....The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan.
From the back cover: Most of us feel utterly ransacked. We are waylaid by endless demands and stifling rountines. Even our vacations have a panicky, task-like edge to them. "If I only had more time," is the matra of our. But is this the real problem?
Widely acclaimed author Mark Buchanan states that what we've really lost is "the rest of God--the rest God bestows and, with it, that part of himself we can know only through stillness." The gift of Sabbath is essential to our full humanity and faith. God, knowing that, and knowing how easily we might neglect it. made it a command. We've neglected it anyhow. We've lost the rest of God.
This book seeks to change that--to help us receive anew the gift of the Sabbath, this day of rest and pay and replnishment. Sabbth allows us to live moe fully into our status as free people, people release from the gruelling, incessant demands of taskmakers. And in the sweet shadow of Sabbath, we anticipate the ultimate rest--heaven.
From the back cover: Most of us feel utterly ransacked. We are waylaid by endless demands and stifling rountines. Even our vacations have a panicky, task-like edge to them. "If I only had more time," is the matra of our. But is this the real problem?
Widely acclaimed author Mark Buchanan states that what we've really lost is "the rest of God--the rest God bestows and, with it, that part of himself we can know only through stillness." The gift of Sabbath is essential to our full humanity and faith. God, knowing that, and knowing how easily we might neglect it. made it a command. We've neglected it anyhow. We've lost the rest of God.
This book seeks to change that--to help us receive anew the gift of the Sabbath, this day of rest and pay and replnishment. Sabbth allows us to live moe fully into our status as free people, people release from the gruelling, incessant demands of taskmakers. And in the sweet shadow of Sabbath, we anticipate the ultimate rest--heaven.
I just finished reading...
Ask yourself before you buy it lst a book on simplifying your life be added to the cluttered sack of to-be-read literature you already own.
Everyone feels the demans on the limited resources of time and money--so how do we build quiet, rest, and simplicity into our lives? Technology can help, but it often adds more stress. Planning is useful, but it oftn adds more stress. Planning is useful, but it often means that we end up doing more and increading our speed in the hours that we have. Multi-tasking might mean that we get more done, but it's nosubstitute for the peace of a more balanced life.
Simplify will challenge you to take the first steps toward a more tranquil, balanced lifestyle. Each chapter includes pracitical tips to help you cut back, scale down, and establish new priorities and realistic expectations. Apply these principles to daily life and you'll experience a restored sense of sanity to your world. This book is an easy read for those who need some practical implications to learn how to rest and let go of some of the craziness of life. Paul also does a great job of listing his resources when a link or a way for someone to obtain the resources. It's a book to for list makers and a laid out way to move towards this kind of lifestyle. The only complaint I have is that the book is all about simplicity yet Paul uses a whole page for a paragraph, which leads to wasting some space and paper. Overall, good practical book to challenge you to let go of some unnecessary "noise" or "things" in our lives.
I still need to finish reading...
....the Divine Commodity by Skye Jethani. (Note: I currently left this book at the church and now it's missing...sad, I know. Hopefully, I can find it soon)From the back cover: A growing number of people are distrubed by the values exhibited by the contemporary church. Worship has become entertainment, the church has become a shopping mall, and God has become a consumable product.
Through Scripture, history, engaging narrative, and the inspiring art of Vincent van Gogh, The Divine Commodity explores spiritual practices that liberate our imaginations to live as Christ’s people in a consumer culture opposed to the values of his kingdom. Each chapter will open your eyes to how consumerism has distorted our faith and equip you to live differently. The Divine Commodity articulates what so many have been feeling and offers hope for the future of a post-consumer Christianity.
I'm currently half-way through the book. Skye is not afraid to tell how it is in his book. In fact, we will straight out say his main point but also provide a context. It has been taking me a while to read through this book because I would need to take a moment to stop and reflect what has been challenged or questioned.
Lately, I have been feeling convicted of being one of these over-consumer types. My parents, from the start, have instilled simple values and morals in me. They have always taught me on what are the basics and the needs. They also place a value on the foundations and Christianity. This book is doing a good job of challenging the Christian to think back to the foundations and what is the purpose behind all the consumerism.
Here's the man himself, Skye Jethnai, giving a brief summary of his book:
I really appreciate how Skye is using Van Gough as an example of his main message. I love Van Gough and I'm learning a lot about his life through this book.
