Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Monday, February 05, 2007
Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge
Helen has been talking about this book and I've heard good reviews about the male counterpart, Wild at Heart, so Ben and I are reading them at the same time and will swap later.
So far the book has talked about the huge task of being a woman - living up to the women we meet at church, and in the shadow of the Good Wife in Proverbs 31:
The book talks about the heart of a woman, that we were made in God's image as women and how our desires have an important part to play and shouldn't be dismissed. For example, the need to be romanced and win the heart of a man, to be treated as his beauty and be rescued.
The girlish part of me likes this. I love the thought that everything my little girl heart wants is valid and important, even the dream of being a princess and being fought for, and that I have a role to play in using the fierceness of a woman's heart in being a warrior "in a uniquely feminie way."
The next part of the book struck an uneasy chord in me. It describes woman as "the crescendo, the final, astonishing work of God... She is the Master's finishing touch." The book seems to use the story of Genesis to extrapolate theology in a strangely literal way, for example Wild at Heart says that men were born to hunt and be outside of the home because they were created outside the Garden of Eden - the garden was built around him almost as a cage. I'm not sure the Bible is meant to be read like this.
Helen also directed me to this review, which points out the "questionable theology" and the un-Biblicalness (is there a better word for that) of a lot of the statements in the book, eg:
I feel like the authors ignore the sovereignty of God at times which is disappointing and uncomfortable to read (but then, hey, maybe they'd say I have a spirit of bad self esteem or something...!)
I'm still hoping to get something out of it (once I get past Chapters Three to Five which seem to dwell on going over past hurts more than I'm comfortable with). I'm looking forward to reading Wild at Heart too, Ben seems to be enjoying most of it so far. The only other quibble I have so far is the writing style, which seems to consist of a huge amount of very short sentences which don't flow nicely!
Has anyone else read either book? What did you think?
So far the book has talked about the huge task of being a woman - living up to the women we meet at church, and in the shadow of the Good Wife in Proverbs 31:
"... whose life is so busy I wonder, when does she have time for friendships, for taking walks, or reading good books? Her night never goes out at night? When does she have sex? Somehow she has sanctified the shame that most women live under..."I must admit I hold the Good Wife in very high esteem and I would love to imitate her and be all that I can be as a wife and someday a mother. It was a completely different perspective for me to read that this is such a huge difficult image to live up to, as I view Proverbs 31 as something that I will probably never be in this life but something to work towards as God changes me.
The book talks about the heart of a woman, that we were made in God's image as women and how our desires have an important part to play and shouldn't be dismissed. For example, the need to be romanced and win the heart of a man, to be treated as his beauty and be rescued.
The girlish part of me likes this. I love the thought that everything my little girl heart wants is valid and important, even the dream of being a princess and being fought for, and that I have a role to play in using the fierceness of a woman's heart in being a warrior "in a uniquely feminie way."
The next part of the book struck an uneasy chord in me. It describes woman as "the crescendo, the final, astonishing work of God... She is the Master's finishing touch." The book seems to use the story of Genesis to extrapolate theology in a strangely literal way, for example Wild at Heart says that men were born to hunt and be outside of the home because they were created outside the Garden of Eden - the garden was built around him almost as a cage. I'm not sure the Bible is meant to be read like this.
Helen also directed me to this review, which points out the "questionable theology" and the un-Biblicalness (is there a better word for that) of a lot of the statements in the book, eg:
Given the way creation unfolds, how it builds to ever and ever higher works of art, can there be any doubt that Eve is the crown of creation? . . . Look out across the Earth and say to yourselves, "The whole, vast world is incomplete without me. Creation reached its zenith in me."
I feel like the authors ignore the sovereignty of God at times which is disappointing and uncomfortable to read (but then, hey, maybe they'd say I have a spirit of bad self esteem or something...!)
I'm still hoping to get something out of it (once I get past Chapters Three to Five which seem to dwell on going over past hurts more than I'm comfortable with). I'm looking forward to reading Wild at Heart too, Ben seems to be enjoying most of it so far. The only other quibble I have so far is the writing style, which seems to consist of a huge amount of very short sentences which don't flow nicely!
Has anyone else read either book? What did you think?
Help!
I'm in the middle of my spelling and grammar proofreading test and have spotted most of the mistakes. I think a few more of them are split infinitives, but can anyone spot the mistakes in these sentences? There's meant to be at least one spelling or grammar mistake in each:
* Climbing the stairs yesterday, his leg suddenly gave way.
* Driving through the park yesterday, a stag jumped out in front of us and was hit by our car.
* Stranded at the station, the strike left Mick with no alternative but to take a taxi.
* When just a baby, my mother took me to India.
* It was her, and not the girl who owned the horse, who came out of the stable carrying the saddle.
* When something goes wrong at work, she is always more philosophical about it than me.
This is probably cheating, but I don't think I've yet developed the supernatural skill to spot all mistakes that experienced proofreaders seem to have!
* Climbing the stairs yesterday, his leg suddenly gave way.
* Driving through the park yesterday, a stag jumped out in front of us and was hit by our car.
* Stranded at the station, the strike left Mick with no alternative but to take a taxi.
* When just a baby, my mother took me to India.
* It was her, and not the girl who owned the horse, who came out of the stable carrying the saddle.
* When something goes wrong at work, she is always more philosophical about it than me.
This is probably cheating, but I don't think I've yet developed the supernatural skill to spot all mistakes that experienced proofreaders seem to have!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
New Year's Resolutions
I was really excited about my resolutions this year, despite them being almost the same as I make every year! I've made pretty good progress though I think, which isn't bad for a month on. They were...
* Read the Bible and pray alone more often - I'm reading the Bible in One Year which I believe you can also follow online. I'm really behind (which I'm not as bothered about as I would have been a few years ago - I know God still loves me!) I'm enjoying it though, the Old Testament stuff more than the New at the moment. Regarding prayer, Sacred Space has become my homepage instead of the NYFC forum and it's doing me a lot of good.
* Continue going through our Marriage Course Book with Ben and have regular us time - we've been a bit sow on this one. Can't remember haivng a marriage book session for a while but it's planned for tonight! I'd recommend this book to anyone getting married (or even if you are married) - it's really good and we're finding it a good starter for discussion - The Marriage Course by Nicky and Sila Lee.
* Lose weight - it's there every year! I joined Weight Watchers at the beginning of January and I'm really enjoying it. I've lost 6 pounds so far and feel great - eating loads of fruit and veg and getting into running before going to work. I have loads of energy (hence no blogging, can't be bothered to sit at the computer for very long!) The added incentive of finding my wedding dress is spurring me on!
* Finish my proofreading course before September - this is another thing that's just clicked into place this year. I've got an A on another test and making steady progress which I'm thrilled at!
* Pray with Ben regularly - another one that needs a bit of work yet, but we're getting there.
* Join a group/activity - to practise my terrible social skills. Weight Watchers is being good for this, and it's still on my list of things to do to go to St Augustine's Mediation group - not just to be sociable but also to get more involved and to learn the art.
* Read some quality books - I spent most of 2006 catching up with chick lit, so this is my learned year! I'm reading 'On Beauty' by Zadie Smith to start with at Carl's recommendation.
2007 is turning out to be excellent! I've never had more energy or been more excited about life!
* Read the Bible and pray alone more often - I'm reading the Bible in One Year which I believe you can also follow online. I'm really behind (which I'm not as bothered about as I would have been a few years ago - I know God still loves me!) I'm enjoying it though, the Old Testament stuff more than the New at the moment. Regarding prayer, Sacred Space has become my homepage instead of the NYFC forum and it's doing me a lot of good.
* Continue going through our Marriage Course Book with Ben and have regular us time - we've been a bit sow on this one. Can't remember haivng a marriage book session for a while but it's planned for tonight! I'd recommend this book to anyone getting married (or even if you are married) - it's really good and we're finding it a good starter for discussion - The Marriage Course by Nicky and Sila Lee.
* Lose weight - it's there every year! I joined Weight Watchers at the beginning of January and I'm really enjoying it. I've lost 6 pounds so far and feel great - eating loads of fruit and veg and getting into running before going to work. I have loads of energy (hence no blogging, can't be bothered to sit at the computer for very long!) The added incentive of finding my wedding dress is spurring me on!
* Finish my proofreading course before September - this is another thing that's just clicked into place this year. I've got an A on another test and making steady progress which I'm thrilled at!
* Pray with Ben regularly - another one that needs a bit of work yet, but we're getting there.
* Join a group/activity - to practise my terrible social skills. Weight Watchers is being good for this, and it's still on my list of things to do to go to St Augustine's Mediation group - not just to be sociable but also to get more involved and to learn the art.
* Read some quality books - I spent most of 2006 catching up with chick lit, so this is my learned year! I'm reading 'On Beauty' by Zadie Smith to start with at Carl's recommendation.
2007 is turning out to be excellent! I've never had more energy or been more excited about life!
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Down the Line
I can't make up my mind about this Radio 4 programme Down the Line. Sometimes it's interesting, rarely funny and other times I think it borders on offensive. Have a listen and see what you think - today's programme was about religion and a newly 'discovered' colour.
Advent
Ben and I are taking more notice of advent this year. We're getting into the habit of burning the candle for the day and pondering on the verse in our advent calender then using the rest of the time to pray together. I like having this time of quiet and focus every evening. It's having a good side effect on our relationship too, because often we make time for quality time together but neglect having some spiritual time together.
Wikipedia has an article on advent which I found interesting, especially the dual aspects of looking to the future which I never realised before - one for the Hebrews looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, and one for Christians looking forward to the second coming. It's an exciting time of preparation for celebrating the nativity* of Jesus and also personal preparation for when he comes again.
* I also learnt that nativity means the general time and place of a person's birth and early years, and is not solely applicable to Jesus!
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