Book Review: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

The moment I finished reading this book, I was composing a review in my head -- 200, 300, 400 words...so much to say!

By the time I made it to the keyboard to type this, my review was boiled down to two words:

It. Is.

Now...off to find a copy of You Shall Know Our Velocity! or How We Are Hungry: Stories or The Wild Things or Zeitoun....whatever I can get my hands on!

Book Review: The Gospel According to Jesus by Chris Seay

Chapter One begins with one of my favorite quotes by Gandhi,

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

I often say I'm not ashamed of Christ, but I am sometimes hesitant to label myself as "Christian" because people can have such a negative reaction to that word. The Gospel According to Jesus does a great job of pointing out why that is the case -- Why so many Christians misunderstand and misapply the Gospel.

In the book of Romans, Paul writes:

"I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. ¹⁵ Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me ¹⁶ to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." -- Romans 15:14-16 NIV

Throughout Paul's epistles, he reminds the churches over and over again of the most important points of the Gospel. I loved Chris' explanations of righteousness and sin and what it really means that we're created in the image of God so much that I'm going through the book a chapter at a time with the youth group of my house church. These are basic foundational truths of our faith that shape everything we do and say in the world.

I have to admit, I thought that reading a book that "takes a in-depth look at" a research study would be a bit boring. I was wrong. I found it a thought-provoking, deep, but easy-to-read primer on the most essential aspects of our salvation and redemption, such as righteousness, sin, and shalom.

At the end of each chapter, Chris includes a sample of dinner table discussion with his friends. Those conversations alone are worth the price of the book. And I love how that demonstrates our need for relationship. You can't live the Christian life in a solitary bubble. We were created to live in relationship with others. It's through those relationships that we get a clearer and clearer picture of who God is.

I highly recommend this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers 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 Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thoughts on Snowpocalypse 2011

I started to just post this as a facebook status and realized it may just be too long a thought for that.

I love the snow. It's beautiful. It's refreshing. It makes the starkness of winter soft again. It reminds me of Isaiah 1:18, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow." It's a beautiful reminder of our redemption.

That said, I know this unusual winter storm has shut down most of Oklahoma and is causing difficulties for a lot of people. For some people, not leaving home means no work and no work means no money. Believe me, I know. My husband is a self-employed faux painter...nobody wants to have their kitchen redone while they're stuck at home! :) BUT...maybe while they're stuck at home they're noticing some things they'll want to change!

I'm sitting here watching the snow fall again and it just makes me grateful. It's so beautiful. And here's what I know, God is faithful. When we put our trust in Him, His grace is sufficient for whatever we're struggling with in this season. All it takes is a shift in perspective. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul tells us that,

"No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it" (The Message)

So whatever you may be faced with during this "Snowpocalypse," remember God is faithful, He will give you the grace to deal with whatever it may be -- financial difficulties, illness, loss, "too much" family time, and even cabin fever! Your loving Father God will show you a way of escape (even if you can't leave the house)! 

So enjoy the snow. Watching it fall is quieting and meditative. 

And a P.S. to those who live in the mountains or in the north and deal with this kind of snow all winter and are making fun of us: You deal with this kind of snow all winter! We rarely have to deal with this much snow here, so yes, it IS a big deal to us!!!:)