a quick but great read

read this over the weekend. literally took me two 45 minute sessions. delightful, interesting, challenging, and real. i have come to really enjoy laura winner as an author but also as a contemporary voice of faith. i loved her conversion story in girl meets god and found her journey of faith in real sex to be one of the most authentic voices i have read.

in this chronicle of her journey, she discusses the traditions & practices of her jewish faith that she misses in her new christian life. she explains 11 of them..... here are some that i found beautiful & poetic if not challenging to try and incorporate in my own spirituality.

shabbat/sabbath....as a christian i fail to really have a sabbath. i fail to really "set [it] apart" failing to live it distinctly from the rest of my week, to really rest....but to rest & delight in the lord....not in myself.

kashrut/fitting food.....she does not miss kosher for the sake of kosher but for the intentionality that it required. also, the sacredness of food...."the protagonist of your meal is not you; it is god."

tzum/fasting..... i don't fast. i never really have. i have thought about it, but never really incorporated it into my disciplines of faith. she reminded me that to fast is to be reminded that we hunger most for god.

mezuzot/doorpost.....now i want one. perhaps the christian version could be psalm 121: the lord shall preserve the going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore."

Comments

Dave said…
wanted to lwt you know that i scan your blog for book recommendations before heading to the library.

Thanks Kathy! You are my own personal Oprah's Book club!
8:59 AM EDT
Anonymous said…
You beat me to it! I was going to blog about reading this but I lent the book out before I started the blog. Leslie needs to come up with a word for that.

I love the aspect of community--the Church, the neighborhood/friendships, the family--that runs throughout all the disciplines. Keeping those disciplines connects us as believers to each other and God.
12:52 PM EDT
Anonymous said…
She just came and spoke in Chattanooga. Great speaker... and she talked about the Sabbath. Really got me thinking. I really enjoyed her.
1:25 PM EDT
patti said…
I love Laura Winner too! She is so authentic...that is the perfect word for her. Know who else i love is Rob Bell. I actually think I have a non sexual crush on him. Im reading sexgod right now and it is INVADING my world with the truth in it. I love how these people influence our world for good and how they take back territory for Jesus. Read on dear friend...xoxoxo P
2:38 PM EDT
Anonymous said…
What is you e-mail Kat - Bud
7:09 PM EDT
jeanette said…
since I TOTALLY trust your judgement...am going to look for these books :) I need "quick", but challenging reads. Thanks Kat!
11:49 AM EDT
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