Books! I love them. I have a constant list ordered to borrow from my library. And of course, I buy too many books. Amazon and I are on a first name basis. I don’t have too many books; my challenge is not enough bookshelves.
I do love to read what others are reading and have shared current books I am reading on this blog too. So here are a few I am immersed in reading, savoring, highlighting, enjoying and devouring.
Growing Slow by Jennifer Dukes Lee
The idea of unhurried living certainly appeals to most of us worn out by busyness, expectations, and distractions. In this book Jennifer talks about when she gave herself permission to slow down and invites us to join her. I can’t wait to read the practices she suggests for slowing down.
She writes, “Hurry will consume you until you have nothing left. But we don’t even know it’s happening, because there’s a popular idea out there that purposeful living is synonymous with hurry. And that if you want a great life, you’ve got to run after it!
You can live the great life you want, but it’s not the way you think. It isn’t about chasing that life down, it’s about slowing that life down.
Hurry says everything is a task to be attacked. Slow says that you get to decide what’s important, and you get to reprioritize life in a way that lines up with what matters most.
Growing slow is, itself, a slow process. It takes time to build slowness into your life. But we can recover from hurry sickness, by building the Habit of Slow into our lives, one act at a time.”
Words of wisdom we all can practice.
How to Heal our Divides compiled by Brian Allain and Adam Thomas
This book’s official release date is May 18. I am part of the launch team so was able to read an early pdf of the book and can’t wait to purchase a copy. Like many of us I am fearful, tired and very much over the conflicts that divide us as a people, especially as children of God.
This book builds awareness of organizations taking real action to address our divisions in healing and practical ways. Contributing writers include Brain McLaren, Parker J Palmer, Molly LaCroix and Diana Butler Bass.
Divided into two sections of Why this Matters and Ways to Get Involved, topics include how conflicts deepen our faith and building reconciling communities.
A great book for personal exploration and group discussion.
Faith-Based Organizing – A Congregational Planning Resource Book for Addressing Poverty by Charles Fredriksson, Violetta Lien, Herb Palmer and May Lou Walther
This book gathers ideas and tools to identify what sustains poverty and to organize churches to help to overcome the root causes within local communities. If we are ever going to make a long-term transformational impact against poverty, new methods and systemic changes must take place.
A book full of resources, tested ideas, and practical stories.
“In every community, there are congregations that desire to embrace God’s love for the neighbor. It is possible to address and overcome conditions and the root causes of poverty and it is possible to change systems that perpetuate poverty.”
A great book for our church’s leadership and the people of God.
I guess this sounds like some pretty heady and heavy reading ahead, but I look forward to digesting new thoughts and stretching my mind.
What about you? How are books nurturing your faith and mind?
Being a retiree, I thought Jennifer’s book wouldn’t apply so much to me. I’m not running the rat race anymore! But your description and quotes have changed my mind. Now I’m thinking this book WILL be a worthy purchase! Thank you, Jean! Just purchased Becoming Elisabeth Elliot and am anxious to dive into her biography.
There are all sorts of areas of our lives going a little slower would be helpful. I have read about Elizabeth Elliot new book and that sounds great too. I will look into that. Thanks Nancy
These all sound wonderful, Jean! I just finished reading The Women of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream. I would highly recommend it. Blessings!
That sounds like a great addition to my stack of books!
Just a bit of my planned reading: Zip It The Keep It Shut 40 Day Challenge, and the accompanying book Keep It Shut (what to say, how to say it, and when to say nothing at all) by Karen Ehman. I also have a book on Jerusalem that I purchased a couple of years before I retired that I never had time to read. I am looking forward to reading it as I am currently reading 1 Kings and as I progress into 2 Kings and 1&2 Chronicles.
Since the Pandemic began I am spending more time reading and less time in front of my TV.
I do look at books you are reading for suggestions, and I thank you for sharing with us.
oh, Denise these book sounds fascinating. thanks for the suggestions