Welcome to Litsy!

There is a difference between curing and healing, and the church called to the slow and difficult work of healing. We are called to enter into one another‘s pain, anoint the sick, and stick around, no matter the outcome, even when it makes us uncomfortable.

Rachel was a fantastic storyteller with a gift for putting sentences together in beautiful ways. Searching for Sunday is presented as a memoir of Rachel‘s journey through seasons of disillusionment with and love for the church. People who can relate to her story will likely find inspiration and communion in it.

This wasn‘t my cup of tea, but overall it wasn‘t bad.

#BookBingo number two with the tagged book. Not sure if there will be a third, but I won‘t stop grabbing stuff off my August TBR, that‘s for sure 😎 #Bookspin #Doublespin

“But the gospel doesn‘t need a coalition devoted to keeping the wrong people out. It needs a family of sinners, saved by grace, committed to tearing down the walls, throwing open the doors, and shouting, “Welcome! There‘s bread and wine. Come eat with us and talk.” This isn‘t a kingdom for the worthy; it‘s a kingdom for the hungry.”

“I‘ve been convinced that LGBT Christians have a special role to play in teaching the church how to be Christian.”

As a young adult, Rachel Held Evans struggled to find relevance in the Christian faith she grew up loving. Yet she realized the disconnect she felt was not so much with God but with a church culture that was trying too hard to prop itself up and have all the answers. This memoir explores her fumbling path toward, away from, and back to the Christian church, throughout which she never stopped seeking the hope of God‘s grace. Mad respect.

Anyone who‘s ever doubted their religion or their faith will certainly connect with Evans‘ exploration into Christianity and her own faith.

But I had trouble with her writing. She‘d repeat phrases or groups of words so many times on one page that it began to sound like a scratched record. There is an effective way to use repetitive phrases, but I felt it missed the mark here. It stopped me from enjoying the book as much as I may have otherwise.

This book was beautiful, thoughtful, and so very movingly honest (and made devastating in light of the loss of the author).

Before this, I‘ve read only one other RHE book, A Year in Biblical Womanhood, which made me laugh. This is a more serious book, one that has been pulling me to read for a couple of months. I read very few Christian books. This one gave me some things to think about, but I felt an underlying sadness due to her death earlier this yr.
-Book 3 read during #24b4monday and #summersendreadathon. Have 1.5 hrs left. Took this one slow due to content.

I am not a Christian, in fact, I‘m an atheist and have been since I was 14. But I read Rachel‘s blog from time to time and after her (tragic, abrupt, unfair) passing, a friend gave me a copy of this. Searching for Sunday speaks, I imagine, to any Christian who has questioned their faith in the wake of injustice and inequality. (And this was pre-Trump.) To me, it was a reminder that not all Christians are judgmental and blind. Thank you, Rachel.

Apparently I want to read/listen to every book every other person wants to enjoy. Library problems.

I now get why Rachel Held Evans is so loved, and I‘m sorry I didn‘t follow her work while she was alive. In this book (and I presume everywhere else), her writing about faith and doubt was eloquent but down-to-earth, and uniquely honest. I relatedly strongly to her stories of a church-heavy evangelical upbringing and really admire her determination to confront the darker sides of Christianity in practice.

This was very soothing to listen to while walking. I liked hearing about her spiritual journey and how she confronted the doubts she had and learned to be at peace with doubt. Even though I‘m Jewish, I found her struggles with belief relatable and I learned a lot about the Christian tradition and the similarities it continues to share with Judaism. It is sad to know her voice is no longer with us. #litsywalkers

This book speaks to my spiritual history, present & future. Finished just 9 days after her unexpected passing. Her courage & vulnerability to speak truth regarding the spiritual journey has legacy.
Take aways: It‘s ok to doubt. We don‘t have to have it all together to be in community. To engage we must be vulnerable. Healing (mending- my word) can‘t happen until pain is acknowledged. Release cynicism to heal.
Prayers for her family

I can‘t believe we have to face this so soon. 💔

Putting my complicated relationship with religion aside to reread this book in honor of Rachel Held Evans.

I haven't been on here lately but just thought I would check in for those of use who have been struggling this past week with the tragic news of Rachel Held Evans passing. I'm not okay. May is a rough month for me. If anyone has any stories of how RHE has impacted their life, feel free to comment here. Also I wrote this: https://matchlessmarie.wordpress.com/2019/05/10/hoping-for-something-to-hope-for... #BecauseOfRHE

Today I mourn for someone that had a profound impact on my life. A couple of years ago I picked up “Searching for Sunday: loving, leaving, and finding the church” it was exactly what I needed at that time. Rachel Held Evans your impact has been great and will continue on, but for now I sit heart broken for your family. Thank you for your words, your influence, and your assurance that I am not alone in all my questions and doubts

Heartbroken to hear the news that Rachel Held Evans died this morning. She was a favorite author of mine and her book Searching for Sunday meant so much to me as I was reevaluating my own faith in recent years. She spoke for so many of us who love Jesus but have wrestled with questions of faith. This book was a lifeline for me and I am so sad that she is gone. I know her work will continue to impact people for years to come.

It was devastating to hear about the death of Rachel Held Evans. She was a powerful, challenging writer, and helped many people like me—people who questioned the faith they were raised with, but also unwilling to let it all go. I will always be grateful for her writing and life, and so sad that she didn‘t have any longer than 37 years.

One of my Christian heroes, Rachel Held Evans, passed away this morning. She was my balm time and time again to my hurting heart. May she find rest in her Savior‘s arms and may her family find peace and love through their faith.

I‘m incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Rachel Held Evans. I met her several years ago, and saw her speak twice. She was a wise person, a much needed voice advocating for acceptance and love.

As someone who is leaving, I‘m already interested in the book and I‘m only five pages in.

Couldn‘t resist @MatchlessMarie ‘s post with this announcement! #somuchforbookbuyingban #morenonfiction #amazonmakesittooeasy

Get on this deal! This is one of my forever recommend books. So good!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PWOH2CI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_FCItAbD719T70

I‘ve got a guest post up on Book Riot today. If you‘re looking for some progressive-leaning Christian non-fiction, check it out.

https://bookriot.com/2018/01/03/recommended-reading-progressive-christian/

@bookriot

So thankful that I got to read this book! There are some choppy transitions and a few small sections that could have been left out. But this was far outweighed by some wonderful turns of phrase and Evans' ability to articulate some things I have felt my whole life yet couldn't put into words. This is a book I would recommend to anyone who is doubting or for that doubter to hand to someone who doesn't understand their doubt to help bridge the gap.

"We're good at making mountains out of our ideologies, obstructions out of our theologies, and hills out of our screwed-up notions of who's in and who's out, who's worthy and who's unworthy. We're good at getting in the way."

This book was a more challenging listen than I expected. I enjoyed the author's writing style and appreciated the history and traditions described. There were moments her thoughts resonated with my own, as well as moments when I disagreed with her views. In some aspects I struggle with things she doesn't question at all. My faith is my own, but I appreciate her perspective and the points she made me think about.

#Christian #audiobook #Hoopla

I've seen a lot of interesting quotes and great reviews for this book so I'm giving it a listen.

#audiobook #Christian #Hoopla

A little disjointed in some parts but a GREAT read. If you've ever had conflicted feelings about church and yet still a longing for it this book is for you. RHE doesn't have the answers, but she offers insight and anecdotes so that we can at least share in these experiences and say "me too".

Main takeaway? No church or denomination is perfect, there is only One who is perfect - and He is who we should keep our focus on.

This imagery made me smile. I like the idea that the denominations are all just parts/rooms in the same house.

Ever read a passage that is the exact thing you need to hear at the moment?

This quote resonates really deeply with me. I need to memorize that last line.

"Waiting around for right will leave you waiting around forever."

Amen.

This book is exactly what I needed right now.

I identified with much of this book. My faith journey was similar and many of the lessons the Lord has taught me follow the arc of Rachel's walk. I appreciate her willingness to share because I have often felt out of place in my faith. Never before have I read a book where I felt that yes there is someone out there, an earthly person, who understands me. Who could handle my questions and doubt.

😔 I never knew that...that's horrible.

I can't get enough of this book! #mirrorbook #searchingforsunday

Me. This book is me.

I've been reading this for a while now and I'm really struggling. Some chapters have a nice flow and I can relate quite a bit from my own experience, and other chapters are choppy, short, soulful I guess, like a blog entry... Those I don't always enjoy. I feel like the editor left in way too much of what seemed like good writing at the time, but actually wasn't. Maybe I'm just super-critical with a too high opinion of my own editing skills.

I am loving this book already only a few pages in! #searchingforsunday #metoo

What I'm reading to start Lent.

This quote is a bit of a paraphrase by Evans, reframing a passage considering the bodies we live in--an apt parallel. The church is beautiful and broken and frustrating and rewarding and necessary. Rachel Held Evans articulates so many things I've been thinking about (and frustrated about) when it comes to church, but she also vividly reminds me of why to not give up. This book is a conversation that the church needs to be having. Recommended!