Good Reading

I have been reading a fascinating book, penned by our pastor and his Jewish Rabbi friend.  It's a dialogue called Mount and Mountain and looks at The Ten Commandments from  the Christian and the Jewish perspective.  I'm more than half-way finished; it's a good read, and I am learning so much from each post.  What has surfaced, again and again, in my thoughts is how very little I know...or have ever thought about...this subject (and others), especially from another perspective.  The only perspective I have is my own:  conservative...Christian.  I can see how limiting that is...and how almost liberating it is to open my eyes and heart and mind to how others think and view God and the things of God.

I hope you'll purchase the book, by Dr Michael Smith and Rabbi Rami Shapiro.  You'll be glad you did!

Now, for a few quotes from the book, as a sneak preview for you:

"The best hope for peace and justice in the world may lie in nurturing friendships across religious boundaries and in the conversations that occur in the context of such friendships." -ms

"Racism, imperialism, and the like rank as some of the big-time idols we must die to in our era.  Of equal importance are the more personal idols, little household gods as it were:  greed, fear of the other, vengeance, and their kin."  -ms

"There is a Jewish ceremony one does when moving into a new home...we...use bread, salt, and a broom.  The bread and salt are a way of asking that God never leave this household bereft of the basic necessities of life; the broom deals with your household gods...Each guest is invited to sweep out one of the household idols saying, 'may this home never be visited with anger,' or 'may this home never be visited by violence...'" -rs

"...Miriam's story reveals our complexity, that strange blend of love, ambition, pettiness, and nobility found within each of us.  It also reveals that, even so, we may still become partners with God as he reshapes humanity and the world." -ms

"We Jews speak of Oneg Shabbat, Sabbath joy, because when we allow reality to be reality, and realize we are not able to control it, we suddenly discover that we are able to navigate it.  Remembering Shabbat teaches us how to surf the chaos rather than conquer it, and that insight just might make our living in the week to come much lighter and more loving." -rs

"Surfers know better than to try to control waves.  Joy comes in riding the wave as it is."  -ms


There is much meat on each page...much to savor and digest and learn.  I am intrigued by the differences in background, perspective, starting point...and how each author/friend seems  to come to some common conclusions nevertheless.  It is just fascinating.

I have an idea I'll be thinking a little more outside the box from now on.  I'll appreciate what I believe and why I believe the way I do.  I'll frame others' views in light of their perspectives and try to take that into consideration when I hear someone who believes differently from the way I do.  I'll keep on reading and praying and learning so that I can keep on growing and maturing in my Christian walk.  I actually feel stronger in my personal faith having read what I've read.  It's interesting:  one might think that hearing others' views (especially the ones that at first reading seem so strange...so different) might make me question my own views.  I've found that it is just the opposite.  I'm grateful for a faith that is strong and getting stronger.  And also gratitude for dialogue which is open and honest, given and received with mutual respect, not in an argumentative spirit.

I hope you'll order your copy of Mount and Mountain and experience these words for yourselves.