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64th out of 104 books
—
11 voters
The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath
Most of us feel utterly ransacked: we're waylaid by endless demands and stifling routines. Even our vacations have a panicky, task-like edge to them. "If I only had more time," is the mantra of our age. But is this the real problem?
Widely acclaimed author Mark Buchanan states that what we've really lost is "the rest of God-the rest God bestows and, with it, that part of hi...more
Widely acclaimed author Mark Buchanan states that what we've really lost is "the rest of God-the rest God bestows and, with it, that part of hi...more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
January 31st 2006
by W Publishing Group
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This book is one pastor's interpretation and application of the Sabbath.
Not a bad book. Not earth-shattering, but not bad. I found the author had some helpful insights. I also think he's as confused as the rest of us.
There are some contradictions in his ideas. For example, he states that since God rested from creating on the 7th day, so should we. No creating. Just enjoy what already exists. OK, makes sense. Then he equates his sabbatical to a year-long sabbath. OK. Then he mentions that he's...more
Not a bad book. Not earth-shattering, but not bad. I found the author had some helpful insights. I also think he's as confused as the rest of us.
There are some contradictions in his ideas. For example, he states that since God rested from creating on the 7th day, so should we. No creating. Just enjoy what already exists. OK, makes sense. Then he equates his sabbatical to a year-long sabbath. OK. Then he mentions that he's...more
One of my favorite books, worth re-reading once a year. Extremely well written with life changing and needed ideas about rest, and that God designed us to need rest, thinking it so important that it was a part of the 10 commandments, just like not murdering.
I've never read a book about Sabbath before; about rest. And I'm not very good at it. I took about three months to read this book. Mark Buchanan is one of my favorite writers and he only comes out with a book about once a year, so I don't like to finish the book too quickly.
His writings are like Philip Yancey's. If you like Yancey, you'll like Buchanan. His books make you think about where you are with the Lord.
God's rest is provided for us to revive, rejuvenate, and give up control. If you wan...more
His writings are like Philip Yancey's. If you like Yancey, you'll like Buchanan. His books make you think about where you are with the Lord.
God's rest is provided for us to revive, rejuvenate, and give up control. If you wan...more
After reading a couple good reviews of Mark Buchanan's work a year or so ago I bought a couple of his books. Upon receiving the books, though, they quickly languished on my shelves. They looked too "pop-culturey" to me to rouse me to read.
I'm glad they finally made it into my hands.
"The Rest of God" is an excellent book. Buchanan is a bit like an evangelical, male version of Annie Dillard. There is a stillness and a slowness-even a choppiness- in the way he writes.
"The Rest of God" is really a...more
I'm glad they finally made it into my hands.
"The Rest of God" is an excellent book. Buchanan is a bit like an evangelical, male version of Annie Dillard. There is a stillness and a slowness-even a choppiness- in the way he writes.
"The Rest of God" is really a...more
This book was recommended to me and was the first chance I have had to read Buchanan. There are certain books which give you a glimpse of an author's state of mind when writing, for me this was one of those books. Buchanan's words are rich and inviting like a good cup of coffee on a cold winters day. It is the tenor of these words as much as the content which invites you to a place of contemplation and reflection, into as he says The Rest of God. Sabbath is something I have been pondering for so...more
from the Introduction:
Our most significant relationships and events have a liturgical shape to them. They have rites of passage. Birthdays and homecomings, graduations and good-byes, Thanksgiving an Christmas and Easter, birth and death and marriage: all are marked by words and actions, songs and symbols, customs and traditions that enact them and complete them. And all these things also provide us with a means of entering them. What is a birthday without a cake, at least one candle burning on i...more
Our most significant relationships and events have a liturgical shape to them. They have rites of passage. Birthdays and homecomings, graduations and good-byes, Thanksgiving an Christmas and Easter, birth and death and marriage: all are marked by words and actions, songs and symbols, customs and traditions that enact them and complete them. And all these things also provide us with a means of entering them. What is a birthday without a cake, at least one candle burning on i...more
A helpful perspective on the Sabbath. This is not a theological work by any means but it's certainly practical and a good supplement to a theological work. At the foundation of our understanding of Sabbath, or what I think should be, is our union and relationship with Christ. As Christians we ultimately find our rest and life abundant in Him. In what He has done and is doing on our behalf. However, there's more to it as well. This book shows how the idea of Sabbath is really a lifestyle and an a...more
My wife and I set a goal a few months ago to begin living life at a slower pace in order to better be aware of God's presence and to live in a way that values relationships, not just productivity. As part of this journey, we determined to beginning intentionally practicing a Sabbath. So we needed to learn more about it. This is why I began reading The Rest of God.
This book was incredible for several reasons. First, Mark Buchanan writes more like a poet than a writer of spiritual works. He uses b...more
This book was incredible for several reasons. First, Mark Buchanan writes more like a poet than a writer of spiritual works. He uses b...more
Best book I've read recently, but maybe because I need Sabbath rest... Buchanan is not only a Bible scholar but a poet and a very real and humble man. His wisdom has not come easily but is shared freely and expressed beautifully. If you are weary this is a must read, but it is not a 5 easy steps to rest type book--thankfully. Readers are challenged to take an honest look at what Sabbath is, an honest look at their own life, and then decide what they need to do to obey the Sabbath command and fin...more
A fantastic book, on many levels. Buchanan is a writer who's easy to read. His ideas are somewhat provocative, while still being accessible and digestible. I have to say, my thoughts on Sabbath were antiquated and warped. Once I read this, it just plain makes sense. Perhaps my biggest takeaway though is that the Sabbath, while in many ways a test-run of the hereafter, is very much here and now a time to embrace that which is most life-giving. Rather than seeing the Sabbath as an obligatory "holy...more
Buchanan is a gifted writer. For me, Sabbath has always been something of an enigma a desirable but seemingly unattainable goal that didn't fit well into my busy life. Buchanan puts real, tangible feet to the Sabbath, and opens a clear path to get there. He goes way, way beyond that though, in some amazing ways. For anyone who works, or considers themselves "busy," this is a must read.
Feel guilty about taking a day to just do nothing but relax and take in the day? The read this book. God wants us to rest and not feel guilty about what is not getting done or who is not getting their needs met. We need to follow God's example and rest in the need to enjoy what God has created. Ahhhh... I'm going to take a nap now.
A craftsman skilled with words, Mark Buchanan has written a penetrating book with an easy contemplative tone. This is enjoyable reading about something precious most of us have lost, and some of us have never known. I needed to sit back, relax and savor this heart-moving thought-provoking book. I suspect you do too.
The prose is beautifully written. The author has a joyful and reverent approach to Sabbath which is more than a celebration of a day. It is also an attitude and a way of life. I am looking foward to following his suggested practices.
This book is really well written and lays out Sabbath both theologicaly and practically. This is a book that everyone should read. His "Sabbath Liturgy" (practical exercises) at the end of each chapter are very helpful.
This was honestly incredible, and helps to put into perspective all of the things that draw us away from God on a daily basis and into a life of unrest. It is a shield to the death by a thousand cuts...
Buchanan's books read easily but always challenge me spiritually. This one is no exception in a world where noise and busyness, FB and Twitter and Emails and Cell phones and TV dominate. We need the Sabbath as never before. I'll post more on this review later.
Amazing book in how it challenged me to think about how I treat the sabbath, incredibly hard to read though.... it took me over a year to get through it.
One of the best books I've read on what it really means to rest in God and find deep joy in relying upon Him. It was the best book we read on our sabbatical.
The book requires a sabath mentality while reading it. The last two chapters are confirmation why the author wrote the book. I liked it overall.
Mar 25, 2009
Melvin
added it
This is a book to apply immediately. My family and I have known the importance of sabbath but now we are learning to apply this truth.
I had this book in my library for several years and took it on a trip this July. Excellent read on spiritual and emotional restoration.
I've always seen Sabbath as the tenth commandment that I know I should be keeping, but am not quite sure how to, so I've kind of guiltily tucked it away to figure out later. But this book totally turned that perception upside-down and showed me that Sabbath is a beautiful gift from an extravagant God, a gift meant to enrich and expand my life, not burden it.
The book was well-written and I really enjoyed the author's laid-back, far-from-legalistic, approach. I do think I will need to reread it t...more
The book was well-written and I really enjoyed the author's laid-back, far-from-legalistic, approach. I do think I will need to reread it t...more
This book has really good points about taking time for yourself to recuperate. Good message - good for Bible study.
I love how Mark Buchanan approaches the rest of God. His is sometimes poetic and soft. Sabbat is a sweet gift from God for us. It was not included as 4th commandment for the benefit of God but ourselves. So Buchanan is not looking to reinforce religious law, but share the benefits of a rythm of live. His work really brings light to the contributions of authors like Peter Scazzero, Ruth Halley Barton, Lance Witt, Eugene Peterson and Parker Palmer. Enjoyed the book and my convfiction of building i...more
This book was given to me the day before I left to go on a month long sabbatical at the beach. It was the perfect gift.
I never understood exactly how important the Sabath is to our personal lives before this book.
This book challenged & encouraged me deeply. It's one of my favourites!
This is a wonderful book that gives great insight into the Sabbath - why God created it, how he uses it to shape and nurture us and why he commands us to keep it. I love the way Buchanan shares how to start incorporating rest into your life at the end of each chapter. It's a very readable book - although if you are like me, you may need to read it periodically to remind yourself WHY you should resist our culture's tendency to over-schedule, over-commit and in most every way avoid resting. I've r...more
a look at why taking a regular break from everything is so important.
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Mark Buchanan lives on Vancouver Island, Canada, with his wife, Cheryl, and their three children, Adam, Sarah, and Nicola. He is a pastor and the author.
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