by emma | Aug 12, 2011 | Books, Faith
I read a really great book recently. The kind that lingers in your mind and makes you ask questions of your opinions for weeks on end after…
Lauren Winner wrote this great memoir a few years back on her journey, Girl Meets God. I found it to be witty, intelligent and deeply moving. The book I’m referring to in this post, however, was her second (I believe) – Real Sex.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Lauren writes with scathing honesty about sex, the church, and chastity. It’s less “don’t do it” and more “here’s how it forms you…”
I’m curious as to what my married friends, and my single ones, think of the quote below…
“Marriage consists not simply or even primarily of a personal relationship. Rather, it crystallises the love of the larger church community. The couple is not just two-in-one, but two together within the whole, with specific responsibility for the whole… They must persevere in love, because the community needs to see God’s love actualised among God’s people.”
(Julie Hanlon Rubio)
We tend to view marriage as about us and our partner…
What’s our responsibility to the church community then?
Would love to hear your thoughts…
by emma | Aug 8, 2011 | Books
There are a few places I go consistently when I need inspiration. Blaine Hogan’s blog is one of them.
So when Blaine announces he’s writing a book? On the creative process?
BOOM! 
Yes please.
I read through it over the last couple of days, and loved every minute of it. I felt understood, but also, gently, kicked up the ass to get up, do the work, and keep going.
There were sections that had me close to tears; sections that pushed me towards my fears; sections that challenged some long-held assumptions.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, for everyone, and maybe especially for those who don’t think of themselves as being “creative”.
Stop by Blaine’s blog to say hi, then go buy his book.
by emma | Mar 28, 2011 | Books
After hearing about it on the Accidental Creative podcast a few weeks back, I picked up a copy of Josh Kaufman’s The Personal MBA.
Holy mother of all things good.
I did not put that book down for 3 days solid, until I finished it. If you’re looking for an easy to read, quick introduction to business, this is the book for you. It introduces some of the key concepts in easy to understand terms, and provides tons of further reading suggestions.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
by emma | Jan 21, 2011 | Books
by emma | Feb 10, 2010 | Books
It took a long time to get here in the mail, but I’ve finally got the chance to read Mark Batterson’s latest book, Primal.
Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity explores what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Mark takes us on a journey with him, in which he often writes honestly of his own struggles, failures, and successes.
I’ll be honest, I hoped for more from it. Much of what it said seemed to be reiterating ideas from Mark’s first book, In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day. But as I thought more about it, I was challenged to look into my heart and see how much head knowledge I have and how little I truly act on. It’s challenging me to step forward and make some changes, act on the things I believe in, rather than just believing them.
“Faith without works is dead…”
[Thanks to Random House for sending me a review copy.]
by emma | Dec 14, 2009 | Books
A while ago I discovered that I comment I left on an article on Wrecked For The Ordinary resulted in a copy of Cold Tangerines winging it’s way to my doorstep. You know me… I’m never one to turn down free books.
That book happens to be Shauna Niequist’s first book, and it is stunning. It’s very easy to read, yet it’s this beautiful celebration of life in all it’s fullness. It’s learning to let go of the need to impress and simply rejoicing in the little things (and the big ones). Perhaps my favourite thing is that it’s real – that I can imagine having been a part of the kind of stories she tells.
You can read a few chapters from it on her website.
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