Steve's honest and refreshing take on the Ten Commandments is guaranteed to inspire, challenge, provoke and give you a good chuckle in places. You may just find you can't put it down, but the real challenge is whether you can live it out!
Matt Summerfield, Urban Saints
Content
Not read any Christian book before but want to give it a go? Maybe, just maybe, this will help.
Taken a first step of faith - or a first step in taking faith more seriously - but don't quite know what to do next? Possibly you are holding something useful.
Mustard Seed Shavings offers a gentle introduction to Christian lifestyle, using the Ten Commandments as a framework. It tries to show what following Jesus means in practice today. Hopefully it reads more like receiving a present than being given a rule-book.
Each chapter ends with a pause for thought, a couple of discussion questions and a brief prayer. So, not the last word or the tiny details, but perhaps a nice place to begin.
View items in similar categoriesEndorsements
Steve's honest and refreshing take on the Ten Commandments is guaranteed to inspire, challenge, provoke and give you a good chuckle in places. You may just find you can't put it down, but the real challenge is whether you can live it out!
Matt Summerfield, Urban Saints
Reviews
The friend I gave it to said 'It's a good reminder of all the basics, without being dull and with some different ways of thinking about things you thought you knew well.'
Pauline Davis
I wish I had read it as a teenage Christian. Enjoyable, clear and well written.
Ann Clucas
Down to earth and easy to read... helped to make sense of lots of things I'd had queries about.
Margaret Rawlings
Written with humour - so much better than being spattered with jokes.
Ruth Jolly
Clear, concise, readable, relevant, engaging, gently challenging.
Phil Tomlinson
Undoubtly an easy enjoyable read whilst at its core presenting a very real message about the practical implementation of faith in a confusing world.
Caroline Mason
From The Church Times - November 2011
'An easy and enjoyable read, Steve Tilley's Mustard Seed Shavings: Mountain-moving for beginners is a personal and quirky reflection on the Ten Commandments by a priest in Somerset.
A short book, it is punchy and down to earth, contains plenty of anecdotes, humour, and quotations, and has a fair sprinkling of faithful wisdom. Each chapter ends with a pause for thought, two discussion questions, and a brief prayer. It is a helpful starter to thinking about Christian lifestyle, and will most appeal to young people; but it assumes a fair amount of familiarity with Christian language and practice, and presupposes Christian commitment.
Those seeking faith would find parts of it puzzling and inaccessible. Those who have been Christians for some time might be frustrated by its lack of depth or subtlety. Ultimately, it reminded me of a series of talks at a youth summer camp - probably some of the best talks you would hear: fun, real, faithful, and helpful'.
Canon John Kiddle is Officer for Mission and Development in the diocese of St Albans
Steve Tilley sets out to write a book on the implications of living life as a Christian - the book that he wished he could have read when he first became a Christian. The chapters roughly follow the themes of the 10 commandments, reflecting on issues of life that crop up, and how to deal with them.
The book begins with advice for all seeking to know 'the Lord your God' through listening and questioning, but with the reminder that we shall never know everything about God. On the subject of idols, Tilley challenges the reader not to be an idolater, but instead be an idol, whereby our lives point others to God. In the following chapters: unwholesome talk, taking time to enjoy God's world and honouring others (including our parents) is dealt with. On the topic of murder, Tilley challenges the reader to take stock and deal with whatever form of violence is present in his or her life.
The following chapter, titled 'Sexy Stuff', succinctly and helpfully covers the issues surrounding the gift of sexuality within our relationships, including his opinion on the limits of what is appropriate for it to be Godly. This leads to two remaining chapters which feature discussions on true honesty: where mercy, grace, loyalty and honour get a look in as we follow the way, the truth and the life.
Tilley is probably correct in his conclusion that he has provoked more questions than he has answered, and this is largely due to the numerous issues covered. However, I think that is the sign of a good author who is happy to give readers some pointers and then leave them thinking for themselves, with discussion questions added for that purpose. So, although not a biblical or scholarly look at the 10 commandments, there is meat here in this little book that will make you think, whether you are a new Christian or someone who wants to think again about living out faith today.
Reviewed by Catey Morrison
Catey is a United Reformed Church minister for the East Cleveland Group of churches in North Yorkshire
From The Good Bookstall - April 2011
Tilley offers one of the most creative new books on the market for the timid or terrified. This is a top read, thoroughly researched, deftly written with wise shimmies and courageous turns all in the pursuit of an authentic Christian faith. The structure of each chapter strengthens his offering surrounding the commandments as a gentle introduction to Christian lifestyle. The freedom of faith and freshness of grace permeate almost every page.
Steve is a consummate wordsmith who offers hope, wit and a compelling steer toward eternity for now in this great little title. Excellent stuff!
Reviewed by Johnny Douglas
Book details
- ISBN: 9781841018287
- Published: 18 March 2011
- Status:
- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 144
