I picked up a copy of Francine Rivers' "and the Shofar Blew," because :
1.) I love Mrs. Rivers' writing style
2.) I know a song about the Shofar.
Seriously. About 3 years ago, my friends Jessica and Katie worked with me at a Synagogue running their childcare for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. Don't ask. It's a very long story. However, we were exposed to a different culture and got to learn a neat song about the Shofar.
I dove head first into the book, which reminded me slightly of a book I have read before. The premise is about a small dwindling church with an aging congregation, that needs a new pastor because theirs is retiring. The new pastor, his lovely wife, and toddler son come to the church and accept the position. The rest is a great look into churches, church leadership, pastoral priorities, and how our own ambition can get in the way of what God wants to accomplish.
It was heart wrenching at times. This isn't a "make you laugh," type of book.
But it is a "make you think," type of book, and I have definitely come away thinking about what the purpose of the church should be. Mainly, I have a new respect for churches that grow in the depth of their congregation instead of the size, and that stick to teaching instead of entertaining.
3 comments:
I wish I could read like you =)
Sounds like a good book! I might have to check this one out - sometimes I need "make you laugh" books, but it's good to read those "make you think" books too.
I agree that it is a "make you think book." I read it a few years ago.
I really like Francine Rivers. I think I have read just about all of her books at some point and I might have to start back through them because I like them so much. Well, start back through the Mark of the Lion series.
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