A Book Review-Keri Wyatt Kent -Rest

Today, two readers can win a copy of Keri Wyatt Kent's beautifully written book, Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity. You can read my full review at Becoming Me, and there you can also comment to win the the book. But before you head over there, please take a minute to read this special Q&A from the author.

Keri Wyatt Kent

Author of Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity

1. What is Sabbath, and what is its purpose? What do you mean by Sabbath Simplicity?

Sabbath, first and foremost, is a gift from our loving God. He invites us to take a day to rest from our labor, so that we might engage in relationship with him and with others. Its purpose is to refresh us physically and spiritually, to celebrate our freedom, to draw us close to God, and yet to remind us that we are not God.

God commanded us to Sabbath, to stop. But Sabbath-keeping is also a spiritual practice or discipline. All disciplines, (like prayer, solitude, etc.) create some space for God in our lives. Just as we have a lot of latitude in other practices (we can pray any number of ways, for example), we have freedom in how we practice Sabbath. My book offers a lot of ideas, and real-life examples, of how to approach this life-giving practice.

Sabbath Simplicity is a sanely-paced, God-focused life. It’s a lifestyle that includes the practice of Sabbath-keeping, but goes beyond just taking a day off. IN a way, it’s living out what Jesus told us to do in Matthew 6:33: See first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Sabbath Simplicity seeks God first.

2. What are some simple steps anyone can take to seek Sabbath Simplicity in their own lives?

The first step is to assess the current pace of your life—what activities have you and the people you live with said yes too. How hurried are you? You can’t figure out your next step, really, until you know where you are starting from. You may have to get very concrete and write down your schedule and look at it. Because your activity level during the week is going to affect your Sabbath.

Second, choose a day that you will keep Sabbath. I recommend Saturday or Sunday, and go from sunset to sunset. The Old Testament Sabbath was from sunset on the 6^th day of the week to sunset on the 7^th day—although as I explain in detail in the book, their ancient calendars were different from ours.

Third, choose one thing to refrain from, one thing to engage in. For example, refrain from housework or running errands, and engage in reading a spiritually challenging book, or playing with your kids. Start with small steps, and think about building your Sabbath Simplicity life a little at a time, gradually. After a few weeks, add another thing you will refrain from, and another thing you’ll engage in. Pray and listen, let God shape your Sabbath practice. Make your relationship with him the focus. Allow yourself flexibility.

3. Why did you start the practice of Sabbath? Why did you decide to observe it? How has your life and your family changed as a result?

Sundays in my house when I was growing up were mostly a relaxing family day, even though we didn’t call it Sabbath. But when I had my own family, I found myself getting very busy—not just with kids’ stuff but also getting over-involved at church. I tend to have a work-a-holic approach to life. When the kids were small, God brought a couple of books that mentioned Sabbath across my path. The idea of Sabbath stirred a longing in my soul, which is one way God speaks to us, through our deep desires. So I started, on my own, to set aside my normal work. It was very gradual, and it took my family a while to even notice. It’s a mysterious practice, in a way, because to “do” it, you have to stop doing. It is simply resting—and yet it brings you into the presence of God. It’s been a profound part of my spiritual journey. And my children know that Sunday is a peaceful day at our house. They also have learned that I am available to play, to listen, to cuddle. It’s given us a day for quality time, and I think it’s helped me be a better parent. It also silently affirms to my children, you are loved, apart from your accomplishments. It is okay to just be.

4. How does practicing the Sabbath in today’s busy society differ from the ancient concept of the Sabbath? Why is it so different? Why is it still important?

The ancient Jewish Sabbath had very strict boundaries, but within those boundaries, there was freedom and relationship. The Torah and traditions prohibited what was known as melachah, work that is creative or exercises dominion over your environment. There were 39 specific tasks, such as reaping, lighting a fire, etc., that correlated to the 39 tasks needed to build the temple.

Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath, gave us a new way of following the ancient law. Jesus reminded us that the law was originally meant to invite us into relationship with God. While the Bible makes it clear that we are saved by grace, and not by the law, God’s law still remains a great way to live—as long as we don’t get legalistic or think keeping certain rules will save us.

It’s important for many reasons, which I cover in the book. But here’s just one key reason: it allows us to experience the unconditional love of God in a physical, tangible way. It’s one thing to say he loves us even when we are not accomplishing or performing. But if we never actually stop performing, how can we experience that unconditional love? It allows us to say yes, with our bodies and our schedules, to Jesus invitation in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Sabbath is not so much something you “do” as a gift you receive.

5. You say the Sabbath made you learn flexibility. In what ways? How does Sabbath change throughout different seasons of our lives?

Jesus taught a whole new way of Sabbath, and I devote the entire first chapter of the book to just that. He showed us that Sabbath was for healing, reconciliation, valuing relationships over rules. But like any spiritual practice, we need to let God lead us, to be teachable. That requires flexibility. And it won’t always go perfectly. Again, we have to be willing to recognize that Sabbath Simplicity is a journey, and we’re learning as we go. Just as we learn other spiritual practices, like prayer or Bible study. We don’t have them completely figured out or perfected, but we keep doing them, and keep asking God to help us to do them better.

You also have to adapt your practice to the season of your life. I love that God gives a reason with the Sabbath command. Take a day off, he says, because you were slaves in Egypt. Slaves cannot take a day off, but free people can. Sabbath is a day to celebrate freedom, and to perhaps reflect on the gift of freedom, and to empathize a bit with those who are not free.

In certain seasons, though, we may feel like a slave—to our young children, our career, our needy friends, or aging parents. When I was in that season, it was hard. Ask for help. While you may, for example, still have to change diapers or feed your kids, you can refrain from other things. Don’t run errands on Sunday. It’s a nightmare with little kids in tow anyway. Do it another day, and save Sunday for just relaxing with your family. I have very specific suggestions on how to do this in my book.

6. You’re the parent of a 12 and 14 year old. What does Sabbath look like for them? Do you restrict their activities on Sundays?

I have never legislated Sabbath for anyone else in my home. My kids have freedom that day to rest or to play or whatever. They know that I am available to listen or to talk. Sometimes we will play a board game, go for a bike ride or a walk.

My daughter has played soccer for ten years, and she sometimes has games on Sunday. But we are never running from one game to the next, or from the game to the grocery store because she is not in more than one sport at a time. (so in that way, we do restrict—they can do one sport and one artistic pursuit at a time, no more). But the restriction is not just a Sabbath thing, it’s a lifestyle thing.

We sometimes have friends over for a meal, or the kids have friends over. Those kids often remark—your house is so peaceful. I think Sabbath is a day to extend hospitality—but not in a stressful way.

My son is more introverted, so sometimes his Sundays provide him the freedom to just spend time alone, playing Legos or reading or drawing. My daughter is more extroverted, so she often spends time with friends. Her youth group meets during the 11:15 a.m. service at church, and from there they go to “house groups” which are a meal and group time. So a big part of her Sunday is spent in community with other students from our church.

7. What is your favorite way to spend a Sunday?

It depends on the time of year. In summer, I love being outside: gardening, walking the dog, riding my bike, just sitting on the deck reading. Some weekends, we are at my in-laws lake house, and we go sailing, water skiing, or just spend time with extended family.

In winter, my best Sundays include a walk or a workout, and then some time on the couch, drinking coffee and reading (The Sunday tribune or a good book), with a fire in the fireplace and Mozart on the stereo. If I feel creative, I might cook but I always plan ahead enough to have leftovers available for dinner.

8. How did you balance busy Sundays full of soccer games and other activities with the practice of Sabbath? What advice do you have for parents trying to juggle hectic schedules? What about parents of small children?

While we sometimes have a soccer game, we don’t have other things, because we’ve placed limits on our activities. So we don’t have busy Sundays. My son has often opted not to be in sports, but this year, played football. Thankfully, his games are on Saturday.

Advice: Let your kids pick one sport plus one other activity (say, piano lessons) at a time. An important life lesson you need to teach your children: delayed gratification. You can’t have it all, all at once. You can try lots of different sports, one at a time. The more kids you have, the more crucial this is. Four kids in two sports each often translates into eight games per weekend, not to mention a least a dozen practices per week. Choose sanity.

Schedule housework and errands for weekdays, so if you do have sports, you’re not trying to squeeze in other work around games.

Substitute whole family activities for individual activities. Going for a bike ride or walk together, attending church, serving in your church or community together—these are ways to keep kids active but not running in different directions. It builds your family’s cohesiveness.

Do the housework together with your family the day before Sabbath to get ready. The day is more restful if the house is clean. And everyone should help keep the house from getting trashed—not just on Sabbath but every day.

Those with small kids—I’d say talk to your spouse. See if they are willing to take over things like diaper changes or middle of the night crying for just that one day. Your first Sabbath Simplicity step might be just deciding that one night a week, you’ll get a full night’s sleep.

One Jewish tradition is a family meal, which begins with lighting candles, prayer and saying a blessing over your children. Kids love rituals, and prayers of blessing can re-align our hearts.

Some families have a box of toys that only comes out on Sabbath, so that they are special. I have an entire chapter on “playing” which I think is a very important part of Sabbath with small children.

The most important part with little kids is to think of it as what you “get to” do on Sabbath, rather than what you “can’t do.” Reframe Sabbath in this way and your children will love it.

9. How can someone who has a job that requires them to work on Sundays practice Sabbath-keeping?

Pick a different day. Many people I interviewed for the book (and some who gave me their unsolicited opinion) believe that Saturday is the true Sabbath, because the Bible says the “seventh day.” My question is, the seventh day on which calendar? Because the calendar we use now is not the one used in ancient times. In fact, there were many different calendars. I detail this in the book. I think the key is, pick one day a week, then keep that consistently, don’t change it week to week. If you work a job with an irregular schedule, say like a firefighter or a pilot, you can be a bit more creative. Look at your schedule for the month and schedule in four Sabbath days, ahead of time. Keep those as if they were sacred—which they are.

10. You have a chapter in the book about how Sabbath connects Christians to the Jewish roots of their faith. Why is that important?

We live in a culture that forgets history so easily. Our faith roots are in Judaism. Christianity is “a branch grafted in” to the tree of the Jewish faith. We cannot understand the New Testament fully without the context of the Old Testament—also known as the Torah. The Sabbath is a picture of God’s grace—we don’t work, yet God provides. Jesus is our peace, our Shabbat Shalom. Plus, we are followers and disciples of Jesus. As should, we should live as he lived, practice what he practiced: prayer, solitude, Sabbath. In the book, I note: “The cure for our isolation and disconnection is not simply more relationships but deeper ones, and a deeper connection to our shared past.”

Also, a pivotal ritual in our faith—communion, is based on a Jewish Sabbath meal, the Passover. Sabbath meal always includes wine and bread—again, the communion elements. Even though they have different meanings, the Sabbath meal was a foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrifice for us.

11. Didn’t Jesus set us free from the law? If so, do we even have to practice Sabbath at all? What did Jesus say about the Sabbath?

By that argument, it would be okay to kill or commit adultery, because we are free from the law. What Jesus set us free from is being saved or in right relationship with God through the law. We’re saved by grace, not by law keeping.

So we won’t be saved by Sabbath-keeping, but it is still how God invites us to live.

Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for people. If God makes something for you, it’s a gift. He said it was not about the rules, but relationship. It’s a spiritual practice that brings us close to God.

I have a whole chapter in the book that talks about what Jesus said about Sabbath. Researching that chapter was very interesting. I noticed that Jesus often taught by saying “you’ve heard it said…but I say.” For example, he’d say, “you’ve heard it said, don’t commit adultery, but I say, if you look at a woman with lust, you’ve already committed adultery.” But he didn’t use that particular style of teaching on Sabbath. But the thing he seemed to get in trouble with the Pharisees and teachers of the law for most was breaking their Sabbath rules. I think that in the breaking of the rules, he was saying to them, “you’ve heard it said…but I say” with his actions.

He healed on Sabbath, restored relationships, taught and confronted, and defended those choices vigorously. He called us to a new understanding of Sabbath—and clearly stated that legalism is not his way.

For 100 years from now

I have been reading Little House on the Prairie to the X-Factor. She refers to it as "Little House on the Prarium." Makes me wonder if she is envisioning dolphins and sharks swimming in the Kansas creek beds.

Being reminded of the brevity of life on this earth (Please click on the link to the left-- My 30 days-- if you'd like to know more) I decided to have some of our every day, seemingly ordinary moments captured by the camera.

I gave Dr. N. our FugiFilm S 3000 and asked him to take a few natural shots while we read. I didn't expect him to go all Jaime Kesler on me, which totally cracked me up and explains to you why there are so many pictures... including one of my foot. He's a talented man, but his photography skills are not quite at Jaime's level...but not all that bad for an amateur either. Plus, ya gotta love him for trying. And, you've gotta love me for NOT including the ones he took of my backside as I bent over to pick up the book. Yep, he's a peach.

After downloading the pictures, I cringed. I don't need to write that they are not flattering shots of yours truly. My neck has disappeared and I seem to look at least 15 pounds heavier than I do in my mirror. And that white short-sleeved sweater? I can never wear that again. What made me think it looked good on me. I almost deleted every shot. Almost. Then I stopped.

I decided to post the pictures because one day my daughter may be missing me. When that day comes, this blog may be long and gone but hopefully in one of those "blog to book" formats. She can then go to that scrapbook of sorts and look at pictures that will bring her back to sweet times. Maybe she'll even remember how my lips felt as I kissed the top of her head. Perhaps she'll laugh as she remembers her daddy clowning around with the camera.

And my disheveled appearance? Well, perhaps that will also bring hope to her heart. She'll know that even though her mom wasn't glamorous, she loved her enough to be captured looking a bit worn. No make up, messy hair, dark circles around the eyes...that's OK..she can flip through my wedding album if she wants to see my hair coiffed. But if she just wants to peer through the windows of time and look at her mom who looks tired because she was up at 2 am searching for blankie, these are the photos to view. Not clips of a picture perfect hot mama (if such photos of me ever existed), but of a mommy who had a tough day but curled up on her bed to read a classic story, and thought it precious enough to photograph.

Maybe she'll even remember the personal stories I interjected and the quirky way I bent my knees and curled my toes. Most of all, I want her to remember how much she was loved by her unglamorous mom.





Incidentally, did you know that Laura Ingalls Wilder lived to be 90 years old? She died in 1957. Can you imagine? She was a pioneer girl who lived to see electricity and all its wonders.

Book Tour - Wiser Than Serpents

I've joined the blog book tour circuit. Today's review is Wiser Than Serpents by Susan May Warren.
I apologize for not meeting my July 11 deadline for this review. I had written today's date as the deadline. Re-read that brain fried post below for more details.

Using her knowledge of the Russian culture, Warren writes a griping fictional mystery about the non-fictional and gruesome world of human trafficking. The story is told from the perspective of the rescuers and not the victims and is steeped in fact. IT is one of those books that can be read in several hours, but leaves your thinking for days.

On a scale from 1-5, I give it 4 Naz's, because the subject matter is important, the writing style is engaging, and the characters are interesting.




About The Author

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of novels and novellas. She won an ACRW/ACFW Book of the Year award in the suspense.romance category in 2003 and 2004, and a 2006 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award. After serving for eight years with her husband and four children as missionaries in Far East Russia, she now writes full-time while her husband runs a hotel on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota. To learn more about Susan visit. www.susanmaywarren.com

Behind the Pages -An important message from Susan May Warren from her Web Site.

I’ll never forget the day my friend Olga and I had tea, and she told me her 19 year old daughter was headed to Japan to “waitress.” She’d gotten a job with a travel agency, and was thrilled to be working in international sales, as Olga put it. I couldn’t deny the fear that stole through me. Waitress? International Sales? I had friends who worked with a government NGO raising awareness of the human trafficking epidemic growing in Russia and I couldn’t shake the feeling that Olga’s daughter was being sucked into the vortex of this dark world – and I told her as much. Olga dismissed it, and her daughter did go to Japan. Last time I checked in with Olga, before we left to go stateside, she hadn’t yet returned. I don’t know if Olga even knew where she was. The memory still leaves me shaken and prompts me to pray for Olga and her daughter.

It was this memory, and the fact that there are 27 million people around the globe held as slaves today – more thank 80% of them women and children, and up to 50% minors – that compelled me to write a story with this element in it. Wiser than Serpents is a continuation of the Mission:Russia series, a thriller about Yanna, whose sister is snatched through a Russian dating service, and disappears. Yanna enlists the help of Delta Force Captain, David Curtiss to find and rescue her. Readers who’ve read, “In Sheep’s Clothing” and “Sands of Time” will recognize Yanna as the tech expert, and David as the solid Christian of the group.

Honestly, the research for this book made me physically ill, and I had friends praying for me, against the darkness and evil inherent in this subject. Thankfully, the book is written from the point of views of the rescuers, not the victims, and offers hope and empowerment, instead of feelings of helplessness. It raises awareness without lowering the standards of Christian fiction.

However, the world is real, and the need to get involved is great. I so greatly admire people who take their beliefs and put action to them –hence why a portion of the proceeds of Wiser than Serpents is going to help the International Justice Mission, (www.ijm.org), an organization dedicated to rescuing victims and fighting the scourge of slavery. Thank you IJM and so many others who work to make a real difference in our world!

Friday's Fabulous Find and a Familiar Face

Last week, as I was blog surfing, I happened upon a book review for a children's Christian fantasy novel. As I scanned the review I thought, boy the author looks familiar. Familiar indeed! We once worked together at the Christian financial planning firm Ronald Blue & Company when I lived in Orlando, Fl. The author is Eric Reinhold and his first book, which looks incredible, is called Ryann Watters and the King's Sword.
The book is illustrated by Corey Wolfe.

Please click on the link above to read more about the book and Eric. The book is currently in limited release and more than 2,000 copies have been sold. This would make a fabulous gift for children ages 9-14 . I found myself really enjoying the excerpts and cannot wait to order and read the entire thing, so I think adults would like it as well. It's well-written and Biblically-based. Copies can be purchased on the Web site and next month will be available in book stores.

If you are someone who ministers to youth, it would make a great purchase for a youth book club. But don't just take my word for it. Here's a review from a ten-year-old. Below is an excerpt.

chapter 1

The angel's visitation

It first appeared as a gentle glow, almost like a child’s night-light. Heavy shadows filled the room as the boy lay face up, covers tucked neatly under his arms. A slight smile on his face hinted that he was in the midst of a pleasant dream.

Ryann Watters, who had just celebrated his twelfth birthday, rolled lazily onto his side, his blond hair matted into the pillow, unaware of the glow as it began to intensify. Shadows searched for hiding places throughout the room as the glow transformed from a pale yellow hue to brilliant white.

Ryann’s eyelids fluttered briefly and then flickered at the glare reflecting off his pale blue bedroom walls. Drowsily, he turned toward the light expecting to see one of his parents coming in to check on him. “What’s going on?” his voice cracked as he reached up to rub the crusty sleep from his eyes. more...

Under a pale half-moon, Drake Dunfellow’s house looked just like any other. A closer inspection, however, would reveal its failing condition. Water oaks lining the side of the curved driveway hunched over haggardly, like old men struggling on canes. The lawn, which should have been a lively green for early spring, was withered and sandy. A few patches of grass were sprinkled here and there. Rust lines streaked down the one jagged peak atop the tin-roof house. The flimsy clapboard sides were outlined by fading white trim speckled with dried paint curls. Hanging baskets containing a variety of plants and weeds all struggling to stay alive shared the crowded front porch with two mildew-covered rocking chairs. Inside, magazines and newspaper clippings both old and new were carelessly strewn about. Encrusted dishes from the previous day’s meals battled each other for space in the bulging kitchen sink. In the garage, away from the usual living areas, was a boy’s room. Dull paneling outlined the bedroom, while equally dreary brown linoleum covered the floor. The bedroom must have been an afterthought because not much consideration had been given to the details. A bookcase cut from rough planks sat atop an old garage sale dresser.

Moonlight pressing through the dust-covered metal blinds tried to provide a sense of peacefulness. Instead it revealed bristly red hair atop a young boy’s head poking out from beneath a mushy feather pillow. His heavy breathing provided the only movement in the quiet room. Tiny droplets of perspiration lined his brow as he began jerking about under the thin cotton sheets.

Starting at the edge of the window, the blackness spread downward, transforming all traces of light to an oily dinginess. Drake was slowly surrounded and remained the only thing not saturated in the darkness. Bolting upright to a stiff-seated attention, Drake’s bloodshot eyes darted back and forth. He stared into the black nothingness shuddering and aware that the only thing visible in the room was his bed.

“Who . . . who’s there?” Drake cried out, puzzled by the hollow sound that didn’t seem to travel beyond the edge of his mattress. Beads of sweat trickled down his neck, connecting his numerous freckled dots. He strained, slightly tilting his head, ears perked. There was no reply.