'When I first became a Christian, about fourteen years ago, I thought that I could do it on my own, by retiring to my rooms and reading theology, and wouldn’t go to the churches and Gospel Halls; I disliked very much their hymns which I considered to be fifth-rate poems set to sixth-rate music. But as I went on I saw the merit of it. I came up against different people of quite different outlooks and different education, and then gradually my conceit just began peeling off. I realized that the hymns (which were just sixth-rate music) were, nevertheless, being sung with devotion and benefit by an old saint in elastic-side boots in the opposite pew, and then you realize that you aren’t fit to clean those boots. It gets you out of your solitary conceit.'
- C.S. Lewis on going to church. What a legend.
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Let's Get Real by Dale & Jena Forehand
A book review.
Dale and Jena got married, divorced and remarried one another. This is a book directed at married people. I am not married. And yet I found it hugely helpful and challenging. And emotional. Both in the happy, excited sense, and in the "stop-reading-now-before-you-burst-into-tears-on-the-bus" sense. It is easy to read, with many examples from their own experience which they honestly and humbly give, and practical questions with space to answer for yourself. They give advice that is Biblical and gentle, without sugar coating.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is ready to let God use their relationships to sanctify them. There is a lot of thought provoking material and practical application to be had in this book and I know that God will use it for His glory and your benefit. Obviously, this is primarily directed at your marriage relationship and some of the points are not altogether appropriate or applicable to any relationship other than that between a husband and wife. However, authentic forgiveness, humility, conflict resolution and accountability all have a place in other relationships, and this book helps make positive changes towards these things.
Dale and Jena got married, divorced and remarried one another. This is a book directed at married people. I am not married. And yet I found it hugely helpful and challenging. And emotional. Both in the happy, excited sense, and in the "stop-reading-now-before-you-burst-into-tears-on-the-bus" sense. It is easy to read, with many examples from their own experience which they honestly and humbly give, and practical questions with space to answer for yourself. They give advice that is Biblical and gentle, without sugar coating.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is ready to let God use their relationships to sanctify them. There is a lot of thought provoking material and practical application to be had in this book and I know that God will use it for His glory and your benefit. Obviously, this is primarily directed at your marriage relationship and some of the points are not altogether appropriate or applicable to any relationship other than that between a husband and wife. However, authentic forgiveness, humility, conflict resolution and accountability all have a place in other relationships, and this book helps make positive changes towards these things.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their
Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review.
The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in
accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides
Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
The Waiting Place by Eileen Button
A book review.
Eileen Button is a pastor's wife, often to her dismay, and a mother of three, as well as an author, columnist and professor. Each of these aspects of her life as well as others shine through the pages of The Waiting Place. This book has an interesting format and concept - it is autobiographical, and each chapter tells of a time in the author's life when she was made to wait. Some of these times are significant and will have undoubtedly shaped her, such as her child's serious illness when he was born. Other times of waiting she tells of are unbelievably mundane, such as waiting for her friend to decide what to order at Panera. Each waiting place however has taught the author something, though it is at times left unsaid.
This book at times brought me to tears as Button told the stories with such honesty and the situations were ones of despair and an uncertain ending. Other times I felt it was over dramatic and wanted to tell her to "dry her eyes and just get on with it" or "man up", though this would probably be harsh of me. She has found a topic common to all though, and overall I did enjoy reading it. It is an easy and pleasant read, and a good book in its genre. We all have to wait for things, for things to get better, for things to stop, for things to change. The Waiting Place provides insight into the life of a woman who, like it or not, has many waiting places and is provided with the opportunity to grow in them or moan about them. And we readers are invited and reminded to do the same.
*I was provided this book for free through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program in exchange for my unbiased review.
Eileen Button is a pastor's wife, often to her dismay, and a mother of three, as well as an author, columnist and professor. Each of these aspects of her life as well as others shine through the pages of The Waiting Place. This book has an interesting format and concept - it is autobiographical, and each chapter tells of a time in the author's life when she was made to wait. Some of these times are significant and will have undoubtedly shaped her, such as her child's serious illness when he was born. Other times of waiting she tells of are unbelievably mundane, such as waiting for her friend to decide what to order at Panera. Each waiting place however has taught the author something, though it is at times left unsaid.
This book at times brought me to tears as Button told the stories with such honesty and the situations were ones of despair and an uncertain ending. Other times I felt it was over dramatic and wanted to tell her to "dry her eyes and just get on with it" or "man up", though this would probably be harsh of me. She has found a topic common to all though, and overall I did enjoy reading it. It is an easy and pleasant read, and a good book in its genre. We all have to wait for things, for things to get better, for things to stop, for things to change. The Waiting Place provides insight into the life of a woman who, like it or not, has many waiting places and is provided with the opportunity to grow in them or moan about them. And we readers are invited and reminded to do the same.
*I was provided this book for free through the Thomas Nelson BookSneeze Program in exchange for my unbiased review.
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
[this moment]
Many a lovely moment this past week, since Iain came home from 3 weeks walking around the North West of Scotland 3 days early. Indian takeaway, dvds, pancakes, opening of 21st birthday presents (woooooo!), cooking for more than one person, cups of tea, flat decorating...
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| Jamie Oliver fluffy pancakes with strawberries, bananas and maple syrup. |
When God answers
I was praying this morning, and told God quite frankly that I had no desire to pray. I don't know why, there's not been anything specific that has happened or not happened to make me feel this way, but I just didn't want to pray. But I did, and He got me up a bit earlier so I had longer to pray this morning than I often do. And I prayed, and it was good. I like it when obedience brings answered prayer. This afternoon, I was lying on my bed and just thought I really needed something to be challenged on and to have God work on specifically and have a topic to study in depth. I've been feeling a bit down and getting angry and frustrated easily again the past few days. So I decided to go to a couple of Christian websites to be inspired and fill my mind with good and God things. And there it was. The Boundless Summer Challenge, fresh out and ready to focus my mind on things from above. This year, the Summer Challenge is based on 2 Corinthians 5:14-20 which says,
The topic is reconciliation in relationships. I found last year that some of the challenges were too American to be exported and some required elements were not available in the UK. Or they were too cheesy and just would not be overly appropriate in the culture here, but I did a few of the challenges and benefited I'm sure. I just thought it was kind of cool how God answered that thought (it wasn't even a prayer!) and feel it is something I should try to adhere to this summer, working on learning that passage off by heart and applying it in different ways through the challenges set each week. So here goes. :)
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
The topic is reconciliation in relationships. I found last year that some of the challenges were too American to be exported and some required elements were not available in the UK. Or they were too cheesy and just would not be overly appropriate in the culture here, but I did a few of the challenges and benefited I'm sure. I just thought it was kind of cool how God answered that thought (it wasn't even a prayer!) and feel it is something I should try to adhere to this summer, working on learning that passage off by heart and applying it in different ways through the challenges set each week. So here goes. :)
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