Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner (May 2007 for the gals)

[w8ing4daybreak]

I had ordered this book on inter-library loan, and picked it up on the way to work last evening. I started reading it during a break time around midnight, and all I can say is Lauren's style of writing immediately drew me in. I had trouble putting it down. It's one of those books I could easily consume in one sitting if I had nothing important to do that day, Unfortunately at work I can't always pull that off. :)

[mindyhere]

I just ordered mine. I can't wait to start - this is my first book club. My hectic schedule isn't forgiving enough to attend one with set dates, and this is the first internet based BC I've seen. What a great idea!

I hope I receive it in time to read and participate by the end of the month...

[w8ing4daybreak]

Welcome to the book club Mindy. This book reads something like a diary... it's different than anything I've ever read before. I'm hoping a few others join in here and I'm not all alone :(

[goaliej54]

I also have a very hectic schedule but have been wanting to read more. This online book club is such a great idea. I'll be getting my book soon and posting my thoughts... looking forward to it! :D

- Jessica

[faithingod]

sorry i havent been back in forever but i am reading the book and love it sooo much!

[w8ing4daybreak]

I put the book aside for a few days to read some other stuff and to give a chance for some of you to catch up.
One thing I like about the book is the way she explains some of the Jewish traditions and ceremonies and the parallels/fulfillment through Jesus, the Messiah.
I also like when she talks about Naomi, Ruth and Esther. She gives some insight and a different perspective than I have heard before. When I pick t up again I will post more.

[mindyhere]

I was excited to open my mailbox and see both books I ordered are here! (this one along with The secret message of Jesus) So I'm going to take a much needed break from work and start this book now.

I'm looking forward to learning about the Jewish traditions and ceremonies too - I'm happy to hear she's talking about that in this book.

[mindyhere]

Ok - I read some so far - I'm on page 46.

I have to admit that I've struggled a little through this book so far. It's hard for me to wrap my brain around all of the Jewish lingo and customs, since the only think I know about Judaism is they wear hats and sing in a language that I don't know. I also wish that I had a translation chart to view the actual dates or around-thereof of some of the different seasonal traditions she talks about, as I think it would help me a lot.

I'm plucking through though. I do like her style of writing. I wasn't sure of how I'd feel about the "diary style" but I'm liking it.

I"ll post more later as I'm sure I'll have some questions on what you guys thing on some things as I get more into it.

[w8ing4daybreak]

My book is due back in the library, along with Velvet Elvis, which I also read over the past few weeks. This morning I finished off the book.

I grew up in an area that had a fair number of Jews, and have worked in hospitals, around a fair number of them as well. As a child, I was part of a group from our church had a seder meal and took a tour of a local synagogue. I guess I have always had some type of facination with Jewish culture and beliefs. Recently I did a fair amount of reading about Messianic Jews, some who prefer to be known as Hebrew Christians. I have even considered visiting a Sabbath service.

Here is a website that may be helpful: http://www.jewfaq.org/toc.htm
About the Torah and the Talmud: http://www.jewfaq.org/torah.htm
By the way the Talmud is basically a book of Jewish folklore. It expands on the Biblical accounts, and is not held in the same regard as the Torah. There is some way-off-the-wall stuff in it.
About the holy days: http://www.jewfaq.org/toctimes.htm

On page 279, she speaks of marriage playing the role of sanctification in our lives. It is like a refiner's fire or launderer's soap. I had had just gone through a horrendously ugly fight with my husband on Sunday morning, and then went to church alone. I sat and prayed throughout the singing and some of the message. How can a loving relationship become so ugly? How can we be so mean to each other? So hateful, so rude? Where is Christ in all of this? I failed. But He forgives.


I really liked this book :) I am curious about what has happened in her life since she wrote this. I look forward to reading your comments.

[mindyhere]

Thanks for the links! I appreciate the help!

I've found as I'm getting further into this book that it's getting easier to read. I had no idea of how many traditions the Jewish have! It's all very interesting.

I have a couple of questions that I'll be asking later, I am about halfway through the book now.

[woman4life]

I am on pg. 164 of this book now. I just started a couple of days ago. I am really enjoying the book, and I do have some thoughts.

First of all, I think it's a shame this is for the ladies. I think the guys should read it, too. LOL

I think one thing that really caught my attention was when she talks about her obsession with Bill and Randi has her pray and her friend tells her she thinks she has to pray every day all the time (not just squeezed in between classes.) The whole interchange made me laugh. Also, I could relate to some of her difficulties in prayer. Mine aren't exactly the same, but they exist and are similar. When she said it was easier to read about prayer than to do it, I had to agree that it often is. It's not hard for me to feel guilty because I find it difficult at times.

I found the chapter on the Passion Play very interesting. I've heard how some Christians have used the whole scene to put down the Jews in the past, but it's such a foreign concept to me. I read the whole story, and I see more than that... so this would be my "open letter" to Laura Winner on that chapter... my notes and thoughts as I read tonight:

"Those who would blame the Jews for the death of Christ neglect the gravity of Pilate's role in the whole event. Pilate could have stopped the whole charade anytime, not easily perhaps, but he could have done it. They miss the fact that while the Jewish crowd may have said, "crucify him" the Romans actually carried it out, even though he had not violated Roman law. It was the Romans (Gentiles) who cast losts for Christ's clothing and mocked him as he died. They also miss that it was Jews who cared for Christ's body after his death. The whole point is that we are all - Jew, Gentile - 100% of humans responsible for what Christ had to endure on our behalf. I think some of us who cannot relate to what happened in Germany & other places, see this as obvious, so we don't address it, but perhaps we should."

I can see how this could be a real struggle for someone who was so steeped in Jewish culture to get through.

Anyway, it's a good book so far. I'd recommend it.

[woman4life]

O.K. So, she pretty much answered this a few pages down the line. :)

I attend a church that is very casual, which is both good and bad. Sometimes I like the churches with a little more tradition - high church, so to speak. There is a certain reverence and recognition of God's majesty that is so easy to miss when we are casual and "friends". On the other hand, sometime the more formal churches seem almost so involved in the ceremony and miss the intimacy with God. I'm not sure how that all can be made to work perfectly together, at least in this life. LOL The reason I mention is has to do with reading about the various traditions and events in the Episcopalian church Lauren Winner attends and desribes in the book so far.

Still enjoying the book. Maybe I'll even finish it tonight if I get the chance.

[mindyhere]

I finished the book. It kind of built up about halfway through, but then went downhill for me from there.

But.

I did enjoy her frankness and the way she was honest about things. She does really seem to need a structured church to feel comfortable. I would suppose that after hearing about her Jewish background - all of the traditions and such, it would be hard to go to something less structured.

Myself, I like something simple - just learning the Bible. I feel like too many traditions make it easy to forget why you're there - but that is just me. I'm not really into Church. I'm more interested in group Bible studies - I think I get way more out of that than church.

I felt sorry for her when she talked about - I forget the term - I think convert? But how she could never marry into certain families that were "pure" Jewish. That really bothered me, because I just don't see Christianity in that light. We should not segregate (sp?) amongst us. Maybe I need to read more about this to understand why it's necessary....

:)

EDIT to add: I guess Christianity DOESN'T segregate - that is the Jewish custom.

[woman4life]

I finished the book. It kind of built up about halfway through, but then went downhill for me from there.

But.

I did enjoy her frankness and the way she was honest about things. She does really seem to need a structured church to feel comfortable. I would suppose that after hearing about her Jewish background - all of the traditions and such, it would be hard to go to something less structured.

Myself, I like something simple - just learning the Bible. I feel like too many traditions make it easy to forget why you're there - but that is just me. I'm not really into Church. I'm more interested in group Bible studies - I think I get way more out of that than church.

I felt sorry for her when she talked about - I forget the term - I think convert? But how she could never marry into certain families that were "pure" Jewish. That really bothered me, because I just don't see Christianity in that light. We should not segregate (sp?) amongst us. Maybe I need to read more about this to understand why it's necessary....

:)

EDIT to add: I guess Christianity DOESN'T segregate - that is the Jewish custom.

I would probably have come close to finishing tonight if I hadn't forgotten the book in the car. So, tomorrow, hopefully.

I think tradition is valuable if it doesn't take the place of doctrine, and some of the traditions at her church are good ones. I love the Biblical pictures they paint. In some of the more formal churches there is a sense of reverence that is there that can be a bit harder to grasp than in the more casual churches. One focuses more on God as God and how much above us he is, the other more as Father and friend. Both are who God is, so I can see value in both forms. And, some people are far more comfortable with traditions. I also love studying through God's word and find it more important than tradition. I just wouldn't necessarily throw the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak.

While it was always about faith, one was born into Jewish households, and that was to be preserved. I'm not sure how it came about that they wouldn't marry converts, though. Look at Ruth and Boaz, for instance. Anyway, we don't segregate amongst us, but we really are supposed to marry other Christians, so I suppose we do to some extent with good reason. Anyway, I thought that was kind of sad as well.

So far, I have enjoyed the book a lot.

[woman4life]

I did finally finish reading the book and I absolutely loved it. I thought the ending seemed a bit abrupt, but it was still good. I came away wishing many times that I could just sit down with Laura Winner and have a long conversation. :) I loved the explanations of the Jewish traditions and some of the ways that she has tried to make sense of her Jewish background with her Christian faith. I just thought it was a shame that this book was posted for gals. I think the guys missed out. :)

[Swamp]

Real sex : the naked truth about chastity, also by Lauren F. Winner. Originally she wrote it for singles in the church but it really ended up being a book for all of the church. I think she does a really wonderful job of broadening it beyond the admonition of don't have pre-marital sex. She begins with Genesis and God's original intention, how sin has wreaked havoc with that original design, Christ reclaims it and the church should hold one another accountable as we endeavor to be conformed to His image. Partly theological, partly ethical/life application I would highly recommend it especially if you are working with teens or young adults.

[mindyhere]

I agree - the guys did miss out! Maybe we should read their book - maybe we're missing out too!!

LOL

:D

[SueQ]

Just saw the book at Borders and the title seemed familiar so I picked it up.....enjoying it immensely....IMHO: All Christians should be knowledgable about Judaism....although it may not be our cultural heritage it certainly is part of our spiritual heritage....Personal note: My best friend in Junior High was Jewish and I envied her traditions....almost converted to Judaism myself....

[SueQ]

Finally finished it last night....busy summer, ya know?.......anyway, this is a book that I will keep on my shelf and have my daughter read someday....I loved the way she explains the link between Judaism/Christianity and OT/NT....I appreciate her honesty, as well......she makes it personal (duh, it is a memoir) but also adds analysis......I enjoyed it on more than one level.....Yes, the guys should read it too......:)