When Life and Beliefs Collide

Editorial Reviews. From Publishers Weekly. "You know, there have never been any great When Life and Beliefs Collide - Kindle edition by Carolyn Custis James. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets.
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James's personal story has striking similarities to my own. Her husband almost completed a PhD at Westminster and then decided to go to Oxford to do a 2nd one. What she came to see is that God brought her young family to the UK not primarily so her husband could do a P This book changed my life. What she came to see is that God brought her young family to the UK not primarily so her husband could do a PhD but because He had amazing plans for each one of them.

I read this book when we first moved to Aberdeen and it profoundly shaped my experience there. Jun 13, Julie Biles rated it really liked it. Packer recommends this book, " After a careful read of this book, that was not my take-away. Although I understand over time, James views have morphed into an egalitarian position. Her thesis is that we must ALL pursue to be great theologians.

WHEN LIFE AND BELIEFS COLLIDE: How Knowing God Makes a Difference

To know Christ is our highest calling. The price for turning our backs is higher than any of us can afford. The biblical portraits she paints of Mary and Martha of Bethany are stunning! The two verbs cannot be separated. As we serve we are demonstrating, living out, that which we have thought about deeply and come to believe. We live our theology. James explains that during certain phases of a woman's life, her family may be her only ministry.

This is hard work, I argue quite possibly the hardest work!

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To serve her family well, a woman must be a solid theologian. When crises happen, she must have that prepared "bank" of truth on which she can depend. In the moment of crisis, there is no time to start searching and figuring out what she believes, she needs to be biblically prepared. Thank you Carolyn Custis James for this inspiring, encouraging book. Nov 21, Jennifer rated it it was ok Shelves: It seems like Carolyn Custis James has an ax to grind and she hammers her main points of the book over and over and over: While there are some highly beneficial parts - new perspectives on Mary and Martha, discussion and illustration of the importance of theology in everyday life - this book is weighed down with repetition, verbosity, and a bit of angst from the author, and was ultimately lackluster.

I was e It seems like Carolyn Custis James has an ax to grind and she hammers her main points of the book over and over and over: I was especially disappointed with the last two chapters where she examines the role of women in the church and completely ignores key passages on this topic and says things that almost seem in opposition to these passages. I think a complete discussion of the woman's role in church should include the whole picture, not just the parts that fit with the author's points. Aug 23, Ingrid rated it really liked it. Really good stuff here. Carolyn Custis James writes a beautiful argument for why theology is important for women.

She clearly lays out the dangers of ignoring this aspect of your faith or allowing others to do your thinking for you. Using the stories of Mary of Bethany, she makes a compelling argument for why we need to be well-versed in our theology for our lives, for our families, and for the overall good of the Church. Star taken off for being super repetitive. The book could have been shorte Really good stuff here. The book could have been shorter. At least what was being repeated was great material! Mar 03, Maria rated it it was amazing.

This is an excellent book for women on the importance of theology and how our knowledge of it greatly impacts how we handle the many challenges in life. It is written in an easy to follow format. The author uses the examples of Mary and Martha as women of theology which I loved. One of my favorite quotes is: Jan 25, Terre Kaiser rated it it was amazing. It's for you, because you and I are Theologians. Really makes you rethink women's responsibility for learning theology and supporting the husband's theology. Was inspirational to listen to. Nov 30, Erin Meredith rated it it was amazing.

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I have always been encouraged that Jesus Christ is the greatest liberator of women, and this book has deepened my gratitude and awe. The author surmises that Mary of Bethany was the first great theologian of the New Testament. She broadens the limited definition of theology from merely the study of God to truly knowing God in an intimate relationship John This book is an important addition to my understanding of the critical need for theology: A few meaningful passages: In the meantime, there is an unspoken consensus among Christians that what a single woman does with her life is an interim or makeshift plan - a way to mark time until she marries and the real plan begins.

Such notions can to lead to rather half-hearted living God's sovereignty puts women back on the map of life. It reminds us that God has a unique plan for each woman. We are called not to sit on the sidelines, but to be players, active contributors, to run the race he has marked out for us.

When Life and Beliefs Collide: How Knowing God Makes a Difference

If God is sovereign, then every day of our lives has meaning and purpose because God has planned it. We are not left in the wake of God's plan for someone else. No matter how intertwined our lives become with the lives of husbands, friends, and family members, God's plan for us is individual and personal. When the bottom dropped out of her life and she was in free fall, what she knew of Jesus would be all she had to hold her up. Knowing him wouldn't spare her from pain and suffering, or even from disappointment, confusion, and grief. But it would give her hope in the darkest moments and a pervasive sense of purpose in the most confusing times.

Life has a way of crashing down on us without warning. Whether we like it or not, sooner or later all of us end up in the war zone, where life ceases to be tidy and the pain threshold goes off the charts. Women are not spared this kind of active combat, which makes it all the more urgent for us to think through our theology so our views of God will sustain us when the battle begins to rage. Otherwise we will sink in despair instead of standing firm and fighting with courage, determination, and confidence in God.

It is her theology. Every wife is her husband's partner, pastor, spiritual counselor, motivational speaker, and his fellow soldier in the war zone. With her eyes fixed on Jesus, she is less inclined to make her husband, herself, or her children the center of the universe. With head and heart filled with the knowledge of God, she will find strength to enter the fray and wrestle with all of life's problems alongside her husband. As she lives in the light of God's sovereign goodness, she will radiate hope and courage to him in the darkest hours.

With her feet firmly planted on God's holy character, she will find boldness to stand up to her man when his disobedience is tarnishing God's glory. And her husband will only be the better for it. Jan 30, Jo rated it really liked it Shelves: This book aims to convince women that theology is essential, both to their personal lives, and to their role in the church. It was hard to quiet all my presuppositions in reading this one, as the roles of women can be a pretty loaded issue. I tried not to let that happen when reading this book, b This book aims to convince women that theology is essential, both to their personal lives, and to their role in the church.

The main points I took away were as follows: All women have some sort of theology defined as their view of God. It can be good, bad, or otherwise, but everyone has it. Life is going to force us to use theology. When bad things happen, our theology is going to kick in. Whether our theology is good, bad, or otherwise is going to make a huge difference in how we confront these circumstances. Our theology will inevitably affect those around us. We have a responsibility to the church. Of course, James was swimming some dicey waters with some parts of this topic, as there is a lot of disagreement about what kinds of roles women should be allowed to take in the church.

She chose to sidestep this issue for the most part, and I think that was actually for the best. Her message in regard to the church was that women have a responsible to minister to the whole body with their theology, not just other women. Yet if this same man walked into church on any given Sunday, would I feel the same sense of responsibility and would anyone encourage me to promote his spiritual well-being?

They were interesting enough, but personally I thought the first and last parts of the book packed the real punch. Mar 14, Amy rated it it was amazing Recommended to Amy by: Carolyn Custis James is a sound theologian and engaging author. The title - When Life and Beliefs Collide - concisely summarizes the book's content and clearly articulates how good theology is not only relevant, but essential to daily living. In my reading of this quality selection, I was nodding my head, "amening" out loud, and ran dry a collection of highlighters. It is so chock-full of juiciness that I actually forced myself to read it slowly and digest a small section at a time.

The development of the Biblical concept of ezer was carefully negotiated throughout the text. The theological context shed light on the practical outworking of what it means to be a Christian woman ezer.


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I was grateful for the attention James paid to the pre-fall Eve as the source of womanhood and her fresh evaluation of the scene at the fall. Caring and doing flow from solid theological grounding and thinking correctly will motivate us to care and do for others. They coexist in Scripture, as they should in our lives. The emphasis that God has gifted us to fully participate in his kingdom work was heartening.

God wants us to do more, not less. Arbitrary limits on expressions of gifts and talents not only discourage women, but damage the body of Christ as a whole. I am thankful for this encouraging, yet challenging, work clearly imploring women to know God intimately. I highly recommend it to you! Aug 07, Debby rated it it was amazing Shelves: This book is well written, very well researched and also easy to read.

It's a book on the subject of women and their theology, but it is definitely NOT a stuffy read. The book is written from the perspective of the 3 different meetings Mary and Martha have with Jesus - Mary at the feet of Jesus while Martha is busy in the kitchen; Mary and Martha after the death of their brother Lazarus; and Mary and Martha at the home of Lazarus after he has been raised rom the dead.


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The author's insight into h This book is well written, very well researched and also easy to read. The author's insight into how Jesus relates to both these women in the details of their lives is very challenging and very moving. Through reading this book I learned that my understanding, my belief, my trust of who God is and my relationship with Him through Jesus Christ matters in how I look at and face the issues of life. To be honest, the title of the book is what captured my attention, as so often "life" and my beliefs about God always seemed to be colliding.

When confronted with life in this world, it's joys, sorrows, struggles, conflicts and suffering that we all experience, I found my beliefs about God being challenged and needing to be confronted or clarified for their accuracy. Is my theoloy valid according to Scripture or am I really just trying to get God to work my agenda so my life will be comfortable and work better for me.

Not an easy thing to face, but definitely a prefitable thing to do. This bood was very challenging and immensely helpful to me. I very highlyrecommend this book! Jan 15, Callie rated it liked it Shelves: God's plan for us is intact, proceeding exactly as he intended God does not wait for perfect conditions to advance his purpose. Our obedience is always flawed, our best efforts are never enough.

When Life and Beliefs Collide by Carolyn Custis James - Paperback | HarperCollins

Carries a heavy responsibility to know, approve, and pursue what is pleasing to God; passivity renders us incapable of distinguishing when to move forward and when to resist "We must obey God rather than men! There's a fear that women who get serious about theology will become resless and start an insurrection at home and in the church. Mar 11, Emily rated it really liked it. I first read this book lying in bed wondering what in the world was going on in my life.

I had just lost my job, moved in with people I barley knew and was losing my health and the ability to do much of anything. I appreciated that book so much at that time and I still appreciate it. I rarely read a book twice but I recommended this one for my book club, so I recently reread it. The first time it was such a comfort to me in a terrible time that God indeed loved me and had something for me. He ca I first read this book lying in bed wondering what in the world was going on in my life.

Collide Recap 2016

He cares about his daughters. That message still came through in my second read. James's thesis is that women need to do theology. I love that her definition of theology is "knowing God". This book is hugely affirming in a sub culture conservative evangelicalism where theology is often thought of a man's pursuit.

It was so freeing to think that I can study God's word with abandon and not worry about appearing unfeminine. Her explanation of the Hebrew word "ezer" for woman in the Garden of Eden is wonderful exegesis. She explains how the term is used most often in the context of battle.

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Excellent--had read her book, the Gospel of Ruth and discovered the meaning of "eraz" among other gems. This book is also very helpful and I hope she goes on to write more about Christian Life and living the way the Lord wants of us. Carolyn Custis James MA, Biblical Studies travels extensively as a popular speaker for women's conferences, churches, colleges, seminaries, and other Christian organizations.

Her ministry organization, WhitbyForum, promotes thoughtful biblical discussion to help men and women serve God together. Carolyn founded and is president of the Synergy Women's Network. Carolyn and her husband live in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. They have one grown daughter. When Life and Beliefs Collide: How Knowing God Makes a Difference. No Great Women Theologians. Mary Learns at Jesus. Mary Weeps at Jesus Feet.