Customer Reviews

The Sense of the Call: A Sabbath Way of Life for Those Who Serve God, the Church, and the World

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a person in ministry though not a pastor, I found this book extremely helpful in addressing the way many of us in ministry "work" for God but forget to "be" with God. The call to observe Sabbath well is part of our call to ministry and Dr. Dawn has some excellent thoughts here. I loved her sections on restful living and prayer - learning to rest in grace. She considers the blocks to prayer (the three temptations of Christ + pride), and offers devotional practices that stretch our skills.

The Messiah complex is one of the greatest hinderances to healthy spirituality and healthy ministry and Dawn addresses this issue with compassion, hope and encouragement while challenging us to remember that we have human limits and were made to live as members of community not leaders who live slightly removed from it. When we embrace our humanity instead of trying to live beyond its limits, we open the door to fruitful life and sustainable ministry.

I strongly recommend this book as a helpful tool for ministers to find ways to honor the Sabbath and embrace it as God's gift and commandment. You will find undercurrents of social justice and great encouragement to equip the saints to do the work of the Church, enabling ministers and leaders to be part of the ministering community, to live whole, healthy lives.

Someone once said you can't take people where you haven't gone. This book will help you live the gift of Sabbath and invite others join the journey toward a deeper life in Christ and to live wisely and well in a self-absorbed and hurting world.

As a pastor's wife and one who serves the church personally, I resonated with this message. Some of the insights that should be obvious were profound at this point in my life. I have recently been diagnosed with cancer and am finding rest a vital part of my healing and restoration. Marva's emphasis on revitalizaion and renewal now as a foretaste of heaven have encouraged me to evaluate my life rhythm. I appreciate her vulnerability and honesty in her own struggles. I have recommended this book to others who have also found it helpful.

I have often enjoyed this author's work; however, this time I believe that the author uses her evangelical Christianity to mask unexamined prejudices. I believe that, in this book, the author uses holy scripture and psuedo-intellectual gloss rather than rigorous scholarship to discuss race, gender, sexuality and the church. I find her arguments on sexuality shamefully dismissive. I hope that the author will reconsider this work.