Great Books for Thinking About Faith

This week on Kingdom Bloggers, we are talking about contemporary authors. I decided to recommend some authors who stimulate thinking about issues of faith, theology, and our unique journeys of belief. We need to think more and react less! For a scriptural reference on this, read The Epistle of James, chapter 3. I am also a great believer in humor and the healing power of laughter! 

Carolyn Custis James, Half the Church, When Life and Beliefs Collide, Book of Ruth, Lost Women of the Bible. 

I have been a fan of Carolyn's since I heard her speak at a conference in 2005 encouraging the crowd to encourage women to step up to the plate in ministry and careers.  In Half the Church, she offers a healthy discussion of why men and women should be partnering in ministry, in marriage, in life, in business, etc., instead of...well, dwelling on much of the division we have known for years. The other main issue in this book is the call to rescue our global sisters from sexual trafficking, prostitution, and abuse--and giving them a reason to trust and to live: Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of believers who care enough to do something about this crisis. I wrote a six-week study based on Half the Church for my 2012 summertime “Stories on the Porch” I host for women (no offense to men; my porch can only fit so many J), and it stimulated great discussion and challenged our thinking.  Carolyn's other books are excellent as well, and highly recommended.

 Philip Yancey, Soul Survivor: How My Faith Survived the Church.

    This is one of the most important books on faith I have read, and I wish I had known about it ten years ago when it was first published. Back then, I had an aversion to reading contemporary Christian authors for a few reasons, including the relentless marketing of the “same-old same-old” stuff, a growing unsettling about authors of a certain gender, type and age telling me how to think, what to believe, etc., and zero free time raising three young children.

       The funny thing is, Yancey is exactly one of those authors I avoided, certain he had nothing original or pertinent to say to me. So, my own stubbornness and assumptions got in the way of “listening” to him.

     The book is comprised of 13 chapters, each focusing on a person who profoundly impacted Yancey’s faith (usually in times of doubt and struggle) through personal engagement, research or studying the writings and life of past authors/thinkers (persons like Martin Luther King, G. K. Chesterton, Ghandi, Annie Dillard, Dr. Paul Brand). Soul Survivor will challenge and convict believers about their understanding of some prominent Christians, and will hopefully remind us that truly authentic Christians can love and serve Christ while also living flawed lives--because we all are flawed and broken, and in need of redemption. Yancey received a lot of hate mail over his early essays on Martin Luther King, C. Everett Koop, and Ghandi--most of it from evangelical Christians.

     Yancey survived a fundamentalist, racist, hypocritical church as he grew up, but his faith would have withered and died if not for the authentic, loving, sacrificial people God put in his path to challenge his own assumptions about the Church.

      The book also spoke to me because of its support of the power of art and literature (novels, poems, stories) to draw people to Christ.

Rhoda Janzen, Does This Church Make Me Look Fat?

No doubt some of the content of this honest memoir will bug (read: offend) some people, but this book is not about theology. It is about the personal journey of a woman raised as a Mennonite who left faith behind for 25 years, but who could not escape God’s whisper of love to her. Janzen is an English professor, and her spot-on storytelling and wit are treasures.   Her previous memoir, Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, should probably be read first (which I have not done yet!).  A friend gave the second one to me as a gift, so I plunged ahead--no regrets! J

Is There Love in the Church?

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

“God is teaching us how to love as Jesus loved.” A friend and I were in conversation about the concept of the family of God, and evidence of a deepening sense of community among us in Rochester. It comes at a cost: humility, vulnerability, facing conflict, trusting that God is at work.

If you have lived in a family, then you know that love and relationships can be messy. A pastor friend was recently preaching, “There will always be people in your life who are difficult, who you don’t like, or don’t like you--and those are just the people in your families!”  If you are part of a church, why assume it will be any different?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

A frequent prayer when my children were growing up sounded like this: “Lord, I need to love these kids as you do! Help me!” It felt like failure--a sharp tongue, sarcasm, impatience, exasperation, fear--was present far more often than success (see the scripture above for a description of successful loving).

But as my friend said, we are learning. Present tense. We agreed that it is a journey, sometimes a scary, exciting one, that will not fully be reached until we reach the shores of eternity.

Love never fails... When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

Peter Scazzero, in his book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality says, “You can’t have the true peace of Christ’s kingdom with lies and pretense. They must be exposed to the light and replaced with the truth. This is the mature, loving thing to do”  (p. 185). We are lying to ourselves if we think we or our churches have “arrived” or “have got this” when it comes to the Gospel, when it comes to loving others. We must be able to look at ourselves, our families, our communities with clear-eyed honesty if we are ever to experience the hope of change.

This is not easy! Who wants to admit to selfishness, hypocrisy, racist thoughts, hatred, vengeful thoughts, fear, jealousy? Yet, if we know and believe that God loves us--and others--deeply, unconditionally, then we can face the truth about our sins, our weaknesses (1 John 4:19), and repent and trust Him to change our hearts.

If your response to this is a cynical, "Yeah, right. Hearts can't change," consider the story of former Westboro Baptist member Megan Phelps-Roper, granddaughter of "church" founder Fred Phelps. She is facing the truth of who she was, and who her family still is, clear-eyed. To leave a life-long, learned mindset of hate, can be only a work of the Love of God, who desires to set us free (Romans 8:15).

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

                                                                        1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Image from Blackberry Cottage.

It's Like Cleaning out the Fridge

I am not a good procrastinator.  Getting things done on time is important to me, sometimes to a fault (like “demonstrating exasperation” when we are running late to church). As I mentioned on a recent blog post about being a disciplined person (not perfectly, of course), in grad school I would start my projects and papers far ahead of the deadline, because I despised the anxiety and stress--and the less effective prose--when under the gun, so to speak.

There are things I do procrastinate over: cleaning the fridge (don’t look--just reach in and grab something), vacuuming stairs (my friend Anne recently sprained her ankle falling down the stairs while vacuuming--I told her that means we are to never vacuum stairs, obviously), weeding (we should not mess with God’s creation) and...finishing the several books I have started writing.

My sister Ann used to bug me about getting my books written. She hasn’t mentioned my doing that in a while, so she apparently now knows that bugging a writer to write, much like spewing exasperation at certain people who make you late for church, is not effective.

What may be more effective is my noticing the clock ticking towards my next birthday: 49. While 49 is just about half the age of my friend Ward (he just turned 90) and that makes me feel like the new 30, I recently realized that I have been planning on writing a book for more than 25 years,  and I felt old and unaccomplished.

I have three books in my head right now: one that I have been musing over for four years is “Austenesque,” but it is somewhat dark in nature; another is non-fiction about my favorite artist from the 1890's who became a Christian--I have been researching it off and on, but really need to go to France and England (anyone want to be my patron?); and the third is actually not just in my head, but on paper in the form of several chapters. I recently developed the content further and spoke at a one-day retreat on its topic: how God’s love transforms.

This last one is the first one I will publish--makes sense, since it is the only one I have substantially worked on--once I actually stop procrastinating and finish it and find a publisher.

In the meantime, I really should clean out my fridge.

My Book by Jenna Vick Silliman

If I were to write a book, what would be the genre? I choose Health and Beauty Aids. Hahaha! Sounds like a department at the Drug Store! Seriously, that’s my area of interest. I’m a teacher type, so I write instructional or informational manuals. Wow, that sounds really boring, but I can’t help it—that’s what I write.

I have to add, however, the word “another” to the first sentence. If I were to write ANOTHER book? I’ve already written and self-published and sold several different books—or booklets. I have to laugh again—hahaha! My daughter’s voice (she just graduated with her Masters from Chicago University so I really should listen) just reminded me that the accurate description is a chap book and NOT a booklet. I guess that is what they call them now.)

My first one is called “SOAP Handbook” and I wrote it about 15 years ago. It is the history, chemistry and old time craft of soapmaking. It includes my own recipe for making homemade soap in your blender. (No, not the Vita-mix—you need to use some cheap blender from a yard sale!) I used to speak and do soapmaking workshops and I sold my soap through mail order and at the street fairs. I still have the big wooden soap molds, but they serve to decorate the walls of my laundry room. I haven’t made soap in many years. My boys hated the fragrances of the essential oil that clung to everything in the house when I made soap. Even your sandwich would smell like lavender oil. Hahaha! Not too appetizing, eh?

I wrote a little book called “Home Remedies” and another one with a collection of poems and stories called Mama’s Story Book. I wrote one with Twenty Lists (everyone likes my lists) and one called “Say Yes to  Life” which is a long poem about welcoming the children God might want to add to your family. I also wrote one that was more substantial than a booklet called “Breastfeeding and Fertility” for new mothers that might be interested in that topic. It was published with a spiral binding by my friend, Nancy Campbell, editor of a mother’s magazine called “Above Rubies.” It is for sale in the back of the magazine, available by mail order and over the website www.aboverubies.org and also at the Above Rubies retreats. I’ve written several articles for the magazine to encourage mothers. One of my booklets started out as an article for “Above Rubies Magazine” and also was published in “Vibrant Health” and later grew to 40 pages. It is called “Raw Victory” and it is the story of how I lost 75 pounds eating raw vegetarian. It is also a “How To” or instructional type of book.

Next I want to re-write, update, re-title, and add to “Raw Victory.” Again, I will self-publish and distribute it on my own. My dream, however, is to be published and have a book with a spine, sold at bookstores everywhere. Maybe, just maybe, I will graduate from “booklet” to “book”. Now is the time to get to work and go for it and see my dream become a reality. So, to answer the question, my BOOK is about healthy living. Thanks for asking!  

Yes you can because I believe you can...

From time to time, I do a little teenager bashing over on Tony C Today. Much of it can be easily justified by something stup...excuse me...ridiculous my own teenager has said or done (I can no longer use the stupid word by decree of Mrs. Tony C). Having a teenage girl coupled with an approaching terrible two's toddler gives me greater understanding of the plight of Job. As a matter of fact, there are days I'd rather sit around and scrape scabs to open wounds than listen to one more lame excuse trying to justify the funky smell emitting from a certain person's room or the lack of appropriate attire that coincides with current weather patterns. AGGGHHHH!

But that's not my direction today...as a matter of fact, I'm going a completely different way...hopefully for good. While on vacation two years ago, I managed to get in some long overdue casual reading. Oh, I read a lot daily, but keeping up with the world today requires reading or watching or listening to a plethora of daily scoop....so casual/leisure reading often takes a back seat...or would toilet seat be more accurate. I digress...

One of the books I was determined to work through was Do Hard Things by Alex and Brent Harris. I had heard and read good reviews about the book and the premise that teenagers are tired of the low expectation placed on them as a group from society. Interesting....but I needed more information.



Wow! Starting with the Forward by none other than Chuck Norris, this book grabbed and convicted me. The book is not complex, yet it challenges the core belief in most adults today that teenagers are a lazy bunch looking for the path of least resistance in life. You find yourself quickly on the battlefields of WW II where the fate of the world often was in the hands of 17 or 18 years old on both sides of the fight. There are examples from Biblical times up to present day of teenagers making major impact in the world.

Also, Do Hard Things is a book on faith. The authors proudly testify about the impact Christ has made in their own lives. The book won't keep your teenagers out of trouble. Instead, it challenges both them and you to put God at the center and strive to achieve their fullest potential by...well...doing hard things.

Recent ESPN the Magazine article titled Do Hard Things

I've got to admit, the book has had a profound impact on the way I view and deal with my own teenager. Even though I hold her to high expectations (or so I thought), I still place limits on her ability to make a major impact for God and for herself in the world....and it's not just limited her. Working with youth at church can often be frustrating and painful, but now I see that I create a lot of the negative feelings I have because my own actions and words project low expectations from the get-go.

Read this book. If you have children, work with youth or if you've ever been a teenager...read this book! I'm very glad it was suggested to me (thanks Rosie), and I listened. Be warned  your toes might get stepped on like mine did...but in the end...it's well worth the self-reflection and renewed faith that everything will be okay when the kids of today get their chance to run things. We should expect that from them.

The Library…A Lifetime Oasis

This week, on Kingdom Bloggers, we each have a chance to share three books that are favorites of ours, beside the Bible.

I once accompanied my husband on a business trip to Kansas. I was left to explore the area when he was busy .I spent my days visiting the local Library. My friends laughed. They were like “huh?... Didn’t you go to visit any local sites?…the Shopping Mall?” It didn’t make sense to them.

I love to read. I am one of those people who hope that books never stop being made, as I love holding a literal book in my hand.

From early on, the Library was a refuge. Our house could get very noisy with 6 children. We lived in 4 rooms, so privacy was a misnomer. The 3 other apartments held a slew of relatives. People walked in and out of each other’s apartment, even without knocking.

I remember walking to the Library on Saturdays. (And yes I walked many miles, even in the snow…just kidding!!!). There, we would climb the creaky stairs to the upper room, where we listened to stories introducing us to various characters and bringing us to faraway places.

I smile at the pride I felt when I could print my own and therefore qualified to get my very own Library Card.

I devoured books then and I do the same now. I visit our local Library at least 3 days a week. My hobby is also visiting Libraries across CT.

My preferred genres are varied.  Here are some books from recent times.

My first favorite is a series. I cannot separate each book as they weigh in on the whole story. It is called The Redemption Series by Karen Kingsbury. It is about a multi generational family…the Baxter’s.

She is a Christian author with mostly fiction books. Up until reading her, I had leaned heavily towards nonfiction books… particularly Biographies. With her books, I have taken a turn to enjoy fiction books.

One thing about her books, that sets them apart, is that she expresses Contemporary Christian living in an honest manner. She does not explain away problems or sugar coat them. Rather she talks about real life issues, while ultimately offering solutions of faith through Jesus Christ. Her books could be an excellent tool to reach non Christians.

I have read pretty much all of her books. Not all of her series match this one, yet she does have a lot of excellent stand alone titles. One in particular is Divine. It is a very difficult book to read. Yet, as a Christian Author, she again delves into some very real and hard life issues.

My second choice is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. In the book, she offers writing advice, in a practical way. She can be a bit irreverent at times yet she is very funny…helpful and encouraging to authors. This book makes writing seem doable and even fun.  The main take away from this book is to be an observer of life and to carry index cards around, so as to jot down ideas/observations that you glean in your everyday life.

My third choice is again, not one book but a 2 book set by Jill Austin. They are titled The Master Potter and the Master Potter and the Mountain of Fire. They are allegorical writings.

In them, Jill takes the main character, Forsaken through her journey towards wholeness. She includes heavenly and satanic forces that battle for Forsaken’s soul, until the Master Potter rescues her, giving her a vision of a bright destiny. Eventually, Forsaken’s name is changed to Beloved. In the second book, the journey continues as, Beloved deals with some very important life issues such as, unforgiveness, suffering, illness, a need for miracles as well as a moral failure of someone close to her.

I was drawn to Jill Austin’s Books after hearing her testimony, I found her to be an authentic Christian. She was at once serious and yet hilarious. To me, she exemplified living a Christian life with passion and fearlessness. Sadly, she died a few years ago, unexpectedly. If you can get any of her teaching Cd’s I would recommend them too.

Well…that’s all folks!!!

I remain…

A Lover of Books who says NO to Kindle!

Linda Maynard

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A Free Day is a Full Day....

“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” Annie Dillard.

Having free time used to put me on a guilt trip. When I was a young mom, I would sometimes stress about the“free time” I had during my child’s nap. Should I clean? Should I luxuriate in a good book, or rejuvenate with a nap? Should I spend it praying, meditating and writing? More times than not, I often felt guilty about having that free time that my husband did not, or not using the time as productively as I could have. I was trapped by the twentieth-century perception that only by “doing” are we “living.”

Years ago, I was in a small group with a older woman who said what she loved most about her day was the time when she would just “be.” She would ponder, pray, just enjoy the quiet. Huh. I could not get that--I was the type of person who was wired for people and productivity. To my 28 year-old self, sitting and pondering seemed out of the realm of possibility. It took only

about a decade for me to realize I needed to slow down and allow my soul to be refreshed by just “being” instead of constantly “doing.” But my type of slowing down can also include my loved ones.

A free day for me would depend on the weather and where I happen to be. A cozy rainy or snowy day at home could involve a book, a lot of tea and couch time. It could mean relishing the Lord of the Rings trilogy, or the A & E six-hour production of Pride and Prejudice. But with only one television in our household, and pastor-husband Tim who needs some space and quiet to write a sermon, the books and tea would probably win out.

But give me a beautiful day, crisp or warm, sunny or partly cloudy, it will start on my porch with a cup of Earl Grey and my Spurgeon devotional, “Morning and Evening,” my Bible companion for three years. After that, perhaps a walk along the Eire Canal with Tim, or a chat with a child before heading to my next joy: spending an afternoon with a dear friend or a family member.

If I drive to Ithaca, (we lived there for three wonderful years), I meet my friend Rhonda--last time I entered her house, she had a cup of tea waiting for me--and we may chat at Gimme Coffee (beats Starbucks, hands down) and laugh until we embarrass our daughters, visit our favorite consignment shops, Mimi’s Attic or Trader K’s, and talk about God, our kids and our husbands. When I recently drove back and forth to Ithaca, my soul was refreshed with the views of Cayuga Lake and the magnificent sunset on the return trip, as I listened to Selah.

If I could spend a free day in New England, where I grew up, I would walk by the ocean, stroll Newbury Street in Boston and sip tea at Tea Luxe, and visit my family in Connecticut. The end of the day would include a glass of wine with my friend Chris, while she frets over the UCONN game (her reaction to a missed basket is entertaining).

If all of my kids are home--two are in college in Boston--a great free day would include a French toast or pancake breakfast made by Tim as our son Sam plays guitar, an afternoon at the movies--preferably sci fi or action--and then the kids make dinner while I sip a glass of wine, read something, and enjoy listening to my family tease one another.

A perfect day is not free, but full--full of the blessings of God’s presence, a favorite book or film, and a good friend.