Some Good Reads...

recently finished reading the book Sabbath Presence - Appreciating the Gifts of Each Day by Kathleen Casey. it's really good. talks about the 3rd commandment..."remember the Sabbath and keep it holy" and how there is so much more to that than just going to church and so much more to that than just a "Sunday" thing. here's a couple of excerpts i liked... "He made the Sabbath holy, which means "to make whole." Rest makes the work of creation "whole." Rest is holy when it balances work, and work is not complete until it is balanced by rest. Creation was not complete or holy until there was the Sabbath rest." (pg 31) "We must prepare ourselves to be a fitting vessel that can contain the full abundance of the Creator's gift. For what good is the gift if there is no vessel capable of receiving it? If I desire that God make his dwelling place in me, then i must make a protected holy time and place within my life to receive that gift." (pg 46) rest is really a rather counter-cultural concept in our world. and to make a specific place and time for rest instead of "just catching it when you can" is even more of an oddity. or maybe that's just the circles i run in?!?!? i haven't decided yet what God's asking of me in all this, but i'm certain it doesn't involve ignoring one of the 10 Commandments.
****4 stars
I decided to take the other "book reviews" i had done earlier off the side bar and start putting them into posts. So... here's the old ones from before.
8/08 The Most Reluctant Convert - CS Lewis's Journey to Faith by David C Downing ~interesting...here's a man who had a long and twisted journey to our Lord. all his popular/major works were written in the last half of his life, after his conversion to Christianity. it's no wonder Screwtape and Mere Christianity are the great works they are. they were written from a "been there" man. it makes me want to read his memoir... Surprised by Joy and works by GK Chesterton, who influenced Lewis. *** 3 stars
7/08 Maurice & Therese - The Story of a Love by Patrick Ahern ~another great read. the book is based on the letters between St Therese of Lisieux and a struggling young priest. there are many of St Therese's thoughts on heaven as the letters were written at the end of her life. "God is nothing but Mercy and Love." her encouragement to Maurice was encouragement to me. ***** 5 stars
5/08 The Discernment of Spirits - An Ignation Guide for Everyday Living by Timothy M Gallagher, OMV ~i read this for a class called "Learning the Love of God". great book! i often felt he had been "looking in my windows" as far as my spiritual life is concerned. the book talks about learning to recognize and deal with spiritual highs and lows in your life. wish i would've read it many years ago...maybe could've grown a little faster and saved myself some heartache inbetween... ***** 5 stars
4/08 The Kite Runner by Khaded Hosseini ~recommended by my daughter. good book. it made the time on the flights from Bolivia to home go by faster. Thanks Mar! *** 3 stars