Our Recommended Books

Dear Kajijis,
Last Friday was gray and rainy yet many of you came to take part in our Kajiji group and made it a wonderfully fun and engaging gathering. Thanks to Erin for hosting at the last minute due to the gray skies. Our discussion centered around recently read books that have had an impact on our life. I love receiving recommendations for books from friends and would enjoy having a “recommended reading” list. Since there are hundreds of great books out there, I hope we can have this discussion again in the future and add on to our list. I’ve compiled our list here:

Crunchy Cons by Rod Dreher – Erin points to this book as helping to define her personal, social and political identity as a “crunchy conservative”. Highly recommended to those who struggle with finding a healthy balance in the “red vs. blue” politics of life.

Confessions of a Reformission Rev.: Hard Lessons from an Emerging Missional Church by Mark Driscoll – This book is of a pastor and his journey from a tiny, intimate church to finding himself the leader of a massive body of members. Shawna learned about setting goals and planning ahead in life as vital to growth and leadership.

Chasing the Dragon by Jackie Pullinger and Andrew Quicke – Lisa loves this inspiring story of Jackie as a young woman being called to live and serve in the Walled City of Hong Kong where addicts, prostitutes and criminals are her neighbors, and how her influence brought hundreds of these “outsiders” to Jesus Christ.

Why You Act the Way You Do by Tim LaHaye – Kim testifies to this book as helping to better her marriage and the way she interacts with others. Tim LaHaye interweaves the four basic Greek temperaments (of which we all are predominantly one type - Phlegmatic, Sanguine, Melancholy and Choleric) with the fruits of the Holy Spirit and how we can overcome the weaknesses inherent in each type.

Great with Child: Reflections on Faith, Fullness and Becoming a Mother by Debra Rienstra – Jill loved reading this book throughout her recent pregnancy and commented on how refreshingly realistic it was about the journey of conceiving, growing and delivering a child. The author, a Calvin College professor, writes beautifully in a poetic style about her emotional and spiritual changes created by her third and last pregnancy.

Praying with Icons by Jim Forest – Stephanie appreciates the historical iconographic education this book provides as well as the significant symbology behind the icons. In reviewing this book, The Midwest Book Review states, “Icons are not simply illustrations or "art" in the usual sense, but aids to prayer and contemplation, windows on the divine. Praying With Icons is a superlative introduction to icons and is highly recommended for readers seeking to expand their spiritual experience to encompass the entire Christian spiritual legacy.”

Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson – I recently discovered this book at the library and it has changed my thinking on housekeeping. The value of planning and organizing the space we live in has a huge impact on me and my family, and I have reevaluated my perspective on the “art” of keeping house, thanks to this book. It is a big book with detailed explanations, list suggestions and helpful tips to getting started for novices like me as well as those more familiar with the “science” of keeping house.

Shelter for the Spirit: Create Your Own Haven in a Hectic World by Victoria Moran – This is in tandem with the above-mentioned Home Comforts book as it delves more deeply into the spiritual and emotional makeup of the environment of our homes. I have yet to read more than a couple of chapters, but so far it is one of the best books on this topic that I have read.

The Good Life by Helen & Scott Nearing – Michelle recounted the intriguing story of the authors who apparently are considered modern-day pioneers of rural homesteading. They abandoned city life for a more self-sustaining and vegan way of life that lasted for sixty years!

The Maker’s Diet by Jordan Rubin – Caroline found this popular health book to be interesting and helpful. This self-proclaimed Biblically-based holistic approach to health addresses the complete well being of a person by incorporating the physical, emotional, spiritual and mental aspects into the diet plan.

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a` Kempis – Caroline also recommended this book, one of the best-loved classics of Christian literature, originally written around A.D. 1440. Until this century, it was the most widely read book, second only to the Bible.

So welcome to our list of recommended books! If you’d like to read any of these, click on the links where you can read summaries and reviews of these at amazon.com. You may find some of these at your local library or at www.christianbook.com. Thanks for everyone’s input and recommendations. I look forward to hearing more in the future!

This Friday, our discussion will center around our choice to stay home with our children. Are you fulfilled with the role of stay-at-home mom or would you rather be somewhere else? Anywhere else? Just kidding…it’s been one of those days. Did you give anything up to stay home with your kids such as a career, hobby, achievements, etc.? We’ll meet at DeMeritt Hill Farm unless, of course, the weather doesn’t cooperate again. We’ll plan on meeting next to the playground so bring blankets and chairs. Afterwards, we may stay to pick apples and have a picnic lunch so you’re welcome to join us, if you’d like.

Did you ever stop to think that we women who do too much wouldn’t be able to do too much if we weren’t competent, strong, intelligent, courageous, and
determined? We might, however, be a bit lacking in common sense.
- Anne Wilson Schaef

Crystal