Fire in the Deep

There is an attribute of God overlooked by our materialistic world and often superficial church. Our God is truly like Fire! The Fire at the heart of the Deity is patently uncontrollable, radically transformative, and utterly irresistible. Moses' first experience of God at Sinai was as Fire: ""the Lord came down upon it in fire"" (Exod 19:18). John the Baptist's description of Jesus was that ""he would baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire"" (Matt 3:11).
God's Love moving in the human spirit is like the flames of a fire searing the deepest landscapes of one's inner world. Once the Spirit of Jesus begins moving, there can truly be no turning back--and no resisting! God is a relentless ""Hound of Heaven"" forever chasing you, a fire burning up all that stands between you and full surrender, a passionate Lover pursuing you and never taking ""no"" for an answer.
Fire in the Deep is an attempt to capture in some small way the elusive and energizing power of the Spirit of God, as seen through Scripture and reflection. It is the author's desire and prayer that people ""catch fire"" by reading and ingesting the Word of God, as so many have done before. Be forewarned--your spirit might be enflamed with Passion by what you read!


""Fire in the Deep has been my constant companion along the faith journey! Of all my spiritual books, I hold this one closest to my heart because of the author's human touch and passion for God's Spirit. The inspiring stories and reflections teach me, lift me up on sad days, and give me peace in troubles and courage to face my life issues. In my fifty years of religious life, few books have ever blessed me this much! Thank you for the 'Fire'!""
--Sr. Clarice Helton (RIP), former teacher, religious sister in inner-city ministry

""Bob Miller creates a fascinating doorway into the Scriptures we use personally and at worship. He invites us not just to read the Word but to live in the Word. His reflections are valuable especially for the reflections they elicit; his many stories herein draw our own stories out of us. A book like this gives us 'sacred space' within which to engage life's most important questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going?""
--Graziano Marcheschi, vice president of university mission, St. Xavier University

""In Fire in the Deep, Fr. Bob Miller fans the words of the Gospel into a flame for us! With a meditation of fatherhood here, an Elie Wiesel story there, he personalizes the Word of God to illuminate our thoughts, ignite our hearts, and spark our actions! He warns us, though--do not invite the 'Fire' into your deepest self without expecting transformation! Once unleashed, the 'Fire in the Deep' is not easily extinguished!""
--Page Zyromski, teacher; author of numerous articles and books on Scripture and faith


Reverend Robert Miller has worked for twenty-six years in Chicago's South Side black Catholic community and is pastor of St. Dorothy Catholic Church. Ordained in 1976, he joined the Chicago archdiocese in 1995 after twenty years of Redemptorist religious life, including eight years of full-time preaching. His ministry is wide-ranging: preaching missions and retreats nationally, celebrating healing and charismatic Masses, and teaching Church history in the archdiocese.

Father Bob is also founder of Genesis Housing Development Corporation, a faith-based group building affordable housing and preparing homeowners on Chicago's South Side. He has written six books, including the nationally acclaimed Lectio Divina Scripture reflection and meditation trilogy and a study of Civil War religion: Both Prayed to the Same God: Religion and Faith in the Civil War.