mrsbrewcrew's review

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3.0

A beautiful reflection on church and life, from a beautiful woman taken from this world too soon.

"Sometimes I wonder how much I've missed because I haven't bothered to look, because I wrote off that church or that person or that denomination because I assumed God to be absent when there is not a corner of this world that God has abandoned." p. 197

"Cynicism is a powerful anesthetic we use to numb ourselves to pain, but which also by its nature, numbs us to truth and joy." p. 222

"The kingdom is right here, Jesus said. It is present and yet hidden, immanent yet transcendent. The kingdom isn't some far-off place you go when you die; the kingdom is at hand - among us and beyond us, now and not- yet... This kingdom knows no geographic boundaries, no political parties, no single language or culture. It advances not through power and might, but through acts of love and joy and peace, missions of mercy and kindness and humility." p. 252-253

jalynne's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

lmwilson84's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring

5.0

gracynzc's review

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5.0

“The thing about healing, as opposed to curing, is that it is relational. It takes time. It is inefficient, like a meandering river... Walking with someone through grief, or through the process of reconciliation, requires patience, presence, and a willingness, to wander, to take the scenic route” (208).

This book was a beautiful and complex testament to the way in which faith can shape our lives. Not only did i feel seen and heard, but also deeply challenged to look in the mirror and acknowledge the ways I have shaped my faith. the ways I have tried to carve the gospel message into something that works for me and my schedule and my plan. I want efficiency so desperately that I forget the scenery around me.
How I wish we could hear Rachel’s wisdom in such a tumultuous time as this.

pacifickat's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Rachel wrote straight from her heart into mine. I appreciate her structure around the sacraments and practices of the universal church, explaining their historical and continuing relevance for 21st century Christians. By mingling her love and grief, respect and disappointment, tracing her own experience being raised in western evangelicalism, and calling for much needed changes, Rachel proves that religious deconstruction need not be an ugly end of a faith journey. As she puts it, some deaths are good deaths. And the God she believes in is one of resurrection, who calls his people to follow after his own pattern and "stand totally exposed before evil and death and declare them powerless against love."

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sarakoopa's review

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Relatable

kpbake427's review

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5.0

This book was exactly what I needed right now. I'm grateful to the author for being so honest about her experiences and journey. I found her words thought provoking and relatable. I would recommend this book to anyone but especially those struggling with faith and church. This book is full of hope.

khuizenga's review

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5.0

As always, I find RHE insanely relatable. It was so nice to listen to her read the audiobook.

vkaz's review

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4.0

I've been following Rachel Held Evans' blog for about three years, and I've read her previous books. The thing I love about her is that she speaks up about injustices and inconsistencies in the church, but still has a need and an affection for it. In this book, she writes transparently and beautifully about that same theme. Her writing has improved dramatically in this book. In a way, she seems to have left behind many of the bad habits and pitfalls of blog/internet writing. She's writing about her passion here, with her full heart, her real self. The book is organized generally around the sacraments, and through this structure, RHE tells about her experience with church. She talks about her youth in an evangelical church and her disappointment with its exclusionist stance on LGBT people. She describes being part of a sweet but ill-fated church plant, and how she eventually settled in an episcopal church. This is not just her story. This is a story that many--not just millennials--can relate to. I love that she affirms that the church is a messy, flawed group, but it's still the bride of Christ, and it's worth searching for.

brimckoy's review

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5.0

As someone who was an extremely conservative, evangelical Christian up until a few years ago, I had never read anything by Evans. I'm sure I'd seen a tweet or post by her here and there and thought, oh dear. But a few years ago some things in my life got turned upside down and inside out and questions started coming faster than I could whip up answers. I did not start to doubt God or my faith, I started to doubt what a lot of well-meaning people taught me about God. Needless to say, it was a lonely time for me and I am so grateful Rachel Held Evans wrote Searching for Sunday. A beautiful book on re-examination, leaning into the questions, getting acquainted with doubt and through it all still finding church.