the authors lifetold with great color and convictionserve as the opportunities to insert deeper reflections on the significance of Gods blessing on her life and ministry. I am very glad Leanne Payne did us all the kindness of writing this book. It reveals some otherwise concealed personal dimensions of her other writings. Long associated with the religious movements chronicled in this book, I particularly appreciate Leannes keen, critical discernment concerning their history. The richness and variety of her interests and reading is simply bewildering. For example, how many renewal Christians have studied the works of Josef Pieper? Leanne has!

Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon, editor, Touchstone, and author, Christ in the Psalms

What we have here is the courageous, candid, and intense witness of a woman whose experience of God has asked, quite simply, everything from her. In chapter after chapter, readers will see what wholehearted obedience to God may cost His servant. It is an extraordinary tale.

Thomas Howard, author and retired English professor

Each path to heaven is unique. Leanne Paynes account of her journey to date relates a steep and often lonely path, full of rare terrors and beauties. Reading this rich, eyeopening memoir of pilgrimage, one cannot but be grateful for the bravery and frankness of the walker, not to mention the faithful persistence of her Guide. A story of dead ends, rabbit trails, giddy ridges, and spectacular summits, Heavens Calling quickens and encourages ones own steps along the way.

Michael Ward, author, Planet Narnia, and chaplain, Peterhouse, Cambridge

The light from the many sides of this gem lights up social history, family dynamics, church life, the gospel, contemporary worldviews, discipleship, the stark realities of the human condition, and the riches of a living encounter with God. Yet through it all shines the life of Christ incarnate in the life of one who has found Him to be the Pearl of Great Price.

An amazing story full of great insights, and glorious interplay of theology, philosophy, psychology, pastoral skills, and costly personal journey. Christ-centred, faithinspiring, life-giving, lived truth.

Canon Robert Warren, author, The Practice of Prayer

What joy to once again read a book written by Leanne Payne! As a Christian friend for over thirty years, I never cease to be amazedand awedthat she is such a clear channel for the Lord so that her words, whether written or spoken, drive me deeper into the awareness of Jesus within me, His forgiveness, His love, and His healing power, as well as driving me higher to more clearly envision His purpose in my life and to be a more obedient and faithful servant of His.

Leannes gifts and ministry have brought wholeness to thousands throughout the world, and I pray that through this deeply personal, soul-searching, and soul-healing book, she will touch many new hearts with a love for Jesus and an assurance He is in every breath we draw. I never leave her presence or finish reading one of her books without being deeply touchedand changed. I pray all will share that life-changing experience.

Joan Francis, past and present trustee for Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry,
Episcopal Renewal Ministries, and the American Anglican Council

HEAVENS
CALLI NG

A Memoir of One Souls Steep Ascent

Leanne Payne

2008 by Leanne Payne

Published by Baker Books
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakerbooks.com

Printed in the United States of America

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recording without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Payne, Leanne.
Heavens calling : a memoir of one souls steep ascent / Leanne Payne.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-8010-1312-6 (cloth)
ISBN 978-0-8010-7199-7 (intl. pbk.)
1. Payne, Leanne. 2. Spiritual lifeChristianity. 3. Spiritual healing. I. Title.
BR1725.P325A3 2008
277.3 082092dc22
[B]

2008017083

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good New Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture marked Cassirer is taken from Heinz W. Cassirer, Gods New Covenant: A New TestamentTranslation (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989).

Scripture marked NIV is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Other versions cited are King James Version (KJV), The Amplified Bible (AMP), Revised Standard Version (RSV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), and Jerusalem Bible (JB).

To the memory of Mother
and to those generations of family members
who have gone before me,