New Book!!!

I love being apart of this book club. I say we take Elle's recommendation and read The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

Have A Little Faith

I haven't gotten a chance to finish the book yet, but it's not because I'm a slacker I swear! Ha ha! I'm a big fan of Mitch Albom because of Tuesdays with Morrie and I'm glad that he references that part of his life in this book because it really shaped him to be the person that could write a eulogy for such a great man as Albert Lewis.
At first I couldn't figure out why Henry's story was incorporated. In fact, it didn't even sink in that he was the pastor until it said that his mother always said he would be a preacher. Its very interesting to see how extremely different lifestyles found their faith.
I feel sorry for my Atheist friends. How sad and scary is a life with nothing to depend on but humanity? When I am alone I need to pray until I feel comfort from my Heavenly Father and the peace that everything will work out if I am living righteously. I've been blessed with strong faith and there is a great quote from the Reb that I find encouraging for those who are lacking in faith, "It is far more comforting to think God listened and said no, than to think that nobody's out there."
I also really like his secret to happiness, "Be satisfied. Be grateful for what you have. For the love you receive. And for what God has given you. That's it."
Life is simple. We complicate it. I'm very excited to finish this book and I'm sure tears are going to come when the Reb passes, but I know that they will be tears of joy for his life, gratitude for his wisdom, and peace at his next stage in life. I bet he's a Mormon now... :)

Have a Little Faith---I need more

Ladies...I'll be honest I didn't finish the book. But I will. 

I think what I loved the most is the Rabbi's love for people.  The genuine compassion, and kindness; especially when he would participate in others religious services.  As for Henry, I think there are many times in our lives when we are in trouble and we tell the Lord that we will do anything to get through this and then once it happens we go back to our old ways.  Granted I don't think they are horrible things such as stealing and drugs.

I did enjoy this book and I look forward to finishing it.

Have a Little Faith...my opinions

I enjoyed the book, but at the same time it was a little difficult for me. I really liked how it was compiled, it kept it interesting and it really helped you fully understand all the characters (do you still call them characters if they're all real people?).

My favorite parts of the book were all the excerpts of the Reb's sermons. He was truly an inspired man. My favorite was the story about how the little girl was trying to get her mother's attention and she never looked up and her daughter kept asking for her to listen. The mother finally said, "Yes, dear I'm listening" to which the daughter said, "But your not listening with your eyes". The Reb was always finding inspirational ways to teach.

Another big eye opener was when Henry was in prison and opened the Bible to the exact scripture that he truly needed at that point in his life. As members of the church we talk about this all the time. I know that all people are blessed with the light of Christ. This example of Henry's experience was just further Testament to me that we have a loving caring father in heaven. This was also expressed through the comparison of Henry and the Reb, they had so much in common - such as their passion and faith - yet they were worlds apart.

Over all I think the book was good, I don't know if I'd call it great. My biggest, I guess beef, was that the whole time I was reading I was just waiting for Mitch to have some kind of change. I think he may have been impacted, but at the same time, maybe he just found something good to write about and make some mula. He never really seemed like he ever got it. He just acted as if he was an observer throughout the whole book, never really a participant. It was like I was waiting for him to have that grand aHa and decide to do things differently, but he never really did.

And truly this is more realistic, because so often in life we are given outstanding examples and experiences, but that doesn't guarantee and impact in our persona.

Anyhow, those were my jumbled thoughts.

QUESTION: Wouldn't it be awkward if some guy asked you questions recording you speaking for years, I would have a hard time with that.

**side comment - i feel kind of dumb, but I didn't realize that Henry Covington was black until I saw the picture in the back. The whole time I was reading I just kept thinking that's weird that an entirely black congregation had a white pastor...

have a little faith

Like Mandy, I also enjoyed this book. There were some great things to be learned from it. Although it seemed like a bunch of different stories and memories jumbled together, it made it easy to pick up whenever you had a spare minute or two and just read a little.

There are a few different thoughts I would like to share, and I hope that I can express them well . . .
First of all, I believe in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and that people can repent and change their lives. In the case of Henry Covington, he had a lot to change and repent of but it was possible. I find his strength and dedication amazing, going from where he was to becoming a pastor and helping those who were like his former self. I know that these changes are possible and that we can always turn back towards God and that He'll be waiting for us with open arms.

While reading this book I think I gained a greater appreciation for other faiths, and for the people who live them so devoutly. There are many good people out there who have faith in God, and who live what they believe like the Reb. They may not have all the truth, but they believe in the same fundamental principles such as faith, prayer, service, and love. Although they are not members of this church, we can all learn from them and their examples.

I am reading another book right now which tells the story of a young Jewish man who converts to Mormonism. Just before he makes the decision to be baptized, he has a conversation with a good friend, an older man. The young man was concerned about why God would allow so few people to be members of the true church. The older man does a beautiful job explaining things to the young man. He said that he doesn't view the world as members or non-members, right or wrong, or good versus evil, but as incomplete and complete. When others join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it's not that they are necessarily giving up their old religion, they are just adding more truth to it; completing it. This young man was adding to his Jewish life and traditions by including new things such as Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon to the truths that he already knew. I had never thought of it that way, and I just wanted to share that thought with all of you.

I hope all of you are enjoying this as much as I am. This book club is serving to be a bright spot in my life right now as I am struggling to find employment and figure out what to do with myself. Thanks for your friendship and your examples of love and faith that you have been to me.

Have A Little Faith

I found this book a leisurely and delightful read. It also had many great points about faith and people of different faiths.

One of my favorite lines in this story read, "faith is about doing. You are how you act, not just how you believe." So True! How many times do we see examples of this in our lives...people claiming one thing but acting in completely different ways. Besides, we've always learned as Latter Day Saints that "faith without works is dead". I enjoy reading books like this about other people and their faith especially when I find that they believe in things that are so similar to what we believe. You can always tie things into the gospel.

One thing I noticed in this book, (there was actually a paragraph that talked a little about this) was that the different religious leaders were extremely devoted to their congregations. You could see just how much their faith meant to them and how it put them at peace with themselves. That is what having something to believe in does for people. I recently read an article in the Reader's Digest about happy people. One of the things on their list that makes people happy is religion...people who have something to believe in are generally happier than those who don't. I believe this is true, and I think that's one of the points Mitch Albom was getting at in this book. When you have faith you find joy!