I loved the introduction to this book where she sort of sets the stage. The first 50 pages read like a more traditional memoir and had great writing. I loved the introduction to this book where she sort of sets the stage. The first 50 pages read like a more traditional memoir and had great writing. I think while I enjoyed her style and essay writing in the latter parts of the collection, it did start to feel redundant and some of the topics & writing felt a bit dated as this came out almost 25 years ago. Nevertheless I will be checking out more from Lamott! I appreciated her honesty and vulnerability in her faith journey. ...more
Lots of good stuff to think about in this one. Reading this type of Christian non-fiction definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone which was good. Lots of good stuff to think about in this one. Reading this type of Christian non-fiction definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone which was good. I have really been enjoying listening to Keller's sermons, and I think while he has his flaws (who doesn't though?), his way of looking at the world helps me understand my own better. I'm a very logical person. Faith is inherently something I desire but also fight back against. It's hard for me to fathom trusting and putting my faith in something that I can't perfectly explain or articulate. I think a lot of people, believers or otherwise, understand that struggle. It's a life-long journey to accepting that there are thinks we cannot know or ever fully arrive at, on this plane of existence. I think Keller put it best this way:
"The faith that changes the life and connects to God is best conveyed by the word “trust.” Imagine you are on a high cliff and you lose your footing and begin to fall. Just beside you as you fall is a branch sticking out of the very edge of the cliff. It is your only hope and it is more than strong enough to support your weight. How can it save you? If your mind is filled with intellectual certainty that the branch can support you, but you don’t actually reach out and grab it, you are lost. If your mind is instead filled with doubts and uncertainty that the branch can hold you, but you reach out and grab it anyway, you will be saved. Why? It is not the strength of your faith but the object of your faith that actually saves you. Strong faith in a weak branch is fatally inferior to weak faith in a strong branch."
What I can do, though, is continue to try and strengthen my faith while also recognizing it's not ultimately about me at all. This book simultaneously confirmed and challenged my beliefs, and I'm happy to have read it!...more
I enjoyed this book, especially reading it with some friends. It made for a good discussion and I liked hearing how they interpreted things[3.5 stars]
I enjoyed this book, especially reading it with some friends. It made for a good discussion and I liked hearing how they interpreted things and what they took away from the reading.
That being said, I think it started stronger than it ended. And some of the info didn't feel particularly new to me—though if I'd read this book 4-5 years ago, and had not already read Surprised by Hope, then I might have found this more revelatory.
All in all, a nice change of pace from what I normally read....more
This book is definitely outside the genres I usually read, and honestly the writing style is not what I'm used to. I'm not necessarily looking fo[7/10
This book is definitely outside the genres I usually read, and honestly the writing style is not what I'm used to. I'm not necessarily looking for the best writing ever when it comes to these more message-driven books, but I'm also not used to reading writing that sounds, at times, more like an Instagram caption.
That being said, it fulfills on what it's trying to do, makes a lot of good points, while being enlightening, encouraging and educational. I imagine people that love these kinds of books will probably enjoy this one more than I did, but that isn't to say I disliked this book—I would still recommend it to those interested....more
If you are new to and curious about the Enneagram, I think this book is a fantastic way to start digging into it. Cron wonderfully explains each type,If you are new to and curious about the Enneagram, I think this book is a fantastic way to start digging into it. Cron wonderfully explains each type, giving context to them in many ways (work, childhood, relationships) as well as details the various elements of the Enneagram (wings, stress, security). It was insightful, accessible and entertaining, and has truly opened my eyes to how I see the world in a particular way as well as how other people very unlike me see the world—and that gives me the ability to reframe my relationships with other people so I am slower to judge, quicker to listen and overall more gracious.
On the other hand, if you have absolutely no idea what the Enneagram is, you can take this free test (granted you can also just read about the 9 types and figure out which one you are, but I think the test is a helpful starting place). I'd encourage you to do some research and read up on your type because it's truly changed my life and interactions in such a positive way! #enneagramforlife...more
I finished this book a few days ago, and I just can't stop thinking about it. It's not a perfect book by any means, but it was perfect for me at this I finished this book a few days ago, and I just can't stop thinking about it. It's not a perfect book by any means, but it was perfect for me at this moment in my life. I'm only bummed I waited so long to finally get around to reading it....more
This was enlightening. Quite a long read for a theological non-fiction work, at least for me, someone who doesn't often read this material. However, WThis was enlightening. Quite a long read for a theological non-fiction work, at least for me, someone who doesn't often read this material. However, Wright is obviously extremely knowledgeable, writes in a way that is intriguing, inspiring, and causes you to think about your own beliefs. I enjoyed it....more
I think McKnight does a good job of asserting his belief about what exactly "the gospel" is. But perhaps be does it a bit too much. The book can becomI think McKnight does a good job of asserting his belief about what exactly "the gospel" is. But perhaps be does it a bit too much. The book can become extremely repetitive, with his thesis making it into every chapter of the book excessively, maybe on every page or in every paragraph. Read this for class, not normally something I would choose to read, but I found it enlightening overall....more
An absolute must-read. Moving, inspirational, raw and real. This book will take everything you think you know about your self-perception and cause youAn absolute must-read. Moving, inspirational, raw and real. This book will take everything you think you know about your self-perception and cause you to reconsider how you express that....more
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