As a book nerd, I was delighted when Ed Cyzewski asked me to be part of his We're Booked series featuring 3 Christian nonfiction recommendations. But oh the task of narrowing my favorites down to 3!
Let me say this: A New Kind of Christian, Leaving Church, Introverts in the Church, and quite a few others did not make the list, life-changing though they may be. This tore me up because I love those books and recommend them often. But there are a few I recommend even more than those. I eventually chose 3-ish books and I stand by them all.
If you're in need of more recommendations, here's a post listing my favorite Christian non-fiction, as of spring 2011. Sometime next year I plan on writing an updated, more thorough list.
And if you're looking for book recommendations in general, the Reading category is the answer to your prayers.
How is it time for 2013 already? December flew by amidst Christmas parties and get togethers and family celebrations and shows. Love. It.
Read and Reading:
I have so many thoughts about Overdressed (Cline). I bring it up in most conversations these days. Post to follow.
I received a free copy of Submerged (Pettrey) while at Allume. Way better than your average Christian fiction, I could barely put this story down. While the love connections are fairly obvious, the plot made me want to learn more about Alaska, scuba diving, and Russian history. And so I shall.
How to Use a Runaway Truck Ramp (Smucker) features gorgeous prose and a call to adventure and a guide on navigating the unexpected. I loved the way Shawn and Maile shared their family's 4 month RV trip across the US. I highly, highly recommend you read it.
Readers may be split when it comes to Gone Girl but I loved it. Even the ending. The story centers on a marriage gone wrong, as the wife disappears the day of their 5th anniversary. A psychological thriller, I diagnosed characters as I read. The author forces
you to view True Crime from a whole other angle. She did a great job
depicting personality disorders and I LOVE how she didn't take the
expected route. Fascinating
read.
I read Girl Meets God (Winner) a year or so after it came out. I don't remember it, other than being less than impressed. I'm now questioning my intellect because this second time around? WOW. Beautifully written memoir of Winner's conversion from Judaism to Christianity. Great insights about faith from both perspectives.
(I read 10 books this month.) (Oh, and 101 books this year and counting.)
TV: Must-see TV: Once Upon a Time,
Revenge, Parenthood, Vampire Diaries, The New Girl,
The Mindy Project, Parks & Rec
I had to put Parenthood on a time out. I haven't been able to watch the last few episodes because the Kristina storyline hits too close to home but also because the Bravermans have been driving me nuts what with their boundary and codependency issues.
Did the midseason finale of Once Upon a Time not kill you? I was so surprised they wrapped up one of the main storylines as quickly as they did but I am thrilled to see where they're going with good ol' sexy Captain Hook.
I'm going to see Les Mis tonight and will probably leave the theater singing. And brushing away tears, let's be honest.
Update: words fail me for how amazing this movie is. So worth seeing.
Music:
New discovery: The Wombats
For the second year in a row, I saw the Dave Barnes Christmas show and Andrew Peterson presents Behold the Lamb of God. Great annual traditions.
Video:
As a woman who appreciates a man with good facial hair, Decembeard cracks me up.
Food:
I baked Grandma's Coffee Cake to give to a few kind souls for Christmas. I love how good my kitchen smells while they're in the oven.
The fried pickles at 417 Union are quite lovely- lightly breaded and seasoned, which highlights the pickle itself. Definitely worth trying.
New Shop:
The Swap Shop in Glen Ellyn, IL has been my favorite Christmas discovery. It's a high-end consignment shop. Not necessarily cheap but still a great deal compared to how much designer clothing normally costs. Hello, Tory Burch tunic, DVF wrap cardigan, and Juicy Couture sweater!
New Business:
I am so proud of my friend Abby. She recently launched Abby Leigh Creative, which focuses on branding, consulting, and general wordsmithery. Abby wrote my About and New Here pages, which absolutely blew me away. I wanted to be friends with myself by the time she was through. Please go check her out!
Speaking of Preston, he and Dianna Anderson started When In Comment Sections. Prepare to spend the next hour or so laughing.
In the Blogosphere:
Christianity Today has a series called This Is Our City, which highlights the way Christians contribute to their cities. I've read a few of the essays and really enjoyed the glimpses they provided into other parts of the country. Take a gander and see if your city is featured.
Going to Hell with Ted Haggard was one of the best things I read this month. I
don't entirely remember how I responded to the Haggard scandal but I do
remember being upset by the hypocrisy that has hurt so many. To see him thriving in ministry to the outcasts is such a redemptive note.
This made me examine how I respond to the Christian leaders I don't like.
A call to listen, whether you agree with the person or not. Great piece from Ally Vesterfelt.
This profile of Madeleine L'Engle in the New Yorker broke my heart a bit over her need to fictionalize some aspects of her
real life. I know the line
is blurry- I believe it's true of most writers and it's certainly true
of me. But to write something autobiographical and be unable to tell the truth, I'm sad for her.
Over on the HopefulLeigh FB page, we talked about how many books I've read this year and I facetiously mentioned my Jesus Year is coming up. I'm afraid some people took me seriously. You guys. I'm just turning 33. NBD.
1. Today’s link-up will stay up for one week. The next What I'm Into link up will be Wednesday January 30.
2. Link the unique URL of your post, not your blog's home page. Readers
peruse link ups months after the fact and you want to make it easy for
them to find your What I'm Into post.
3. Please include the What I'm Into button or mention you're linking up to What I'm Into at HopefulLeigh.
4. Share your post and read and comment on those who link up.
What have you been into this month?
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The tickets had been purchased, we'd already planned on having dinner beforehand. I don't remember whether inspiration hit me at brunch or movie night. Either way, an idea bubbled up. This would not be an ordinary night.
"Let's get dressed up," I said, excitement filling my voice. I didn't know what I would wear, only that I wanted an excuse to wear heels. Everyone gamely agreed. 'Tis the season, after all.
We clean up nicely but most weeks our attire is casual. Some Dinner Club members have even been known to wear pajamas at our gatherings. This in spite of our penchant for photo shoots whenever we're all together.
The day of the show dawned rainy but with weather in the 50s and 60s. By afternoon, the rain had cleared. I was still torn between dress options. My dresses tend to be summer casual or wedding formal. Not much said "Christmas show!" to me.
So instead of braving the mall (horror of horrors in December!), I chose a dress I loved. The flare of the skirt is 50s inspired and the gold and yellow tones could be holiday-ish in the right light. My heels of choice were black booties (incidentally, couldn't they have come up with a better name for such fierce shoes?), which always make me feel like I'm ready to conquer the world. Nashville, at the very least.
I love dressing with care. I put hot rollers in my hair to create lovely waves. I applied an extra layer of mascara. Just because. By the time I was through, I had no doubt of my beauty. And isn't that a wonderful thing?
Some of the greatest friends a girl can have
We met at the restaurant and enjoyed a nice meal, which oddly enough, included fried pickles. Pasta and wine hit all the right notes for me, a prelude of what was to come. But the real star of the night was all of us in our finery. Chad, the token male, dapper in his suit. His "harem" stopping traffic in our dresses.
We walked over to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center for the Dave Barnes Christmas show. White lights decorated the show, the auditorium buzzed with anticipation. And Dave didn't disappoint. This was my second year at his Christmas show and we've decided it should be a yearly tradition. We heard old songs and new and finally it seemed Christmas is really here.
After the show, we left TPAC with a round of hugs and "Merry Christmas!" and "see you next year!" These are some of my dearest friends here and the whole night was a reminder of the community I do have and of the love we have for one another.
When I got home, my feet ached and I slipped the booties off quick as could be. It was worth it though. I'm already dreaming up the next occasion for "required" dressing up.
I have a guest post coming up but otherwise will be taking a break from blogging until the next What I'm Into link up on December 28. Have a Merry Christmas, everyone! Dress up if you have the chance, hug your loved ones, and let the miracle of Christ's birth stir your heart anew.
It's been a long time since the last TIHWM story was shared. Hope you enjoy this bright bit of hope.
Want to submit your TIHWM story? Check out the guidelines here.
I didn't date much after my freshman year of college. I decided that ending relationships was too hard. I was no longer willing to suffer through that sickening feeling of knowing that it wasn't right. One day toward the beginning of my semester in Oxford, I walked to University Parks and sat under a tree. I felt exhilarated and ripe with emotion as I reflected on the last few months of my life and my recent break up. I told God that I did not intend to date anymore until I had a STRONG feeling that it was time for me to open my heart to someone again. For good. Until then, I promised, I would wait. And wait I did. I made that commitment to God at age nineteen. I was twenty-five when I met my husband, Bryan.
Throughout the rest of my time in college, I traveled and studied English and made friends that are really soul mates. I rejoiced with some who found love. I wondered and, at times, worried about when it would be my turn. I had a few more almosts but didn't waver from my decision. I had toyed with the idea of going to language school after graduation, but it just wasn't feeling right for a myriad of reasons. I didn't have peace about it and decided not to go. I was pretty disappointed. I had deferred my admission to grad school for the sole purpose of studying Spanish abroad. I set that dream aside, believing that I would never have another opportunity to go.
The next year was hard. I felt isolated and disillusioned. College was over, and grad school was looming. I was experiencing my quarter-life crisis. I learned to rely on God in ways that I never had before. Being the nerdy lady that I am, I was excited to go back to being a student. I spent more time in the library than at my apartment and completed two intense social work internships. As graduation approached, the idea of language school in Costa Rica resurfaced in my heart. Within a week, everything seemed to fall into place, including the news that my college friend, Jordan, was going to this language school for the fall. We could fly to Costa Rica together and be buddies on this adventure. I would be living with a Costa Rican grandmother who preferred to be called “Lolo”. How could it not be wonderful? This time I felt peace.
A few days into our time in Costa Rica, Jordan was feeling anxious. She had decided on language school at the last minute, and now she was wondering if she had made a mistake. That week she talked online with her cousin, Shannon, who had studied at the same language school three years earlier. Shannon suggested that she meet some Costa Ricans in order to feel more at home there. Shannon had met Bryan at church, and he was the person she encouraged Jordan to contact. Later that week, we were waiting in the kitchen at Lolo’s house when Bryan pulled up to take us out for pizza.
I'm not going to say it was love at first sight. It was dark in front of the house that night, the distant streetlamp and the moon outlining his features dimly as we greeted each other, but something special did occur. This is going to sound crazy, but almost immediately I felt a sense of safety and comfort in his presence. There was something about him that was inviting to me from that first night. I am an introvert, so for me to feel relaxed and natural with a guy that I just met was nothing short of a miracle. Throughout our conversation, I was impressed and pleased to discover that he was a hard-working, independent guy who shared my sense of adventure. He was also humble and funny. At one point, we were thirsty and couldn't seem to get the attention of anyone who worked there. We asked Bryan if he had any advice. He looked at us with a straight face and replied, “Yes, I like to use the power of my mind.” He closed his eyes and put his fingers to his temples as if subliminally beckoning our waiter. Then he smiled with the most adorable twinkle in his eye. Not a minute later, the waiter walked past. We laughed, and I felt the warmth of a spark. I liked this guy.
This picture was taken a few weeks after we met on my first visit to his family’s house.
Now, almost three years later, I still sometimes can’t believe this is my life. When I finally found him, my heart felt at home. There is no doubt in my mind that God was letting me know it was time to open my heart. He is everything I prayed for and so many things that I didn’t even know I needed. By the way, if I had gone to Costa Rica two years earlier when I initially planned to go, we would not have met. God is faithful.
Kara is a scatter-brained dreamer with a tender heart and a slightly zany sense of humor. She believes that God is love. And that variety is the spice of life. She has a B.A. in English and a Master of Social Work. After grad school, she went to study Spanish in Costa Rica for a semester and fell in love with a Costa Rican. She resides in Texas with her husband and three plants. She believes that we need to hear each other's stories and hopes you are uplifted by hers. She shares her musings on her blog Spring is in the World at http://kararodriguez.wordpress.com/.
One of the fun perks of blogging and being known as a book nerd is being approached to review books. I don't have time or interest to read everything that comes my way but every once in awhile the stars align.
I agreed to review the book Fundamorphosis: How I Left Fundamentalism But Didn't Lose My Faith for a few reasons. First, the bulk of my church experience until age 18 had traces of fundamentalism. They might not have claimed to be fundamentalist but this is where I learned the supposed do's and don'ts of Christianity, from the charismatic church of my childhood to my Baptist youth group. I've been untangling those roots ever since.
Second, while I've never attended an emerging church, I do believe the movement saved my faith. If not for Brian McLaren's willingness to think outside the box, if not for my friend Andy who showed me what Christianity could look like, if not for so many other good people and authors...I was frighteningly close to walking away from organized religion altogether. It's not that the emerging church gets it right 100% of the time but that they're willing to explore faith from another angle and seemingly more accepting of those of us on the outskirts.
Third, when I hear "theology," my default is snooooore, bo-ring. It doesn't keep my attention. Yes, it's important to know what you believe and why. I have informed opinions of my belief system. It often seems theology leads to arguing, splits, exclusions, and so on. I don't see the point in that. Truth be told, I can see every side of every story (hello INFJ!). I am content with mystery when it comes to many facets of faith. Several years ago, friends and I formed the Dead Theologians Society and discussed chapters from the (dry, not at all easy to read) tome Systematic Theology. I loved our little group because we were seeking understanding, not division. This is the closest I could get to making peace with theological debate.
Ryerse has legitimate fundamentalist street cred: his grandfather founded a denomination. Pastoring was in his blood. We learn about Ryerse's life in a non-linear fashion but it is quickly apparent he was not cut from the same cloth as his family. For one, he asked questions. The kind that don't usually have neat and clean answers, at least not outside church circles. For another, he tried to change the fundamentalist church he pastored.
Ryerse becomes the square peg to fundamentalism's round hole and neither the twain shall meet. As Ryerse's story unfolds, we see how this gap affected his spirit and why it ultimately led to him leaving fundamentalism. It did not come without cost. Fundamentalism goes beyond church attendance: it impacts work, friends, family, and every facet of life. While there was much to gain in leaving, he also had much to lose.
With each chapter, we see Ryerse's pastoral side emerge. He's not telling us his story to bash fundamentalism or challenge Christianity but to open room for dialogue, speak grace to hurting hearts, and invite us to partake in a living, breathing theology. That last bit is what I most appreciated about the book.
Ryerse says "the purpose of theology is to transform us" (p. 162). He makes important distinctions about various beliefs and theological terms. I bookmarked quite a few pages for further reflection.
He peels back the layers of fundamentalism, of Christianity itself, and allows it to breathe. And in turn, our faith is released from fear. While he alludes to his new church throughout the book and offers more information toward the end, I wish he would have talked more about how church planting came about and what all was involved in the decision, especially why he chose the emergent church movement. I would have enjoyed hearing more of his story in general. The subtitle of the book made me think Fundamorphosis would have more of a storytelling format, instead of a Christian living or Theology bent. His story is certainly in there but Ryerse's aim seems to be providing an overview of how faith can flourish outside of fundamentalism, which is much needed.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has experienced a fundamentalist church, who is wary of the emergent church movement, or who perhaps like me feels "meh" about theology. Ryerse doesn't bash his past church experience; he is actively part of the solution and open to the ways God would use him. He could have easily turned his back on Christianity altogether or conversely gone through the motions at his old church. I admire his convictions and willingness to admit he doesn't have all the answers.
I admire his invitation for us to all move forward in faith.
Do you study theology? What are you reading these days?
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Amazon Affiliate links included in this post. If you click through to
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Disclosure:
I was provided a free copy of Fundamorphosis with no expectation that I would
provide a positive review. The thoughts, opinions, and reactions are
entirely my own.
HopefulLeigh contains sidebar advertising and some contextual affiliate links. If you click through an affiliate link and purchase an item I have featured, I may receive a commission on the sale. You would never pay more for for the product- the commission comes from the regular retail price. I only feature products I genuinely like or, let's face it, love. I'm all about hyperbole. If a post or giveaway is sponsored, it is noted in the actual post. I don't blog about everything I receive, but when I do my thoughts and opinions are always my own.
